2009 Harley-Raffle

The NERA 2009 Harley-Davidson raffle has begun! Get your chance to win a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic AND a trip to Washington, DC over Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

This raffle is open to anyone, you do not need to be a NERA member to purchase a ticket or to win. Only 1,000 tickets are printed for this raffle and they will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

Go to the NERA website to buy your ticket www.nera.org or call 703/534-1329 for more information.

Good luck!

Veteran's Day a Holiday

We are going a bit backwards on the calendar to Veteran's Day. Should it be a National Holiday? Vote and let us know what you think.


http://www.ctemploymentlawblog.com/2008/11/articles/hr-issues/veterans-day-should-it-be-a-national-holiday/

Giving

Even though we should think about giving to others in need all year long, it is at the forefront of our minds during the holiday season. We are all going through hard times right now, but if you have any thing to spare whether it is money, food or your time you will make someones holiday season a little brighter. How can you accomplish this? There are many different ways. Donate to your local food shelter http://feedingamerica.org/ or to Toys for Tots http://toysfortots.org. Write a letter/send a package to our service men and women overseas or go to Soldier's Angels http://www.soldiersangels.org/ to adopt a soldier.

Army beating Navy

Army is beating the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard in the Project Valour-IT fundraiser. This Veterans Day fundraiser is sponsored by Soldiers' Angels and provides laptops and other technology for severely wounded service members. As of November 2008, Valour-IT has distributed over 2700 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country.

To donate and join the competition go to http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=fundraiser.

Stars and Stripes

The general public needs to know what our service men and women think politically. If they don't, people will not see them as individuals but as a group who shares all the same beliefs and ideologies which is, of course, untrue. Let us know what you think of the editorial from the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/opinion/07fri4.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Keep Your Euphoria to Yourself, Soldier
Published: November 7, 2008

In a stroke of self-satire, Pentagon officials tried to block Stars and Stripes — the military’s respected independent newspaper — from covering the troops’ plain and honest reactions to the election night news about their new commander in chief. The Department of Defense once again made news by smothering news.

The boneheaded muzzling of the newspaper, which is protected by First Amendment guarantees against editorial interference, barred reporters assigned to do simple color stories from the public areas of military bases in order to “avoid engaging in activities that could associate the Department with any partisan election.”

Partisan? By that rationale, the civilian news media’s coverage of the spontaneous celebrations across the land on Tuesday night was an act of journalistic bias. It’s ludicrous that Pentagon brass feared men and women in uniform might be caught smiling, frowning or variously exclaiming “Whoopee!” or “Rats!” at voting results from the democracy they defend with their lives.

The good news is that Stars and Stripes found commanders in the Middle East and Europe that ignored the foolish directive, as if it were a premise for a “M*A*S*H” episode. When other commanders clamped down in Japan and South Korea, the paper properly took the ban as illegal under longstanding Congressional and military policies. Its reporters did their jobs until forced to stop.

By law, troops are allowed to express their political opinions in a nonofficial capacity. These days, they do so nonstop by name in blogs and newspaper letters. Even so, a Pentagon spokesman told the newspaper there’s no obligation to “assist with a story that chips away at the fundamental apolitical nature of the military.”

Inane is more apt than apolitical. The Pentagon should retreat from its head-in-the-sand posturing.

A Salute To Veterans Day

Today we salute all of those who have served in the United States Military. There are many celebrations that will be going on around our country honoring their service. If you will not have a chance to attend one, please take a moment today to think about all of the men and women that have made this sacrifice. To them, I say thank you for serving our country.

Happy Birthday

Happy 233rd Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

URGENT TRICARE NEWS!

Please pass this information to anyone you know who is affected.

TRICARE Changes Retail Pharmacy Network
TRICARE announced that Walgreens drug store chain and TRICARE have been unable to reach a contractual agreement, and therefore, as of 1 January 2009, will no longer be in the network used by the TRICARE Pharmacy plan. Those beneficiaries filling a prescription at Walgreens after 31 December 2008 will pay 100 percent of the cost up-front and then file a claim for non-network benefit reimbursement. Beneficiaries should have received a letter from Express Script Inc. (ESI), explaining the change in retail pharmacy network. Beneficiaries with questions about the change should not contact ESI until they have received their letter, which will provide instructions for obtaining additional information. Approximately 756,000 TRICARE beneficiaries will be affected by this change.

First 100 days of Obama Administration

What is the most important issue the new administration should tackle in the first 100 days? We all agree that the economy is foremost in our minds but what else is bothering you today? Many issues are out there that trouble the citizens of our nation. What do you want to see? Is it ending the war? A focus on global warming? There is an uproar over same sex marriage right now in California.

Vote and let us know.

President Obama

In NERA's poll, John McCain won but Barack Obama made history last night as our new President-Elect. Everyone, whether or not you voted for Obama, is relieved the election is over. So I thought I would provide you with the following article from the Navy Times for your enjoyment.

PETA looking for sexy military vegetarians

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 2, 2008 9:30:36 EST

Wanted: A lean, mean fighting machine who defends animal rights as vigorously as U.S. national security.

The prize: You could be named the Sexiest Vegetarian Soldier.

Sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the contest — which is actually open to service members in all branches, as well as veterans — is the latest in the group’s long line of publicity stunts, all aimed at promoting a meatless diet and the rights of animals it says are treated cruelly while being raised and processed.

“David James Elliott might have played debonair vegetarian Navy Commander Harmon Rabb on the popular TV series JAG,” a PETA press release announces, “But now, PETA’s looking for the real deal.”

PETA argues that vegetarians are “on average, fitter and trimmer than their meat-eating counterparts, so if soldiers want to be lean, mean fighting machines, the best thing that they can do is keep meat off their plates.”

It adds that the consumption of meat and other animal products “has been conclusively linked to America’s leading killer diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and several types of cancer. And while even the strongest fighting force on Earth can’t solve all the world’s problems overnight, going vegetarian is the best way to help stop the violence and bloodshed inherent in the meat industry.”

“Vegetarian soldiers, sailors, Air Force personnel, and Marines earn their stripes for defending the abused every time they sit down to eat,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “After all, what could be sexier than someone with the passion to carry out the rigors of the military and the compassion to protect animals?”

The contest is open to all current and former service members. PETA says those interested should fill out the form and upload a few recent photos. The entry round will end Nov. 26, and the winner will be notified and announced Dec. 8.

In addition to being named the sexiest vegetarian in the U.S. military, the winner will be named on The PETA Files and will receive a vegan goodie basket loaded with cookies, chocolate, “faux jerky” and a PETA T-shirt

Vote for the President

Who are you voting for on Tuesday? Vote in our poll below and then don't forget to cast your vote in the real election next week.

How Do You Feel about the Bailout?

Vote below on the 700 billion bailout! Then let us know your opinion and how it is affecting you.

Dems Bury Resolution Due to War Fears

Dems bury resolution due to war fears
Nicholas Kralev
Friday, September 26, 2008

The House Democratic leadership has effectively shelved a resolution calling for what critics say would amount to a naval blockade of Iran because of concerns that it could provoke another war, officials on Capitol Hill said.

Even though the document would not be a law but a "statement of policy" aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the Democratic leadership is worried that it could be viewed by the Bush administration as a green light to use military force against Iran, officials said.

Howard L. Berman, California Democrat and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has concerns about the current text and will not bring it before the committee until those issues are addressed. That, in effect, blocks the document from reaching the floor.

"If Congress is to make a statement of policy, it should encompass a strategy on how to gain consensus on multilateral sanctions to change Iran's behavior," Lynne Weil, a spokeswoman for committee, said in reference to Tehran's defiance of three U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The draft "demands that the president initiate an international effort" that would impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran." It would also ban "the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who made his annual appearance in New York at the U.N. General Assembly this week, told fellow heads of state that Iran has an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. Tehran denies that it intends to make weapons but has failed to satisfy the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The nonbinding resolution, which is a top legislative priority of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), also says that "nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an authorization of the use of force against Iran."

"We'll resubmit it when Congress comes back, and we'll have even more signatures," said Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, New York Democrat and author of the resolution, adding that it now has at least 270 co-sponsors.

"This is a way to avoid war by using diplomatic, political and economic tools," Mr. Ackerman said.

However, critics argue that, in effect, the resolution would authorize a blockade of the Islamic republic and significantly raise tensions in the Persian Gulf.

"There is language in this resolution that may imply congressional approval of a blockade of Iran," Rep. Tom Allen, Maine Democrat, said during the summer. "I believe our nation should be engaging in tough diplomatic talks with Iran that will permanently dismantle that country's nuclear weapons program, and that sanctions should be part of that strategy."

Mr. Allen and several other members who initially supported the draft have since withdrawn their signatures.

The draft has divided congressional Democrats, some of whom are torn between their support for Israel and concern about Iran's behavior on one hand, and potentially helping to provoke hostilities with Iran on the other.

It has also prompted aggressive lobbying against the document by Iranian-American groups.

"The division among Democrats is an indication of how the mood on Capitol Hill has changed," said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council.

AIPAC, which has been lobbying for the resolution's passage, said the IAEA's recent report on Iran's nuclear activities is "alarming" and requires a "strong message" from Congress.

"The vast support for the draft shows that there is bipartisan concern about Iran," said spokesman Josh Block.

Mr. Ackerman said he was in "discussions" with opponents of the draft to "clarify the language."

A similar draft has been introduced in the Senate. Although its language appears to be less controversial than the House version, it will not reach the floor either, officials said. The current House legislative session is scheduled to adjourn Friday. The Senate has not set a target date for adjournment.

VA to Increase Benefits for Brain Trauma

VA to Increase Benefits for Brain Trauma

Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The government plans to substantially increase disability benefits for veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries, acknowledging for the first time that veterans suffering from this less severe version of the Iraq war's signature wound will struggle to make a living.
"We're saying it's real," said Tom Pamperin, a deputy director for the Department of Veteran Affairs, about the significance of the change to benefits in the regulation the VA plans to publish today.

Up to 320,000 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered traumatic brain injury, a RAND Corp. study estimated this year. The vast majority of the cases are mild and came from exposure to an explosion, often from a roadside bomb. Most veterans with mild cases recover, Pamperin said, but some are left with permanent problems.

Compensation could reach $600 a month, the VA said. Currently, veterans with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears and irritability and insomnia collect $117.

After it takes effect in 30 days, the new regulation will benefit between 3,500 and 5,000 veterans a year, the department said. It estimated the changes would cost an extra $120 million through 2017.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Afghanistan | Virginia | Iraq | Century | Institute of Medicine | Rand Corp | Disabled | Veterans Affairs Committee | Sen. Daniel Akaka | Department of Veteran Affairs | D-Hawaii
More than 1.6 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. About half of those are now veterans, and slightly less than half of those veterans have sought health care from the VA, records show. In the past year, the department has screened 190,000 of these veterans for brain injury. About 20% showed signs of a brain injury, but only about 5% were confirmed as suffering the wound.

The regulation modifies a 1961 rating schedule for mild brain trauma and brings compensation for this ailment into the 21st Century, said Lonnie Bristow, chairman of an Institute of Medicine committee that studied veterans' benefits.

The old regulation failed to recognize that wounds such as brain injuries from blasts — which do not show up on scans — are only understood by what patients say they are suffering, Bristow said.

"VA has been assessing their injuries based on outdated science," said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.

Veterans groups, such as the Disabled American Veterans, applauded the change. However, they said the estimated numbers of traumatic brain injury cases may prove low, because the science around blast damage to the brain is still new.

Veterans who have suffered the most severe brain injuries will not receive much, if any, extra money because existing regulations provided adequate compensation in serious cases, Pamperin said. Consolidating all brain injury standards into one regulation, he said, will make it easier for veterans to get extra benefits to pay for special circumstances such as being housebound by the injury.

Lawmakers Pass VA Budget a Year in Advance

Lawmakers: Pass VA budget a year in advance

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 22, 2008 8:12:33 EDT

In response to years of complaints about late and unpredictable veterans’ health care funding, the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committee chairmen have introduced a proposal to provide funding one year in advance.

This is exactly what the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, a group of nine veterans groups, had been calling for.

The idea is a radical change from current law, and would treat the Veterans Affairs Department budget differently than budgets for other federal agencies.

It is unlikely the legislation would come to a vote this year, but its introduction — slightly more than a month before the general elections — gives veterans the chance to try to press more lawmakers to get on board. The proposal would need substantial support just to get serious consideration, according to congressional aides involved in federal budgeting issues.

VA runs the largest health care system in the nation, “but its funding is untimely and unpredictable,” said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the Senate veterans committee chairman. “Advance funding for veterans’ health care is better for veterans, taxpayers, and VA.”

“For almost two decades, veterans health care funding has either been insufficient or late, and usually it is both,” said Randy Pleva, president of Paralyzed Veterans of America, one of the groups in the partnership that has sought the change. “While funding bills have increased in recent years, especially the last two years, they are still consistently late. We must reform the funding system if we are to assure comprehensive and timely health care services for current and future generations of veterans.”

Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., one of the 126 cosponsors of the House version of the bill, called the current budgeting process — in which Congress rarely completes its work by the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 — “simply unacceptable.”

The budget has been late 17 of the last 19 years, he said.

The Senate version of the bill has nine cosponsors.

The House veterans committee chairman, Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., called the bill a “historic new approach to guarantee that our veterans have access to comprehensive, quality health care that they deserve and have earned.”

“For too many years, VA has had to make do with insufficient budgets resulting in restricted access for many veterans,” Filner said. “When funding is short, it is our veterans who pay the price.”

VA Benefits Nominee Would Prep for Change

VA benefits nominee would prep for change

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 18, 2008 11:45:44 EDT

In the remaining 3½ months of the Bush administration, the nominee to head the Veterans’ Benefits Administration knows he cannot put much of a dent in the backlog of benefits claims, nor significantly reduce the time it takes for claims to be processed.

But retired Rear Adm. Patrick Dunne, nominated to be VA’s undersecretary of benefits, said Wednesday he will concentrate on setting the stage so things work more smoothly for the next administration.

Getting VA ready to pay Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits when that program takes effect on Aug. 1, 2009, is a top priority, Dunne said. Continuing to prepare for a future paperless claims system and completing a review of disability ratings issues so the next administration could reform benefits are two other things he’d like to get done in the remaining months of the Bush presidency.

Dunne, currently VA’s acting benefits director, appears to have strong support among members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. But congressional aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said getting a full Senate vote on the nomination could be difficult because of concerns among some senators about veterans’ issues not directly related to Dunne.

The aides would not name the senators.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, veterans’ committee chairman, strongly endorsed Dunne.

“You have been doing a good job,” Akaka said.

The committee’s ranking Republican member, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, also endorsed Dunne, saying the nominee could help set in motion changes at VA to help veterans in the future.

Dunne said harnessing technology to help process claims and allowing veterans to file electronic claims and to send e-mail to claims processors are keys to a faster, more accurate system.

But he said technology is not a cure-all. “I intend to ensure that every Veterans Benefits Administration employee has the requisite training to be effective in his or her job,” Dunne said. “Technology is not the magic wand that will deliver benefits rapidly and accurately. Rather, we need a well-trained work force that can effectively use those tools.”

The issue of harnessing technology is creating a controversy over implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill because VA is turning to an outside contractor to develop a software program to process claims, make tuition payments directly to colleges and universities, and make payments for living expenses and book allowances.

Dunne said VA does not have a payment system configured to handle such benefits, which is why it is turning to the private sector for help, adding that VA is preparing backup plans in case the contractor is not ready by Aug. 1.

Akaka said outsourcing benefits on a permanent basis “would be ill-advised” and hopes VA plans to cancel the contract as soon as it can. But Burr said he is comfortable with using outside companies to process claims; he said his own experience in helping constituents showed that government payment systems are far from error-free.

Naval Enlisted Reserve Association-NERA: House Agrees to Make Up Pay for Reservists

Naval Enlisted Reserve Association-NERA: House Agrees to Make Up Pay for Reservists

Congress May Abandon Vets' Legislation

Here is another reason why we should be writing letters to our Congressman. This is from the Navy Times website.

Congress may abandon vets’ legislation

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 18, 2008 6:11:02 EDT

Congress appears to be on the verge of abandoning major veterans’ issues in a rush to leave town to run for re-election, charges the legislative director of one of the nation’s largest veterans’ organizations.

Joseph Violante, legislative chief for 1.3-million-member Disabled American Veterans, said partisan disagreements kept Congress from passing major veterans’ health and benefits bills last year, and the situation appears to be repeating this year.

With congressional leaders talking about wrapping up the legislative session by Sept. 26 and not returning to work until January, Violante said he wished he had more confidence important legislation would pass.

“They keep saying they are working on something, but time is running out, and all we see are problems,” Violante said Tuesday in an interview. “They cannot seem to do much of anything these days.”

Veterans’ benefits legislation is tied up over a dispute about whether to increase pensions to Filipino Scouts and other World War II veterans, Violante said, while health care legislation is bogged down, in part, over gun-ownership restrictions for veterans diagnosed with or being treated for mental health issues.

“Congress seems to be good at finding problems,” Violante said. “I wish they were as good at fixing them.”

Congress has passed a veterans’ cost-of-living adjustment bill and a major improvement in GI Bill education benefits, but it has failed to pass legislation to improve mental health programs, expand health care for women veterans, improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and help families who are caring for severely disabled veterans, he said.

Delay on veterans’ legislation is never a good thing, Violante said, but work on the bills is even more important with tens of thousands of troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We are at war and making additional disabled veterans every day,” he said.

Aides on the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees said lawmakers are trying to work out a compromise on a large pile of bills, but they would not predict when or even if agreement could be reached

House Agrees to Make Up Pay for Reservists

Tell us what you think about this article!

House Agrees to Make Up Pay for Reservists
By Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff

House employees called up for extended active duty would be compensated for their lost income under a bill the House passed Thursday.

The bill (HR 6608), which passed by voice vote after being postponed for much of the week, would direct the House to provide the difference in pay between a staff member's House salary and military pay when the staff member is on active duty for more than 30 days.

Employees must be on the House payroll for at least 90 days to be eligible for the benefit.

Bill sponsor Robert A. Brady, D-Pa., who chairs the House Administration Committee, said the extra salary would not be deducted from office allowances but from some other "appropriate account."

The bill does not apply to Senate staff. By tradition, each chamber makes the decisions that apply to its own employees.

NERA's Memorial Walk

Join NERA’s Memorial Walk

Become a part of history by purchasing a brick on the NERA Memorial Walk. NERA has a long history of protecting the rights and benefits of the enlisted reserves. You can help continue this tradition. By purchasing a brick you can memorialize a shipmate, family member, yourself, or significant time in your military history.

Each 4" x 8" brick will be custom engraved to your specifications and placed in the Memorial Walk in front of NERA Headquarters. For more Information contact: NERA Headquarters, Attn: Laura Martin, 6703 Farragut Ave., Falls Church, VA 2204. 703/534-1329 or lkmartin@nera.org.

Transitional Assistance Management Program

The Transitional Assistance Management Program
(TAMP) provides 180 days of transitional health care benefits
to uniformed services members and their families, if the
sponsor is:
• Involuntarily separating from active duty under honorable
conditions
• A National Guard or Reserve member separating from active
duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days in support
of a contingency operation
• Separating from active duty following involuntary retention
(stop-loss) in support of a contingency operation
• Separating from active duty following a voluntary agreement
to stay on active duty for less than one year in support of a
contingency operation
For those who qualify, the 180-day TAMP period begins upon
the active duty sponsor’s separation. During TAMP, sponsors
and family members are eligible to enroll in TRICARE Prime,
TRICARE Prime Overseas or use TRICARE Standard and
Extra or TRICARE Standard Overseas.

2008 NERA Service to the Reservist Award Winner

SK1(SW) Kenneth L. Goldwire is the winner of this year's Service to the Reservist Award. SK1(SW) Goldwire is attached to Navy Operational Support Center (NAVOPSPTCEN) Orlando, Florida. Petty Officer Goldwire provided outstanding customer service and logistical suppport to 650 selected reservists assigned to NAVOPSPTCEN Orlando as well as 150 mobilized sailors supporting the Global War on Terror.

As the NERA Service to the Reservist Award Winner, Petty Officer Goldwire will be awarded a Navy and Marine Corp achievement medal, receive an engraved plaque from NERA and COMNAVRESFOR at the NERA National Conference held in Orlando, FL 14-19 October 2008.

CONGRATULATIONS SK1(SW) Goldwire!

NERA Members in Malaysia

Brian Brannon, Assistant Mariner Editor, is currently in Malaysia with CARAT 2008. He has provided NERA with photos of sailors delivering toys to the children in a Malaysian school.
CHUKAI, Malaysia (July 8, 2008) Seaman Shanti Redus, assigned to the USS Tortuga (FFG 46), leads an impromptu jam session during a community relations project at the PDK Kompleks Penyayang school during the Malaysian phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises involving the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon.
CHUKAI, Malaysia (July 8, 2008) Chief Boatswain's Mate Ernest Pippen spends time with a student during a community relations project at the PDK Kompleks Penyayang school during the Malaysian phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises involving the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon.

CHUKAI, Malaysia (July 8, 2008) Seaman Apprentice James Watts, assigned to the USS Ford (FFG 54), lets a student push him over during a community relations project at the PDK Kompleks Penyayang school during the Malaysian phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon.

CHUKAI, Malaysia (July 9, 2008) Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Andre Batts, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Toruga (LSD-46), demonstrates proper ball spinning technique during a community relations project at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kijal elementary school as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of participating forces. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon

Removal of Social Security Numbers

DoD Prepares to Remove SSNs from Identity Cards
In response to Congressional pressure to protect service members and their families from identity theft, the Department of Defense is moving ahead with plans to remove Social Security numbers (SSNs) from identity cards. SSNs will be removed from the identity cards of family members by year's end and replaced temporarily by the sponsor's SSN. By 2009, the SSN will also be removed from service members' ID cards. More information about this issue is available from the Army Times online.

Pay in Vet's Program Ruled Tax Free

WASHINGTON -- Payments provided to veterans under two specific programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) -- the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) and Incentive Therapy (IT) programs -- are no longer taxable, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Veterans who paid tax on these benefits in the past three years can claim refunds.
Recipients of CWT and IT payments no longer receive a Form 1099 (Miscellaneous Income) from VA. Veterans who paid tax on these benefits in tax years 2004, 2005 or 2006 can claim a refund by filing an amended tax return using IRS Form 1040X. Nearly 19,000 veterans received CWT benefits last year, while 8,500 received IT benefits.
The IRS agreed with a U.S. Tax Court decision earlier in 2007 that CWT payments are tax-free veterans benefits. In so doing, the agency reversed a 1965 ruling that these payments were taxable and required VA to report payments as taxable income.
The CWT and IT programs provide assistance to veterans unable to work and support themselves. Under the CWT program, VA contracts with private industry and the public sector for work by veterans, who learn new job skills, strengthen successful work habits and regain a sense of self-esteem and self-worth. Veterans are compensated by VA for their work and, in turn, improve their economic and social well-being.
Under the IT program, seriously disabled veterans receive payments for providing services at about 70 VA medical centers.

Special Extra Earnings for Military Service

If you served on active duty through 2001 and are now planning for retirement, you can qualify for a higher social security payment because of your military service. It can be up to $1,200 per year of earnings credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. Please keep in mind that this benefit is automatic, you must ask for it!

Please see the below excerpt from the Social Security website, which you can go on and find out all the details on how to obtain your extra earnings.

The below paragraph is from http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm

Since 1957, if you had military service earnings for active duty (including active duty for training), you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) has also been covered by Social Security.
Under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for your military service from 1957 through 2001 can be credited to your record for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings credits may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.
Special extra earnings credits are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. Special extra earnings credits are not granted for inactive duty training.
If your active military service occurred from 1957 through 1967, we will add the extra credits to your record when you apply for Social Security benefits.
From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record.
After 2001, there are no special extra earnings credits for military service.

GI Bill Update

On Thursday, May 23, the Senate overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to provide post-9/11 veterans with comprehensive educational benefits. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced this bill seventeen months ago on his first day in office. The measure--cosponsored by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), John Warner (R-VA) and a strong bipartisan majority of their colleagues--won approval in the House last week.

The following is a statement from Senator Webb:"Today, the Senate took a historic step toward a modern and fair educational benefit for the men and women who have served honorably since 9/11. This bill properly responds to the needs of those who answered the call of duty to our country--those who moved toward the sound of the guns--often at great sacrifice."Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future. This is a bill that is equal to the first-class service that they have given to this country."I am gratified by the substantial support we received today in the Senate for this new, robust GI Bill. The effort was only made possible by the solid investment and leadership of my chief cosponsors, Senators Hagel, Lautenberg and Warner, in addition to the unwavering support of our nation's leading veterans' organizations. We were able to forge consensus with four veterans at the helm: two from WWII--Senators Warner and Lautenberg?--two from the Vietnam War--myself and Senator Hagel; two Democrats, two Republicans."There are no politics here. This is about taking care of the people who have taken care of us."This measure has been passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress. But, our work is not done here. I call on the President to put politics aside and do what's right for our nation's newest 'greatest generation' by signing this bill into law."

Tricare Moves Drugs to Third Tier

DoD will soon be notifying TRICARE beneficiaries currently taking certain migraine and osteoporosis medications that their medication is being moved to the third tier of the TRICARE formulary and will now require a $22 co-pay. These patients are being notified so they and their doctors can consider alternative medications available at the lower co-pay. (First tier/generic drugs require a $3 co-pay and second tier/brand name drugs require a $9 co-pay.)
Migraine mediations Axert, Frova, and Amerge will be moved to the higher $22 co-pay list. Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax, and Treximet will continue to be available at the normal copays.

The osteoperosis medication Miacalcin will move to the third tier, with Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel, Evista, Forteo, and Fortical remaining available at the lower co-pay.
The newer hypertension drugs Bystolic and Azor also will move to the third tier, along with Xyzal, an antihistamine, and Zyflo CR, used to treat Asthma.

Information on substitute medications can be found at TRICARE's Formulary Search Tool at www.tricareformularysearch.org. ; A doctor who believes it is important for a patient to take the third-tier medication can provide "medical necessity" justification to TRICARE. If approved, the patient will continue receiving the medication at the lower co-pay.

Are or were you in the military as a Navy, Marine or Coast Guard reservist? Do you have any family in the reserves? We want to hear your experiences both active and retired.

2008 NERA Scholarship Receipients

NERA President Joanne M. Elliott announces the 2008/2009 USAA and NERA Scholarship recipients.
On behalf of the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, I extend my thanks and deep appreciation to the scholarship committee for taking on the surprisingly daunting task of reading, judging, and selecting the winners. The commitment and expertise of the scholarship committee has made this another successful year. Many thanks also to USAA. Without their generous funding and support the scholarships would not be possible.
The NERA scholarship program recognizes the service to the United States and sacrifices by Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve component members, retirees and their families. This program is sponsored though substantial grant funding from USAA Insurance (www.usaa.com) and additional donations from NERA and its members.
The Scholarship applicants were required to submit a scholarship application, high school or college transcripts, and an essay. The essay portion of the application required the applicants to either discuss their career goals or to describe the importance of reservists to America. The committee received many strong applications, and the competition proved to be quite stiff this year. However, the selected scholarship recipients named below distinguished themselves from a very strong field.
Congratulations to the $3000.00 NERA Member Scholarship Recipient:
Chief Carol Donald
Congratulations to the $2500.00 Scholarship Recipients:
Ashley Perez
Nicholas Green
Peter Cangelosi
Katherine Rawlings
Dequan Carreker
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU!!