RAO

BULLETIN
15 September 2016

PDF Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
Pg
Article
Subject
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* DOD *

04 == Exchange Online Shopping [07] ---- (Late 2017 Recommendation)

06 == Selective Service System [21] ---- (Women Registration in NDAA)
06 == DoD Tobacco Policy [01] ------------------------ (Care Package Ban)
07 == DoD Voting Assistance - (18% Fewer Website Users Than in 2012)
08 == Arlington National Cemetery [61] ----- (WWII WASP Laid to Rest)
09== Arlington National Cemetery [63] ------------- (A New Gathering Spot)
11 == National Anthem [02] -------------------- (Sailor Protests Racist Lyrics)
12 == POW/MIA Recoveries -------- (Reported 1 thru 15 Sep 2016 | Eleven)
.

* VA *

15 == VA Secretary [48] ------------ (Letter to House/Senate Leadership)

16 == VA Health Care Enrollment [08] --------- (Telephone Application)
16 == VA Rural Access [24] - (Redesigned Website w/All New Content)
17 == VA Medical Marijuana [24] ------- (American Legion Resolution)
17 == Fixing The VA ------------------------------ (Easier Said Than Done)
Page 1 of 112

19 == VA Board of Directors --------------------------- (Creation Opposed)

20 == VA Appointments [15] -- (Ear & Eye Direct Scheduling Initiative)
21 == VA PGx Testing ------- (Life Saving Genetics Test Now Available)
22 == VA Hepatitis C Care [14] ---- (107,000 Untreated or Undiagnosed)
23 == VA Geriatrics & Extended Care [01] ----------- (An Aging Society)
24 == VA Commission on Care [08] -------- (Obama's Reform Response)
25 == VA Commission on Care [09] ---- (McDonald's Reform Response)
26 == VA Accountability [37] ------------ (Still Lacking in Helman Case)
27 == Clinton VA Plan [01] - (American Legion Convention Comments)
28 == Military Sexual Trauma [04] ------------------ (VA MST Screening)
29== PTSD [219] ----------------------- (Vietnam Vet's Disconnect w/VA)
29 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ------------- (Reported 1 thru 15 SEP 2016)
31 == GI Bill [208] ---------------------- (ITT Closing All Of Its Campuses)
.

* Vets *

31 == Wisconsin Veterans Homes [04] ----- (Concerns | Audit Approved)

32 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Lejeune [63] ----------------- (Proposed Regs)
33 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Qarmat Al -- (Medical Surveillance Program)
33 == Vet Toxic Exposure | CWAs ----- (VA/DoD Documentation Effort)
33 == Arlington National Cemetery [62] ----- (New Security Precautions)
34== Vet Fraud & Abuse ------------------- (Reported 1 thru 15 SEP 2016)
35 == Vet Jobs [196] ------------------------------- (10 Places to Look Into)
36 == Obit: O'Brian~Hugh | WWII Marine Tankman -------- (5 SEP 2016)
37 == Obit: Kellwood~Joe Hosteen | Navajo Code Talker -- (5 SEP 2016)
38 == WWII Vets [117] | Paratrooper ---------------------------- (Diffin~John)
39 == Retiree Appreciation Days -------------------------- (As of 14 SEP 2016)
40 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------ (16 SEP thru 15 OCT 2016)
41 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts --------------------- (Georgia SEP 2016)
* Vet Legislation *

41 == Vet Credit Scores [01] -------- (H.R.5693 | VA Slow Payment Fallout)

42 == DoD Appropriations Act ----------- (H.R.5293 | Blocked for 3rd Time)
42 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ---------- (160901 thru 160915)
.

* MILITARY *

43 == Military 2017 Pay Raise [02] ------- (Confirmed | Capped at 1.6%)

44 == Less-Than-Honorable Discharge [01] -- (NDAA Senate Provision)
45 == Other than Honorable Discharge [05] ---- (Paralyzed Green Beret)
46 == TRICARE Webiner - (Separation History Physical Exam | 21 SEP)
47 == Military Separation Policy ------------- (Trauma Related Behavior)
47 == USMC Limited Duty Status ------------------------ (Rules Modified)
48 == MWR Budget Cuts --------------------------------- (23% in FY 2017)
50 == MWR Budget Cuts [01] ---------------------------- (Areas Impacted)
50 == Fort Polk Adopt a Horse ----------- (Applications Being Accepted)
51 == Civilian Military Knowledge ----- (Military/Civilian Cultural Gap)
52 == Missouri Base Worker Access --- (Passport Requirement Pending)
52 == Military Retirement System[24] ----------- (BRS Opt-In Estimates)
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54 == Iranian USN Harassment ---------------- (Confrontations Escalate)

55 == Military Surplus Hardware ----------------------- (Online Auctions)
57 == Naval Ship Naming -------------------- (Looking Outside the Military)
57 == Military Ranks Quiz 1 ----------------------------------- (Do You Know)
59 == Guam [01] ---------- (Where the US Military Is Revered and Reviled)
61 == Military Ranks Quiz 1 ------------------- (Did You Answer Correctly?)
.

* MILITARY HISTORY *

62 == Nazi POWs ------------------------------- (Jewish Avengers Poison Plot)

64 == Military Former Punishments --- (Laws Were Looser in Olden Days)
66 == Staff Sgt. Reckless Monument --- (Ground Broke at Camp Pendleton)
67 == Times Square V-J Day Kiss [01] --------- (Recipient Passes at Age 92)
67 == Pearl Harbor Heroic Pilots ------------- (George Welch & Ken Taylor)
70 == Military Legends -------------------- (World's First Black Fighter Pilot)
71 == Military History ---- (How the Rum-Soaked Royal Navy Sobered Up)
73 == Military History Anniversaries -------------------------- (16 thru 30 SEP)
73 == Medal of Honor Citations ----------------- (Dunham, Russell E | WWII)
.

* HEALTH CARE *

75 == Cockroach Milk ----------------------------------- (A Protein Powerhouse)

76 == Make your Morning Healthier -------------------------- (Seven Ways)
77 == Military Drug Take Back Program ---------------- (Safe Drug Disposal)
77 == TRICARE Assisted Living Options ---------------- (Benefits Available)
78 == TRICARE Podcast 364 - (Age 65+ | Prostrate Cancer | Healthy Aging)
79 == TRICARE Podcast 365 - (OHI-Mobile Device Security-Cholesterol)
.

* FINANCES *

81 == COLA 2017 [03] --------------------------- (Projecting What to Expect)

81 == Insurance Coverage ---------------------------- (Its All in the Fine Print)
82 == Long Term Care FLTCIP [10] ---------- (Reduced Premium Options)
83 == Social Security Fund Depletion [12] --------------- (New Publication)
84 == VantageScore ------------------------------------- (Growing FICO Rival)
85 == Student Loan Scam --------------------------------------- (How it Works)
86 == Government Benefits Scam ----------------------- (Elderly Victimized)
87 == Zika Cure Scam ------------------------------------------- (How it Works)
88 == SSA Retirement Age [03] ------------------------------- (62-65 or Later)
89 == Wills [04] -------------------------------------------------- (Do Your Own)
90 == Power of Attorney [01] ------------------------- (Everyone Needs One)
91 == Tax Burden for Massachusetts Retired Vets -------- (As of SEP 2016)
.

* GENERAL INTEREST *

92 == Notes of Interest --------------------------------- (16 thru 31 AUG 2016)

93 == Retirement Planning [11] -------------- (Consider the Possible Pitfalls)
95 == Dumb Smart Device -------------------------------------------- (Hydrator)
95 == National Anthem [03] ------------------ (Star-Spangled Banner Origin)
97 == FactChecking ------------------ (NBC "Commander-In-Chief " Forum)

Page 3 of 112

100 == Batteries ---------------------------------------------------- (Which to Buy)

101 == 911 Legacy --------------------- (Permanent State of War for 15 Years)
103 == Patton Armored Diesel ---- (New Cane Spirit Honors WWII General)
104 == 114th Congress [03] - (Can It Do what it Couldn't in Last 11 Months)
105 == Philippine U.S. Bases [01] ----------- (Obama & Durete Discussions)
106 == Philippine U.S. Bases [02] ------- (Duterte Puts Alliance in Jeopardy)
108 == Philippine U.S. Bases [03] ------------------- (Treaty Will be Honored)
109 == Have You Heard? ------------- (The Haircut || Peeing On My Flowers)
Note:
1. The page number on which an article can be found is provided to the left of each articles 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 - Veteran Legislation as of 15 SEP 2016

Attachment - Georgia Vet State Benefits & Discounts SEP 2016
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 SEP AUG

* DoD *

Exchange Online Shopping Update 07

Late 2017 Recommendation

The Defense Departments Executive Resale Board voted unanimously last week to recommend that military
exchange services open online discount shopping to 19 million honorably discharged veterans starting in late 2017.
The plan to extend shopping discounts to most American veterans has two purposes. One is to reward them for their
service with product savings that, on average, should be 20 percent over commercial department stores, when
military exemption from state and local sales tax part of the discount. The other goal is to increase exchange
revenues to offset worrisome declines recently due to the sharp drawdown in active duty forces, base closures
particularly overseas, elimination of on-base tobacco product discounts and reduced margins from selling cheaper
gasoline on base.
Whether exchange products are sold in base stores or through online portals, the military relies on the revenue to
fund its morale, welfare and recreational activities. Given the defense budget squeeze since passage of the 2011
Budget Control Act, with its sequestration mechanism, some services have had to use exchange dividends for
needs beyond golf courses and movie theaters. The Army has used exchange earnings of late to pay for new daycare
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centers, a need it used to solve with appropriated dollars. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work is expected to give
final approval to the Veterans Online Shopping Benefit within 60 to 90 days. He will be urged to do so not only by
the resale board, which advises defense leaders on-base store operations, but also by senior Pentagon manpower
officials who finally are backing the initiative after more than two years of study, internal debate and some very
detailed preparations, sources said.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, whose chief executive officer Thomas C. Shull has led the more than
two-year effort to expand online shopping, has been building out its shopper website, its customer call centers, and
its warehousing and distribution systems, sources said. All the exchange services also have been working with the
Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to develop methods to verify that potential
shoppers are honorably discharged veterans. And most recently, the exchange services have reached agreement on
how to divide revenue from online purchases using zip codes of buyers to estimate service affiliation, said Patrick B.
Nixon, president of the American Logistics Association. ALA lobbies on behalf of manufacturers, brokers and
distributors doing business with military exchanges and commissaries.
By giving honorably discharged veterans only access to exchange products and only online, proponents believe
they will dampen criticism from active and reserve forces, military retirees and families, that their own hard-earned
shopping benefit is being diluted or improperly shared. The more highly prized commissary shopping benefit isnt
involved. Store traffic wont increase. Exchange officials also will emphasize to current patrons that the veterans
benefit will increase online traffic enough to deliver deeper discounts for all. Yet discounts for exchange shopping
on base are expected to remain more robust than the savings available online. All of these factors helped to persuade
most major military associations to support the initiative.
ALA, with its close ties to military resale executives, was first to report to its members the 9 AUG board vote in
favor of online shopping for most veterans. Nixon said he agrees with plan proponents that expanding the population
of online exchange shoppers will enhance the benefit for all. Exchanges acknowledge they are losing sales to
popular commercial online sites such as Amazon, and as military patrons grow increasingly comfortable with using
smart phones and tablets to shop. By adding veterans to the online patron base, exchange services expect total
annual online sales to jump from $250 million to $1 billion in less than four years. That would produce up to $72
million in additional earnings, half of which would be dividends to support quality of life programs. If, as expected,
Deputy Secretary Work approves the initiative, Congress would be notified and given 30 days to object. But
department lawyers have concluded that neither congressional approval nor new legislation would be required.
Work only would need to make modest changes to an instruction (DoDI 1330.21) governing exchange operation.
Exchanges are eyeing a soft launch of the expanded online benefit to segments of veterans by mid-2017, to
gauge demand and test system capabilities including the process to verify veteran status. A full launch with much
fanfare and promotion is expected by Veterans Day in November 2017. One lingering concern is the need for the
plan to be approved and set before the Obama administration leaves office in January. Otherwise proponents will
have to argue the merits again to a new leadership team.
E-commerce is the fastest growing segment of retail inside and outside the gate, Nixon said. Normally the
military resale system is a little bit behind the power curve. I applaud the fact that exchangeshave aggressively
moved out [on] realizing brick and mortar will not sustain any resale program. Online is the future. And for them to
keep pace with initiatives outside they really need to focus on their e-commerce capabilities. This is a great
opportunity to bring a large shopping population into the fold. Marine Corps Exchange already refers online
shoppers to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website. Navy Exchange Service Command has its own
online portal and product selection. That would remain so that honorably discharged veterans would be able to use
either online portal. Military retirees, 100-percent disabled veterans and Medal of Honor recipients would still be the
only veterans allowed to shop in base exchanges.
Key arguments proponents used for expanding online shopping is that it will: incentivize a deeper connection
between veterans and their services; send a fresh signal that the nation values their service, and reward the many
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recent veterans who deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan and yet had to leave service during the
drawdown short of retirement eligibility. VA estimates, however, that the median age of the veteran population is
64. So exchanges are using the online shopping behavior of military retirees to predict level of use on expanding the
benefit. Retirees generate 40 percent of online revenue for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and 28 percent
of online revenue for the Navy exchange system. [Source: Military.com | Tom Philpott | August 19, 2016++]
*****************************

Selective Service System Update 21

Women Registration in NDAA

A group of 17 Republican senators is urging leaders of the Armed Services committees to take language out of a
defense policy bill that would require women to register for the draft. We should not hinder the brave men and
women of our armed forces by entrapping them in unnecessary cultural issues, the senators wrote to the chairmen
and ranking members of the House and Senate committees. Our all-volunteer military is the best military the world
has ever seen, and women who wish to serve in this military are free to do so.
The letter was spearheaded by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NB) who reiterated his criticism that the provision puts culture
wars into the defense bill. Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree that taking care of national security
is more important than running up the score in unnecessary and divisive culture wars, Sasse said in a statement
accompanying the letters release 12 SEP. Rather than reflexively jumping into a heated debate about drafting our
nations mothers, sisters and daughters, we should consider the fact that the greatest fighting force in history our
Armed Forces is an all-volunteer fighting force and no one is urging Congress to change that. The letter comes as
Senate and House conferees are working to reconcile each chambers version of the National Defense Authorization
Act.
The Senate-passed version would require women to register for the draft for the first time. An effort to
remove the provision with an amendment on the Senate floor has gone nowhere.
The House-passed version, meanwhile, would direct a study of the draft registration system, officially
called the Selective Service System.
In their letter, the senators call for an independent commission to study the Selective Service System. We
believe it is better to refrain from this expansion and to instead, task an independent commission to study the
purpose and utility of the Selective Service System, specifically determining whether the current system is
unneeded, if it is sufficient, or if it needs an expanded pool of potential draftees, they wrote. Whether women
should register has been an issue since Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened all combat jobs to women late last
year. The issue has divided lawmakers from both parties, with some saying theres no reason women shouldnt
register, others saying they should continue to be exempt and others saying the draft should be abolished altogether.
In addition to Sasse, the letter was signed by Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), John Thune (S.D.), Pat
Roberts (Kan.), James Inhofe (Okla.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), John Boozman (Ark.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Steve Daines
(Mont.), John Hoeven (N.D.), James Lankford (Okla.), Mike Lee (Utah), Jerry Moran (Kan.), David Perdue (Ga.),
James Risch (Idaho), Tim Scott (S.C.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.). [Source: The Hill | Rebecca Kheel | September
12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

DoD Tobacco Policy Update 01

Care Package Ban

A California congressman wants to know why new federal regulations are stopping tobacco sellers from including
cigars and other freebies in care packages headed to troops overseas. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) sent a letter to

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FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on 8 SEP demanding a further clarification of the rules that went into effect in
August. The move comes amid reports from several companies and charities that theyre stopping distribution of
free tobacco products to deployed troops, in fear of violating federal rules. Tobacco manufacturers and distributors
have long taken part in a time-honored tradition of donating tobacco products to service members, often while
deployed, Hunter wrote in his letter. These donations routinely improve morale and serve to relieve stress. It
would be unacceptable for the FDA to prohibit the distribution of tobacco products to service members who are
fighting to protect those very rights that may now be restricted.
The new FDA rules expanded the list of products covered under existing tobacco regulations, including cigars,
hookah tobacco, e-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products. They also prohibit free samples of cigarettes
and free samples of smokeless tobacco, except in qualified adult-only facilities. That stems from the 2009 Family
Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed by Congress as a way to regulate sale and distribution of
tobacco products. In the legislation, lawmakers approved prohibiting the charitable distribution of tobacco
products, which included cigarettes and certain other products. But the expansion of the rule last month brought
even more items in line with the ban on tobacco gifts. FDA officials have said the rules do not apply to friends or
family members sending tobacco products to troops overseas, just to manufacturers and vendors handing out free
cigars and products.
Hunter -- who earlier this year drew criticism for vaping (i.e. inhaling vapor from E-cigarettes) during a
congressional hearing on smoking regulations onboard passenger flights -- has criticized the FDAs expanding
regulations in the past, and said the recent reports of troops care packages being targeted are adding to my growing
list of concerns. FDA officials said they are planning a response to the congressman. The agency has spent the last
several months warning of the upcoming changes and providing information on its website on how customers and
retailers would be affected. Earlier this year, defense officials announced plans to end discounts on the price of
tobacco products at stateside military bases in an effort to discourage young troops from picking up unhealthy
habits. The military estimates that tobacco use costs the department more than $1.6 billion annually in health costs
and productivity impact. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

DoD Voting Assistance

18% Fewer Website Users Than in 2012

The number of military and overseas voters who have downloaded voting forms from DoD's voting assistance
website has decreased by 18 percent compared to the 2012 presidential election, according to Defense Department
officials. Officials aren't sure what to make of that drop-off, and whether it represents a trend in this year's voting
among the military and overseas citizens communities. It may be related to more online voting options from the
states -- allowing voters to register and request ballots online directly from local election officials. All year, DoD
and service officials have been publicizing the resources available to help service members and families register to
vote and request an absentee ballot.
Voters can go directly to their local election officials, and DoD's Voting Assistance Program site, FVAP.gov, can
help direct voters to the right place. Or, voters can use the Federal Post Card Application, which is available at
www.FVAP.gov or from unit voting assistance officers or installation voting assistance offices. Within two weeks,
the message to troops and families will change, urging voters to return their absentee ballots. Officials will also tell
voters that if they haven't received their state absentee ballot by 30 days before the election, they should use the
backup Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. Election Day is 8 NOV. As of 1 SEP, absentee ballots of overseas
military members and family members are given special treatment. Overseas military postal clerks attach the
Express Mail Service label 11-DoD, which expedites delivery to local election officials. The label also allows the
voter to track the ballot until final delivery to local election officials.

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Officials have sent out monthly emails to active-duty members as one part of their outreach effort. And for the
first time, FVAP has been conducting a direct mail campaign, sending voting reminder mailings to active-duty
members; another mailing scheduled for Sept. 22. Mailings to known addresses of military spouses were sent 2 SEP
, with another scheduled for 15 SEP. Overseas citizens mailings were sent 30 AUG, with another scheduled for 15
SEP. My laymans assessment is that an 18 percent drop is a fairly significant drop by any standard, said Mike
Turner, executive director of the Military Officers Associations Military Family Initiative. This is just as engaging
an election as 2012 was.
But its not clear whether the 18 percent reduction is significant, said Katherine Roddy, a spokeswoman for the
DoD Federal Voting Assistance Program. After the election, when FVAP does a survey of military members and
spouses, it will be able to gain insight into their voting patterns, she said. There are also fewer active-duty personnel
in 2016 than there were in 2012, and fewer deployed personnel. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers |
September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Arlington National Cemetery Update 61

WWII WASP Laid to Rest

After flying military planes during World War II, raising a family, visiting all seven continents and bungee-jumping
in New Zealand at 83, Elaine Harmon had one final, seemingly simple wish: to be laid to rest at Arlington National
Cemetery. Harmon got her wish 7 SEP, at a funeral with military honors and a flyover, but it took a lobbying
campaign by her family and an act of Congress. In the process, the campaign helped bring to light the long-forgotten
exploits of the fearless female pilots known as the WASPs.

Harmon, who died last year at 95, was a member of Women Airforce Service Pilots, who flew military aircraft on
support and training missions during World War II so that men were freed up for combat. The women did not have
military status at the time but were retroactively designated veterans in 1977. And for many years, WASPs were
eligible to have their ashes placed in urns at Arlington. Last year, though, Army officials concerned about limited
space at the cemetery ruled WASPs ineligible for Arlington. Harmon's family fought back. In December, an
Associated Press story about the family's campaign prompted widespread criticism of the Army. In May, President
Barack Obama signed legislation allowing WASPs in Arlington.
The legislation which passed unanimously was sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), herself a
retired Air Force officer who was the first female fighter pilot in U.S. history to fly in combat. McSally said the
WASPs were an inspiration for her when she was the only female pilot in her training class. "These were feisty,
brave, adventurous, patriotic women," she said, recalling that some of the WASPs gave her pep talks when she
considered leaving the Air Force early on. Harmon's granddaughter, Erin Miller, helped lead the lobbying efforts.
She even had "H.R. 4336," the name of McSally's legislation, tattooed on her forearm. Miller recalled how her
grandmother wore her uniform on Veterans Day and gladly partook of free meals that restaurants would offer vets.

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Miller said she couldn't believe the Army considered her grandmother's ashes ineligible for Arlington. "I was mostly
confused at first. Even Applebee's knew she was a veteran," Miller said.
Family and friends said the sense of adventure that led Harmon to fly military airplanes carried over into the rest
of her life. Harmon's daughter, Terry Harmon, described the mandatory sing-alongs on car trips and her mother's
penchant for dressing up on holidays. Every year for Halloween, she dressed up as the Wicked Witch to spook
children who trekked up the dark house on the hill for candy, she said. "Every kid in the neighborhood was petrified
to trick-or-treat at her house, but the homemade caramel apples made it worth the risk," she said.
Eligibility for in-ground burial at Arlington is extremely tight, and not even all World War II veterans are entitled
to be laid to rest there. But eligibility for above-ground placement of ashes is not as strict. Kate Landdeck, a Texas
Woman's University history professor who has researched the WASPs, said roughly 1,100 women earned their
wings while the program was in effect from 1942 to 1944. Thirty-eight were killed. Fewer than 100 are still alive,
Landdeck said. The youngest is 93. The women test-flew repaired military aircraft, trained combat pilots and towed
airborne targets that other pilots fired at with live ammunition.
After the WASPs were disbanded, many of the records detailing the program were deemed classified until the
1970s, when the push to grant them veteran status began. In 2009, the WASPs received the Congressional Gold
Medal, but the campaign to get them into Arlington exposed even more people to the WASPs' role in history. "No
one knew who these women were in the 1990s," Landdeck said. The dangerous work required of WASPs, in an era
when women faced overt discrimination, appealed to women with a certain fearlessness, Landdeck said. "These
women were not afraid, and if they were afraid, they'd do it anyway," she said. Shirley Chase Kruse, 94, of Pompano
Beach, Florida, was one of several WASPs who attended Wednesday's service. She recalled Harmon's adventurous
spirit and said she hopes more people learn about the WASPs. "For 30-some years," she said, "they've been trying to
shove us under the rug." [Source: Associated Press | Matthew Barakat | September 7, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Arlington National Cemetery Update 63

A New Gathering Spot

Nineteen rows down and 20 to the right. Thats the math Mimi Robinson wanted to know: the distance between her
father and Capt. Humayun Khan at Arlington National Cemetery. Like many Americans, she was moved when
Captain Khans father testified to his sons values and sacrifice at the Democratic National Convention in July. So, a
few days ago, she walked the neatly ordered grounds from the grave site of her father, a member of the Coast Guard
who died in 2014, to the marker for Captain Khan. At the foot of the captains grave stone, with its Islamic crescent
and Purple Heart inscription, she left a handwritten note on a sheet of loose-leaf paper. Ive been thinking about the
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ways politics and bureaucracy have tainted my love for this country, she wrote. But seeing your parents, learning
about you has shown and reminded me of the dignity, love and blessings stitched into the diverse fabric of the
United States.
Since late July, thousands of people veterans, relatives of fallen soldiers, even those with no connection to the
cemetery have made their way to Captain Khans grave, deep in the cemetery, to bear witness and offer words of
support. We try to count the messages left behind, Captain Khans father, Khizr, said in a 9 SEP interview. We
have exhausted number 4,000 and counted on. Captain Khan would have turned 40 on Friday. Khizr Khan and his
wife, Ghazala, were too busy that day to visit his grave, but on Saturday, a day before the 15th anniversary of the
Sept. 11 attacks, they made the more than two-hour drive from their home in Charlottesville, Va., as they had
countless other times. The site Section 60, Grave 7986 is so frequently visited that tour guides and other staff
members have memorized the grave number so they can offer directions. It has emerged as a kind of organic
meeting point, where lives intersect and people like Ms. Robinson come to do that math of proximity and sacrifice,
and to make a statement about what Captain Khans story adds up to.
He was a person that put a face to everything good about minority groups in America, Ms. Robinson said in an
interview. Hes what we all value in this country really deep down. Its him and its other soldiers who dont have
the spotlight like he has right now. Khizr Khan, who in his speech at the Democratic National Convention
delivered a blistering denunciation of Donald J. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and whose family Mr.
Trump later belittled, said the address had offered a reminder that certain values are worth fighting for. Those
values are and remain our values through Captain Humayun Khans values: care for others and the good of the
nation, he added.
Charles Cowherd of Alexandria, Va., whose twin brother, an Army lieutenant, rests in a grave three plots from
Captain Khans, has been visiting Section 60 since 2004, when his brother was killed in Iraq. Captain Khan died just
weeks later, also in Iraq, in a suicide bombing in June at his base. That section of the cemetery contains the remains
of many other service members who have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lately, Mr. Cowherd said, he
has noticed a difference among the mourners there. The composition was a little bit different going to that grave,
he said. It touched a segment of people that wouldnt be going there otherwise. Some, he said, are offering a
rebuttal to Mr. Trumps denigration of the Khan family. Mr. Trump, for example, played on religious stereotypes by
suggesting that Mr. Khan had not allowed his wife to speak at the convention. I think the people going there was a
way of drawing distinction and saying that we as Americans support this family and support this fallen soldier, in a
way, more because of Mr. Trumps comments, he said.
The letters collected from the grave site end up piled in boxes on the dining room table at the Khans home.
Slowly, Mr. Khan said, he and his wife are working through them. They read each note and write to thank those who
have left return addresses. The stream of visitors to the grave site has subsided somewhat as fall has approached and
as Mr. Khan and his wife have returned to something closer to normal life. After a crush of television appearances
and media interviews after the convention, they have largely stayed off the air in recent weeks. They now have help
from a public relations specialist, Stephanie Cutter, a former aide to President Obama. And Mr. Khan said he had
tried to cap the number of speaking invitations he had accepted. But the letters are still coming at Grave 7986, new
ones seemingly every day.
Jennifer Lynch, a spokeswoman for the cemetery, said the grounds crew removed objects left at gravestones
when they became unsightly. Along with letters, visitors to Captain Khans grave site have left stones and
American flags, photographs and laminated prayers, and flowers of almost every color. Friends of the Khans who
live in the area make frequent stops to collect the items, for later delivery. When the Khans visit the cemetery, the
ritual is different now. Staff members do not question who Mr. Khan is when he forgets his entry pass to drive in.
Visitors approach him to introduce themselves. The grave site, too, is no longer the familys alone. If we are
standing there at his grave site, of course people begin to gather, and I will greet them and shake their hand, and they

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often ask to take a picture, Mr. Khan said. And then Ill quietly move back just to take a picture myself. [Source:
The New York Times | Nicholas Fandos | September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

National Anthem Update 02

Sailor Protests Racist Lyrics

A sailor in training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, posted a video of herself sitting during the anthem at a
colors ceremony, saying she won't stand until the U.S. proves "that they've got my back as a black woman." She
contends that "The Star-Spangled Banner" contains a verse with racist lyrics. The sailor's action, which sparked a
firestorm online, was in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who said he'll continue taking a knee
during "The Star-Spangled Banner" until people of color are treated more fairly. The controversy highlights the
limits placed on troops' free speech rights, a freedom enshrined in the Bill of Rights that is limited for those to
protect the cohesion of military commands and to bar the military hierarchy from political partisanship.
We have identified the Sailor and her chain of command was made aware of the video, said Lt. Cmdr. Kate
Meadows, a spokeswoman for Naval Education and Training Command. Appropriate administrative actions are
pending. She is not being discharged or separated, Meadows added. She will be able to move on to her next
duty station as planned. During the video, the sailor, who is black, is seated near the flag pole at NAS Pensacola in
her civilian clothes. The sailor said she was protesting the rarely heard third stanza of the National Anthem that
appears to reference killing slaves hired by the British Army during the War of 1812 in exchange for their freedom;
Historians disagree on the Francis Scott Keys original meaning. "It basically says, land of the free and home of the
brave' except for hirelings [and slaves], and I just can't support anything like that, the sailor says in the video. And
I think Colin had a very good point when he said, 'We've got bodies in the street.'"
The sailor goes on to say that she did intend to disrespect her fellow service members. "People always say, men
and women have died for this flag. No, correction, men and women have died for my right, and Colin Kaepernicks
rights, to determine whether or not we want to sit. And thats the thing that people really don't understand. I don't
not respect the men and women who serve who I serve alongside, she continued. It's just, until this country
shows that they've got my back as a black woman, that they've got my people's back not even just my people but
all people of color I just can't. And I won't." The video caused an uproar online when it was posted on a
Facebook page that caters to military members. The case highlights the restrictions on basic American freedoms
that service members submit to when they volunteer to serve: Colin Kaepernick has the right to sit through the
anthem. Service members do not.
Navy regulations are clear on standing during the anthem, in or out of uniform: Whenever the National Anthem
is played, all naval service personnel not in formation shall stand at attention and face the national ensign," the
regulations state. "In the event that the national ensign is not displayed, they shall face the source of the music.
Sailors not in uniform will face the flag, stand at attention, and place the right hand over the heart." However,
troops have the right to protest off base and out of uniform, Meadows added. If a Sailor is not in uniform they can
participate in a protest out in town if they are not in violation of a law, riot, etc., Meadows said.
A leading military justice expert said that the sailor's legal defense was minimal since she had clearly broken the
rules. Military personnel have First Amendment, but they are different from the rest of us, said Eugene Fidell, a
former Coast Guard judge advocate who teaches military law at Yale Law School. For example officers cant speak
contemptuously of the president. You and I can. You and I have the right to give our boss a piece of our mind. A
military member does not have the right to say that to the admiral. At the same time, First Amendment issues in the
military are almost always taken on a case-by-case basis. There is no cookbook for this because people are
wonderfully unpredictable and can dream up all kinds of ways to be a nuisance to their commanders, Fidell said.
[Source: Navy Times | David B Larter | September 8, 2016 ++]

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*****************************

POW/MIA Recoveries

Reported 1 thru 15 Sep 2016 | Eleven

"Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the
efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. The number
of Americans who remain missing from conflicts in this century are: World War II (73,515) Korean War (7,841),
Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,627), 1991 Gulf War (5), and Libya (1). Over 600 Defense Department men and
women -- both military and civilian -- work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel recovery
and personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our
missing personnel home. For a listing of all personnel accounted for since 2007 refer to http://www.dpaa.mil/ and
click on Our Missing. If you wish to provide information about an American missing in action from any conflict or
have an inquiry about MIAs, contact:
== Mail: Public Affairs Office, 2300 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-2300, Attn: External Affairs
== Call: Phone: (703) 699-1420
== Message: Fill out form on http://www.dpaa.mil/Contact/ContactUs.aspx

Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may also call the following Service
Casualty Offices: U.S. Air Force (800) 531-5501, U.S. Army (800) 892-2490, U.S. Marine Corps (800) 847-1597,
U.S. Navy (800) 443-9298, or U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5470. The remains of the following MIA/POWs
have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains and burial updates of one
U.S. serviceman who had been previously listed as missing in action from Vietnam. Returning home for burial
with full military honors is:
-- Air Force Maj. Dean A. Klenda, 25, of Marion, Kan., will be buried Sept. 17 in Pilsen, Kan., exactly 51 years
after he went missing. On Sept. 17, 1965, Klenda was piloting an F-105D Thunderchief when it was shot down by
enemy fire while on an attack mission west of Hanoi in Son La Province, Vietnam. He reportedly was able to eject
from the aircraft, but failed to separate himself from the ejection seat. He was assigned to the 67th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/937910/airman-missing-from-vietnamwar-accounted-for-klenda .

Page 12 of 112

Korea
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains and burial updates of three
U.S. servicemen who had been previously listed as missing in action from Korea. Returning home for burial with
full military honors is:
-- Army Cpl. Curtis J. Wells, 19, of Ubly, Mich., will be buried Sept. 10 in nearby Harbor Beach. In late November
1950, Wells was assigned to Company C, 65th Engineer Combat Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, when his
company joined with Task Force Wilson to fight in the vicinity of Unsan, North Korea. The task force was
overwhelmed and by Nov. 27, 1950, began to extricate themselves south. Wells would be reported missing after his
unit regrouped. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/932875/soldier-missingfrom-korean-war-accounted-for-wells .

-- Army Cpl. Larry M. Dunn, 18, will be buried Sept. 17 in his hometown of Cullman, Alabama. On Dec. 1, 1950,
Dunn was a member of Company B, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, when his unit was
fighting through a roadblock that was heavily defended by enemy forces near Sonchu, North Korea. He was
declared missing after the battle.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/937905/soldier-missing-from-korean-waraccounted-for-dunn .

-- Army Cpl. Vernon D. Presswood, 20, of Perry, Ill., was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 32nd Infantry
Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, as one of approximately 2,500 American and 700 South Korean soldiers assembled
into the 31st Regimental Combat Team, which was attacked by an overwhelming Chinese force east of the Chosin
Reservoir in North Korea. Presswood would be reported missing on Dec. 2, 1950. Interment services are pending.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/937359/soldier-missing-fromkorean-war-accounted-for-presswood .
World War II

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The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains and burial updates of seven
U.S. servicemen who had been previously listed as missing in action from World War II. Returning home for
burial with full military honors are:
-- Navy Water Tender 1st Class Walter H. Sollie, of Alabama, died on Dec. 7, 1941, while stationed aboard the
USS Oklahoma, which capsized after receiving multiple torpedo hits as it was moored off Ford Island in Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. The battleship suffered 429 casualties that day, second only to the losses aboard the USS Arizona.
Interment services are pending.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/927315/sailor-killed-in-world-warii-accounted-for-sollie .
-- Marine Pvt. Frank F. Penna, 24, will be buried Sept. 17 in his hometown of Canastota, N.Y. Penna was assigned
to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese
resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense
fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the
island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually annihilated. Penna died on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
Interment services are pending.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/937886/marine-missing-from-world-warii-accounted-for-penna .
-- Marine Pfc. Nicholas J. Cancilla, of Blair, Pa., was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd
Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of
the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and
more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually annihilated. Cancilla
died on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Interment services are pending.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/937392/marine-killed-in-world-warii-accounted-for-cancilla .
-- Marine Pfc. James S. Smith, of Amite, Miss., was assigned to Company C, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion,
2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll
of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed
and more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually annihilated. Smith
died on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Interment services are pending.
Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/937401/marine-killed-in-world-warii-accounted-for-smith .
-- Marine Pfc. John W. MacDonald, from Boston, was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the
Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors
were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually
annihilated. MacDonald died on the first day of battle, Nov. 20, 1943. Interment services are pending.
-- Marine Sgt. James J. Hubert, of Duluth, Minn., was assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd
Marine Division, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of
the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors were killed and
more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually annihilated. Hubert
died on the second day of battle, Nov. 21, 1943. Interment services are pending.
-- Marine Pfc. Ben H. Gore, 20, of Hopkinsville, Ky., was assigned to Special Weapons Group, 2nd Defense
Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the
Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors

Page 14 of 112

were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded in securing the island; the enemy force of 4,700 was virtually
annihilated. Gore died of his wounds on Nov. 25, 1943. Interment services are pending.
[Source: http://www.dpaa.mil | September 15, 2016 ++]
* VA *

VA Secretary Update 48

Letter to House/Senate Leadership

Veterans Affairs officials are pleading with Capitol Hill leaders to pass their departments fiscal 2017 budget,
reform the benefit appeals process and tackle a host of other top legislative priorities before time runs out on the
current congressional session at the end of the year. In a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate Veterans
Affairs committees on 30 AUG, VA Secretary Bob McDonald called adopting the veterans measures a moral
imperative and added that lawmakers lack of progress on the issues so far this year is hurting department reform
efforts. Continued inaction on these critically important initiatives not only negatively impacts VAs
transformation, but more importantly, is exceptionally damaging to VAs ability to provide necessary services to our
nations veterans, the letter stated. Simply put, the time for legislative action is overdue.
None of the issues outlined in the letter are new, but few of the proposals have made any significant progress in
Congress since McDonald first outlined them earlier this year. Lawmakers were scheduled to return to Capitol Hill
on 6 SEP for a few weeks of legislative work before the November elections, then have just a few more weeks in
session before the year ends. Let me be clear. We have work to do, but we cannot do it alone, McDonald wrote.
We need action from Congress now. We are at a critical tipping point in (VA) transformation where, without action
from Congress, the problems and difficulties we are facing in areas that require legislative change are only going to
worsen over time. It will be veterans and their families and survivors who will suffer the negative impact.
Budget bills have been stalled in Congress for months, and congressional leaders have begun discussing both
short-term and long-term continuing resolutions to keep funding flowing through the next few months. But
McDonald said such a move could delay or cut off health access to many veterans relying on program expansions in
fiscal 2017, and would halt plans to launch new reform efforts dependent on new funding lines. He urged
lawmakers to find a way to pass a full fiscal 2017 budget, and to adopt new rules simplifying benefits appeals rules.
That process averages three years for cases decided by the Veterans Benefits Administration, and five years for
cases decided by the Board of Veterans Appeals.
VA officials have said streamlining that system will require congressional permission, and so far no legislation
including those ideas has made serious progress in Congress. In the letter, McDonald also asks for simplification of
outside care programs for veterans and updated employment rules for VA workers. That includes an end to rules
limiting the federal pay period to 80 hours every two weeks, a cap that frequently causes staffing and scheduling
problems at VA medical facilities. He also asks for help with rules regarding remote medical care options for
veterans and assistance on initiatives to help homeless veterans. Much of the conversation on Capitol Hill in recent

Page 15 of 112

months has focused not on those issues but instead on accountability, and whether VA officials have done enough to
punish problematic employees. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | August 31, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Health Care Enrollment Update 08

Telephone Application

Veterans can now apply for Veterans Affairs health benefits over the phone. The VA published a final regulation on
12 SEP that allows former service members to complete VA health care applications by calling 877-222-8387. The
line is manned by VA employees who walk the veterans through the process, including providing them information
on copayment requirements and third party insurance. Previously, VA required veterans to apply in person at a VA
medical center or submitting a paper application to the department. But the system was beset with problems,
creating a backlog of 847,882 applications that stretched back nearly 15 years and included submissions from more
than 300,000 deceased veterans. After the VA inspector general released a report on the backlog a year ago, VA
took steps to change the application process, to include removing a requirement that veterans physically sign the
necessary paperwork. It also embarked on an effort to clear the backlog, starting with 30,000 combat veterans who
should have automatically qualified for the benefit but were placed in the system by mistake. Veterans can continue
to apply for benefits in person as well, according to the department. [Source: Military Times | Patricia Kime,
September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Rural Access Update 24

Redesigned Website w/All New content

In an effort to increase rural Veterans access to care and services, VAs Office of Rural Health (ORH) launched a
redesigned website with all new content. This redesigned website offers Veterans, providers, partners and media
easy access to the information they need to improve the health and well-being of rural Veterans. The site was
developed to help ORH achieve its vision that Veterans thrive in rural communities, and is supported by a mobilefriendly platform to enable customers to access information when, where and how they choose.
VAs rural health website concentrates on providing content specifically for providers, researchers, and program
and facility administrators. The rural medical community can read about and download implementation information
for ORH Rural Promising Practices on a variety of health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, cardiac care,
geriatrics and HIV. Community providers can learn how to enroll in the Veterans Choice Program and students can
learn about a career at VA. Researchers will have access to the latest published innovations in rural health care. The
redesigned website, www.ruralhealth.va.gov , aims to be a conduit for community collaborations that support the
integration of local, state and federal programs and services that support rural Veterans. The site offers centralized
information on rural Veterans, and the programs and services VA offers in coordination with strategic national
partners.
The new partnership section of the website features a list of collaborating organizations, partnership efforts and
outreach toolkit. To improve ease of use, the mobile-friendly site features information segmented by user-type,
simplified navigation to reduce the number of clicks required to find information, resource libraries and a news feed.
The ORH website strives to disseminate knowledge about rural Veterans and their unique needs, including:
Research e-library
The award-winning ORH newsletter, The Rural Connection
Virtual training, including recorded webinars
Rural Promising Practices implementation information
Veterans Choice Program information
Page 16 of 112

Rural providers, researchers and partners are encouraged to visit and link to VAs restructured rural Veterans
health website at www.ruralhealth.va.gov . You can email ORHcomms@va.gov on any suggestions for additional
content to be included. [Source: VAntage Point | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Medical Marijuana Update 24

American Legion Resolution

The American Legion has called on Congress to remove marijuana from the list of drugs that are classified as having
no potential medical use. The Legion, the countrys largest veterans organization with 2.4 million members, passed
a resolution at its annual convention last week to promote research on marijuanas potential use for treating posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The resolution noted that with thousands of veterans from Iraq
and Afghanistan diagnosed with PTSD or TBI, and the Drug Enforcement Agency's recent approval of a study on
the effectiveness of cannabis for PTSD, Congress should remove marijuana from its Schedule I designation, where it
shares space with heroin, Ecstasy, LSD, Quaaludes and peyote. Amend legislation to remove marijuana from
Schedule I and reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum, will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential
medical value, the Legion wrote in its resolution, first reported by marijuana.com.
The Drug Enforcement Agency in April approved the first randomized, controlled research in the U.S. that will
use inhaled marijuana to treat PTSD. During the convention, Dr. Sue Sisley, a lead researcher on that project and a
former Veterans Affairs psychiatrist, described veterans as exhausted and [feeling] like guinea pigs when it comes
to treatment for PTSD. Theyre getting desperate. I could never reach that level of relief with traditional
medications, so I knew I had to keep going, she said of her efforts to pursue cannabis research for mental health
conditions. The DEA last month elected to leave marijuana on the list of Schedule I drugs. But it also ended its
monopoly on growing marijuana for medical research, a move seen by advocates as a loosening of restrictions that
could pave the way for more research on cannabis.
Legion leaders said their resolution was an effort for the organization to step forward and help veterans who are
suffering from PTSD. There are a lot of tools that are not being utilized. Big pharma does not want them used,"
former American Legion National Commander Bill Detweiler said. Sisley called the organizations decision to
support marijuana research a bold statement for a conservative veterans group. Its a big breakthrough. While I
cant say definitively that medical marijuana works for PTSD -- we are three years away from published data -- we
owe it to veterans to study this plant, Sisley said.
Earlier this year, the House passed an amendment to a Veterans Affairs funding bill that would have allowed
veterans to discuss medical marijuana with their VA doctors and VA doctors to fill out the required paperwork in
states where medical marijuana is legal. The Senate Appropriations Committee also approved a similar measure. But
during negotiations on the final version the fiscal 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations
bill, the provision was stripped from the legislation. The bill has stalled in the Senate over an unrelated Zika
funding provision. If the medical marijuana provision is not returned to the legislation or fails to pass as a standalone bill, veterans wanting to use medical marijuana must continue to go through a private doctor for a
recommendation. [Source: Military Times | : Patricia Kime | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Fixing The VA

Easier Said Than Done

The focus on improving veterans lives and their access to health care during the 7 SEP Wednesday nights live
commander-in-chief forum underscored the importance of reforming and effectively managing the Veterans Affairs
Department and the difficulty presidential candidates have articulating their plans to accomplish that. Service
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members and vets questioned the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees on their strategies to deal with
issues like sexual assault in the military, suicide among vets, and proposals to privatize VA health care, but the
candidates who appeared separately on stage with moderator Matt Lauer didnt offer much beyond generalities
during the one-hour event hosted by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and NBC.
Look, I was outraged by the stories that came out about the VA, Democrat Hillary Clinton said when Lauer
asked her to explain her comment during an interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow last fall, when Clinton said
the wait-times scandal engulfing the department was not as widespread as its been made out to be. And I have
been very clear about the necessity for doing whatever is required to move the VA into the 21st century, to provide
the kind of treatment options that our veterans today desperately need and deserve. And thats what I will do as
president. She also reiterated her pledge not to privatize the Veterans Health Administration.
Then there was Republican Donald Trump. He said he would never take the Veterans Administration private
because he has too much respect for our people. But then he also said vets were dying on line waiting five and
six days for appointments. The wait-times scandal, which erupted at the Phoenix VA medical center in 2014,
involved employees at hospitals falsifying medical appointment data for vets to comply with the departments 14day target for scheduling appointments. Many vets waited months and years to get an appointment, and some vets
died while on a waiting list. Under a part of my plan, if they have that long wait, they walk outside, they go to the
local doctor, they choose the doctor, they choose the hospital, whether its public or private, they get themselves
better, Trump said. In many cases, its a minor procedure or a pill or just a prescription. And they end up dying
because they cant get to see the doctor. We will pay the bill. They go outside, they get a doctor, they get a
prescription, they do what they have to do, and we pay the bill.
The average wait time now varies across the VA health system, but as of 15 AUG, 93 percent of appointments
nationwide were scheduled within 30 days, and under the 2014 Choice Act, vets who wait longer than a month to
see a doctor can get care in the private sector on the VAs dime.
The Republican nominee fielded a question from a female vet wondering what he would do to stop 20 veterans
a day from killing themselves. Trump said hed speed up the process when it comes to mental health care access
and create a great mental health division. That was after he erroneously corrected her by citing an outdated
statistic that 22 veterans a day take their own lives. The VA released a study in July that examined more than 55
million veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from all 50 states, and showed on average 20 veterans a day kill
themselves. He followed up that answer with this: The VA is really almost, you could say, a corrupt enterprise. If
you look at whats going on, as an example, Matt, in Arizona, where they caught people stealing, and they cant
even do anything about it, they cant even fire the people. So we are going to make it efficient and good. And if its
not good, youre going out to private hospitals, public hospitals, and doctors.
Of course, both Trump and Clinton have outlined their plans for improving vets access to health care and
reforming the VA in greater detail on their websites and during other public appearances. And Clinton has a track
record on veterans issues based on her years in the Senate. But the fact that a forum devoted to issues facing vets
and service members happened at all during a presidential campaign was unprecedented and a great moment for
the veterans community, said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of IAVA. Rieckhoff, who spoke with MSNBCs
Rachel Maddow after the forum, said hed like to see the candidates elaborate more on specific vets issues and how
they would fix the VA. For example, do they plan to keep current Secretary Bob McDonald, who has been leading a
major transition at the department, in his job after January? Or how would they deal with the major technology
challenges the VA faces, challenges that have affected everything from veterans electronic health records to the
appointment scheduling system? And what about adapting health care services and benefits to the unique needs of
female vets? Problems in the VA are extremely complicated, Rieckhoff said. Its almost as complicated as ISIS.
Clinton on Wednesday mentioned the problems VA and the Defense Department have had creating joint
electronic health records for vets and making the transition out of the military services easier for them. Im going to

Page 18 of 112

have a meeting every week in the Oval Office. Were going to bring the VA people, were going to bring the DoD
people, because weve got to have a better fit between getting mustered out and getting into the VA system, she
said. Were living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we cant do a better job getting that information.
And so Im going to focus on this. Im going to work with everybody. Im going to make them work together.
Well, easier said than done. Every president says, Im gonna clean up the VA, " said Rieckhoff. Every one
has failed. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Board of Directors

Creation Opposed

A proposal to establish a board of directors for the Department of Veterans Affairs drew opposition Wednesday
from a House committee intent on changing the VAs culture. The recommendation was part of an 18-point final
report from the Commission on Care, created to roadmap a transformation for the beleaguered VA. While the
commission decided with near-unanimity to create a board of directors, President Barack Obama, VA Secretary Bob
McDonald, and many members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee expressed their opposition to the
suggestion. About a dozen veterans service organizations also weighed in on the proposal, with most opposing it.
The Vietnam Veterans of America referred to the board as a paper tiger that would have no real authority because
it wouldnt have power of the purse.
Given the crisis that seems to erupt anew on an almost daily basis where the VA is concerned, any effort to
shield the VA healthcare system from executive and legislative branch oversight is a non-starter, said Rep. Jeff
Miller (R-FL), chairman of the committee. The Commission on Care report, about two years in the making, calls for
an 11-member board to oversee the VA. Nancy Schlichting, who chaired the commission, said the recommendation
was intended not to usurp Congress, but to get performance up. The commission saw the VA governance
structure as ill-equipped to carry out a transformation, Schlichting said. Theres frequent turnover in senior
leadership. We recommend establishing a board of directors with the authority to direct focus and long-term
strategy. In Obamas response to the report last week, the president cited concerns with the board idea, saying the
Department of Justice advised that creation of a board would be unconstitutional. McDonald also voiced his
opposition to the idea, saying in a response last week that a board would be neither feasible nor advisable for both
constitutional and practical reasons.
Schlichting on 7 SEP said there may be ways around the constitutional issue, but gave no specific changes to
the recommendation. Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) said the proposal tied me in knots. He asked Schlichting if it was
important enough to fight this fight about its constitutionality. Giving away that authority is very, very hard to
do, Walz said. But I absolutely hear where youre coming from. In its testimony Wednesday, Concerned
Veterans for America (CVA) expressed support for a board, saying Obamas opposition amounted to defense of the
VA status quo. Darin Selnick, who is part of CVA and participated in the Commission on Care, said the
recommendation to establish a board was critical to reforming the VA. There was 100 percent agreement that if any
reform is actually going to happen you have to have that board of directors, Selnick said.
The commissions recommendation also sets a five-year appointment for the VA under secretary of health a
position that carries out the day-to-day operation of the veterans health administration. That idea gained support
Wednesday, and in his response last week, Obama said it would remove the position from the turmoil and turnover
of the political cycle. Committee members were also supportive of ideas to invest in the VAs information
technology, modernize its human resources department and better manage its facilities. Some committee members
and veterans service organizations balked at an idea to expand options for veterans to receive outside health care at
the VAs expense, pushing back against any more moves toward privatized care.

Page 19 of 112

The report recommends the VA do away with its temporary, $6 billion Choice Program and replace it with
community-based health care networks. Schlichting said whats suggested is a balance between over-broadening
what the VA would pay for in private health care and existing limitations that are causing really undue problems
for veterans. Schlichting was referring to a rule that veterans had to live at least 40 miles from a VA facility, or had
waited more than 30 days for treatment before the VA would pay for private care. In his response, Obama said he
favored a VA initiative, the Plan to Consolidate Community Care, which McDonald has said would consolidate
the VAs community health care programs and address gaps in how and when private care is administered.
Schlichting and Toby Cosgrove, vice chairman for the Commission on Care, were the only two people testifying
at the 7 SEP hearing. Ranking minority member Mark Takano (D-CA) said he was disappointed that an official of
the VA was not invited to attend. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee announced it would hold a hearing on the
report 14 SEP. Weve identified areas Congress does need to take action, Schlichting said. This is a bipartisan
issue. These are our vets, and its critically important we find a way to deliver better health care. [Source: Stars
And Stripes | Nikki Wentling | September 7, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Appointments Update 15

Ear & Eye Direct Scheduling Initiative

Veterans receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers will now be able to schedule
routine ear and eye appointments at local VA Audiology and Optometry clinics without a primary care referral a
move that eliminates multiple steps and gets Veterans into appointments quicker. Before now, Veterans seeking
appointments with audiologists or optometrists had to first make an appointment with a primary care physician for a
referral for a routine clinic consult visit. A clinic representative would contact the patient to set up the consult
appointment, which could result in a several weeks-long lag between the appointment and when the Veteran was
actually seen. The new process, the Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling Initiative, which began as a
successful pilot at three sites in 2015, is being expanded to all VA Medical Centers.
The Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling Initiative allows Veterans who need eye and ear care to be
seen sooner, said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. It also has the benefit of freeing up primary care physicians
so access to primary care improves for other Veterans as well. This kind of process improvement is exactly the type
of innovation we expected when we launched MyVA in 2014. In the end, we changed a VA process by considering
the needs of our Veterans, a change that allows for more timely care and an improved Veteran experience. The
Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling Initiative is one of a number of efforts underway at VA to improve
Veterans access to care and wait times. Recent accomplishments include:
VA and Choice contractors created more than 3.1 million authorizations for Veterans to receive care in the
private sector from May 1, 2015 through Apr. 30, 2016. This represents an 8-percent increase in
authorizations when compared to the same period in 2014/2015.
In FY 2015, 12 percent of all Veterans enrolled for VA care received telehealth-based care. This includes
more than 2 million telehealth visits touching 677,000 Veterans; 45 percent of these Veterans live in rural
areas.
In FY 2015, more than 6,300 Veterans accessed VA care through live interactive video telehealth from
home.
VA has activated over 3.9 million square feet of space in the past two years.
Weve increased authorizations for care in the community 46% in the past two years.
Clinic production is up 10 percent as measured by the same productivity standard used by many privatesector healthcare systems. This increase translates into roughly 20 million additional hours of care for
Veterans.

Page 20 of 112

As we improve access to care, more and more Veterans are choosing VA care for the quality, for the
convenience, or for the cost-savings so even though were completing millions more appointments, we
continue to have more work to do.
VA has increased salaries for physicians and dentists to close the pay gap with the private sector and to
make VA an employer of choice. With more competitive salaries, VA will be better positioned to retain and
hire more health care providers to care for Veterans.

We want our Veterans and those who care for them to know that we are doing everything that we can to
improve their experience with VA and to provide the care our Veterans deserve in a thoughtful and timely way,
said VA Under Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin.We have made progress, but know there is more work to be done.
This Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling Initiative is one of many initiatives underway to improve
Veterans access to care. The Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling Initiative is expected to be fully
operational within all VA Medical Centers by the end of 2016. [Source: VA News Release | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA PGx Testing

Life Saving Genetics Test Now Available

Scottsdale-based Advanced Genomic Solutions (AGS), an international leader in Pharmacogenomics (PGx),

announced an agreement with Genelex, the makers of YouScript, to bring the life-saving benefits of PGxtesting to
veterans and their doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Pharmacogenomics (PGx), the study of
how an individuals genetic makeup affects their response to drugs, can help get veterans on the correct medications
and start saving lives immediately. Every day an average of 20 veterans commit suicide. Many of these veterans are
unknowingly prescribed the wrong medications, which can contribute to worsening depression associated with
PTSD, suicidal ideation and other mental health issues.

PGx testing is gaining praise within the medical community, because it allows physicians to identify which
medications their patients will fail to process appropriately. With a simple cheek swab to collect a DNA sample,
doctors can avoid the trial and error prescribing process and choose appropriate medications to achieve the desired
results more rapidly. AGS is a champion for veterans and is bringing them ready access to this revolutionary
technology. While VA physicians have the ability to prescribe the test to veterans, few are aware of test availability
or fully understand the benefits it offers.
Helping veterans is more than good policy to AGS leadership; its personal. Lance Bennett, managing partner at
AGS, is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Military Intelligence Officer. In the U.S alone, AGS completed
more than 5,000 patient tests in 2015, but not one of those tests were for a veteran through the VA, Bennett said.
Partnering with Genelex to promote the PGx test will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of veterans in this
area, as well as the physicians that work so hard to provide them excellent care.
Nationally, the VA is currently contracted with Genelex to conduct comprehensive PGx testing. To help Veterans
... has entered into an agreement with Genelex to help increase the number of local veterans and physicians using
PGx testing. Were thrilled to join with the talented and dedicated team at AGS to help veterans ... take advantage

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of Genelexs YouScript driven PGX testing, said Howard Coleman, chairman of Genelex. We expect, with AGS
boots on the ground assistance, that VA facilities ... will serve as a national model for how to bring the benefits of
PGx testing to veterans nationwide, and well be able to expand the offering much more rapidly. [Source: AZ
Business Magazine | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Hepatitis C Care Update 14

107,000 Untreated or Undiagnosed

With more than $2 billion appropriated for new hepatitis C drugs during the past two years, the Department of
Veterans Affairs treated 65,000 veterans for the virus, but about 87,000 remain untreated and an additional 20,000
are undiagnosed. VA officials are seeking $1.5 billion in the 2017 fiscal year to treat more veterans, a group in
which hepatitis C is especially prevalent. Funding for the latest drugs, which have a high cure rate, is not the biggest
problem, said David Ross, director of the VAs HIV, Hepatitis and Public Health Pathogens Programs. Instead, its
challenge is finding ways to help veterans who are unwilling or unable to be screened or treated for the contagious
virus, which lives in liver cells and is the most common blood-borne disease in the U.S. Until two years ago, the
disease was considered incurable.
In some ways, the veterans already treated were the easiest to treat, Ross said. Ross and Tom Berger, a leader
within Vietnam Veterans of America, said there are several reasons that some veterans dont volunteer to be
screened or decline treatment. Some distrust the VA, are concerned with the stigma of hepatitis C and drug use, and
fear traditional drug treatment with severe side effects, they said. Some veterans who test positive for hepatitis C
suffer from mental illness or substance abuse issues that affect their ability to come in and take treatments
reliably, Ross said. For those veterans, he said, the VA needs to boost its psychological or psychosocial care.
Were running into issues of veterans more frequently having these other issues, Ross said. If someone has
alcohol or substance abuse issues, we want to integrate care for those conditions as well to get better outcomes. We
need those support systems.
The VA and Vietnam Veterans of America are specifically targeting Vietnam War-era veterans born between
1945 and 1965. In that group, 8 percent of veterans screened have tested positive for the virus. In comparison, about
1.6 percent of the general U.S. population is estimated to have it. The VA has screened 73 percent of Vietnam Warera veterans enrolled in the VA system. There are about 700,000 veterans born between 1945 and 1965 who still
must be screened, and the department is estimating about 20,000 of them have undiagnosed hepatitis C. Some blame
the virus on unsterilized medical syringes used by the military during the Vietnam War to inject vaccines. While that
is possible, Ross said, there hasnt been a documented case. Blood exposure during combat is another concern,
since transfusions were used in great number during the war. The virus also can be sexually transmitted or through
intravenous drug use, which was common in Vietnam.

The average cost per patient to receive the 12-week Sovaldi treatment now is $41,460, a discount of 47 percent from the
wholesale price, according to the VA.

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The VA has started to reach out to veterans with hepatitis C to inform them that they have the resources to test
and treat them, Ross said. Facilities have for months now been taking lists and just calling people and saying,
Would you like to come in? he said. Were trying to let people know were very committed to doing this, and
we have the resources to do it.
At one point, hepatitis C care was about money. When a new drug called Sovaldi came on the scene in 2013, it
was called a miracle said to work nearly 90 percent of the time with few side effects. But it came at a cost: $1,000
a pill. Insurance companies balked at the price; doctors were encouraged to reserve the drug for the most dire
hepatitis C patients. Until last spring, only VA patients with a progressed stage of hepatitis C were prescribed the
drug. People who didnt meet the criteria were redirected to Veterans Choice, an often-criticized program in which
veterans see non-VA health care providers at the VAs expense. At the time, Berger faulted the VA for choosing
which veterans received treatments, saying it was rationing care. The VA claimed it was not prepared financially to
start wholesale treatments, said Berger, who leads the Vietnam Veterans of America heath council. When I found
out that they were prioritizing the treatments, thats when I said they were death panels.
In March, the VA announced it would start treating all hepatitis C patients with Sovaldi, regardless of a veterans
age or the progression of the virus, because of increased funding from Congress and discounted drug prices. The
average cost per patient to receive the 12-week treatment now is $41,460, a discount of 47 percent from the
wholesale price, VA spokeswoman Sabrina Owen said. I know thats been a very, very controversial topic, Ross
said. Because of funding Congress provided, we said we want to treat everybody in-house. About 92 percent of
veterans treated since 2014 have been cured. In order to continue treatments, continued funding is essential, Ross
said. According to the VAs budget request, $1.5 billion in fiscal 2017 would provide treatments to approximately
35,000 veterans. But at the current price per treatment, it would cost more than $4.4 billion in taxpayer dollars to
treat the 107,000 veterans who are untreated or undiagnosed.
Funding was the third ingredient needed to boost the number of treatments behind the new drug and new,
regional systems that Ross helped put in place to treat patients in an organized way, he said. These things dont
happen by themselves, so that really was the third ingredient that was needed, Ross said. I think were very proud
so far. But we have a lot more work to do. Vietnam Veterans of America has lobbied since 1998 for the VA to
provide more hepatitis C treatments. The group plans to advocate for more funding for 2017 and in subsequent
years. If we get funds for 2018 and 2019, that will make a big dent, Berger said. Provided that we can get folks to
go in and get treated. [Source: Stars And Stripes | Nikki Wentling | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Geriatrics & Extended Care Update 01

An Aging Society

In 1960, just over 500,000 American veterans were 65 years old or older 2.3 percent of our veteran population. In
2020, over 9.4 million are projected to be 65 or older almost 47 percent of veterans. Aging veterans are a
harbinger of our nations aging population; between now and 2050, Americans aged 65 and over will grow from 15
percent to 22 percent of the population. Those 85 and older will grow from about 6 million to near 19 million.
Longer lives and advances in medicine are accompanied by increased needs for the treatment for chronic diseases
like diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and dementia. Three-fourths of U.S. health care expenditures are for chronic
disease.
Fortunately, we have a health care system with unparalleled expertise in geriatric care; its called the Veterans
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA leads the nation in addressing the care of an
aging society because one out of every two VA patients is a senior citizen. Of 22 million living American veterans,
over 6 million seek VA care in a given year; over 52 percent of these are age 65 and over. Though most of these
veterans are eligible for other care systems and insurance, most of them choose VA. VA has a visionary system of
Page 23 of 112

geriatric research, education and clinical centers (GRECCs) created by Congress in 1975 to guide VA in meeting
its mandate to care for Americas surviving warriors as they aged into their 70s, 80s and beyond. There are now 20
GRECCs in the 150 VA medical centers in the U.S. devoted to training health care professionals in assessing and
managing health needs of elderly clients. They perform pioneering work on the impacts of diet and exercise and
investigate diseases of aging, rehabilitation of stroke victims, the genetics and neurobiology of Alzheimers disease
and on the cellular mechanisms of Parkinsons disease, among many other accomplishments.
VA pioneered and broadly implemented home-based primary care in which clinicians make house calls to
veterans with serious, disabling diseases, and we established teams of clinicians in every medical center to provide
end-of-life care that provide comfort and dignity for veterans and their families when it is most needed. Since the
late 1940s, VA has maintained close working relationships with most U.S. medical schools. Over 70 percent of U.S.
physicians receive some clinical instruction in VA settings. Though there is an acute shortage of health personnel
with advanced training in geriatrics, VA has many initiatives to educate and train future clinical leaders in geriatrics.
This country owes its freedom to veterans, men and women who have borne the battle for us all. VA is setting the
bar in optimizing the well-being and independence of an increasingly elderly veteran-patient population. America
would do well to follow VAs lead as it prepares to address its looming geriatric challenges. [Source: Reno
Gazette-Journal | Robert A. McDonald & Richard C. Veith | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Commission on Care Update 08

Obama's Reform Response

President Obama has committed to more Veterans Affairs Department reforms, though he rejected several of the
core principles of change that a congressionally-chartered commission proposed to better deliver private sector
health options to VA care recipients. Overall, Obama told congressional leadership he agreed with 15 of the
Commission on Cares 18 recommendations. He rejected a proposal to restructure the Veterans Health
Administration governance, including the creation of an 11-member board of directors to set the agencys long-term
strategy. Obama said the Justice Department has told him the reform would violate the appointments clause of the
Constitution. The proposal would undermine the authority of the secretary and the under secretary for health,
weaken the integration of the VA health care system with the other services and programs provided by the VA and
make it harder -- not easier -- for VA to implement transformative change, Obama wrote in a letter to House and
Senate leaders.
The Commission on Care, created by a 2014 VA reform law to provide suggestions for the health care
component that houses 90 percent of VAs employees, issued its recommendations in July. Even before the
commission wrapped up its work, alternative proposals emerged in Congress, the veteran community, from
representatives of the VA workforce and even within the panel itself. Only 12 of the 15 commissioners signed their
name on the report, with the remaining members issuing a dissenting view the commissions chairwoman declined
to include in the final document. The commission proposed a new VHA Care system, made up of governmentowned, VA and Defense Department facilities, as well as VHA-credentialed community providers. Those partners
would be fully credentialed with appropriate education, training and experience, provide veteran access that meets
VHA standards, demonstrate high-quality clinical and utilization outcomes, demonstrate military cultural
competency, and have capability for interoperable data exchange, the commission said.
Obama said the plan was similar to one he sent to Congress last year, but maintained his approach was preferable
to the one laid out by the commission. Of particular note, I strongly support the commission's principle that
creating a high-performing, integrated health care system that encompasses both VA and private care is critical to
serving the needs of veterans, Obama said. He stressed, however, the importance of preserving the VAs health
care system and its multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach that provides veterans with not just mental
and physical care, but also other benefits and other services. The commissions plan, Obama said, would force
Page 24 of 112

untenable resource tradeoffs that would limit the ability of VA to carry out other parts of its mission on behalf of
veterans.
The president said many of the other recommendations are already under way at VA, including through Secretary
Bob McDonalds MyVA initiative. Obama noted VA is already enhancing clinical operations, establishing a more
consistent policy for appealing clinical decisions, eliminating disparities in how health care is delivered to veterans
from different backgrounds, modernizing IT systems and establishing new processes for leadership development and
performance management, as the commission proposed. On the personnel side, the commission called for a new
performance management system that could benchmark VHA leaders to the private sector and create performance
measures that reward top performers with awards. The panel suggested Congress empower VA with more direct
hiring authority and temporary rotations to allow more health experts to cycle through the department. The final
report included a proposal to shift all 300,000 VHA employees away from Title Five and onto Title 38 to provide
the department with more flexibility in pay, benefits and recruiting. While the change would be designed to ease
hiring and firing at the agency, the panel said the new system should maintain due process appeal rights and merit
system principles. It suggested, however, removing the Office of Personnel Managements oversight of the new
system.
Overall, the president praised the work of the commission and said he strongly supported the vast majority of
its suggestions. These recommendations underscore the fundamental challenges that face the VA health care
system, and the reforms needed to provide America's veterans with the high quality health care they need and
deserve -- both now and in the future, Obama wrote. He directed VA to develop plans to implement the
recommendations he agreed with that are not already under way, and said he would work with McDonald to send
Congress legislative proposals to enact the proposals that require new laws. For his part, McDonald said VA stands
firmly behind Obamas assessment of the commissions report. The secretary also noted the administrations plan
to reform access to private sector care would provide veterans with the full spectrum of health care services and
more choice without sacrificing VAs foundational health services on which many Veterans depend. The House
Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the commissions report in mid-Septemeber. [Source:
GovExec.com | Eric Katz } September 2, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Commission on Care Update 09

McDonald's Reform Response

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert A. McDonald is defending the agency once again, restating
its commitment to improve patient care access and timely appointment scheduling for veterans. Following President
Obamas final review of the Commission on Care report, McDonald issued a statement asserting that the VA agrees
with 15 out of the 18 suggestions in the report, and believes that it is feasible to implement their proposals. The
report, published at the end of June, summarized a number of shortcomings and potential threats to VAs success,
such as inconsistency between facilities, insufficient patient access to care, and staffing and financial needs. The
Commissions 18 recommendations sought to alleviate these problems and help keep the VA on an upward
trajectory toward better veteran care.
These recommendations ran the gamut of improving VA healthcare networks and boosting clinical operations.
Another recommendation urged VA to address healthcare equity by allocating resources and personnel to
identifying and addressing the root of care equity problems. The Commission also suggested VA create a VHA
Health Equity Action Plan. Although McDonald stated that the agency agreed with a majority of the Commissions
recommendations, he did site specific issue with their suggestion that the VA establish a VHA Board of Directors.
The Commission explained that a VHA Board of Directors could provide overall VHA Care System governance,
set a long-term strategy, and direct and oversee the transformation process. Ultimately, the Commission sought to

Page 25 of 112

address governance issues which indirectly caused VHA shortcomings such as the appointment availability
problems at many of the agencys facilities.
However, McDonald asserted that an agency board of directors would be inappropriate for constitutional and
practical reasons. Most problematically, this proposal would seem to establish VHA as an independent agency,
which would frustrate ongoing efforts to improve the Veterans experience by integrating Veterans health care and
services across VA, making it more difficult for Veterans to receive the quality care where, when, and how they
need it, McDonald added. Despite these sentiments, McDonald did say that the VA has established a party of
external advice, primarily to counsel the agencys MyVA initiative, which seeks to improve patient access to care.
The council is comprised of individuals who are both experts in the medical field and in military and veteran life.
These are innovative, resourceful, respected leaders who are advising us on transformation. They know business.
They know customer service. And, they know Veterans, McDonald said.
The secretary reiterated the agencys commitment to improving care access for veterans, but underscored the
imperative for the VA to remain an independent agency free from privatization. Citing Veteran Service
Organizations (VSOs) viewpoints, McDonald stated that the VA is the best place for veterans to access healthcare to
meet their unique physical and mental health needs. Many VSOs fear that the Commissions vision would
compromise VAs ability to provide specialized care for spinal cord injury, prosthetics, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other mental health needs, which the private sector is not as equipped to provide,
McDonald explained. We share their concern and therefore do not support any policies or legislation that will lead
to privatization, which I am pleased the Commission did not recommend outright. Privatization is not
transformational. Its more along the lines of dereliction of duty.
Ultimately, McDonald concluded, VA requires guidance from Congress, which he says is its board of
directors. If Veterans are to receive the care and services they deserve, Congress must do its job as our board.
Abdicating leadership and constitutional responsibilities by creating more bureaucracy hurts Veterans and slows the
progress of our MyVA transformation, McDonald said. We, along with VSOs, have worked hard with
Republicans and Democrats in Congress to develop these critical pieces of legislation, he continued. I call on
leadership from both parties to put political expediency aside and do what is best for our Veterans and for taxpayers.
Only then will we be able to truly transform VA into the 21st century organization Veterans deserve.
The agency has repeatedly been called into question regarding the availability of doctors appointments for
veterans. In response to those critiques, McDonald cited some of the VAs progress, stating that between 2014 and
2015 the agency had increased community care appointments by 20 percent. Just recently, the agency proposed a
rule allowing advanced practice nurse practitioners to practice at the top of their licenses. VA intended this proposal
to increase access to care by empowering more qualified caregivers. However, problems still persist. Average
appointment wait times are five days for primary care, six days for specialty care, and two days for mental health
care. Through the initiatives McDonald has proposed, this wait times may decrease, ideally so that veterans can
access all types of care in a timely fashion. [Source: Patient Engagement HIT | Sara Heath | September 02, 2016
++]
*****************************

VA Accountability Update 37

Still Lacking in Helman Case

Heres the latest confounding twist in Congress continuing efforts to force more accountability from top employees
of the Department of Veterans Affairs: The disgraced former head of the Phoenix (Ariz.) Veterans Hospital is
appealing her dismissal by Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, even though she was fired in part for
accepting expensive illegal gifts while in office. Sharon Helman claims that Secretary McDonald used an
unconstitutional law to get rid of her. And the Justice Department, astonishingly, agrees. That continues a
convoluted pattern of VA officials evading responsibility for assorted misdeeds including falsifying hospital
Page 26 of 112

records to hide their failure to provide prompt treatment to veterans. Rather than waiting for the courts to render a
decision on the Helman suit, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced in June that her department will not defend
it. And Secretary McDonald said he will not use the expedited firing authority provided him in 2014 by Congress.
The crux of the problem? The 2014 law required Helman to appeal her firing to an administrative law judge, a
normal procedure in federal personnel actions. But Helmans attorney argues that she has a constitutional right to
appeal to a presidential appointee or a duly appointed federal court. Of course, if that right were afforded every
federal official fired for non-performance, the appeals process could take years. And regardless of which
administration is in charge, getting rid of the large and lingering ranks of non-performers in federal agencies,
including the VA, would clog the courts.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) correctly denounced the decisions by the Justice Department and Secretary
McDonald. He said the Obama administrations position suggests the sanctity of a federal bureaucrats job is far
more important than the health and well-being of our veterans. In a letter to Secretary McDonald, Sen. McCain
added: You are unilaterally refusing to enforce key elements of this very law. This decision is unconscionable and
outrageous. A coalition of a dozen veterans organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, has rushed to
the rescue of reason. It has appealed to the court hearing the Helman case to let it argue for upholding the
accountability provision of the 2014 law. The veterans coalitions brief says the court should not allow the 2014 law
to be simply struck down without any adversarial presentation of the issues, analysis of the substantial arguments
and authorities supporting the statutes constitutionality, or even considering less extreme remedies.
The veterans groups rightly claim standing to intervene on behalf of the nations active duty military personnel
and all veterans. Naturally, the Department of Veterans Affairs objects, in effect welcoming a court ruling
overturning its decision to fire Ms. Helman. In other words, the VA cant make up its mind. The best hope now is
that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which is considering Ms. Helmans appeal, will restore logic to
this legal mess. And in the overdue process, the judges should give Congress and future administrations some
practical means of holding VA officials accountable for their actions. Americas veterans have sacrificed so much to
serve our nation so well. They must not continue to suffer from incompetence in many cases extended by outright
deceit from the agency assigned to serve their needs. [Source: Charleston South Carolina's The Post & Courier |
August 31, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Clinton VA Plan Update 01

American Legion Convention Comments

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton used her appearance at the American Legions annual convention
31 AUG to again attack Republican rival Donald Trump as an unstable, unworthy pick to be Americas next
commander in chief. Threatening to walk away from our alliances, ignoring the importance that they still are to us,
is not only wrong, it is dangerous, she told a crowd of veterans gathered at the Cincinnati event. If I am your
president, our friends will always know, America will have your backs, and we expect you to have ours. You dont
build a coalition by insulting our friends or acting like a loose cannon. You do it through slow, hard work of
building relationships.
The speech, which largely focused on foreign policy and military readiness issues, echoed most of the same
themes and promises that Clinton made at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in late July. The former
secretary of state pledged to reform and strengthen (the Department of Veterans Affairs) and not privatize it. She
outlined plans to improve womens care in VA hospitals, boost resources for mental health treatment and end the
epidemic of veterans suicide through an intense focus on the issue. She also reiterated plans to review military
personnel policies, finding ways to better recruit and retain top talent to the active-duty force. Clinton has proposed
more flexibility in duty assignments and more family assistance programs for troops, in an effort to ease the stress of
service.
Page 27 of 112

At the Legion event, she also promised renewed investment in military research and technology, and promised a
renewed focus and response to potential cyber attacks against American infrastructure. As president, I will make it
clear that the United States will treat cyber attacks just like any other attacks, she said. We will be ready with
serious political, economic and military responses. We are going to invest in protecting our governmental network
and our national infrastructure. I want us to lead the world in setting the rules of cyberspace. If America does not,
others will. She referenced gaffes by Trump on the campaign trail by promising she will never insult Gold Star
families or prisoners of war, and implied that a Trump presidency could lead to global chaos and destruction, some
of the harshest accusations of an already bitter campaign fight. Make no mistake, I believe we do have better days
ahead, she said. But things could also get worse. If more countries get nuclear weapons, if we abandon our allies,
if our commander in chief orders our military to break the laws and commit torture or murder terrorists' family
members. That is why it is so critical we get this right. Trump had his chance at rebuttal on those points at the
Legion convention on 1 SEP. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | August 31, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military Sexual Trauma Update 04

VA MST Screening

VA is committed to understanding the health effects of military sexual trauma (MST) and providing resources for
Veterans who have experienced it. MST is sexual harassment or sexual assault that happens during military service.
It can happen to both men and women, and can continue to affect Veterans after they leave the military. Since 2002,
VA has conducted MST screening for all Veterans using VA health care. Among recent Veterans who responded to
the National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans survey, including those who used VA health
care and those who did not, 41% of women and 4% of men screened positive for MST.
Research on MST and mental health
VA conducted the National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans survey study of 20,563
Veterans, including those deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF) and non-deployed Veterans. Researchers looked at responses to MST clinical screening questions and
compared the differences in depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among
men and women with MST. Overall, researchers found that men had a higher prevalence of mental health conditions
compared to women. One reason may be that women are more likely to seek treatment for MST. Those reporting
MST also reported:
Major or other depressive syndrome (Women: 27%, Men 35%)
Anxiety (Women: 17%, Men 20%)
Alcohol abuse (Women: 20%, Men 37%), PTSD (Women: 19%, Men 27%)
VA offers a variety of resources to help male and female Veterans who have experienced MST. The condition
does not need to be service connected. Treatment is free and there are no time limits on eligibility. Veterans do not
need to have reported an incident or have documentation that it happened. To learn about VA services and benefits
for Veterans who have experienced MST, including treatment, recovery services, and other resources refer to
www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp . Additionally:
At www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/mst/VA_Health_Care_Services_MST_May_2016.pdf is an overview of
all VA services in the fact sheet Quick Facts About VAs Health Care Services for Military Sexual
Trauma (MST)
For help with treatment and health care, ask to speak to the MST Coordinator at your local VA medical
center. Some Vet Centers across the country also offer MST counseling. To find your local VA medical
center or Vet Center refer to www.va.gov/directory/guide.
Call VAs general information hotline at 1-800-827-1000 for information on VA benefits.

Page 28 of 112

To learn about other research findings on MST in recent Veterans check out the info provided at
www.publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/new-generation/military-sexual-trauma-infographic.asp.

[Source: Post 9/11 Vet Newsletter | Fall 2016 ++]

*****************************

PTSD Update 219

Vietnam Vet's Disconnect w/VA

So where is the disconnect? Dr. Harry Croft, a psychiatrist in San Antonio, said one of the biggest challenges for
veterans dealing with the VA is understanding how the system works. The treatment part is completely separate
from the compensation and pension part, he said. Its not uncommon to find a veteran who has been rated 100
percent disabled, but has never had medical treatment, he said. For more than two decades, Croft has been
contracted by the VA to process disability claims and before that, he treated soldiers in the drug and alcohol
program at Fort Sam Houston. Croft co-wrote a book called I Always Sit With My Back to the Wall about PTSD.
There are many contributing factors that made it hard for Vietnam veterans to initially get through the VA system
that delayed their care. The Vietnam vets came home to a country that treated them terribly, he said. Many didnt
realize they had PTSD so after the war, they checked the box that meant they could go home right away. Even if
they tried to get treatment early on, Vietnam veterans werent treated very well by the VA, he said. Not much was
known about PTSD or shell shock as it was called. Now its commonly recognized as a response to lifethreatening trauma. An estimated 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime, according to the
VA. Its certainly not from weakness of will or a character flaw, he said. Croft explains the disorder into four sets
of symptoms:
Unwanted recollection or flashbacks
Avoidance or conscious effort not to talk about the trauma
Negative thoughts and emotions that makes it difficult to enjoy lifes positives.
Hyperarousal or hypervigilance.
Croft says it wasnt until the veterans from more recent wars started coming home and signing up for benefits
and medical treatment that Vietnam veterans returned to the VA. But after so many years, many had turned to selfmedication or drugs and grew more distrustful of the VA. The fact that they had to live with this for 40 years pissed
a lot of them off, he said. They showed up at the VA angry. Some are labeled troublemakers, he said. Getting
treatment now unfortunately wont be as effective as it would have been back then, Croft said. Its a frustrating
system, and I dont know that there are good answers, he said. [Source: Victoria Advocate | Laura Garcia |
September 3, 2016++]
*****************************

VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse

Reported 1 thru 15 SEP 2016

Washington, DC Demanding explanations for a $1 billion cost overrun, a House panel 7 SEP issued a subpoena
to the Department of Veterans Affairs for documents on how the cost of a Denver-area VA hospital ballooned to
almost $1.7 billion. That figure was nearly triple earlier estimates. The subpoena approved by the House Veterans
Affairs Committee also seeks documents related to millions of dollars spent on artwork and ornamental furnishings
at VA offices nationwide, including more than $6.4 million spent on the Palo Alto, Calif., health care system. The
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chairman of the veterans panel, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) said it was "unfortunate that VA's continued lack of
transparency has led us to this decision" to issue the subpoena, but said lawmakers had little choice. "We will not
accept VA trying to pull the wool over the eyes of this committee and the American people for poor decisionmaking and waste of funds," Miller said.
The GOP-led panel approved the subpoena by voice vote. Democrats objected, saying they worried that
documents related to the Aurora, Colo. hospital could jeopardize agency whistleblowers who have helped officials
learn the true scope of the cost overruns at the facility, considered one of the biggest boondoggles in the agency's
history. Miller and other Republicans said the committee has a track record of protecting whistleblowers and the
subpoena will not lead to the release of personally identifiable information. The committee has been seeking
documents related to the Denver hospital for months. The VA gave Congress a summary of an internal inquiry, but
not the supporting documents, despite repeated requests from lawmakers. The summary hasn't been made public,
and the VA has not responded to an open records request from The Associated Press to release it. Deputy VA
Secretary Sloan Gibson has said making the documents public could have a chilling effect on future internal
investigations.
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) called approval of the subpoena a win for taxpayers and veterans alike. "Veterans
and the American people deserve answers on what drove over $1 billion in cost overruns and years of delay" in
completing the Aurora hospital, said Coffman, whose district includes Aurora. As chairman of a subcommittee on
oversight and investigation, Coffman pushed a bill through Congress that transferred control of the Aurora project to
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Panel chairman Miller said he has been seeking documents related to art
contracts for more than year, following reports that the VA's Palo Alto Health Care System spent more than $6.4
million on artwork and other furnishings, including two sculptures that cost nearly $500,000. The subpoena seeks
information on purchases of artwork and ornamental furnishings nationwide since 2010. [Source: The Associated
Press| September 7, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oIndependence, MO A Missouri man who admits he passed himself off as a Navy veteran and fraudulently
received more than $234,000 in benefits has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. Sixtythree-year-old Eric D. Smith of Independence also was ordered 8 SEP in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri, to
repay $234,461. That restitution includes payments to additional agencies victimized by Smith when he engaged in
similar fraud in Maryland, Georgia and Florida. Smith pleaded guilty in February in Missouri to one count each of
violating the False Claims Act and of student loan fraud. He admitted that he assumed the identity of a Navy veteran
from October 2012 through April 2014, along the way fraudulently obtaining a Veterans Affairs identification card
and VA health care benefits. [Source: Associated Press - Thursday, September 8, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oMilan, IA A Milan man will spend a year in prison for the theft of veteran's benefits over a period of 13 years.
U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow on Thursday ordered Peter W. Cooper, 59, of Milan, to serve the time in prison
and to pay $178,789 in restitution to the Veterans Administration. He will report to a designated federal prison on 17
OCT to begin his sentence. On 5 MAY, Cooper pled guilty to information that charged him with one count of theft
of veterans benefits. He admitted that he continued to receive benefit payments that were paid to his adoptive
mother, after her death in 2003. At the time, Cooper's mother had been receiving payments from the VA under the
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program, based on the previous active duty on the part of her late
husband. Those benefits are paid to a surviving spouse until the spouse dies or remarries. In 2014, the Office of the
Inspector General at the VA matched its records with Social Security death records, and noticed that while Cooper's
mother had died in 2003, the payments had continued. These payments were being deposited monthly in a bank
account, in the name of Cooper and his late mother. Cooper, an employee of the Army Corps of Engineers at the
Rock Island Arsenal, had been withdrawing the payment monthly and spending it, or transferring it to other
accounts. [Source: Quad-City Times | Deirdre Cox Baker | September 9, 2016 ++]
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*****************************

GI Bill Update 208

ITT Closing All Of Its Campuses

Last week after ITT Tech stopped enrolling students following the handing down of federal sanctions; September
6th, they announced that they were closing their doors for good. ITT Tech and other for-profit colleges have been
widely criticized for accepting billions of dollars in government grants and loans while failing to provide adequate
job training for its students. Last year, ITT Tech received an estimated $580 million in federal student aid/loan
money (aka taxpayer dollars), according to the Department of Education. One week after ITT Tech was prohibited
from accepting federal aid, the whole company shut down.
The swift closure of all of its campuses should indicate exactly how far the company went to recruit students
using federal aid. Of course, theres nothing wrong with providing federal loans to students who are seeking higher
education, but ITT Tech often went a step further: The companys recruiters preyed on students who didnt
understand the lifelong burden of debt and shouldnt have been seeking a technical degree. A report from The
Atlantic recently revealed that students pursuing bachelors and associates degrees at for-profit colleges saw their
earnings drop, compared to before they started the program. The reason is because students at for-profit colleges
are less likely to finish their degrees, have a higher risk of living in poverty, and students often become burdened by
debt without learning any new technical skills.
The sanctions imposed against ITT Technical Institute last week were described by many experts as a death
sentence. The sanctions prevented ITT Tech from receiving any federal aid for tuition and also required ITT Tech
to increase its cash reserves from $94.4 million to $247.3 million. The cash reserves were created to help support
students in case the company closed. Now that ITT Tech is officially closed, the company is not saying how it will
use its reserves. If you are a veteran attending ITT using the GI Bill, or you know someone who is, be sure to take a
look at the information at Veterans Education Success [http://veteranseducationsuccess.org] on how to best
preserve your benefit. There are some important decisions that you need to make quickly! [Source: TREA Update |
September 6, 2016 ++]

* Vets *

Wisconsin Veterans Homes Update 04:

Concerns | Audit Approved

Concerns about treatment of veterans at Wisconsin's largest veterans home will be investigated. The co-chairs of the
Legislature's Audit Committee said 31 AUG they support approving an audit for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at
King. The push to look into King has intensified since the Cap Times published a story on 29 AUG raising questions
about dismal care, medical errors and prolonged staffing shortages. Gov. Scott Walker's spokesman Tom Evenson
says that the claims will be investigated as part of a review by the state Department of Health Services' Division of
Page 31 of 112

Quality Assurance. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs issued a statement noting that the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs has not cited a single health care deficiency in reviews done this year or last at King.
[Source: Associated Press | August31, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Vet Toxic Exposure | Lejeune Update 63

Proposed Regs

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has published proposed regulations to establish presumptions for the
service connection of eight diseases affecting military members exposed to contaminants in the water supply at
Camp Lejeune, N.C. The presumptive illnesses apply to active duty, reserve and National Guard members who
served for no less than 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and are
diagnosed with the following conditions:
Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Multiple myeloma
Non-hodgkins lymphoma
Parkinsons disease
We have a responsibility to take care of those who have served our Nation and have been exposed to harm as a
result of that service, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. Establishing a presumption for
service at Camp Lejeune will make it easier for those Veterans to receive the care and benefits they deserve.
Environmental health experts on VAs Technical Workgroup conducted comprehensive reviews of scientific
evidence, which included analysis and research done by the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Environmental Protection Agency, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program, and the National Academies of Science.
Military members with records of service showing no less than 30 days of service, either concurrent or
cumulative, at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period can already be granted Veteran status for medical
benefits, following passage of the Honoring Americas Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of
2012. In the early 1980s, volatile organic compounds, trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal degreaser, and
perchloroethylene, a dry cleaning agent (PCE), as well as benzene, and vinyl chloride were discovered in two onbase water supply systems at Camp Lejeune. These systems served the housing, administrative, and recreational
facilities, as well as the base hospital. The contaminated wells supplying the water systems were shut down in
February 1985.
VA acknowledges that current science establishes a link between exposure to certain chemicals found in the
water supply at Camp Lejeune and later development of one of the proposed presumptive conditions. However, VA
experts agree that there is no scientific underpinning to support a specific minimum exposure level for any of the
conditions. Therefore, VA welcomes comments on the 30-day minimum exposure requirement and will consider
other practical alternatives when drafting the final rule. VA also notes that the proposed 30-day requirement serves
to establish eligibility for service connection on a presumptive basis; nothing in this proposed regulation prohibits
consideration of service connection on a non-presumptive basis. The 30-day public comment period on the proposed
rule is open until Oct.10, 2016. [Source: VA News Release | September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Page 32 of 112

Vet Toxic Exposure | Qarmat Al

Medical Surveillance Program

During the spring and summer of 2003, approximately one thousand U.S. Servicemembers, including National
Guard, Reserve, and active duty soldiers, guarded the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Facility in the Basrah oil fields
in Iraq. Those Servicemembers may have been exposed to toxic hexavalent chromium from exposure to sodium
dichromate dust. Hexavalent chromium is a chemical known to cause lung cancer and other medical conditions,
including nasal and skin irritations and respiratory problems. It is only produced through industrial processes for
specific purposes. At the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Facility, the chromium was used as an anti-corrosive for the
water pipes, and was found on the ground after bags of the chemical were opened at the site.
In an effort to monitor the health of Veterans who may have been exposed to hexavalent chromium at the Qarmat
Ali Water Treatment Facility, VA established the Qarmat Ali Medical Surveillance Program. Under the program,
VA provides medical screenings free of any charge or copay. Veterans who participate in the program may receive
an exam including:
Complete physical exam with emphasis on the ears, nose and throat, lungs, and skin
Pulmonary function tests
VA does not expect to find many serious Qarmat Ali-related illnesses. If any abnormalities are found,
participants will be referred to the proper medical specialist. If you served at the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment
Facility, contact your local Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn
(OEF/OIF/OND) Program Manager to make an appointment to enroll in the VA Qarmat Ali Medical Surveillance
Program or to schedule your follow-up exam. To find your local OEF/OIF/OND program office visit
www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp. Eligible Veterans may also be contacted directly by VA regarding their participation.
To learn more visit www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/qarmat-ali. [Source: Post 9/11 Vet Newsletter | Fall 2016
++]
*****************************

Vet Toxic Exposure | CWAs

VA/DoD Documentation Effort

Servicemembers who handled or demolished explosive ordnances during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and
Operation New Dawn (OND) may have been exposed to toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs), such as mustard
agents or sarin, and may experience related health effects. VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) are working to
identify and contact active duty Servicemembers and Veterans who may have been exposed to CWAs. If you
believe you may have been exposed to CWAs and have not already been contacted, please call the DoD hotline at 1800-497-6261. VA and DoD would like to ensure that your exposures are documented, and that you are aware of
any related health care benefits. Visit www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/chemical-warfare-agents-oif for more
information on exposure to CWAs. [Source: Post 9/11 Vet Newsletter | Fall 2016 ++]
*****************************

Arlington National Cemetery Update 62

New Security Precautions

Arlington National Cemetery is phasing in enhanced security measures for those who visit the cemetery, officials
announced today. In addition to random ID checks and other security measures already in place, officials said, the
cemetery will require visitors to go through additional screening. Arlington is taking advanced security precautions
to protect visitors, family members and staff, said Patrick K. Hallinan, Arlington National Cemetery executive
director. These security measures will be similar to the ones at museums in the national capital region. The new
security measures will enhance current efforts and improve visitor safety while minimizing inconvenience, officials

Page 33 of 112

said. All vehicle access will require presenting valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a drivers
license or passport, when entering the cemetery. Vehicles will be subject to random inspections. Family members
with permanent gravesite vehicle passes may continue to drive to their loved ones grave with a valid drivers
license.
Starting in November, Arlington National Cemetery will begin to implement visitor screening. All pedestrian
traffic will be required to enter the cemetery at set access points: the main entrance on Memorial Avenue, the Ord
and Weitzel gate, and the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Old Post Chapel gate. Before entering the cemetery from
the main entrance, all pedestrians will be screened through the Welcome Center, with express screening lines for
visitors who do not have bags. People with disabilities also will have an express line for screening, officials said.
Arlington officials urge people to allow additional time to go through security screening when visiting the cemetery,
especially large tour groups. These processes may result in a delay entering Arlington, but it is vitally important
that we protect the safety of all the visitors, family members and staff that enter these hallowed grounds, Hallinan
said. This is our nation's premier national cemetery, and we want to be sure that when people visit this site, they
can feel safe and secure. [Source: DoD Daily Digest Bulletin | September 13, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Vet Fraud & Abuse

Reported 1 thru 15 SEP 2016

Highland Falls, CA -- Two men pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to felonies in separate cases involving elder
abuse to veterans, the Orange County District Attorney's Office says. On 1 SEP, Perry Coniglio, 43, of Highland
Falls, pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and
Dennis Mahoney, 68, of Walden, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny. In July, Town of Highlands police
said Coniglio held an 81-year-old Marine veteran prisoner for five years, forcing him to hand over the proceeds of
his Social Security and other benefits checks. Police arrested Coniglio in a night raid in his room adjoining the
victims at the U.S. Academy Motel on Main Street, next door to town police headquarters. A Highlands detective
said at the time that Coniglio used brute force and intimidation to get the elderly and mentally diminished veteran
to cooperate.

Perry Coniglio

At the time, Coniglio was charged with a felony, several misdemeanors and a violation, none of which is the
same charge to which he pleaded guilty. Prosecutors say Coniglio admitted that between July 19, 2014, and July 19,
2016, he knew the victim was unable to take care of himself because of dementia but failed to get him to a doctor
despite knowing it would hurt the veteran's mental and physical welfare. Prosecutors said Coniglio prepared all of
the veteran's meals, gave him clothes, cleaned him, trimmed his beard and hair, drove him to the bank to withdraw
money several times a month, but that he also used the man's money, much of it from the Veteran's Administration,
to pay for his own rent at the hotel. Prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to to four years in state
prison when Coniglio returns to court Oct. 7.
In the second case, Mahoney pleaded guilty on 30 AUG to defrauding an elderly disabled veteran out of $5,800
and a New Windsor hotel out of $2,376. Prosecutors say Mahoney worked for a veteran's service organization when
Page 34 of 112

he first met the victim but later left the organization. In 2015, Mahoney pretended he was still with the organization
and promised the victim that the organization could get him an apartment in the state of Florida. In the process,
Mahoney convinced the veteran to give him $5,800 to pay for furniture for the place. Instead the victim moved to a
New Windsor hotel where Mahoney promised the hotel that the organization would pay for the room as well. That
did not happen. Prosecutors are recommending a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to seven years in state prison when
goes back to court 4 OCT. [Source: Times Herald-Record | James Nani | September 1, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oChicago, IL -- A man has admitted guilt in a plot that scammed a Trenton senior citizen out of nearly $40,000.
Walter Samuel Hall Jr., 61, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court to felony theft and made
the first restitution payment of $6,500 to the 92-year-old victim. Hall was arrested in July following an investigation
by the Butler County prosecutors office. The victim, a WWII Navy veteran and Armco retiree, was first told by
police that likely noting could be done about the scam, according to Prosecutor Mike Gmoser.

Walter Samuel Hall Jr.

The man was manipulated by callers who falsely informed the 90-year-old that he won $7.5 million in a
sweepstakes he never entered. In order to collect his winnings, the man was instructed to send multiple payments to
an address in Chicago to cover taxes and insurance on the winnings. The investigative team gathered evidence
necessary for the indictment against Hall, who was actually located in the country, according to Gmoser. I love it
when a plan comes together, Gmoser said. Hall was an employee of the city of Chicago utility department and the
scam operation was a cottage industry for him, Gmoser said. Sentencing for Hall is scheduled for 1 NOV by Judge
Charles Pater. He faces a maximum of 36 months in prison. Anyone who has a tip about a scam or crimes against
the elderly can call the prosecutors hotline at 1-888 662-3673. [Source: Journal-News | Lauren Pack | September
13, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Vet Jobs Update 196

10 Places to Look Into

Veterans searching for jobs after the military don't tend to want just any old job. The hard-chargers who love a
challenge want the best of the best. They have something to offer and want to leverage their experience and work
ethic toward a successful career. One place to start looking for such a career is the Forbes list of "The World's
Biggest Public Companies" at http://www.forbes.com/global2000/list/#tab:overall. Jobs that veterans might want to
consider in these companies include such categories as management, logistics, sales, banking and finance. For
example, a search on Monster.com for Citibank shows such jobs as personal banker, branch manager, area director
and plenty more. Apple, Verizon and Walmart will have more sales jobs, but also managerial and other roles.
What follows are the top 10 U.S. companies from the list. Also included are employee reviews of the companies,
courtesy of the website https://www.kununu.com/us . If you have an interest in working for the biggest public
companies, check out.
1. Berkshire Hathaway - Number 4 on the overall world list, Berkshire Hathaway is an American conglomerate
holding company. It wholly owns such companies as GEICO, Dairy Queen and Fruit of the Loom, and is controlled
Page 35 of 112

and led by Warren Buffett. Jobs for veterans range from network administrator, economics, marketing, accounting
and many more. Kununu Rating: 4 out of 5.
2. JPMorgan Chase - Number 5 on the overall list, JPMorgan Chase is known for its consumer business and
commercial banking. Jobs can include investment banker, bank teller, wealth management and more. Kununu
Rating: 3.9 out of 5.
3. Wells Fargo - Third on this list is Wells Fargo, which came in at number 7 on the overall world list. This is
another financial institution, so veterans interested in banking and finance would do well here. As with JPMorgan
Chase, jobs include banking and wealth management, as well as those of most companies such as project managers.
Kununu Rating: 3.8 out of 5.
4. Apple - Came in at number 8 on the overall list, and is probably the most well-known of the companies listed
here (to the younger generation of veterans, at least). Jobs can include working at Apple stores or corporate
headquarters, where positions include standard ones such as project managers -- but also creative roles on the design
side, as well as software engineering, marketing, operations, finance, and even real estate and development. Kununu
Rating: 3.9 out of 5.
5. ExxonMobil - Number 9 overall, ExxonMobil is well known for its work in oil and natural gas. Jobs that veterans
might want to consider here are much broader than that, however, and include such roles as banking analysts,
machinery engineers, chemists and more. Kununu Rating: 4.4 out of 5.
6. Bank of America - Coming in at number 11 on the overall list, this is another financial institution. Jobs will be
similar to ones listed for the previously mentioned banks, including tellers, project managers, and various roles in
management. Kununu Rating: 3.3 out of 5.
7. AT&T - The first telecommunications corporation on the list, AT&T came in at 12 on the overall list. As you
might have noticed, most large companies will have the same corporate jobs, such as project managers and network
administrators. More specific to AT&T are such jobs as retail at its cell phone stores, call centers, and jobs related to
the government. Kununu Rating: 3.2 out of 5.
8. Citigroup - Another financial institution on the list that came in at number 13 on the overall list. Veterans might
want to work for Citigroup if they have aspirations to work in investment or commercial banking. The career page
of Citigroup often lists a relatively large number of retail banking and branch manager positions. Kununu Rating:
2.1 out of 5.
9. Verizon Communications - Another telecommunications company on the list, Verizon came in at 15 on the
overall list. Like AT&T, Verizon has retail positions, data analytics, security analysts and IT specialists. Kununu
Rating: 3.7 out of 5
10. Walmart - The multinational retail corporation that we're all surely familiar with made number 15 on the overall
list. There are security jobs, checkout clerks, communications and corporate affairs, business analytics and
intelligence, engineering, supply chain management, and many other positions similar to what you will find at other
top companies. Kununu Rating: 3.4 out of 5.
[Source: Military.com | Justin Sloan | August 17, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Obit: Hugh O'Brian

5 SEP 2016

Marine veteran and actor Hugh OBrian died 5 SEP at age 91 in California, according to the Hugh OBrian Youth
Leadership website. OBrian, who is best known for portraying Sheriff Wyatt Earp in TV's The Life and Legend of
Wyatt Earp, enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 during World War II, and became a drill instructor, according to
the HOBY organizations website. According to the National Archives and Records Administration, OBrian served

Page 36 of 112

as a tank crewman. He spent four years in the Marines before being honorably discharged as a corporal and pursuing
a career in acting. His breakthrough happened in 1955 when he starred in the series about Earp, which aired from
1955 to 1961 and was said to be televisions first adult Western. The Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership organization
was e stablished in 1958 with a mission of inspiring and developing the global community of youth and volunteers
to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. OBrian founded the organization after spending nine days
with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who advocated empowering youth to think for themselves,
according to the organizations website. [Source: Military Times | Charlsy Panzino | September 6, 2016 ++]

*****************************

Obit: Joe Hosteen Kellwood

5 SEP 2016

Joe Hosteen Kellwood, a Navajo Code Talker from World War II, died 5 SEP in Phoenix at the age of 95.
Kellwood served with distinction in the 1st Marine Division as a Navajo Code Talker, ultimately helping lead the
Allied forces to victory in WWII," Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said in a news release. "Today, as Arizonans celebrate
the life of this amazing man, let us pray for his family, his friends, and the Navajo Nation. And let us never forget
the countless contributions that code talkers have made to our state and our country. A spokesman for the Navajo
Nation confirmed Kellwood's passing. In Navajo and in English, people sent condolences over social media to
Kellwood's family.
Ahe'hee, Mr. Joe Kellwood. Thank you, Marine.
Rest in Peace, Brave Warrior. Thank you for your service. My condolences to the family and to the Navajo
Nation.
Oh Ya'at'h d'. So Sad and Sorry...Your Uncle is now made his journey to be with family in a world
different with the Holy People as he is now.
Messages trickled in on social-media sites dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers across the nation. Photos of
Kellwood were posted at https://www.facebook.com/rememberthosewhoserved/posts/1072714676111119: the
Facebook page for the Greatest Generations Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to veterans recording the legacies of
veterans. In one photo, the young soldier with a crew cut is kneeling in the grass, holding a rifle. In a photo taken
decades later, Kellwoods graying hair is tucked under the signature red cap that Navajo Code Talkers wore.

Page 37 of 112

In a 1999 interview with Arizona Republic reporter Betty Reid, Kellwood remembered leaving Phoenix to join
the Marines. He was 78 at the time of the interview, but 21 when he joined the Marines in 1942. He told his sister,
Da'ahijigaagoo deya, or, "I'm going to war," according to the 1999 interview. He was trained at the Navajo Talkers
School at Camp Elliott in San Diego. In the interview, he remembered a moment when his sacred rituals conflicted
with military rules. He had boarded a transport ship headed for Melbourne, Australia, where he would join the 1st
Marine Division, 5th Marine Regiment.
Kellwood had corn pollen, a gift from his uncle, who told him in Navajo to use it during his journey. His uncle
called the Pacific Ocean a mother figure for their people. In the Republic interview, Kellwood said his uncle had
told him to stand by the ocean, place corn pollen in his mouth, on his head, into the air, and pray to the Holy People.
Rather than ask his ranking officers for permission, Kellwood mixed a piece of gum with corn pollen. He chewed it
into a ball and spat it into the ocean. The ritual gave him confidence he would return safely. "I was never scared
during battles because I told Mama Water to take care of me," Kellwood said in the 1999 Republic interview. "We
had to feel like we were bigger than the enemy in battle. I had my prayer and my chewing gum." [Source: USA
Today Network | Dianna M. Nez | September 7, 2016 ++]
*****************************

WWII Vets [117]

John Diffin | Paratrooper

John Diffin bristled a little under all the attention. The retired sergeant major had been at Womack Army Medical
Center for days, but proudly said he only hit his alert button once or twice. And even then, all the old paratrooper
wanted was a razor. "I hadn't shaved in two days," Diffin said from his hospital bed, where he was being treated for
having fluid in his lungs. "Even in war time, I shaved every day." Diffin is that rare veteran, a lifetime paratrooper
who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before his retirement in 1975. At that time, he was the last serving
World War II veteran in the 82nd Airborne Division and had earned seven Purple Hearts, seven Bronze Stars and
two Soldier's Medals. But while his service is decades behind him, and the 94-year-old is unlikely to jump from
another airplane, Diffin remains a link to the past for one of the nation's most storied fighting divisions.

Then-Pfc. John T. Diffin, May 1944 at Camp Quorn, England.

Growing up in the Depression, Diffin said his family had it better than most. His father always had a job, he said.
His family was well supported. But when war broke out in Europe, the young man was eager to play his part. At
first, Diffin went to work in a shipyard. But soon, he set out to play a more direct role. Some recruiters turned him
down, he said. Then, just as he was set to join the Army on his own, he was drafted. When representatives of the
Army airborne, then still a relatively new force, visited Diffin and his fellow new trainees, he was one of two men to

Page 38 of 112

volunteer. That would get him sent to the 82nd Airborne Division, which he joined in England just before the
invasion of Normandy.
Diffin fought in France and Holland with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He said the 82nd had the best
soldiers in the war effort and leaders who have gone down in Army legend. "We never lost a firefight," the retired
paratrooper said, his chest still puffing out with pride. After the war, Diffin was forced out of the Army, but the
Army couldn't keep him away. In 1948, he re-enlisted. Diffin served with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment in
Korea and the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, but it was the 82nd Airborne that always had his allegiance. "I
served in every regiment of the 82nd," he said. "I never wanted to be anything else." Diffin said he's not sure how
many jumps he made in his career, although he recorded enough to earn his master parachutist badge.
Today's force is much different from when Diffin served. But that doesn't make it any less impressive, he said.
"The 82nd right now is the best Army in the whole world," he said. Diffin, who lives in Fayetteville, ran an auto
salvage yard after his Army retirement. He said he's only recently begun to slow down. He said he's still in relatively
good health. "My heart is good," he said patting his chest. "I made 82," Diffin said of his age before chuckling to
himself. "I'm going for 101. I know I'm never going to make 187 or 505." [Source: The Fayetteville Observer |
Drew Brooks | August 7, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Retiree Appreciation Days

As of 14 SEP 2016

Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs) are designed with all veterans in mind. They're a great source of the latest
information for retirees and Family members in your area. RADs vary from installation to installation, but, in
general, they provide an opportunity to renew acquaintances, listen to guest speakers, renew ID Cards, get medical
checkups, and various other services. Some RADs include special events such as dinners or golf tournaments. Due
to budget constraints, some RADs may be cancelled or rescheduled. Also, scheduled appearances of DFAS
representatives may not be possible. If you plan to travel long distances to attend a RAD, before traveling, you
should call the sponsoring RSO to ensure the RAD will held as scheduled and, if applicable, whether or not DFAS
reps will be available. The current updated schedule for 2016 is available at:
== HTML: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.html
== PDF: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.pdf
== Word: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.doc
Note that this schedule has been expanded to include dates for retiree\veterans related events such as town hall
meetings, resource fairs, stand downs, etc. To get more info about a particular event, mouseover or click on the
event under Event Location. (NOTE: Attendance at some events may require military ID, VA enrollment or
DD214. "@" indicates event requires registration\RSVP.)For more information call the phone numbers indicated on
the schedule of the Retirement Services Officer (RSO) sponsoring the RAD.
To quickly locate events in your geographic area just click on the appropriate State\Territory\Country listed at the
top of the schedule. They will look like this:
AK AL AR AS AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA
MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI
SC SD TN TX UT VA VI VT WA WI WV WY Belgium Germany Italy Japan Korea
Netherlands Thailand
[Source: RAD List Manager | Milton Bell | September 14, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Page 39 of 112

Vet Hiring Fairs

16 SEP thru 15 OCT 2016

The U.S. Chamber of Commerces (USCC) Hiring Our Heroes program employment workshops are available in
conjunction with hundreds of their hiring fairs. These workshops are designed to help veterans and military spouses
and include resume writing, interview skills, and one-on-one mentoring. For details of each you should click on the
city next to the date in the below list. To participate, sign up for the workshop in addition to registering (if indicated)
for the hiring fairs which are shown below for the six weeks. For more information about the USCC Hiring Our
Heroes Program, Military Spouse Program, Transition Assistance, GE Employment Workshops, Resume Engine,
etc. visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerces website at http://www.hiringourheroes.org/hiringourheroes/events .
Arlington, TX - Arlington Hiring Expo with Texas Rangers Details Register
September 16 - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Rochester, NY - Rochester Hiring Fair Details Register
September 22 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Nellis AFB, NV - Nellis Air Force Base Military Spouse Hiring Fair Details Register
September 22 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Newport, RI - Newport Military Spouse Workshop Details Register
September 22 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Hiring Fair Details Register
September 26 - 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Camp Pendleton South, CA - Camp Pendleton Transition Summit Details Register
September 28 to September 29
Pinellas Park, FL - Tampa Hiring Fair
September 16 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm

Details Register

Dublin, CA - Camp Parks Hiring Fair Details Register

October 6 - 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Fort Belvoir, VA - AMPLIFY Military Spouse Career Intensive Details Register
October 11 to October 12
JB Lewis-McChord, WA Washington State Service Member for Life Transition Summit Details Register
October 12 to October 14
Employer Best Practices Webinar Details Register
October 13 - 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
[Source: Military Times & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assn September 14 2016 ++]
*****************************

Veteran State Benefits & Discounts

Georgia 2016

The state of Georgia provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these plus
discounts listed on the Military and Veterans Discount Center (MCVDC) website, refer to the attachment to this
Bulletin titled, Vet State Benefits & Discounts GA for an overview of the below those benefits. Benefits are
available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each of the following refer to
http://floridavets.org and http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/delaware.html
Page 40 of 112

Housing Benefits
Tax Benefits
Employment Benefits
Education Benefits
State Veteran Benefits
Discounts

[Source: http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/georgia.html September 2016 ++]

* Vet Legislation *

Vet Credit Scores Update 01

H.R.5693 | VA Slow Payment Fallout

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) is pushing legislation to protect the credit ratings of military veterans with unpaid medical
bills. Donnelly said 7 SEP that veterans can be "wrongly penalized" when the Department of Veterans Affairs is
slow to pay for health care they receive from non-VA physicians. Such delays "can create a financial hardship for
some veterans and even damage credit scores," Donnelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told
reporters in a conference call. Donnelly is the Senate sponsor of the Protecting Veterans Credit Act, which would
impose a 1-year delay on the reporting of medical debt to credit agencies for veterans who access health care
through the Veterans Choice Program. The delay would begin when a debt collector contacts the veteran.
Under the Veterans Choice Program, VA is to reimburse non-VA physicians to care for veterans who must wait
at least 30 days for a VA appointment or who live more than 40 miles from a VA clinic or hospital. The American
Legion, the nation's largest veterans advocacy group, supports the Protecting Veterans Credit Act, which was
introduced in the Senate by Donnelly and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and in the House by Rep. John Delaney (DMD). House co-sponsors include Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN)
Roscoe Butler, deputy director for health care for the American Legion, said during Wednesday's conference call
that veterans should "not have to worry about whether VA has paid the bill timely." Veterans' credit ratings can be
"destroyed," Butler said, "because of VA's slow payment process. That is wrong." Donnelly said he does not know
how many veterans have been adversely affected by tardy reimbursements from the Veterans Choice Program,
although he said "one is too many." "The VA should take care of this, and it shouldn't ever even get to the point
where this act, that we hope will become law, has to even be needed," Donnelly told reporters. "It's clearly
something the VA should be handling, and we're going to stay after them to get it right," he said. [Source: The
Journal Gazette | Brian Francisco | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Page 41 of 112

DoD Appropriations Act

H.R.5293 | Blocked for 3rd Time

For the third time Senate Democrats again blocked the Pentagon spending bill from advancing to the floor. You may
recall that Senate Democrats back in July voted twice to block floor consideration of the annual Pentagon spending
bill. The Senate returned from recess Tuesday, and Democrats once again blocked a procedural motion to advance
the measure (HR 5293). There is plenty of blame on both sides of the aisle as the majority continues to offer the bill
with non-germane additions which they know Democrats will not support such as cutting more funding from
Planned Parenthood. According to Democrats, the vote, 55-43, is not a reflection of opposition to the bills contents
so much as a tactical gambit. Holding defense spending hostage gives leverage, they say, in negotiations to secure
as much domestic spending as possible in a fiscal 2017 appropriations package. Tuesdays blockade of the defense
measure is the latest sign that new fiscal 2017 spending initiatives are not likely to move forward before the
November elections. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update | September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress

160901 thru 160915

Refer to this Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation attachment for a listing of Congressional bills of
interest to the veteran community introduced in the 114th Congress. The list contains the bills number, name, and
what it is intended to do, its sponsor, any related bills, and the committees it has been assigned to. Support of these
bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative
process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication of that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have
signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At
https://beta.congress.gov you can review a copy of each bills content, determine its current status, the committee it
has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor/cosponsor of it by entering its number in the sites search
engine. To determine what your Congressman has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on go to:
https://beta.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22source%22%3A%5B%22legislation%22%5D%7D,
Select
the
Sponsor tab, and click on your congress persons name.
Grassroots lobbying is the most effective way to let your Congressional representatives know your wants and
dislikes. If you are not sure who is your Congressman go to https://beta.congress.gov/members. Members of
Congress are receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship support
on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues.
You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866)
340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate their phone number, mailing address, or email/website to
communicate with a message or letter of your own making at either:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm or
http://www.house.gov/representatives
FOLLOWING IS THE ONE VETERAN RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE SINCE THE
LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

H.R.5932 : Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to eliminate copayments by the Department of Veterans Affairs for medicines relating to preventive
health services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8] (Introduced
09/06/2016)
H.R.5936 : Veterans Care Agreement and West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with certain
Page 42 of 112

health care providers to furnish health care to veterans, to authorize the Secretary to enter into certain leases
at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California, to make
certain improvements to the enhanced-use lease authority of the Department, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/06/2016)
H.R.5980 : Enewetak Atoll Vet Radiation Treatment. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for the treatment of veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll as radiation
exposed veterans for purposes of the presumption of service-connection of certain disabilities by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 09/09/2016) (24)
H.R.5985 : Extend Expiring VA Law Provision. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend
certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/09/2016)
H.R.5990 : WWII Bataan Vet Congressional Gold Medal. A bill to grant the Congressional Gold
Medal to the troops who defended Bataan during World War II. Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3]
(Introduced 09/09/2016)

FOLLOWING ARE THE 2 VETERAN RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE SINCE THE
LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

S.3304 : Improve Veteran Crisis Line. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the
Veterans Crisis Line. Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] (Introduced 09/08/2016)

[Source: https://beta.congress.gov [Legislation] & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills | September 15, 2016 ++]

* Military *

Military 2017 Pay Raise Update 02

Confirmed | Capped at 1.6%

President Obama on 31 AUG confirmed plans to cap the military pay raise at 1.6 percent next year, a move which
lawmakers and military y advocates have already warned will hurt military families personal finances. In a letter to
Congress, Obama invoked his executive powers to set the pay level at 0.5 percent points below the expected
increase in private sector wages, which would mark the fourth year in a row troops pay hikes failed to keep pace
with their civilian peers. The president called the move unfortunate but necessary. I am strongly committed to
supporting our uniformed service members, who have made such great contributions to our nation over more than a
decade of war, Obama wrote. As our country continues to recover from serious economic conditions affecting the
general welfare, however, we must maintain efforts to keep our nation on a sustainable fiscal course. This effort
requires tough choices, especially in light of budget constraints.
The language is identical to the letter Obama sent to Congress in summer 2015, when he set the military pay raise
for this year at 1.3 percent. If it stands, 2017 will mark the seventh consecutive year of military pay hikes below 2
Page 43 of 112

percent. The presidents move is not a surprise, since the White House and Pentagon have been advocating for the
1.6 percent mark since February to preserve funding for other modernization and training priorities. The lower-than
expected raise will save more than $300 million in fiscal 2017 alone, and more than $2.2 billion over the next five
years.
And Obamas move does not fully settle the issue of what military pay will be next year. Lawmakers are still
fighting over defense funding and authorizations, and could find ways to override his decision. But that appears
increasingly unlikely, with the House and Senate defense panels divided over where the extra spending would come
from and what other programs would see resulting cuts. House Republicans have advocated using temporary war
funds to pay for a larger, 2.1 percent pay raise, but Senate leaders have all but rejected that idea. A 1.6 percent pay
increase amounts to a $400 yearly pay boost for most junior enlisted troops and up to $1,500 more in annual pay for
mid-career officers. The larger 2.1 percent pay raise would add about $150 a year more than the 1.5 percent amount
for most junior enlisted and about $350 annually for mid-career officers.
Outside advocates have argued that years of lower-than-expected pay hikes are slowly harming troops finances,
giving them less purchasing power and a smaller spending safety net. But Pentagon officials note that troops are still
seeing consistent growth in their pay, and would be harmed by significant equipment and training shortfalls. The
new pay raise will go into effect on 1 JAN. Congress was scheduled to return to Capitol Hill and resume debate on
the defense funding measures on 6 SEP. [Source: Army Times | Leo Shane | September 12, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Less-Than-Honorable Discharge Update 01

NDAA Senate Provision

A bipartisan group of nine lawmakers joined with leading veterans groups 13 SEP to call for the final version of a
defense policy bill to include language aimed at making it easier for veterans who were discharged for behavior
related to mental health issues to upgrade their discharges. We are very close to making sure that these service men
and women get the help that they need, and were going to make it a reality in the next weeks, said Sen. Gary
Peters (D-MI) whose Fairness for Veterans Act was included in the Senate-passed version of the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA).
The provision in the Senate version would require discharge review boards to provide liberal consideration to
the diagnosis of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or military sexual
assault when considering whether to upgrade a less-than-honorable discharge. The House-passed version does not
include that provision. Conferees are in the process of reconciling the two versions of the bill. Advocates say
thousands of veterans have received bad discharge papers as a result of behavior associated with PTSD, TBI or
sexual trauma. Such discharges haunt veterans for the rest of their lives, advocates say, denying them veterans
benefits and casting a stigma that can affect aspects of civilian life, such as finding employment. Why are our
veterans, who have done so much for our country, being denied these vital services simply because they had to
endure a psychological trauma? asked Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY.) a member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee. We have to ensure that this provision is included in the final version of the defense authorization so
they can get access to the care that they need.
At Tuesdays press conference, a handful of veterans shared their experiences being discharged after PTSDrelated behavior. Tyson Manker, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq, said he was discharged after smoking
marijuana once to treat his PTSD symptoms. Kristofer Goldsmith, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, said he was
discharged after attempting suicide by overdosing on Percocet and vodka. Thankfully, I didnt die that night, but
when I woke up the next morning, I was treated like a criminal, said Goldsmith, now assistant director for policy
and government relations at Vietnam Veterans of America. Just a few weeks later, I was expeditiously
administratively discharged from the Army, and I was stripped of my GI Bill.

Page 44 of 112

The press conference was organized by Vietnam Veterans for America and also attended by representatives from
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Swords to Plowshares, Student Veterans of America,
Wounded Warrior Project, United Soldiers and Sailors of America, High Ground Veterans Advocacy, MilitaryVeterans Advocacy, VetsFirst, Association of the United States Navy, Fleet Reserve Association, and Military
Order of the Purple Heart. In addition to Peters and Gillibrand, seven House members spoke: Reps. Mike Coffman
(R-CO), Tim Walz (D-MN), Lee Zeldin (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA) Walter Jones (R-SC), Ruben Gallego (DAZ) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). All aside from Zeldin are members of the House Armed Services Committee.
Were here today to say to those of you who got less than an honorable discharge, you will not be forgotten,
Jones said. You have earned the right to have reconsideration. While the defense bill is pending, Walz said,
President Obama can also act to help such veterans. Im somewhat loath of executive orders, but I would
encourage President Obama to make the move on this while we codify this into law, he said. The president can fix
this now, can move something forward now to help folks. We can get it done, get it in the NDAA, make sure this
cant be reversed. [Source: The Hill | Rebecca Kheel | September 13, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Other than Honorable Discharge Update 05

Paralyzed Green Beret

When he heard that a swimmer was in distress last summer, Sgt. 1st Class Tim Brumit dove into the water to try to
help. The Green Beret broke his neck and was paralyzed. Because of alcohol and trace amounts of cocaine in his
system when he dove into the ocean, the Army has deemed his actions reckless and grounds for an other-thanhonorable discharge. But Brumit, a soldier with eight combat deployments and a Bronze Star under his belt, has
decided to fight back.
The soldier has acknowledged his substance abuse issues, but said they did not factor into the decision that left
him paralyzed. Additionally, in a 6 SEP letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Brumit said that he had begged for
help for his addictions, as well as help for post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. He said his
command denied he had any serious issues, despite apparent warning signs. He describes his unit's investigation into
his July 24, 2015, incident as vindictive and fraudulent." U.S. Army Special Operations Command is sympathetic
to Brumit's injury, said USASOC spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt. He said USASOC commander, Lt. Gen.
Kenneth Tovo, is weighing whether to support Brumit's request for reconsideration. However, Human Resources
Command will have the final say.

The day of the incident, Brumit reportedly saw a girl in distress in a storm while boating near Eglin Air Force
Base, Florida. Misjudging the depth of the shallow water in the wavy, choppy sea, he dove in and broke his neck.

Page 45 of 112

The 13-year-old girl, about 400-500 meters away when Brumit jumped in, managed to safely return to shore. Initial
reports lauded the 33-year-old as a hero. But according to the Daily Beast, he now has three weeks to fight the
adverse nature of the discharge. He told the Daily Beast he has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and coping
with war as well as a divorce, resulting in physical fights with teammates and substance abuse. I acknowledge that I
have struggled, I have sought help and the Army failed me in that pursuit, Brumit wrote in his letter to Hunter. I
still struggle and sometimes fail to cope with the aftermath of war. Through my units vindictive and fraudulent
investigation they have denied me the medical care required for my current injuries, as well as my PTSD, TBI, and
secondary issues.
The Daily Beast said Army officials acquired Brumits toxicology report without his permission, leading to a
year-long legal fight. An other-than-honorable discharge could cost Brumit his military health benefits, which could
prove immensely costly given his condition. Hunter has written to Army Secretary Eric Fanning on Brumits behalf
and asked him to personally evaluate the case. The frequent advocate for troops facing adverse administrative action
criticized the Armys neglect to provide Brumit support he clearly needed. A spokesperson for Fanning said in a
statement that the Secretary "has asked his staff to look into the matter and will respond appropriately." For years,
he struggled with undiagnosed (PTSD and TBI). During the time symptoms were evident, the Army continued to
utilize Brumit for combat deployment without proper diagnosis, Hunter wrote. It is my belief that there is more
than sufficient grounds for reconsideration of the Armys decision.
Hunter said the Army failed to assist Brumit despite his continuous calls for help. Brumit had voluntarily
entered a drug and alcohol program (Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment), but he was
repeatedly pulled out of the ADAPT program by his sergeant major, according to the Daily Beast. The Daily Beast
said it had acquired emails from Brumit and his father (a former Green Beret himself) begging his commanding
officers for more than a year to help Brumit find a different coping mechanism. His commanders responses denied
he had a problem, the article alleges. That cost Brumit a chance at diagnosis and treatment according to Hunter, and
now an unfavorable discharge would constitute a failure to support one of its top-rate warriors. [Source: Army
Times | Kyle Jahner | September 13, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Tricare Webiner

Separation History Physical Exam | 21 SEP @ 1300 EST

TRICARE is hosting a webinar for service members transitioning from active duty service. Join us on Wednesday,
September 21, 2016, noon to 1pm EST, to learn about the separation history physical exam. After the presentation,
our panel of subject matter experts will take your questions. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign-up
at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/450929886499732226. For audio, dial 1-866-724-3083, access code
1085851. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. We welcome your participation but please do not share
any personal health information when asking your questions. If you're using a networked computer, we also have a
link available via Defense Collaboration Services (DCS): https://conference.apps.mil/webconf/SHPE . No prior
registration is required, simply join us at the listed date and time.
Our panelists include representation from all services with insight and experience from both military and
veterans affairs.
COL. John Scott is the medical record systems advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Services Policy and Oversight. In that role, he has helped formulate policy and strategy for
Department of Defense Veterans Affairs health record sharing.
CDR Max Clark is a board-certified occupational medicine physician and Navy-trained flight surgeon. He
is the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery lead in the development of Medical Readiness Clinics, where the
primary focus is to improve completion rates of Separation Health Physical Exams.

Page 46 of 112

LTC Deidra Briggs-Anthony is the chief of patient administration for the Office of the Army Surgeon
General. During her career, she has held positions in health care administration and health informatics, as
well as medical regulating and patient movement.
Col. Duncan Hughes is the chief of aerospace medicine policy and operations for Office of the Air Force
Surgeon General. Dr. Hughes is board-certified in family, aerospace and occupational medicine.
COL. Deidre Anderson is currently serving at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness (Reserve Integration). Recent assignments for Dr. Anderson include serving as commander
for 3D Medical Command in Kuwait and Qatar, and charge nurse in the newborn nursery in labor and
delivery at Tripler Army Medical Center.

[Source: TRICARE Communications | September 13, 2016 ++]

*********************************

Military Separation Policy

Trauma Related Behavior

A bipartisan group of nine senators is urging Defense Secretary Ash Carter to update the militarys separation policy
to address behavior that results from trauma, such as sexual assault or post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Clear guidance will ensure that all service members who are impacted by combat or military sexual assault-related
trauma receive fair consideration of their medical conditions prior to their separation from the military and will
ensure that fair, consistent and transparent standards are applied across the services," the senators wrote in a letter to
Carter on 8 SEP. The letter was signed by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ed Markey
(D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).
In June, the Department of the Navy updated its administrative separation policy to ensure a diagnosed mental
health condition takes precedence over misconduct when a sailor or Marine is being involuntarily separated. In such
cases, the service member will be referred for evaluation for a medical discharge. The senators commended Navy
Secretary Ray Mabuss decision. But the other branches of the military have not made similar changes to their
policies, they said. We urge you to issue similar discharge guidance and instructions across the Armed Forces that
indicates that diagnosed mental health conditions should take precedence over minor misconduct when a service
member is being administratively separated, they wrote to Carter.
In their letter, the senators highlight a May 2015 inspector general report that found sexual assault survivors who
engage in trauma-related misconduct, such as taking unauthorized leave to flee their assailant, are at higher risk of
being involuntarily discharged under less than honorable conditions than the general military population. The issue
also extends to combat veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury, who may act irregularly or suffer from
substance abuse, the senators said. Their chain of command may not understand that these disciplinary infractions
can be symptoms of mental health conditions, they wrote. Involuntary discharges have a number of negative
consequences, the senators said, including a higher rate of suicide, a higher homelessness rate and the possibility of
employment discrimination. While changes have been made in recent years, they said, more needs to be done.
[Source: The Hill | Rebecca Kheel | September 8, 2016 ++]
*********************************

USMC Limited Duty Status

Rules Modified

Combat-wounded Marines who want to stay in uniform now have fewer hoops to jump through. Manpower
officials have modified decade-old rules that offer permanent limited duty status to qualified Marines. Under the
new Expanded Permanent Limited Duty Status policy:
Page 47 of 112

Marines approved for retention can re-enlist for 48 months at a time, and continue to do so without having
to face more retention boards.
Marines who desire a spot must submit medical and physical evaluation board results, and a letter to the
commandant that states a reason for retention, according to a Corps-wide message signed by Commandant
Gen. Robert Neller.
The Marine must be willing to accept a lateral move (and is asked to provide three choices), and geographic
assignment if determined necessary.
Assignments will be restricted to locations that have proper medical facilities required for a combatwounded Marine's injuries, according to the message.
Marines accepted into the program do not have to repeat these steps for subsequent re-enlistments unless
there is a change to their medical status.

It is not clear how many PLD Marines are eligible, as manpower officials did not immediately respond when
asked how many Marines apply for and are granted this status annually. Before being accepted into the program,
eligible Marines are warned that by showing a fitness for continued duty, they could adversely affect some benefits
and entitlements they would otherwise receive through the Veterans Affairs Department. Marines who stay in
uniform for one year or longer will be re-evaluated upon final separation, and are subject to a potentially lesser
subsequent disability rating as determined through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, according to the
MARADMIN.
It is imperative that Marines seeking retention under this policy are fully counseled on the implications of their
decision that may be better served by being either medically retired or separated and who might better avail
themselves of VA services/entitlements, the message states. At the same time, the Corps looks to honor those who
desire to stay on active duty despite their medical restrictions. A combat-wounded Marine found unfit for
continued service by a physical evaluation board can apply for permanent limited duty to carry him to his
established end of active service as long as his injuries were the result of hostile action, meet the criteria for
awarding of the Purple Heart, and were not the result of his own misconduct. This Marine need not pass the physical
or combat fitness test, and is not required to be worldwide deployable, according to the message. Height and weight
standards may also be waived on a case-by-case basis. However, the Marine must be capable of performing in a
military occupational specialty and effectively contribute to the Marine Corps mission. [Source: Marine Corps
Times | Lance M. Bacon | September 1, 2016 ++]
*********************************

MWR Budget Cuts

23% in FY 2017

Soldiers and families around the world will soon see the results of budget cuts in morale, welfare and recreation
programs, including closures of some facilities, reduced operating hours and increased fees. The MWR cuts are
separate from a 23 percent cut in staff at Army Community Service Centers over the next two years. Officials are
implementing a $105 million cut -- about 23 percent -- in taxpayer funding for MWR for fiscal 2017, which starts 1
OCT. Were going to begin to feel some of that impact at the installation, said Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl,
commanding general of the Army Installation Management Command, in a video message to the force.
Its up to the garrison commanders and senior commanders to determine how they carry out the reductions at
their installations, Dahl said. The problem with leaving all the decisions up to the garrison commanders is that
there dont seem to be good standards on what the basic level of support services should be, said Joyce Raezer,
executive director of the National Military Family Association. That organization expects to meet later this month
with Army officials to get more information about the guidelines for the cuts, she said. Installation leaders have
until next 15 SEP to report on how they will make the cuts, said an Army official, who added that IMCOM officials
Page 48 of 112

will be watching the situation closely. The Army must divert some of its limited MWR funds for critical post
operating services, such as contracts for security, firefighting and airfields, Dahl said.
Separate from the MWR cuts, the Army expects to eliminate 339 positions in Army Community Services across
75 installations and headquarters over the next two fiscal years, reducing the number of personnel from 1,479 to
1,140, according to one official who spoke on background. ACS provides programs and services in areas that
include relocation and financial assistance and spouse employment. Troops and families may start to see some of the
effects in 2017, he said. Dahl said officials will continue 100 percent support to child development centers and
child and youth services. To the greatest extent possible were going to sustain those at their current levels, he
said. Officials also plan to maintain the current level of MWR programs at remote and isolated installations. Were
not looking at scaling back any of the services we provide there because there are no alternatives outside the
installation, he said.
Information was not available from Marine Corps or Air Force officials about whether their installations are
facing impending cuts in MWR or family programs. But some of these Army cuts may affect troops and families of
other service branches, especially those stationed on joint bases where the Army is the lead service. For example, at
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Air Forces previous MWR was taken over by Army MWR. We have to keep in
mind what the requirement is for service delivery in terms of the memorandum (between the services), or let the Air
Force know were not going to meet the terms and heres why, the official said.
Navy officials dont anticipate additional cuts to MWR programs in 2017, but they have been making
adjustments and cuts to programs, especially since fiscal 2013 when budget constraints forced everyone to look for
ways to be more efficient, said James Baker, Navy MWR program director. Since then, some programs have been
closed, such as golf courses that were not being used, he said. Golf courses must be self-sustaining, and receive no
taxpayer funds. The Navy has also eliminated most arts and crafts centers, auto skills centers and wood hobby
shops, except in remote locations where there are no options outside the gate. There have also been some other
adjustments to Navy MWR programs, such as hours of operation, based on customer use. We continue to look at
the right mix. We adapt to customers needs, rather than forcing constraints due to budgetary demands, Baker said.
Thats the ideal state. We have been fortunate to stay ahead of that. Officials continue to evaluate programs such
as fitness, community recreation, entertainment, travel and outdoor recreation, he said.
Some Army posts have also been making reductions over the last five years. At Fort Drum, New York, the new
reduction in funding should have a mild impact on immediate operations, said spokeswoman Julie Halpin. That
is only possible because we saw the writing on the wall with regard to [Family and MWR] funding early after
sequestration hit. She said theyve worked to properly invest in services that are partially funded by taxpayer
dollars, and services that receive no taxpayer funding to ensure that they are either nearly self-sustaining, breaking
even or making money to offset other losses. Those programs that werent hitting those marks were either
revamped, like our bowling center last year, or discontinued, like arts and crafts in fiscal 2012, Halpin said.
[Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers | September 8, 2016 ++]

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*********************************

MWR Budget Cuts Update 01

Areas Impacted

Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, commanding general of the Army Installation Management Command, said the impact of
upcoming cuts is more likely to be felt in areas like outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, and auto skills. For example,
a service might have to reduce its hours, or increase its fees. If there are volunteers who are willing to help, and if
the program or service is conducive to allowing volunteers, there might be no impact, he said. Here are some
upcoming Army cuts in MWR programs:
Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Officials are cutting $750,000 from MWR, according to a news release. A fitness
center will be closed and the operating hours at the installations three remaining gyms will be cut to 90 hours a
week. The library will be open five days a week, rather than seven. The auto crafts center will be open four days a
week, rather than five. Recreation trips and delivery services will be reduced or eliminated. One of the two pools
will be closed.
Fort Huachuca, Arizona. $500,000 will be cut from the post's MWR, according to a news release. The
Sportsmans Center will no longer sell ammunition or rent weapons. The skeet and trap ranges and the Saturday
Range 3 operation will be open for customers who bring their own weapons and ammunition.
Fort Carson, Colorado. The post will continue to rely significantly on borrowed military manpower from the 4th
Infantry Division to sustain hours of operation and reduced pricing in our fitness centers and aquatics programs,
said spokeswoman Dani Johnson. Theres a substantially reduced workforce as a result of the reduction in overhead
costs for MWR support services. A small number of programs with low patronage and/or high-cost per participant
have been reduced, Johnson said. The Youth Services Center will be closed on Sundays; and there will be a
reduction of Caring Saturdays and Friday Date Nights programs. Some programs' fees will increases by $1 or less,
starting Oct. 1.
Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Because of a 25 percent reduction in taxpayer funding, the library's hours are being cut, said
Brenda Spencer-Ragland, Fort Sill Family and MWR director. Fees will be implemented for services such as pools,
outdoor recreation areas and special events and programs.
Here's how some of the $105 million will be used on Army posts:
Special staff contracts and critical requirements -- $33.7 million
Airfield contracts and critical requirements -- $13.3 million
Firefighter contracts -- $13.1 million
Storm damage reserve -- $5 million
Special staff pay -- $4.8 million
Security contracts and critical requirements -- $1 million
You can help by understanding this is something that has to be done in order for us to remain combat ready and
to invest in our readiness, Dahl said in his message. When we have fewer resources, the cuts have to be taken
from somewhere. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers | September 8, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Fort Polk Adopt a Horse

Applications Being Accepted

The U.S. Army is seeking new homes for a herd of about 700 feral horses that roam the grounds of Fort Polk, saying
they threaten soldiers who train at the Army post. The Army says fewer than 50 horses roamed the grounds 20 years
ago, but the herd has grown as horses give birth and people abandon their animals on the base. Some protesters say

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the horses were roaming freely in the surrounding Kisatchie National forest long before the Army took over. But a
judge has ruled they are not federally protected as wild horses, and are technically trespassing. The Army has begun
taking applications at usarmy.polk.imcom.mbx.pao-public-response@mail.mil . Garrison commander Col. David
Athey is urging people interested to work through nonprofit animal welfare groups, but there's also a signup for
individuals. [Source: Associated Press | September 02, 2016 ++]

*********************************

Civilian Military Knowledge

Military/Civilian Cultural Gap

Most Americans greatly admire the military -- but they actually know almost nothing about it. Most people know
nobody in the military, said retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Mattis, who spent 44 years in uniform. There are
many people who do not know if the U.S. Army has 60,000 men or 6 million. They do not have a clue about that,
he said. Mattis, the revered four-star general who headed U.S. Central Command before retiring in 2013, is the coauthor of a new book, "Warriors & Citizens," that reveals ground-breaking research about the cultural gap between
the military and the civilian population it serves.

Mattis, now a fellow at the Hoover Institution in California, launched a sweeping research project that surveyed
thousands of Americans on their views about the military. The results revealed a surprising level of ignorance and
unfamiliarity. One in three people confessed that they had little or no familiarity with the military and simply
declined to answer many questions about it. Half of all Americans cannot recall socializing with a military service
member or military spouse within the past year. When asked how many people are in the military, Americans on
average guess about 6.4 million. The actual number is about 1.3 million. Experts say that reflects the shrinking size
of the military, military recruiters' heavy reliance on specific regions like the South, and the closure of many military
bases during the past 20 years, which has isolated todays troops in fewer locations.
Yet most civilians admire the military and its service members, regardless of their lack of knowledge. About 70
percent of Americans said most members of civilian society have a great deal of respect for the military. And 85
percent said they are personally proud of the men and women who serve in the military. It looks like that
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connection [between military and civilians] is very broad but very shallow. That was a surprise to us, said Kori
Schake, who co-authored the book with Mattis. Shes a former Pentagon official who studies military issues at the
Hoover Institution. Mattis said he believes todays civil-military relations are healthy. But hes wary of the future,
as the military continues to shrink and the gap potentially intensifies. I think the gap can be tolerated so long as we
maintain a fundamental friendliness in America toward one another and a respect for each other, Mattis said in a
recent Military Times interview.
America is quite right to be proud of their military, but at the same time there has got to be a sense of common
purpose between these two elements. If, in fact, this gap grows and we lose the sense of common purpose, then I
think we have a problem, he said. Mattis said he was concerned that policy makers who have never served in the
military will continue to use the military to lead social change in this country, pointing to the decision earlier this
year to open all combat jobs to women. We are liable to find ourselves paying the cost on a battlefield that we do
not want to pay. There is no God-given right to victory on the battlefield. You win that through the skill and the
devotion, the valor and the ferocity of your troops. You have to be very, very careful, I think, if this gap grows, and
it surely will. We have to be very careful that we do not undercut the military battlefield effectiveness with
shortsighted social programs," Mattis said. [Source: Military Times | Andrew Tilghman | September 7, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Missouri Base Worker Access

Passport Requirement Pending

Missouri workers may need passports to work at Whiteman Air Force Base in coming months. State lawmakers
failed to adopt federal security identification standards for getting onto military bases, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill
said. The Missouri legislature has refused to do that, McCaskill said. As a result of rejected federal Real ID
requirements, workers lack ID cards needed to work on the $29.5 million consolidated operations facility at
Whiteman. Now were dealing with this construction thats going to occur at Whiteman and the base is scrambling
to try to make sure that they can get the construction workers on the base, McCaskill said.
The situation is ironic, McCaskill said, considering Missouri lawmakers demand photo identification cards in
order for the public to exercise the right to vote an issue on the Nov. 8 ballot. (Lawmakers) refused to allow
Missouri to participate, like most states are doing, in an ID program that ultimately will strengthen our national
security, help us find bad guys and will not in any way impact individual privacy, she said. Its frustrating to me.
McCaskill said that instead of state ID cards, construction workers may have to secure passports to get onto the base
to build the facility. Its a little embarrassing, she said. Why in the world wouldnt Missouri be willing to do this
if its going to protect us from terrorists? Im hoping the Missouri legislature understands the hardship this is
going to pose to our military in our state and for the communities that are around these military bases. [Source:
The Daily Star-Journal | Jack Ventimigli | August 31, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Military Retirement System Update 24

BRS Opt-In Estimates

More than 740,000 currently serving active duty members and 176,000 drilling Reserve and National Guard
personnel are expected to opt in to the new BRS, or Blended Retirement System, when the choice becomes available
in 2018 to military members with fewer than 12 years service. The opt-in estimates are the product of a dynamic
retention computer model developed by RAND Corporation and used to predict how personnel will react to a new
retirement choice. The BRS was designed by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization
Commission and approved by Congress last year after lawmakers tweaked a few features.

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The number of current members who will opt to leave their High-3 retirement plan, with its higher lifetime
value for the near-term rewards and flexible features of the BRS, is important to Department of Defense Board of
Actuaries. The three-member board is responsible for ensuring the Defense Departments Military Retirement Fund
is properly valued and actuarially sound. It held its annual meeting 15 JUL and accepted RANDs estimate that a
total of 916,754 active and reserve component members will opt into the BRS starting 16 months from now. That
estimate is roughly half of the 1.8 million active duty, Guard and Reserve members eligible to make the choice. A
transcript of that July meeting, however, shows the board and department actuaries embraced RANDs numbers
only reluctantly, as flawed approximations but also the best available. To understand why the number experts
grumbled, we first need to review major features of the BRS.

The new plan is called blended because it combines an immediate but also smaller annuity after 20 or more
years of service with a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) enhanced by government matching of member
contributions of up to four percent of basic pay plus an automatic one percent government contribution for
all BRS participants, whether they contribute or not to TSP.

This 401(k)-like nest egg toward retirement is a portable benefit on leaving service. Veterans can roll the
account into an employer 401(k) or continue to make contributions whether they served two years or 40
years in the military. Because this feature will benefit the great majority of members who leave service
short of retirement eligibility at 20 years, the blended plan is expected to be a popular option, particularly
with younger folks on their first or second enlistment and officers completing initial service obligation.

Committed careerists, however, are likely to stick with High-3 retirement, which will pay 20 percent more
in lifetime annuities if full careers are a realistic goal. The blended plan has two other features High-3
doesnt.

By current law, BRS participants are to receive a one-time continuation payment at the 12-year mark
that, at a minimum, must equal two-and-half months of basic for active duty members who agree to serve
four more years or one-half month of active pay for reserve component personnel who make the same deal.

Defense pay officials wanted the continuation payment to be used solely as a retention tool. So they asked
Congress this year to lift all restrictions on amounts paid, when paid and to whom. Both the House and
Senate declined to grant such flexibility in their separate versions of the fiscal 2017 defense authorization
bill. But both chambers did vote to relax the timing of this feature so continuation pay can be offered from
the 8th to 12th year of service in exchange for serving a minimum of three more years.

The last key feature of BRS allows those who reach retirement to receive in a lump sum 25 percent or 50
percent of their pre-old-age retirement annuities. In other words, here would be cash to help buy a home,
start a business or pay off debts in return for reducing military annuities by one quarter or one half until age
67.

What bothered the Board of Actuaries about the RAND forecasts for number of members who will opt for BRS
is that no one has calculated yet how attractive the lump sum feature will be. Another term for the missing ingredient
is personal discount rate. Without that rate, which the board characterizes as a policy decision, RAND was forced
to assume that no BRS member would elect the lump-sum distribution. Because many will, however, the actuaries
know the BRS opt-in estimates and, therefore, projected costs to properly fund the new military retirement option,
are not precise enough to be acceptable. The board so advised Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a mid-July letter
providing the boards annual status report on the Military Retirement Fund.

Although we are unable to opine on the analytical model used to produce RANDs opt-in assumptions, we
have approved [the Office of Actuarys] reliance on these assumptions, produced by that model, because
we have no better basis for projecting opt-in behavior, the board advised.

However, the significant uncertainty surrounding the opt-in process (for example with respect to the
financial training to be provided to service members) and other aspects of BRS means the opt-in and other
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assumptions are likely to change as more experience and information about the new system (e.g., the
discount rate to be used for lump sums) become available.
Members who enter service on or after Jan. 1, 2018, have no choice; BRS will be their retirement plan. Another
group with no choice are members with 12 or more years of service by Dec. 31, 2017. They will be grandfathered
under current High-3 retirement. Congress rejected not only the departments idea to eliminate the minimum
continuation payment but three other changes sought to the BRS to save an estimated $5.4 billion on retirement
through fiscal 2021. Defense officials wanted TSP matching to start in the fifth year of service rather than the third
year. That would have dampened the value of the plan substantially for participants after their first enlistment.
Officials also wanted TSP matching to continue until retirement rather end at 26 years of service, as the law now
requires. Lawmakers decided this change would have benefitted primarily senior officers, and rejected it. DoD also
asked to raise maximum government contributions to TSP under the blended plan from five percent basic pay to six.
Congress balked at the added cost and also reasoned the match should stay at five percent for parity with federal
civilian TSP participants. Defense officials argued its not parity to match five percent of federal salaries against five
percent of basic pay, ignoring that military folks get a large portion of pay as allowances. [Source: Military.com |
Tom Philpott | September 1, 2016 ++]

*********************************

Iranian USN Harassment

Confrontations Escalate

A U.S. coastal patrol ship faced seven Iranian Republican Guard Corps Navy fast in-shore attack craft before
swerving to avoid crashing into one on 21 AUG, according to a 5th Fleet spokesman. The incident is the latest in a
series of interactions the Navy has called "dangerous and unprofessional" in a year that has seen more run-ins
between U.S. and Iranian ships than in recent memory. Iranian vessels harassed destroyers and PCs in four incidents
in late August, resulting in warning shots in one case. "The Iranians' unsafe maneuvers near a United States ship
operating in accordance with international law while transiting in international waters created a dangerous, harassing
situation that could have led to further escalation including additional defensive measures by Firebolt."
The IRGCN boats approached Firebolt in the middle of the Persian Gulf on Sunday. Three peeled off and
shadowed the PC from about 500 yards away for about eight minutes before turning and leaving the area, Cmdr. Bill
Urban told Navy Times on 6 SEP. One of the remaining four FIACs in the area then turned and stopped directly in
Firebolt's path. "This situation presented a drastically increased risk of collision, and Firebolt then maneuvered to
narrowly avoid the FIAC at a range of 100 yards before departing the area." Firebolt tried to get the boats on the
radio three times but there was no response. The crew-served weapons on deck were uncovered and manned but
untrained according to accounts, he added. Though the situation did not escalate, it's the kind that the Navy would
have reported to the State Department with a request for a message of protest, if the U.S. and Iran had an official
diplomatic relationship.

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One expert told Navy Times in August that Iran's harassment is likely to come from a lower-level commander
trying to show off, who has little regard for the United States' rights to operate in international waters. "This is the
31st unsafe and/or unprofessional interaction of 2016, but it would be concern to us if it was just one," Urban said.
Every unsafe interaction brings a risk of escalation or miscalculation." [Source: Navy Times | Meghann Myers,
August 26, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Military Surplus Hardware

Online Auctions

Nineties-era Humvees can be had for $7,000. Dump trucks and tractors that once trudged through warzones start at
$15,000. And construction cranes that helped build military outposts bear price tags from $20,000 to $23,000. Most
are in good working order and many of the trucks have surprisingly low mileage. These are some of the 1,300 pieces
of surplus military hardware that went up for auction 7 SEP. Every Wednesday we sell 350 to 400 items, says
Jeffrey L. Holmes, senior vice president of government solutions and auction management at GovPlanet.
http://www.govplanet.com/?h=.

GovPlanet, based in Pleasanton, California, is the government-focused arm of used-equipment marketplace

IronPlanet. The company won a six-year contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to help offload surplus
inventory that has accumulated over decades. Holmes, a former Army officer and long-time defense industry
executive, is insistent that the military should sell off aging forklifts, cranes, trucks and trailers sooner, rather than
later. Iron mountains of surplus inventory sit all over the United States. If its not needed by the military, why not
sell it? They bought a lot, and not all the equipment got used as often as they had anticipated, Holmes tells
National Defense. This isnt junk. There is some junk, but some good value. And every piece of equipment comes
with a full inspection report.
GovPlanets contract with DLA covers only rolling stock. Construction equipment is the easiest to sell because it
is no different from what commercial companies use. By virtue of their prestige as wartime workhorses, the
Humvees and five-ton trucks are among the most sought-after items at GovPlanets weekly online auctions. There
are 1990s-vintage Stewart & Stevenson trucks with as little as 1,400 miles. The first Humvee auction the company
held in December 2014 drew early 200,000 visitors. A typical Humvee sale attracts from 100,000 to 200,000
viewers. An all-Humvee auction of 250 vehicles is scheduled for September 13. The auctioning of surplus military
equipment can be highly profitable for the vendor, which retains 25 percent of the proceeds. The most recent DLA
contract was fiercely contested, with GovPlanet beating the previous contractor Liquidity Services. Other auction
houses like Ritchie Brothers also play in this market, and companies often compete against the governments own
General Services Administration, which oversees sales of many agencies excess inventory.
The sale of unused military equipment is turning into an increasingly lucrative opportunity as U.S. forces
downsize and close down overseas bases. GovPlanet now operates 283 sites under the DLA contract, including four
in Europe, and a couple more due to open up in the Pacific Rim. We have personnel and inventory at all 283 sites,
says Holmes. The surplus military vehicle market creates a culture clash of sorts. Whereas the Defense Department
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tends to want to hold on to things indefinitely and has little financial incentive to sell its aging stock, private
contractors like GovPlanet are all about moving the equipment to the largest bid as quickly as possible. Repairs and
upgrades sometimes are recommended to make vehicle more palatable to potential buyers, Holmes says. Some of
these make ready fixes are done in a cost-sharing arrangement with DLA. They could be simple improvements
like adding batteries or fluids. If we do that weve shown we can get 40 percent more for the item, even for some
cosmetic changes.
The price of an item is determined based on its original acquisition value. Typically military vehicles auctioned
by GovPlanet sell for about 8 percent to 10 percent of their original purchase cost. It varies by equipment, says
Holmes. A Humvee that fell out of an airplane without a parachute is not going to get 8 or 10 percent of its original
acquisition value. Some equipment is relatively new. Some equipment is old but hasnt had much use. We see
construction equipment with less than 24 hours of operation. One of the challenges for GovPlanet is to convince the
Defense Department to get rid of things. The military hangs on to stuff for a long time assuming they might need it
one day, says Holmes. So you have acres and acres of stuff sitting there, aging. Company executives have
worked with the Army and DLA to encourage them to sell the equipment sooner, because we can get a higher price
point. We encourage the military services to get rid of surplus stock, to get money back into their budgets.
There are restrictions on who can buy this equipment. Nothing can be sold offshore. Buyers must be U.S. citizens
based in the United States. Some items are sold to brokers and dealers who may do their own upgrades before they
resell. Other companies buy vehicles and modify them, install radios and tweak them for collectors. Occasionally
purchasers are actual consumers, such as farmers or hunters who need rugged vehicles to get around. The
equipment auctioned by GovPlanet comes with a condition certification that is issued after its been inspected.
Inspectors reports are available to bidders two weeks ahead of auction dates. With the exception of Humvees and
other specialty trucks, the majority of the equipment DLA gets rid of is commercial gear that has been beefed up a
little bit and painted in camouflage. GovPlanet demilitarizes the trucks removing armor or other sensitive
components before they are auctioned.
This is a business that is poised for growth, Holmes says. With the downsizing of the Army theres more
equipment coming in. The company is eyeing future DLA contracts to auction generators and commercial pickup
trucks. Working with the Defense Department presents unique difficulties for auction houses that rarely are
encountered with other, more cash-strapped clients. We have about 200 state and local municipalities that have
used us to dispose of surplus equipment, says Holmes. They are trying to get maximum value from the equipment
to get funds to buy new stuff. The military is not as motivated. Culture is one of the most difficult things I wrestle
with, says Holmes. They are very reluctant to try something new. Theyre comfortable with what they are doing,
and they are skeptical. Commercial customers, by contrast, are more eager to try new approaches. If you propose
something to the commercial sector, theyre probably going to give you a shot to let you show them that what you
promised is true. In the government, they presume upfront that theres no value in surplus equipment, he says. As
a taxpayer when you see equipment going to a crusher and being sold for pennies on the dollar as scrap metal, I see
that as wasteful. Instead, you can get money that you can reutilize. The commercial sector gets it. The defense sector
is slower to grasp.
Parent company IronPlanet was founded in 1999 and was an early exploiter of the Internet as a medium to sell
construction equipment. It later moved into the transportation, oil, gas and government sectors. It has sold about $5
billion worth of equipment. The company wont disclose specific sales numbers for the DLA auctions other than
claiming it sells 400 vehicles a week on average over 48 auctions conducted each year. The DLA contract
GovPlanet won in 2014 is based on a proceeds share model. Typically sellers pay auctioneers upfront to offload
their equipment. After it is sold, the auctioneers collects a fee from the buyer, then gives the net to the seller. Under
the DLA deal, the agency is in charge of disposing used equipment, and GovPlanet agrees to a 75/25 proceeds split.
When we sell an asset, DLA gets 75 percent of the proceeds. We have skin in the game. So we leverage our
marketing to get a higher price point. [Source: NDIA | Sandra I. Erwin | September 7, 2016 ++]

Page 56 of 112

*********************************

Naval Ship Naming

Looking Outside the Military

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., wears a hat bearing the name of a fleet replenishment oiler named after him during
a 6 JAN ceremony with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has raised a few eyebrows with some of the names he's picked for naval ships. Why,
critics questioned, would he name a ship in honor of the late gay rights leader Harvey Milk or after former U.S. Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords when there are plenty of military heroes to choose from? Mabus (MAY'-buhs) says he's honoring
people who have shown heroism, just as past navy secretaries have done. He believes that by looking outside of the
military, at times, for these heroes, he can help connect people with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Mabus is
officially announcing five new ship names on visits to Mississippi and Massachusetts beginning Saturday. Among
the group, a replenishment oiler will bear the name of abolitionist Sojourner Truth. [Source: Associated Press |
Jennifer Mcdermott | September 13, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Military Ranks Quiz 1

Do You Know

1. What is the order of generals, junior to senior?

General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General
Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General
General, Brigadier General, Lieutenant General, Major General
2. What are the three groups Army ranks are broken down into?
enlisted, specialists, commissioned officers
junior enlisted, noncommissioned officers (NCOs) and senior NCOs
wings, groups and squadrons
3. Who are the brass?
All commissioned officers
High-ranking officers
Congress
4. What is a mustang?
An officer promoted from enlisted
An officer charged with the operation of a ship
Nickname for a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant
5. Who is a plebe?
Page 57 of 112

Incoming class at a military academy

New recruits in basic training
Upperclassmen at Officer Candidate School

6. True or false: The rank of private in the Marines does not wear a uniform insignia.
true
false
7. Which Army rank is only used in time of war?
General
General of the Army
Vice general
8. How do you address a lieutenant general?
General
Lieutenant
Captain! My captain!
9. What were captains called in the Roman army ranks?
Munifexs
Centurions
Quaestors
10. If you're a lance corporal in the Marine Corps, what is the equivalent rank in the Army?
Apprentice first class
Lance corporal
Private first class
11. Which rank is higher in the Marine Corps, sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant?
Sergeant major
Master gunnery sergeant
They're the same.
12. Which is NOT a difference of insignia between a seaman recruit in the Navy and one in the Coast Guard?
A seaman recruit in the Coast Guard wears an insignia.
Coast Guard rank insignia is a different color.
Both of these
Neither of these
13. What is the difference between a commissioned and noncommissioned officer?
Age
Security clearance
Education
14. True or false: Commissioned officers outrank all noncommissioned officers.
true
false
15. Who is the only airman ever to hold rank of five-star general, as the general of the Air Force?
Henry H. Arnold
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Chester W. Nimitz

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*****************************

Guam Update 01

Where the US Military Is Revered and Reviled

The island of Guam is a central component of Americas growing military presence in the Asia-Pacific, an integral
part of U.S. efforts to bolster its position in what U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter called the defining
region of our nations future. With the island located around 2,500 miles east of the Philippines, and roughly
equidistant to the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, Carter described Guam as an important strategic hub
for the U.S. military in the Western Pacific. Compared with Okinawa to the north, which houses over 25,000 U.S.
troops, Guams military personnel contingent is lean at just over 6,000; but that number will nearly double when
5,000 Marines are relocated from Okinawa beginning in 2022. As the U.S. military plans to nearly double its
presence on Guam, indigenous people say no more.
Regardless, numbers alone belie the depth to which the military permeates the U.S. territory. From the annual
Liberation Day parade that marches down Marine Corps Drive to roadways like Army Drive and the Purple Heart
Highway to the streets in the capital city named after naval governors and officers, the culture of the U.S. armed
forces can be found throughout Guam. Just three times the size of Washington, D.C., roughly 28 percent of Guam is
occupied by the U.S. military. Guams importance to the military was conveyed in 2010 when testifying before
Congress, in a moment of candor, then-U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Robert F. Willard described Guam as the
farthest west U.S. territory that we own. Therein lies the problem. For while the U.S. military sees Guam as an
indispensable asset, something it owns, many on Guam see the military as a symptom of a greater problem
colonialism.
Politically, the United States defines Guam as an unincorporated territory. In United Nations parlance its a nonself-governing territory. Still others say Guam is a military colony and an unappreciated one at that. I always have
to remind people that Guam may look to the United States and the U.S. may be everything; when just about
everybody in the United States looks at Guam, they see nothing. Thats the reality, says Dr. Michael Lujan
Bevacqua, an assistant professor of Chamorro studies at the University of Guam. He says for some Chamorro
people, who make up approximately 37 percent of Guams population, their sense of identity is in conflict with the
United States, whose citizenship they have (but not its full rights). Even if you imagine Guam to be an intimate part
of the U.S., that sentiment is not reciprocated, Bevacqua says: Your feelings of patriotism dont create the reality
that you think is there.
Guam has among the highest recruitment levels in the nation. Military service is a generations-old tradition for
many families, including Chamorros, who often serve alongside an older or younger relative. According to
Bevacqua, Chamorros indigenize their military service, sometimes creating such a strong sense of identity that when
serving alongside multinational forces (in Afghanistan, for example), others mistakenly assume the Chamorro
soldiers represent the (non-existent) independent nation of Guam Guam is headquarters for Joint Region Marianas,
which oversees Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam, and a 984,000 square mile testing and live-fire training
area in and around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Guam is also home to a naval ordnance
annex, a naval computer and telecommunications station, home port for fast-attack nuclear submarines and, since
2013, a terminal high-altitude area defense (THAAD) missile defense battery.
Chamorro lawyer Leevin Camacho says, There are lots of people impacted by the military presence. They tend
to be the most disenfranchised even amongst the disenfranchised. Camacho describes economically depressed
housing conditions just beyond the fence surrounding Andersen Air Force Base. He recalls a public hearing he
attended where one Chamorro man described jets flying so low over his house in the morning that his coffee mug
shook and he could smell jet fuel. Speaking alongside Camacho is his colleague, human rights lawyer Julian Aguon,
who adds, Militarism is normalized on Guam. Its part of our meat and drink. Its a protein we have to work very
hard to break down. The two lawyers pivot back and forth reciting a litany of adverse impacts, from a military

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housing allowance they say makes housing unaffordable for non-military residents to the military discounts for
everything from gasoline and milk to baby formula and toilet paper.
Camacho says military service is incentivized to the point that it encroaches on identity. You have this culture
on Guam where everyone is very proud of being Chamorro but on the other hand you have this constant exposure to
the military and militarization Its almost part of the narrative on Guam: all these great benefits from being in the
military. Aguon adds, In many young peoples minds the military service is the tried and true road to wealth and
well-being and so they quickly get with the program. With the military dangling financial incentives before Guams
people, he says, it drives parents to encourage their kids to enlist. Whats happening now is but one chapter in a
long and complicated book about the breaking of a people, Aguon says, adding that militarization and colonization
are inseparable.
Not everyone in Guam is critical of the military, of course. In an emailed statement, Guams lone representative
in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, said, Guam, which has a historically
symbiotic relationship with the military, will benefit significantly from the associated investments [from the U.S.
Marine realignment] in our community. Last March, Bordallo called for the development of an IT business sector
on Guam, which she says, through strong military ties, could position Guam as a regional hub for IT infrastructure.
Further, if the Trans-Pacific Partnership is passed I think Guam can leverage its location to take advantage of
potential business meetings and engagements to facilitate trade in the region, she added.
Guams spokespeople for the Army, Navy, and Air Force all declined requests for interviews, but in a written
statement U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs spokesman Commander Dave Benham said, The militarys
forward presence and engagement play an essential role in strengthening the capabilities of Pacific nations and
partners to defend and secure themselves. Building strong partnerships in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region requires us to
sustain and enhance American military strength in the region. One military supporter eager to talk was Carl
Peterson, a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army. He says Guams military presence is essential to the local
economy as it reduces dependency on tourism. He asks, The bottom line is how do you expand the economy?
Furthermore, Peterson says the military provides vital job skills training and regional security. Peterson points to
Chinese-backed real estate development in the nearby Northern Marina islands saying, If the U.S. left, it wouldnt
be long before China would run everything in Guam. He suggests Guams strategic importance will only increase.
From the point of view that [Guam] is sovereign territory, its far more important than Okinawa Guam becomes
a place where the United States has a toehold in Asia and can justify their presence.
The notion that the U.S. military is what keeps Guam safe is very low-level, colonized thinking, according to
Dr. Lisa Natividad, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Guam. She see the military presence as
a source of social and economic stress, saying it vampires our best through its universal recruitment in Guams
schools. As for the Marine buildup she asks, Why is the government of Japan willing to pay so much money to
transfer Marines from Okinawa to Guhan (the Chamorro name for Guam) if its such a great thing? It doesnt make
any sense. Pointing to sexual violence against women and children in Okinawa, Natividad says. I attempted to
actually come up with a number [of crimes/rapes] but I gave up after the fourth or fifth page because each one of
those cases is multiple numbers. Its really obscene.
When the Navy released a bulging 10,000 page Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2009, concerned
citizens divided up the report for review. Facing opposition and more than 10,000 comments, the Navy scaled back
the original plans for 8,600 Marines and deferred controversial plans to dredge over 70 acres of coral reef and to
build a live firing range complex at a historical Chamorro site. The firing range was instead moved to the Guam
National Wildlife Refuge on the islands northernmost tip. According to Leon Guerrero, co-chair for the
Independence for Guhan Task Force and a member of the Commission on Decolonization, business interests on
Guam have constructed a false narrative suggesting the whole of the island is supportive of the Marine build up.
Those of us who have read through these [military] documents have realized that there really isnt much economic
gain to be had, especially the way the buildup has been downsized, Leon Guerrero says.
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Shes referring to the original announcement that 8,600 marines and 9,000 dependents would be relocated to
Guam for four-year stints, during which time they could invest in the local economy and contribute to the
community. Instead, two-thirds of the reduced number of Marines will be training on Guam and neighboring islands
on six-month rotations. The island will see a boom when we get a huge construction phase which will then
suddenly bust But what happens when construction ends? Leon Guerrero asks. These are not longstanding jobs.
For us, thats not something were interested in. Rather than focusing on how to profit from the military, Leon
Guerrero says Guams people should be working to build a self-sustaining economy that breaks what she calls a
dependency on the military.
Dr. Carlyle Corbin, a U.S. Virgin Islands-based international advisor on governance who also teaches a course on
political evolution for small island territories at the University of Guam, Discussion of the fact that the United
States has colonies is something that doesnt resonate, especially when there is a bit of a denial as to whether its a
colony, Corbin says. According to Corbin, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. mission to the UN project the
image of Guam as having full self-government. The point is not made that the governors are elected but their power
is limited and the representatives in Congress are non-voting and only in one house of Congress and not the other
Its easy to dismiss any concerns because of the very limited description that is often used to placate whoever may
be asking the question. Corbin continues: Theres obviously a tendency to view [Guam] from the military side but
not even giving consideration to the fact that there might be people there who have a different opinion But very
little attention, if any, is given to the fact that the people in the place should also be taken into account as well, in
particular their political aspirations and their right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Carter has vowed the U.S. will remain the principal security power in the AsiaPacific for decades to come and the military describes Guam in terms of providing strategic global strike
capability and ensuring consistency with force posture requirements. At the same time, there are growing voices
on Guam that demand a permanent and just resolution to what is seen as injustice. Reflecting on being a military
colony, Natividad says, America justifies its military might as the spread of democracy whereas here in Guam,
which is currently still U.S. soil, democracy doesnt exist. How can you justify doing that all over the world when in
your own backyard you are doing just the opposite? [Source: The Diplomat | Jon Letman | August 29, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military Ranks Quiz 1

Did You Answer Correctly?

1. What is the order of generals, junior to senior?

Brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, general is the order, from most junior to most senior
rank.
2. What are the three groups Army ranks are broken down into?
Army ranks fall into three groups: junior enlisted, NCOs and senior NCOs.
3. Who are the brass?
Military "brass" are its high-ranking officers.
4. What is a mustang?
A mustang is an officer who was promoted from within the enlisted ranks.
5. Who is a plebe?
Freshman (the lowest class) are called plebes at the Naval Academy and at West Point.
6. True or false: The rank of private in the Marines does not wear a uniform insignia.
Neither privates in the Marine Corps or in the Army, seamen recruits in the Navy nor airmen recruits in the
Air Force have a rank insignia.
7. Which Army rank is only used in time of war?
The rank of general of the Army is equal to or higher than those who command armies from other nations
and hasn't been used since World War II.
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8. How do you address a lieutenant general?

All generals are addressed as "general," whether brigadier, lieutenant, major or simply general.
9. What were captains called in the Roman army ranks?
Captains in the Roman army were called centurions, each commanding up to 100 men
10. If you're a lance corporal in the Marine Corps, what is the equivalent rank in the Army?
A lance corporal is the equivalent to a private first class in the Army. In the Marines, private first class
comes before lance corporal.
11. Which rank is higher in the Marine Corps, sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant?
While they're the same pay grade (E-9), sergeant major is the higher rank.
12. Which is NOT a difference of insignia between a seaman recruit in the Navy and one in the Coast Guard?
In the Coast Guard, a seaman recruit has an insignia with one stripe, and Coast Guard insignia colors are
different than Navy colors.
13. What is the difference between a commissioned and noncommissioned officer?
Commissioned officers have extra education (a minimum of a bachelor's degree and officer training),
whereas NCOs do not.
14. True or false: Commissioned officers outrank all noncommissioned officers.
Commissioned officers outrank NCOs, but NCOs do command lower-ranking enlisted personnel.
15. Who is the only airman ever to hold rank of five-star general, as the general of the Air Force?
Henry H. Arnold who also became general of the Army in 1944.

* Military History *

Nazi POWs

Jewish Avengers Poison Plot

Seventy years after the most daring attempt of Jewish Holocaust survivors to seek revenge against their former
tormentors, the leader of the plot has only one simple regret that to his knowledge he didn't succeed in killing any
Nazis. Joseph Harmatz is one of the few remaining Jewish "Avengers" who carried out a mass poisoning of former
SS men in an American prisoner-of-war camp in 1946 that sickened more than 2,200 Germans but ultimately caused
no known deaths. A recently declassified U.S. military report obtained by The Associated Press has only added to
the mystery of why the brazen operation did not kill Nazis, because it shows the amount of arsenic used should have
been fatal to tens of thousands.
Still, the 91-year-old Harmatz says the message echoed into a rallying cry for the newborn state of Israel that
the days when attacks on Jews went unanswered were over. "We didn't want to come back (to pre-state Israel)
without having done something, and that is why we were keen," Harmatz said in a hoarse, whispery voice from his
apartment in north Tel Aviv. Despite a visceral desire for vengeance, most Holocaust survivors were too weary or
devastated to seriously consider it, after their world was shattered and 6 million Jews killed during World War II.
For most, merely rebuilding their lives and starting new families was revenge enough against a Nazi regime that

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aimed to destroy them. For others, physical retribution ran counter to Jewish morals and traditions. For even more,
the whole concept of reprisals seemed pointless given the sheer scope of the genocide.

Joseph Harmatz talks May 23 at his apartment in Tel Aviv, Israel, about his time as a Jewish "Avenger" who carried out
a mass poisoning of former SS men in an American prisoner-of-war camp in 1946 after World War II.

But a group of some 50, most young men and women who had already fought in the resistance, could not let the
crimes go unpunished and actively sought to exact at least a small measure of revenge. The Nuremberg trials were
prosecuting some top Nazis, but the Jewish people had no formal representative. There was a deep sense of justice
denied, as the vast majority of Nazis immersed themselves back into a post-war Germany that was being rebuilt by
the Americans' Marshall Plan. While there were some isolated acts of Jews harming individual Nazis after the war,
the group, codenamed Nakam, Hebrew for vengeance, sought a more comprehensive form of punishment. "We
didn't understand why it shouldn't be paid back," said Harmatz, who was nicknamed Julek, and lost most of his
family in the Holocaust. So the group set out with a simple mission. "Kill Germans," Harmatz said flatly. How
many? "As many as possible," he quickly replied.
The first plan of action described by Harmatz was audacious. Initiated by the resistance fighter and noted Israeli
poet Abba Kovner, the idea was to poison the water supply of Nuremberg, a plot that could have potentially killed
hundreds of thousands. But there were deep reservations even among the Avengers that such an operation would kill
innocent Germans and undermine international support for the establishment of Israel. Either way, when Kovner
sailed for Europe with the poison, he drew suspicion from British authorities and was forced to toss it overboard
before he was arrested. Following that setback, attention shifted toward Plan B, a more limited operation that
specifically targeted the worst Nazi perpetrators. Undercover members of the group found work at a bakery that
supplied the Stalag 13 POW camp at Langwasser, near Nuremberg, and waited for their chance to strike the
thousands of SS men the Americans held there.
It came on April 13, 1946. Using poison procured from one of Kovner's associates, three members spent two
hours coating some 3,000 loaves of bread with arsenic, divided into four portions. The goal was to kill 12,000 SS
personnel, and Harmatz oversaw the operation from outside the bakery. While the mass death count of the first plan
would have been disastrous for the Jewish people, the second's more direct route was easier to accept, since its
targets were the worst of the worst, said Dina Porat, the chief historian at Israel's Yad Vashem memorial. She has
written a biography of Kovner and is about to publish another book on the Avengers themselves. "The terrible
tragedy was about to be forgotten, and if you don't punish for one crime, you will get another," she explained. "This
is what was driving them, not only justice but a warning, a warning to the world that you cannot hurt Jews in such a
manner and get away with it."
Even if they were ultimately unsuccessful, she said, the Avengers' act was seeped with symbolism for a
burgeoning state of Israel fighting for its survival in a hostile region. "What is Zionism? Zionism is the Jews taking
their fate in their own hands and not letting the others dictate our fate," she said. "This is what they wanted to show.
You cannot get away with such a terrible deed." Under German regulations, authorities in Nuremberg later
investigated Harmatz and Leipke Distal, who worked undercover in the bakery for months, after they appeared in a
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1999 television documentary and revealed details of the operation. The prosecutors, in the uncomfortable position of
having to investigate Holocaust survivors trying to kill Nazis, eventually concluded that even though there was an
attempted murder they would not file charges because of the "extraordinary circumstances."
According to previously classified files from the U.S. military's Counter Intelligence Corps, which investigated
the 1946 incident and which the Nuremberg prosecutors did not have access to, the amount of arsenic used should
have been enough to cause a massive number of deaths. The files were obtained by the AP through a Freedom of
Information Act request to the National Archives. In one memo from 1947 stamped "confidential," investigators
write that at the bakery they found "three empty hot water bottles and a burlap bag containing four full hot water
bottles." An analysis of the contents "revealed that they contained enough arsenic mixed with glue and water to kill
approximately 60,000 persons." Another confidential report said a chemist called in to help in the investigation had
determined "10 kilo of pure arsenic was present, mixed with water and glue for adhesive purposes."
Laboratory investigators found arsenic on the bottom, top and sides of the bread, and reported that doctors said
the SS men exhibited symptoms "similar to cholera and included vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes." The report
added that the most amount of arsenic found on a loaf was 0.2 grams which fell well within the range of 0.1-0.3
grams that would be 'in most cases lethal." To this day, it remains a mystery as to why the poison failed to kill
Nazis. The prevailing theory is that the plotters in their haste spread the poison too thinly. Another is that the Nazi
prisoners immediately sensed something was off with the bread and therefore no one ingested enough of it to die.
After the attack, Harmatz, Distal and others had to flee quickly. At the border of Czechoslovakia they were met by
Yehuda Maimon, an Auschwitz survivor from Poland who lost his parents in the camps and decided to join Nakam
shortly after escaping a death march. He was responsible for smuggling the group out safely and bribing officials at
the border. From there, they slipped into Italy before migrating for good to the Holy Land.
From the retirement home outside Tel Aviv where his grandchildren frequently visit him, the 92-year-old
Maimon, who goes by the nickname Poldek, fixes a steely gaze with his piercing blue eyes. He looks back with
satisfaction at carrying out his "duty" for revenge before starting anew in Israel. "It was imperative to form this
group. If I am proud of something it is that I belonged to this group," he said. "Heaven forbid if after the war we had
just gone back to the routine without thinking about paying those bastards back. It would have been awful not to
respond to those animals." [Source: The Associated Press | Aron Heller and Randy Herschaft | August 31, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military Former Punishments

Laws Were Looser In the Olden Days

Next time you cry about having to work an extra CQ shift, remember that in the past you could have been flogged.
Laws were looser back in the olden days of the U.S. military. If you were a soldier during the Civil War and you
screwed up big time, you were looking at a truly painful consequence. It wasnt uncommon to be flogged or tied up
by the thumbs for your misdeeds back then and it took our country nearly a century to realize that corporal
punishment was probably bad for troops and morale. Here are 10 crazy punishments that used to be legal in the U.S.
armed forces.

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Viewing above and below (left-to-right) Bucking and gagging, Log-carrying to the point of exhaustion, Riding the Spanish
donkey or wooden mule, Tying up by the thiumbs, Branding, and Sweat boxes

1. Bucking and gagging. During the Civil War, discipline was a huge problem among the soldiers on both sides of
the Mason-Dixon. In order to set unruly soldiers straight, some commanding officers chose the humiliating and
painful route of bucking and gagging. Under this penalty, the mischief maker would have to sit for long periods
bent forward with his hands tied at his shins, his feet tied together at the ankles, and to top it all off a rod or stick
was shoved over the arms and under the knees, and he was gagged with a cloth. The worst part? Minor offenses
like insubordination earned a troop this unusual punishment.
2. Log carrying. To this day, many branches perform log carries during PT to train strength, endurance, and
teamwork. But during the Civil War, log carrying was a form of punishment. Those in breach of minor regulations
would be forced to carry a large log around camp until they physically couldnt stand anymore.
3. Wooden mule. Civil War commanders didnt mess around. Minor offenses like straggling, fighting, or
drunkenness could earn you an intensely painful ride on the wooden mule. The wooden mule a narrow rail
elevated just high enough so that the victims feet couldnt touch the ground is considered one of the most cruel
torture devices of all time. The accused would have to sit atop the wooden mule with weights attached to his legs
until he passed out. Sometimes, the wedge would actually slice through its victim.
4. Branding. During the Civil War, those who messed up were sometimes branded with the first letter of their
crime on various parts of the body usually the forehead using a red-hot iron, according to American Civil War
Society. The letter C was given to those showing cowardice under fire, T was reserved for thieves, D for
deserters, and W for worthlessness. Painful, embarrassing, and permanent, this punishment probably acted as a
deterrent for many troops.
5. Sweat boxes. Saunas are nice, but imagine being stuck in a sweatbox for hours without food or water. The U.S.
Naval Institute states that during the 1850s a stint in the sweatbox was a punishment used for insubordination and
serious irregularities among military members.
6. Flogging. Outlawed in 1861, flagellation or flogging is the beating of the human body with whips, lashes,
rods, and similar objects. Troublesome troops were generally flogged on the backs and the bottoms of the feet for
minor crimes.
7. Wooden wheel. If you were convicted of theft, sleeping on duty, or cowardice during the Civil War, you may
face a punishment involving your body being spread-eagle tied to a large wooden wheel. According to the
descriptions of Frank Wilkeson, a Civil War soldier, a piece of cloth would be placed around your head so that you
couldnt talk and sometimes the wheel would be spun so youd get sick. For moderate punishments, soldiers
faced five to six hours tied to the wheel in upright position. If the punishment was severe, the victim would be tied
to the wheel horizontally and hed have to use all of his strength to keep his weight from pulling hard on the rope.

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8. Tying on the rack. A crippling punishment involving bondage, Wilkeson says men would beg for death over
being tied to the rack. The accused would have all of his weight focused on chest, and his chest would be pressed
into the edge of a piece of iron. The victim was gagged because there was always screaming involved. Major ouch.
9. Tying up by the thumbs. Another Civil War-era classic punishment was the tying up by both thumbs to a
strong tree branch. Soldiers would be left hanging for hours to repent for the minor offences they committed a
punishment that seems to defy both human rights laws and the laws of physics.
10. Continuous dousing with sea water. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, dousing someone continuously
with sea water was used on delinquents and those who showed insubordination as an alternative to flogging. Sounds
a bit like waterboarding.
[Source: Task & Purpose |Tahlia Y. Burton | August 10, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Staff Sgt. Reckless Monument

Ground Broke at Camp Pendleton

Camp Pendleton broke ground on the monument of a famous Korean War Horse 29 AUG outside the Pacific Views
Event Center near the Marine Corps Memorial Garden. The life-size bronze statue of Staff Sgt. Reckless, a heroic
horse who served with Camp Pendletons 5th Marine Regiment, will be installed in the center of the traffic circle by
the event center over the next two months. The Mongolian mare became famous in the early 1950s during the
Korean War when she carried ammunition through enemy fire to troops on the front lines and brought back the
wounded. She was injured by shrapnel, but continued her duties and became a symbol of the valor of the Marines
and a legend of the Korean War. She was awarded two Purple Hearts.
During the Battle for Outpost Vegas, in March 1953, Reckless is reported to have made 51 trips in one day
climbing steep hills to firing sites, carrying more than 9,000 pounds of ammunition while bullets were pounding in
at 500 rounds per minute. Her heroism under fire supporting the 5th Marine Regiment during the Korean conflict
earned her the love and respect of fellow Marines and brought her national fame, said Col. Richard Rothwell,
president of the Camp Pendleton Historical Society. The Camp Pendleton Historical Society and Robin Hutton,
author of Sgt. Reckless: Americas War Horse, spearheaded the effort to build the monument at Camp Pendleton,
where the mare spent her last 14 years at the Stepp Stables and where she had been buried in 1968. Hutton led an
effort to build a similar Reckless Memorial Monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle,
Va., that was dedicated in July 2013.

Reckless with Tech. Sgt. Joe Latham in Korea in 1953.

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The monument by artist Jocelyn Russell, is estimated to cost $165,000. The nonprofit Camp Pendleton Historical
Society is still fundraising and has donated $72,000, including $30,000 in matching funds. A total of $133,000 has
been raised. Hutton donated a portion of her book and merchandise sales at the Sgt. Reckless store online at
sgtreckless.com. A dedication ceremony for the monument is planned for Oct. 26. I would like to think that in time
the monument will be seen as a symbol of all Marines who have fought so bravely in that long ago war, Rothwell
said. Donations can be mailed to Camp Pendleton Historical Society, PO Box 5497, Oceanside, CA 92052. Make
checks payable to Camp Pendleton Historical Society or CPHS and write Reckless on the memo line. For
information, visit www.sgtreckless.com, www.camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org, or email rrothwel@cox.net.
[Source: San Diego Union Tribune | Linda McIntosh | Aug. 30, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Times Square V-J Day Kiss Update 01

Recipient Passes at Age 92

As pedestrians watch, an American sailor passionately kisses a white-uniformed nurse in Times Square to
celebrate the long awaited-victory over Japan. August 14, 1945.
The woman kissed by an ecstatic sailor in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died. Greta
Zimmer Friedmans son says his mother died 8 SEP at a Richmond, Virginia, hospital of what he called
complications from old age. She was 92. Friedman was a 21-year-old dental assistant in a nurses uniform on Aug.
14, 1945. She went to Times Square amid reports that the war had ended. Thats when she was kissed by George
Mendonsa celebrating Japans surrender. Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the moment. It
became one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century. Joshua Friedman says his mother recalled it all
happening in an instant. She will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, next to her late husband, Dr. Misha
Friedman. [Source: Associated Press | September 10, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Pearl Harbor Heroic Pilots

George Welch & Ken Taylor

At the beginning of December, 1941, Army Air Forces pilots Second Lieutenants George Welch and Kenneth
Taylor had moved their P-40s away from the main airfield at Wheeler to a nearby auxiliary field at Haleiwa as part
of a gunnery exercise. The vast majority of Army Air Forces fighters at Wheeler were parked in neat rows on the
main flight-line; although war with Japan appeared imminent, it was decided that the possibility of sabotage from
the ground presented a greater threat than a potential air attack, and it was easier to guard them while parked in neat
rows than dispersed on the airfield perimeter. When the Japanese carrier-based sneak attack against Pearl Harbor
and Wheeler and Hickam Fields came on the morning of December 7, 1941, the majority of the U.S. Army Air
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Forces fighters were easily destroyed on the ground, several of them when the first P-40 pilot attempting to take off
to fight was hit and killed on his takeoff roll and his fighter went crashing down the flight-line at Wheeler.

Ken Taylor (left) & George Welch

Welch and Taylor had spent the evening of Saturday, 6 DEC, at a dance at the Wheeler Field officers club,
followed by an all-night card game some distance away from their home base at Haleiwa. That fateful Sunday
morning, as they discussed the merits of taking an early morning swim, they heard distant gunfire. Suddenly the
Japanese swooped down on Wheeler Field, which was a center for fighter operations in Hawaii. Dive bombers
seemed to appear out of nowhere. Violent explosions upended the parked planes, and buildings began to burn.
Welch ran for a telephone and called Haleiwa as bullets sprayed around him. "Get two P-40s ready!" he yelled. "It's
not a gag. The Japs are here." The two hopped into Taylor's car with machine-gun bullets from planes of the
attacking Japanese aircraft kicking up dust around them. They reached speeds of 100 mph during the 16-mile dash to
Haleiwa. Japanese Zeros strafed their car three times. When the two fliers careened onto the airfield nine minutes
later, their fighter planes were already armed and the propellers were turning over. Without waiting for orders they
took off.
As they climbed for altitude they ran into twelve Japanese Val dive bombers over the Marine air base at Ewa.
Welch and Taylor began their attack immediately. On their first pass, machine guns blazing, each shot down a
bomber. As Taylor zoomed up and over in his Tomahawk, he saw an enemy bomber heading out to sea. He gave his
P-40 full throttle and roared after it. Again his aim was good and the Val broke up before his eyes, tumbling into the
sea. In the meantime Welch's plane had been hit and he dived into a protective cloud bank. The damage didn't seem
too serious so he flew out again - only to find himself on the tail of another Val. With only one gun now working he
nevertheless managed to send the bomber flaming into a watery grave.
Both pilots now vectored toward burning Wheeler Field for more ammunition and gas. Welch later recalled: "We
had to argue with some of the ground crew. They wanted us to disperse the airplanes and we wanted to fight."
Unfortunately the extra cartridge belts for the P-40s were in a hangar which was on fire. Two mechanics ran bravely
into the dangerous inferno and returned with the ammunition. After their second takeoff they headed directly into
the enemy planes, all guns firing. This time Ken Taylor was hit in the arm, and then a Val closed in behind him.
Welch kicked his rudder and the Tomahawk whipped around and blasted the Val, though his own plane had been hit
once more. Taylor had to land, but George Welch shot down still another bomber near Ewa before he returned.
In the aftermath, the single American airfield to emerge from the battle unscathed was Haleiwa. Some speculated
that this was because the Japanese did not know of its existence. More likely, it was because Welch and Taylor
aggressively and continually drove off the attackers. One group of Japanese planes, their bomb cargoes expended,
turned to strafe Hickam and Ewa airfields and the naval installations at Ford Island. One of those Japanese pilots
saw an aerial melee in the distance that very likely included Welch and Taylor. The Japanese flier reported seeing
several of his comrades' planes falling from the sky in flames. Taylor later recalled: "We went down and got in the
traffic pattern and shot down several planes there. I know for certain I shot down two planes or perhaps more; I don't
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know." A total of 29 Japanese planes were shot down during the attack, and Welch and Taylor were officially
credited with seven of them, four in their first sortie and three in the second.
In all, a total of five U.S. Army Air Forces pilots managed to get their planes off the ground and give battle that
morning. One of them, a lieutenant named Sanders, led a group of planes through overcast skies at 6,000 feet. When
a formation of six Japanese bombers was spotted attacking an airfield, the group chased them off. Sanders picked
out the Japanese leader and sent the smoking enemy plane spiraling into the sea. Sanders then spotted a comrade in
trouble. Lieutenant James Sterling had closed with an enemy bomber, but another Japanese plane had gotten on his
tail and was pouring fire into him. Sanders pulled in behind Sterling's attacker, and all four planes went into a steep
dive. Sanders was the only one to come out. Sterling lost his life, and both Japanese aircraft went down.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, Taylor was assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, and went to the South Pacific at
Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. He was able to record two additional aerial kills: the first on January 27 and the
other on December 7, 1943, two years after Pearl Harbor. This brought his total number of career kills to six,
making him a flying ace. After 27 years of active duty, he retired as a colonel in 1967, and became the Assistant
Adjutant General for the Alaska Air National Guard, retiring as a Brigadier General in 1971. After contracting an
illness from a hip surgery two years prior, Taylor died on November 25, 2006 of a strangulated hernia at an assisted
living residence in Tucson, Arizona. He was cremated and later buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in June
2007 with full military honors.
Welch remained in the Pacific Theater of Operations and went on to score 12 more kills against Japanese aircraft
(16 in total), making him a triple ace. In the spring of 1944, Welch was approached by North American Aviation to
become a test pilot for the P-51 Mustang. He went on to fly the prototypes of the FJ Fury, and when the F-86 Sabre
was proposed, Welch was chosen as the chief test pilot.
In September, 1947, the F-86 project moved to the Muroc test facility (now Edwards AFB, California), the same
base at which the Bell X-1 was being developed. North American was instructed by Secretary of the Air Force
Stuart Symington that they were not, under any circumstances, to break the sound barrier before the X-1 achieved
this milestone. However, Welch disregarded this order, and during a test flight on October 1, 1947, he entered a
steep dive from 35,000 ft. During the dive, Welch observed symptoms compatible with Mach jump. However, due
to problems with the landing gear, further full-speed flights were delayed. On October 14, the same day that Chuck
Yeager was to attempt supersonic flight, Welch reputedly performed a second supersonic dive. This time he started
from 37,000 ft., and executed a full-power 4g pullout, greatly increasing the power of his apparent sonic boom.
Yeager broke the sound barrier approximately 30 minutes later.
To justify the investment in the X-1 program, the Pentagon allegedly ordered the results of Welch's flights
classified and did not allow North American to publicly announce that the XP-86 had gone supersonic until almost a
year later. The Air Force still officially denies that Welch broke the sound barrier first. Welch had achieved
supersonic flight only in a dive, not in level flight, and his flights were unofficial and not tracked by NACA
measuring equipment, making verification impossible. Welch went on to work with North American Aviation in the
Korean War as Chief Test Pilot, engineer and instructor, where he reportedly downed several enemy MiG-15s while
"supervising" his students.
After the war, Welch returned to flight testing - this time in the F-100 Super Sabre - with Yeager flying the chase
plane. Welch became the first man to break the sound barrier in level flight with this type of aircraft, the first USAF
fighter to achieve level supersonic flight, on May 25, 1953. However, stability problems with the aircraft arose, and
on Columbus Day, October 12, 1954, Welch's F-100A-1-NA Super Sabre disintegrated during a 7g pullout at Mach
1.55. When found, Welch was still in the ejection seat, mortally injured. He was evacuated by helicopter, but was
pronounced dead on arrival at the Army hospital. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Welch and Taylor were both nominated for the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions on Pearl Harbor Day, and
the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, was reportedly anxious to
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receive the nominations. Unfortunately for the two heroes, the intermediate Chain of Command, whose pride was
evidently smarting from having been caught off guard and suffering the devastation they did, reasoned absurdly that
they had taken off without proper authorization and therefore could not be awarded the United States' highest
military award. As a result, the awards were downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross for both men. [Source:
Together We Served | Mike Christy | August 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military Legends

World's First Black Fighter Pilot | Eugene Bullard

A largely unsung and non-known hero of the World War One was the fascinating Eugene James "Jacques" Bullard
of the Lafayette flying Corps. Bullard was born in a three-room house in Columbus, Georgia, the seventh of ten
children born to William (Octave) Bullard, a black man who was from Martinique, and Josephine ("Yokalee")
Thomas, a Creek Indian. His father's ancestors had been slaves in Haiti to French refugees who fled during the
Haitian Revolution. They reached the United States and took refuge with the Creek Indians. An adventurer by
nature, he left the small town of Columbus and moved to Atlanta by himself while still in his teenage years. He had
been told that the way to escape racial prejudice was to head to Europe, particularly France (he once said he
witnessed a near lynching of his dad). A long time back his father had pointed out to him that Bullard was a French
name and that at least one ancestor had hailed from there. Stirred by all the possibilities, he stowed away on a ship
bound for Scotland, arriving at Aberdeen and made his way south to Glasgow. On a visit to Paris, he liked what he
saw and how he was treated and decided to settle in France. He became a relatively good boxer in Paris and also
worked in a music hall.
France had been good to Bullard, and he quickly fell in love with the country. So when World War I broke out in
August 1914, he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion at a time when volunteers from overseas were only allowed
to serve in the French colonial troops. Assigned to the 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment as a
machine gunner, he saw combat near the Somme River. It was during this time when he learned Americans and
other volunteers were now allowed to transfer to Metropolitan French Army units, including the 170th French
Infantry Regiment - nicknamed "Les Hirondelles de la Mort," or "The Swallows of Death." Liking the idea of being
part of a unit with crack troops appealed to Bullard, so he put in his request to join the regiment. In February 1916,
his requested was granted just as the 170th Infantry was sent to Verdun, one of the largest and longest battles of the
First World War on the Western Front between the German and French armies. The battle took place on the hills
north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. It was during this battle that Bullard was severely wounded on
March 5, 1916 and sent to a Parisian hospital where he spent the next six months recuperating. During
convalescence, he was cited for acts of valor at the orders of the regiment on July 3, 1917 and was awarded the
Croix de Guerre.
While convalescing in Paris, his friend and fellow Southerner Jeff Davis Dixon bet Bullard $2,000 that he could
not get into the French Air Force. Bullard contended that he could, accepted the bet and on October 5, 1916 arrived
at the French aerial gunnery school at Cazaux on the Atlantic. It was here that he met Edmond Genet (the first
American flier to die in the First World War in April 1917). He told Bullard about the Lafayette Escadrille which
inspired him to be a pilot and not a back seat gunner. In mid-October with Genet's help he transferred to the flight
school at Tours for pilot training. The training took a few more months, but it was inevitably given Bullard's
persistence that it would pay off. Bullard earned his pilot's license and then Dickerson faithfully paid the $2,000. It
was a considerable sum at the time, especially for a gentleman's bet. Dixon admitted that he hated to lose the money,
but was delighted that at least Bullard was from Dixie. The result of the bet was to launch Eugene Bullard into
history as a first ever African-American aviator.
Like many other American aviators, Bullard hoped to join the famous Lafayette Escadrille, but after enrolling 38
American pilots in spring and summer of 1916, it stopped accepting applicants. After further training he joined 269
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American aviators at the Lafayette Flying Corps on November 15, 1916. American volunteers flew with French
pilots in different pursuit and bomber/reconnaissance aero squadrons on the Western Front. On August 27, he was
assigned to the Escadrille N.93 based at Beauzee-sur-Aire south of Verdun. The squadron was equipped with
Nieuport and Spad VII aircraft that displayed a flying duck as the squadron insignia. He took part in over twenty air
combat missions, and he is sometimes credited with shooting down one or two German aircraft. However, the
French authorities could not confirm Bullard's victories. His Spad had an insignia lettered "All blood runs red" and
his nickname became the "Black Swallow of Death."
When the United States entered the war, the United States Army Air Service convened a medical board to recruit
Americans serving in the Lafayette Flying Corps for the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Forces. Bullard
went through the medical examination, but he was not accepted, as only white pilots were allowed to serve.
Sometime later, on a short break from duty in Paris, Bullard allegedly got into an argument with a French
commissioned officer and was punished by being transferred to the service battalion of to the 170th infantry
Regiment of the French army. He was discharged in October 1919 and returned to Paris. After the war, Bullard
settled down, and in 1923 married a French Countess from a wealthy family named Marcelle Straumann. They had
two daughters Jacqueline and Lolita.
Post war Bullard bought a bar named "Le Grand Duc" on the north side of Paris. In the late 1930s, prior to the
outbreak of World War II, he was recruited by French intelligence to spy on the Germans who come by his bar. He
remained very devoted to France and tried to join the French army but was considered too old. In 1940, he managed
to find a way out of German occupied France, biked all the way down to Portugal and returned to the United States
on a Red Cross ship. He settled in New York City. He was able to extradite his daughters, but Marcelle remained in
France and eventually they divorced. In 1954, along with two other French veterans, he was invited by French Pres.
Charles de Gaulle to light the flame of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Eugene Bullard received fifteen decorations from the government of France. He was made a Knight of the
Legion of Honor, France's most coveted award. He also was awarded the Medaille militaire, another high military
distinction. He died in New York City of stomach cancer on October 12, 1961 at the age of 66 with his
achievements all but forgotten. While Eugene Bullard is not as famous as a Tuskegee Airmen or Gen. Benjamin O.
Davis Junior, as an African-American aviator, he came before all of them. The Chicago Tribune herald named him
as "as probably the most unsung hero in the history of the U.S. wartime aviation." [Source: Together We Served |
Mike Christy | August 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military History

How the Rum-Soaked Royal Navy Sobered Up

Its been nearly 50 years since British sailors stopped getting a daily ration of liquor. Heres your game plan for this
Sunday, 31 JUL: download and crank up a sea shanty, hold aloft a tot of dark, tasty rum, observe a moment of
silence, and then swiftly knock it back. For Sunday marks the 46th anniversary of Black Tot Day. On July 31, 1970
the British Royal Navy ended a centuries-old hallowed tradition: the issuing a daily dram of liquor to sailors aboard
its ships. When the day arrived, sailors around the world gathered for a final tot, and the remnants of the barrels
were ceremoniously dumped into the ocean. Afterwards, the navys rum budget was diverted into providing other
sort of entertainment for sailors. This included bus excursions, golf outings and equipment for discotheques.
Military forces were once, essentially, alcohol-powered fighting machines. The Dutch navy provided gin to its
sailors. The French (naturally) got wine. The American Continental Navy, established to fight in the War of
Independence, included in its charter the issue of a half pint of rum daily to every man, with more doled out for extra
duty and during military engagement. But the British navy had the most rococo, highly evolved, and welldocumented history of drinking on the high seas.

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A Petty Officer keeps tally of rum and water issued to his seaman

The daily tot likely started for a simple reason. Water in the casks would often develop algae and taste putrid and
sour. And beer (also rationed for centuries) didnt hold up well in humid heat; captains letters often referred to the
beer on board as stinking. Higher proof spirits, however, retained their bright, sweet flavor far longer (even
improving in the barrel), and as such were much in demand by seamen living on a diet of bland porridge and salted
meat. Liquor rations may not have kept men hydrated, but at least it offered an oasis of tastiness.
More importantly, of course, alcohol offered a respite from the tedium of shipboard life. In their quarters below
decks, men were stacked like cordwood in hammocks in airless spaces, living literal inches away from fellow sailors
possessed of uncertain hygiene and almost-certain gastro-intestinal distress. Naturally, the high point of any day was
hearing the piper call sailors above decks to receive their daily allotment of spirits. Good liquor to sailors is
preferable to clothing, noted Woodes Rogers, an English privateer and later governor of the Bahamas, in 1712.
But what liquor? Seamen were rationed fortified wines and brandy when in the waters of Europe and Africa. When
the British navy turned its sights to West Indies and North America, naval rum became an essential staple. By
1740, writes James Pack in his detailed 1982 history of the spirit, the rum issue, as the daily alternative to beer, was
common practice on the West Indies station.
Naturally, sailors tended to quaff their daily pint-sized ration all at once. This led to predictable problems.
Traversing lines high in the rigging was difficult enough when sober. And even greater problems arose when in port.
Drunken sailors got into fights and were killed, and were more easily shanghaied or recruited aboard other ships
when potted and staggering about. Famous and revered Admiral Sir Edward Vernon oversaw ships in the West
Indies for decades. He thus saw the effects of rum first hand. It was responsible for stupefying [his sailorss]
rational qualities, he wrote, resulting in fatal effects to their moral as well as their health. In August 1740, he
issued an edict that contained two sweeping changes to the rum rations. First, it was to be disbursed twice daily,
thereby discouraging wholesale guzzling. More significantly, he called for it to be significantly watered down: one
part of rum to four parts water.
Sailors called the new drink grog. Grogram was a type of gum-coated cloth that shed rain nicely and was
supposedly favored by Vernon. His men had nicknamed him Old Grogram, and so a shortened version of the
name made the leap to drink, where it has endured to this day. The diluted grog ration was formally incorporated
into the naval regulations in 1756, which was followed by a gradual, 260-year history of further watering down. The
ration was cut in half in 1823, and then halved again in 1850. Over the next century, the interest among seaman in
partaking of the tot started to fall off; by the 1950s, only a third of navy sailors lined up for it. Then came the
Breathalyzer. A meddlesome British newspaper used one to demonstrate that a sailor could still be legal drunk after
consuming his ration.
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The House of Commons then took up the debate, and eventually decided that what you do with a drunken sailor
is not give him control of nuclear weapons and high-tech electronics. A lump sum of several million dollars was
paid into the Sailors Fund to compensate for the loss of rum, which went to pay for the disco balls and whatnot.
On July 31, 1970, British navy personnel around the globe donned black armbands to mark the lamentable day.
Mock funerals were staged. A British guided-missile destroyer tied up at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was the nearest
British ship to the international date line, was so was the last to do away with the tot. Crewmen assembled on deck
of the HMS Fife, tossed back their final dram, then tossed glasses into the harbor followed by a barrel. And a
centuries-old tradition came to an end. But in doing so, it gave birth to another tradition. So ration yourself a tot
(neat, no ice, a blend of Jamaican, Guyanese, and lighter rums), and salute the sacrifice of sailors everywhere.
[Source: The Dailey Beast | Wayne Curtis| July 29, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Military History Anniversaries

16 thru 30 SEP

Significant events in U.S. Military History over the next 15 days are listed in the attachment to this Bulletin titled,
Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 SEP. [Source: This Day in History http://www.history.com/thisday-in-history | September 2016 ++]
*****************************

Medal of Honor Citations

Dunham, Russell E.

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress

takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to

RUSSELL E. DUNHAM
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Kayserberg, France, 8 January 1945
Entered service: Brighton Ill. August 1940.
Born: East Carondelet, Illinois on February 23, 1920

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Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8
January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3
enemy machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a
dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a
snow-covered hill under fire from 2 machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind him, T/Sgt.
Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun.
As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage
robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow.
When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside
him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machinegunner and assistant
gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the
collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat,
T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machinegun.
Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down
into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although his coat was
so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again
advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire
from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled
forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun
emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him.
After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing 9
Germans--wounding 7 and capturing 2--firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades,
T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.

Dunham and his brother Ralph, who also joined the United States Army, grew up on a farm in Fosterburg,
Illinois. On 25 April 1945 when he was presented with the Medal of Honor, General Alexander Patch said as he
placed the award around Dunham's neck that his actions in single-handedly destroying the machine gun nests saved
the lives of 120 U.S. soldiers who had been pinned down. For his injuries on that 8 JAN, Dunham also received the
Purple Heart.
Dunham returned to the front before his wounds healed. On 22 JAN his battalion was surrounded by tanks,
forcing most of the men to surrender. The following morning, two German soldiers discovered Dunham hiding in a
sauerkraut barrel outside a barn. When their search of his pockets turned up a pack of cigarettes, they fought over it,
overlooking his pistol in a shoulder holster. Later that day as he was being transported toward German lines, the
driver stopped in a bar, giving Dunham the opportunity to shoot his other captor in the head and set off toward the
American lines. Dunham suffered severe frostbite while completing his escape.
Subsequent awards included the Silver and Bronze stars. Shrapnel from his injuries remained in his body for the
rest of his life, and Dunham was quoted as saying "The shrapnel in my leg is a reminder of the war we fought."
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Dunham and his wife Wilda lived on a small farm near Jerseyville, Illinois for over 30 years. He regularly attended a
variety of functions related to honoring Medal of Honor recipients. Dunham erected a monument at Jefferson
Barracks National Cemetery in honor of those who served with the 3rd Infantry Division. The monument was
dedicated on May 20, 2000, and stands near Flagstaff and Rostrum Drive on the cemetery grounds. In his later years
he still enjoyed coon hunting. Dunham died of heart failure in his sleep on the morning of April 6, 2009 in Godfrey,
Illinois at the age of 89. He is interred at Godfrey's Valhalla Memorial Park.
[Source: http://www.history.army.mil/moh/wwII-a-f.html#DOSS | September 2016 ++]

* Health Care *

Cockroach Milk

A Protein Powerhouse

Got milk? How about cockroach milk? Yeah. You read that correctly. Cockroach milk is apparently a thing now,
and regardless of how vile it may seem, it turns out the insect milk packs a powerful punch when it comes to
nutrition. Thats according to a new report from researchers at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative
Medicine in India. The scientists found that cockroach milk is a protein powerhouse and has the potential to become
the next superfood. You probably dont associate cockroaches with producing milk and in fact, most dont. The
Pacific Beetle Cockroach (Diploptera punctate) is the only known cockroach that not only gives birth to live infant
bugs, but also produces a milk containing protein crystals to feed its young.

The crystals are like a complete food they have proteins, fats and sugars. If you look into the protein
sequences, they have all the essential amino acids, said Sanchari Banerjee, one of the main researchers, said in an
interview with The Times of India. The report was recently published in the journal of the International Union of
Crystallography. The fact that an insect produces milk is pretty fascinating but what fascinated researchers is the
fact that a single one of these protein crystals contains more than three times the amount of energy found in an
equivalent amount of buffalo milk (which is also higher in calories than dairy milk), says Science Alert.
Cockroach milk has another big advantage. As the protein is used up and digested, the crystal continues to release
protein at a similar rate. Its time-released food, explained Subramanian Ramaswamy, a biochemist at the Institute
for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore, India, adding if you need food that is calorifically
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high, that is time released and food that is complete. This is it. So how do you get the milk from the cockroach
mothers? You dont milk a cockroach, if thats what youre thinking. The crystals are currently extracted from the
midgut of cockroach embryos perhaps not the most efficient way of feeding a growing world population, says
CNN. The researchers are hoping to find a way to reverse bioengineer the cockroach milk so it can potentially be
consumed as a protein supplement.
If you think cockroach milk sounds disgusting, what about crickets? Bugs are increasingly looked at as a way to
address growing global food demands. Read more about eating crickets at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/bonappetit-crickets-anyone. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Krystal Steinmetz | July 28, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Make your Morning Healthier

Seven Ways

Rise and shine! Heres how to make the first hour the best part of your day
Skip the news
Starting your day already stressed? Blame the bad news. In a 2014 poll, 40 percent of those who said they were
under a great deal of stress pinpointed this top reason: watching or listening to the news. The negativity may make
you worried and anxious before you have to tackle the stressors in your own life. Stay informed, but consider
listening to a book on tape or podcast during your commute to keep you on an even keel.
Pump up your breakfast
Its easy to get protein at lunch (turkey sandwich) and dinner (salmon and veggies), but people often skimp at
breakfast (toast and fruit). Eating more protein during the day, including breakfast, is linked to less body fat, better
muscle function and better blood sugar control, research shows. A few higher protein morning options: Greek
yogurt, cottage cheese and hardboiled eggs.
Throw open the shades
Now this is a reason to love a good sunrise. A 2014 PLOS One study found that more early morning light exposure
is associated with lower body fat, possibly because it resets your circadian rhythm, which could boost your
metabolism. Heading outdoors is best, but at the very least open your shades to stream in lots of light.
Prep coffee
Your daily java packs big health perks. The latest: drinking at least four cups a day slashes your risk of melanoma
by 20 percent, compared to the noncaffeinated set, per research in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Program your coffee maker to brew in the a.m. or premake a big batch of iced Joe so its ready to go when you are.
Focus on your shower
Morning meditation is helpful, but if youre pressed for time, even getting in short bursts called mindful
meditation can help brain areas responsible for memory and stress, say Harvard researchers. Mindfulness
means being aware of sensations in the moment, like focusing in the shower on the feel of the warm water on your
skin and the smell of your body wash.
Turn up the tunes
Add energy to your morning routine with upbeat music. People who listened to positive tunes while trying to be
happier and improve their mood reported more happiness after two weeks compared with a control group. It turns
out being cheerful is a decision you can make and music can help reinforce that sunshiny mentality.
Take a 10-minute walk
Whether you do it outdoors or on a treadmill when the weather turns icky, commit to a short stint of activity.
Overweight postmenopausal women who walked at a modest pace for only 74 minutes a week improved their

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quality of life (like mood and energy) compared with a sedentary group whether they lost weight or not. So get
out there!.
[Source: AARP | Jessica Migala | September 8, 2015 ++]
*****************************

Military Drug Take Back Program

Safe Drug Disposal

Excess prescription and over-the-counter drugs can pose a serious risk in your home. The Military Health System
(MHS) is helping the military community fight back against the dangers of unneeded, unused and expired drugs by
offering Drug Take Back at military pharmacies in the U.S. Proper disposal of unneeded, unused and expired drugs
lowers the risk of misuse and environmental contamination, said Dr. George Jones, chief of Pharmacy Operations
at the DHA. The MHS Drug Take Back program accepts both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, so this is
the time to clean out your medicine cabinet.
Military pharmacies in the U.S. offer two Drug Take Back options. Most pharmacies have fixed containers in
place where you can drop off your excess drugs. Others offer envelopes you can take home, fill with your drugs, and
then mail in. Some have both. You cant dispose of illegal drugs at MHS Drug Take Back locations. Check to see if
your local military pharmacy offers drug takeback at www.tricare.mil/mtf . Holding onto drugs past their useful life
is a bad idea, said Jones. It could be a child accidently ingesting an over-the-counter sleep aid, or an addict finding
expired pain killers. Dont take the risk of having these drugs in your home once you dont need them anymore.
For more information on the Military Health Systems Drug Take Back efforts, visit the Drug Take Back Spotlight
at http://www.health.mil/News/In-the-Spotlight/Drug-Take-Back.
[Source: TRICARE Communications |
September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

TRICARE Assisted Living Options

Benefits Available

As you or your loved ones age, you may find that getting to doctors offices is more difficult or more frequent.
TRICARE offers several options to help you get the care you need. First, decide which services you need, like
whether you need a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. Then you can find out if TRICARE covers those
services.
SNF Care: Skilled nursing care is covered by TRICARE in the U.S. and U.S. Territories within skilled nursing
facilities (SNF) if you have a hospital stay of three or more days. Remember, you are an outpatient until the doctor
formally admits you into the hospital. You become inpatient on the day youre formally admitted to a hospital with a
doctors order. The day of discharge also doesnt count as an inpatient day. Services covered in a skilled nursing
facility include: semi-private rooms (a room you share with other patients), meals, skilled nursing care, physical and
occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, medical social services, medications, medical supplies
and equipment used in the facility, ambulance transportation (when other transportation is dangerous to your health)
to the nearest care not available at the facility, and dietary counseling.
Nursing home Care: Skilled nursing facility care is different from nursing home care, which is not covered by
TRICARE. Nursing homes provide custodial care. i.e. Non-skilled, personal care for basic day-to-day tasks. This
includes help with eating, dressing, getting in or out of a bed or chair, moving around, and using the bathroom.,
which is care that helps you with activities such as: bathing, dressing, walking, eating and sleeping. Learn more
about this at http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/SkilledNursingFacilityCare .

Page 77 of 112

DME:
In either situation, you may need durable medical equipment (DME). This is equipment that can hold up
to repeated use and serves a medical purpose, like oxygen equipment or insulin pumps. TRICARE covers DME
when prescribed by a physician to increase your quality of life. If you can stay home, but still need assistance, you
may decide home health care is best for you http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HomeHealthCare.
Home health care is provided by nurses, nurses aides, or therapists who come into your home to help you with
medication or other services. Physical, speech and occupational therapists can visit to help you function better.
Medical social service workers can visit to make sure you receive proper care. Coverage is the same as Medicare for
these services.
Hospice Care: is care for those who are terminally ill. It emphasizes supportive services such as pain control and
home care. TRICARE does not cover room and board unless the patient is receiving inpatient or respite care. When
you choose hospice care, you've decided that you no longer want care to cure your terminal illness and/or your
doctor has determined that efforts to cure your illness aren't working. Hospice care is provided in three benefit
periods, and each benefit period requires prior authorization. The first two periods are each 90 days. The final
period comprises an unlimited number of 60-day periods, each of which requires recertification of the terminal
illness. If a beneficiary revokes a hospice election, any remaining days in that period are forfeited. To learn more
about TRICARE coverage go to http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HospiceCare.
ALF/Long Term Care: TRICARE and Medicare do not cover assisted living facilities or long term care. The
Department of Veterans Affairs pays for long-term care services for service-related disabilities and certain other
eligible veterans. They also offer nursing home care and at home care for aging veterans who need long term care.
Remember, long term care is care that you need if you can no longer perform everyday tasks by yourself due to a
chronic illness, injury, disability or the aging process. Plan ahead and research long-term care insurance, like the
Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (https://www.ltcfeds.com/) before you need it.
[Source: TRICARE Communications | September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

TRICARE Podcast 364

Age 65+ Benefits | Prostrate Cancer | Healthy Aging

TRICARE benefits after age 65: Retirement is something we all work hard for. Its the time in our lives we can
relax and enjoy the benefits we worked so hard for. TRICARE For Life is one of those benefits. TRICARE For Life
is Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and B. There are
a couple of things you need to do ensure your transition to TRICARE For Life is smooth. As with all TRICARE
Plans, the first thing you must do is ensure DEERS is up-to-date. Youll receive a post card from DMDC, the
Defense Manpower Data Center, four months before your 65th birthday. This postcard is your reminder to ensure
your eligibility information is current.
Next, the Medicare initial enrollment period is seven months. If you miss your initial enrollment period, your
next chance to sign up for Medicare Part B is during the general enrollment period which is from January 1st
through March 31st. Your coverage will begin July 1st , and your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10 percent
for each 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didnt sign up for it. Also, there will be a lapse in your
TRICARE coverage until Part B is effective. For more information about TRICARE For Life, visit
www.TRICARE.mil/TFL. You can get information about Medicare Parts A and B on www.Medicare.gov .
-o-o-O-o-o-

Prostate cancer: This is the most common cancer among American men. Most prostate cancers grow slowly but
once the cancer is discovered, other tests must be done to determine if it has spread. There are three risk factors that
increase a mans chance of developing prostate cancer: age, race and family history. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention report that men who are 50 years of age or older; are African-American and whose father,
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brother, or son had prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease. If you have any of these risk factors, it is
especially important to get screened. You should also talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing
symptoms commonly associated with prostate cancer. Visit www.Cancer.Gov/Prostate for a list of symptoms.
Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer and some men dont have symptoms at all. If you do
not have any risk factors or symptoms, it is still important to get annual preventive care and discuss a potential
screening with your provider. Two tests are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer, the digital rectal exam and
prostate specific antigen test. TRICARE covers annual exams and screenings for men with certain criteria. For more
information, visit www.TRICARE.mil/Prostate .
-o-o-O-o-o-

Healthy Aging Week!: Americans are living longer than ever before. TRICARE wants you to have the highest
quality of life as you age. Many Medicare beneficiaries are subject to chronic diseases, such as heart disease,
cancer, and diabetes. Age also brings a higher risk of dementia and infectious disease. Alzheimers is the 6th leading
cause of death in the United States. Infectious diseases such as flu and pneumonia affect the older population much
more than younger populations. But there is hope! Much of the illness, disability and premature death from these
conditions can be prevented with healthier behaviors, more supportive environments, and better access to preventive
services. The CDC recommends getting 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. It is also important to
do strength training twice a week. Try to do a variety of activities such as walking, biking or swimming. It makes
exercising more fun and reduces risk of injury. If you are at risk of falling or have trouble walking, you should also
do balance training at least 3 days a week. These exercises include backwards walking, sideways walking, heel or
toe walking and practicing standing from a sitting position. If you have a chronic condition or a disability regular
activity can still improve your quality of life and reduce your risk of developing other conditions. Talk to your
doctor to develop a physical activity plan that matches your abilities. Some exercise is better than nothing at all!
Learn more about getting fit at www.TRICARE.mil/GetFit today!
-o-o-O-o-o-

The above is from the TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin, an update on the latest news to help you make the best use of
your TRICARE benefit. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/podcast | September 1, 2016 ++]
*****************************

TRICARE Podcast 365

OHI | Mobile Device Security | Cholesterol

Using TRICARE and Other Health Insurance: For both medical and pharmacy claims, TRICARE is the last
payer to all health care benefits and insurance plans, except for Medicaid, TRICARE Supplements, the Indian
Health Service and other programs and plans identified by TRICARE. If you have Other Health Insurance, or OHI,
let your regional contractor and health care providers know so they can help you coordinate your benefits and ensure
timely reimbursement. Beneficiaries must file claims with their OHI first. If there is a billed amount your OHI does
not cover, you can file a claim with TRICARE for reimbursement. TRICARE issues reimbursements based on your
provider type, so it will not necessarily cover all of the remaining cost.
To avoid higher out-of-pocket prescription costs, use a retail network pharmacy that is both covered by your OHI
plan and TRICARE. After the OHI pays, TRICARE may reimburse you for part or all of your out-of-pocket costs,
including co-payments. For more information about pharmacy claims, go to TRICARE.mil/pharmacy. Finally, its
important to follow all of your OHIs requirements and rules. If your OHI denies a claim for failure to follow its
rules, such as obtaining care without authorization or using a provider who is not authorized by your OHI,
TRICARE may also deny your claim. For more information on using TRICARE with OHI, go to
www.TRICARE.mil/OHI .
-o-o-O-o-o-

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Mobile Device Security: You eat right and exercise to make sure your body is fit. But do you take time to check the
health of your fitness devices? Fitness tracking wearables and mobile devices store data about your health and
physical activities. If they become infected, cyber thieves have access to this information.
Your healthcare
information is valuable and should be protected. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a thief may use your
name or health insurance numbers to see a doctor, get prescription drugs, file claims with your insurance provider,
or get other care. If the thiefs health information is mixed with yours, your treatment, insurance and payment
records, and credit report may be affected. Steps you should take or:
Protect your personal health data when entering it into your wearable devices, mobile apps and web sites,
especially those with interactive tools that track your information.
Limit the number of apps that can access your healthcare data directly, and adjust the app settings to restrict
the number of other apps they share data with. Set your preference to update them often.
Research apps before downloading them
Never post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or account numbers in publicly
accessible sites.
If any site requests your social security number, request to use a different form of identification.
You are the center of your healthcare. Empower yourself to protect your information. For more information about
cyber fitness, visit TRICARE.mil/cyberfit.
-o-o-O-o-o-

Know your cholesterol numbers: Cholesterol plays an important role in the health of your heart. A build-up of
cholesterol and other deposits can block arteries and lead to coronary artery disease the most common type of
heart disease in the United States. Knowing if you have high cholesterol is important because it is one of a number
of factors that determine your risk for this disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for
some people, the first sign of this disease is a heart attack. Certain lifestyle choices such as smoking, physical
inactivity and diet also increase your risk. TRICARE covers cholesterol testing every 5 years in adults age 20 and
over. Beneficiaries should talk to their doctor for more information on preventive screenings, and what their specific
needs are in order to stay heart healthy.
Beneficiaries using TRICARE Standard should note that cholesterol screenings are covered only when combined
with an immunization, breast, cervical, colorectal or prostate cancer screening. Prime beneficiaries may receive
clinical preventive services from their primary care manager or any network provider without a referral or
authorization at no cost. Your liver makes enough cholesterol for your bodys needs, but we often get more from the
foods we eat. If we take in more cholesterol than the body can use, the extra cholesterol can build up in the walls of
the arteries, including those of the heart. A blood test can detect the amount of cholesterol and triglyceride in your
blood. For more information about your covered preventive services, go to www.TRICARE.mil/CoveredServices .
-o-o-O-o-o-

The above is from the TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin, an update on the latest news to help you make the best use
of your TRICARE benefit. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/podcast | September 9, 2016 ++]

* Finances *

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COLA 2017 Update 03

Projecting What to Expect

As we get down to the last few months of the fiscal year, a frequent inquiry from MOAA members is, What do you
think the COLA will be? Anybody can make a guess, and say it's probably not going to be much. MOAA's reaction
is, Let's make as scientific a guess as we can. The best indicator (and about the only indicator) we have for
inflation in the next few months is what happened in the last few months of previous years. And what happened
wasn't too good. Here's the average monthly change for July, August, and September for the last three years (these
are raw changes in the consumer price index (CPI), not percentage changes): zero, -.2, and -.1. What does that
mean? If the CPI follows the recent August-September average this year, your COLA will be: .2 percent.
In that case, you'd get an extra $1.66 per month for every $10,000 in annual retired pay, Social Security, VA
disability compensation, or SBP annuity - before taxes. Don't spend it all in one place. And that's the good news. If
you're a pessimist, you'll remember the last time we had a year with no COLA, we ended up having a second
consecutive year without a COLA (2010-11). Further, this year's actual July change wasn't zero (the average for the
last three Julys); it was -.5. If that worse-deflation-than-average continues in August and September, we'll have
another year with no COLA. The August CPI number, which comes out next week, will be critical in determining
your 2017 COLA. [Source: MOAA Legislative Update | September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Insurance Coverage

Its All in the Fine Print

You know you need insurance for your home and car, and you may be spending a lot of money on coverage each
month. But in all that fine print there are exceptions and exclusions, as well as some surprising things included in
standard coverage. Is your insurance company going to come through when you need it? Do you really know what is
covered by your policies? Heres a little quiz to test your knowledge:
What if your $50,000 stamp collection goes up in flames with your house? The collection is not covered unless
your homeowners policy has a rider specifically for it. Even then, it may not pay the whole amount. Insurance
company Travelers notes that standard homeowners policies may restrict payouts for valuable items. For example,
these are common limits for popular personal possession categories:
Jewelry or furs $1,000.
Firearms $2,000.
Silverware $2,500.
Policies may also limit coverage for home contents to a certain percentage of the homes value. Either way, it
may be tough to get the insurance company to cough up $50,000 for your lost stamps. However, you should be able
to buy a rider for high-value items. Unfortunately, even these riders can have limitations. Travelers says a typical
rider might only cover up to $10,000 per item. If you cant get enough coverage through your homeowners plan, you
may want to take out a separate policy specifically for your valuables.
What if terrorists bomb your house? Your loss will be covered so long as its just a standard explosion, and
we arent at war. The Insurance Information Institute told Business Insider that nuclear, biological, chemical or
radioactive weapon attacks probably wont be insured losses. However, if it is your run-of-the-mill explosion or
damage caused by resulting fire or smoke, you should be all set. Most homeowners policies also typically exclude
acts of war. You may think its a good thing we havent actually declared war since 1942, but your insurance
company may define war a little more broadly and include insurrection and rebellion, among other things. Other
common exclusions on homeowners policies include:

Page 81 of 112

Earth movement
Flooding or water damage
Mold
Losses related to government ordinances or action (i.e., condemnation or seizure)
Faulty workmanship
Pest removal
Ordinary wear and tear or losses that are the result of neglected maintenance

What if your kids computer is stolen from their college dorm room? Your students belongings should not
require a renters insurance policy that is, your homeowners insurance should cover them. Heres what Wells
Fargo has to say on the subject:
If your child lives in a dorm, your homeowners or renters insurance policy may extend to cover their
belongings. Most policies limit a students coverage to 10 percent of the parents coverage. In other words,
if your homeowners policy has a personal property limit of $300,000, your childs belongings will be
covered up to $30,000, after the deductible.
However, that generally applies only to full-time students living in a dorm. Part-time students or those who
are staying in off-campus housing may need to get their own coverage. Check with your insurance
company to find out the particulars of your policy.
What if some *&$#!@ person put sugar in your gas tank and ruined the engine? They will pay out the claim
if you have comprehensive coverage. Just as your insurance company will pay out for a stolen car, most
comprehensive policies also cover vandalism such as graffiti, key damage and, yes, even sugar in the gas tank.
Esurance suggests you take these steps if youve been the victim of a vandal.
Call the police to file a report.
Take photos of the damage, if possible.
Contact your insurance company.
Wait to clean up or make repairs until the police have given the OK.
Dont forget that your deductible will still apply to vandalism claims.
-o-o-O-o-o-

The moral of the story is to always read the fine print on your insurance policies before assuming something is or
is not covered. When in doubt, call the company or your broker for help in deciphering the legalese. [Source:
MoneyTalksNews | Maryalene LaPonsie | September 8, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Long Term Care FLTCIP Update 10

Reduced Premium Options

MOAA Transition Center Deputy Director is offering offer some helpful insights to assist in your federal Long
Term Care (LTC) insurance decision. He spoke to the federal LTC insurance customer service people and they told
him they are willing to run new quotes for policy holders who want to change their program options; even options
beyond those listed on their letters. When you call customer service just ask for a new quote and they will send you
the new premium rates based on your changed options. What are the options?
Inflation Protection option. The historical national average inflation rate for long term care costs is a bit over 3%.
Inflation adjustments increase the daily benefit and maximum lifetime benefits amounts in your policy. If you have a
fixed-rate inflation adjustment, as most of you do, you pay the appropriate fixed premium associated with the
inflation rate as your letter explains. This is an expensive option.

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Future Purchase Offer (FPO) option. The FPO puts future inflation adjustments in your control and is less costly.
Every 2 years, you receive a FPO letter stating an inflation rate adjustment amount as determined by the insurance
company and the new premium to activate the new inflated benefit amount. Yes, the premium for this option is
flexible unlike your current inflation option. You choose whether you accept the inflation rate adjustment and the
new premium amount. If you choose not to accept, your plan stays as is. You can decline the inflation adjustment
three times before your policy is permanently fixed at your daily benefit amount. The FPO is less costly than the
fixed inflation options because the inflation rate is fluid as are the future premiums.
Daily Benefit Amount option. Adjusting your daily benefit amount. Choose a lesser amount and you lower your
premium. You have to decide whether you want your LTC insurance to cover all, most, or some of your potential
long term care cost. Consider this
Most peoples long term care issues are handled in their home or at an assisted living facility; not a nursing
home. Many people plan LTC for nursing home costs but it is not likely this is where they will be. Nursing
homes are medical treatment facilities (an extension of a hospital) for people requiring a medical staff
which makes them very expensive. Most peoples long term care situations are recovery issues that will not
be in a nursing home. Think broken hip and temporary recovery not constant medical staff treatment for an
illness.
There are numerous web sites to estimate LTC costs. To learn what the average costs are for your area
suggest use http://www.newyorklife.com/ltccoststo to determine if your daily benefit amount is more than
you need.
Waiting Period option. This is how long you are willing to wait in a long term care situation before the insurance
kicks in. This is like the deductible on your auto or home insurance. The longer you wait for the insurance to start,
the cheaper your premium. The average is 90 days. It can be just about whatever you want from no waiting period
(expensive) to however long you can wait and cover the costs yourself. Have a number of months in mind when you
call customer service.
Benefit Period option. This is how long your coverage lasts. The shorter the period, the lower the premium. The
average long term care need is 3 years. Most people recover within the 3 years or they pass away. Of course, many
plan for extended situations like a dementia issue which could drag on for years.
-o-o-O-o-o-

Figure out what you need given the options above and ask the customer service rep to run you the numbers.
Hopefully you can find a workable solution. [Source: MOAA | Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, USAF (Ret) | August 31,
2016 ++]
*****************************

Social Security Fund Depletion Update 12

New Publication

The Social Security Administration recently released a new publication, Fast Facts & Figures About Social
Security, 2016 (https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts) . Here are a few highlights:

Number of people receiving Social Security benefits: 60 million

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Percentage of Social Security recipients who get at least half their income from Social Security: 61 percent
Percentage of Social Security disability recipients younger than age 65: 28 percent
Percentage of Social Security recipients who are women: 55 percent
Maximum current Social Security Benefit for a worker retiring at full retirement age in 2016: $2,639 per
month
Current size of the Social Security trust fund: $2.83 trillion
Percentage of Social Security revenues that come from taxation of Social Security benefits as income: 3.4
percent
Ratio of current workers to current Social Security recipients: 2.4 workers for every recipient

In the next Congress (2017-18), entitlement (including Social Security) reform almost certainly will be a hot
item, and we expect a range of old and some new ideas will be put on the table by various politicians, interest
groups, and appointed panels. To date, almost all of the proposed changes have gone nowhere, but the issue isn't
likely to go away based on projections the trust fund will be exhausted in 20 years or so. While changes likely will
happen at some point, MOAA will be weighing in with analysis of their positive and negative effects. In the end,
nobody wants the system to go bankrupt, nobody wants to impose disproportional changes on elderly and disabled
beneficiaries and survivors, and nobody wants our children and grandchildren to have to bear a disproportional tax
burden. MOAA believes the country can and must avoid those kinds of scenarios. [Source: MOAA Legislative
Update | September 1, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VantageScore

Growing FICO Rival

A battle of the titans is shaping up in the world of credit-scoring. FICO, the big fish in the industry, is facing
growing competition from a rival scoring system, VantageScore [www.vantagescore.com]. It was launched in 2006
by VantageScore Solutions, a joint effort of the three largest U.S. credit-reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion
and Equifax. Before that the 60-year-old FICO (previously called the Fair Isaac Corp.), inventor of credit-scoring,
had the field pretty much to itself. FICO still does dominate. Its scores are used in 90 percent of lending decisions in
the United States according to FICO. Increasingly, though, VantageScore is accepted too. Its use grew sixfold
between 2012 and 2015, according to Yahoo Finance. VantageScore is already being used for some auto loans,
credit cards and mortgages, and is gaining wider acceptance, NerdWallet says. And an impressive roster of
government and industry databases has embraced VantageScore.
Both scoring models use data on individual consumers from credit reports, crunching it in proprietary
mathematical models to calculate the odds a borrower will default and translating those odds into scores. Into
numerous scores, actually: Both VantageScore and FICO sell many score products to lenders and the finance
industry. Some are specific to certain industries mortgage lending, for example, or auto lending. In other cases, a
lender may customize a score a bit to suit its needs. Scores from FICO and VantageScore all range from 300 to 850
(although older versions of VantageScore used a range between 501 and 990). The higher your score, the better your
credit. FICO dragged the VantageScore maker to court in an effort to stop it from using its signature 300-850 credit
score range, but the company lost the suit in 2010. VantageScore has been gaining ground ever since.
Despite the similarities, each companys approach and its recipes the formulas used to create a score
differ, sometimes a good deal. VantageScore 3.0, the latest version, produces scores for millions of consumers who
did not previously have credit scores because their records contained too little information. While many other
scoring models require at least six months of credit history and recent credit report updates, VantageScore only
requires one month of credit history and less frequent updates. Credit can now be made available to consumers who
are brand new to credit, those who only use credit occasionally and people who havent used credit at all recently.

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You might think that less information means a consumer is a higher risk for default, but VantageScore says thats
not so because it beefs up these thin credit files with rental- and utility-payment histories, an approach not used in
credit-scoring before.
Pulling information from utility bills and rent history lets VantageScore rate people who havent used credit
much if at all. VantageScore claims that it can produce scores for 30 million to 35 million more consumers with this
approach, adding that: Roughly 10 million of those consumers have scores of 600 or higher, which makes them
attractive prospects to many lenders and approximately 9.7 million of the consumers who are newly scoreable with
VantageScore 3.0 are African-American or Hispanic, and about 2.7 million of them have scores of 600 or higher.
One more difference: VantageScore ignores bills that went to collection but have been paid off. (More than half such
collection actions involve medical debts, according to the New York Times ). FICO score products take points off
for all collections, whether resolved or unpaid.
While you probably know this, when shopping for a loan its good to bunch your credit applications within a
short period of time so multiple credit inquiries dont lower your credit score. The scoring companies recognize the
need for comparison shopping and they count all inquiries made within certain time frames as one. With FICO, you
get a 45-day window to show for loans. VantageScore, however, allows 14 days, says The New York Times. The
takeaway: If you worry about hurting your VantageScore credit score, get your comparison shopping for loans done
within two weeks.
The decision about which score to use is up to businesses you deal with, not you. So its a good idea to watch
both your FICO and VantageScore credit scores every now and then to make sure neither has taken a dive, which
can be the sign of an error on your credit report. Here are the simple steps to take:
Examine your credit report at least yearly. Go to http://www.moneytalksnews.com/how-to-get-your-freecredit-report-in-6-easy-steps to see how to do this. Dont pay its free.
Use one of these 8 Ways to Get Your FICO Score for Free. http://www.moneytalksnews.com/8-waysget-your-fico-score-for-free
Get your free credit score from Credit Sesame http://moneytalksnews.com/creditsesame or one of the other
VantageScore partners shown at https://your.vantagescore.com/free
Watch for change
The two big U.S. mortgage investors, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are examining the possibility of
incorporating alternative credit scores into mortgage lending. A bipartisan bill (H.R.4211, the Credit Score
Competition Act of 2015) before the House of Representatives would let Freddie and Fannie use alternative creditscoring models when choosing mortgages to buy, HousingWire reports. (Freddie and Fannies decisions shape the
rules that consumers have to play by when applying for mortgage loans; Government gets a hand in these decisions
because of its role in keeping credit available fairly.) If the bill, or one like it, becomes law, it could help open
homeownership to less-affluent consumers who pay their bills faithfully but cant now qualify for mortgages
because of low or nonexistent FICO scores. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Marilyn Lewis | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Student Loan Scam

How it Works

With the back-to-school season upon us, and as the cost of a college education skyrockets, many consumers are
looking to student loans to help them pay for school. Unfortunately, fraudsters know that student borrowers are often
unfamiliar with the ins and outs of loans and take advantage of unsuspecting students by tricking them into crooked
schemes.
In many cases, victims are not only cheated out of their money, but other damaging repercussions follow as well.
Although student loan guidance on federal loans is available for free from loan servicers and the federal
Page 85 of 112

government, con artists posing as loan counseling services advertise online and hire telemarketers to pitch
immediate debt relief, reduced payments, and debt forgiveness. These counselors often charge hundreds of dollars
for services that the government and loan servicers already offer for free. Even worse, consumers who follow the
expensive advice can severely harm their credit scores, which affects their ability to receive loans in the future.
Phony loan counselors often persuade students to sign up for their services by using high pressure sales tactics and
promising to qualify them for loan forgiveness. One ploy a scammer uses to attract victims is by placing ads
encouraging consumers to take advantage of actually legitimate loan forgiveness programs, such as the one created
through President Obamas Student Loan Forgiveness Bill.
In a student debt fraud complaint received by Fraud.org, an Illinois teacher in a low-income district saw an ad for a
company promising loan forgiveness on Facebook. The teacher filled out an online form, talked to a representative
of the counseling organization, and signed up for the program after being assured that he qualified for loan
forgiveness. After paying the initial counseling fee of $650 and giving the organization his Social Security Number,
he was told to stop making payments to his loan servicer while the counseling group worked with him to pay off
his student loans. A month later, his loan servicer called to ask why he had fallen behind on his payments, and that is
when he realized that he was tricked by the fake counseling group. Unfortunately, situations like this are all too
common.

To avoid becoming a victim of student debt fraud, savvy consumers should follow these tips:
1.

Never pay for student loan advice. Legitimate loan servicers receive money from the federal government to
provide you with free counseling. In addition, the government has created several official websites such
as studentloans.govand studentaid.ed.gov to provide guidance for repaying student loans.

2.

Keep in contact with your loan servicer. Scammers often tell victims to stop payments so that they can
negotiate a better rate. No legitimate organization will ever tell you to stop paying your loans or to stop
communicating with your loan servicer. Doing so can cause you to default on your loans, which negatively
affects your credit.

3.

Dont be tricked by legitimate-looking websites. Having the Department of Education seal on a website, or
official sounding words like national in a loan counselors name does not mean an organization is
trustworthy. Scammers know that if they can make their websites look legitimate, they will be able to
ensnare more victims.

4.

Take time to educate yourself on potential loan repayment options. If you are having trouble paying your
loans, take advantage of free loan counseling by calling your loan servicer to learn about your options.
Federal loans come with many protections such as: income-based repayment, which can lower your
monthly payments; forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop payments in times of financial
hardship; and even loan forgiveness in some cases.

5.

Guarantees of debt relief are too good to be true. Many fraudulent counselors will promise immediate
debt relief or forgiveness even before they know the particulars of your loans. If you come across a
counselor or a bank that promises you debt forgiveness before knowing your circumstances, chances are,
you are talking to a scammer.

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6.

Report suspected fraud. If you believe that you have spotted a student loan repayment scam, report it! You
can file a complaint at Fraud.org via our secure online complaint form. Well share your complaint with our
network of more than 90 law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who can help put
fraudsters behind bars.

[Source: National Consumer League | www.fraud.org | September 1, 2016 ++]

*****************************

Government Benefits Scam

Elderly Victimized

Investigators say a woman behind a ponzi scheme is now in prison after she collected millions of dollars in
exchange for the promise to help people get government benefits. Many of those victims included military veterans.
"I fell in. Hook, line and sinker." Mack Gurley is still angry with himself for getting lured into the scheme run by
Gina Palasini. "I did one of the most stupid things I ever did in my life," he says. "I wrote her a check for $100,000."
Palasini approached Gurley, and other elderly victims, offering to help them obtain goverment benefits. "I thought
she was representing the VA (Veterans Affairs). I was even more so convinced when she freely invited me to her
house and introduced me to her family," says Gurley.

Gina Palasini

Mack Gurley

He says he truly believed he was getting benefits available to him because he was a veteran. "So what she would
do was convince them to reallocate, diversify their assets into an annuity for the family trust," says U.S. Postal
Inspector Kyle Parker. Eventually, Palasini's plan unraveled. "Once the victims started asking questions, that's when
the excuses started coming out," says Parker. In all, 13 victims lost $2 million. "It's heartbreaking. They worked
their entire lives, from anywhere from being a firefighter to a pastor to being in the military," says Parker. "She
tarted those that were elderly, but also those that were veterans." Gina Palasini was sentenced to more than six years
in prison and was ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution. [Source: News 4 San Antonio | September 5,
2016 ++]
*****************************

Zika Cure Scam

How it Works

Scammers make their living preying on our fears. With the Zika outbreak in Miami, scammers are cashing in on our
anxiety about the disease. Don't fall for cons that claim to repel the mosquitos that spread it.
How the Scam Works:

Page 87 of 112

You hear about a product that can prevent your contacting Zika; you may have seen a friend's post on social
media, gotten an email or found a website through search. The promoted products range from wristbands to
patches to stickers, and they all claim to repel the mosquitos that carry Zika.
The product's website may look completely legitimate and have a lot of information, including convincing
testimonials. But don't fall for it! The Federal Trade Commission already issued warnings to online sellers,
urging them to remove unsubstantiated claims about the products. When purchasing, be skeptical of any
too-good-to-be-true claims and look for EPA-approved products. This is also unlikely to be the end of
Zika-related cons. Judging from past experience, fake cures and other cons preying on health fears are sure
to pop up again... if not about Zika than about another disease.

How to Spot a Quack Cure: Spot a fraudulent health product by watching out for these red flags:
One product does it all... instantly. Be suspicious of products that claim to immediately cure a wide range
of diseases. No one product could be effective against a long, varied list of conditions or diseases.
Personal testimonials instead of scientific evidence. Success stories are easy to make up and are not a
substitute for scientific evidence.
It's "all natural." Just because it's natural does not mean it's good for you. All natural does not mean the
same thing as safe.
The medicine is a "miracle cure." If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely
reported through the news media and prescribed by health professionals - not buried in print ads, social
media ads, or on websites.
Conspiracy theories. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense
questions about the so-called miracle cure.
Check with your doctor: If you're tempted to buy an unproven product or one with questionable claims,
check with your doctor or other health care professional first.
Learn more about finding a legitimate option to protect yourself against Zika and mosquitoes in the article at
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/will-those-insect-repellents-protect-you-zika. Also, check out this piece from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito-bites.html
For advice on protecting your family from mosquitoes. To learn more about scams or to report a scam, go to BBB
Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us. [Source: BBB Scam alert | September 9, 2016 ++]

*****************************

SSA Retirement Age Update 03

62-65 or Later

Financial advisors say that one of the biggest mistakes that most people make is retiring too early. If you claim at
age 62, your benefit will be permanently reduced by 25% and may leave you at risk of having an inadequate income
in retirement. But there are a few times when it makes sense to start benefits early. Here are steps to take to help
you make the right decision:

Calculate all available retirement income and assess adequacy. You and your spouse need to determine
income from all sources, Social Security, pensions, IRA(s), 401(k)s, real estate, other assets, and jobs, and
work up a realistic retirement budget. Dont be tempted to assume your household budget will stay the
same or go down in retirement, even if you pay off your mortgage. If you own your own home, you will
still need to budget for real estate taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and over time, big expenses
like painting or replacing the roof. In addition, you need to budget a growing portion of your budget to
medical expenses, which tend to grow several times faster than inflation and the Social Security cost-ofPage 88 of 112

living adjustment (COLA). Your medical costs alone are likely to take from one-third to one-half of your
Social Security benefits when you retire, and can require as much as $245,000 for married couples age 65
and over, according to Fidelity Investments research on healthcare costs.

Do the math. In addition to reducing your Social Security benefit, by retiring before your full retirement
age, you also lose several years to build up retirement savings and instead increase the length of time you
will be drawing down savings. And if you start benefits before you and your spouse are at full retirement
age (66), earnings from work could reduce some or even all of your benefit. To add insult to injury, up to
85% of your benefits may be subject to taxation.

Evaluate your health. Many people worry they will die before they get back what they would receive if
they start benefits at 62. But if you start benefits at 62, it will take about 13 years until you are age 74
for your monthly benefit to reach the amount you would start with at age 66 and that assumes a more
typical rate of inflation than we actually had over the past seven years. On the other hand you may find
that health problems force you to stop working. You may want to consider working part-time. A 65-year
old man can expect to live to 84, while a 65 year old woman can expect to live to 86.6, according to the
Social Security Administration

How much longer can you work? Among the best reasons to start Social Security benefits prior to turning
full retirement age, are the loss of a job, problems finding new employment, and the need for the money to
pay for food, shelter and the basic necessities.

Plan carefully before starting benefits by basing your decisions on facts thinking through how you would
go about spending down your savings. You can find plenty of retirement calculators online. Here is one easy
one to use: http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/retirement/retirement-plan-calculator.aspx. [Source: TSCL
Advisor http://seniorsleague.org/frequently-asked-questions-faqs | July 2016 ++]
*****************************

Wills Update 04

Do Your Own

As any financial adviser worth their salt will tell you, having a will is mandatory, no matter your age or net worth.
The instant you die, your estate is born. The person in charge of your estate, known as the executor or administrator,
will be given the authority to dispose of your remains according to your wishes, distribute your money and
possessions, and provide for the care of any minor children you leave behind. How does the executor get named and
know what to do with your body, possessions and children? Its all spelled out in your will. If you die without one,
these decisions will still be made. Theyll just be made by a court instead of you.
A will doesnt have to cost a lot. There are several ways to get a will. The traditional way is to visit a lawyer and
pay them from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on your situation and their rates. A less
expensive option to create a will is by using software and/or online forms and doing it yourself for $100 or less. The
final, and free, option is to write your own will from scratch. This is known as a holographic will. Heres a list from
Nolo.com of the 26 states where holographic wills are recognized by courts: AK, AZ, CA, CO. HI, ID, KY, ME,
MI, MS, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NC (if found after death in a place intended for safekeeping), ND, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX,
UT, VA, WV, and WY. There are a few additional states that accept holographic wills from soldiers at war or
sailors at sea, but those wills become invalid after discharge from the military or returning to shore.
Its understandable that you wouldnt want to spend hundreds of dollars to create a will, especially if your estate
is small. But scratching it out yourself on a piece of paper is the epitome of penny-wise and pound-foolish. If you
want to create your own will, at least use professionally prepared and approved online forms or software to do it.
Potential sources are:
Nolo: http://www.nolo.com/products/online-will-nnwill.html. Online wills and software from $34.95.
Page 89 of 112

LegalZoom:
http://www.legalzoom.com/personal/estate-planning/last-will-and-testament-overview.html
Basic, $69; Deluxe, $79.
Rocket Lawyer: https://www.rocketlawyer.com/form/last-will-and-testament.rl#. Free one-week trial,
membership for $39.95 a month

As you can see, prices arent astronomical. And because these solutions do the vast majority of the work for you,
theres no reason to attempt a holographic will. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Stacy Johnson | September 9, 2016++]
*****************************

Power of Attorney Update 01

Everyone Needs One

Nicholas Reister, a lawyer and counselor specializing in estate planning with Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge in
Grand Rapids, Mich has shared everything you need to know about this important legal document. When asked to
describe a power of attorney (POA) Reister offers this definition. It is a document where a person, whos called a
principal, appoints an agent. [The agent] can do almost everything you could do for yourself. In other words a POA
is a blank check. Its handing someone the ability to do just about anything they want in your name. Your agent can
do all of the following and more on your behalf:
Lend money.
Borrow money.
File taxes.
Make business transactions.
Open bank accounts.
Close bank accounts.
Apply for credit cards.
With very few limitations, such as making medical decisions, a POA lets your agent do practically anything in
your name. Youre probably wondering why on earth you would want to hand over that much power to someone
else and who needs one? You, thats who. Reister is of the opinion everyone needs a POA, from a college freshman.
And dont make the mistake of thinking being married is the same thing. Reister related the story of a married
couple with separate estate planning. A document needed to be signed by the husband in short order or they would
be out a significant amount of cash. However, he was traveling and hadnt given his wife POA, so she couldnt sign
on his behalf. That ended up being a costly mistake.
While you need a POA, you need to be careful about who you designate as your agent. Although criminal
charges can be brought against someone abusing their power, you dont need that headache. Only choose someone
you trust implicitly, Reister said. Maybe hold on to the POA [document] and let the agent know where the papers
are. That second bit of advice could be sage wisdom. It ensures you to have a POA designated in case of an
emergency but provides protection from your agent turning to the dark side and draining your bank account. Reister
said there are several special types of POAs you can use:
Durable power of attorney. This POA continues to be in effect in the event someone becomes
incapacitated. Regular POAs end when the principal is no longer able to make legal decisions, such as if
they were to slip into a coma or develop dementia.
Limited power of attorney. A document that gives an agent POA abilities for a limited time or only for
certain purposes.
Medical power of attorney. This is the POA that allows others to make medical decisions on your behalf.
You dont need to have the same agent for your medical and financial POAs. You can even name multiple agents
on your durable POA or use several limited POAs to split up control of various parts of your finances so no one
person has power over everything. That said, multiple POAs or a POA with shared agents can make your finances
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more confusing and complex. If you plan to go that route, you may want to consult with a professional first and
carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Agents need to be aware of an IRS regulation that could cost them a huge amount of money. The government is
requiring POA agents to report whether their principal has money in a foreign bank account. The scary thing is this
provision applies even if you dont know that someone has appointed you their POA agent, and failure to report
foreign assets comes with stiff penalties. The penalties for that are pretty frightening, Reister said. Its 50 percent
of the amount in the account per year plus criminal penalties. Reister knows of one case in which an agent was
fined for failing to report for three years, meaning he owed 150 percent of the total amount in the account and it
wasnt even his money. The courts are currently deciding whether this is a case of government overreach, but for
now Reister is drawing up POAs for his clients that exclude signature authority for foreign accounts. That seems to
take care of the problem and eliminates the need to file an annual report with the IRS.
Although it may be scary to think a POA gives someone control over your finances, they remain an essential part
of sound money management. In the event you are in accident or become ill, youll want a durable POA so someone
can step in and man the ship while you are out of commission. Its important for both the agent and principal to
know how powerful these documents are, said Reister. The fact that they are so powerful is also the reason
everyone with a job and money in the bank should have one. Without a POA, your family will need to go to court to
get control of your assets, a long and stressful process, for sure. Just remember that quote from Indiana Jones and
the Last Crusade when picking your agent: Choose wisely. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Stacy Johnson |
September 9, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Tax Burden for Massachusetts Retired Vets

As of SEP 2016

Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement
destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a
state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the
taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Massachusetts:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6.25% (food; prescription drugs; fuel costs; gas, oil, electricity; clothing costing up to $175, are
exempt).
Gasoline Tax: 44.94 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Diesel Fuel Tax: 50.94 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Cigarette Tax: $3.51/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 5.1% of federal adjusted gross income
Personal Exemptions: Single - $4,400; Married - $8,800; Dependents - $1,000
Standard Deduction: None
Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None
Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security, civil service, state/local government pensions are exempt. Pension
income from other state or local governments that do not tax pension income from Massachusetts public employees
is exempt from Massachusetts taxable income. Effective January 1, 2016 the tax rate was lowered to 5.1% on both
earned income (salaries, wages, tips, commissions) and unearned (interest, dividends and capital gains). Certain
capital gains are taxed at 12%. An individual first calculates gross income which is income from whatever source
derived including (but not limited to) the compensation for services, wages, pensions, business income, rents,
royalties, dividends, interest, capital gains, alimony, annuities, etc. Certain business and personal deductions as well
Page 91 of 112

as exemptions may reduce gross income to arrive at that income subject to tax. Tax Tips for Seniors are available at
http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dor/taxtips/seniors12.pdf
Retired MilitaryPay: Not taxed.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving
disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered
by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on servicerelated disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally
are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with
state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
Massachusetts does not provide for a general homestead exemption but does have a Homestead Act. The
Homestead Act permits a homeowner who occupies a house as his/her principal residence to shield up to $500,000
in equity in that house from creditors. By simply filing a Declaration of Homestead with the appropriate Registry of
Deeds, a homeowner may be able to protect his/her residence from the claim of a future creditor. The Homestead
Act permits only one spouse to file for the equity protection if each has an ownership interest in the home. The
protection offered to the disabled and the elderly is even more comprehensive because it allows a husband and wife
who own their own home to each file for the $500,000 equity protection. For details refer to
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodhom/homidx.htm.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax and a limited estate tax on estates valued at $1,000,000 or more.
-o-o-O-o-o-

A guide for new residents is available at http://www.mass.gov/dor/individuals/taxpayer-help-and-resources/taxguides/guide-for-new-residents/. For additional information regarding your state income tax liability, visit
the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website which can be found at http://www.mass.gov/dor. [Source:
http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-kansas-new-mexico#MASSACHUSETTS Sep 2016 ++]

* General Interest *

Notes of Interest

1 thru 14 SEP 2016

Congress. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) The embattled ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee lost her re-election bid on 6 SEP, guaranteeing a dramatic shake-up for the veterans policy
panel in 2017.
GTMO. Commanders have shut down operations at a 100-cell maximum-security lockup called Camp 5
and plan to convert it to a new prison clinic and psychiatric ward, the military disclosed 7 SEP, as part of its
continuing operations to comply with President Barack Obamas order to close the detention center.
Page 92 of 112

Congress. On 6 SEP Congress returned to resume work on bills to ensure the government does not run out
of money on October 1. Additionally, Congress is working toward a Continuing Resolution to keep the
government funded through Oct. 1, 2016.
Sex. Aging men (57 and Over) who have sex once a week or more and enjoy it are at nearly double the risk for
cardiovascular problems than their male peers who dont have an active bedroom life. Such health problems include
heart attacks and hypertension. The same cant be said for older women.
911 Boatlift. The 9/11 boat evacuation was larger than the evacuation at Dunkirk during World War Two
Check out the video on this event at http://biggeekdad.com/2011/09/boatlift

War Cost. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $5 trillion so far, and that
total could rise even higher in the years to come, according to new calculations released by independent
researchers late last week.
911 Lawsuit. A group of six Gulf Arab countries expressed "deep concern" 12 SEP over a bill passed by
the U.S. Congress that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia over
the attacks. Saudi Arabia says if signed into law they will sell all U.S. holdings.
*****************************

Retirement Planning Update 11

Consider the Possible Pitfalls

For millions of people, the shimmering dream of retirement is the primary goal of work. Retirement holds the
promise that, finally, youll have time to pursue what matters most. However, retirement is under siege. Here are
nine reasons why retirement might not be what you dreamed and tips for turning things around so you can put a
little shine on your golden years.
1. You might have to retire before youre ready: Forty-nine percent of retirees quit working sooner than they
planned, usually because of health problems, according to LIMRA, a worldwide research firm focused on the
insurance and financial services industries. Job loss, burnout and negative work conditions also can force people to
retire earlier than expected, reports Mark Miller, publisher of Retirement Revised in his article on How to Cope with
Early Retirement at http://retirementrevised.com/how-to-cope-with-an-unplanned-early-retirement
2. Its no fun hanging out with your spouse 24/7: Financial planners say many couples have trouble getting used
to spending more time together. Writes MainStreet.com: Everyone gets excited about retirement they think
theyre going to walk out the door and never look back and spend their days relaxing and traveling with their spouse,
but then they get home and they find they cant actually stand the person theyve been married to for the last 30
years, says Deana Arnett, senior planning consultant at Rosenthal Wealth Management Group. Ive seen it happen
more times than I care to tell you. To be sure, many couples love 24/7 togetherness. But not everyone. A financial
planner I know sees the toll retirement can take on marriages. He observes that husbands who have been extremely
focused on their jobs are particularly likely to struggle to adjust. Relationships can endure this transition. Finding
retirement pursuits that give life meaning philanthropy or volunteering, and not just a life built around golf and
travel will give both spouses a sense of renewal. For some ideas, check out 12 Ways to Connect and Contribute
in Your Community After Retiring at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/12-ways-contribute-and-connect-yourcommunity-after-retiring .
3. Its boring: When you hate your boss and feel overwhelmed by work, retirement sounds ideal. But although it
may be hard to imagine, retirees often long for the camaraderie, structure and sense of purpose work delivers. Not to
mention the money.
In the blog "Retirement: A Full-Time Job" at http://retiredsyd.typepad.com is tracked the evolution of
former CPA Sydney Lagier, who retired in 2008 at age 44. After two months of retirement, she sounded a
little surprised to find that retirement hadnt changed her much: What will you spend your time doing after
you retire? Whatever you spent your time doing before you retired, minus the job. While Im sure my
interests will evolve over the years (just as they did while I was working), I now spend my time doing
exactly what I did before I retired, only more of it.
Page 93 of 112

In the Wall Street Journal article "The Experts: How to Avoid Retirement Boredom" a panel of experts
advises taking on new challenges by learning, working, advising, volunteering and experimenting. One
aging expert says she learned that saying, yes to new experiences opens doors to much-needed variety.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323415304578370270527673456

4. Working until age 70 may not be an option: Nearly 75 percent of preretirees surveyed by LIMRA said they
expect to work in retirement. But lifes realities often intrude on such plans. Today, three-quarters of retirees are not
working, LIMRA says. In recently published research, the AARP Public Policy Institute says: Extended
unemployment, coupled with age discrimination and other barriers, can add to the challenges older workers face in
finding a job. Even older jobseekers who do find work may have trouble recovering financially. Many end up
accepting jobs at lower pay, with fewer hours, and with limited benefits. Depending on your profession, it might be
wise to invest in disability insurance.
5. Moneys tight really tight: Social Security pays only $1,290 a month on average, according to October 2015
figures from the Social Security Administration. In addition, most retirees have very little money in savings. In its
annual Retirement Confidence Survey, the Employment Benefit Research Institute looked at the savings of current
retirees, not including the value of a primary residence or a defined-benefit pension, reporting that:
26 percent have less than $1,000 in savings
10 percent have between $25,000 and $49,999
10 percent have between $50,000 and $99,999
12 percent have between $100,000 and $249,999
14 percent have $250,000 or more
Such meager savings puts many retirees at risk. According to a report to Congress by the Kaiser Foundation:
With the decline in employer-sponsored pensions and retiree health coverage, fewer retirees in the future will have
benefits that have helped keep seniors from falling into poverty.
6. Its hard to get used to growing old: Growing old is a lot like being a teenager. Your body and your looks
change rapidly, and that can be surprising and discomforting. Lagier captures this with humor: The first phase is
where you feel young because you actually are young. The third phase is where you feel old because you actually
are old. And the phase in between is where you feel young but everyone thinks you need to sit down. The
inevitability of aging can be tough to deal with, especially if youve made plans only for your finances. Before you
receive that gold watch for retirement, do some thinking about what you want your retirement life to look like. This
website http://changingaging.org/blog/what-are-the-best-books-on-aging provides a reading list to help you think
about the process of aging, finding meaning in retirement and coping with mortality.
7. You might spend a lot of it caring for elderly parents: Taking on the care of elderly parents forces many
workers into retirement. Eldercare consultant Carol Bradley Bursack got an earful when she wrote Should You
Quit Your Job to Care for Your Elderly Parent? https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/quit-job-to-care-for-parents150227.htm. More than 100 readers commented, many describing their anguish at having to choose between their
financial security and caring full-time for parents. One, Caregiveryes, tells of managing her own aging and health
problems along with those of her parents: It was sad when Mom passed away, but I was physically and emotionally
spent and had to take early retirement. My marriage also suffered. Weekend evenings out with friends dwindled to
none. My husband and I have already made arrangements so our children do not even have to consider taking on
this responsibility. And, it has nothing to do with love or commitment, for me it was more than I could handle
physically and emotionally.
8. You could pick up an STD: Seniors, including 72 percent of men and 45 percent of women ages 57 to 72, are
sexually active, says this study from the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social
Sciences. Well, good for them, you might say. But STDs are growing fast among the older set. When you think
about retirement communities, think about sex, writes The New York Times: Combine retirement communities,

Page 94 of 112

longer life, unfamiliarity with condoms and Viagra and what do you get? You get an S.T.D. epidemic among the
Social Security generation that rivals what we imagine is happening in those Animal House fraternities. For
example the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a rise in cases of chlamydia, syphilis and HIV
infection among Americans 55 and older. If youre going to have sex, make sure its safe sex.
9. You may outlive your money: Longer lifespans today put the nest eggs of even the most scrupulous retirement
savers at risk of being exhausted in their owners lifetimes. Six in 10 financial advisers predict their clients could
outlive income, LIMRA finds. Whats worse, just one-quarter of preretirees believe theyre at risk to outlive their
income, LIMRA says. In fact, only one-third of people near or in retirement have even tried to calculate how long
their assets will last.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Marilyn Lewis | September 13, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Dumb Smart Device

Hydrator

Vessyl automatically tracks your hydration needs. Evidently, thirst is not a precise-enough indicator of your water
needs. But you can get an accurate picture of your hydration needs if you spend $149 on this smart water bottle.
Vessyl factors in your height, weight, age and biological sex, and other changing factors such as your activity
level it syncs to your Fitbit or other tracker and hours of sleep, and then tells you when to drink more.
Promoters say the system allows you to reach your optimal hydration, which in turn can lead to mental balance,
physical endurance, more energy, and much more.

https://www.amazon.com/Mark-One-Pryme-Vessyl-Hydration/dp/B019CN5M4Y?tag=montalnew-20

********************************

National Anthem Update 03

Star-Spangled Banner Origin

On 13 SEP in 1814, Francis Scott Key penned a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes Americas
national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. The poem, originally titled The Defence of Fort McHenry, was
written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Key was
inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous
words of the Star-Spangled Banner: And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the
night that our flag was still there.
Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779, at Terra Rubra, his familys estate in Frederick County (now
Carroll County), Maryland. He became a successful lawyer in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and was later
appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Great Britain after
a series of trade disagreements. In August 1814, British troops invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White
Page 95 of 112

House, Capitol Building and Library of Congress. Their next target was Baltimore. After one of Keys friends, Dr.
William Beanes, was taken prisoner by the British, Key went to Baltimore, located the ship where Beanes was being
held and negotiated his release. However, Key and Beanes werent allowed to leave until after the British
bombardment of Fort McHenry. Key watched the bombing campaign unfold from aboard a ship located about eight
miles away.
After a day, the British were unable to destroy the fort and gave up. Key was relieved to see the American flag
still flying over Fort McHenry and quickly penned a few lines in tribute to what he had witnessed. The poem was
printed in newspapers and eventually set to the music of a popular English drinking tune called To Anacreon in
Heaven by composer John Stafford Smith. People began referring to the song as The Star-Spangled Banner and
in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson announced that it should be played at all official events. It was adopted as the
national anthem on March 3, 1931. Francis Scott Key died of pleurisy on January 11, 1843. Today, the flag that flew
over Fort McHenry in 1914 is housed at the Smithsonian Institutions Museum of American History in Washington,
D.C.

Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics

O! say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
Page 96 of 112

A home and a country, should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave![19]
[Source: This Day in History | September 13, 2016 ++]
********************************

FactChecking

NBC "Commander-In-Chief " Forum

The forum, sponsored by NBC News and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, was held 7 SEP at the
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each appeared for 30
minutes on NBCs commander-in-chief forum, answering questions on national security from moderator Matt Lauer
and audience members. Heres the FactCheck.org round-up of dubious claims made by the candidates.
Clinton wrongly claimed Trump supported the war in Iraq after it started, while Trump was wrong, once
again, in saying he was against the war before it started.
Trump said that President Obama set a certain date for withdrawing troops from Iraq, when that date was
set before Obama was sworn in.
Trump said that Obamas visits to China, Saudi Arabia and Cuba were the first time in the history, the
storied history of Air Force One when high officials of a host country did not appear to greet the
president. Not true.
Clinton said that Trump supports privatizing the Veterans Health Administration. Thats false. Trump said
he supports allowing veterans to seek care at either public or private hospitals.
Trump said Clinton made a terrible mistake on Libya when she was secretary of state. But, at the time,
Trump also supported U.S. action that led to the removal of Moammar Gadhafi from power.
Trump cherry-picked Clintons words when he claimed Clinton said vets are being treated, essentially,
just fine. Clinton had said the problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs were not as widespread
as some Republicans claimed, but she went on to acknowledge problems, including the issue of wait times
for doctors.
Trump and the Iraq War
Trump said he was totally against the war in Iraq, while Clinton claimed that he supported the Iraq War before and
after it started. The facts dont support either candidates strong assertions. A review of Trumps statements before
and after the Iraq War started found no evidence that Trump opposed the war before it started. In fact, he expressed
mild support for invading Iraq when asked about it on the Howard Stern radio show on Sept. 11, 2002 about six
months before the war started. Stern asked Trump if he supported a war with Iraq, and Trump responded, Yeah, I

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guess so. In the NBC commander in chief forum, Trump cited an Esquire article that appeared in August 2004 to
show his opposition to the war. But that article appeared 17 months after the war started.
As for Clinton, who as a senator voted in October 2002 to authorize the war in Iraq, the Democratic nominee
claimed that Trump supported it before it happened, he supported it as it was happening and he is on record as
supporting it after it happened. But just as there is no evidence that Trump opposed the Iraq War before it started,
the Clinton campaign offered no evidence that Trump supported the war after it happened. The Clinton campaign
cited Trumps interview on March 21, 2003, with Neil Cavuto of Fox Business just two days after the war started.
Cavuto asked Trump about the impact of the war on the stock market. Trump said the war looks like a tremendous
success from a military standpoint, and he predicted the market will go up like a rocket after the war. But
Cavuto does not ask Trump whether the U.S. should have gone to war with Iraq or whether he supports the war, and
Trump doesnt offer an opinion.
As early as July 2003, Trump expressed concern on Hardball with Chris Matthews about money being spent in
Iraq rather than in the U.S. Two months later, Trump told MSNBCs Joe Scarborough, I guess maybe if I had to do
it, I would have fought terrorism but not necessarily Iraq. Clinton invited her audience to read Trumps comments
on the Iraq War. They can read our timeline, Donald Trump and the Iraq War.
Withdrawal from Iraq
Trump said President Barack Obama set a certain date for withdrawing troops from Iraq, but that date was actually
set by President George W. Bush. NBCs Matt Lauer asked Trump about his tendency to respond, when pushed for
details on his military proposals, that hes not going to give details because he wants to be unpredictable. Trump
responded, Absolutely, and went on to criticize Obama for revealing the withdrawal date. Trump: If I win, I dont
want to broadcast to the enemy exactly what my plan is. This is what Obama does were going to leave Iraq
on a certain date. Trump made a similar claim in August. As FactCheck.org said then, Republicans and Democrats
disagree on whether Obama or Bush is to blame for withdrawing all combat troops from Iraq at the end of 2011. But
that date was set when Bush signed the Status of Forces Agreement on Dec. 14, 2008. It said: All the United States
Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011.
In the NBC forum, Trump also called the withdrawal of troops a terrible decision. Condoleezza Rice, Bushs
secretary of state, later wrote that Bush wanted an agreement for a residual force to remain, but Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki objected. Once Obama took office in January 2009, he had three years to renegotiate the deal, which
his administration tried to do, to leave a residual American troop force. But Maliki still didnt agree. Negotiations
broke down in October 2011 over the issue of whether U.S. troops would be shielded from criminal prosecution by
Iraqi authorities. Whether Obama did enough is a matter of opinion: His then defense secretary, Leon Panetta, later
wrote that the president didnt press hard enough for a deal. But some experts say Iraq was more closely aligned at
the time with Iran and there wasnt a deal to be made with Maliki.
So, both presidents had a role in the withdrawal of troops. But Trump wrongly said that Obama was the one who
set a certain date for withdrawal and let U.S. enemies know about it, when that date was set before Obama was
sworn in. Its worth noting that Trump said in a March 16, 2007, interview on CNN that the troops should be
withdrawn quickly from Iraq. Trump, March 16, 2007, on CNN: You know how they get out? They get out. Thats
how they get out. Declare victory and leave, because Ill tell you, this country is just going to get further bogged
down. And theres nothing by the way, were keeping the lid on a little bit but date we leave anyway its all
going to blow up. So, I mean, this is a total catastrophe and you might as well get out now, because you just are
wasting time.
Air Force One

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Trump said that Obamas visits to China, Saudi Arabia and Cuba were the first time in the history, the storied
history of Air Force One when high officials of a host country did not appear to greet the president. Thats not
true. Other presidents have encountered similar low-key greetings on foreign trips aboard the presidential aircraft.
Trump referred to the fact that Cubas president, Raul Castro, did not greet Obama at the airport on his historic visit
to Cuba in March, that Saudi Arabias King Salman did not meet Air Force One at the start of Obamas trip to
Riyadh in April, and he referred to Chinas handling of the presidents arrival in Hangzhou last Saturday for a Group
of 20 meeting.
Whether or not those arrivals constituted snubs of a U.S. president as Trump claims is a matter of debate. But
Trump is wrong on the facts when he claims it has not happened before. It has. In 1984, for example, Ronald Reagan
landed in Beijing and was received by Chinas foreign minister rather than the president, whom he met only later.
Similarly, on a 1985 trip to West Germany, Reagan was met by the foreign minister and not Chancellor Helmut
Kohl. These and other examples were dug up by Glenn Kessler, the Washington Posts Fact Checker, who
researched a Trump claim in April that Cubas and Saudi Arabias handling of Obamas visits were without
precedent. Kessler said of Trump, once again hes wrong, wrong, wrong. Kessler also noted that during Richard
Nixons historic 1972 visit to China he was greeted at the airport by the countrys number two man, Premier Zhou
Enlai. His boss, Chairman Mao, didnt even agree to meet with Nixon until after he had arrived at a guest house.
Trump Not Privatizing the VA
Clinton said that her plan to overhaul the Veterans Health Administration would not include privatization, which
she said Trump supports. Clinton: I will not let the VA be privatized. And I do think that there is an agenda out there
supported by my opponent to do just that. I think that would be very disastrous for our military veterans. But
Trump refuted that statement when it was his turn to discuss his plan to help veterans. I would not do that, Trump
said, referring to Clintons claim that he supports privatization. Trump: And by the way, I never said take the VA, the
Veterans Administration, private. I wouldnt do that. Too much respect for our people. I heard it was said that I said
that. I would not do that. But I do believe, I do believe, when youre waiting in line for six, seven days, you should
never be in a position like that. You go out, you see the doctor, you get yourself taken care of.
Trumps campaign published The Goals Of Donald J. Trumps Veterans Plan on its website last October. It
doesnt call for the VA to be completely privatized. One of the biggest changes that plan would make to the current
VA health care system is allowing veterans to get care at any non-VA medical center that accepts Medicare. Under
a Trump Administration, all veterans eligible for VA health care can bring their veterans ID card to any doctor or
care facility that accepts Medicare to get the care they need immediately, the plan states. The power to choose will
stop the wait time backlogs and force the VA to improve and compete if the department wants to keep receiving
veterans healthcare dollars, the plan says.
Trumps proposal would seemingly go further than the Non-VA Medical Care Program, which allows eligible
veterans to access care outside of the VA under certain circumstances, such as when VA medical centers cannot
provide services. The program requires pre-approval for veterans to receive care at a non-VA facility in nonemergency situations. Trumps proposal would also go further than the bipartisan Veterans Choice Act of 2014 that
President Obama signed into law, creating a temporary program, separate from the Non-VA Medical Care Program,
that allows eligible veterans to receive health care at a non-VA facility if they would have to wait more than 30 days
for an appointment at a VA medical center, or if they live more than 40 miles from the nearest VA hospital.
Trump stuck to the idea of allowing veterans to choose between public and private hospitals when he released his
most recent Ten Point Plan To Reform The VA in July. Point 10 of the plan says: Mr. Trump will ensure every
veteran has the choice to seek care at the VA or at a private service provider of their own choice. Under a Trump
Administration, no veteran will die waiting for service. Trump reinforced that part of his plan during the NBC
News forum as well. Trump: Under a part of my plan, if they have that long wait, they walk outside, they go to the
local doctor, they choose the doctor, they choose the hospital, whether its public or private, they get themselves
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better. To be clear, Trump supports giving veterans a choice between VA hospitals and private ones. Thats not the
same thing as supporting the complete privatization of the system that provides care to veterans.
[Source: FastCheck.org | Eugene Kiely, Brooks Jackson, Lori Robertson, Robert Farley, D'Angelo Gore and
Vanessa Schipani | September 7, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Batteries Which to Buy

When it comes to powering our toys, cameras and flashlights, we face an array of battery choices and ring up
quite a bill. In trying to cut those costs, we appear to face an endless array of questions:
Do we choose alkaline or nonalkaline?
Will a name-brand battery outlast a cheaper generic or house brand?
When does it make sense to depart from disposables and put money down on rechargeables?

Heres the skinny:

1. Decide on nonalkaline versus alkaline.Many stores carry only alkaline, or mostly alkaline batteries, although
discount stores still have a lot of nonalkaline products on the shelves, usually at a lower price. Which choice makes
more sense? Rhett Allain, physics professor from Southeastern Louisiana University, says that tests show namebrand, disposable alkaline batteries beat cheap, dollar-store nonalkalines. If you buy the cheaper (nonalkaline)
batteries, youre paying a little bit now, and then youll pay a little bit later, Allain says. Its thinking more shortterm. If you buy the more expensive batteries, you pay more upfront but they last longer. In the end theres not that
big a difference, its the same amount of energy per price. But if you opt for the alkaline product, you will save on
the hassle of swapping out batteries frequently and on trips to the store for new batteries.
2. Choose between generic versus name brand. Generics are proven ways to save 20 percent to 50 percent on
many of the things we buy, from groceries to medicine, says Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson. So suppose
you decide to buy alkaline batteries, and you are at the store facing a shelf of similar products some sold under
brand names and others with generic packaging. Turns out that when choosing between generic and name-brand
batteries, theres no significant difference in performance, according to bargain-spotting website DealNews at
http://dealnews.com/features/Test-Results-That-Will-Change-the-Way-You-Buy-Batteries-Forever/449005.html.
DealNews found one notable exception: The Energizer Advanced Lithium battery pushed out far more initial
voltage than the others in a test and when it finally corrected down to the expected 1.5 volts, it kept going and
going and going.
3.Weigh options to expand battery lifespan. Some battery makers say their products have a shelf life of 10 years
although it never seems that way when you dig out a stored flashlight or battery-powered toy to find it has a dead
battery. It turns out that theres no need to store batteries in the fridge, like your grandparents did, in an effort to
extend their life: It wont make any difference. But a new product, Batteriser, claims it can make your disposable
battery last eight times longer by tapping into unused power, even when the battery appears to be dead.
4.Choose the most suitable disposable battery.What type of battery is best for you? It depends on how you plan to
use it. Battery makers, Consumer Reports and retailers such as REI offer these suggestions:
Lithium: For high-drain devices such as cameras, wireless gaming accessories and hand-held games.
Alkaline: For low-drain devices such as remote controls, flashlights, calculators, clocks and radios, LED
headlamps, portable electronics, and wireless mice and keyboards.
Zinc chloride (heavy-duty) or zinc carbon (general purpose): For clocks and other low-drain devices.

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5. Decide whether to buy rechargeables. If youre going through a lot of disposable batteries, you may want to
consider rechargeables. They cost more upfront, but depending on the device, they can pay for themselves over
time:
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH): Good for high-drain devices such as digital cameras and flash units, or
devices that experience prolonged use, such as GPS receivers.
Nickel cadmium (NiCd): Recommended for power tools, two-way radios and high-temperature situations.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Jim Gold | June 14, 2016 ++]
*****************************

911 Legacy

Permanent State of War for 15 Years

In the quarter-century from the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s until Sept. 11, 2001, the United States rarely
went to war, and when it did, the conflicts were so brief they were measured in days. The Gulf War in 1991 lasted
43 days. Airstrikes in the former Yugoslavia in 1995 went on for 22 days, followed by another round in 1999, that
time for 78 days. But since the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States has been fighting every single day for 15 straight
years, the longest unbroken period in American history. The U.S. has carried out airstrikes, sent in ground forces, or
both, in seven countries stretching from Pakistan in the east to Libya in the west. None of these conflicts has been
resolved, and all signs point to years of strife ahead.
Sept. 11 has reshaped the U.S. in countless ways, but perhaps the most profound has been the transformation
from a country where peacetime was the norm into one seemingly locked into a permanent state of war. Yet
strangely, the country doesn't feel much like it's at war. "Like the war on drugs or the war on poverty, the war for the
greater Middle East has become a permanent fixture in American life and is accepted as such," writes Andrew
Bacevich, a retired Army colonel and professor at Boston University. America's overwhelming military strength has
made victory look deceptively easy. Yet time and again, swift battlefield victories have been followed by frustrating
setbacks. The U.S. greatly weakened al-Qaida in several countries, only to see the Islamic State emerge in others.
The Taliban were driven from power in Afghanistan, but regrouped as insurgents. Saddam Hussein was ousted in
Iraq and Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, yet their dictatorial reigns were replaced by nasty civil wars in both countries.
Nearly 7,000 U.S. military personnel have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded in these assorted conflicts.
The financial tab is in the trillions. Many college-age Americans can barely recall a time when the country wasn't at
war.
Despite the disappointing results, there's still a broad consensus among U.S. political and military leaders,
including the two leading presidential candidates, that the battle against radical Islamist groups must continue
even if they can't say how and when these wars might end. But critics argue the U.S. has precious little to show for
sustained involvement in a region that's going through a period of historic upheaval and, by most every measure, is
worse off today than 15 years ago. And the longer the wars last, the less clear U.S. goals become, Rosa Brooks, a
Georgetown University law professor who previously worked at the Pentagon, says in her new book, How
Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything. "It has grown steadily more difficult to define our
enemies," writes Brooks. "When you wage war against a nameless, stateless, formless enemy an enemy with
goals as uncertain as its methods it's hard to see how that war can ever end."
The U.S. has tried multiple approaches that, in general terms, have been large, medium and small. President
George W. Bush went large, launching two major ground wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that proved far more costly
and complicated than advertised. President Obama went small, pledging to wrap up American involvement in those
two wars. He declared an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq at the end of 2011, and in Afghanistan at the end of
2014. But with the rise of the Islamic State, U.S. forces are back to Iraq as part of a bombing campaign. Obama's
original timetable for a full departure from Afghanistan has been delayed repeatedly. And after seeking to avoid

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direct involvement in Syria, the president announced a bombing campaign that's now 2 years old. As Obama's days
in office wind down, the approach can now be described as the medium track. The U.S. is waging three wars, though
on a much smaller scale than the two he inherited.
"It's hard to argue that Obama's policies have been successful if you just look at where we are on the ground,"
Joby Warrick, a Washington Post reporter and the author of Black Flags: The Rise Of ISIS, told NPR's Morning
Edition. "A lot of things that could have gone wrong have gone wrong in the Middle East under his watch." On a
typical day, U.S. war planes strike in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, while relying on a relatively small number of U.S.
forces to work with local forces on the ground. The U.S. now has fewer than 10,000 forces in Afghanistan, a bit
more than 5,000 in Iraq and a few hundred in Syria. This has been politically palatable. Compared to ground wars,
the costs and casualties are low. Republicans and some Democrats complain about the specifics, but there's no
strong opposition. And Obama and his supporters can point to some progress.
In Afghanistan, the country's army does the fighting on the ground and has kept the Taliban at bay, even if
the radical Islamist group remains a potent and deadly force in many parts of the country.
In Iraq, the Islamic State has been driven out of several cities and is increasingly vulnerable in the shrinking
number of places it still controls, such as Mosul.
In Syria, ISIS is also on the defensive, though it still holds large swaths of territory in a multi-sided war.
Yet no one is forecasting a near-term resolution to any of these conflicts. This has saddled the U.S. with the
burdens of war, yet offers little prospect of a clear success, argues Bacevich, the Boston University professor. "The
United States chose neither to contain nor to crush, instead charting a course midway in between. In effect, it chose
aggravation," Bacevich writes in his recent book, America's War For The Greater Middle East. The instrument of
that aggravation: drones. In a word, this is why the U.S. has gravitated toward this type of limited warfare. The
advance of drone technology and Obama's desire for a smaller U.S. footprint have merged into a policy designed to
deliver powerful blows at minimal cost in dollars and lives. It's clear why this is an attractive option.
But when NPR recently asked Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, if Air Force capacity was
keeping up with the demands it faced, he said: "Actually, it isn't, in many ways. You know, we have, you know, far
more mission than we have Air Force today, which is something that we're dealing with." The Air Force now has
1,200 pilots flying unmanned aircraft its largest single category of pilots and yet the demands keep growing,
Goldfein said. "We have struggled over the last several years to stabilize this [pilot] community because the demand
signal has been so great," he said. "In many ways, it's become the oxygen the joint force breathes, right? If you have
it, you don't think about it. But if you don't have it, it's all you think about and you want more of it."
While drones are a potent weapon in striking key targets, they have not been decisive in resolving wars. "The
U.S. government persists in thinking it can solve complicated political problems through air power, and especially
through 'targeted assassinations' in distant lands," Harvard professor Stephen Walt writes in Foreign Policy. He
argues drones can be useful in some limited instances, like pushing back the Islamic State in parts of Libya, though
not as a comprehensive approach in places like Afghanistan or Syria. "But because both the Pentagon and the CIA
are committed to these tools, and because they give presidents a cheap way to 'do something' without putting a lot of
boots on the ground, this reflexive response to messy problems in faraway places is becoming another bad habit,"
Walt argues.
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have indicated they would continue the current wars, possibly with
greater force. "I think we know that Hillary Clinton will probably be a continuation of the strategy we have now,
perhaps more muscular," says Warrick, the Washington Post reporter. "She's known as a bit more hawkish on
foreign policy. She wants a no-fly zone in Syria to protect Syrians and protect refugees and also Syrians who are
fighting on our side. She's wanting to do things quicker, pick up the tempo." Trump hasn't offered detailed plans and
his foreign policy pronouncements have ranged widely. He's critical of the U.S. interventions in Iraq and Libya, but
also promises tough action against the Islamic State.

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Congress gave President Bush the right to use military force against those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks.
President Obama is still relying on that 15-year-old measure for the current wars, though much of the focus is now
on the Islamic State, a group that didn't exist in 2001. As the wars have dragged on, Congress has grown
increasingly reluctant to formally take a position. The most glaring example is Syria, which the U.S. has been
bombing for two years without Congress weighing in. And that 2001 measure, the Authorization for Use of Military
Force, was invoked by the administration just last month to justify airstrikes against the Islamic State in Libya.
Congress didn't object, even though its brief resolution was written 15 years ago and directed at different groups
operating on a different continent.
"Americans increasingly treat the military as an all-purpose tool for fixing anything that happens to be broken,"
writes Brooks. "Terrorists and insurgents in Syria are beheading journalists and aid workers? Afghanistan's economy
is a mess? The Egyptian army needs to be encouraged to respect democracy? An earthquake in Japan has
endangered nuclear power plants? Call the military." [Source: NPR | Greg Myre | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Patton Armored Diesel

New Cane Spirit Honors WWII General

The newest product from Boundary Oak Distillery in Radcliff, Kentucky, is connected with the legendary life of a
World War II combat hero. But it also is rooted in local tourism and a lifelong friendship that began in elementary
school. Bottles of the barrel-aged liquor will carry the likeness of Gen. George S. Patton, who was known for his
rapid deployment of armor troops when he commanded the U.S. Seventh Army and later the Third Army during
the war. Known as Patton Armored Diesel, the product borrows its name from a mobile bar that accompanied the
generals forces as they crossed France and Germany after D-Day. Brent Goodin, owner and master distiller of
Boundary Oak, said the product is in distribution. Everybody who has seen this has been equally as excited as we
are about it, Goodin said.
While the cane spirit will create another revenue stream for the young craft distillery, it also benefits the General
George Patton Museum and Center of Leadership at Fort Knox. Boundary Oak will pay licensing rights to a trust
that helps finance the museum foundation. Goodin, who is developing his Radcliff distillery off Kentucky 313 as a
tourist destination, will offer the product in its gift shop. He expects to stimulate conversations with guests that will
cause them to add the Patton Museum to their visit and stay longer in Hardin County. Mark Hinton, who is
chairman of the museum foundation, is a childhood friend of Goodin and has served as brand manager for the
product. His work included securing necessary legal approval from the Army and alcohol regulators as well as the
blessing of the Patton family. "From my perspective, I get to use a totally different medium to create a conversation
about Patton," Hinton said. "Because everybody knows the name Patton, but they don't know what he did. If this
causes one person to look up what George Patton did, that's pretty neat."

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The general's grandson, George Patton "Pat" Waters, endorses the concept and sees it as an honor for his
grandfather "and a real tribute to all those soldiers who served over there with Gen. Patton." A South Carolina
resident and fellow member of the museum foundation, Waters plans to be part of promoting the product, although
his schedule did not allow him to be in Kentucky for its introduction. "They've produced a product that will live
forever, I think," Waters said. In addition to the Patton family, approvals were sought and received from the Alcohol
Beverage Control Board and the Army's Judge Advocate General Corps. The bottle carries a disclaimer stating the
product is not affiliated or associated with, authorized or endorsed by the U.S. Armed Forces.
Individual bottles being distributed across Kentucky and to military posts through Army Air Force Exchange
Stores will carry a distributor's suggested retail price of $46. Boundary Oak also is distributing a limited edition
collector's item with bottles displayed in an olive green case designed to look like Patton's Army footlocker,
including stenciled lettering on top. The 5,000-run limited edition product has a suggested retail price of $265.
Inside the case, a bottle with a unique label appears along with a quote from the general, a replica of his signature
and four stars, depicting his rank. A reproduction of signage from the general's bar and a map showing troop
movements also appears inside.
With the international interest in Kentucky's bourbon industry, Goodin said many collectors want a distinctive
product and a story to share with fellow collectors. Although Armored Diesel is not a bourbon, the special
packaging will appeal to the same buyers. Goodin said the story of this 80-proof product also is unique because
Hinton and Waters, who were deeply involved with its development, are non-drinkers. "We're not trying to glorify
alcohol; we're just trying to glorify him," Goodin said. "This generation, they enjoy craft American spirits, and we
want to give them a history lesson along with a good drink." [Source: The News-Enterprise via The Associated
Press | Ben Sheroan | September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

114th Congress Update 03

Can It Do what it Couldn't in Last 11 Months

Now that August is over, along with Congress annual August recess, they have a massive amount of work to try
and get done in the 17 days they will be in session before they once again recess to run for re-election. The biggest
item facing them is to pass legislation to keep the federal government running after Sept. 30, which is the end of the
2016 fiscal year. Both parties have pledged that there will be no shutdown of the government this year, but no
agreement on what to do has been reached. Unless Congress can agree on all 12 spending measures before the end
of this month, which no one believes will happen, they must pass a continuing resolution or CR, which will
keep the government open for a specified length of time with funding at the same levels as FY2016. The purpose of
the CR is to give them more time to come up with a final spending bill(s) for FY2017.
Some members of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives have said theyll agree to a threemonth CR, which would keep the government open through the end of the year, during which time Congress would
presumably be able to agree on full funding for the rest of the 2017 fiscal year. However a significant minority of
the Republican caucus wants a six-month CR, giving the next Congress the power to determine what spending will
be for the rest of FY2017. On the Senate side, the Democratic minority have said they will only agree to a threemonth CR. Although Republicans control the majorities in both the House and the Senate, Senate rules give great
power to all Senators, regardless of whether they belong to the majority or minority party. And without the
agreement of the Democrats, no CR can move through the Senate.
The second item thought by many to be must-pass legislation is funding to fight the Zika virus. However that,
too, is caught up in election year politics and if it does not pass by the end of September, you can bet it will be a
campaign issue. As far as defense bills go, the Defense Appropriations bill is in the same boat as the rest of the
funding bills for the federal government and some observers believe it must pass first before Congress can pass the
Defense Authorization (NDAA) bill. What is not known is whether the Republican majorities want to try to push
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through the authorization bill and risk a presidential veto, or it they also want to hold off on it until after the election.
The most controversial parts of the legislation have not been resolved despite meetings by congressional staff
members during the summer and the President has threatened to veto the measure if it contains the funding
mechanism that is in the House bill. [Source: TREA Update | September 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Philippine U.S. Bases Update 01

Obama & Duterte Discussions

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on 31 AUG he was ready to discuss any issues with Barack Obama when
they meet in Laos next week, but added that the U.S. president must listen to him first before bringing up the
question of human rights. Washington has expressed concern about a surge in drug-related killings since Duterte
became president two months ago promising to wipe out narcotics in the Southeast Asian nation. Asked if he would
be willing to discuss human rights at his meeting with Obama on the sidelines of an East Asia summit scheduled for
6 SEP, Duterte told reporters: "Depends to what degree. "They must understand the problem first before we talk
about human rights. I would insist, listen to me: this is what the problem is, then we can talk."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a National Heroes Day commemoration at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) in Taguig city, Metro Manila in the Philippines August 29, 2016.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said the meeting would be an opportunity for the president to "communicate
his advocacy to improve the peace and order situation in the country, especially toward eradicating the scourge of
illicit drugs". Police data released on 30 AUG showed that the number of drug-related killings since Duterte took
office now stands at around 2,000, nearly half of them in police operations and the rest in shootings by unidentified
gunmen. Duterte has been unapologetic over unleashing the police on drug users and dealers and has responded
robustly to criticism from the United Nations and other countries over his campaign. Recently he lashed out at
Washington's ambassador to the Philippines, branding him a "gay son of a whore".
The White House said 29 AUG that Obama would raise concerns about some of Duterte's recent statements when
the two meet. The two leaders were expected to discuss ways to strengthen the security alliance after Manila allowed
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the U.S. military to rotate its forces in five local air and army bases, foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said.
Duterte warned President Barack Obama on Labor Day not to question him about extrajudicial killings, or son
of a bitch I will swear at you when they meet in Laos during a regional summit. Duterte said before flying to
Laos that he is a leader of a sovereign country and is answerable only to the Filipino people. He was answering
a reporters question about how he intends to explain the extrajudicial killings to Obama. More than 2,000
suspected drug pushers and users have been killed since Duterte launched a war on drugs after taking office on
June 30.
In his typical foul-mouthed style, Duterte responded: I am a president of a sovereign state and we have
long ceased to be a colony. I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody. You must
be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Putang ina I will swear at you in that forum, he said, using the
Tagalog phrase for son of a bitch. Duterte has earlier cursed the pope and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon. It isnt clear whether Obama planned to raise the issue of extrajudicial killings with Duterte during a
scheduled meeting on the sidelines of the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Asked at a
news conference in Hangzhou, China, whether he still intends to meet with Duterte and raise the issue of
extrajudicial killings, Obama said he had instructed his aides to assess whether it is still pos sible for the two
leaders to have a constructive meeting in Laos.
I always want to make sure that if Im having a meeting that its actually productive, and that were
getting something done, Obama said. We recognize the significant burden that the drug trade plays not just
in the Philippines but around the world, and fighting narco-trafficking is tough. But we will always assert the
need to have due process and to engage in that fight against drugs in a way thats consistent with basic
international norms. And so, undoubtedly, if and when we have a meeting this is something that is going to be
brought up, said Obama, who has been attending a meeting of the Group of 20 nations.
Who is he to confront me? Duterte said in his remarks, adding that the Philippines had not received an
apology from the United States for misdeeds committed during its colonization of the Philippines He pointed
to the killing of Muslim Moros more than a century ago during a U.S. pacification campaign in the southern
Philippines, blaming the wounds of the past as the reason why (the south) continues to boil with separatist
insurgencies. Last week, Duterte said he was ready to defend his bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, which has
sparked concern from the U.S. and other countries. Duterte said he would demand that Obama allow him to
first explain the context of his crackdown before engaging the U.S. president in a discussion of the deaths.
On 6 SEP Duterte expressed regret for referring to President Obama as a "son of a bitch" and said his nation
seeks closer ties with the United States. His statement concerning Obama and the United States was high on
compromise, low on bluster. "We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and
perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries." In the interim Obama cancelled his
planned meeting with Duterte in Laos. [Source: Reuters, AP, & USA Today | August 31, 5 & 6 SEP, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Philippine U.S. Bases Update 02

Duterte Puts Alliance in Jeopardy

The U.S. militarys growing alliance with the Philippines may be at risk after the Pacific nations president on
Monday issued a stunning call for American troops to end their longstanding mission in the countrys southern
region. It was the first time that the newly elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a brash populist who took
office in June, has made public remarks opposing the presence of American troops. Duterte said in a speech in
Manila that the 100-plus American special operations troops in the southern Mindanao region should leave, and he
pointed to past abuses by U.S. forces during the period when the Philippines was an American colony before 1946.
Duterte is putting in jeopardy the alliance," said Patrick Cronin, director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at
the Center for a New American Security in Washington.
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Cronin said the U.S. should take a wait-and-see approach to determine whether it was just an off-the-cuff remark,
which is common for Duterte. Theres a lot of extemporaneous speaking from the new president. I dont take those
statements at face value, he said. But, Cronin added, He does needs to figure out what kind of relationship he
wants to have with the U.S. Speaking whatever comes into his mind, hes going to ruin this alliance before he knows
it. The U.S. military alliance with the Philippines expanded significantly under Dutertes predecessor, In March,
the two countries announced plans for a permanent American military presence and five military bases that will
support rotational deployments of U.S. forces near the contested South China Sea. Military leaders view the
Philippines as a key ally for containing China and its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.
Duterte did not offer any deadline for the removal of American troops. A Pentagon spokesman said there has
been no official discussion of changing the current U.S. mission in the southern Philippines. We have not been
contacted by authorities regarding this issue, said Cmdr. Gary Ross, a spokesman. U.S. Special Forces have been
providing support and assistance in the southern Philippines for many years, at the request of several different
Filipino administrations. Over the last two months, we have been consulting with our Filipino partners at senior
levels on ways we could increase our assistance to support the new Administration's counter-terrorism efforts. We
will continue to consult closely with our Filipino partners to appropriately tailor our assistance to whatever approach
the new Administration adopts, Ross said in a statement Monday. U.S. military operations in the southern
Philippines began in 2002, targeting the militant group Abu Sayyaff, which has sought to establish a separate
Muslim state. In 2014, Abu Sayyaffs leaders swore allegiance to the Islamic State group that holds territory in Iraq
and Syria. But last year the U.S. officially ended that mission, which involved about 600 troops. Only a small group
of American forces remains there, advising the Filipino military and providing intelligence support.
The new Filipino president is originally from the southern Mindanao region, a mostly Muslim patch in a majority
Catholic country, and his comments may reflect personal or emotional sentiments about the region that has been
racked by heavy crime and Islamic extremist activity. "For as long as we stay with America, we will never have
peace in that land," Duterte said in the speech in Manila, according to The Associated Press. "The special forces,
they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao, there are many whites there, they have to go," he said. "I do not
want a rift with America, but they have to go." The rise of Islamic extremism in Asia is a growing concern for the
U.S. military. U. S. Pacific Command head Adm. Harry Harris said in July that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS
or ISIL, is trying to rebalance and expand its presence in the Pacific.
The new rotations into the Philippines has affected all four military services.
U.S. Army: The Army has supplied Green Berets for the ongoing mission to counter Abu Sayyaff. In addition,
American soldiers have trained in the Philippines in recent years as part of the Armys Pacific Pathways program.
Pacific Pathways, first launched in 2014, employs a single unit through what officials call a training pathway. This
unit spends three to four months in a series of bilateral and multilateral exercises and engagements with foreign
militaries. This summer, during one of the Armys "pathways," the 25th Infantry Division headquarters stood up a
tactical command post on Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines. The headquarters ran mission command from there
while soldiers from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division trained with the Thai, Malaysian and
Indonesian armies.
U.S. Marines: Currently, about 80 Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force are in the Philippines on a
rotational training mission. For now that footprint is unlikely to grow. There are no plans to significantly increase
the number of Marines in the Philippines in the near future, Lt Gen. John Toolan, former commander of Marines in
the Pacific, told Marine Corps Times in September. The Marine Corps works with the Philippine military on the full
spectrum of operations, including responding to natural disasters, theater security cooperation and preparing to
defend the Philippines, said Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, III MEF commander. I was just there a couple weeks
ago inspecting a suite of gear, Nicholson told Marine Corps Times recently. Weve got about 80 vehicles that are
there, principally for humanitarian and disaster relief operations. But every time we do a large scale exercise, we try
to pull that gear out, make sure its fresh; make sure its ready to go. Nicholson stressed that the team of roughly
80 Marine planners in the Philippines and other Marines who come to the country for exercises are not permanently
assigned there. Youll see a couple thousand Marines in the Philippines for training, but theyre in there for three,
four weeks and then theyre out, he said.
Page 107 of 112

Air Force: In April, five Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II Warthogs from the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base,
South Korea, and three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters with the 18th Air Wing from Kadena Air Base, Japan,
traveled to Clark Airbase in the north-west part of the nation. The aircraft conducted joint training flights with the
Philippine air forces before leaving at the end of the month. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James,
speaking to reporters at the Pentagon 7 SEP, said there were no immediate plans to send another air contingent to
Clark Air Force Base. The secretary did say, however, that the U.S. and the Philippines were working on improving
a second base, Basa, which could receive Air Force aircraft in the future. This would be one location where we
would see, over the next few years, more presence from a rotational standpoint for training, she said.
Navy: The U.S. Navy has increased its port visits this year, typically to Manila and Subic Bay. And the U.S. Navy
has also begun conducting joint patrols with the Filipino Navy in the South China Sea, in part a response to China's
increasingly aggressive operations. In July four Navy EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 138 at
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., visited Clark Air Base for joint training operations.
-o-o-O-o-oU.S. officials, both military and civilian, will likely meet with the Duterte to discuss the future of the military
relationship, Cronin said. "We just need to sit down with him and say 'You want this? Fine. You dont want this?
Fine. If he really wants the U.S. removed from the southern Philippines, then we would oblige him," Cronin said.
Tentative plans call for installing advanced sensors in the Philippines to provide intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance on a scale far beyond the Filipino military's current capabilities. That would help the Filipinos to
both counter Islamic extremists in the south and also track the Chinese off the northwestern coastline. "This is the
kind of information system we can create for the Philippines. I dont think the president really wants to discard the
benefits of working with us over a few offhand comments," Cronin said. [Source: Military Times | Andrew
Tilghman, September 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Philippine U.S. Bases Update 03

Treaty Will be Honored

The Philippines moved to shore up relations with the United States on 13 SEP with guarantees that a treaty between
them would be honored and security ties were "rock solid", despite President Rodrigo Duterte's railings against
Washington. The firebrand leader launched more verbal salvos on 12 SEP about what he called atrocities under
American colonial rule, calling for the pullout of U.S. special forces stationed in the restive south that he said were
complicating counter-insurgency operations.
Duterte is hugely popular at home for his brash remarks and take-charge style, but his frequent tirades against
Washington, including calling both President Barack Obama and his ambassador to Manila a "son of a bitch", have
tested a relationship of strategic importance to both sides. Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said Duterte's remarks,
including that the southern Philippines "would never have peace" while allied with Washington, were not a signal
that a pact between them would be abrogated. "The president has said ... that we will respect and continue to honor
our treaty obligations and commitments," Yasay said in a radio interview. As his administration scurried to put out
fires, Duterte followed up with a guarantee of his own, saying the Philippines would not "cut our umbilical cord"
with allies, but would pursue its own path. "We are not, we could never be, just a small country and to be shouted at
or lectured upon," he said in a speech at an air force event.
It was the latest sign of the abrasive former lawyer hinting at taking decisive measures, then later ruling them out,
adding to concerns in Washington about his volatility. Obama last week canceled a meeting with Duterte after his
outburst, saying the mood was not conducive to productive talks. At an official ceremony on Monday, Duterte said
U.S. special forces could become high-value targets for Abu Sayyaf rebels notorious for kidnapping and beheading
foreigners. But that, the military said in a statement, would entail the exit of a "token" number of Americans, and

Page 108 of 112

broader defense programs with the United States would remain intact. "Philippine-U.S. defense relations remain
rock solid," armed forces spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said.
Duterte had on Monday shown pictures of what he said were victims of colonial-era atrocities against Muslims in
Mindanao, repeating assertions that Americans were to blame for the instability that has dogged the region.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella described Duterte's presentation as a "backgrounder" for Filipinos that
explained his independent foreign policy. "These actions, these references that he's making, are intended to
communicate to one and all that we need to be ready to chart our own course," Abella told reporters. White House
spokesman Josh Earnest on Monday emphasized shared concerns and interests with the Philippines, then took a
thinly veiled swipe at Duterte, who won a May election by a big margin, appearing to compare him outspoken
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. "Elections do say a lot about what kind of person is going to
represent your country on the international stage..." he told reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte (C) clenches fist along with other Philippine Air Force officials during the 250th Presidential
Airlift Wing (PAW) anniversary at the Villamor air base in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines September 13, 2016

The United States has only a few troops remaining in Mindanao after the conclusion last year of a program that
once had 1,200 personnel providing technical and logistics support. Washington's security priority has since shifted
toward the South China Sea, where the Philippines in among several countries at odds with China. Ranhilio Aquino,
a Catholic priest and dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law, said Duterte's complaints about Washington
were not without cause, but he should think carefully about important alliances. "When you are being bullied, and
you want international rule to prevail, you need help from your friends," he said. [Source: Reuters | Enrico Dela
Cruz & Manuel Mogato - Manila | September 13, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Have You Heard?

The Haircut || Peeing On My Flowers

A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and inquired of his father as to when they could discuss his use of the
car.
His father said he'd make a deal with his son, "You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a
little, and get your haircut. Then we'll talk about the car."
The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer, and they agreed on it.

Page 109 of 112

After about six weeks his father said, "Son, you've brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been
studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't had your hair cut."
The boy said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that
Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair, and there's even strong evidence ) that
Jesus had long hair."
(You're going to love the Dad's reply!)
"Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?"
-o-o-O-o-oA little old lady was walking down the street dragging two large plastic garbage bags behind her. One of the bags
was ripped and every once in awhile a $20 bill fell out onto the sidewalk.
Noticing this, a policeman stopped her, and said,"Ma'am, there are $20 bills falling out of that bag."
"Oh, really? Darn it!" said the little old lady."I'd better go back and see if I can find them. Thanks for telling me,
Officer."
"Well, now, not so fast," said the cop. Where did you get all that money? You didn't steal it, did you?"
"Oh, no, no", said the old lady.
"You see, my back yard is right next to a golf course. A lot of golfers come and pee through a knot hole in my fence,
right into my flower garden. It used to really tick me off. Kills the flowers, you know. Then I thought, 'why not
make the best of it?' So, now, I stand behind the fence by the knot hole, real quiet, with my hedge clippers. Every
time some guy sticks his thing through my fence, I surprise him, grab hold of it and say, O.K., buddy! Give me $20
or off it comes!'
"Well, that seems only fair," said the cop, laughing."OK. Good luck! Oh, by the way, what's in the other bag?"
"Not everybody pays."
*****************************

Page 110 of 112

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