RAO

BULLETIN
15 March 2016
HTML Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
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Article

Subject
* DOD *

04 == Agent Orange Korea [07] --- (Extend DMZ Time Frame Presumption)
05 == Pentagon UAS Domestic Spying -- (Pentagon OIG | Rare and Lawful)
06 == DoD Rare Earth Mineral Sources --- (ID Critical to National Security)
07 == DoD Personnel Reform [01] ------------------- (Officer Up-or-Out Rule)
09 == BRAC [46] ------------ (5th Request Wildly Unpopular on Capitol Hill)
10 == PTSD Punitive Discharges [02] ------------------- (DoD Policy Change)
10 == Commissary Employees -- (Proposed GS to NAF Employment Status)
11 == DoD Fraud, Waste, and Abuse ------ (Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2016)
12 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---------------- (Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2016)
* VA *

15 == VA Sexual Assault Care [12] - (Discriminatory Policy Lawsuit Denied)

16 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [35] ------------------------- (Burn Pit Registry)
17 == VA SSN Use --------------------------------- (Vet Identity Theft Concern)
17 == PTSD [204] ---------------- (Depression or PTSD | Symptoms Overlap)
19 == Agent Orange IOM Panel (Bladder Cancer & Hypothyroidism Link)
20 == VA VISTA [08] --------------------------------------- (Future in Question)
22 == VA Hepatitis C Care [11] --------------- (FY 2016 Funded for All Vets)
22 == VA Adaptive Sports Program -------------- (PGA REACH Partnership)
23 == Traumatic Brain Injury [50] ----- (VA Data Collection Improvements)
24 == VA Suicide Prevention [29] ------------------ (9 New Steps Announced)
24 == VA National Stand Down ------------- (Successful 2nd National Event)
26 == Board of Veterans' Appeals [09] ----- (Racist and Sexist BVA Emails)
27 == VA Claim DBQ [01] ------------- (IG | Still Not Being Put to Best Use)
27 == VA Memorial Benefits -------------- (How to Apply & What to Expect)
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28 == VA Health Care Access [31] ----- (VA OIG Releases 11 of 77 Reports)

29 == VA Health Care Access [32] ------ (Former Senior Exec Pleads Guilty)
30 == VA Vet Family Benefits | FL --- (Funeral Director/Physician Program)
30 == VA Vet Choice Program [31] ------- (More Timely Provider Payments)
31 == VA Vet Choice Program [34] - (Community Care Call Center | Billing)
31 == VA Diffusion --------------------- (Innovation through MyVA Initiative)
33 == VA Disciplinary Process ---------------------------- (Minimum 270 Days)
34 == VA Performance [07] ----------- (Shutting Down Not the Magic Bullet)
36 == GI Bill [198] ----------------------- (VAs Lack of Institutional Oversite)
36 == VA Accountability [23] ----- (Actions Taken Against BVA Personnel)
37 == VA Accountability [24] -------------- (Senators Blast MSPD Decisions)
38 == VA Accountability [25] ------ (Survey Reveals Due Process Concerns)
40 == VA Health Care Enrollment [06] - (Incomplete Application Extension)
41 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---------- (Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2016)
45 == VA OPC Akron OH ---------------- (Memorial POW/MIA Table Bible)
46 == VAMC Battle Creek MI -------- (Employees Contributed to IRS Scam)
47 == VAMC Minneapolis [06] ------- (50 TBI Cases Diagnosed Incorrectly)
47 == VAMC West Haven CT [03] - (Womens Health Center Accessibility)
48 == VAMC Cincinnati [05] ---------------- (Alleged Scapegoat Dr. Temeck)
49 == VAMC Cleveland [02] ------------- (Home Visit Pilot Program | 1 of 5)
50 == VA HCS Salt Lake City ------------------------ (Large-Scale Drug Theft)
* Vets *

51 == Women in Military Service Memorial [02] --- (Have You Registered?)

52 == GI Bill [199] -- (NDAA Eliminated Unemployment Checks for Users)
53 == Vet Charity Watch [55] ------------------- (Two WWP Top Execs Fired)
54 == Michigan Vet Support ---- (New License Plate Benefits Vet Programs)
54 == Vet Unemployment [07] -------------- (Near-Historic Low in Feb 2016)
55 == Veterans' Preference [08] --------- (Application to Federal Contracting)
56 == Salute4Vets Scholarships --------- (New USC Vet Program offers 120)
57 == Ohio Vet Bonus [05] -------------- ($5.3 Million Left for Vets to Claim)
57 == Veterans History Project [02] ------ (100,000+ First-Person Narratives)
57 == Wounded Warrior Project [03] --------- (Spending Practices Criticized)
58 == Wounded Warrior Project [04] ---------- (Questionable Staff Spending)
59 == Arlington National Cemetery [55] ----------------- (Future Under Study)
59 == USAJOBS ----- (Official Source for Federal Government Job Listings)
60 == USAJOBS [01] ------------------------------------------- (A Bogus Benefit)
62 == WWII Vets 103 ------------------------------------------ (Gordon Neslund)
64 == Obit: Adesso~Anthony G. | WWII Hero------------------ (11 JAN 2016)
65 == Obit: Driscoll~Jerry | 7-yr Vietnam POW ---------------- (20 FEB 2016)
66 == Obit: Plackett~Bill | MCPON 1985-1988 ------------------- (4 Mar 2016)
67 == Obit: Strohfus~Elizabeth | WWII WASP Pilot ------------- (6 Mar 2016)
68 == Retiree Appreciation Days --------------------------- (As of 13 Mar 2016)
68 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------- (16 Mar thru 15 Apr 2016)
69 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ----------------------- (New Jersey 2016)
* Vet Legislation *

69 == National Guard TAD TRICARE Coverage -- (Action Alert H.R.4554)

70 == SBP DIC Offset [44] ---------- (H.R.1594/S.979 | Eliminate the Offset)
71 == VA Peer Specialist --------------------------- (S.2210 | Veteran Peer Act)
72 == VA Blue Water Claims [32] - (S.681/H.R.969 | CO Senate Resolution)
72 == VA Vet Choice Program [32] -------- (S.2633 Needed to Fix Program)
73 == VA Vet Choice Program [33] - (Vet Choice Improvement Act of 2016)
74 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ---------- (160301 thru 160315)
* MILITARY *

76 == Armed Services YMCA ------- (Free Membership Program Extended)

77 == Perdix --------------------------------------------- (Micro-Drones Program)
77 == National Guard MilTech Conversion ---- (States Want Law Repealed)
78 == Michigan Women Servicemembers ------- (Wanted for UofM Survey)
78 == Guantanamo Bay Navy Base [02] --------- (Handover to Cuba Rumor)
79 == Military Trivia 119 -------------------------------- (Army Hospital Ships)
81 == Army Warrant Officer Retirement ------------- (Highest Grade Served)
82 == Navy Physical Fitness ---------------- (Body Fat Restrictions Loosened)
83 == Medal of Honor Citations --------------------- (Howard~Jimmie E | VN)
* MILITARY HISTORY *

85 == Military History ------------------------------------ (Operation Mincemeat)

87 == PT-305 Restoration ---------- (National World War II Museum Project)
89 == Battle of Ia Drang -------------------- (Remembered by VFW Post 4403)
90 == Military History Discussions -------------------- (WWII Death of Patton)
90 == WWII Amazing Wartime Facts ------------------------ (Did You Know?)
92 == Military History Anniversaries --------------------------- (16 thru 31 Mar)
* HEALTH CARE *

92 == VLER HIE Initiative ------------ (Medical History Availability Option)

93 == Healthy Eating ---------------------- (National Nutrition Month | March)
93 == TRICARE Autism Care [18] (30 MAR Cut to ABA Rates Opposed)
94 == Traumatic Brain Injury [49] - (MAR is Brain Injury Awareness Month)
95 == VA Pain Management [06] ------- (Congressional Hearing Testimony)
96 == Sleep Disorder [04] ---------- (Dont Snooze on Getting Enough Sleep)
96 == TRICARE Help ---------------------------------------------- (Q&A 160315)
* FINANCES *

97 == IRS Rental Income Tax ------------------------- (Allowable Deductions)

98 == Federal Pay and Benefits ----------- (Presidential Candidates Position)
99 == Delinquent State Income Tax | Military - (Servicemembers Liability)
100 == IRS Tax Refund --------------------------------------- (Taxpayer Options)
101 == IRS ID Protection Service ------------------------ (Hacked | Shut Down)
102 == IRS Taxed Income [02] ------ (Taxed, Not Taxed, and May be Taxed)
104 == Shipping Charges ------------------------------ (25 Free Shipping Stores)
105 == Home Sale Capital Gains ------------------ (What You Pay if You Sell)
108 == Senior Discount [04] ----------------------- (Grocery, Retail & Apparel)
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108 == Saving Money --------------------- (Home Projects | Lowering the Cost)

110 == Smart TV Scam --------------------------------------------- (How it Works)
111 == Energy Audit Scam ----------------------------------------- (How it Works)
111 == Tax Burden for District of Columbia Retired Vets --- (As of Feb 2016)
113 == Thrift Savings Plan 2016 ------------------- (Returns as of 11 Mar 2016)
* GENERAL INTEREST *

114 == Notes of Interest -------------------------------------- (1 thru 15 Mar 2016)

116 == Have You Seen ------------------------------ (Photos of Interest | 160315)
117 == RP~China Dispute [15] --------- (China's Minister Takes A Hard Line)
118 == CVS Theft Policy ----------------------- (Vet Stops Robbery | Loses Job)
118 == Rep. Tammy Duckworth Maligned -- (Recirculated Tweet A Mistake)
119 == How Old is Grandpa? ------------------------------- (Would You Believe)
120 == Remember When ---------------------------------------------- (Nostalgia (2)
121 == Brain Teaser -------------------------------------------------- (Storigram IX)
121 == Have You Heard? --------------------------------------- (Senior Citizens 2)
121 == Brain Teaser Answer ---------------------------------------- (Storigram IX)
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 Mar 2016

Attachment New Jersey Vet State Benefits & Discounts MAR 2016
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 MAR
Attachment - Have You Seen (Photos of Interest) 15 MAR 2016
Attachment - Retiree Activity\Appreciation Days (RAD) Schedule as of 13 Mar 2016
Attachment - GI Bill Funds Still Flow to Troubled For-Profit Colleges

* DoD *

Agent Orange Korea Update 07

Extend DMZ Time Frame Presumption

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, is calling
on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to provide
more veterans who served in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) access to critical health care benefits. Currently,
only veterans who served in the Korean DMZ during specific dates are granted a presumption of exposure to Agent
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Orange, which allows easier access to health care and benefits for conditions caused by the toxins. In a Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, Blumenthal stood with the Veterans of Foreign Wars in calling on VA to extend
the timeframe of the presumption to include veterans affected during the initial herbicide spraying.

During this testimony, Blumenthal referenced the case of Army veteran Eugene Clarke from Redding,
Connecticut who has health conditions that could have resulted from Agent Orange exposure while serving in the
Korean DMZ. You can read about Clarkes story at http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-ct-vet-agentorange-benefits-20160301-story.html. In January, Blumenthal led a bipartisan letter with 14 Senators to VA
Secretary Robert A. McDonald requesting the VA quickly change their policy to ensure all Vietnam veterans can
easily access and receive the necessary health care for conditions resulting from chemical exposure. You can view
Blumenthals remarks from the hearing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdqdhWnrJMQ&feature=youtu.be.
[Source: VFW Action corps Weekly | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

Pentagon UAS Domestic Spying

Pentagon OIG | Rare and Lawful

The Pentagon has deployed drones to spy over U.S. territory for non-military missions over the past decade, but the
flights have been rare and lawful, according to a new report. The report by a Pentagon inspector general, made
public under a Freedom of Information Act request, said spy drones on non-military missions have occurred fewer
than 20 times between 2006 and 2015 and always in compliance with existing law. The report, which did not
provide details on any of the domestic spying missions, said the Pentagon takes the issue of military drones used on
American soil "very seriously."

MQ-1B Predator used over U.S. by Pentagon

A senior policy analyst for the ACLU, Jay Stanley, said it is good news no legal violations were found, yet the
technology is so advanced that it's possible laws may require revision. "Sometimes, new technology changes so
rapidly that existing law no longer fit what people think are appropriate," Stanley said. "It's important to remember
that the American people do find this to be a very, very sensitive topic." The use of unmanned aerial surveillance
(UAS) drones over U.S. surfaced in 2013 when then-FBI director Robert Mueller testified before Congress that the
bureau employed spy drones to aid investigations, but in a "very ,very minimal way, very seldom." The inspector
general analysis was completed March 20, 2015, but not released publicly until 4 MAR 2016.

It said that with advancements in drone technology along with widespread military use overseas, the Pentagon
established interim guidance in 2006 governing when and whether the unmanned aircraft could be used
domestically. The interim policy allowed spy drones to be used for homeland defense purposes in the U.S. and to
assist civil authorities. But the policy said that any use of military drones for civil authorities had to be approved by
the Secretary of Defense or someone delegated by the secretary. The report found that defense secretaries have never
delegated that responsibility. The report quoted a military law review article that said "the appetite to use them (spy
drones) in the domestic environment to collect airborne imagery continues to grow, as does congressional and media
interest in their deployment."
Military units that operate drones told the inspector general they would like more opportunities to fly them on
domestic missions if for no other reason than to give pilots more experience to improve their skills, the report said.
"Multiple units told us that as forces using the UAS capabilities continue to draw down overseas, opportunities for
UAS realistic training and use have decreased," the report said. A request for all cases between 2006 and 2015 in
which civil authorities asked the military for use of spy drones produced a list of "less than twenty events," the
report said. The list included requests granted and denied.
The list was not made public in the report. But a few examples were cited, including one case in which an
unnamed mayor asked the Marine Corps to use a drone to find potholes in the mayor's city. The Marines denied the
request because obtaining the defense secretary's "approval to conduct a UAS mission of this type did not make
operational sense." Shortly before the inspector general report was completed a year ago, the Pentagon issued a new
policy governing the use of spy drones. It requires the defense secretary to approve all domestic spy drone
operations. It says that unless permitted by law and approved by the secretary, drones "may not conduct surveillance
on U.S. persons." It also bans the use of armed drones over the United States for anything other training and testing.
[Source: USA Today | Gregg Zoroya | March 9, 2016 ++]
********************************

DoD Rare Earth Mineral Resources

ID Critical to National Security

A new Government Accountability Office report scolds the Department of Defense for failing to figure out which
rare earth elements are critical to national security China controls the world market and for not developing
plans to make sure the United States has enough even though Congress passed a law telling them to five years ago.
When Breaking Defense asked for a response, DoD denied any error in its ways but promised to do better. DoD
disagrees with the GAO characterization that DoD has no department-wide approach for critical materials, but in the
spirit of continuous improvement, the Department agrees with the recommendations in the GAO report, said
spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Badger.
With whats going on in the South and East China Sea, I just find it ironic that most people are not aware that
the Chinese really control a very important raw material, said Anthony Marchese, board chairman of Texas Rare
Earth Resources (TRER). The company seeks investors to finance development of a rare earths deposit in Texas that
would be the only active U.S. source of such materials. Thus continues a sleepy debate over whether the Pentagon,
the defense industry and other manufacturers are comfortably numb about the fact that China controls 100 percent of
the world supply of rare earths the military needs and about 85 percent of those used in consumer products. In 2010,
some reports denied by Beijing said China used that near monopoly as a weapon, cutting off rare earth supplies
to Japanese companies after a Chinese trawler collided with Japanese Coast Guard boats.
Rare earth materials contain one or more of 17 similar metals or elements that offer unique properties, such as
high-strength magnetism and high-strength heat resistance. Divided into light and heavy categories, they bear
quirky names yttrium, neodymium, dysprosium but running out of one wouldnt be funny. Recent studies have
shown that rare earths are essential to the production, sustainment, and operation of U.S. military equipment, the
GAO said. Reliable access to the necessary material, regardless of the overall level of defense demand, is a bedrock
6

requirement for DOD. Why are these minerals so important to the Pentagon (as delineated in the fiscal 2012
National Defense Authorization Act)?
Each nuclear-powered SSN-774 Virginia-class fast attack submarine requires about 9,200 pounds of rare
earth minerals;
Each DDG-51 Aegis destroyer needs about 5,200 pounds;
Each F-35 Joint Strike fighter needs about 920 pounds;
Rare earths are also essential to precision-guided munitions, lasers, satellite communications, radar, sonar
and other military equipment, added a 2013 Congressional Research Service report. Rare earths are not
particularly rare but are found in low concentrations in the earths crust, the CRS report explained. This
makes them expensive to extract and process, and they require a lot of processing: separating the ore into
individual oxides; refining the oxides into metals; forming the metals into alloys; and manufacturing the
alloys into devices and components, such as the permanent magnets used in the Joint Direct Attack
Munition (JDAM), the guidance kit that turns dumb bombs into smart ones.
The GAO said the three DoD offices that deal with rare earths the Defense Logistics Agencys Strategic
Materials Office, which acquires rare earths for the government and private companies, the office of Manufacturing
and Industrial Base Policy (MIBP), and the Strategic Materials Protection Board (SMPB) have been
fragmented in their approaches, failing to even agree on what constitutes critical rare earths. The GAO said
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter should direct the SMPB to designate which, if any, rare earths are critical to
national security, analyze the effect of their potential unavailability, and develop a strategy to help ensure a
secure supply. The defense secretary also should direct MIBP to define reliable sources and secure supply for rare
earths in measurable terms, the GAO said.

Round Top Mountain, Texas. The alternative to China for DoD rare earth elements

The new GAO report is only the latest of many government reports on the issue in recent years, but none seem to
elicit much urgent action by the Defense Department, or for that matter, the defense industry. Ive talked to major
Fortune 100 companies and they all say the same thing: Tony, whats the problem? I can buy all the rare earth I
want right now, and at very good prices, Anthony Marchese said. His company fulfilling a Defense Logistics
Agency contract awarded last September to prove the value of TRERs Round Top Mountain rare earths deposit
about 80 miles south of El Paso. TRER is producing bench scale amounts samples for laboratory analysis of
yttrium, ytterbium and another rare earth whose identity DLA ordered the company to keep secret. Marchese
promises Round Top Mountain could supply 100 percent of the DoD rare earth element needs in the future.
[Source: http://www.4-traders.com | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

DoD Personnel Reform Update 01

Officer Up-or-Out Rule

A controversial proposal that aims to end the military's "up-or-out" rules for officer promotions remains a source of
debate and disagreement among the Pentagons top leaders. The proposal to reform the federal laws that regulate
officer careers was central to Defense Secretary Ash Carters slate of personnel reforms he called it "Force of the
7

Future" outlined last year. But the militarys top four-star officers balked and the matter remains under review. It
is still in the deliberative process. Let me just say its been a fulsome debate, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert
Work told Military Times in a recent interview.

Changing the 1980 law known as the Defense Officer Personal Management Act, or DOPMA, could
fundamentally redefine the officer corps career tracks, where promotions are mainly based on seniority rather than
demonstrated talents and skills. The initiative could apply to the military's enlisted force as well, but that would not
require congressional action to change federal law. The individual services have the authority to adjust enlisted
manpower policies as needed to shape size and makeup. The matter was vigorously debated by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff in one of their recent meetings in the Pentagon E-Ring conference room known as the tank. Its gone to a
tank and so everyone knows about it and the chiefs have been able to weigh in, Work said. Once we have it all
buttoned up and weve addressed all the concerns that is when we announce a final reform proposal.
Last year Carter called for sweeping change to the military personnel system, in some ways mirroring the private
sector. He said todays rigid military career tracks may be discouraging some of the nation's best and brightest young
people from pursuing a military career. Specifically, the reforms could change or end the time in grade
requirements that standardize today's military career tracks. That would allow the most talented officers to move up
the ranks more quickly. Reforms could also revise or eliminate the cap on the number of times an officer can be
passed over for promotion before being forced to leave service (typically two times for most officers). Removing
those up-or-out caps could encourage officers to pursue nontraditional assignments or develop technical expertise
without fear that their career progression will suffer.
Carter has formally announced several personnel reforms as a part of his "Force of the Future" initiative, but
several big changes discussed last year, including up-or-out reform, have stalled. In late-February, Senate
Republicans attacked the ideas as an outrageous waste of time while criticizing the Pentagons nominee to
implement them. Army and Marine Corps leaders have resisted the change most forcefully, while Navy and Air
Force leaders have signaled some support, according to several officials familiar with the internal debate. Today's
up-or-out rules can foster a military culture that rewards careerist functionaries, said Dan Grazier, a former Marine
Corps captain and tank officer who is now a national security expert with the Project on Government Oversight in
Washington. You have to be a 'yes man' and suck up to your immediate boss because if you get one bad
[performance review] you get passed over for promotion and if that happens twice you get forced out, Grazier said.
Reforming the DOPMA regulations would help foster a culture of moral courage, which is definitely useful on the
battlefield, Grazier said.
Questions about officer promotions come at a time when other key personnel issues have created a political tugof-war between the top brass and its civilian leadership. For example, Carter recently approved opening all combat
jobs to women despite some resistance from the Marine Corps. Hes also expected to soon clear the way for
transgender troops to serve openly. And he recently expanded maternity leave despite some reluctance from the
uniformed leadership. Carter and his civilian allies may have viewed officer personnel reform as forcing too much
8

change on the military. Taking on the brass on this was seen as going too far, said one official familiar with the
debate. Maybe they were afraid of a civ-mil divide being more apparent up at the highest level. Nevertheless, the
opposition is not as strong as it was a couple of years ago, according to another defense official familiar with the
debate. Its kind of like the seven stages of grief, where finally youre at the state of acceptance, and I think that is
where folks are getting to, he said. [Source: Military Times | Andrew Tilghman | March 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

BRAC Update 46

5th Request Wildly Unpopular on Capitol Hill

The US Congress reluctance to close and consolidate military bases is standing in the way of the Defense
Department's efficiency efforts, a senior Pentagon official said 7 MAR. Shedding surplus infrastructure could net the
Defense Department as much as 25 percent savings in some missions, if only Congress would agree to it, said Jamie
Morin, director for the Pentagons Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. So it's not a popular answer,
but base realignment and closure is an important piece of this, said Morin, speaking on a panel of defense officials
at the Center for Strategic and International Studies here.
Despite Pentagon estimates that it could save billions of dollars, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
process is wildly unpopular on Capitol Hill. Congress has blocked the Pentagons requests to close bases in recent
years last year through a defense policy bill provision as lawmakers worry over the socioeconomic impacts of
closing posts in their districts. Indeed Morin suggested the key savings to be reaped by closures is in personnel,
more so than the property ownership and maintenance costs. When I worked for the Air Force, our walking-around,
rough-order estimate was it took 800 to 900 airmen to open a base, before you had any operational folks there,
Morin said.
On 3 MAR, Pentagon installations officials made their fifth request for another BRAC round before the House
Appropriations Military Construction Subcommittee. Lawmakers expressed skepticism, invoking problems with the
2005 round, which was considered the largest, most complex and costliest since the first in 1988. Pete Potochney,
acting assistant secretary of defense for installations, estimated a base closing round in 2019 would save about $2
billion annually, and promised the process would be efficiency focused and designed to cut military costs. We are
in a budget dilemma. We are making tough choices, Potochney said. We need BRAC in order to make those
choices a little bit easier, so that we're not spending money and resources better spent on our facilities that we do
need and on readiness.
Miranda Ballentine, Air Force secretary for installations, environment and energy said the service is operating at
20 percent excess infrastructure capacity, with many hollowed-out bases. Her counterpart in the Army, which has
been undergoing manpower cuts, identified 40 million square feet of building space that could be shuttered. Well,
the biggest challenges in drawdown is that they create empty spaces, said Katherine Hammock, assistant Army
secretary for installations and environment. And so we are still maintaining money to operate a base that should be
100 percent full and it might be 75 percent full or 50 percent full. So our base operating costs are the same, yet
we've reduced the military manpower.
Speaking Monday, Morin said Pentagon officials are not happy with the 2005 round and said, a future BRAC
round would have a much different financial ramification even though the 2005 BRAC round is now paying off
for the department financially, it was a much smaller scale of closure and large scale realignment than the previous
rounds, which yielded much larger financial savings earlier. Acknowledging BRAC is a difficult, political topic,
Morin said the Defense Department is advocating it to drive more combat capability out of each taxpayer dollar.
[Source: Defense News | Joe Gould, Defense | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

PTSD Punitive Discharges Update 02

DoD Policy Change

On September 3, 2014, then Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel issued a memo instructing Boards for Correction of
Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) to grant liberal consideration to requests for discharge upgrades from veterans
who may have been suffering from PTSD before it was a recognized diagnosis. Previously, those upgrade requests
would have been denied, because veterans had no way of proving they had PTSD while still in service. The policy
change was especially helpful for Vietnam veterans, whose post-service PTSD diagnoses had not been recognized
by the BCM/NR up to that point. Unfortunately, the memo did not explicitly allow veterans who had been denied
under the old rules to reapply under the new rules. To correct this error, DOD issued a memo on 24 FEB, clarifying
that those veterans may reapply under the new policy. It also waives the statute of limitations in those cases. If you
or someone you know wishes to apply for a discharge upgrade under this policy, go to the Pentgon website
http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/adrb-ptsd.cfm. To read the February 24 DOD memo, do to the DoD website:
http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/Consideration_on_Discharge_Upgrade_Requests.pdf. [Source:
[Source: VFW Action corps Weekly | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

Commissary Employees

Proposed GS to NAF Employment Status

A group of 15 Democrat Senators have sent a letter to the Defense Department decrying a proposal that would
change the employment status of commissary workers. "The undersigned Senators strongly oppose efforts to include
in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorization for the conversion of Defense
Commissary Agency (DeCA) employees to non-appropriated funds employees," states the 25 FEB letter to Defense
Secretary Ashton Carter. "Finding savings by imposing such cuts on DeCA's modestly compensated workforce who
provide a valuable service to military families and many of whom are veterans and military spouses would be an
imprudent and misguided way to cut costs," it adds.

A commissary cashier checks groceries at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Commissary cashiers are federal employees
on the GS system.

A study commissioned by the agency and released in September proposed moving all commissary employees
from the current general schedule or wage grade system to a so-called non-appropriated funds, or NAF, status.
Because employees with the alternative status often earn less, have different benefits and can be more easily hired
and fired, the system could save between $125 million and $225 million a year by changing systems, the Boston
Consulting Group study said. Employees would convert to the new system over two years during which they would
maintain their current pay levels, according to the report. Other benefits, such as their current retirement plans,
would also move with them. New employees would be hired under the revised pay and benefits system.
While the senators said they do support commissary reforms that might take it away from its current operating
structure, they don't think those changes should put employees at risk. "We do not believe that this means that DoD

10

should stop striving to achieve cost-savings in the provision of the commissary benefit," they wrote. "Still, give the
undeniable and substantial benefit the commissaries provide to military families, it is imperative that we proceed
carefully with any proposal that could harm the commissary benefit, including conversion of DeCA employees to
non-appropriated funds employees." For 2016, the commissary system is projected to staff over 16,000 employees,
including about 13,000 full-time workers. Nearly two-thirds, or 64 percent, of current employees have a military
affiliation, with about 28 percent of those being military spouses, according to the congressional convened Military
Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.
The letter was signed by Sen. Patty Murry (D-WA), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Christopher Coons (DDE), Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA), Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Barbara Boxer (DCA), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sen. Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) , Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)and Sen. Al
Franken (D-MN). [Source: Military.com | Amy Bushat | February 29, 2016 ++]
********************************

DoD Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2016

San Diego CA A former Navy sailor was sentenced Friday to 18 months in prison for filing false tax returns in a
scam that resulted in more than $1 million in fraudulent tax refunds for fellow sailors, the U.S. Attorney's Office
said. Leonard Washington pleaded guilty in November to tax evasion and filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge
Jeffery Miller at the sentencing also ordered Washington to pay $926,668 in restitution to the Internal Revenue
Service. Washington was an active-duty sailor aboard the Higgins, a guided missile destroyer stationed in San
Diego, when he convinced more than 140 sailors to pay him $1,000 each to file their income tax returns in 2010,
according to court documents. Washington told them he could get them special breaks, including "special military
tax" deductions, because of their military status. He admitted in November to adding gambling winnings and losses,
credits and tax witholdings to get more refunds for his clients. Despite receiving more than $140,000 in preparation
fees from clients, Washington concealed his role as tax preparer from the IRS. He funneled his earnings into various
bank accounts to disguise his income and evaded more than $49,000 in personal federal income taxes, the U.S.
Attorney's Office said. [Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune | David Hernandez | Mar 07, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oSan Diego CA A scrap metal recycler was convicted in San Diego federal court 7 MAR of stealing more than a
half-million dollars of brass shell casings from Camp Pendleton. John Vescuso of Wildomar first paid a civilian
employee on the Marine base, Cecil Garr, to load up expended brass shell casings from the School of Infantrys
hazardous materials lot in Garrs personal vehicle, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Then he had an Orange County
scrap metal company place containers on base to collect the casings, according to testimony at trial. When full,
Vescuso would have the company remove the casings off base. Vescuso collected the scrap-metal earnings from the
company resulting in $555,640 over a two-year period and shared the proceeds with Garr, prosecutors said.
Garr has already pleaded guilty in the case. Vescuso, 40, is set to be sentenced in July. [Source: The San Diego
Union-Tribune | Kristina Davis | Mar 09, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oDoD Travel Vouchers The Pentagon is promising to expand its crackdown on improper travel payments after an
internal investigation found widespread errors in vouchers that troops submit for reimbursement, according to a new
report. The Defense Department Inspector General released a report 10 MAR showing that the percentage of
inaccurate payments made under the Defense Department Travel Pay program grew from 5 percent in 2012 to 7
percent for 2014, when improper payments totaled more than $458 million. A majority were over payments, though
in some cases troops were also shortchanged. It's unclear how much of this money the Defense Department
11

ultimately recoups. In many cases, officials approved travel expenses for airfare, hotels and rental cars despite
service members failure to submit receipts, according to the report.
The uptick came despite the Pentagons force-wide effort to reduce improper payments and comply with a 2010
federal law designed to reduce wasteful spending and over payments for official travel. The IG noted that the 2013
program to reduce improper payments did not include any effort to identify why improper payments were approved.
Instead, the remediation program focused on new training for travelers and the officials who approve travel
expenses. Without identifying the reasons that authorizing officials approve improper vouchers for payment, DoD
will continue to be at high risk for making improper payments for travel, according to the IG report. In response to
the investigation, the Defense Department promised to begin requiring the military services to identify the root
causes for why officials continue to approve improper payments.
Military officials also agreed to develop ways to fix those root causes, saying also that the department will
require the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to provide the services with quarterly reports outlining the
errors found in travel vouchers submitted by troops and civilians. Some 51 percent of the improper payments
involved per diem payments. But the Pentagons budget office did not offer any reasons for why per diem errors
occurred, according to the IG report. A review of about 5,000 random military travel vouchers filed during the latter
half of 2014 found all of the vouchers had at least one error, according to the report. [Source: Military Times |
Andrew Tilghman | March 10, 2016 ++]
********************************

POW/MIA Recoveries

Reported 1 thru 15 Mar 2016

"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:
12

Vietnam
None
Korea
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains and burial dates of four
servicemen who had been previously listed as missing in action from World War II and Korea.
-- Army Cpl. Davey H. Bart was lost fighting in North Korea on Nov. 2, 1950. It would be later confirmed he died
in captivity. He was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, and will be
buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be announced.
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Raymond K. McMillian, of Henry, Virginia, was lost fighting in South Korea on Feb. 12,
1951. It would be later confirmed he died in captivity. He was assigned to Medical Company, 3rd Battalion, 38th
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to
be announced.
-- Army Pfc. Aubrey D. Vaughn, of Union, South Carolina, was lost fighting in North Korea on April 23, 1951. It
would be later confirmed he died in captivity. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment,
5th Regimental Combat Team, and will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be
announced.

Cpl. Davey H. Bart

Sgt. Raymond K. McMillian

Pfc. Aubrey D. Vaughn

o-o-O-o-o-

The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 7 MAR that the remains of a
serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Pfc. James M. Smith of Abbeville, Georgia, was scheduled for burial March 9 in Arlington
National Cemetery. In February 1951, Smith was assigned to Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry
Division, and was supporting the South Korean Army in attacks against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces
(CPVF). On Feb. 12, the CPVF counterattacked and forced the South Korean Army units to retreat, leaving
American forces to fight alone. After the battle, Smith was reported missing in action. In April and May of 1953, the
U.S. Army Quartermaster Graves Registration Companies conducted searches of the battlefields associated with
Smith's unit, but no remains associated with him were located.

PFC James M. Smith (left)

13

In 1953, during prisoner of war exchanges known as "Operation Little Switch" and "Operation Big Switch," no
repatriated American service members were able to provide any information regarding Smith's whereabouts. A
military review board amended his status to deceased in 1953. Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the
United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which when combined with remains recovered during joint
recovery operations in North Korea, account for the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the
war. North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from
the vicinity where men captured from Smith's unit were believed to have died. To identify Smith's remains, scientists
from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence; two types of DNA
analysis, including mitochondrial DNA analysis, which matched a brother and a cousin, and Y-chromosome Short
Tandem Repeat DNA analysis, which matched a brother; and dental analysis, which matched Smith's records.
Today, 7,823 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications
continue to be made from remains that were previously returned by North Korean officials or recovered from North
Korea by American recovery teams. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for
Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or call 703-6991420.
World War II
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains and burial dates of three
servicemen who had been previously listed as missing in action from World War II and Korea. They are:
-- Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon T. Luke, 43, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, will be buried with full military
honors on March 9 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. On Dec. 7, 1941, Luke was
assigned to the USS Oklahoma when it was attacked and capsized after suffering multiple torpedo hits.
-- Marine Corps Sgt. John C. Holladay, of Georgia, was lost fighting in the Solomon Islands on July 20, 1943. He
was assigned to Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, and will be buried with full
military honors on a date and location yet to be announced.
-- Army Air Forces Flight Officer Dewey L. Gossett, of South Carolina, was lost over Italy on Sept. 27, 1943. He
was assigned to the 527th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force, and will be buried with full
military honors on a date and location yet to be announced.

Vernon T. Luke

Dewey L. Gossett

o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 11 MAR that the remains of a U.S.
serviceman from World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military
honors. Navy Ensign Lewis S. Stockdale, 27, of Anaconda, Montana, will be buried 18 MAR in Honolulu. On Dec.
7, 1941, Stockdale was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the
ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS Oklahoma suffered multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to
quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in 429 casualties, including Stockdale. From December 1941 to June
1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa
and Nuuanu Cemeteries.

14

In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members
of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two
cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff
was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time. The AGRS
subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP),
known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be
identified as non-recoverable, including Stockdale.
In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members
of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two
cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The laboratory staff
was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma at that time. The AGRS
subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP),
known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be
identified as non-recoverable, including Stockdale.
To identify Stockdales remains, scientists from DPAA used circumstantial evidence and laboratory analysis, to
include dental comparisons, which matched Stockdales records. Of the 16 million Americans who served in World
War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. For additional information on the Defense Departments mission to
account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or call
(703) 699-1420.
[Source: http://www.dpaa.mil | March 14, 2015 ++]

* VA *

VA Sexual Assault Care Update 12

Discriminatory Policy Lawsuit Denied

On 3 MAR, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit allowed to stand the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs discriminatory disability claims review process for survivors of sexual assault during military service.
Petitioners, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Service Womens Action Network (SWAN), brought suit
15

challenging the VAs denial of a rulemaking process that would remove barriers for MST survivors with PTSD
applying for disability benefits. In its 2-1 decision, the Court recognized the pervasive and continuing problem of
sexual abuse in the military and its severe effects on veterans. Ultimately, the Court determined it was bound to a
very limited and highly deferential legal rule to deny Petitioners challenge of the VAs discriminatory policy. In
his dissent, Judge Wallach describes a time in the United States when it was commonplace to treat rape and sexual
assault claims with automatic suspicion, noting, [T]hose days are supposed to be behind us, but the Secretarys
denial letter provides a reminder of the need to be ever vigilant lest such irrational bias encroach once again into the
legal and regulatory sphere. [Source: VVA Web Weekly | March 4, 2016 ++]
******************************

Burn Pit Toxic Exposure Update 35

Burn Pit Registry

VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry allows eligible Veterans and Servicemembers to document their
exposures and report health concerns through an online questionnaire.
In total, 61,338 Veterans and
Servicemembers completed and submitted the registry questionnaire between April 25, 2014 and February 28, 2016.
Eligible Veterans and Servicemembers include those who served in:
Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn
Djibouti, Africa on or after September 11, 2001
Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm
Southwest Asia theater of operations on or after August 2, 1990
Check your eligibility and sign up at https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry . It takes about 40
minutes to complete the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save it and come back later. You can print and
use your completed questionnaire to discuss concerns with your provider. VA providers can also access an online
copy of your questionnaire. Some important points about the Burn Pit Registry are:
No cost to participate
Not a disability compensation questionnaire or required for other VA benefits
Enrollment in VAs health care system not necessary
Based on Veterans/Servicemembers recollection of service, not on their military records
Veterans/Servicemembers family members are not eligible to participate
Data from the burn pit registry are available in the following reports:
Report (1.68 MB, PDF) highlighting health conditions and physical limitations experienced by Veterans
and Active Duty Servicemembers who filled out the registry survey between April 25, 2014 and December
31, 2014 (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/exposures/va-ahobp-registry-data-report-june2015.pdf).
Report (1.48 MB, PDF) on the health effects of exposures, including burn pits and other environmental
hazards, experienced by Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers who filled out the registry survey
between April 25, 2014 and September 30, 2014 (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/exposures/vaahobp-registry-data-report-april2015.pdf).
If you have health concerns, talk to your health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator who
can be located at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp. [Source: Veterans Health |
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp | March 14, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA SSN Use

Vet Identity Theft Concern

16

A lawmaker on the Senate Appropriations Committee plans to introduce legislation that will force the Department of
Veterans Affairs to transition from using Social Security numbers as the identifying numbers within the agency. "We
don't want to put our veterans and their families at the risk of fraud and identity theft, and that's the concern that we
are trying to address," Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) told FCW on 10 MAR after a budget hearing before the
committee. At issue is a complaint of a leak of hundreds of veterans' Social Security numbers by a state agency in
Wisconsin. In a 29 OCT letter to Linda Halliday, acting Inspector General at VA, Baldwin and Sen. Richard
Blumenthal (D-CT) requested an investigation of the matter, noting that the state agency "utilizes VA systems,
including software and email servers, which include tools to protect veterans' [personal information] from
unintended disclosure."

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)

Baldwin got the investigation. But she's also looking to minimize the risk in the future, and planning legislation
to change the way the VA uses personally identifiable information in its systems. "We hope to transition away from
using Social Security numbers as the identifying number with the VA," Baldwin told FCW after an Appropriations
hearing with VA leadership. VA Secretary Robert McDonald said that the agency was working toward a data
architecture that would make such a move possible. "We do not have a single data backbone," McDonald said. "One
of the things we have taken on is creating that single data backbone. And that would be a great opportunity to move
from Social Security." Baldwin told FCW she was "encouraged" by the VA's response. "As you can imagine, a shift
like this would be a huge undertaking, so to hear at least encouraging signs from the secretary is helpful," she said.
"We want to work with the department do this, not against the department." [Source: FCW | Aisha Chowdhry |
March 10, 2016 ++]
*******************************

PTSD Update 204

Depression or PTSD | Symptoms Overlap

Telling the difference between depression and PTSD can be difficult, because many symptoms of depression
overlap with symptoms of PTSD. For example, with both PTSD and depression, you may not feel pleasure or
interest in things you used to enjoy. Both can also lead to feeling emotionally numb and detached, which can cause
you to avoid people. Depression is a common problem that can occur following trauma. It involves feelings of
sadness or low mood that last more than just a few days. Unlike a blue mood that comes and goes, depression is
longer lasting. Depression can get in the way of daily life and make it hard to function. It can affect your eating and
sleeping, how you think, and how you feel about yourself.
In any given year, almost 1 in 10 adult Americans has some type of depression. Depression often occurs after
trauma. For example, a survey of survivors from the Oklahoma City bombing showed that 23% had depression after
the bombing. This was compared to 13% who had depression before the bombing. PTSD and depression are often
seen together. Results from a large national survey showed that depression is nearly 3 to 5 times more likely in those
17

with PTSD than those without PTSD. Depression is more than just feeling sad. Most people with depression feel
down or sad more days than not for at least 2 weeks. Or they find they no longer enjoy or have interest in things
anymore. If you have depression, you may notice that you're sleeping and eating a lot more or less than you used to.
You may find it hard to stay focused. You may feel down on yourself or hopeless. With more severe depression, you
may think about hurting or killing yourself.
Depression can sometimes seem to come from out of the blue. It can also be caused by a stressful event such as a
divorce or a trauma. Trouble coping with painful experiences or losses often leads to depression. For example,
Veterans returning from a war zone may have painful memories and feelings of guilt or regret about their war
experiences. They may have been injured or lost friends. Disaster survivors may have lost a loved one, a home, or
have been injured. Survivors of violence or abuse may feel like they can no longer trust other people. These kinds of
experiences can lead to both depression and PTSD. For example, with both depression and PTSD, you may have
trouble sleeping or keeping your mind focused. You may not feel pleasure or interest in things you used to enjoy.
You may not want to be with other people as much. Both PTSD and depression may involve greater irritability. It is
quite possible to have both depression and PTSD at the same time.
There are many treatment options for depression. You should be assessed by a healthcare professional who can
decide which type of treatment is best for you. In many cases, milder forms of depression are treated by counseling
or therapy. More severe depression is treated with medicines or with both therapy and medicine. Research has
shown that certain types of therapy and medicine are effective for both depression and PTSD. Since the symptoms
of PTSD and depression can overlap, treatment that helps with PTSD may also result in improvement of depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that is proven effective for both problems. CBT can help
patients change negative styles of thinking and acting that can lead to both depression and PTSD. A type of medicine
that is effective for both depression and PTSD is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
What can you do about feelings of depression? Depression can make you feel worn out, worthless, helpless,
hopeless, and sad. These feelings can make you feel as though you are never going to feel better. You may even
think that you should just give up. Some symptoms of depression, such as being tired or not having the desire to do
anything, can also get in the way of your seeking treatment. It is very important for you to know that these negative
thoughts and feelings are part of depression. If you think you might be depressed, you should seek help in spite of
these feelings. You can expect them to change as treatment begins working. In the meantime, here is a list of things
you can do that may improve your mood:
Talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Talk with family and friends.
Spend more time with others and get support from them. Don't close yourself off.
Take part in activities that might make you feel better. Do the things you used to enjoy before you began
feeling depressed. Even if you don't feel like it, try doing some of these things. Chances are you will feel
better after you do.
Engage in mild exercise.
Set realistic goals for yourself.
Break up goals and tasks into smaller ones that you can manage.
One type of treatment for depression is Behavioral Activation. This treatment was developed in the 1970s for
depressed mood and is safe and effective. It introduces new activities into your life, which are based on important
values and personal goals, that helps create an increased sense of happiness and satisfaction. Apps that have been
developed to assist in this treatment are discussed at http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/materials/apps/index.asp. One
such App is Mood Coach which helps you to learn and practice Behavioral Activation. This app is designed to help
you boost your mood by doing positive activities. You can make a plan with positive activities, rate and customize
your activities, and track your progress. This app provides:
Scheduling of positive activities for your selected values
An activity log for tracking your progress
18

A daily mood rating tool

Education about depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and Behavioral Activation
The PHQ-9 assessment for tracking symptoms of depression

Mood Coach can be used on its own by those who would like mood management tools, or to augment face-toface care with a healthcare professional. It is not intended to replace therapy for those who need it. For more on
availability and use refer to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mood-coach/id1060947437?mt=8.
If you think you may be depressed, talk to your doctor or see Where to Get Help for more mental health
resources at http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp. [Source: PTSD Monthly Update | March 2016 +
+]
*******************************

Agent Orange IOM Panel

Bladder Cancer & Hypothyroidism Link

A new review of Agent Orange research found evidence that bladder cancer and hypothyroidism are more strongly
linked to exposure to the herbicide than previously thought, but the science does not support a previously held belief
that spina bifida occurs in the offspring of exposed veterans at higher rates. A report released 11 MAR by the
Institute of Medicine on the health effects of Agent Orange also recommended the Veterans Affairs Department
grant service-connected presumption to veterans with Parkinsons-like symptoms, not just those diagnosed with
Parkinsons disease related to Agent Orange exposure. There is no rational basis for exclusion of individuals with
Parkinsons-like symptoms from the service-related category denoted as Parkinsons disease," members of the IOM
panel wrote in the report.
The 1,115-page review is the final in a series conducted by the IOM on health problems related to Agent Orange
and other herbicide use during the Vietnam War. There is no rational basis for exclusion of individuals with
Parkinsons-like symptoms from the service-related category denoted as Parkinsons disease. The panel, chaired by
Kenneth Ramos, professor of medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, reviewed the
scientific literature on Agent Orange released between October 2012 and September 2014 for its review. The
decision on bladder cancer and hypothyroidism was tied to results of a large study of Korean War veterans who
served in the Vietnam War suggested an association, while the choice to downgrade spina bifida was based on a lack
of data, panel members said.
[The inclusion of] spina bifida in the limited or suggestive category of association was based on preliminary
findings from [an ongoing Air Force study]. However, to date, a complete analysis of the data from that study for
neural tube defects has not been published [and] no subsequent studies have found increases in spina bifida with
exposure to components of the herbicides sprayed in Vietnam," they wrote. The upgrade for bladder cancer and
hypothyroidism from the category inadequate or insufficient evidence to limited or suggestive evidence," of a
link, as well as the recommendation to include Parkinsons-like symptoms to the service-connected list could pave
19

the way for thousands of veterans to receive health care and disability compensation from VA. The downgrading of
spina bifida marks only the second time the IOM Agent Orange committee has demoted a health outcome related to
the herbicide.
Roughly 2.6 million U.S. veterans served in Vietnam, many of whom may have been exposed. The herbicide,
named for the color of the metal containers used to store it, was sprayed over 20 percent of the country to strip the
jungle of its vegetation where enemy troops could hide. Veterans who served in Vietnam on the ground or on boats
that patrolled the country's inland waterways are eligible for health care and compensation for certain conditions
presumed to be connected to their service. Other groups of veterans, including those who served after the war on
aircraft that had been used to spray Agent Orange, have won recognition for illnesses they say are related to
exposure to chemical residue.
Some veterans continue to seek recognition and presumption for exposure to the herbicide, including those who
served on ships in the bays, harbors and territorial seas of Vietnam. Attorneys for Military-Veterans Advocacy and
the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association on Thursday presented oral arguments to the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia to recognize that the court has jurisdiction to decide whether the VA should not
have excluded these veterans from the presumption. Retired Navy Cmdr. John Wells, executive director of MilitaryVeterans Advocacy, said the sailors who served on these ships should be included because the vessels' distillation
systems used water contaminated with Agent Orange to produce drinking water as well as water used for their
boilers. "There was no magic, invisible Agent Orange filter at the mouth of the rivers," Wells said. "We have
documented proof of its presence in Nha Trang Harbor, 20 years after the war. That evidence has been presented to
the VA. The distillation system which produced drinking water and water for the boilers did not remove the dioxin
it enriched it."
In their report, the IOM panel made several recommendations to VA to address illnesses in Vietnam veterans, to
include recommending that VA continue to study their health, develop protocols to investigate transmission of
adverse effects to offspring by exposed fathers and design a study on the health consequences of dioxin exposure on
humans. They also recommended that the Defense Department and VA monitor potential service-related health
effects in military personnel, to include creating and maintaining rosters of individuals deployed on missions and
linking DoD and VA databases to identify, record and monitor trends in diseases. [Source: Military Times | Patricia
Kime | March 10, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA VISTA Update 08

Future in Question

The Veterans Affairs Department said 2 MAR that it is now reassessing whether its existing VistA system still has a
place in the long-term future of VA electronic health records, and has paused certain elements of VistAs ongoing
modernization. Members of Congress were not happy, seeing the move as one more setback on the arduous path to
integrate military and veteran health data. As recently as 2014, VA was so confident in VistAs long-term viability
that it was publicly lobbying the Defense Department to adopt it as the military health systems own EHR.
But times have changed. Almost all of VAs senior leadership positions have switched hands since Robert
McDonald became VA secretary, and a business case analysis ordered last year by LaVerne Council, the new
assistant secretary for information and technology, and Dr. David Shulkin, the new undersecretary for health, called
VistAs future into question. We want to take a step back and look at what we really need an EHR and a health care
system to do, Council told the House Appropriations Committee. There are multiple needs that are different than
in 2014 around the area of womens health, the Internet of things and how we manage private sector care. Those
factors, Council said, led VA to request $40 million less for VistA modernization in its 2017 budget compared to
what the department had planned to spend one year ago. The funding plan will focus more resources on making VAs

20

existing systems interoperable with DoD than investing in VistAs long-term future. She said the department will
request more funding for electronic health records once its finished devising a new long-term strategy.
Several lawmakers expressed displeasure at yet another shakeup in the long saga involving DoD and VAs plans
to modernize their EHRs. In 2013, the two departments abandoned their joint strategy to build a single, integrated
record. DoD later decided to purchase a commercial-off-the-shelf system, eventually awarding a $4.3 billion
contract to a vendor team led by Leidos last year. Weve been at this for 10 years and weve given you billions of
dollars, said a visibly agitated Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Im hearing muckety-muck here. I dont know what youre saying. Apparently, youve not made your mind up yet
about whether youre going to replace VistA with something off the shelf. Is that right or wrong? Yes or no?
VA has not made up its mind, Council said, and blamed the current indecision on what she said was the lack of an
adequate long-term plan for health records prior to her appointment as assistant secretary and chief information
officer. The fact is we need to ensure we have laid out the plan and strategy so that everyone can understand
exactly what were doing and why were doing it, she said. There was no plan laid out before Dr. Shulkin and I
came into these roles. If were going to say that were good stewards of millions of taxpayer dollars, we need to
have a plan in place and thats what were going to do. Its not going to stop anything thats currently being done,
none of thats being done in a wasteful manner, but were going to lay things out in a manner that allows Congress
to see exactly what OIT is spending their dollars on.
Both DoD and VA have argued strenuously that health record interoperability between the two departments is a
separate topic from the individual technologies each department is using in their respective hospitals and clinics.
Indeed, DoD declared last year that its now in full compliance with congressional mandates to become
interoperable with VA, and VA expects to make a similar certification by August 2016. Thats due in part to projects
like the Joint Legacy Viewer, which allows clinicians in both departments to view most patient records for any
individual patient encounter, whether that patient was seen in a DoD facility or VA clinic. The interoperability is
about the data, Council said. Well continue to build on JLV and our enterprise health management platform,
which is what were using to pull data from the DoD record and align their data with ours as an integrated grouping
so that our data is fully interoperable. By the end of this month, well have well over 35,000 users and well ahead of
our goal. But anytime anybody needs a record at this point, they can get it and understand how that veteran was
treated outside of the VA system.
Council said its possible that VAs ultimate decision on its way forward for electronic health records could still
include VistA. She also sought to reassure lawmakers that the billions of dollars theyve already approved to
improve the existing VistA system has not gone to waste. Those funds included some critical investments in
systems and infrastructure, supporting not only interoperability but networking, infrastructure sustainment, security
and ensuring that we had standardization of our clinical terminology, she said.
Separately, VA may also revise its plans for a new patient scheduling system. The current Medical Appointment
Scheduling System (MASS), first deployed in 1985, is entirely text-based, doesnt let scheduling staff look for
appointments at more than one facility at a time and was one factor in the waiting time scandal that ultimately led to
the resignation of the previous VA secretary, Eric Shinseki. The department has been working on a $690 million
replacement for MASS, but as a quick fix to its most immediate problems, its been deploying a more user-friendly
graphical user interface that layers on top of the current system.
That interface, called VistA Scheduling Enhancement (VSE), is scheduled for deployment to all of VAs medical
centers by April, and Shulkin said its possible that it will lead to the cancellation of the MASS procurement. Initial
plans to pilot the updated version of MASS at the first test site in Boise, Idaho have been put on hold. Our
schedulers are in such desperate need of trying to meet veterans needs that we want to get them tools right now, he
said. We dont want to hold that up. If it turns out that VSE meets the majority of needs of our schedulers, probably
the right decision is to not spend another $663 million on MASS. The pilot were doing right now is going to be
very, very important for us to understand that. [Source: Federal News Radio | Jared Serbu | March 3, 2016 ++]
21

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

VA Hepatitis C Care Update 11

FY 2016 Funded for All Vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on 9 MAR announced that it is now able to fund care for ALL Veterans
with hepatitis C for Fiscal Year 2016 regardless of the stage of the patients liver disease. The move follows
increased funding from Congress along with reduced drug prices. Were honored to be able to expand treatment for
Veterans who are afflicted with hepatitis C, says VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin. To manage
limited resources previously, we established treatment priority for the sickest patients. Additionally, if Veterans are
currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice Program, they can now turn to their
local VA facility for this treatment or can elect to continue to receive treatment through the Choice Program.
VA has long led the country in screening for and treating hepatitis C. VA has treated over 76,000 Veterans
infected with hepatitis C and approximately 60,000 have been cured. In addition, since the beginning of 2014, more
than 42,000 patients have been treated with the new highly effective antivirals. In fiscal year 2015, VA allocated
$696 million for new hepatitis C drugs (17 percent of the VAs total pharmacy budget) and in fiscal year 2016, VA
anticipates spending approximately $1 billion on hepatitis C drugs. VA expects that with the expansion, many more
Veterans will be started on hepatitis C treatment every week this fiscal year. In addition to furnishing clinical care to
Veterans with hepatitis C, VA Research continues to expand the knowledge base regarding the disease through
scientific studies focused on effective care, screening, and healthcare delivery including to female Veterans and
Veterans with complicated medical conditions in addition to hepatitis C. For additional information on Hepatitis C
treatments Veterans can log onto http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/hcv/index.asp. [Source VA News Release |
March 9, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Adaptive Sports Program

PGA REACH Partnership

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with PGA REACH, the philanthropic arm of PGA of
America, to bring a specialized golf program to disabled Veterans. The program, PGA HOPE Helping Our Patriots
Everywhere - is a therapeutic program to aid in the rehabilitation process for disabled Veterans. The purpose of PGA
HOPE is to help Veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game of golf
provides. Led by PGA professionals certified in golf instruction for Veterans with disabilities, Veterans will learn the
rules of the game, and for those already familiar with it, the professionals will help them refine their skills.
We are grateful to PGA REACH for their commitment to our nations disabled Veterans, said VA Secretary
Robert McDonald. When you think of rehabilitation, golf is not always the first thing you think of, but it can play
an integral role in the healing process through social interaction, mental stimulation and exercise. This is a great
complement to the care many Veterans receive at VA. I am confident that our Veterans will use this introduction as a
platform to reenergize their competitive spirit, as well as to reengage back into their communities.
PGA HOPE is a two-step program, beginning with an introductory, Down Range Clinic. There are currently 50
programs across 20 PGA sections, enhancing the lives of more than 2,000 Veterans nationwide. As many Veterans
struggle with the transition back into civilian life, the game of golf delivers camaraderie and a new level of
enjoyment that provides them with hope, said PGA President Derek Sprague. We are thrilled to collaborate with
VA to offer PGA HOPE programming nationwide, as the PGA of America is committed to making a more
meaningful impact on the lives of Americas Veterans. For more information about VAs adaptive sports program,
visit www.va.gov/adaptivesports/index.asp. For information about PGA REACH or the PGA HOPE program, visit
http://www.pgareach.com. [Source: VA News Release | March 8, 2016 ++]
22

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

Traumatic Brain Injury Update 50

VA Data Collection Improvements

The Veterans Health Administration has a Polytrauma System of Care to treat and care for Veterans with Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI). Depending on their health care needs, Veterans with TBI can receive treatment at one of the
specialized rehabilitation programs in the Polytrauma System of Care (i.e. http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/index.asp),
or they can seek treatment through their local VA Medical Center or community healthcare providers.
VA maintains a Traumatic Brain Injury Registry to monitor Veterans, who may have sustained a brain injury, in
order to provide early medical intervention and to prevent long term health problems. The Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI) Registry software application collects data on Veterans who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Joel Scholten, Director, VA Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. These
individuals need to be seen within 30 days of a positive TBI screening result for a comprehensive evaluation and
development of a plan of care, as indicated. The TBI Instruments are a set of comprehensive evaluation
questionnaires and templates designed to let rehabilitation professionals assess patients and collect standardized
patient information. The information collected from these instruments is electronically transferred and stored as a
medical progress note in the patients electronic record and can be retrieved through the Computerized Patient
Record System. Highly trained clinicians develop an individualized care plan for each Veteran to best meet their
needs.

Veterans with TBI working with a therapist (left) and on the computer (right)

Prior to release of the Comprehensive TBI Evaluation (CTBIE) template, evaluations were documented through
traditional text notes and local templates. The CTBIE was developed by clinical and research subject matter experts,
and established a consistent format and content for VA TBI evaluations. The online evaluation template was
originally released in October 2007 with periodic updates to improve data collection and accuracy of TBI diagnosis.
Dr. Micaela Cornis-Pop adds that, The availability of a national template ensures that patients and family
members are evaluated using the same approach across VA medical centers. The use of electronic templates ensures
that VA provides a standardized approach to diagnosis while still allowing our highly trained clinicians to develop an
individualized care plan for each Veteran to best meet their needs. Cornis-Pop is a VA Speech Pathologist and
program manager of the Polytrauma System of Care.
VHA has now screened over one million Veterans for TBI. Screening Veterans for TBI and helping them to deal
with the condition is one of the central programs of the Polytrauma System of Care. VAs Concussion Coach Mobile
Application (i.e. http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/ConcussionCoach.asp) is enabling Veterans to assess symptoms and
also provides coping strategies. The app was developed to meet the needs of Veterans and others who have suffered
23

mild to moderate concussion associated with TBI. Go to http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/understanding-tbi/index.asp

to learn more about TBI. [Source: Veteran Health Administration Update | March 8, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Suicide Prevention Update 29

9 New Steps Announced

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 8 MAR new steps it is taking to reduce Veteran suicide. The
steps follow a 2 FEB Summit, Preventing Veteran Suicide A Call to Action, that brought together stakeholders
and thought leaders to discuss current research, approaches and best practices to address this important subject. We
know that every day, approximately 22 Veterans take their lives and that is too many, said VA Under Secretary for
Health, Dr. David Shulkin. We take this issue seriously. While no one knows the subject of Veteran suicide better
than VA, we also realize that caring for our Veterans is a shared responsibility. We all have an obligation to help
Veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of military service that lead them to think suicide is their only option.
We must and will do more, and this Summit, coupled with recent announcements about improvements to enhance
and accelerate progress at the Veterans Crisis Line, shows that our work and commitment must continue.
Several changes and initiatives are being announced that strengthen VAs approach to Suicide Prevention because
even one suicide is one too many. They include:
Elevating VAs Suicide Prevention Program with additional resources to manage and strengthen current
programs and initiatives;
Meeting urgent mental health needs by providing Veterans with the goal of same-day evaluations and
access by the end of calendar year 2016;
Establishing a new standard of care by using measures of Veteran-reported symptoms to tailor mental
health treatments to individual needs;
Launching a new study, Coming Home from Afghanistan and Iraq, to look at the impact of deployment
and combat as it relates to suicide, mental health and well-being;
Using predictive modeling to guide early interventions for suicide prevention;
Using data on suicide attempts and overdoses for surveillance to guide strategies to prevent suicide;
Increasing the availability of naloxone rescue kits throughout VA to prevent deaths from opioid overdoses;
Enhancing Veteran Mental Health access by establishing three regional tele-mental health hubs; and
Continuing to partner with the Department of Defense on suicide prevention and other efforts for a
seamless transition from military service to civilian life.
Visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention for information about VA initiatives to prevent Veteran
suicide. [Source: VA News Release | March 8, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA National Stand Down

Successful 2nd National Event

As part of a large-scale and immediate effort to assess the urgent health care needs of Veterans and reduce patient
wait times, the Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a second Access Stand Down 27 FEB. That
countrywide, one-day event resulted in VA reviewing the records of more than 80,000 Veterans to get those waiting
for urgent care off wait lists. Newly released results of the Access Stand Down show that 93 percent of Veterans
waiting for urgent care have been contacted, with many receiving earlier appointments. VAs ability to meet the
primary and urgent health care needs of our Veterans is a priority for us, and why we established MyVA, which
focuses all that we do around our Veterans, said VA Secretary Robert McDonald. The Access Stand Down is just

24

another way we are changing VAs culture, processes and capabilities to put the needs, expectations and interests of
Veterans and their families first.
In determining priority of need for the stand down, VA broke down the urgent care requests into four categories:
Important and Acute, clinical concerns with highest impact on patient outcome and more time-sensitive
such as cardiology;
Important and Chronic, services that address primarily long-term problems with medium risk and time
sensitivity such as primary care or audiology;
Routine, clinical activities judged to have low relative risk and time sensitivity or focusing on non-medical
matters such as genomic medicine or telephone case management; and
Support Services, which contribute to Veteran well-being such as nutrition and dietetics.
We know that in order to best serve Veterans, we should be prioritizing those who need care most urgently, said
Dr. David Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health, who continues to see patients. That was the focus of this Access
Stand Down: to look at the patients who needed our help the most and were waiting too long. As a result of this
nationwide effort with that attention to urgency in mind, Im proud that our physicians, nurses, other health care
professionals and administrative support personnel all came together on a Saturday to work to find earlier
appointments for 93 percent of our Veterans with urgent-care needs.

INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE

We are making lasting improvements in access to VA care expanding capacity by focusing on staffing, space,
productivity and VA Community Care. Of note:
Staffing in the Veteran Health Administration is up more than 14,100 net to include over 1,400 more
physicians and 4,100 more nurses.
Weve activated over 3.9 million square feet in the past two years.
Weve increased authorizations for care in the community 46 percent 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.
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 facilities across the nation completed a second Access Stand Down to connect with Veterans that have
urgent health care needs, address their needs and reduce the number of Veterans waiting greater than 30days for urgent care. This event also aimed to improve our employee experience by streamlining access to
care processes.
For more information about the Access Stand Down along with images from the daylong event, visit
www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/26195/2nd-national-access-stand-down-reinforces. [Source: VA News Release | March
7, 2016 ++]
*******************************

Board of Veterans' Appeals Update 09

Racist and Sexist BVA Emails

25

Two judges and three attorneys for Department of Veterans Affairs who handle appeals of benefits claims were
found to have repeatedly sent racist and sexist emails, the department announced 3 MAR. All five worked for the
Board of Veterans' Appeals, where veterans can appeal decisions to deny claims for benefits. According to a news
release, the VA is conducting a review of appeals handled by the attorneys and judges but has yet to find any
indication any appeals decisions were "unjustly influenced" by the conduct.
VA did not name the accused, but said it had proposed disciplinary action against the lawyers and filed a
complaint against the judges with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which is solely responsible for discipline
against judges. One attorney resigned and one retired while the disciplinary actions were pending. A third faced less
punishment, though the VA did not immediately say whether the attorney is still on the job. The case against the
judges is still pending before the Merit Systems Protection Board. VA officials declined to specify the disciplinary
action proposed. "These actions are reprehensible and completely counter to our values," VA Deputy Secretary
Sloan Gibson said in a statement. "It undermines the trust the American people place in the VA to serve our veterans
and has no place in this department. We will not tolerate it. Taking action as quickly as we did was simply the right
thing to do."
The VA Office of Inspector General first tipped off the VA to the emails. Neither the VA nor the Office of
Inspector General would provide the emails or specify what was contained within the emails that triggered the
discipline. "In September 2015, during the course of other work, the Office of Inspector General discovered a series
of emails between a small group of (Board of Veterans' Appeals) staff that needed attention," VA Office of Inspector
General spokeswoman Catherine Gromek said in an email. "At that time, since it was outside the scope of our
review and in our view needed immediate attention, we advised and provided VA the related email documentation so
that they could take appropriate action.
The VA has been criticized for a growing backlog of veterans' appeals and VA Secretary Bob McDonald has
called for the system to be reformed so no veteran has to wait more than one year for their appeal to be adjudicated.
There are 445,000 pending appeals, according to the VA. "The appeals process set by statute is archaic,
unresponsive, and not serving veterans well," McDonald said in testimony to a Senate committee in late February.
[Source: Stars and Stripes | Heath Druzin | March 03, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Claim DBQ Update 01

IG | Still Not Being Put to Best Use

The VA still fails to make the best use of its disability benefit questionnaires (DBQ), resulting in higher potential for
fraud in claims and incurring unneeded costs for medical exams, according to an IG report. The report was a followup to 2012 recommendations to strengthen controls over those so-called DBQs and to use them more effectively.
The departments Veterans Benefits Administration has not fully complied with those recommendations, it said,
estimating that during the six months ending in March 2014, claims processors did not identify approximately
23,100 of about 24,700 claims (93 percent) including DBQs.
Specifically, we found they did not consistently and correctly record special issue indicators in VBAs electronic
systems to identify claims that included DBQs. VBA controls also did not electronically capture DBQ information,
adequately ensure DBQs provide notification that information is subject to verification, confirm claims processors
consistently and correctly identify claims including DBQs, or ensure DBQ clinician information was complete, the
report said.
VBA also lacked adequate policies and procedures and quality assurance reviews. As a result, VBA lacked
reasonable assurance of detecting potential fraud when processing claims including DBQs. Further, unnecessary
medical examinations caused veterans and VA to needlessly expend time and money and may have delayed veterans

26

receiving benefits, it said. It recommended that the VA develop controls to electronically capture DBQ information,
revise DBQ forms, establish and revise policies and procedures, and revise quality assurance reviews. [Source:
Federal Manager's Daily Report | March 3, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Memorial Benefits

How to Apply & What to Expect

VA takes special care to pay lasting tribute to the memory of Veterans who served and sacrificed and that of their
families. VA meticulously maintains 134 VA national cemeteries in 39 states and is adding new cemeteries to
accommodate Veterans and loved ones in their time of need. In a few years, 95 percent of Veterans will have a burial
option in an open VA, state or tribal veterans cemetery located within an hours drive of their home. Some benefits
are also available for Veterans who choose burial in a private cemetery. Veterans with a qualifying discharge are
entitled to VA burial benefits. Spouses and dependent children are eligible too, even if they predecease the Veteran.
The following burial benefits may be provided:
Burial in a VA national cemetery - Opening and closing of the grave or burial of cremated remains or
placement in an above-ground vault, also called a columbarium; a government furnished grave liner;
perpetual care of the gravesite; a headstone or marker with an inscription; a burial flag; a Presidential
Memorial Certificate; and transportation of flower arrangements from the committal service shelter to the
gravesite
Burial in a private cemetery - A government headstone, marker, or medallion; a burial flag; and a
Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some survivors may also be entitled to VA burial allowances as partial
reimbursement for the costs of funerals and burials for eligible Veterans.
Burial in a VA national cemetery.
Although burial plots cannot be reserved in advance, you can plan ahead by safeguarding military discharge
papers and discussing end-of-life planning with loved ones. Time permitting, it would be useful to review
www.cem.va.gov/CEM/burial_benefits/need.asp in advance. Upon the death of the Veteran or his or her spouse or
dependent, family members should locate the Veterans DD-214 or other discharge papers and the DD-214 form or
other discharge papers to 1-866-900-6417 and follow up with a phone call to 1-800-535-1117 to schedule a burial in
a VA national cemetery. The process takes about 10 minutes. Then make arrangements with a funeral home,
National Cemetery Scheduling Office or directly with a VA national cemetery. Note that gravesites in a VA National
Cemetery cannot be reserved in advance. Burials in a national cemetery take place during the week and cannot be
conducted on a federal holiday.
Burial in a private cemetery.
To prepare for a private cemetery burial, VA suggests families review some questions and complete required
forms in advance which are indicated on www.cem.va.gov/cem/burial_benefits/private_cemetery.asp.
Action
necessary to receive/apply for the following are:
Headstone, marker, or medallion: Visit the national cemetery administration headstones, markers, and
medallions page to download and fill out VA form 40-1330. Return your completed form with a copy of the
Veterans DD-214 to: Memorial Programs Service (41B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 5109 Russell
Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903 Or fax claims and supporting documents to 1-800-455-7143. If you are
submitting more than one claim, fax each claim package (claim and supporting documents) in individual
fax transmissions.
Burial flag: At http://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/burial_flags.asp download and fill out VA Form 272008 from the National Cemetery Administration Burial Flags page. Take the completed form to the
funeral director, a VA Regional Office or a U.S. Post Office flag issuing station.

27

Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC): Visit the National Cemetery Administration Presidential
Memorial Certificates page http://www.cem.va.gov/pmc.asp to download and fill out VA Form 40-0247.
Return your completed form with a copy of the Veterans DD-214 to: Presidential Memorial Certificates
(41B3), National Cemetery Administration, 5109 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903 or fax them to 1800-455-7143. Alternatively, order a PMC using the toll-free fax line following the instructions provided at
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/faxpmc.asp.
VA Burial Allowance: To apply go to http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21P-530-ARE.pdf to
download and fill out VA Form 21-530. Mail your completed form with a copy of the Veterans DD-214,
death certificate, paid receipts, and other applicable documentation to the VBA regional office located in
your state. Go to http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/division.asp?dnum=3 to locate the office nearest you.
You can also apply online (eBenefits) at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage

At the special compensation overview page http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp

you can learn more about VA Burial Allowances and eligibility. [Source: http://explore.va.gov/memorial-benefits |
March 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Health Care Access Update 31

VA OIG Releases 11 of 77 Reports

Reports documenting scheduling problems and wait-time manipulation at the Department of Veterans Affairs are
being made public, as the agency's internal watchdog bows to pressure from members of Congress and others to
improve transparency. The VA's Office of Inspector General released 11 reports Monday outlining problems at VA
hospitals and clinics in Florida. The reports are the first of 77 investigations to be made public over the next few
months. The reports detail chronic delays for veterans seeking medical care and falsified records covering up the
long waits. Intentional misconduct was substantiated in 51 of 77 completed investigations. A scandal over veterans'
health care emerged in Phoenix nearly two years ago following complaints that as many as 40 patients died while
awaiting care at the city's VA hospital.
A 2014 report by the inspector general's office said workers at the Phoenix hospital falsified waiting lists while
their supervisors looked the other way or even directed it, resulting in chronic delays for veterans seeking care.
Similar problems were discovered at VA medical centers nationwide, affecting thousands of veterans and prompting
an outcry in Congress that continues as lawmakers and agency leaders struggle over how to improve the VA.
Lawmakers have directed some of their ire at the inspector general's office, saying the agency's acting chief has not
moved fast enough to make its reports public.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nominee to be the agency's next
inspector general because she is concerned the IG's office is keeping Congress and the public in the dark about the
VA's problems. "We can provide better care to veterans if the VA inspector general's office is willing to partner with
Congress to address the problems at VA that prevent timely, high-quality care," Baldwin said in a statement. She
vowed to hold up Obama's nomination of Michael Missal to serve as inspector general until she receives a
commitment that the office "will change business as usual and start releasing these reports publicly" in a timely
manner.
The IG's office said 29 FEB it will release the investigative reports on a state-by-state basis over the next few
months. Reports released Monday were all completed in 2014. The VA said in a statement that it requested the
investigations almost two years ago, adding that numerous steps have been taken since then to increase
accountability and improve training. "Since 2014, VA has been working diligently to increase access to care and
improve scheduling processes. We have increased capacity, both inside VA and by relying on more community care
resulting in almost 20 million additional hours of care for veterans," the statement said. [Source: Associated Press |
Matthew Daly| February 29, 2016 ++]
28

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

VA Health Care Access Update 32

Former Senior Exec Pleads Guilty

The former career senior executive who ran the Veterans Affairs Departments Phoenix health care system when the
scandal over falsifying wait lists erupted in 2014 has pleaded guilty to lying on her government financial disclosure
form about gifts she received from a lobbyist. Sharon Helman, who ultimately lost her job over improperly
accepting thousands of dollars in gifts from Dennis Max Lewis, a former vice president of Jefferson Consulting
Group, will get probation with no prison time as part of a plea deal, the Arizona Republic reported. Making a false
financial disclosure to the government is a felony that can carry a maximum of five years in prison. Helman failed to
report more than $50,000 in gifts, travel expenses and trips from Lewis, according to the news report, including a
trip to Disneyland for her and her family, and tickets to a Beyonce concert. Helman ran the Carl T. Hayden VA
Medical Center in Phoenix from 2012 to 2014, the epicenter of the scandal over employees manipulation of
appointment waiting lists to conceal excessive delays for vets seeking health care.

The Phoenix VA Health Care Center, which Helman ran when the scandal
over falsifying wait lists erupted in 2014.

The VA fired Helman in November 2014 under its new expedited authority, arguing that her lack of oversight
contributed to the falsification of the waiting lists. The agency also claimed Helman ignored the situation when she
became aware of it, failed to notify senior leadership about the issue, and retaliated against department
whistleblowers. Helman appealed her removal to the Merit Systems Protection Board, which upheld her firing but
not because of misconduct related to the wait times, or whistleblower retaliation, but because she improperly
accepted Lewis gifts and failed to honestly report them to the government. In the context of the appellants
position, as an SES director of a sizable health care system with a large budget, one must be scrupulous to avoid
even the appearance of a conflict of interest and to correctly report the things of monetary value one receives from
others, Chief Administrative Judge Stephen C. Mish wrote in his 2014 decision. The higher ranking one is, the
more important those things become.
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) said that while he was pleased that Helman
was facing some consequences for her behavior, he was also extremely puzzled as to why the Department of
Justice chose to coddle her with a sweetheart plea deal that amounts to nothing more than a weak slap on the wrist.
Miller said such extraordinary leniency is an insult to the many veterans who suffered from the malfeasance and
mismanagement of the Phoenix VA health care system. Miller shepherded the 2014 law that allows the VA to fire or
demote SES employees immediately, with paychecks getting cut off the day of termination. The affected executive
has seven days to issue an appeal to MSPB, which in turn has 21 days for an expedited adjudication. The House last
summer passed Millers bill that would make it easier to fire all VA employees -- not just senior executives -accused of misconduct or poor performance. A similar bill, sponsored by Republican presidential contender Sen.
Marco Rubio of Florida, is pending in the Senate. The Obama administration, which supported the 2014 Choice Act

29

making it easier to fire senior executives, has threatened to veto Millers bill extending that authority to the
departments entire workforce.
Helman isnt finished with the legal system just yet. She is challenging her removal under the 2014 Choice Act in
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing that the law, which VA used to fire her, violated her due
process rights. The outcome of the Helman case, which is awaiting a trial date, could determine how future
disciplinary actions against VA senior executives are handled under the 2014 Choice Act. The MSPBs recent
reversals of the demotions of Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves, and its overturning of Linda Weiss firing, has
made waves among lawmakers, senior executives, VA leadership and the veteran community. [Source:
GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | March 2, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Vet Family Benefits | FL

Funeral Director/Certifying Physician Program

State health and Veterans' Affairs officials are teaming up in a new program aimed at helping veterans' families
obtain benefits. The Department of Health said 3 MAR that Florida is one of the first states to develop a program
giving funeral directors the ability to notify the certifying physician that the decedent may have a service-connected
disability. The veteran's spouse or other family members may be entitled to VA compensation and other benefits if
the service-connected condition was the underlying cause of death or a contributing factor. Survivors need a death
certificate indicating the cause of death was service-connected when applying for the benefit. Florida has one of the
largest veteran populations in the U.S. with more than 1.5 million. [Source: The Associated Press | March 3, 2016 +
+]
********************************

VA Vet Choice Program Update 31

More Timely Provider Payments

To enhance Veterans access to care and eliminate delays in Choice provider payment, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is eliminating administrative burdens placed on VA community providers. Previously, payments to
Choice providers were not allowed until a copy of the Veterans medical record was submitted. Now, community
providers, under the Choice program, will no longer be required to submit medical records prior to payment being
made. To facilitate the change, VA has modified the Choice Program contract making it easier for Health Net and
TriWest to promptly pay providers. VA continues to require pertinent medical information be returned to ensure
continuity of care; however, it is no longer tied to payment. VA is taking these steps to more closely align with
industry standards. This administrative step just makes sense, said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J.
Shulkin. It ensures Veteran access, timely payments and strengthens our partnerships with our Choice providers.
We know that providing Veterans access to high-quality, timely healthcare would be impossible without
collaboration with our community providers.
VAs Plan to Consolidate Community Care Programs outlines additional solutions to improving timely provider
payment [http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/VA_Community_Care_Report_11_03_2015.pdf]. VA is moving
forward on two paths to further improve timely payment. First, VA is working toward a single community care
program that is easy to understand, simple to administer and meets the needs of Veterans, community providers and
VA staff. Secondly, VA plans to pursue a claims solution that moves to a more automated process for payment. VA
envisions a future state where it is able to auto-adjudicate or process a high percentage of claims, enabling the
Department to pay community providers promptly and correctly, while adopting a standardized regional fee
schedule to promote consistency in reimbursement.

30

VA has established a phone number, 877-881-7618, for veterans to call if their credit has been adversely impacted
by private sector health care providers improperly billing them for care VA is required to pay. The VFW urges any
veteran being pursued by collection agencies to seek VAs assistance. However, veterans who were sent a bill from a
Choice Program provider should contact the Choice Program call center, 866-606-8198, to determine if VA is liable
for the cost of the care. This number can also be used by vets wanting to:
Confirm their eligibility.
Schedule an appointment.
Ask questions about the program.
[Source: VA News Releases | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Vet Choice Program Update 34

Community Care Call Center | Billing

Veterans can now work directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to resolve debt collection issues
resulting from inappropriate or delayed Choice Program billing. In step with MyVAs efforts to modernize VAs
customer-focused, Veteran-centered services capabilities, a Community Care Call Center has been set up for
Veterans experiencing adverse credit reporting or debt collection resulting from inappropriately billed Choice
Program claims. Veterans experiencing these problems can call 1-877-881-7618 for assistance. As a result of the
Veterans Choice Program, community providers have seen thousands of Veterans. We continue to work to make the
program more Veteran-friendly, said Dr. David Shulkin, Under Secretary for Health. There should be no
bureaucratic burden that stands in the way of Veterans getting care.
The new call center will work to resolve instances of improper Veteran billing and assist community care medical
providers with delayed payments. VA staff are also trained and ready to work with the medical providers to expunge
adverse credit reporting on Veterans resulting from delayed payments to providers.VA is urging Veterans to continue
working with their VA primary care team to obtain necessary health care services regardless of adverse credit
reporting or debt collection activity. VA acknowledges that delayed payments and inappropriately billed claims are
unacceptable and have caused stress for Veterans and providers alike. The new call center is the first step in
addressing these issues. VA presented The Plan to Consolidate Community Care in October of 2015 that outlines
additional solutions to streamline processes and improve timely provider payment.
For more details about the Veterans Choice Program and VAs progress, visit: www.va.gov/opa/choiceact.
Veterans seeking to use the Veterans Choice Program can call 1-866-606-8198 to find out more about the program,
confirm their eligibility and schedule an appointment. [Source: VA News Release | March 14, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Diffusion

Innovation through MyVA Initiative

As VA moves towards a true spirit of innovation through the MyVA initiative, leadership and staff across the country
are pitching in their time, creativity, passion, and a true understanding of Veterans needs to help improve the VA
experience. These innovations address the Under Secretary for Health, Dr. David Shulkins top priorities
including:
Access
Employee Engagement
Care Coordination
Best Practices
Veterans Trust in VA Care
31

To help spread the word or diffuse these innovations, VA is embarking on a threefold Diffusion Process:
Established the Promising Practices Consortium and Diffusion Council. VHA stood up a community to
promote promising practice sharing between facilities and the diffusion of best practices, including a
Diffusion Council governance process..
Facilitating the Diffusion of Gold Status Best Practices: The finalists were further narrowed to 13 Gold
Status Best Practices, which will be replicated in VA health care facilities across the system.
Establishing a Sustainment Strategy: VA will establish a mechanism for incentivizing and institutionalizing
the identification and diffusion of practices nationwide so that every facility has the opportunity to
implement the solutions that are most relevant to them.
More than 250 ideas were narrowed to the following field of 13 Gold Status Best Practices:

Access
Improving Same Day Access Using RN Care Manager Chair Visits Clerical associates help pre-screen
patients who need to be seen same-day, without a prior appointment.
Access Data Dashboard to Improve Clinic Management Clinic access metrics (no shows, completed
appointment wait times, clinic utilization, etc.) are posted monthly on an accessible dashboard that can be
used for problem solving and decision support.
The Journey to Open Access in Primary Care Achievement and Sustainment Using systems redesign
principles and VAs Patient Aligned Care Team (philosophy, focuses on implementing new protocols that
can increase the access rate of patients being seen for same-day appointments.
Increasing Access to Primary Care with Pharmacists Clinical Pharmacists play a larger role in the Care
Team, helping Primary Care Providers support patients and increase Veterans access to care.
Audiology and Optometry Direct Scheduling The new direct scheduling processes eliminate redundant
consultations, consolidate clinic profiles, and standardize communications leading to greatly reduced
overall wait times for Audiology and Optometry.
Care Coordination
eScreening Program eScreening is a mobile technology that can significantly improve care coordination
and business processes via Veteran-directed screening, real-time scoring, individualized patient feedback,
instantaneous documentation of clinical information to the VA electronic medical records system,
immediate alert to clinicians for evaluation and triage, and monitoring of treatment outcomes.
Regional Liver Cancer Tumor Board Combining a regional telehealth-supported Liver Cancer Tumor
Board, a web-based submission process, and a consolidated database to manage/track communications has
resulted in shortened time to evaluation and first treatment as well as reducing unnecessary biopsies.
Employee Engagement
Unit Tracking Board: where we stand at a glance Provides a solution to the often chaotic problem of
distributing data to the nursing staff. The unit tracking board is an easy-to-read, low-cost, customizable tool
to present unit data and drive performance improvement.
Using External (Non-VA) Comparative Data to Achieve Excellence and Engage Employees To do a better
job of comparing our outcomes, not only against the VHA average, but also against the best, expands on
non-VA benchmark data to provide indicators of how Veteran/Caregiver stakeholders view the VA care in
relation to other health care choices in the region resulting in higher performance and employee
engagement.
Quality and Safety
Planning for Future Medical Decision via Group Visits An interactive and patient-centered process used
to engage Veterans in planning for future medical decisions, allowing for patients wishes to be honored
while reducing unnecessary treatments.
32

WAKE Score for Recovery from Anesthesia / Sedation WAKE score replaces a previous anesthesia
system which would often leave patients with nausea/vomiting, lightheadedness, and pain taking on a zero
tolerance approach to anesthesia side effects.
Flu Self-Reporting Desktop Icon to Capture Employee Vaccinations Received Outside the VA With a
click of a workstation icon, employees can report flu shots they received outside the VA. The icon has
captured an average of 500 vaccinations annually.
Code Tray Redesign A simple and compelling solution designed to improve the time it takes to find a
certain drug during a code. An easy-to-implement, low-cost strategy to reduce medication distribution
errors.
-o-o-O-o-o-

White House Fellow Shereef Elnahal, M.D appointed to the Office of the Under Secretary for Health; Patrick
Littlefield, Ph.D executive director of VAs Center for Innovation; and the leader of the VA Innovators Network
Andrea Ippolito look forward to continued energy, support, and leadership to help achieve the vision of the Under
Secretary and myVA. They will modernize VAs culture, processes, and capabilities in order to put the needs,
expectations, and interests of Veterans first. [Source: VAntage Point | March 3, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Disciplinary Process

Minimum 270 Days

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has commenced disciplinary action against a drunk nurse who operated on
a veteran, but what officials didnt say is that it will take almost an entire year of administrative procedure to
actually punish the nurse. Officials confirmed to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs it will take no less than
270 days to punish Richard J. Pieri, the 59-year-old nurse who was charged with reckless endangerment, driving
under the influence and being drunk in public, according to an email obtained by The Daily Caller News
Foundation. Pieri operated on a veteran at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC after he had chugged back at least four or five
beers while at the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino. I wish I had an easier answer but I do not, a VA official said in the
email.
The minimum amount of time that it takes is 270 days from the date of issuance of the proposed major adverse
action, but it takes time to gather the evidence and write the proposal notice prior to its issuance, the official
continued. Extensions of these timelines are often granted during the reply period to the proposal notice and
during the appeal process, at the appellants request, in order to ensure the appellants due process is not violated so
as to cause a 3rd party to overturn the decision in federal court.

How it works is that the agency has to collect all evidence of the misconduct. This takes time, and depending on
how complex the situation is, it may take longer than expected. Investigators need to go through witness statements,
collect videotapes and other physical evidence. Management then needs to prepare and send a proposal notice. Once
the employee receives the document, timelines start kicking in to play. Then comes the bureaucratic nightmare. First,
the employee, if full-time, gets 30 days advanced written notice about the disciplinary proposal. This period is
followed by a reasonable amount of time to submit a written reply and/or present an oral reply. The minimum
33

amount of time for this period is seven days. Extensions are possible if good cause is present. Once the VA receives
the employees response, the department has 21 days to reply. Employees are allowed to file an appeal in 30 days
once they receive the decision. At this point, theres a huge time gap. A disciplinary appeals board will have 120
days to hold a hearing. After the hearing concludes with a report, either the under secretary for health or principal
deputy under secretary for health has 90 days to look over the report and provide a decision to the employee who
appealed.
GOP Rep. Jeff Miller has offered an alternative to the departments byzantine disciplinary process, but the VA has
opposed the legislation at every turn. The bill, called the VA Accountability Act, provides Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Robert McDonald with the authority to kick out employees for poor performance or misconduct. The bill
passed in the House in July 2015 but has stalled in the Senate. Almost every day we are reminded that the federal
civil service system is designed to coddle and protect corrupt and incompetent employees and that the Obama
administrations refusal to address this dysfunctional status quo is doing real harm to veterans and taxpayers, Rep.
Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, told TheDCNF in a statement. The latest
installment in this depressing saga is VAs confirmation that it will take nearly a year at a minimum to discipline
Pieri for something hes already admitted to.
-o-o-O-o-o-

Richard J. Pieri and his attorney Kim Borland met with officials at the VA 2 MAR and following that meeting,
Pieri submitted his resignation and retirement. Pieris attorney said, His resignation was made in very careful
consideration of a lot of personal factors, Borland said. That is not a reflection of an admission of the propriety of
the hospitals employment actions toward him. Borland declined to comment further. [Source: The Daily Caller &
the Times Leader | Jonah Bennett & Travis Kellar | March 1 & 3, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Performance Update 07

Shutting Down Not the Magic Bullet

Mike Connolly, Director of Military and Veteran Services at the University of Nebraska and a member of the
Truman National Security Project's Defense Council, believes shutting down the Department of Veterans Affairs is
not the magic bullet to improving veterans health care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is an unyielding,
unresponsive mess. Recent findings have shown that not only has the unethical and inappropriate culture of VA
healthcare employees not improved since passage of legislation aimed to address deficiencies, it has actually
continued. When compared to the promises made to provide high-quality and timely care for veterans, this is
obviously unacceptable and in need of drastic repair.

Yet ironically, VA health care is still among the best options available for most veterans, offering care ranked
comparably in patient satisfaction to the private sector, and for little to no cost to most veterans. According to an
American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2013, VAs health system earned satisfaction indexes of 84 for overall
34

inpatient care and 82 for outpatient care, while the broader U.S. hospital industry received scores of 80 and 83 in the
same categories, respectively. While there is clearly a gap between our expectations of VA health care and the reality
of care veterans are currently receiving, the solution is not to get rid of the department altogether, but to improve it.
Though some have called for the disbanding of the entire department the transferring of VA responsibilities, and the
sale of VA assets most recently, the editorial board of the Colorado Springs Gazette such steps would
drastically reduce the ability of the federal government to honor its promise to our veterans.
To start, its helpful to examine how we got here. From 1930 to 1989, the Veterans Administration was an
independent government agency, which was then reorganized into the cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs.
Much of the justification for that legislation was to elevate the importance of the organization to equal the
importance of its mission, and to better establish lines of authority and oversight. By the 1990s, VA health care was
in a period of crisis and undertook substantial reforms to better meet patient need. Much of these reforms will sound
very familiar to problems veterans are experiencing today. Over reliance on hospital care and limited service
locations forced patients into long wait times and poor outcomes. Through reorganization and effective leadership,
VA massively increased the use of primary care and deemphasized hospital care, resulting in enormous
improvements in patient outcomes. Similar reforms are in desperate need today. Both halves of VA the Veterans
Benefit Administration and Veterans Health Administration have been caught completely unprepared by the
massive influx of veterans needing services since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Reports showing
overwhelming backlogs of benefits claims and excessive wait times for healthcare appointments undermines the
confidence citizens and veterans have in the department.
The solutions advocated by those who want to shutter the department are actually worse problems in disguise,
like the Colorado Springs Gazette suggests, Congress should defund the bureaucracy, close it and transfer veterans
services to agencies that function better. Pushing programs like VAs Vocational Rehabilitation to the Department of
Labor, VA home loans to the Federal Housing Administration, and VA education benefits to the Department of
Education would simply make systemic problems harder to identify when spread across multiple agencies. One of
the greatest problems veterans experience in dealing with VA is in understanding the dizzying array of programs and
services available. Who would clearly understand that if they want to use their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill then they must
apply with the Department of Education, but if they receive a service-connected disability rating, they can change
over that program to Vocational Rehabilitation with the Department of Labor? If there are such problems with
communication among one cabinet-level agency like VA, why would anyone believe communications will be better
when involving multiple agencies?
Rather than spread veterans across multiple agencies to hide the problem, true cultural change is needed at VA
through every level of staffing.
First, strong leadership is needed to reform the unethical culture surrounding the hiding of wait times and
manipulation of data. While this is easier said than done, cultural norms need to shift to more of an
acceptance of errors and failure and an all-hands-on-deck approach to fixing problems, rather than a zerotolerance approach to any excessive wait times. Such pressure only helps to incentivize unethical behavior
in hiding mistakes, rather than actually bringing issues to light so veterans can receive faster care. Bringing
these issues to light in a constructive way also provides valuable information that can be used to fix the
underlying problems, rather than treat the symptoms alone.

Second, that zero-tolerance approach needs to be applied with a heavy hand toward anyone found
manipulating data. While the Veterans Choice Act does contain increased flexibility in penalizing
employees found falsifying data or involved in misconduct, this needs to be expanded to an on-the-spot
termination for ethical violations of any kind.

Third, VA needs to invest heavily in technology to enable more efficient appointment scheduling practices.
While VA has focused in large part on more efficient scheduling from its end, veterans still face an
unwieldy and inefficient set of options for scheduling or changing appointments. Proposals like Rep. Seth
35

Moultons Faster Care for Veterans Act would help VA utilize smartphones apps and easy-to-use websites
to quickly schedule and change appointments. This would allow for both faster and easier scheduling and
could substantially reduce wait times, as new time slots become available through veterans changing their
appointments through these methods.
These commonsense approaches could go a long way in ushering in a new period of reform and enhancement at
VA, similar to the enormous improvements made in VA health care in the 1990s. They would also help ensure the
survival of one of the most important tools available in our national commitment to keeping our promises to
veterans and their loved ones. [Source: Task & Purpose | Mike Connolly | March 3, 2016 ++]
*******************************

GI Bill Update 198

VAs Lack of Institutional Oversite

The Obama administration's crackdown on for-profit colleges has escaped the notice of one federal agency with an
already poor management record: The Veterans Affairs Department takes little or no action when these colleges are
punished by federal and state regulators for serious misdeeds, allowing them to continue reeling in millions in Post9/11 GI Bill dollars. The VA has no formal process to track allegations or consider whether they warrant cutting off
the flow of GI Bill dollars to the targeted schools. The VA told POLITICO that it's not an "investigative agency," and
a VA official acknowledged that educational and financial forensics is a weakness. Some senators and veterans
advocates have said the compliance reviews the VA oversees aren't even asking all the right questions. And the VA
has no apparent plans for a major overhaul of its GI Bill oversight. To read more on this issue, refer to the
attachment to this Bulletin titled, GI Bill Funds Still Flow to Troubled For-Profit Colleges. [Source:
POLITICO | Kimberly Hefling | February 25, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Accountability Update 23

Actions Taken Against BVA Personnel

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on 1 MAR announced it proposed disciplinary action against three Board
of Veterans Appeals (Board) attorneys, and has filed a Complaint against two Board Veterans Law Judges.
Accountability actions against the Board judges have been referred to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB),
which has direct jurisdiction over cases concerning administrative law judges. Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Sloan D. Gibson filed a Complaint against two Board Veterans Law Judges with the MSPB and VA proposed actions
against three board attorneys for reasons of misconduct based on information received as part of an Office of
Inspector General (OIG) investigation that revealed a pattern of inappropriate emails that were racist and sexist in
tone. The OIG proactively brought the information to VA early in their investigation and VA acted immediately by
assigning the Board employees to non-adjudicative duties pending the disciplinary actions that have now been taken
to protect Veterans appellate rights.
These actions are reprehensible and completely counter to our values, said Gibson. It undermines the trust the
American people place in the VA to serve our Veterans and has no place in this Department. We will not tolerate it.
Taking action as quickly as we did was simply the right thing to do. VA proposed disciplinary actions in midJanuary against two attorneys. One attorney retired, and one resigned from Federal service while the actions were
pending. VA proposed a lesser administrative penalty against one attorney. VA is conducting a review of appeals
handled by these individuals while also examining comparative statistical data from internal quality review
processes and appeals of Board decisions to the federal courts. At this time, we have no indication that any Veterans
appeal was unjustly influenced by their conduct. [Source: VA News Release | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************
36

VA Accountability Update 24

Senators Blast MSPD Decisions

Four Republican senators are blasting the small, independent agency that adjudicates appeals from fired federal
employees for rejecting the Veterans Affairs Departments recent decisions to remove and demote senior executives
accused of wrongdoing. On behalf of our nations veterans who deserve better, we request analysis of the
principles, laws, and regulations guiding the MSPB decision-making process in these cases, said a March 2 letter to
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPD) Chairman Susan Tsui Grundmann from Sens. John McCain and Floyd
Flake of Arizona; Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; and Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas. Furthermore, we request
details as to what steps the MSPB is taking to ensure that these types of incidents do not happen again. The letter
specifically referenced the MSPBs recent decisions to reverse the VAs demotions of senior executives Diana
Rubens and Kimberly Graves, whom the department has reinstated to their jobs as director of the Veterans Benefits
Administrations Philadelphia office, and director of VBAs St. Paul, Minn., regional office, respectively.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was one of four senators who signed the letter

The MSPB, in separate cases, agreed that Rubens and Graves showed poor judgment and created an appearance
of impropriety by not recusing themselves from discussions over job reassignments that they both personally gained
from. But they reversed VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibsons decision to remove Rubens and Graves from the
Senior Executive Service at a significant pay cut, ruling that it was unfair because others involved in the job
reassignments, including Danny Pummill, acting undersecretary for benefits, and Beth McCoy, deputy
undersecretary for field operations, were not disciplined.
In a press release accompanying the letter, the senators said Rubens and Graves manipulated the agencys job
transfer policy to create new jobs that were not needed so they could collect relocation bonuses they did not earn or
deserve. But MSPB concluded that the two did not manipulate the process for their own financial gain, and were
eligible for the relocation incentives they received as a result of the job reassignments. And, just a few months after
demoting them, Gibson said he was confident in the leadership abilities of Rubens and Graves. The letter also
referenced the MSPBs role in adjudicating the appeal of Sharon Helman, the former senior executive who ran the
VAs Phoenix health care system the epicenter of the scandal over falsifying wait lists for veterans medical
appointments that erupted in 2014. The VA fired Helman in November 2014 under its new expedited authority,
arguing that her lack of oversight contributed to the falsification of the waiting lists. The agency also claimed
Helman ignored the situation when she became aware of it, failed to notify senior leadership about the issue, and
retaliated against department whistleblowers.
Helman appealed her removal to the MSPB, which upheld her firing but not because of misconduct related to the
wait times, or whistleblower retaliation, but because she improperly accepted thousands of dollars in gifts from a
lobbyist, and failed to honestly report them to the government. This week, Helman pleaded guilty to lying on her
government financial disclosure form about the gifts, receiving probation with no prison time as part of a plea deal.
Separately, she is challenging her removal under the 2014 Choice Act in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit, arguing that the law, which VA used to fire her, violated her due process rights. In another case adjudicated
in February, MSPB overturned the removal of Linda Weiss as director of the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center in
upstate New York.
37

Lawmakers and VA officials criticized the MSPB after the Weiss decision the third reversal of the departments
personnel decisions in less than a month. In an unusual move, the MSPB defended its decision-making after issuing
the Weiss decision. In response to these rulings, some have suggested that MSPB is protecting poor-performing
employees at the Veterans Affairs Department, a statement on the agencys website said. These suggestions are
baseless and unfair. Grundmann said in a February interview with Government Executive that some of the public
comments made about the MSPBs role in adjudicating those appeals were disappointing and vitriolic, adding
that MSPB judges do not put veterans lives at risk. The MSPB sides with the agency in about roughly 90 percent
of the cases that it receives from employees who appeal adverse personnel decisions against them.
Part of the rationale in the judges recent VA decisions stems from the interpretation of the 2014 Choice Act,
which the VA used to punish Rubens, Graves and Weiss. In each of the three cases, the judges said the departments
punishment was too harsh, and that they would have imposed a lighter penalty if they were able to under the 2014
law. Because the 2014 law prohibits any mitigation of the departments punishment, the judges ruled that their
only option was to reverse the departments personnel decisions. In other cases not involving the 2014 law, MSPB
judges are able, at their discretion, to hand down a less severe punishment for appellants than the department has
meted out.
The senators said that the MSPBs decisions in the three cases will discourage the reporting of misconduct in
the future and prevent any faith that VA employees are accountable for wrongdoing moving forward." The
Republicans took it a step further, claiming that by overturning the VAs disciplinary actions against the senior
executives, the agency is violating the merit system principles for the federal government listed in 5 USC 2301.
Specifically the law requires that All employees should maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern
for the public interest and that inadequate performance should be corrected. This clearly did not occur at the
MSPB with respect to these two cases. (Its actually three cases, since two different MSPB judges ruled separately
on the matter of Rubens and Graves.)
The MSPB said it is reviewing the senators letter, and will respond formally, likely next week. The senators
asked for a response by March 11 as Congress will soon be examining necessary reforms based on MSPBs recent
decisions preventing accountability at the VA. VA Secretary Bob McDonald and Gibson recently met with
congressional VA committee leadership to discuss moving the departments SES corps from Title 5 to Title 38 of the
U.S. Code. McDonald and his top deputies have said that doing so will give them more authority to expedite hiring
and offer higher pay to better compete with the private sector for top talent. But it would also give them more
leeway when it comes to firing top career officials accused of wrongdoing. If senior executives are taken out of Title
5 and moved into Title 38 under the VAs proposal, they would lose their rights to appeal disciplinary actions against
them, such as removal, to MSPB. Instead, their appeals would be handled internally at the VA. [Source:
GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Accountability Update 25

Survey Reveals Due Process Concerns

Senior executives at Veterans Affairs are worried that a proposal from the departments leadership to ease SES hiring
and firing will further batter recruitment and retention of top career officials to VA, according to a new survey. A
lot of folks are feeling that they think this is much more about accountability than pay, said Jason Briefel, interim
president of the Senior Executives Association, referring to VAs proposal to move its roughly 350 career senior
executives from Title 5 to Title 38. SEA is soliciting feedback from the departments senior executives about the
idea, and plans to release the survey results later this week. So far, were not really seeing a lot of folks interested
in whats being offered here, Briefel said in an interview on Monday with Government Executive.

38

VA Secretary Bob McDonald and his top deputies have said that moving the SES corps into Title 38 will give
them more authority to expedite hiring and offer higher pay to better compete with the private sector for top talent.
But it also gives them more leeway to fire top career officials accused of wrongdoing. If senior executives are taken
out of Title 5 and moved into Title 38 under the VAs proposal, they would lose their rights to appeal disciplinary
actions against them, such as removal, to the independent Merit Systems Protection Board. Instead, their appeals
would be handled internally at the VA. A new pay band would be created for the departments career senior
executive positions that would establish an annual salary range of between $205,000 and $235,000 for 20 SES jobs,
according to the VA proposal, which lawmakers are currently reviewing. But SEA and VA senior executives who
responded to the groups survey believe the pay component of the proposal is window dressing to simply remove
VA senior executives without due process and would create a management culture of fear. Briefel said that survey
respondents said they would not encourage other senior executives to work at the VA. As of 4 MAR, about 45 VA
senior executives had provided feedback to SEA. The survey l closed 8 MAR at midnight, and SEA was expected to
release the results on 10 MAR, Briefel said.
If approved, SEA believes this proposal will only serve to exacerbate the VAs career leadership challenges, as
the VA will become an employer of last resort for talented government executives, said SEAs formal response to
VAs proposal to move senior executives out of Title 5 into Title 38. It also does nothing to put the agency on even
footing with industry in the war for top executive talent. The VA proposal also said a decrease in pay is a
possibility, depending on the new job. Mobility is a key component to being part of the SES, and under Title 5,
senior executives pay cannot be reduced if they move to an assignment with a lower-profile or fewer
responsibilities. This is a politically expedient solution for an administration that will be done in less than a year,
and whatever happens will be someone elses problem, Briefel said. The VA on 7 MAR did not immediately
respond to questions about the proposal or SEAs survey.
Some SESers who responded to SEAs survey about the VAs proposal said it was demoralizing, that they felt
betrayed, and there was no interest in buy-in from employees. One commenter offered this: Who would want
to work at VHA [Veterans Health Administration] with Jeff Miller on your back every day? Miller is the Florida
Republican who is chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He helped shepherd the 2014 Veterans
Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which expedited the departments authority to demote and fire senior
executives. The House last summer passed another Miller bill that would extend the same authority to the entire VA
workforce. Congressional oversight is absolutely warranted and justified, said Briefel. But it has to be
constructive. The point of congressional oversight isnt always to point out the flaws in agencies, its also to start
opening a dialogue so we can work towards solutions. And it seems like weve really just been focusing on the first
element so far the past couple of years.
Since the beginning of the year, three separate administrative judges have reversed the VAs decisions to demote
or fire senior executives accused of wrongdoing and the VA is not happy about it. In a Feb. 18 email to VA senior
executives, McDonald said that running VA like a business requires more flexibility than we currently have in the
way we appoint, onboard, assign, develop, appraise, pay, andif necessarydiscipline executives, adding that one
way to do that could include shifting those employees from Title 5 to Title 38. He also acknowledged the questions
and concerns the idea has generated among VA senior executives. Media reports have focused solely on the
disciplinary appeals aspect of this proposal, McDonald wrote in the email. Some reports have tied it to recent
MSPB decisions that reversed disciplinary actions taken against VA executives. While Deputy Secretary Gibson and
I are disappointed in those MSPB decisions, our interest in converting VA executives to a Title 38 employment
system pre-dates those decisions and addresses a much broader range of concerns.
Briefel said that while he understands that political pressure can get pretty intense, he questioned whether the
leadership really wanted the pressure shifted to the workforce. The data that SEA is seeing from its survey isnt
going to help improve the challenges VA is facing right now, because, Briefel said, no one is going to want to take
a senior executive job at the department under the circumstances. The VA already is having a hard time recruiting
and retaining top employees in hard-to-fill jobs. According to the draft Title 38 proposal, as of late January, nearly
39

30 percent of the departments SES slots were vacant, while 70 percent of the current corps is eligible to retire
immediately or will become eligible this year. Right now, roughly 190,000 of the departments 300,000-plus
workforce falls under Title 38, including doctors, nurses and other categories of health care workers. Between
60,000 and 70,000 of those employees are considered pure Title 38, meaning they do not have the same standard
MSPB appeal rights that Title 5 employees have. Hybrid Title 38 employees, including social workers, pharmacists
and psychologists at the Veterans Health Administration, have the same rights to appeal adverse actions to MSPB as
Title 5 employees have.
The separate title and the two tracks within it emerged as a way to help the VA secretary fill certain jobs faster
through the federal hiring process. But according to SEA, it makes no sense to move non-medical senior
executives out of Title 5 into Title 38, because senior executives are already the easiest type of career federal
employees to terminate or discipline and that Title 5 is not broken, but there are failures in implementing its
authorities. At a February Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said
lawmakers would try and take action by the end of March, and have a consolidation of bills put together that give
the secretary the flexibility he needs to have accountability within the VA. Lauren Gaydos, press secretary for the
Republicans on the VA committee, said at the time that the panel was currently reviewing the department's proposal
to move SES employees out of Title 5 and into Title 38, but we do not know yet if that will be included in the final
bill. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Health Care Enrollment Update 06

Incomplete Application Extension

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 7 MAR it will extend the healthcare enrollment application
period for one year to approximately 545,000 living Veterans that have pending incomplete enrollment applications.
Fixing the Veterans enrollment system is a top priority for VA. This is an important step forward to regain Veterans
trust and improve access to care as we continue the MyVA Transformation, said VA Deputy Secretary Sloan D.
Gibson. Weve got a lot of work left to do, but this is a big step in the right direction to restore the data integrity of
our enrollment system, Gibson said.
The National Enrollment Improvement team conducted a detailed analysis of the pending applications in VAs
enrollment system and identified approximately 545,000 living Veterans whose applications were incomplete and in
a pending status. The team also validated that approximately 288,000 pending enrollment system records were for
deceased Veterans. VA has segregated deceased records from living Veteran records and, as part of the Veteran
Enrollment Rework Project (VERP), will review each incomplete application to determine if any should have been
enrolled in VA health care. VA is required by law to provide notice to Veterans of incomplete applications. The
VERP team could not verify that VAs mailing system used to contact Veterans about their incomplete applications
was able to notify the 545,000 Veterans identified above. VA will contact living Veterans to confirm their continued
interest in enrolling in VA health care and ask them for the necessary information to complete their application.
Veterans will have one year from the notice to provide this information. After a year, VA will close the record. A
Veteran may reapply for enrollment at any time.
As Veterans choose to enroll, VA offers an enhancement to their enrollment experience through Welcome to VA
(W2VA). Veterans enrolled since July 1, 2015 have received a personal introduction to VA health care services,
programs and resources to help them become more familiar with VAs services. In addition, VA sends each new
enrollee an introductory letter and personalized handbook in the mail. W2VA enhances communication by reaching
out to newly enrolled Veterans through personal phone calls upon enrollment, providing assistance with health care
inquiries and assisting with their initial appointment at their preferred VA healthcare facility. [Source: VA News
Release Blog | March 7, 2016 ++]
40

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

VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse

Reported 1 thru 15 MAR 2016

Mandeville LA A 53-year-old Mandeville man was indicted 3 MAR for theft of government funds and
aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain benefits from the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs. Ricky P. Templet was arrested by special federal agents at the St. Tammany Parish jail and will
appear before a federal magistrate judge on Friday, authorities said. According to court records, the Department of
Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General initiated an investigation after learning that Templet was fraudulently
obtaining veterans benefits. Investigators determined Templet had become his mother's fiduciary the day before she
died in 2013. Templet was required to notify the VA when his mother passed away, but failed to do so. After his
mother's death, he received and deposited 16 U.S. Treasury checks totaling approximately $26,441, according to a
news release from U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite's office. If convicted, Templet faces up to 10 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine, according to the release. [Source: The Times-Picayune | Kim Chatelain | March 3, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-o-

ALEXANDRIA, La Hospital officials called it an accident when a 70-year-old psychiatric patient was fatally
injured in an altercation with a nursing assistant at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in central
Louisiana three years ago. But the case became fodder for the VAs congressional critics after local prosecutors
charged the employee, 54-year-old Fredrick Kevin Harris, with manslaughter in the death of Air Force veteran
Charles Lee Johnson. Johnson died a year before a national scandal erupted over chronic delays for veterans seeking
medical care. The deadly encounter has drawn the Alexandria VA Health Care System into a broader conflict
between the VA and its Republican opponents, who complain the agency has fired few workers for poor
performance.

Donald Burke (left) holds an old photograph of his brother-in-law, Charles Lee Johnson, who died following an
altercation with a nursing assistant (right) at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in nearby Pineville.

The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has pressed VA officials to explain why they havent fired Harris,
who has remained on its payroll while awaiting trial. Committee chairman Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican, cited
the case against Harris during a 9 DEC hearing and said he sees no real acceptance of responsibility for VAs
continued and pervasive failure to seriously discipline its employees. Harris was placed on paid leave after his
arrest but returned to work in December in a non-patient care area, according to the VA. His original 7 MAR trial
date has been postponed until 12 SEP. VA spokesman Randal Noller declined to explain why Harris has been
allowed to resume working. The agency has said federal civil service rules make it difficult to fire poor-performing
employees and has recommended changes to Congress. VA officials cleared Harris to return to work and care for
patients within days of the March 13, 2013, altercation at the Pineville medical center. Johnson died at a nursing
home on May 1, 2013.
The episode could have ended there. Instead, a skeptical coroner laid the groundwork for a criminal investigation
that led to Harris arrest in December 2013. Grant Parish Coroner Dean Nugent arranged for an autopsy that found
41

Johnson died from blunt force trauma to the head. Even before the autopsy, Johnsons relatives doubted his injuries
came from an accidental fall. They tried to cover it all up, said brother-in-law Donald Burke, 80, of Pollock.
George Higgins III, Harris attorney, said his client didnt mean to hurt Johnson and received annual training on
proper techniques for restraining patients. There was absolutely no intent, in any manner, shape or form, to harm
this patient, Higgins said. The only thing he was doing was trying to protect other patients and staff members.
Johnsons sister, Elizabeth Burke, filed a wrongful death claim against the VA in 2014, seeking $1 million. The VA
agreed last March to pay $215,000 to resolve her claim. It hurt me very much. He was my little brother, Burke
said.
Johnsons death certificate says his medical conditions included schizophrenia and dementia. Donald Burke said
Johnson frequently sought treatment for panic attacks, including one that sent him to the hospital before the
altercation. Ive never known him to get into a fight of any kind, Burke said. He was just a common, ordinary old
man. The Burkes said somebody from the VA medical center initially called to tell them Johnson had been injured
in a fall and was transferred to another hospital in Alexandria. Donald Burke said Johnson was drifting in and out of
consciousness and couldnt remember what had happened. Gregory Jones, an attorney for the family, said Elizabeth
Burke noticed bruises and marks on the side and back of Johnsons neck. It jumped out at her as not consistent with
a fall, Jones said. Burke said the coroner contacted him hours after Johnsons death. He said Nugent concluded that
bruises on Johnsons neck couldnt have come from a fall. A coroners report isnt publicly available, and Nugent
declined to be interviewed. The death certificate lists blunt force trauma to the head as the underlying cause of death
but lists the manner of death as pending investigation.
The VAs Office of Inspector General opened a criminal investigation after Johnson died. One of its investigators,
Thomas Bennett, outlined his findings during a court hearing a week after Harris arrest. Bennett said witnesses told
him Harris had slammed the patients head into the wall in the hospitals acute mental health unit. Do you mean
physically slammed his head or threw him where his head was slammed into something? asked Higgins, Harris
attorney. Bennett said witnesses gave different variations. Not physically grabbing his head and slamming it into
a wall, but Mr. Harris had the patient entangled by his arms, Bennett testified. During that altercation, he slammed
the patients head with force into the wall this way. Not grabbing his head, but by grabbing his body. The VAs
Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs provided Rep. Millers committee with a different account of the
altercation in December 2015. The VA office said Johnson became combative and agitated, charged at Harris and
fell after the nursing assistant tried to redirect him during the struggle.
In 2008, Harris was arrested on an assault charge after he allegedly punched a relative in the face during an
argument at his Alexandria home, according to a police report. But his arrest didnt lead to a conviction. Its unclear
whether Harris VA supervisors knew about his arrest or could have disciplined him for it. Donald Burke said a
prison sentence wouldnt bring his family any comfort, but he hopes Harris never cares for another patient. We
dont want to see anybody else injured like this, he added. [Source: Associated Press | Michael Kunzelman |
March 7, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-o-

Phoenix VA HCS In early March the former director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, who was fired in
2014 due to the wait list scandal, pleaded guilty to filing a false financial disclosure by failing to list more than
$50,000 in gifts she had received from a lobbyist. A conviction for that crime usually carries a maximum prison
sentence of five years but the former director, Sharon Helman, reached a plea agreement to receive probation with
no time behind bars. Helman was fired by the VA over the secret wait lists and alleged retaliation against
whistleblowers, as well as for failing to report the gifts from a lobbyist. Her termination on the first two allegations
was overturned by a judge with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), but the final charge was upheld.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Helman failed to report $19,300 worth of gifts in 2013, including an
automobile, a check for $5,000 and tickets to a Beyonce concert. In 2014, prosecutors said, Helman failed to
disclose another $27,700 in perks. The 2014 number included family tickets to Disneyland. Helman was not charged
42

with unlawfully accepting the gifts, but for failing to provide the VA with required information to evaluate a
potential conflict of interest. [Source: TREA Washington Update | March 9, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-o-

Birmingham, Al A Fayette County woman has pleaded guilty to the theft of $403,291 in Veteran's
Administration benefits meant for a man who died a decade ago. The theft was uncovered during a federal drug raid
of her house last year, court records show Margaret T. Earnest, 66, of Berry, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count
of theft of U.S. property. The plea was entered during a hearing in Birmingham before U.S. District Court Judge
Virginia Emerson Hopkins. The judge set Earnest's sentencing for 14 JUM, court records show. Earnest has a plea
agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to that plea deal, between September 2005 and June 30, 2015 Earnest cashed the monthly service
disability benefit checks of Larry Edward Cook. Cook died of lung cancer on Sept. 20, 2005. The monthly VA
checks were mailed to Cook's address in Berry where Earnest currently resides, according to the plea deal. The VA
was never notified of Cook's death and for the next 10 years 117 checks were cashed, many of them at a Jasper
grocery store. Checks in 2013 were endorsed with both Cook's and Earnest's names. Earnest was never married to
Cook and she was not eligible to receive or cash the checks, according to the plea agreement. The crime was
uncovered during an unrelated investigation by a Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion investigator who had
executed a state search warrant at Earnest's house in June 2015, according to the plea deal. Agents seized copies of
VA checks during the search, according to the plea deal.
According to a DEA website diversion investigations "involve, but are not limited to, physicians who sell
prescriptions to drug dealers or abusers; pharmacists who falsify records and subsequently sell the drugs; employees
who steal from inventory and falsify orders to cover illicit sales; prescription forgers; and individuals who commit
armed robbery of pharmacies and drug distributors." Prosecutors have agreed to recommend Earnest serve a prison
sentence at the low end of guidelines to be determined by the judge at the time of sentencing. She also will be
required to pay restitution of $403,291 to the government. Earnest pleaded guilty in 2011 to a drug possession
charge in Fayette County and has had other drug charges dismissed. She now faces a charge in Jefferson County of
trafficking morphine, opium, or heroin in a case related to the DEA search of her house last year, state court records
show. The case in December was bound over to a grand jury for possible indictment. [Source: AL.com | Kent Faulk
| March 09, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-o-

San Diego, Ca By all appearances, Judith Paixao and Kevin Lombard set out on a noble mission: to serve
wounded military members with a job training program that would give them a new lease on civilian life, and maybe
heal some emotional scars in the process. But the couples inexperience with nonprofit work, personal financial
straits and pressure to deliver help to the many wounded warriors in need culminated in fraud that earned the two
prison sentences on 10 MAR. They were clearly in over their heads, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller said during
the sentencing hearing in San Diego federal court. Paixao, 62, who was the administrative and financial force behind
the Wounded Marine Careers Foundation, was sentenced to six months in custody and six months of home
detention. Her husband, Lombard, 65, a triple-Emmy award winning cameraman who focused on training the
veterans in the media arts, received a lesser sentence of three months custody and three months of home detention.

43

Judith Paixao and Kevin Lombard

The sentences were strikingly lower than what prosecutors had recommended, 37 months and 33 months,
respectively. While the foundation may have had noble and lofty goals to train wounded warriors in filmmaking
careers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kanter said the couple used shoddy bookkeeping methods, made several
misrepresentations and pocketed foundation funds for their own use, likely figuring that the ends justified the means.
The couple was convicted after a four-week trial of conspiring to defraud the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by
submitting false claims for training and equipment never provided. Misrepresentations included that the couple
donated more than $200,000 to start the foundation, but in actuality they had lost their house in a short sale and
owed back taxes. They also submitted invoices for Apple laptops to the VA when the computers had actually been
donated by another nonprofit.
The judge said about $76,000 of the nonprofits funds were used to fund the couples lifestyle, which he
acknowledged was not extravagant but consisted of ordinary living expenses save for a family trip to Bermuda.
Defense lawyers said the couple had worked without a board-approved salary. Paixao was also convicted of
accepting thousands of dollars from the Bob Woodruff Foundation for a student who had left the program. The judge
ultimately put the total loss in the case at around $180,000, though noting it was a very conservative estimate. He
ordered Paixao to pay nearly $76,000 in restitution and for the couple to forfeit roughly the same amount. Lombard
was also ordered to help pay that restitution, but responsible for the lesser amount of about $54,000. The judge
called this case most challenging, saying he spent more than 100 hours in consideration and research before
handing down sentences. He recognized at length the honorable work Paixao and Lombard did with wounded
service members, acknowledging they helped many, if not most, of the students who came through their filmmaking
training. Mr. Lombard and Ms. Paixao stepped up. They didnt merely pay lip service to how wonderful our
military service is, Miller said.
He made a point to read excerpts aloud from the 100 pages of letters that were sent to the court on behalf of the
couple. Many described the couple as being second parents to them in their times of trouble, helping veterans from
the brink of suicide and making themselves available 24/7 to help veterans find housing, food and other resources.
Brandon Del Fiorentino, a Marine sniper who was struck by an IED in Iraq and fell into heavy drinking, thanked
Paixao and Lombard for turning his life around. If it wasnt for Kevin and Judith helping me to redirect my focus
into a new venture in my life, I could possibly not have survived my transition back into being a civilian, he wrote.
I was on a one-way path to self-destruction. The judge also made a point to thank prosecutors for bringing the
case, stressing how important it was for them to remain watchdogs on charities, especially those involving veterans,
to protect from such fraud. The judge denied a defense motion to overturn the conviction and for a new trial. Im
quite confident the jury got this case right, Miller said. Other students, the VA and the Woodruff foundation stressed
in their own letters how much harm the couple had brought upon them, and not just financially.
The veteran participants were promised a free training program, guaranteed employment and membership in a
key Hollywood union, wrote Patrick Prieb, director of the San Diego VA Regional Office. Instead, the veteran
participants signed over their vocational rehabilitation benefits for a program that didnt deliver and offered no
transferable college credit. The fraud also damaged the reputations of other nonprofits and the VA, potentially
casting suspicion on their activities, and may have affected future fund-raising abilities, they said. Both Paixao and
Lombard, who now live in Virginia, expressed remorse and apologized for their actions, without specifically
admitting guilt. We started this foundation with the moral conviction to serve and ended with a conviction of being
guilty, Paixao said. We failed in our vision. [Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune | Kristina Davis | March 10,
2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-o-

44

VAMC Miami A former nurse at a Miami VA medical center was sentenced to five years in prison on 2 MAR for
falsifying patient computer records to cover up the cause of a patients death. Department of Justice officials said on
11 MAR that Enrique Martinez Mathews was sentenced after pleading guilty to obstruction and computer related
fraud. According to DOJ officials, Mathews admitted in court to altering the record of a patient while they were
recovering from surgery in the VA Miami facilitys intensive care unit, causing appropriate medical treatment to be
withheld from the patient, who later died. Mathews admitted to later altering the patients computer record in an
effort to cover up. The case was handled by the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida and the
Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General. Protecting our veterans is a national concern, U.S.
Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said, in a statement. Together with our partners at the Veterans Affairs Administration, the
U.S. Attorneys Office will identify for prosecution those individuals who compromise the personal information and
potential safety and security of our citizens. [Source: Federal Times | Carten Cordell | March 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA OPC Akron OH

Memorial POW/MIA Table Bible

A small dining table in Akron set up to remember soldiers who never came home those missing in action or taken
prisoner during war has set off a large national battle over religious symbols in government spaces. Everything
on the POW-MIA table, a tradition since the Vietnam War, is a symbol: The white tablecloth represents the purity of
the soldiers duty. Salt on a bread plate represents tears shed by soldiers families. A Bible has represented faith. But
not all POW-MIAs are Christian. And when a local soldier, permanently disabled in Afghanistan, saw a red New
Testament Bible on a POW-MIA table in the lobby of the Akron Veterans Affairs health care facility last month, he
was troubled. I know for a fact that all POW-MIAs were not Christian because my grandfather was MIA from
World War II and he was Jewish, the disabled soldier said this week during an interview.

He reached out to a nonprofit that fights for the religious rights of the U.S. armed forces, which in turn contacted
the administrator of the Akron VA. Within days, the Bible was gone. The story might have ended quietly there, but
the Military Religious Freedom Foundation sent out a news release announcing its success: MRFF chalks up
another victory for U.S. Constitution. Military church-state separation group initiates swift removal of Bible.
Writers at a few Christian websites picked up the news release and said the removal of the Bible was an example of
an ongoing war against their faith. The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group, launched a petition
to have the Bible returned, saying this was yet another sad example of the blatant disregard for religious liberty
perpetrated throughout the government offices of the current administration. A viral political firestorm followed,
leading to the disabled soldier who first wanted the Bible removed, to ask that his name not be used in this story,
saying he feared people might picket his house.
To Michael L. Mikey Weinstein, founder of the MRFF, removing the Bible wasnt anti-Christian. He said 11
Akron-area veterans seven Christians, one Jew, one Muslim and two atheists ultimately joined his groups
effort to have the Bible removed, because they believe the government shouldnt endorse one religion over another,
or any religion at all. Imagine what would happen if you put a Koran on the [POW-MIA table], Weinstein said.
There would literally be blood in the streets. Yet people like Congressman Douglas A. Doug Collins, a
Republican who serves Georgias 9th district, believe Weinstein and his organization are devoted to attacking
Christians and undermining the religious freedoms guaranteed to our men and women in uniform by the
Constitution. Collins, a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, plunged himself into the debate last week by issuing a
45

statement. I call on the Akron VA clinic to immediately replace the Bible ... to the display, he said. I will not
stand by while the MRFF fights a misguided battle to erase religious values from public view.
Constitutionally, its not clear, said Wilson Huhn, a professor emeritus at the University of Akrons law school.
A few years ago, the U.S. Supreme court upheld a small New York towns right to hold prayers before its public
meetings. The justices in that case, he said, took a two-prong approach. Were the prayers a town tradition? They
were, a majority of the court ruled. And was anyone being coerced into prayers? No, most of the justices
determined, because adults could attend meetings after the prayers. Justices in that case, however, did not address a
bedrock principle of the separation of state and religion established by the court more than a century ago:
Government must remain neutral on religion, or whether God exists at all.
Most cases like the Bible in the display at the Akron VA medical center are resolved long before they reach court,
Huhn said. The administrator at the Akron VA referred all questions to a spokeswoman for the Cleveland VA
Medical Center, which oversees the Akron VA. There are veterans and volunteers on both sides of the debate, and
we understand and respect their views, spokeswoman Ashley Trimble said, referring a reporter to federal memos
issued in 2014 from Washington, D.C., encouraging VA officials to be inclusive of diverse belief systems and to
respect First Amendments rights. The VA honors and respects the humanity of all, and protects the freedoms and
rights guaranteed for each of us, Trimble said. Because the VA cannot endorse, favor, or inhibit any specific
religion, we are supporting ... the decision to remove the Bible.
But that may not be the end of this Bible story. Trimble confirmed that a POW-MIA table at a Youngstown
Veterans Affairs building maintains a Bible because the organization has received no complaints. Weinstein said 9
MAR his group will ask that the Youngstown Bible be removed, too. If you have a comment the author of this
article can be reached at agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com. [Source: Beacon Journal | Amanda Garrett | March 12,
2016 ++]
********************************

VAMC Battle Creek MI

Employees Contributed to IRS Scam

The U.S. Attorney's Office has charged dozens of people with conspiracy to commit fraud, in Battle Creek. There
are 34 names listed on this indictment. 34 people, who investigators believe played a role in a conspiracy to defraud
the IRS. It's a scam that's been going on for years. According to the indictment, for tax years 2007 through 2014, the
men and women involved in the scheme filed nearly 4,700 federal income tax returns. And in return, claimed more
than $22 million dollars in fraudulent refunds. It appears the defendants used multiple methods to get their hands on
personal identification information, like names, social security numbers, and dates of birth. They then used that
information to file false tax returns. So, where did they get that personal information?
According to the indictment: Defendant--Alvin Stephenson II--and other employees at the Veterans Affairs
Battle Creek Medical Center provided patient information. Several Michigan Department of Corrections
inmates provided personal information of their fellow inmates, and in exchange, expected money or personal items.
One inmate tried to recruit others outside of prison to provide that personal information. The indicted also alleges
many of the defendants opened or maintained the bank accounts where the false tax returns were deposited.
The U.S. Attorney's office says multiple agencies assisted with the investigation, including the Battle Creek
Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police. At this point, 24 of those defendants
have been arrested. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine. The Battle Creek
Veterans Affairs Medical Center offered the following statement:
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center has collaborated with multiple federal and law enforcement agencies over the
past couple of years to assist in this investigation and to protect any Veterans potentially impacted by this unlawful
activity. We will continue to follow the guidance of those agencies as well as the VA Office of Inspector General to
46

assure justice is served. The small number of Veterans identified as having their information potentially
compromised have been offered free credit monitoring. We take the protection of patient information seriously. The
Department of Justice is handling the indictments and is the contact for further details about the investigation.
[Source: WWMT.com | Brittany Gray | March 2, 2016 ++]
********************************

VAMC Minneapolis Update 06

50 TBI Cases Diagnosed Incorrectly

The Veterans Administration has been using unqualified medical personnel to do examinations and deny benefits for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, according to records obtained during a
KARE 11 News investigation. VA data from a new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) filed by KARE 11 revealed
the number of veterans affected. Instead of being examined by a traumatic brain injury (TBI) specialist, records
reveal 321 cases in which a veteran was examined by a doctor VA policy shows was not qualified to diagnose
traumatic brain injuries.
To date, the Minneapolis, VA has re-examined 181 of those veterans and determined the unqualified doctors
made quite a few mistakes. In 50 cases, an exam by a TBI specialist revealed the veterans did in fact have brain
injuries and should be getting treatment and benefits previously denied. "I wrote a check for my life saying hey I'm
here to serve my country now it's your turn to take care of me," said U.S. Navy veteran Anton Welke. "Give me the
medical attention I need." Welke is one of the Minnesota veterans now receiving the TBI treatment and benefits he
was denied for three years after an unqualified doctor in the Minneapolis VA's Compensation and Pension unit
misdiagnosed him.
After a blow to the head while serving on an aircraft carrier, Anton received a TBI exam in 2012 by a doctor in
the Compensation and Pension Department at the Minneapolis VA. Records show Dr. Wanda Blaylark did not do
any "neuropsychological testing" and diagnosed Anton as not having a TBI. "Literally the doctor that did it, she was
like, 'Oh where did you get hit in the head?' I pointed to it, she ran her fingers a little bit like this, she says, 'Oh I
guess I don't see the scar," Anton recalls. After KARE 11 began investigating in early 2015, the VA began notifying
veterans like Anton they were eligible for a new TBI exam with a specialist. Anton and 49 other veterans who
received the new exams have now been positively diagnosed which opens a number of doors for them to receive
treatment.
KARE 11 and their parent company TEGNA are still fighting with the Department of Veteran Affairs to release
records that will allow them to determine whether other VA hospitals across the country have also been using
unqualified doctors to diagnose brain injuries. So far that's a secret the VA has been unwilling to part with.
Meanwhile a nation-wide review mandated by Congress into how the VA has handled traumatic brain injury benefits
exams is currently underway. [Source: WTSP-TV Channel 10 | March 2, 2016 ++]
********************************

VAMC West Haven CT Update 03

Womens Health Center Accessibility

For years, the VA Connecticut Womens Health Center was hidden in a basement of the Veterans Affairs medical
center, its presence often known only to its staff and the women who used and depended on it. Just like the clinic
47

that provided for their health needs, Connecticuts women veterans, themselves a fraction of the overall veteran
population of 200,000-plus in the state were largely invisible. These days, with more women serving in the
military in more capacities, including on the battlefield, the needs are changing along with the numbers. Nationally,
about 10 percent of active armed forces are now women, the fastest-growing demographic within the military.
Connecticut, as of the end of 2015, was home to 213,000 of the nations 22 million veterans of which 17,000 (of
2.2 million nationally) were women, according to VA figures. Nearly 8 percent of the states veterans are women
and the numbers are growing larger.
The VA Connecticut Womens Health Center now has come out of the basement. It moved last year to a roomier,
much more modern, more accessible location on the seventh floor, which was formally dedicated in January.
Theyre definitely going up as women become more a part of the military, said Dr. Luz Vasquez, medical
director for the Womens Health Center and the VAs Connecticut programs for women. I think over the last four or
five years, the numbers have doubled. The VA has 4,300 female patients registered, of which 3,160 are active
patients, said Vasquez, who works with VA Connecticut Womens Program Manager Dr. Lynette Adams. The rest of
Connecticuts female veterans are not using the system for various reasons, in many cases because they may not
know they can, said Vasquez, a New York native and onetime director of the Fair Haven Community Health Center
in New Haven who has been at the VA for 22 years. Historically, it hasnt been a place where women have been at
the forefront, although that is changing and the clinics new location is part of that, she said.
With the move and the additional space, the VA Connecticut Womens Health Center, designed to provide fullservice care for all the health needs a woman veteran might have, has its own integrated mental health team and
expanded space for gynecological care, increasing from three rooms to six. It also has additional room for medical
residents who are there as part of the Yale School of Medicines teaching program at the VA, plus a group therapy
room. Mental health resources are important because about 30 percent of female veterans suffer from post-traumatic
stress injuries roughly double the figure for men, Vasquez said. In part, thats because a higher percentage of
women veterans are victims of military service-related sexual trauma; about one out of four women vs. one out of
100 men, she said. The range of patients includes everyone from a 30-year-old on birth control pills to a 90-yearold whos falling, Vasquez said. Vasquez said she likes working at the VA, among other reasons, because I dont
have to deal with insurance or whether people can afford the treatment, because all veterans are covered. I want to
have the time to take care of the patients and not worry about whether they can pay me or not. The increasing
number of female veterans is not just affecting things at the womens clinic. [Source: New Haven Register | Mark
Zaretsky | March 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

VAMC Cincinnati Update 05

Alleged Scapegoat Dr. Temeck

A lawyer for Dr. Barbara Temeck, who was removed last month from her job as acting chief of staff of the
Cincinnati VA Medical Center, said Temeck is being offered up as a scapegoat for problems at the VA facility now
under federal investigation. Dr. Temeck is the hero of this story, not its villain, said Benjamin G. Dusing of
Covington. She deserves a medal, not condemnation. I am confident that when the truth comes out and I will
ensure it comes out Dr. Temecks reputation as a dutiful and selfless advocate for veterans will be preserved. I
promise you this: She will not get run over.
Temeck came to Cincinnati in 2013 as acting chief of staff at the Cincinnati VA. Two weeks ago, VA leaders
removed Temeck from that job in the fallout of an investigation by the inspector general of the Department of
Veterans Affairs into operations in Cincinnati. Another key VA leader, Jack Hetrick, was forced into retirement as the
VAs regional director in Cincinnati because of the allegations. The inspector general is looking into reports that
under Hetrick and Temeck, clinical services were cut back, and the cleanliness of hospital equipment declined.

48

Investigators also are pursuing a report that Temeck wrote pharmaceutical prescriptions for Hetricks wife without
the necessary license.
Dusing, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Cincinnati, said in a statement Monday that Temeck had retained him
to defend her on the prescription-writing matter as she may face criminal charges. Dusings statement said Temeck
has hired another lawyer to represent her in the inspector generals investigation. Dr. Temeck is a decorated 35-year
veteran of the VA whose character and performance-history as evaluated by her VA-superiors themselves is beyond
reproach, Dusing said. Dr. Temeck did not knowingly violate any law or policy of the VA. Dr. Temeck is being
offered up as a scapegoat by certain individuals associated with the Cincinnati VA who have an interest in preserving
and benefitting from the status quo there. Her only sin was an uncompromising dedication to the interests of
veterans and speaking out to that end. [Source: USA TODAY | Anne Saker | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

VAMC Cleveland Update 02

Home Visit Pilot Program | 1 of 5

Andrew Bisbee, a 28 year old former Army medic who served in Iraq, fitted a blood-pressure wrap around a
Vietnam vet's arm, checked the gauge and announced, "Nice blood pressure today. Right in the range we want." He
then checked his patient's heart, throat and swollen feet. "I know I'm not a spring chicken anymore," said the patient,
Gerald Bowles, 65, of Cleveland. Bisbee grinned at the patient he calls "Mr. G," and told him, "Hey, I hope I look
half as good as you when I'm older. I hope I look a quarter as good." The recent exam took place in Bowles'
apartment in Cleveland, where Bisbee also checked his patient's other vital signs, medical appointments schedule
and stock of medications, taking notes he would pass along to a team of doctors and nurses at the Louis Stokes
Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Some folks might have figured that home medical visits long since went the way of rotary phones and
typewriters. But for the past two years, a pilot project at the VAMC has utilized the experience of former military
medics to improve the health care of area vets at home. These "patient navigators" guide veterans through a hometreatment program that offers such services as instruction on medication management, health coaching, basic
medical testing and coordination of care with VA hospital resources. The pilot project at the Louis Stokes Cleveland
Veterans Affairs Medical Center utilizes former military medics to make house calls to chronically ill patients in an
effort to both trim health costs and give medics a way to utilize skills learned in the service. "The idea is that there's
a very small portion of patients that account for health care costs, and home visits can be a really important part of
helping people to stay well and out of the hospitals," said Dr. Brook Watts, the Cleveland VAMC chief quality
officer who applied for a $3 million VA grant for the four-year program.
Watts said that nationally about one percent of patients -- largely those with chronic diseases "at high risk for bad
outcomes" -- represent 20 percent of health care costs. Nearly 20 percent of the VA patients in this area fall into that
high-risk/high-cost group, she added. A second goal of the program is to provide the opportunity for former military
medics to use their expertise in the civilian world. "Thousands of former military medics and corpsmen leave the
military each year and can't get jobs in the private sector," Watts said. "What we're trying to do here is meet the
needs of our health care system and at the same time provide much-needed jobs for veterans, leveraging the skills
that they have," she added. "It's a win-win."
49

Currently two patient-navigators -- who have received 240 hours of training and are supervised by a nurse -handle 200 patients within a 25-mile radius of the VA hospital near University Circle. The former medics also are
part of a team that includes a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist and social worker. (In another program,
three other former medics have been working in the hospital's emergency room for the past four years.) Watts noted
that the expertise of former military medical personnel meshes well with the role of being a patient navigator. The
job can entail going into a lot of different neighborhoods, some good, some bad, and "you have to have a real sense
of awareness. You have to know how to take care of yourself, and be comfortable in difficult situations," she said.
"To me, the people who have been out in the field in Iraq or Afghanistan, have shown that they have that skill set."
Additionally, there is an added advantage to a vets-helping-vets approach in home visitation, particularly when
"many of our patients have real social challenges," according to Watts. "What has been really remarkable is that
because our medics are veterans, they have a very basic foundational bond with veterans, and have been able to help
us reach patients that no one else in the health care system could," she said. "They can build a relationship based on
shared experience. It's not rocket science. It makes sense." Bisbee, of Parma, who was deployed to Iraq in 2009, also
said military experience can help a patient navigator. "It creates a bond, you know, because veterans trust other
veterans," he said. That bond often was evident in his recent visit with Bowles. When the old vet mentioned his
trusty old P-38, a Vietnam-era can-opener for Army field rations, Bisbee noted, "when I was in, there were no more
cans. Everything was plastic, tear-open, easy access."
Bisbee said his work as a medic in a combat unit attached to the 10th Mountain Division in Iraq was "pretty
much the greatest privilege I've ever known. Just to be called 'Doc' by those guys. But you have to earn that title. It's
a huge physical and mental burden." He wanted to continue to work in medicine after he left the Army in 2011, and
came to Cleveland with another medic from his unit to study nursing at Cuyahoga Community College. "My goal is
to be some sort of health provider, make medical choices, because that's what I did in the military," he said. When he
found out about the patient navigator program, he signed on. Like the Army, "in this job these guys are highintensity patients," Bisbee said. "A lot of times they're out there with no family or friends, so we go above and
beyond to get things done for these patients." If that means providing transportation and being a companion for a
vet's medical appointments, or delivering healthy food from a local food bank, so be it.
A few times a home visit has been a life-saving experience, such as the patient who nearly slipped into a diabetic
coma, or the vet with chest pains that Bisbee recognized as signs of a "an incredibly bad heart failure." Having been
a medic helps in those situations, according to Bisbee. "It gives me the ability to identify and recognize what is a
life-or-death scenario, and gives me a sort of calm perspective," he said. But mostly "it's the little things that medics
do. If you put in the little pieces of work, that means a lot to the patient," Bisbee said. Bisbee wrote a summary of
attributes that medics bring to the job of patient navigator, including "the aptitude to learn critical thinking/practical
skills in a short time frame" and the ability to "practice this knowledge and skill set in the most stressful and
important of all times: A wounded comrade."
He noted, "A military medic has cared for a multitude of illness, injury, and all other medical needs of soldiers.
Medics find ways to get things done, by any means, for their patients." And when it comes to a shared military
experience, Bisbee said, "The veteran medic is NOT assuming that they empathize/understand all the battles, all
experiences and all the struggles that other veterans have had. "It is more encompassing a role as an ally in the
battle against chronic disease and hospitalization that the veteran patient can relate/bond with." Watts hoped that the
pilot project, one of five at VA sites nationally, grows in the future. "We want this to be a program that spreads
within the VA, and truthfully within the wider health care system," she said. "There are thousands of former
corpsmen and military medics being released from the service who need more paths for jobs, and we have a need for
these sort of services, and we need to find a way to bridge it together. "I hope it catches on."
Bowles shares that sentiment. Prior to the home visit program Bowles had to go to the VA hospital complex near
University Circle for treatment. "I don't drive, and it made it kind of hard for me to get down there," he said. "I used
to have a lot of problems with my legs," he added. "I couldn't do a lot of walking." Bowles said the home visitation
50

program has been "very helpful for me. Very helpful. "When he (Bisbee) comes by, he checks my vitals, makes sure
I have all my medications, (and) my medications are up to date," he added. Bowles said he feels healthier now
"because I have somebody to come check on me. All vets should be able to get into it, not just the ones that are
sickly, but all of them. 'Cause, I put it like this, we deserve it." Bisbee nodded, and said, "You sure do, Mr. G."
[Source: The Plain Dealer | Brian Albrecht | February 24, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA HCS Salt Lake City

Large-Scale Drug Theft

Authorities are investigating a large-scale drug theft at the Salt Lake Veterans Affairs Hospital. "Clearly, we regret
that this diversion occurred," spokeswoman Jill Atwood said in a statement 9 MAR. Atwood said officials at the Salt
Lake City Veterans Affairs health care system "immediately" notified federal officials about "irregularities in
prescription distribution" when they noticed. Drug Enforcement Agency officials are now investigating, along with
the U.S. Attorney's Office, according to Atwood. A pharmacy supervisor is suspected of stealing more than 24,000
painkillers and 25 vials of testosterone over five years, the Salt Lake Tribune reported 8 MAR basing its report on
leaked documents purportedly obtained from employees at the medical center. The criminal investigation is entering
its 12th month, according to the report.
Atwood said the hospital has added new software, training and "procedural changes" to make sure the theft
doesn't happen again. State and federal officials declined to comment on the investigation. Health care facilities are
required to report disciplinary actions or findings of misconduct to the Utah Division of Occupational and
Professional Licensing within 60 days. Hospitals are also required to notify the DEA of thefts of controlled
substances within a business day. John Eddington, assistant special agent in charge at the DEA's Utah office, said
theft and misuse of pharmaceuticals particularly opioids is becoming increasingly common. Eddington linked
the trend to rising levels of prescription painkiller and heroin abuse in the state and across the country. [Source:
Deseret News | Daphne Chen | March 9, 2016 ++]

* Vets *

Women in Military Service Memorial Update 02

51

Have You Registered?

The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located in Washington DC at the entrance to Arlington
Cemetery. It is maintained and operated by The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation
which:
Manages a world-class archive of documents, artifacts and memorabilia related to women's service in
defense of our nation;
Conducts a world-wide education program for children and adults;
Operates a speakers bureau; and
Hosts a variety of seminars, programs, and activities at the Memorial.
A primary mission of the Foundation and a major continuing effort is to identify and register with the Memorial
the over two million women who have served or are serving in all branches of the US Armed Forces. Some 250,000
women, about 13 percent of those eligible, have registered or been registered by family or friends. The associations
effort allows women to record their role in the nation's heritage. You can uncover the legacy of some of America's
servicewomen using their websites interactive map. Click any of the highlighted states to read about one of the
many women veterans who have shared their story with the Women's Memorial. You'll see her photo, read her most
memorable military experience and learn some of the details of her service.

Dedicated in 1997, the memorial is the only national memorial honoring women who have served in our
nations defense in all eras and in all services. According to the memorials website, 2.5 million women have served
in defense of the nation since the beginning more than 230 years ago; however, only 250,000 of these women are
registered with the memorial. Registration is not automatic. Service women, past or present, must register
themselves. People can also register women they know of who served. Memorial officials ask women to share their
stories and encourage other service women to do the same. Registration is free; however, people may make a
donation. Visit http://www.womensmemorial.org and click on Membership to register. To find out if you or
someone else is registered contact the memorial staff at 703-533-1155 or 800-222-2294 or via e-mail at
regdept@womensmemorial.org. You can also request a registration form there or write: Women in Military Service
for American Memorial Foundation, Dept. 560, Washington, DC, 20042-560. Groundbreaking for the memorial took
place June 22, 1995. Total cost of building the memorial was $22 million. In building the memorial, support came
from federal grants; proceeds from the sales of commemorative silver dollars; and corporate, organization and
individual donations. [Source: Veterans corner with Michel Isam | March 5, 2016 ++]

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

GI Bill Update 199

NDAA Eliminated Unemployment Checks for Users

52

Department of Labor officials are moving to cut off unemployment checks for veterans attending college on the GI
Bill after lawmakers quietly approved the cost-cutting move last December. But exactly when and how the change
will take place remains a frustrating mystery to federal and state officials and to veterans advocates who
unsuccessfully argued against the idea. Language inserted in the final draft of last years National Defense
Authorization Act specifies that veterans receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill education payouts should not also be eligible
for unemployment insurance. An exception was carved out for veterans involuntarily separated from the military
under honorable conditions.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays not only tuition for student veterans but also a living stipend, equal to the Basic
Allowance for Housing regional payouts for an E-5 with dependents. That ranges from around $1,100 in areas
around Ohio State University to more than $4,000 a month for individuals living near San Francisco State
University. That, coupled with 26 weeks or more of unemployment benefits, can lead to a substantial sum of
government payouts headed to a veteran each month. Federal officials arent sure how many veterans may be taking
advantage of the dual benefits now, but anecdotal evidence was enough for lawmakers to move to end the practice.
But doing so will be complicated.
In a statement, Employment and Training Administration officials within the Department of Labor said they are
working with various state and federal agencies to develop an approach for how to identify which veterans are
receiving unemployment checks, GI Bill checks or both. No such central information system exists, in part because
unemployment benefits are handled differently in each state. The language passed by Congress last year did not
include any funding for new databases or instructions on how to handle that information sharing. That has proved
to be more challenging than expected, Labor officials acknowledged. ETA will be issuing guidance on that as well
once issues are resolved. Its also unclear who will be blocked from receiving the unemployment payouts once the
new rules and processes are developed. The NDAA language appears to cover individuals who collect
unemployment after leaving the military but not those who work somewhere else between leaving uniform and
using their GI Bill benefits.
Labor officials said they believe the new rules will only apply to a small segment of transitioning military who
get Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits but could not offer more specifics as their process continues. Confusion over the
parameters and process led veterans advocates to argue against the provision last fall, and the language was
successfully dropped in the House version of the annual authorization act. But Senate lawmakers included it in
subsequent versions, and the final draft signed by the president included the new prohibition. The new law did not
specify any timeline for enforcing the unemployment check changes. States are not required to enforce it until the
new guidance from the Labor Department is released. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | March 14, 2016 ++]

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

Vet Charity Watch Update 55

Two WWP Top Execs Fired

The two top executives of Wounded Warrior Project were fired 10 MAR by the board of directors. Americans
donate hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the charity, expecting their money will help some of the 52,000
wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. But CBS News found Wounded Warrior Project spends 40 to 50 percent on
overhead, including extravagant parties. Other veterans charities have overhead costs of 10 to 15 percent. Wounded
Warrior Project's Chief Executive Officer, Steven Nardizzi, and Chief Operating Officer, Al Giordano, were fired
after a Board meeting Thursday afternoon in New York. By appealing to America's generosity, Wounded Warrior
Project raised more than a billion dollars in donations since 2003 -- $300 million in 2014 alone. But while the
money was pouring in, it was also flowing out on lavish employee conferences -- $26 million in 2014.

53

"Let's get a Mexican mariachi band in there, let's get maracas made with the WWP logo put them on every
staff member's desk. Lets get it catered, have a big old party," said Eric Millette, a retired army staff sergeant. He
took a job with Wounded Warrior as a motivational speaker, but after two years he quit. "I'll be damned if you're
gonna take hard-working Americans' money and drink it and waste it, instead of helping those brave men and
women who gave you the freedom to walk the face of this earth." More than 40 former employees told CBS News
that spending by the charity was out of control. Two former employees were so fearful of retaliation they asked us
not to show their faces.
"It was extremely extravagant. Dinners and alcohol and and, just total excess," one said. "I mean, it's what the
military calls fraud waste and abuse." Former employees also told CBS the excessive spending began when Nardizzi
took over as CEO in 2009. They point to the 2014 annual meeting at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs as typical
of his style. "He rappelled down the side of a building. He's come in on a Segway. He's come in on a horse."
Nardizzi has defended the charity's spending. "If your only fixation is spending the most on programs, that's
feeling good, but not necessarily doing good," he said. But many major donors were outraged, including Fred and
Dianne Kane. They raised $325,000 with golf tournaments, and are not pleased with allegations that only a little
over half of donations went to help wounded vets. "I feel like I am representing all these people who have donated
over the years, all these seniors over 65 sending $19 month, all these people on fixed incomes," Fred said. "If no one
is going to talk about this right now and it has to be me, then it has to be me." Fred continued, saying he is done with
WWP except for his new mission of trying to see change within the organization. Sources tell CBS News the board
has received preliminary results of a financial audit. And there are discussions under way about retired senior
military officers who are being considered to take over leadership of the organization. [Source: CBS News | Chip
Reid & Jennifer Janisch | March 10, 2016 ++]

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

Michigan Vet Support

New License Plate Benefits Vet Programs

A new license plate that will raise funds to enhance outreach and services to veterans was unveiled at the Flint
Veteran Expo in November. Proceeds from the plate will support outreach and services to veterans, such as
education on the mental effects of war, PTSD and other service-related disabilities. At least 25 percent of the money
will go to tuition support for members of the Michigan National Guard or the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
program http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,4636,7-128-60969_61509-274566--,00.html.

54

Michigan residents who want to help support outreach to veterans can purchase the $35 plate at any Secretary of
State office. To purchase a plate by mail or fax, complete and print the Support Michigan Veterans License Plate
Order Form http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Support_MI_Veterans_Order_Form_504414_7.pdf. Note: A
$10 fee is added to your vehicle registration fee when renewing a fundraising plate. This fee goes the the cause
being supported by the plate. [Source: MVAA Sandbox Bulletin | March 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

Vet Unemployment Update 07

Near-Historic Low In Feb 2016

The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans fell to a near-historic low in February, hitting 4.7 percent, government
data show. That figure, down a full point from the January rate of 5.7 percent, matches the unemployment rate for
the youngest generation of veterans charted in August, which was the all-time low at the time it came out. Since
then, the October rate set a new all-time low, then the November rate beat October's number. The nation as a whole
tacked on 242,000 jobs in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the unemployment rate at 4.9
percent, identical to January's number.

Monthly unemployment rates for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans versus the rate for all non-veterans.

Post-9/11 veterans were hit hard during the depths of the recession in 2010 and 2011, with monthly
unemployment rates climbing as high as 14 percent and 15 percent and annual average unemployment figures in
double digits. The unemployment picture began to slowly improve in 2012 and 2013. And over the last couple of
years, it's caught fire, setting one record after another. The first two rates of 2016 offer reason to think the hot streak

55

is continuing this year. For veterans of all generations, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in February, down
from January's 4.7 percent mark. [Source: Military Times | George R. Altman | March 4, 2016 ++]

A veteran walks through a Hire Our Heroes job fair in New York City

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

Veterans' Preference Update 08

Application to Federal Contracting

The first case the U.S. Supreme Court heard since the death of Associate Justice Scalia was a case of serious concern
to many of Americas veterans. Kingdomware Technologies v. United States No. 14916 was expected to clarify how
much of veterans preference preference in federal contracting was to be applied. But it now seems quite possible
that the Court may send it back to the D.C. Circuit Court for further hearings. Whether the Supreme Court decides it
this term or next it is becoming a more and more interesting case. The 2006 Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and
Information Technology Act of 2006 states that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall award contracts on the
basis of competition restricted to small businesses owned by veterans if there is a reasonable expectation that two
or more such businesses are available to bid on and properly complete the contract. (What is normally referred to as
the 2 business rule throughout government contracting.
Kingdomeware, a Service Disabled Veterans Owned Small Business, has filed several complaints arguing that the
Department of Veterans Affairs has not been setting aside contracts for VOSBs (Veteran Owned Small Businesses)
and SDVOSBs (Service Disabled Veterans Owned Small Businesses) as required but have been ordering goods and
services through the Federal Supply Schedules. The GAO has made several rulings in favor of Kingdomware but the
Federal Court of Claims and DC Federal Circuit Court ruled that the shall award language in the statute was
subordinate to the larger goal of hitting the VAs targets for contracting with veteran-owned businesses, and that the
rule of two requirement was not necessary for all procurements as long as VA was meeting those goals.
Surprisingly the Federal Government did not argue simply that the lower courts order was correct but added a new
argument saying that the 2006 only applies to new contracts not to orders placed under existing contracts. This
is unusual and it looked like Justice Ginsburg may urge her fellow Justices to remand the case back to the Circuit
Court for further argument.
During oral argument she asked the Assistant Solicitor General: I mean, its really odd. I read the Federal Circuit
decision, and I expected to open the government brief and say, yeah, the Federal Circuit was right. Youre telling us
the Federal Circuit was wrong.The argument which you state very well is very complex. The Federal Circuit
had a really simple take on it, and all of these regulations and provisions that you are mentioning didnt figure at all
in the Federal Circuits opinion. So youre putting us in the position of being a court of first view in a rather dense
area. This Court usually doesnt do that. It likes to know what other judges have thought about it. While the
governments attorney seemed happy with the idea of a remand the companys attorney was not. He said that the
veterans who are waiting for this law to be enforced as written have already waited a decade. He further argued that
the decision should be based on the simple question of whether an order was a contract.
56

On the other hand Justice Kagan seemed to be siding with the company. She said: I understand your policy
concerns and the way you think this will damage procurement practices. But the statute just seems pretty clear. Once
you say that this is a contract, what youve said in your brief and right now. And once you say that, the statute says,
A contracting officer of the department shall award contracts on the basis of competition restricted to veterans
small businesses. So that seems to kind of answer the case, whatever the policy identifications are. The
Companys attorney did not need to add that another 2 appellate arguments would be very expensive in both time
and money. Indeed, it is very interesting that this case could have gone all the way up to the Supreme Court over a
$33,000 contract.
This is an extremely important and interesting case for Veterans businesses and TREA will continue to follow it
closely. [Source: TREA | Washington Update | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

Salute4Vets Scholarships

New USC Vet Program offers 120

A new program created by the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work, Salute4Vets, will
provide free education to 120 veterans who qualify for the post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon scholarship. These
scholarships are provided to allow veterans to come to USC to receive a free master's degree in social work with a
military specialization. The program is funded between the scholarship initiative itself and the funds offered by the
Yellow Ribbon scholarship from the Veterans Administration. The remaining funds for this program will be raised
by donations. The program's motto is, "Helping one veteran helps 100 more." The program's website
http://salute4vets.usc.edu features a donations component. Graduates from the University of California School of
Social Work with a Military Specialization have already helped over 235,000 veterans. [Source: NAUS Weekly
Update | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

Ohio Vet Bonus Update 05

$5.3 Million Left for Vets to Claim

The Ohio Veterans Bonus Program has paid more than $73.5 million to Ohioans through more than 90,000 claims.
There is $5.3 million left for veterans to claim. Veterans may collect up to $1,500 in individual bonuses. Ohio
veterans who have served on active-duty since October 7, 2001 may be eligible. For more information, dial 877644-6838 and select option 2; or visit the ODVS website https://veteransbonus.ohio.gov/odvs_web; or visit a
Veterans Services Office in your county for help filling out applications for the claim. You can find your Veterans
Services Office in Ohio on the web at http://dvs.ohio.gov/HOME/County_Veterans_Service_Offices. [Source:
NAUS Weekly update | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

Veterans History Project Update 02

100,000+ First-Person Narratives

The Library of Congress' program to preserve veterans' wartime memories has archived its 100,000 collection. The
Veterans History Project collects veterans first-person narratives from World War I through the more recent
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials are highlighting the 100,000 milestone while renewing the call for
volunteers to help veterans tell their personal stories, so that future generations can better understand troops
experiences in war. The congressionally-mandated project is in its 16th year. About 20,000 of the collections are
available online at the Veterans History Project website http://www.loc.gov/vets. A simple search of the website
shows that more than half of the veterans collections nearly 58,000 come from those who served in World
57

War II. The next highest 18,432 come from the Vietnam War. There are 2,252 collections from Iraq veterans
and 1,029 from Afghanistan veterans. There are more than 22 million veterans still living in the United States, and
it is our hope that even more volunteers will come forward to interview the veterans in their lives and communities
and also submit original photographs, letters and other correspondence to be preserved for researchers now and to
inspire future generations, said Veterans History Project director Robert Patrick in a statement. Project officials
point to the online VHP field kit, which provides instructions, a list of interview questions and required forms. They
encourage individuals, businesses, high schools, colleges and universities, congressional offices, houses of worship
and other organizations to participate. The website also offers a how-to video. [Source: Military times | Karen
Jowers | February 25, 2016 ++]

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

Wounded Warrior Project Update 03

Charitys Spending Practices Criticized

A San Diego nonprofit that evaluates military charities and recommends them for support is criticizing at the
Wounded Warrior Project. The Patriots Initiative, which relies on both qualitative and quantitative research to judge
the effectiveness of charities that serve veterans and members of the armed forces, said there is no excuse for certain
spending by Wounded Warrior officials, recently reported in the media. We saw the need to simplify the
philanthropic process for military donors and focus on connecting Americans with the most trustworthy, impactful
and accountable nonprofits, said Greg Hillgren, Patriots Initiative chairman. Unfortunately, the Wounded Warrior
Project consistently failed to satisfy many of the required criteria we consider necessary for donor engagement and
success.
The Wounded Warrior Project did not respond to questions about its removal from the Patriots Initiative list of
accredited charities. The Florida nonprofit, which raised hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade to
serve injured and traumatized veterans and servicemembers, was the subject of a widely circulated CBS News
investigation last month. Among other things, organization spending on travel and conferences climbed from $1.7
million in 2010 to $26 million in 2014, CBS News reported. In 2014, the Wounded Warrior Project was included in
a U-T Watchdog report about spending practices at charities dedicated to serving veterans. That report showed
Wounded Warrior spent $31.7 million on fundraising in the same year it spent $17.7 million on grants to needy
veterans. The charity defended the spending at the time. When you limit your growth in infrastructure and
fundraising, you may have a lot of good intentions but youre not going to help a lot of people, spokeswoman
Jessie Gueterman said.
Hillgren, of The Patriots Initiative, said the Wounded Warrior Projects intent is good but its execution has been
lacking. We hope that WWP will take immediate steps to redirect its operational metrics and begin to adhere to
best practices in the years ahead, he said. [Source: San Diego Union Tribune | Jeff McDonald | February 12,
2016 ++]
********************************

Wounded Warrior Project Update 04

Questionable Staff Spending

58

A major donor to the Wounded Warrior Project veterans charity called 3 MAR for the nonprofits CEO to resign in
light of allegations of lavish spending on staff meetings, according to a CBS News report. Fred and Dianne Kane,
the parents of two Iraq War veterans, have donated $325,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project since 2009 through
their personal charity, Tee-off for a Cause. Slightly more than half of the Kanes' donations directly benefitted
veterans, according to CBS News. But after recent tax forms reflected questionable spending by the veterans charity
on staff expenditures, including $26 million on conferences and meetings at luxury hotels in 2014 alone, Fred Kane
called for CEO Steven Nardizzi to be fired. The expenditure on conferences and travel was up from just $1.7 million
in 2010, according to reports. Hearing that there was this waste of money, donor dollars that should have been
going to servicemen and women that were injured, and that it was spent on [Wounded Warrior Project staff] having a
good timeits a real disappointment, Dianne Kane told CBS News.

WWP CEO Steven Nardizzi, Esq.

The Kanes also initiated an online petition calling for a public audit of the Wounded Warrior Project in addition
to canceling the next golf tournament Tee-off for a Cause was to hold to benefit the Project. In January, Charity
Navigator, a group that oversees nonprofit organizations, placed Wounded Warrior Project on its watch list, Fox
News reported, citing a separate CBS report. Army Staff Sergeant Erick Millette, who returned from Iraq in 2006
with a bronze star and a purple heart, told CBS News at the time that he admired the charitys work and took a job
with the group in 2014 but quit after two years. "Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what
the public doesn't see is how they spend their money," he said. Millette said he witnessed lavish spending on staff,
with big catered parties.
Also in the previous interview, two former employees, who were so fearful of retaliation they asked that CBS
News not show their faces on camera, said spending has skyrocketed since Nardizzi took over as CEO in 2009,
pointing to the 2014 annual meeting at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs. "He rappelled down the side of a
building at one of the all hands events. He's come in on a Segway, he's come in on a horse, one employee told CBS
News. Fred Kaine, in the recent interview, questioned Nardizzis apparent public absence while his organization has
been under scrutiny. Where is this guy? You lead from the frontgood or badyou dont hide, he said, If no one
is going to talk about this right now and it has to be me, then it has to be me. Kane said he has cut charitable ties
with the Wounded Warrior Project, embarking on a new charge to effect change at the organization. [Source:
FoxNews.com | March 04, 2016 ++]
********************************

Arlington National Cemetery Update 55

Future Under Study

The Army is once again studying the future of Arlington National Cemetery. At a meeting in late FEB with 5 VSO
representatives, including TREAs Washington Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman, several high officials
said that they must start again to begin to study how long Arlington can remain a working cemetery. Presently there
is land enough for in ground burials, as well as columbarium and interred ashes with the present qualifications
through 2030. With other possible adjacent land acquisitions the same rules could apply until 2050. But then what?
It seems that the Army has decided that a second non-adjacent site in greater DC would not be acceptable. So they
are considering only combat veterans, or only KIAs and retirees, or only KIAs and decorated retirees etc. And the
possible combinations are almost non-ending. This is a question that we have time to analyze and solve. If you have

59

any ideas or suggestions please send them to TREA ExDir Deirde P Holleman at dholleman@treadc.org. Other
meetings are going to follow. [Source: TREA | Washington Update | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

USAJOBS

Official Source for Federal Government Job Listings

USAJobs (www.USAJobs.gov) is the official source for Federal government job listings throughout the United
States as well as abroad. With thousands of positions listed on the site, it's the place to put in an application and find
employment information for Federal government jobs. If you find the sheer volume of vacancies overwhelming, use
this guide to help tailor your search and apply for jobs successfully.
USAJobs Job Search Options - Search USAJobs by keyword at https://www.usajobs.gov. You can put in things
like job title or agency as well as location which can be as broad as a country or as narrow as a zip code. Users can
also search based upon eligibility for federal employment. If you get too many search results, use the filters on the
left side of the search results pagesalary, pay grade, job category, department and agency, work schedule, work
type, and posting dateto narrow them down. You can also use a filter to exclude postings that are older than 30
days, or input certain keywords to exclude all job postings that contain those words. The site also makes it easy for
you to keep up-to-date on new job postings: If you create an account, you can easily save a search and receive
emailed alerts daily, weekly, or monthly when relevant jobs are posted. Or, get an RSS feed of your search, and add
it to your RSS reader, so you can see when new jobs that match your requirements are added to the site.
USAJobs Resume Posting - USAJobs Members can post up to five resumes online, apply for federals jobs online,
save job searches, and set up search alerts. There is a resume builder that will help you create a resume. Since you
can post several resumes on the site, be sure to tailor your resume to match the specific position you are applying to.
Even if you are applying to several Federal jobs with similar job titles, the requirements may vary between the
postings. Creating an account at https://login.usajobs.gov/account/signin is advantageous, since it allows you to save
searches (so you can easily check in on newly posted jobs) and save jobs so that you can readily refer back to an
interesting posting.
USAJobs Veteran's Resources/Resource Center - Tools and resources for all U.S. Veterans, including job
opportunities, forms, benefits, and program information as well as training assistance for private sector employment.
To access these tools refer to https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page . Here you can seek advice on 17
different topics and/or find the answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions. For additional questions you can
select from the following categories:
Account Access
Getting Started
General Information
How to Apply
How to create your resume
How do I delete my USAJOBS Account
Job Search
Mobile Apps
More General Information
If your question is still unanswered, or you have a comment
https://www.usajobs.gov/Support for assistance. For an answer within 1 business day.

or

suggestion, click

More Tips for Getting a Government Job Refer to the following:

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/governmentjobs1/a/governmentjob1.htm - How to Find a Government Job

60

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumewriting/a/fedresume.htm - 10 Tips for Writing a Successful Resume

for a Federal Government Job
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/companyprofiles/p/tsajob.htm - Jobs at the TSA
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/governmentjobs1/p/opm.htm - Jobs at the US Office of Personnel
Management

[Source: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/governmentjobs1/p/usajobs.htm March 2015 ++]

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

USAJOBS Update 01

A Bogus Benefit

Before John Spanogle left the Army in the fall of 2014, he enrolled in a weeklong transition course at
Fort Knox, Ky., and hired a professional rsum service to translate two and a half decades of leadership,
training and distinguished service into civilian terms. A career officer with a top-secret security clearance
and six combat tours that culminated in responsibility for U.S. Special Forces worldwide for the
Pentagon, he had plenty to offer almost any employer, particularly the federal government. If he could
only have gotten its attention. In the past year, Spanogle has applied for everything from entry-level work
at VA to airport security supervisor for the Department of Homeland Security, through USAJOBS.gov. It
has taken months to get a response from any of the federal agencies to which he applied. A simple
acknowledgment of his application was rare. He landed not a single interview. Its a sham, says
Spanogle, a retired lieutenant colonel with a masters degree in business and a 60 percent disability rating.
The Army just riffed a bunch of guys. If its this hard for me, imagine what its like for the young
enlisted soldiers. Can you see the hopelessness?
Despite presidential proclamations, an overhaul of the USAJOBS website and federal agencies
sloganeering about their desire to hire former servicemembers, veterans still find applying for a federal
job arduous and because the odds of success are so low a waste of time.
Its ridiculous, says Casey Curry, who served 26 years with the Oregon Army National Guard
and has had much experience with the website, USAJOBS.gov. Curry spent a year looking for
work through USAJOBS when she got out in 2007, without success. Then she interned with the
Oregon employment office in 2012 and 2013, helping other veterans trying to negotiate the
federal job application process. It was as frustrating as it was fruitless. I dont know of one
person who got a job using that website, says Curry, who is now outreach coordinator for the
Returning Veterans Project, which helps connect veterans and families in northwest Oregon and
southwest Washington to free counseling and other health services.
Roger Peterman, who helps veterans find jobs as transition assistance adviser for the Indiana
National Guard, cites equally bleak numbers. In eight years of working with USAJOBS, I only
know of two people who got jobs applying through the website. And either they knew somebody
or we were able to connect them with somebody in the federal agency who could pull them
along.
The problems with USAJOBS are well known. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) stopped
using a contractor to administer the website in 2011, brought it in-house and made several improvements,
a spokesman says. The relaunch of what was called USAJOBS 3.0 was fraught with problems, however,
and quickly became the object of ridicule on social media. Even today, the agency acknowledges that
USAJOBS needs more work, including making the online application process more user-friendly.
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Veterans are not alone in expressing frustration with the federal hiring process, including
USAJOBS.gov, an agency spokesman says. But the website is unavoidable. USAJOBS is the single
gateway for a multitude of civil service jobs. That alone is an issue. There are tens of thousands of
rsums on USAJOBS, Peterman says.
Federal statistics show just how competitive it is. Veterans initiated nearly 7.5 million applications
through USAJOBS in fiscal 2015, an increase of 2.4 million compared to fiscal 2013. Veterans also
suspect that many positions are posted to comply with legal requirements by agencies that have already
decided who they want to hire. And there are complaints that some job listings arent current. They dont
keep it updated, Curry says. People are filling out applications for jobs that are already closed. Theres
also a sense that applications go into a black hole where veterans preference isnt considered. Theres no
accountability on the federal agency side, Curry adds. You dont know if they are looking at (veterans
preference) or not.
OPM disagrees. USAJOBS.gov is the means by which veterans can find information about many job
vacancies, an agency spokesman says. In this context, USAJOBS.gov helps veterans use the hiring
preference to which they are entitled by making them aware of job openings they might not otherwise
know are available. But theres evidence that some federal agencies purposefully circumvent veterans
preference laws and discriminate against veteran applicants who successfully negotiate USAJOBS. The
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), an arm of the Department of Energy, manipulated the
qualification ratings of at least 117 veteran applicants from 2010 to 2012, according to an investigation by
the Energy Departments inspector general. That amounted to nearly half the applicants for BPA jobs. In
at least one case, a BPA administrator closed the hiring process after learning that a veteran was the most
qualified applicant and then rewrote the job description to include criteria the veteran couldnt meet.
BPAs human resources department was ultimately blamed for the agencys discrimination, and vowed
reform after its hiring practices were exposed in 2013.
Vietnam War veteran Rick Shuart had a notably better experience with USAJOBS. While it took him
a while to master the website, he learned to tailor his rsum for each job he applied for and write a cover
letter to the hiring manager indicated in the job posting, he says. Shuart also became selective about the
positions he pursued. I rarely applied for a job where there was one slot open, he says. Still, it took him
a year to find a job even though he has a masters degree in business administration. VA even turned
down his application for a file clerks job in Baltimore. Today, Shuart helps fellow veterans find work as
an employment development manager at Services for the UnderServed in New York City. But his
organization rarely steers former servicemembers toward USAJOBS because most cannot afford the time
it takes to secure federal employment. Instead, Shuarts organization focuses on private employers with
whom it has a relationship the sorts of places it can call and encourage a hiring manager to review a
veterans application.
Likewise, Peterman also encourages veterans to look beyond the federal government for work.
Theres a lot of great civilian companies looking for veterans, Peterman says. He works with an
organization called Operation: Job Ready Veterans, which claims a 70 percent success rate in helping
former servicemembers find work. But even then, it takes time. Youve got to be patient, Peterman
advises. Youve got to be able to sell your skills from the military. Get somebody who can help you.
Develop an elevator speech. Be willing to take an entry-level job to get a foot in the door.

62

In the end, Spanogle finally landed a job as vice president of a nonprofit organization where he will
help former National Guardsmen find jobs. Hes looking forward to making differences for his fellow
veterans. This is everybody not only the unemployed, but the underemployed as well, he says. But he
wont be looking to USAJOBS for help. Im done with it, he says. Its a ridiculous waste of time.
[Source: The American Legion Online Magazinec | Ken Olson | February 19, 2016 ++]

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

WWII Vets 103

Gordon Neslund

During the final days of World War II, Gordon Neslund played a role in capturing one of Japan's most top-secret
weapons. While serving aboard the USS Proteus in the South Pacific, his ship was called from its regular duty of
supporting and supplying U.S. submarines to help capture a Japanese vessel. The Japanese had surrendered
unofficially four days earlier, on Aug. 15, 1945, but some onboard the Proteus worried the Japanese sub's sailors
would continue to fight. The vessel raised a black flag -- the naval sign of surrender -- after U.S. destroyers
followed the sub for hours. As U.S sailors approached the submarine and began boarding, its size became more
apparent. "It was a monster," said Neslund, a retiree living in Roseville. "Most of us didn't even know what it was
when we first saw it." Without knowing it, they had captured Japan's super-weapon project.
The submarine, called the I-400, was longer than a football field at about 400 feet. It was armed with guns and
torpedoes. Unlike normal subs, the I-400 also carried three fighter planes to be launched from a catapult on its deck.
"Nothing like this exists today -- nothing that big," said Gary Nila, a retired FBI agent and author of the book "I400: Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine: Objective Panama Canal." In an upcoming documentary,
Japanese television network Nippon TV interviewed Neslund about the I-400. The documentary is set to air in
January.

"It's so many years ago, it's kind of like a dream. Did it really happen?" said Gordon Neslund, 92, of Roseville, as he
shows the Japanese flag he took from aboard the massive submarine the I-400. Neslund, pictured Dec. 16, 2015, Gordon
Neslund, left, leans against a gun aboard the I-400 along with two unidentified sailors

63

Just as the Germans worked on long-range missiles while the United States, with more success, developed the
atomic bomb, Japan had the I-400-class submarine, Nila said. The I-400 was one of only three of its kind completed
during the war. Japan had planned to use the subs to attack U.S. coastal cities and had set its sights on destroying
the Panama Canal, which would have disrupted U.S. shipping from Europe to the Pacific after the Nazis
surrendered. "All through the war, we knew nothing about them," Nila said. Had the war continued, he said, the
aircraft bombers on the subs might have caused more casualties than did the Pearl Harbor attack.
Neslund, now 92, had been working on a farm in Balsam Lake, Wis., during the war. He was deferred from
serving due to farm labor shortages. But at 21, he decided to enlist in the Navy anyway. "All my buddies were
going," he said. "It just didn't feel right by staying home." He became a third-class motor machinist mate aboard the
USS Proteus and spent three years in Guam, where he worked on American subs. After the tense moments during
the I-400's capture, Neslund said worries about Japanese hostilities vanished as sailors from both countries
exchanged photos of their homes and families and attempted to communicate with each other. The Japanese soldiers
were just as happy to be done with the war as the Americans were, he said. "It's terrible shooting at each other, and
killing each other," Neslund said. "War is terrible."
When American sailors boarded the I-400 to speak with the commanding officer during its capture, they quickly
turned back because of the smell inside. The submarine had a rat infestation and only one toilet for its 200-man
crew. "It was hard to breathe," Neslund said, adding that the sailors looked healthy despite the foul conditions. The
I-400 agreed to follow the Proteus into Tokyo Bay. When they arrived, both ships tied up next to the USS Missouri,
where Japan signed its official surrender a few weeks later. With the war over, Neslund volunteered to bring the I400 to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, so it could be inspected. The 27-day trip from Tokyo was a pleasant one, he recalled.
The crew was happy to be sailing without fear of attack. On a moonlit night, Neslund said he recalled standing on
the sub's tower when he heard someone shout that a torpedo was coming. A porpoise swam up to the side of the
ship, creating a white wake behind it. It was the only scare Neslund recalled.
After reaching Hawaii, the crew members went their separate ways. Neslund returned home to Wisconsin, where
he met his future wife and eventually moved to the Twin Cities to work as a mechanic. The Cold War began shortly
thereafter, and the U.S. sunk the I-400 in 1946, fearing the Soviet Union would want to inspect it. "It was quite a
piece of machinery. Why put something like that on the bottom (of the ocean)?" Neslund asked. "I thought it was not
only a waste, it was history." Of the handful of men who brought the sub back to U.S. shores, only Neslund and the
ship's cook are still alive. Neslund said he lost contact with the other crew members after the Navy discharged him.
He took a few trinkets from the sub, including a Japanese war flag and a clock from the engine room. "They're
souvenirs from the time I was in the war," he said. "Now I've got something to talk about, to show my family and
friends and children." [Source: Pioneer Press | Youssef Rddad | December 20, 2015 ++]
********************************

Obit: Anthony G. Adesso

11 Jan 2016

Seaman Anthony G. Adesso, who family members say escaped danger by gunning down six Japanese enemy fighter
planes while helping save several comrades aboard a destroyer during World War II, has died. He was 91. He was
awarded 12 Battle Stars, eight Bronze Stars, a Gold Star and a Silver Star, family members said. He was a real war
hero, said Steven Backer, 61, of Bayport, Adessos friend and primary caregiver. There arent a lot of World War II
veterans walking around and we just lost one. During the war, Adesso was a gunners mate stationed aboard the
USS Riddle, a destroyer escort in the Pacific, between 1942 and 1946. Family members paint a courageous scene
one day when the destroyer was under attack from enemy kamikaze pilots intentionally trying to crash into the ship.
With many of his comrades fleeing for safety, Adesso, strapped into his harness, bravely shot down six enemy
planes, daughter Susan Adesso of Bayport said. One of the downed planes dropped a 500-pound bomb, which blew
through the edge of the ship without sinking it. His family said perhaps it was fate that led Adesso to join the Navy.
64

At 17, he and roughly 20 friends gathered in a neighborhood park in Brooklyn, vowing to walk into the Army
recruitment center the following day and enlist. He was the only one to show up, so he changed his mind. He later
enlisted in the Navy. Adesso was born Feb. 5, 1925, in Brooklyn. He was named after his father and often helped
him bottle beer during Prohibition, family said. As a child, Adesso was a member of the knothole club, watching
Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games through a knothole in the fences surrounding Ebbets Field, his family said. He
also was a proficient fencer, who often told long stories about great military battles. So it may have been fitting he
survived the deadliest war and saved ship mates during such a battle. Adesso died Jan. 11 at home in Bayport from
heart failure and complications of diabetes. He was later buried at Calverton National Cemetery. He is survived by
his wife, Martha Adesso, 84, of Medford and five daughters: Marthia Adesso of upstate Norwich, Nannette Fuller of
Patchogue, Diane Adesso of Bayport, Susan Adesso of Bayport, and Deborah Caccazano of Center Moriches.
[Source: Newsday | Deon J. Hampton | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: Jerry Driscoll

20 Feb 2016

After his plane was shot down in 1966, U.S. Air Force pilot Jerry Driscoll found himself in a squalid North
Vietnamese prison. He thought hed be incarcerated for six months or so. Then a cellmate told him two years would
be a lot more likely. Driscoll wrapped his head in a blanket and screamed. When I was finished, Driscoll would
later tell a documentary filmmaker, I thought, OK, I can do two years. He did nearly seven, withstanding torture
and deprivation along the way. Driscoll, a 24-year Air Force veteran who lived in Wayzata, died Feb. 20 at age 75,
after a six-year battle with the neuromuscular disease primary lateral sclerosis.

Driscoll was born in Chicago and raised by his mother. After graduating from a Catholic high school in Chicago,
he went to Winona, Minn., to study at St. Marys College. But his goal was a commission at the Air Force Academy
in Colorado, and he got it in 1959. He fell in love with the Air Force, and he fell in love with flying, said his wife,
65

Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll. He graduated in 1963, and by the end of 1965, Driscoll was flying sorties over Vietnam.
On his 112th mission, Driscolls jet got strafed by anti-aircraft fire. He ejected, landed in a rice paddy in North
Vietnam and was quickly surrounded by local farmers, he told the Sun Sailor in a 2014 interview. Like many U.S.
prisoners in Vietnam, Driscoll would be shuffled from camp to camp, doing a stint in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
At a prison near the Chinese border a particularly bleak one with no electricity Driscoll met up with U.S.
Navy pilot Arv Chauncey. Jerry was just a really good guy, said Chauncey, who lives in Eden Prairie. He went
along with everything we did to resist.
They resisted by communicating. Prisoners devised a code to tap out on the walls that divided them, and a sign
language to communicate between camp buildings. Driscoll, in an interview for the 1999 documentary film Return
With Honor, said that on Sunday morning, prisoners across camp would recite the Lords Prayer and the Pledge of
Allegiance. We did this every single Sunday, he told the filmmakers. Driscolls love of country and his faith in
God got him through Vietnam, his wife said. A devout Catholic, he fashioned a rosary in prison, using old bread to
make a cross, toothpaste tins for beads, and a moccasin string to hold everything together. A rat took a bite out of the
cross, but he managed to keep the rosary hidden from guards.
Driscoll visited Vietnam in the 1990s, and wasnt bitter about his experience as a POW, his wife said. I was
probably madder than he was. He had no ill will whatsoever. They did their job, I did mine is what he said.
Driscoll, whose many commendations included a Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Bronze
Stars with Valor, returned home in February 1973. He stayed with the Air Force as an instructor and teacher and
finished his career in 1987 as a colonel, commander of a ROTC detachment at the University of California-Berkeley.
After the Air Force, Driscoll was a commercial pilot for 22 years, including 13 years with American Airlines. In
addition to his wife, Driscoll is survived by a son, Donald; two stepchildren, Kim Gehrman White and Jason
Gehrman, and six grandchildren. There will be a mass at 11 a.m. March 1 at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
in Medina, with visitation an hour before. [Source: Star Tribune | Mike Hughlett | February 29, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: Bill Plackett

4 Mar 2016

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Bill Plackett, who improved off-duty education opportunities for
enlisted and led efforts to counter sexual harassment as women joined the fleet in greater numbers, died 4 MAR. He
was 78. Plackett, a native of Paxton, Illinois, joined 1956 training as a radioman. He rose to chief petty officer in
1967 and master chief 12 years later. Along the way, he served in numerous at sea and overseas assignments rising
to be the Atlantic Fleet fleet master chief in 1982. He took "the chair" of MCPON in 1985, where he served for
three years.
A strong advocate for off-duty education, Plackett was selected in 1971 to an associate's degree program, from
which he graduated with honors. He didnt stop there. With at least a year left on the degree completion program he
was awarded an academic scholarship at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, graduating magna cum laude
with a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational education just a year later.

66

On the eve of his selection to MCPON, Placket was interviewed by Navy Times, expressing his desire to
continue the developing greater professionalism among the senior enlisted community and stated it started much
earlier in a sailors career. "We're on a brink now of stepping over the boundary of traditional uses and employment
of enlisted personnel," he said. "We're going to have to work smarter with fewer people doing more jobs, we're
going to have to develop a professional progression through through all the enlisted ranks as we go along we
need to tighten up our leadership training at all levels." Plackett expressed this desire during his interview with thenChief of Naval Operations Adm. James Watkins, who was also a strong advocate of leadership education.
Plackett delivered on his promise. Even though leadership education existed in the Leadership Management
Education and Training Program, he felt it wasnt effective and instituted changes to make it more effective, from
petty officer indoctrination programs all the way to the most senior ranks. He laid the ground for the creation of the
command master chief course. "We had a command master chief program but nobody knew what the hell it was
about," Plackett pointed out. "There were command master chiefs out there who didn't know the resources that were
available to them." There was much more that Plackett navigated during his time in the chair. Women were just
gaining a foothold at sea and he worked hard for equal opportunity and integration in the ranks. He also worked to
reinforce up-and-out policies at all ranks, creating the basis of today's high-year tenure.
"The challenge as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is to face that new situation, deal with each with
dignity, and overcome the problem," Plackett told the Navy newspaper Sea Services Weekly on the eve of his
retirement. "My goal as MCPON was to do these three years and finish knowing that I have not made any chief
petty officer ashamed of being a chief. It goes back to ethics and being able and having the courage to stand up to
the CNO, or any flag or captain because you hold those individuals in high esteem and say to them that they
are wrong. It's a very lonely feeling, but that's what this position is for. Plackett retired in 1988 and lived in Virginia
Beach, remaining active in the Navy community.
"Hearing the news of MCPON Plackett's passing was difficult," said current MCPON Mike Stevens. "Bill was
instrumental in tackling some of our Navy's most challenging issues. If legacy is the lantern that lights the path for
others to follow, there is no doubt in my mind that Bill's path shines brightly today for all sailors." He is survived by
his wife, Karen; his children, Cheryl White, Richard, Julia, and Brian. He leaves behind seven grandchildren, and
two great-grandchildren. [Source: Navy Times | Mark Faram | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: Elizabeth Strohfus

6 Mar 2016

67

Pioneering Minnesota aviator Elizabeth Strohfus, who piloted military planes across the country during World War
II and received two Congressional Gold Medals, has died at age 96, her son said 7 MAR. Strohfus died Sunday
night at a Faribault assisted living center after being placed in hospice care after a fall a few weeks ago, said her son,
Art Roberts of Northfield. Strohfus was one of the last remaining members of Women Airforce Service Pilots, or
WASP. She ferried military planes in 1943 and 1944, and helped train air and infantry gunners at Las Vegas Army
Airfield. She was one of 1,074 female pilots to earn silver wings in the WASP. The female pilots flew military
aircraft in noncombat roles during wartime to free up male pilots for combat. The women were considered civilians
until Congress retroactively granted them veteran status in 1977.

After graduating from high school, Strohfus borrowed $100 from a bank using her bicycle as collateral to join the
previously all-male Sky Club. She was a member of the Civil Air Patrol before joining WASP, the Faribault Daily
News reported. As a young woman, Strohfus was so intrigued with flying that she spent many afternoons after work
at the Faribault airport, thumbing rides from pilots. Roberts said her mother would say she loved to climb trees as a
young girl. "She would be up there all day, if she could," Roberts said. "She just liked being up high and looking at
the world." After WASP was disbanded in December 1944, Strohfus worked as an aircraft controller in Wyoming
before returning to her hometown of Faribault, about 50 miles south of Minneapolis, where she married and raised a
family. A member of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, Strohfus received two Congressional Gold Medals: one
for her service as a WASP and the second for her service in the Civil Air Patrol.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said she was saddened to learn of Strohfus' death. In a statement, Klobuchar
said Strohfus "served out country admirably," not only during WWII as a WASP but also after the war advocating
for her fellow WASPs. Klobuchar has been calling for allowing WASPs to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery,
after the Army recently reversed its policy allowing the women to be interred at Arlington. Strohfus planned to be
buried in Minnesota but supported allowing WASPs to be buried at Arlington, her son said. Funeral arrangements
are pending. [Source: Associated Press | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

Retiree Appreciation Days

As of 13 Mar2016

Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs) are designed with you 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 schedule is provided in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, Retiree Activity\Appreciation
Days (RAD) Schedule. Note that this schedule has been expanded to include dates for retiree\veterans related
68

events such as town hall meetings, resource fairs, stand downs, etc. For more information call the phone numbers of
the Retirement Services Officer (RSO) sponsoring the RAD as indicated in the attachment. An up-to-date list of
Retiree Appreciation Days can always be accessed online 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
[Source: RAD List Manager | Milton Bell | March 14, 2015 ++]
********************************

Vet Hiring Fairs

16 Mar thru 15 Apr 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 .
Glendale, AZ - Phoenix Hiring Expo with Arizona Coyotes Details Register
March 17 - 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ - Job Seeker Employment Workshops Details Register
March 19 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Fort Bliss, TX - Fort Bliss Transition Summit Details Register
March 23 - 4:00 pm to March 24 - 4:00 pm
Fort Sam Houston, TX - Wounded Veteran & Caregiver Employment Conference Details Register
March 29 - 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
Carlisle, PA - Military Spouse Networking Reception Details Register
March 30 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Employer Best Practices Webinar Details Register
March 31 - 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ - Transition Summit Details Register
April 7 - 10:00 am to April 8 - 4:00 pm
McLean, VA - DC Military Spouse Networking Reception Details Register
April 12 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Washington, DC - Hiring Expo with Washington Wizards Details Register
April 13 - 10:15 am to 3:00 pm
Patrick Air Force Base, FL - Military Spouse Event Details Register
April 14 - 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
[Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assn March 14, 2016 ++]
********************************
69

Veteran State Benefits & Discounts

New Jersey 2016

The state of New Jersey 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 NJ 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://www.nj.gov/military & http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/new-jersey.html .
Housing Benefits
Financial Assistance Benefits

Employment Benefits

Education Benefits
Other State Veteran Benefits
Discounts

[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/new-jersey-state-veterans-benefits.html
Mar 2016 ++]

* Vet Legislation *

National Guard TAD TRICARE Coverage

Action Alert | H.R.4554

NGAUS strongly supports H.R. 4554, a bill that would provide states the authority to extend health care coverage
for National Guard members and their families when the member is temporarily ordered into State Active Duty to
assist with a natural disaster or emergency, in specific instances. Since 2010, hundreds of National Guard members
have begun serving on full-time federal duty status as part of the Department of Defense's Homeland Response
Force (HRF). These units provide our nation with rapid response capabilities in the event of chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive incidents. Given their full-time federal status, these members and their
families are eligible for federal health benefits.
HRF units are also used to respond to state and local emergencies at state expense and under control of the
governor. However, for these Guard members to assist in a state emergency, they must be taken off full-time Federal
duty status and placed temporarily into State active duty status, causing a break in TRICARE benefits for them and
their families. While states reimburse the Department of Defense for resources used to activate HRF units for state
emergencies, current law prevents them from paying to extend health coverage for these Guard members during
these short periods of time. In state emergencies, this means governors and military commanders are forced to
choose between not using well-trained HRF personnel or disrupting health care coverage for these Guard members
70

and their families. This bill provides states the authority to extend health care coverage to members of the National
Guard during state active duty status emergencies and requires them to reimburse DoD for health coverage for the
period they are off federal duty. To support this legislation go to the NGAUS Action Alert site at
http://www.ngaus.org/advocating-national-guard/take-action?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f44717%2frespond to forward
a preformatted email to your legislator. [Source: NGAUS Washington Report | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

SBP DIC Offset Update 44

H.R.1594/S.979 | Eliminate the Offset

Survivors of deceased servicemembers are required to forfeit all or part of their military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
annuity when military service results in the death of their sponsor. This is often referred to as the widows' tax.
Retiring servicemembers may purchase SBP insurance coverage to provide their surviving spouse up to 55 percent
of their retired pay in the event of their death for any reason. SBP coverage is automatically provided for deaths that
occur on active duty. If death is determined by the VA to be service-connected, the VA pays the survivor an
additional payment called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Currently DIC recipients receive
$1,254 monthly, or about $15,000 a year. However, under the current law, the amount of DIC awarded must be
deducted from military SBP annuities. The widow's tax wipes out most - if not all - of the SBP for the vast majority
of survivors. For instance, in the case of an E-6:

In multiple Congresses, lawmakers acknowledged the inequity and co-sponsored corrective legislation to
recognize SBP and DIC are paid for different reasons. SBP is a servicemember-purchased annuity, whereas DIC is
an indemnity payment when military service caused the member's death. Further, service-disabled retirees have
limited opportunities to purchase additional life insurance, and policies that are available impose exorbitant
premiums. No other federal surviving spouse is required to forfeit his or her federal annuity because military
service caused his or her sponsor's death. Additionally, the offset does not apply to surviving military children only to the spouse.
Tasked by Congress to review the widows' tax in October 2007, the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission
(VDBC) agreed with MOAA and other veterans associations that when military service causes the member's death
the VA indemnity compensation should be paid in addition to the SBP annuity, not subtracted from it. In 2008,
Congress authorized a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) as partial recompense for the SBP-DIC
inequity. Then-House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), expressed the intent to
continue increasing the SSIA and ultimately phase out the widow's tax. SSIA is $275 per month in FY16, and will
rise to $310 per month in FY17, covering about 25 percent of the SBP-DIC offset. However, the legal authority to
pay SSIA expires on Oct 1, 2017. Unless Congress repeals the SBP-DIC offset or extends the SSIA authority this
year, SBP-DIC survivors will suffer the additional loss of the SSIA, totaling $3,700 annually.

71

MOAA believes the SBP-DIC offset should be repealed. Because of the current budget environment, securing
sufficient funding for a total repeal - approximately $6.5 billion - will be difficult. If full and immediate repeal is not
feasible, SSIA should be extended and increased to continue the path toward phasing out the offset. There are two
current bills that would repeal the widows' tax. Readers are encouraged to click the following links and send a
MOAA preformatted editable message to their legislators requesting they support this legislation or thank them for
signing on as a cosponsor of the legislation and encourage future support to eliminate the dollar for dollar offset of
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) from VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
H.R.1594 http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=64926801 sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
S.979 http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/bills/?bill=65608636 sponsored Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).
[Source: MOAA Leg Up | March 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Peer Specialist

S.2210 | Veteran Peer Act

Senators Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Baldwin, and Ed Markey introduced S. 2210, the Veteran Partners' Efforts to
Enhance Reintegration Act, also known as the "Veteran PEER Act." If enacted into law this bill would require the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a pilot program of peer specialists to work as members of VA's
patient-aligned care teams, for the purpose of promoting the integration of mental health services in VA primary care
settings. Overall and ultimately, the bill would authorize the establishment of this pilot program in 25 VA sites,
including no less than five of VA's polytrauma centers. The bill would require a series of reports, including a final
report to recommend whether the program should be expanded beyond the pilot program sites.
Peer specialists are VA employees who promote recovery by sharing their own histories as consumers of mental
health services. They provide encouragement and teach skills to other veterans to aid in their recoveries from
mental health challenges. Peer specialists also serve as case management assistants, help others to gain access to the
right mental health services, and teach coping and self-advocacy skills. The VA currently employs peer specialists in
its mental health programs, and in VA's Readjustment Counseling Centers (Vet Centers). These specialists have
proven to be highly successful in aiding in veterans' recoveries and in reducing the stigma that dissuades veterans
from seeking services.
DAV strongly supports this bill based on DAV National Resolution No. 103. This resolution urges improved
outreach through general media for stigma reduction and suicide prevention; sufficient staffing to meet demand for
mental health services; and enhanced resources for VA mental health programs, including Vet Centers, to achieve
readjustment of new war veterans and continued effective mental health care for all enrolled veterans needing such
services. This bill is consistent with the intent of Resolution 103. They are requesting vets to write their Senators to
urge them to cosponsor and work for passage of S.2210. DAV has provided a preformatted editable letter at
https://www.dav.org/can/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f45199%2fRespond
via their DAV Commanders Action
Network to assist veterans in submitting a letter with the intent of getting Congress to pass this legislation. [Source:
DAV National Commander | March 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Blue Water Claims Update 32

S.681/H.R.969 | Colorado Senate Resolution

The state Senate passed a resolution 7 MAR meant to highlight the lack of benefits for some Vietnam veterans
possibly exposed to Agent Orange. Sponsored by state Sen. Laura Woods, R-Arvada, the non-binding resolution
encourages Congress to pass legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate last
72

year. The resolution argues that during the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 22 million gallons
of Agent Orange and other harmful herbicides that later were linked to causing disabling diseases. Congress passed
the federal "Agent Orange Act of 1991" to presumptively recognize eligible military personnel as those who served
in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975. That status gave access to disability compensation and medical care to veterans
diagnosed to herbicide-related illnesses.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs originally allowed the presumption to include all veterans of Vietnam
but in 2002 made a revision that required a veteran prove "that he or she had set foot on the land or entered an
internal river or stream," to receive benefits. The change made those benefits virtually inaccessible for veterans who
couldn't prove they had "boots on the ground," namely Navy and Marine veterans who served off the coast or in
bays and harbors. John Rossie, executive director for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association, said those
offshore military personnel were within miles of the coastline and came in contact with Agent Orange either by air
or from river run-off into the ocean that often was desalinated and used as drinking water. "The molecules of Agent
Orange contain dioxin, which they're saying stopped at the shoreline, but science finds that not to be true. In 50
years, they're still unable to come up with a possible second source that could have led to these diseases it's a
logical 'slap yourself on the forehead' kind of thing," Rossie said.
A study done in 2009 by the Institute of Medicine "recommended that veterans who served off the coast of
Vietnam not be excluded from the presumption of exposure," according to the resolution. "I was there for a year
you can't tell me that I wasn't exposed," said Steve Rylant, former president of the United Veterans Committee or
Colorado. "If we're going to send people to war, we better be ready to take care of them when they come back."
Colorado is now among 16 states to have passed a similar resolution in support of the federal S.681/H.R.969 "Blue
Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015." The passing of Monday's resolution encourages Congress to restore the
presumption of service to those who served offshore in the Vietnam War. To celebrate, dozens of Vietnam veterans
took to the steps of the state Capitol for Gov. John Hickenlooper's proclamation of 7 MAR as Vietnam Veterans
Appreciation Day. [Source: Denver Post | Natalie Munio | March 7, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Vet Choice Program Update 32

S.2633 Needed to Fix Program

During a hearing on the VA budget on 4 MAR, Senate appropriators reproached the VA for the botched rollout of
Veterans Choice, which has been beset by access problems and delays in payments and care. Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
(R-AK) said Veterans Choice destroyed a carefully built system of community care for Alaska veterans and she
implored Shulkin to fix it. [The term you used to describe Veterans Choice], 'somewhat problematic,' is not what
Im hearing from veterans," Murkowski said. "They are saying it is fouled up, it is screwed up. It is unacceptable. ...
We had corrected it and you came in and created chaos."

73

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin

Sen. Jon Tester

"The intent of the Choice act was to give veterans more opportunities to seek timely care in their communities,
but as we all know, in practice, it simply is not happening," said Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) who placed the blame on
the VA, the original legislation and Health Net Federal Services, the contractor overseeing VA Choice appointments
and the provider network in his state. "Health Net is inept, and until they step up and do the job they were hired to
do, and paid to do, Im going remain being very, very critical of the work they do," Tester said. The VA has made
several changes to the program, to include hiring more claims processing staff and establishing new productivity
standards. It also asked Congress for legislation to allow VA to streamline several community care programs into a
single entity that will have better defined eligibility rules and smoother access to appointments and medical care
legislation introduced Thursday by Tester and co-sponsored by four other Democratic senators.
The legislation S.2633, a bill to improve the ability of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide health care to
veterans through non-Department health care providers, and for other purposes, would consolidate seven VA
community care programs and include physician and contractor participation requirements. Tester said he would
work with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to get the legislation, which has the VA's support, passed. Shulkin
said the legislation is needed to fix a program that has good intentions for veterans. "The Choice program is not
working the way anyone wanted. ... We are going to stick at this until we can get this working better for veterans,"
Shulkin said. [Source: Military Times | Patricia Kime | March 4, 2016 ++]
*******************************

VA Vet Choice Program Update 33

Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016

North Carolina's senior senator is hoping to improve veterans' care with new legislation that would make it easier for
them to get care outside the VA. Sen. Richard Burr introduced the Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016 on 9
MAR. The bill, if approved, would make a number of changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs does
business with outside care providers. Among other changes, it would institute a new payment schedule meant to
ensure private health care providers are reimbursed in a timelier manner. Earlier this month, VA leaders
acknowledged issues with the timeliness of those payments.
On 1 MAR, VA officials announced they were eliminating some of the administrative hurdles preventing timely
payments: namely, they would no longer require a copy of the veteran's medical record to be submitted before
payment. Burr's bill would go further, requiring payment within 30 days for electronic claims and 45 days for paper
claims. The bill, which builds on the Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2014, would "eliminate the redundant,
bureaucratic layering that is causing our veterans to experience confusion and delay," according to Burr's office. The
senator said his bill would build on that 2014 legislation. "The creation of the Veterans Choice program nearly two
years ago was a good start, but there is much more we need to do if we are going to fulfill our promises to our
veterans," Burr said. "I've heard from many veterans in North Carolina who tell me that they are still experiencing

74

significant frustrations and delay in getting health care. My legislation cuts down on the bureaucratic delays, hassles
and confusion that is standing in between veterans and the health care they need."

Sen. Richard Burr

Several other Senate Republicans, including North Carolina's junior senator, Thom Tillis, co-sponsored the bill.
In a statement, Tillis said the legislation would reduce wasteful redundancies within the VA and modernize an
outdated claims submission process. "We cannot let the failure of the VA bureaucracy prevent our veterans from
receiving the health care they need and deserve," Tillis said. According to Burr's office, the legislation would:
Make permanent the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to seek outside care based on long
waits and distance from VA care.
Consolidate several existing programs into the program while inhibiting the ability of the VA to establish a
"tiered network" that would prevent veterans from choosing among local providers. "Our veterans fought
to defend our country, and we promised them the best health care in the world," Burr's office said. "This
legislation seeks to make good on that sacred promise."
Allow the VA to enter into contracts or sharing agreements with other health care providers for services not
available in VA facilities, and expand the restrictions on reimbursement for emergency medical
transportation, allowing ambulance providers to be reimbursed for costs of care that are not directly
connected to service-related injuries and ailment. "Congress must take action on this legislation so that
every American veteran will finally be able to rely on quality care without having to wait or drive far,"
Burr said.
Force the VA to begin disability compensation payments to some veterans of Camp Lejeune no more than
90 days after the VA establishes a "presumption of a service-connected disability" for those affected by
poisoned water at the North Carolina Marine Corps base (a North Carolina-specific requirement).
[Source: The Fayetteville Observer | Drew Brooks | March 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress

160301 thru 160315

Refer to this Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation attachment for a listing of Congressional bills of
interest to the veteran community introduced in the 114 th Congress. The list contains the bills number and name,
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 or cosponsor of it by entering the bill number in the sites
75

search engine. To determine what bills, amendments your representative/senator 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.
You can also go to
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php.
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 A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE

HOUSE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

H.R.4660 : Jobs for Veterans Act of 2016. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep
King, Peter T. [NY-2] (introduced 3/2/2016)
H.R.4683 : Military Mental Health Related Discharges. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to
provide for a review of the characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals
with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6]
(introduced 3/3/2016)
H.R.4684 : VA Mental Health Care for VA Non-Rated Vets. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former members of
the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive such care, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep
Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced 3/3/2016)
H.R.4689 : VA Claim Processing Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with administrative contractors for the processing of
claims for hospital care and medical services furnished in non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Sponsor: Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-3] (introduced 3/3/2016)

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE

SENATE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

S.2633 : Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act. A bill to improve the ability of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide health care to veterans through non-Department health care
providers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 3/3/2016)
S.2646 : Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
establish the Veterans Choice Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve health care
provided to veterans by the Department, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC]
(introduced 3/7/2016)
76

S.2649 : Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016. A bill to modify the treatment of the costs
of health care furnished under section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
to veterans covered by health-plan contracts. Sponsor: Sen Rounds, Mike [SD] (introduced 3/8/2016)
S.2660 : VA Health Care Cost Report. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for an evaluation and report on the costs of health care furnished by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Rounds, Mike [SD] (introduced
3/10/2016)

[Source: https://beta.congress.gov & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills March 14, 2016 ++]

* Military *

Armed Services YMCA

Free Membership Program Extended

The Defense Department has extended for another year a program that provides free memberships at YMCAs to
certain service members and families. The program is designed to provide a benefit for those who don't live near
military installations' morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Armed Services YMCA partners with more than
1,500 community YMCAs and more than 1,400 national and independent fitness centers nationwide for the Military
Outreach Initiative. The Defense Department pays for the memberships. Service members at approved independent
duty locations have the option to join a private fitness facility, with DoD paying a maximum of $50 per month and
the service member paying the difference. This must go through an approval process. Families are not eligible to be
included in the private fitness facility memberships, but can be included in the YMCA memberships. Those eligible:

Families of National Guard and reserve members deployed on active-duty Title 10 orders for a minimum of
six months.
Active-duty members and their families assigned to independent duty locations where commands dont
have access to free fitness equipment.
Spouses who have moved from the installation during the military members deployment of at least six
months.
Community-based wounded warrior transition units.
Respite child care is offered in some areas, but that may be limited by eligibility requirements and
availability. Not every YMCA or fitness center provides these services.

Single service members and married service members at approved independent duty locations have the option to
join a private fitness facility, but the benefit is limited to a maximum of $50 per month. Any amount over $50 will
be the responsibility of the service member, as well as registration fees. Since this program began in 2008, the
Military Outreach Initiative has provided more than 85,000 memberships. For more information about locations,
77

eligibility and applying for the program, visit the Armed Services YMCA site. [Source:
Jowers | March 2, 2016 ++]

Military Times | Karen

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

Perdix

Micro-Drones Program

The Pentagons secretive Strategic Capabilities Office has been testing micro-drones that can be dropped from
moving fighter jets for nearly two years and for the first time, there is video to show it. The Pentagon released a
2014 clip of the programs testing to The Washington Post and allowed the newspaper to photograph the one-pound
aircraft in an office setting after the director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, William Roper, agreed to a rare
interview. It marks one of the first times that images of the micro-drones have been released, and underscores the
unusual ways in which the Defense Department is considering incorporating unmanned aircraft.
The video released to The Post shows a flare canister falling after being released from an F-16 fighter jet over
Alaska moving at 430 mph. A tiny parachute slows its fall until the canister breaks open, releasing the drone inside.
Another video reviewed by The Post, but not yet released, shows the micro-drones flying in packs of at least 20. The
program is named Perdix, after a character in Greek mythology who was changed into a partridge by the god
Athena. It costs about $20 million less than the price of a single fighter jet and calls for SCO to figure out a
way to launch drones from fighter jets, with all the constraints that might entail. There are a lot of what would seem
like unfuturistic considerations that are the biggest drivers of that program, Roper said. Its not like theres a trunk
in the fighter where Oh, well just put these in the trunk and kick it out.'

This close-up photograph (left) shows a Perdix micro-drone, which the Pentagon wants to drop out of fighter jets and fly
in packs. William Roper (right), director of the Pentagons Strategic Capabilities Office, demonstrates micro-drones his
office is testing through the Perdex.

[Source: The Washington Post | Dan Lamothe | March 8, 2016 ++]

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

National Guard MilTech Conversion

44 Governors Want Law Repealed

Forty-four governors, both Republicans and Democrats, including those in Guam and Puerto Rico, have asked
congressional leaders to repeal a law converting some National Guard military technicians into federal civilian
employees. "We are gravely concerned about how this provision will affect overall National Guard readiness and our
ability to use the Guard to respond to emergencies," they wrote in a letter sent last week to majority and minority
leaders in the House and Senate. Under the fiscal 2016 National Defense Authorization Act that is now law, some
Guard dual-status technicians lose their Title 32 status and become federal civilian employees under Title 5.
78

The governors wrote, "These conversions would exacerbate two consecutive years of reductions in National
Guard uniformed end strength and deny governors' access to thousands of dual-status technicians available for
immediate military response to domestic emergencies." They said Defense Department "senior leadership" voiced
the same concern during a meeting last month of the Council of Governors. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Jack
Reed (D-RI), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have defended the move,
saying it would enhance readiness and put technicians more in line with the 1968 law that says technicians are to
train Guardsmen and maintain equipment. Technicians do far more than that these days, the senators wrote in a letter
recently to the Council of Governors.
In last week's letter, the governors say they are willing to work with Congress and the Pentagon to find a
"collective solution," but say there is too little time before the law takes effect in January 2017. Therefore, they ask
the senators and House members to repeal that section of the law in the fiscal 2017 version of the NDAA. [Source:
NGAUS Washington Report | arch 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

Michigan Women Servicemembers

Wanted for UofM Survey

The University of Michigan is conducting a study to learn more about the experiences of women, including their
experiences while serving in the military, and once separated, any unique challenges and successes and gaps in
services for women. The study includes:
A 20-minute online survey that asks about experiences as a woman in the military.
A phone interview that will further explore experiences as a woman in the military, including any successes
and challenges related to accessing care and services and what types of programs are most needed. The
interview is expected to take about 1.5 hours.
To be eligible, women must be 18 years of age or older, currently reside in Michigan and have served during the
Post-9/11 era. All information shared for this study is confidential, and participants will be reimbursed $50 when
participation is complete. To learn more, contact Stephanie Thompson at womenvets@umich.edu or at 734-9985834. [Source: MVAA Sandbox Bulletin | March 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

Guantanamo Bay Navy Base Update 02

Handover to Cuba Rumor

House lawmakers worried President Barack Obama is set to give away the Navy base at Guantanamo Bay to Cuba
mounted a pre-emptive legislative strike this week. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, introduced a bill 3 MAR that blocks a handover of the military base, which has become world famous
for its terrorist prison, without the approval of Congress. Meanwhile, Rep. Mac Thornberry R-TX) sent letters to the
Pentagon, State Department and White House demanding assurances that no such handover plan is in the works.
The concerns come after Obama announced a trip to the Communist country later this month the first by an
American president in nearly 90 years signaling a thaw in relations after a five-decade-old Cold War standoff and
trade embargo. Cuba President Raul Castro urged the United States to return the Navy base but the White House has
repeatedly denied it is considering such a move. While giving the base to the Castro regime may not be a part of
this trip, as the White House insists, its long record of one-sided concessions and lack of transparency over Cuba
policy makes me very concerned about the status of this key naval station, Royce said in a released statement.

79

Royce, whose bill is called the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Preservation Act, called the facility a critical
national security and foreign policy asset that military brass consider indispensable. The Navy has used the facility
since 1903, though the communist government in Havana has protested since the 1959 revolution there. Too much
is at stake for our president to unilaterally cede this base to a Castro regime that denies its people basic rights and
freedoms while allying with governments hostile to U.S. interests, Royce said in the release.
On a separate political track, the Obama administration has been working against Republicans in Congress to
close the detention facility at Guantanamo, which has housed enemy combatants since just after 9/11. The closure
has hit a political roadblock over where to transfer the remaining detainees, with widespread opposition to moving
them inside the United States. Now, Thornberry, who is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said many
lawmakers are concerned about the potential turnover of the Navy base, despite the White House denials, and that is
why he requested clear statements from the administration on its intentions. I admit a lot of this is rumor but theres
concern about the presidents trip to Cuba, Thornberry said. Ive had a number of [House] members come up to
me every time we come to vote and want to talk to me about this.
Statements by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on the issue have not been as clear as they could be,
Thornberry said. Last month, Earnest said a handover was not being considered and pointed out the White House
had repeated that many times. He was asked 2 MAR whether Obama is planning to make an announcement
regarding the Navy base during his trip to Cuba on March 21-22. Well, I know that the president is not planning to
visit the military facility on this trip, so I guess not, Earnest told reporters. The Pentagon on 29 FEB also denied
there is any consideration of turning over the facility to the Castro government. Basically, its a strategic location,
weve had it for a long time, its important to us and we intend to hold onto it, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said.
[Source: Stars and Stripes | Travis J. Tritten | March 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

Military Trivia 119

Army Hospital Ships

During the American Civil War, the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC) set up a system of hospital ships for
wounded and sick soldiers though the USSC was a private agency, it cooperated closely with the U.S. Army. At
the request of the Army, the USSC created the Hospital Transport Service, acquiring 16 medium and large boats and
converting them into hospital ships. At least one of the ships outfitted by the USSC was later transferred to the
Navy.
The Army converted a passenger line into a kind of floating Ambulance, named Relief, and used it for a short period
during the Spanish-American War (20 April-12 August 1898). In 1902, the Navy acquired the ship and operated it
as USS Relief. During World War II, the Army decided it was their responsibility to transport their wounded, and so
wanted to arrange evacuation with her own ships. The very first Army Hospital Ship to sail on its maiden trip was
USAHS Acadia, followed by USAHS Shamrock and USAHS Seminole.

Chateau Thierry as Hospital ship in World War II

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The Army Transport Service operated a total of 24 hospital ships which were manned by "civilian" crews,
employees of the Army Transport Service. The medical staff were Army personnel. The hospital ships were operated
under the provisions of the Hague Convention X of 1907, which specified:
Ship must be clearly marked and lighted as a hospital ship
The ship should give medical assistance to wounded personnel of all nationalities
The ship must not be used for any military purpose
The ship must not interfere with or hamper enemy combatant vessels
Belligerents, as designated by the Hague Convention, can search any hospital ship to investigate violations
of the above restrictions
Belligerents will establish the location of a hospital ship
The specified markings proved inadequate, so large illuminated red crosses on deck were added for aerial
visibility at night. Hospital ships were allowed to carry medical supplies as cargo for the battlefield. Most of the
Army hospital ships of WWII were former passenger liners or troopships which were disarmed, repainted, and
renovated for hospital use six of them were Liberty ships that were converted for hospital use. Some had
complicated operational lives prior to becoming a Hospital Ship for the Army. The ships, listed by date of
commission as Army Hospital Ship, were:
3 May 43 - USAHS Acadia - former East coast passenger ship Acadia, converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 787 patients.
8 May 43 - USAHS Seminole - former East coast passenger ship converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 454 patients.
8 May 43 - USAHS Seminole - former East coast passenger ship converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 454 patients.
3 Aug 43 - USAHS Shamrock - formerly USAT Agwileon (originally passenger steamship Havana)
converted into a hospital ship with a capacity for 543 patients. [this was the second career as Hospital Ship
with previous service during WWI as AH-3 USS Comfort]
11 Sep 43 - USAHS Algonquin - former East coast passenger ship Algonquin converted into a hospital ship
with a capacity for 454 patients.
29 Nov 43 - USAHS Thistle, former East coast passenger ship Munargo (commissioned by the Navy as
AP-20 USS Munargo, decommissioned by the Navy and acquired by the Army in 1943), converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 455 patients.
29 Nov 43 - USAHS Chteau Thierry - formerly USAT Chteau Thierry (1921) transferred to the Navy
(1941) and commissioned as AP-31 USS Chteau Thierry, returned to the Army and converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 484 patients.
3 Jan 44 - USAHS Ernest Hinds - former East coast passenger ship Kent, commissioned as USAT Ernest
Hinds (1941), transferred to the Navy and commissioned as AP-28 USS Kent (1941), decommissioned
(1942) and returned to ATS, renamed USAT Ernest Hinds, converted into a hospital ship with a capacity for
288 patients.
3 Feb 44 - USAHS Dogwood former Liberty Ship George W. Carver, converted into a hospital ship with
a capacity for 592 patients.
18 Feb 44 - USAHS Larkspur originally German commercial steamer Breslau seized in WWI,
transferred to the Navy and renamed Bridgeport (1917) and designated as a Repair Ship, commissioned as
ID #3009 USS Bridgeport (ID #3009), designated AD-10 in 1920, decommissioned 1924, turned over to
the US Army in 1942 and converted into a hospital ship with a capacity for 594 patients.
22 Feb 44 - USAHS St. Mihiel - former troopship USAT St. Mihiel converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 504 patients.
23 Feb 44 - USAHS Wisteria former Liberty Ship William Osler, converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 588 patients.
24 Feb 44 - USAHS John L. Clem, former East
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24 Feb 44 - USAHS Marigold - former transoceanic passenger ship President Fillmore, converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 758 patients.
24 Feb 44 - USAHS St. Olaf - former Liberty ship converted into a hospital ship with a capacity for 586
patients.
2 Mar 44 - USAHS Emily H. M. Weder former transoceanic passenger ship-President Buchanan,
converted into a hospital ship with a capacity for 738 patients.
20 Apr 44 - USAHS Jarrett M. Huddleston - former Liberty ship Samuel F. B. Morse, converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 582 patients.
20 Apr 44 - USAHS John J. Meany - former Liberty ship Zebulon B. Vance, converted into a hospital ship
with a capacity for 582 patients.
20 Apr 44 - USAHS Blanche F. Sigman - former Liberty ship Stanford White, converted into a hospital
ship with a capacity for 590 patients.
16 May 44 - USAHS Charles A. Stafford originally East coast passenger ship Siboney, acquired by the
U.S. Navy and commissioned in 1918 as ID 2999 USS Siboney, decommissioned 1919, acquired by the
U.S. Army (1941) and commissioned as USAT Siboney, renamed and converted into a hospital ship with a
capacity for 706 patients.
19 Sep 44 - USAHS Louis A. Milne former cargo ship Lewis Luckenbach, converted into a hospital ship
with a capacity for 952 patients.
11 Dec 44 - USAHS Ernestine Koranda former cargo ship Dorothy Luckenbach, converted into a hospital
ship with a capacity for 722 patients.
13 Feb 45 - USAHS Aleda E. Lutz - former transoceanic passenger ship Colombie, converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 778 patients.
13 Feb 45 - USAHS Frances Y. Slanger - former transoceanic passenger ship Saturnia, converted into a
hospital ship with a capacity for 1,628 patients.
13 Feb 45 - USAHS Republic originally transoceanic passenger liner Republic, commissioned by the U.S.
Navy as USS President Grant (ID# 3014) in 1917, commissioned by the Army Transportation Service
(ATS) as USAT Republic in 1920, decommissioned 1921, reacquired by ATS in 1931 and recommissioned
USAT Republic, acquired by the Navy and commissioned USS Republic (AP-33) in 1941, decommissioned
in 1945 and transferred to ATS and converted into Hospital Ship with patient capacity for 1,242 patients.

USAHS John Clem, the smallest of the hospital ships, carried only one surgical team, while Acadia, with a
capacity for 788 patients, carried 3. Shamrock, Thistle, Algonquin, Chteau Thierry, and Emily Weder carried 2
surgical teams each. In addition to its own ships, in WWII there were occasions in which the Army chartered civilian
ships as hospital ships - for example SS Mactan was used for the evacuation of Manila. Another example is the pair
of Dutch vessels, Maetsuycker and Tasman, that though they were operationally controlled by the U.S. Army, they
were certified as hospital ships by the Netherlands, maintained Dutch registry and flag. Patients Evacuated from
Overseas by Water and Debarked at Army Ports in United States totaled 67,395 in 1943, 144,923 in 1944, and
299,017 in 1945. [Source: About.com U.S. Military | Patrick Long | August 2015 ++]
********************************

Army Warrant Officer Retirement

Highest Grade Served

A recent change in federal law dealing with grade determinations for retiring warrant officers will be incorporated
into Army policy. Under a change to Section 1371 of Title 10 USC that was prompted by a provision of the 2016
National Defense Authorization Act, warrant officers "will be retired in the highest regular or reserve warrant officer
grade in which (they) served satisfactorily, as determined by the (service) secretary concerned. Previously the law
stipulated that warrant officers would be retired in the permanent or reserve warrant officer grade they held on the
day before their retirement, even if an officer had derogatory information placed in his or her official personnel file
82

since their last promotion. The legal change will be reflected in an upcoming revision of Army Regulation 15-80
(Grade Determination Review Board and Grade Determinations).
Until the publication of that change, the grade determination authorities specified in the current version of AR 1580 are authorized to conduct warrant officer grade determinations, according to a directive issued March 1 by
Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy. Grade determination authorities identified in the regulation include
the assistant secretary of the Army for review boards, and the Army Grade Determination Review Board. The
assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs will serve as proponent for the new policy, and its
inclusion in AR 15-80. [Source: Army Times | Jim Tice | March 4, 2016++]
********************************

Navy Physical Fitness

Body Fat Restrictions Loosened

The Navy is giving another chance to thousands of sailors who otherwise would be kicked out for repeatedly failing
their physical fitness tests because they exceeded body fat limits. The service branch loosened its body fat
restrictions in January and is allowing those who failed their exams three or more times to get one more opportunity
to be tested this spring under the more lenient guidelines. The Navy said it has been losing too many talented sailors.
Some were resorting to liposuction, diet pills and other measures to save their careers. The Navy allowed about
2,400 sailors who passed a preliminary test under the new rules to stay in, reducing the number of failures on their
records from three to one, said Navy spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen. In the past, three failures were
grounds for being kicked out. The sailors will be measured again this spring and allowed only two failures now
instead of three.
The changes are the latest by the military looking to improve its abilities to recruit and retain talented people as it
builds up its cyber-warfare strategy and faces competition from a rebounding economy. A 2014 Pentagon study
found that roughly two-thirds of Americans would not qualify to enlist in the armed services as a result of health
problems, obesity and the failure to complete a high school education. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the service is
not lowering standards but rather adjusting to reality: People today, in general, are bigger but not necessarily fat. The
Navy is also considering larger uniforms sizes for the first time in two decades. "It's far more realistic," Mabus said
of the new body fat standard. "We were kicking more people out of the Navy for failing that, than for drugs." The
number of sailors booted from the Navy annually because they did not meet physical standards has more than
doubled from 694 in 2011 to 1,536 in 2014.
The changes come amid debate over whether the physical requirements demanded of service members across the
board are still relevant or should be adjusted according to the job so the armed forces can maintain the pool of talent
it needs for today's high-tech warfare. There's been talk in the Army of easing up on strict body fat requirements for
its cyber-warriors, for example. All branches are reviewing their job standards to modernize their forces and prepare
for the opening of combat posts to women. From drone operators to cyber-warfare officers, "there are a number of
officers in jobs where it is really obvious why it would not make whole lot of difference what their weight is, other
than to the extent that the culture in the military disrespects it and therefore, they can't lead," said former Army
officer James Joyner, who teaches at the Marine Corps University. He believes the military must change. "It's absurd
the percentage of high school teenagers who are considered to be too fat to join the military," Joyner said. "Maybe
there are two problems: One, obesity, and the other that the standards are out of date and not relevant."
Some 34,000 sailors, or roughly 10 percent of the force, have failed the physical requirements at least once since
2011, mostly because of body fat, Christensen said. The Navy's old policy allowed for 22 percent body fat for males
ages 17-39, and 33 percent body fat for females ages 17-39. Sailors age 40 and older were allotted one additional
percentage point or 23 percent for males and 34 percent for women over 40. The new limits fall in line with the
Department of Defense standards and allow sailors to pass with a maximum 26 percent of body fat for men and 36
percent for women. Service members have long complained that the Defense Department's method of estimating
83

body fat punishes bulkier, muscular builds. Plastic surgeons in communities near bases have said up to a third of
their business comes from service members seeking liposuction to pass the exam.
The traditional, so-called "tape test" relies on measurements of the neck and waist to calculate one's body fat
percentage. Fitness experts have questioned its accuracy. The Air Force in 2013 started allowing airmen who fail the
tape test but pass physical fitness exams to be measured using the Body Mass Index, which is a chart based on an
individual's weight and height. The Navy adopted similar rules, expanded gym hours and provides fitness help to
post-partum sailors. Petty Officer Lentoyi White, 26, feared for her career, after failing twice. "I am very grateful
for a second chance with this new policy," said the single mother of a 5-year-old girl. White, based in Coronado,
California, uses a calorie-tracking app and does 30 minutes of cardio a day. She has gone from 212 pounds to 188
and is confident she'll pass this spring. [Source: The Associated Press | Julie Watson | March 6, 2016 ++]
********************************

Medal of Honor Citations

Howard~Jimmie E | VN

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

takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
To

Jimmie E. Howard
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant (then S/Sgt.) U.S. Marine Corps, Company C, 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 June 1966
Entered service: July 12, 1950.
Born: Burlington, IA July 27, 1929

Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. G/Sgt.
Howard and his 18-man platoon were occupying an observation post deep within enemy-controlled territory. Shortly
after midnight a Viet Cong force of estimated battalion size approached the marines' position and launched a vicious
attack with small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. Reacting swiftly and fearlessly in the face of the
overwhelming odds, G/Sgt. Howard skillfully organized his small but determined force into a tight perimeter
defense and calmly moved from position to position to direct his men's fire. Throughout the night, during assault
after assault, his courageous example and firm leadership inspired and motivated his men to withstand the
unrelenting fury of the hostile fire in the seemingly hopeless situation. He constantly shouted encouragement to his
men and exhibited imagination and resourcefulness in directing their return fire. When fragments of an exploding
enemy grenade wounded him severely and prevented him from moving his legs, he distributed his ammunition to
the remaining members of his platoon and proceeded to maintain radio communications and direct air strikes on the
enemy with uncanny accuracy. At dawn, despite the fact that 5 men were killed and all but 1 wounded, his
84

beleaguered platoon was still in command of its position. When evacuation helicopters approached his position,
G/Sgt. Howard warned them away and called for additional air strikes and directed devastating small-arms fire and
air strikes against enemy automatic weapons positions in order to make the landing zone as secure as possible.
Through his extraordinary courage and resolute fighting spirit, G/Sgt. Howard was largely responsible for
preventing the loss of his entire platoon. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the
men of his platoon to heroic endeavor in the face of overwhelming odds, and reflect the highest credit upon G/Sgt.
Howard, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.

Jimmie Earl Howard received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
San Diego, California. He was promoted to Private First Class upon graduation from recruit training in January
1951, then remained at the Recruit Depot as a drill instructor until December 1951. In his book Hill 488, Ray
Hildreth who served alongside Howard in Vietnam remembered: "Howard was a John Wayne type of guy. A hard
slab of a man with a poker face he walked into an area and you could almost hear the theme song from The Sands
Of Iwo Jima."] After completing advanced infantry training in February 1952, he was ordered to Korea where he
was assigned duty as a forward observer with the 4.2 Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his
service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart,
and the Navy Unit Commendation. He was a promoted to Corporal in March 1952.
Upon his return to the United States in April 1953, Cpl Howard served as Tactics Instructor, Headquarters and
Service Company, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. While
stationed at Camp Pendleton, he was promoted to Sergeant in June 1953. In March 1954, Sgt Howard joined the
Marine Detachment on board the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), as a squad leader. The following January, he returned to
Camp Pendleton and served as a squad leader, 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company. The 1st Amphibious
Reconnaissance Company was redesignated 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, and Sgt Howard remained with
this unit until September 1957. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in May 1956. From September 1957 until
April 1960, he served as Special Services Chief and a military policeman with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine
Division, Camp Pendleton.
Transferred to San Francisco, California, SSgt Howard was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. He served as
Special Services Noncommissioned Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and
later, as a platoon guide and platoon sergeant with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. Reassigned to the
Recruit Depot, San Diego, in August 1961, he joined Guard Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion and
served as Guard Noncommissioned Officer, Company First Sergeant and administrative man, respectively. He later
became Depot Special Service Assistant, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion there, and
served in the latter capacity until October 1964. The following month, he returned to Camp Pendleton, and was
assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He saw duty as Regimental Special Services Noncommissioned Officer with

85

Headquarters Battery, 11th Marine Regiment and in January 1965, became an instructor, Counterguerrilla Warfare
Course, Division Schools Center, Subunit #1, with Headquarters Battalion until March 1966.
From April until June 1966, SSgt Howard served as a platoon leader, with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion, 1st Marine Division. On the evening of June 13, 1966, SSgt Howard along with his platoon of 15
Marines and 2 Navy corpsmen were dropped behind enemy lines atop Hill 488. The mission of this recon unit was
to observe enemy troop movements in the valley and call in air and artillery strikes. Within days, the enemy
descended on them in force. His actions during this conflict resulted in him being awarded the Congressional Medal
of Honor. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned duty as Battalion Training Noncommissioned
Officer, Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.
Howard retired from the Marine Corps on March 31, 1977 at the rank of first sergeant.
Following his retirement, Howard lived in San Diego, California and worked for the local Veterans Affairs office.
Howard became involved in coaching/volunteering for Point Loma High School. He was a coach for the Point Loma
High School football team that went undefeated in 1987 and won the San Diego Section CIF championship. He was
also a coach for Point Loma High School football team that won the CIF championship again in 1991. When asked
why he liked coaching, Coach Howard stated the men he lost in combat were relatively the same age as the high
school football players and it reminded him of them. Jimmie E. Howard at age 64 died on November 12, 1993 at his
home in San Diego, California. He was buried in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. The Arleigh
Burke class guide missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG-83), named in honor of Jimmie E. Howard, was christened
on November 20, 1999 by 1stSgt Howard's widow, Theresa M. Howard.
[Source: http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html Mar 2016 ++]

* Military History *

Military History

Operation Mincemeat

In April 1943, a badly decomposed corpse was found by Spanish fisherman Antonio Rey Maria off the coast of
Huelva in southwestern Spain. He dragged the corpse ashore, contacted the local police and military in Huelva and
reported what he had found. Spanish authorities arrived, finding an adult male dressed in a trench coat and wearing
the uniform of a British officer. A black attache case was chained to his wrist. His wallet identified him as Major
William Martin of the British Royal Marines. The waterlogged body was taken by Spanish authorities to a location
where they opened the attach case and found an official-looking military envelope from Lt. General Archibald Nye,
vice-chief of the Imperial General Staff to Gen. Harold Alexander, senior British officer on Gen. Eisenhower's staff
in Tunisia. The case with its unopened content was offered to the local British vice-consul, Francis Haselden who
declined it, suggesting that the handover go through official channels.
The Spanish Navy then turned over the documents to the Alto Estado Mayor of the Supreme General Staff. From
there, the attached case disappeared and even the Gestapo in Spain could not locate it. Meanwhile, British

86

authorities in London sent a series of increasingly frantic messages to Madrid asking the whereabouts of Major
Martin's briefcase.
While Spain was a neutral country, much of its military were pro-German and the Nazis went to Colonel Jose Lopez
Barron Cerruti, Spain's most senior secret policeman and friend of the Germans, asking him to search for the
briefcase. Barron had fought with the Blue Division, the Spanish volunteer unit sent to the Russian front to fight
along Nazi troops. Once the briefcase was found, Barron and others opened the briefcase finding the military
envelope. The envelope was maneuvered in such a way so it appeared unopened and reviewed the documents inside
which revealed a secret Allied scheme to stage an invasion of Sardinia and Greece in the coming weeks.
Arrangements were made to make all of the contents available to Nazi agents. Photographs were taken and
immediately sent to Berlin. Believing Sicily was were an invasion would take place, General Alfred Jodl, head of the
German supreme command operations staff proclaimed, "You can forget about Sicily. We now know it's in Greece. "
Hitler and his High Command became convinced Greece was the target for an invasion and quickly ordered the
transfer of Panzer tank divisions and other personnel to the Peloponnese in Greece. The dead man's documents
seemed to have been a major intelligence victory for the Nazis except for thing: they were fakes. The man they
believed to be a high-level courier was really a 34-year-old mentally ill Welsh tramp by the name of Glyndwr
Michael. He had died after eating rat poison. As part of a plan dubbed "Operation Mincemeat", British spymasters
had dressed Michael's body in the guise of a fictitious Royal Marine courier named William Martin. A briefcase
stuffed with phony military plans, false identity cards, faked personal letters, receipts, bills, photographs and other
"wallet litter" that gave the dead man a father, a fianc and a backstory. After the black attache case was attached to
his wrists, the body was taken aboard a Royal Navy submarine, the MHS Seraph, and secretly slipped it into the
ocean off Spain in the hope that in might deceive the Nazis.

ID Card and a picture of the fictitious girlfriend "Pam" of Major Bill Martin. In reality this picture is that of
MI5 Staffer Nancy Jean Leslie.
It was the perfect con. The Germans intercepted what they believed was crucial information about where the
Allies would attack the Mediterranean, they were also convinced they had done so without tipping off the British.
When a hundred and sixty thousand Allied troops invaded Sicily on July 10, 1943, it became clear to the Germans
that they had fallen victim to one of the most remarkable - and successful - deceptions in modern military history.
The men behind the audacious plan were two officers in Section 17M of the British Intelligence Service - a group so
secret that barely 20 people even knew they existed. The two officers, who Churchill called "corkscrew minds,"
were Charles Cholmondeley a RAF officer and Ewen Montagu, a Royal Navy intelligence officer.

87

Charles Cholmondeley (left), Ewen Montagu, and the Times of 4 June 1943 report of the death of Major Martin.

Oddly this highly successful and innovative twosome could not have been more different. Cholmondeley was a
dreamer seeking adventure. Montagu was an aristocratic, detail-oriented lawyer. But together they were the perfect
team and created an ingenious plan: Get a corpse, equip it with secret (but false and misleading) papers concerning
the invasion and drop it off the coast of Spain where German spies would, they hoped, take the bait. The idea was
approved by British intelligence officials and Winston Churchill who believed it might ring true to the Axis and help
bring victory to the Allies. Working with Cholmondeley and Montagu on this great deception was an extraordinary
cast of characters including Ian Fleming, who would go on to write the James Bond stories; a famous forensic
pathologist; a beautiful secret service secretary; a submarine captain; three novelists; an irascible admiral who loved
fly-fishing; and a dead, Welsh tramp.
Using fraud, imagination and seduction, Winston Churchill's team of spies spun a web of deceit so elaborate and
so convincing that they began to believe it themselves. From a windowless basement beneath Whitehall, the hoax
travelled from London to Scotland to Spain to Germany and ended up on Hitler's desk. According to Ben
Macintyre, author of 'Agent Zigzag and Operation Mincemeat,' the incredible plan was the one brilliant deception
that turned the course of World War II, helped the Allies defeat Nazi Germany and saved the lives of some 40,000
Allied servicemen and women. Macintyre also wrote that Montagu and Cholmondeley had a specific target in mind
for their elaborate deception: Adolf Clauss, part of the Abwehr (German military intelligence) who was active in the
area and one of Germany's most successful spies. He was known to be efficient, ruthless and extremely gullible - the
perfect 'sucker.'
'Operation Mincemeat' was immortalized in the 1956 film "The Man Who Never Was, " released by Twentieth
Century-Fox Film Corp. and starring Clifton Webb as Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu. The screenplay of the film stayed
as close to the truth as was convenient, with the remainder being fiction. For example, the Irish spy in the film is a
complete fabrication. Ewen Montagu declared that he was happy with the fictitious incidents which, although they
did not happen, might have happened. During filming, Montagu has a cameo role, that of a Royal Air Force Air
Vice-Marshal who has doubts about the feasibility of the proposed plan. [Source: Together We Served | Mike
Christy | May 2015 ++]
********************************

PT-305 Restoration

National World War II Museum Project

It was a run-in with the enemy that was too close for comfort, and more than 70 years later, the details remain vivid
in the mind of a Navy veteran who served aboard a legendary ship. US Navy Torpedoman 1st Class James Nerison
was part of the PT-305 crew patrolling off the coast of Corsica in 1944 when a pair of German destroyers locked
onto them. The Higgins Industries Patrol-Torpedo boats were known for their speed and maneuverability, but they
were up against superior Nazi firepower. "We couldn't shake them off for about 45 minutes and we were drawing a
lot of fire," Nerison, now 91, recalled. "I secured the torpedo rack that we launched the torpedoes with and ran up to
the skipper and said, 'Do you want me to throw over a smoke pot?'"
88

PT-305s first crew included Torpedoman First Class James Nerison, top row, second from left

The young sailor was referring to a 5-gallon can with chemicals that emitted smoke as a distraction. He was
given the approval to toss the container over the side, and the German warships quickly started firing at it as PT-305
slipped off into the darkness. "We got off to one side and they weren't able to find us that night," Nerison said. The
California native's experience is just one of many among the 44 officers and enlisted men who called PT-305 home
during World War II. Now Nerison, along with Joseph Brannan, a former 1st class gunner's mate who also served on
PT-305, hope to ride the boat once again.
The National World War II Museum, located in New Orleans, on 8 MAR launched a Kickstarter campaign to
raise $100,000 to complete its PT-305 restoration project, and hopes to have the boat sailing Louisiana's Lake
Pontchartrain by early next year. "It helps us cover all of the costs that are needed to transport the boat to the water
and cover all the testing and certifications so the boat is ready to operate," Tom Czekanski, the museum's director of
exhibitions and collections, told FoxNews.com. The battle-hardened boat, which operated in the Mediterranean
along the coasts of southern France and Northern Italy, conducted more than 77 offensive patrols and operations,
fought in 11 separate actions and sank three German ships during its 14-month deployment, according to the
museum. After the war, PT-305 took on a civilian role as a tour boat in New York Harbor, a fishing charter and an
oyster boat, while falling into disrepair before the museum scooped it up in 2007.
A volunteer crew, which includes people from all walks of life -- from students to architects -- has already
worked more than 100,000 hours on the project at the museum's restoration pavilion. Parts for restoring the boat -such as engines, deck fittings and exhaust ports -- have come from other PT boats and nearly $3 million from inkind donations. Czekanski said ever since the museum opened in 2000, curators have coveted a working Higgins PT
boat. All that's left to be done, he added, is the installation of mechanical systems, such as plumbing lines. The
weapons on the ship, however, will not be operational. Once the boat is available for the paying public to ride on,
the museum hopes it will generate enough revenue to cover its upkeep and ensure that future generations can learn
about the heroics of the veterans that served aboard PT-305. "The restoration of PT-305, like all museum restoration
projects, is aimed at making history accessible to today's audiences in as detailed and authentic a way possible," said
museum executive vice president and COO Stephen Watson.
Nerison can't wait to see his old boat sail again. "I was taken aback by the fact that my boat was finally going to
be restored," Nerison told FoxNews.com. "I'm just lucky to have been on the boat that is going to be on show for
everybody to see." PT-305, built by New Orleans-based Higgins Industries - a company that specialized in
manufacturing small boats -- was completed on December 8, 1943. It was then assigned to the Motor Torpedo Boat
Squadron 22. The boats, designed for stealthy torpedo attacks on enemy supply and troop barges, relied on speed
and maneuverability to get away from danger. "They are fast and nimble and a great piece of American ingenuity
used in the war," Czekanski told FoxNews.com. PT-305 also conducted reconnaissance missions, landed troops on
occupied coasts and carried generals, making most of its movements at night underneath the cover of darkness.
89

"German planes would see you in the daytime and come out of nowhere and strafe you and bomb you," Brannan, 93,
told FoxNews.com. "There were no railings on the outside of the boat and we never lost anyone," he added.
Brannan, an Arkansas native who said he was "very excited" about the project, started serving on PT-305 in
December of 1944. In June 1945, Brannan and Nerison's squadron returned to New York from the Mediterranean
and the war ended before PT-305 could be overhauled for deployment to the Pacific. "We didn't need the eyes
anymore, because we had her home at last" But the boat didn't look the same as the first time it crossed the Atlantic.
Nerison, who wanted a fix for the stuffiness of the crew's quarters, said when the crew was based in Saint Tropez in
Southern France after fighting began to subside, he managed to find some brass portholes at a boatyard. He asked
the skipper if he could install one on each side of the boat -- and the problem was solved. "That was a modification
that I don't think any other PT boat in the Navy had at the time," Nerison told FoxNews.com.
Following the war, the Navy burned 118 boats off the coasts of the Philippines to downsize its fleet. Only a
handful of PT boats survived - PT-305 being one of them - and it was sold as military surplus for $10 along with the
rest of the squadron, the museum said During its civilian life, PT-305 underwent additional modifications - such as
the removal of 13 feet from the stern -- to reduce operating costs and to comply with Coast Guard regulations.
Czekanski led the trip to Galveston Island to retrieve PT-305 from the Defenders of America Naval Museum in
Galveston, Texas, in April 2007. The restoration team had painted eyes on the front of the boat, which, according to
nautical legend, would help it find its way home. "We didn't need the eyes anymore," Czekanski said, "because we
had her home at last. [Source: Fox News | | Greg Norman | March 13, 2016 ++]
********************************

Battle of Ia Drang

Remembered by VFW Post 4403

Despite graying beards and wrinkled faces, the veterans honored their flag with rigid salutes and straight backs.
From across the state and beyond, veterans from the Vietnam War and other conflicts gathered 5 MAR at Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 4403 outside Port Lavaca. They traveled from their homes to remember the Battle of Ia Drang
and those they had lost in that faraway Vietnamese valley in November 1965. The men, forever linked by their
shared experiences from the battle, visited with each other throughout the day. They shared lunch, pleasant
conversation and deeply etched memories of the fateful days they had endured in the Ia Drang Valley. "It's important
so that they are not forgotten," said Jacque Rudd, honorary member at the post. "It keeps them alive."
Nov. 14-18, 1965
Robert Saucedo. He should have been leaving the war. Instead, he was riding in the 16th helicopter in a formation
high above the jungle on its way to the Ia Drang Valley. "We were supposed to get out on Nov. 28," Saucedo, 75,
recalled. "They told us if we didn't meet resistance, we would go home later in the day, but we did meet resistance."
They landed in the valley on the morning of Nov. 14, a Sunday. A little after noon, the valley began its
transformation into a place where death and destruction ran rampant. Saucedo, 24 years old at the time, was an
Army air cavalry infantryman. He and about 10 others present at the battle's reunion Saturday had been sent to the
valley to find and kill a large group of North Vietnamese soldiers.
The resulting multiday period of fighting saw almost 100 Americans killed and countless more Vietnamese dead.
Saucedo said he could still picture moments of horror from the battle. "On the second day, they dropped a couple of
napalms in the (landing zone), and a couple of guys bringing in choppers - the engineers - they got burned," he said
with eyes distant. "They ran to our foxholes. We treated them for burns." In a kind, almost diminutive voice,
Saucedo described images he cannot shake. "We treated him for burns. His face was on fire. His weapon was on
fire," he said. "It was bad." Saucedo said the memories sometimes creep into his life. "Even if you want to forget
them, they don't go away," he said. Most recently, while gazing at the treeline from outside his home, he was
transported suddenly back to Ia Drang. He said he had forgotten the image until that day at his home in central
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Texas. "The grass was about, maybe, 12 inches tall. The wind was blowing. I was looking across an open field. ...
That brought memories of when I was there, where we were," he said. "That day just came to me. ... It just hit me.
How can you forget?"
-o-o-O-o-o-

Vince Cantu. Born in Refugio in August 1941, Cantu, 74, said he wasn't supposed to be drafted. "The biggest
mistake of my life was marrying my first wife," he said. "She was the one who turned me in to the draft board. I'm
pretty sure of that." Joe Galloway, a photographer and reporter embedded with Cantu's battalion for U.S. News and
World Report, captured the battle's events with his camera. Galloway, a former Victoria Advocate reporter, would go
on to memorialize Ia Drang through photography and a 1992 best-selling book, "We Were Soldiers Once ... And
Young." That book was adapted into the 2002 film "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson. Cantu said he vividly
remembers seeing the reporter in Ia Drang. "I looked down, and I saw this guy coming from behind a big old termite
hill, taking pictures," he said. Cantu was searching for the bodies of killed American soldiers at the time. "I said,
'Joe! It's me, Vince Cantu, you remember me?" he said. Later that day, Galloway snapped a now-famous picture of
Cantu. The picture was featured on the cover of a December 2010 publication of Vietnam Magazine. In the
photograph, he is running toward the tarp-wrapped body of a killed American soldier. Boots poke from the cover as
Cantu holds his helmet against the backwash of the helicopter's blades. Cantu is 24 years old in the picture.
-o-o-O-o-o-

Martin Latigue, At age 75, Latigue believes in the power of prayer. His recently published book, " How to Pray in
Combat When Your Mind is Off," examines his experiences during the war and how prayer helped him survive.
"Whenever we was under attack, when I felt like this might be it, instead of trying to say words, I would just chant
the name of Jesus over and over: 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,'" he said. "Jesus understands. You don't have to say anything to
Jesus. When you need to pray, he knows what your needs are." But after returning from Vietnam, Latigue had
changed, he said. He couldn't and still cannot remember one of his favorite Psalms, the 23rd. "I'd go an ambush at
night with the recon, and I would say the 23rd Psalm over and over and over," he said. "Even after the war, I could
never remember the 23rd like I had all my life. It seemed to have completely erased the fact that I knew the 23rd
Psalm from memory. I could never repossess that power."
He said he doesn't know why he forgot. "It just went away," he said. "I stressed myself out. Whatever happened,
it caused me a problem. I've never been able to understand that." Although Latigue said memories of the war still
visit him from time to time, those horrifying experiences witnessed in combat have taught him the true power of
prayer. "You start pondering, 'Why am I going through this?' and then you start worrying about stuff you don't need
to worry about," he said. "I've learned when any time I get anything that I'm concentrating on that's negative, I'll just
stop and pray, and it goes away. Just try and pray."
[Source: Victoria Advocate | Jon Wilcox | March 6, 2016 ++]
********************************

Military History Discussions

WWII Death of Patton

On December 9, 1945, General George S. Patton and Major General Hobart Gay were riding in Patton's
Cadillac staff car driven by Private First Class Horace L. Woodring when it collided with a 2 ton truck driven
by Technical Sergeant Robert L. Thompson. Taken to a hospital in Heidelberg, Patton was discovered to have a
cervical spinal cord injury that rendered him paralyzed from the neck down. He died in his sleep of congestive
heart failure on December 21, 1945. The accident and death of the colorful and controversial general has been
the subject of rumor and speculation since it occurred 70 years ago. To view Historian Michael Davis
discussion of the events surrounding General Pattons death go to https://vimeo.com/148803291 using the code
word MIMTHS. [Source: Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Newsletter March 2016 ++]
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********************************

WWII Amazing Wartime Facts

1
2
3
4
5

10

11
12
13
14
15

16
17

18

Did You Know?

The first German serviceman killed in the war was killed by the Japanese (China, 1937)
The first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940).
The highest ranking American killed was Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army Air Corps.
The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded in combat and given
a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. (His benefits were later restored by act of Congress).
At the time of Pearl Harbor, the top US Navy command was called CINCUS (pronounced sink us), the
shoulder patch of the US Armys 45th Infantry division was the Swastika, and Hitlers private train was
named Amerika. All three were soon changed for PR purposes.
More US servicemen died in the Air Corps that the Marine Corps. While completing the required 30
missions, your chance of being killed was 71%. Not that bombers were helpless. A B-17 carried 4 tons of
bombs and 1.5 tons of machine gun ammo. The U.S. 8th Air Force shot down 6,098 fighter planes, 1 for
every 12,700 shots fired.
Germanys power grid was much more vulnerable than realized. One estimate is that if just 1% of the
bombs dropped on German industry had instead been dropped on power plants, German industry would
have collapsed.
Generally speaking, there was no such thing as an average fighter pilot. You were either an ace or a target.
For instance, Japanese ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa shot down over 80 planes. He died while a passenger on a
cargo plane.
It was a common practice on fighter planes to load every 5th found with a tracer round to aid in aiming.
That was a mistake. The tracers had different ballistics so (at long range) if your tracers were hitting the
target, 80% of your rounds were missing. Worse yet, the tracers instantly told your enemy he was under fire
and from which direction. Worst of all was the practice of loading a string of tracers at the end of the belt to
tell you that you were out of ammo. That was definitely not something you wanted to tell the enemy. Units
that stopped using tracers saw their success rate nearly double and their loss rate go down.
When allied armies reached the Rhine, the first thing men did was pee in it. This was pretty universal from
the lowest private to Winston Churchill (who made a big show of it) and Gen. Patton (who had himself
photographed in the act). Don't believe me? Take a look at http://www.5ad.org/ppatton.jpg.
German Me-264 bombers were capable of bombing New York City but it wasnt worth the effort.
A number of air crewmen died of farts. (ascending to 20,000 ft. in an un-pressurized aircraft causes
intestinal gas to expand 300%!)
The Russians destroyed over 500 German aircraft by ramming them in midair (they also sometimes cleared
minefields by marching over them). It takes a brave man not to be a hero in the Red Army. Joseph Stalin
The U.S. Army had more ships that the U.S. Navy.
The German Air Force had 22 infantry divisions, 2 armor divisions, and 11 paratroop divisions. None of
them were capable of airborne operations. The German Army had paratroops who WERE capable of
airborne operations.
When the US Army landed in North Africa, among the equipment brought ashore were three complete
Coca Cola bottling plants.
Among the first Germans captured at Normandy were several Koreans. They had been forced to fight for
the Japanese Army until they were captured by the Russians and forced to fight for the Russian Army until
they were captured by the Germans and forced to fight for the German Army until they were capture by the
US Army.
The Graf Spee never sank, The scuttling attempt failed and the ship was bought by the British. On board
was Germanys newest radar system.
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19 One of Japans methods of destroying tanks was to bury a very large artillery shell with only the nose
exposed. When a tank came near the enough a soldier would whack the shell with a hammer. Lack of
weapons is no excuse for defeat. Lt. Gen. Mataguchi
20 Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 US and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska. 21
troops were killed in the fire-fight. It would have been worse if there had been Japanese on the island.
21 The MISS ME was an unarmed Piper Cub. While spotting for US artillery her pilot saw a similar German
plane doing the same thing. He dove on the German plane and he and his co-pilot fired their pistols
damaging the German plane enough that it had to make a forced landing. Whereupon they landed and took
the Germans prisoner. It is unknown where they put them since the MISS ME only had two seats.
22 Most members of the Waffen SS were not German.
23 The only nation that Germany declared was on was the USA.
24 During the Japanese attack on Hong Kong, British officers objected to Canadian infantrymen taking up
positions in the officers mess. No enlisted men allowed!
25 Nuclear physicist Niels Bohr was rescued in the nick of time from German occupied Denmark. While
Danish resistance fighters provided covering fire he ran out the back door of his home stopping
momentarily to grab a beer bottle full of precious heavy water. He finally reached England still clutching
the bottle, which contained beer. Perhaps some German drank the heavy water.
[Source: As printed in, The Victory Division News. No. 4. December, 2000 ++]
********************************

Military History Anniversaries

16 thru 31 Mar

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 31 Mar. [Source: This Day In History http://www.history.com/thisday-in-history | March 2016 ++]
********************************

* Health Care *

VLER HIE Initiative

Medical History Availability Option

The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Information Exchange Initiative (HIE) shares your health
information securely with participating healthcare providers who have joined the eHealth Exchange. Sharing
through the eHealth Exchange will:
Give your provider a more complete view of your health record
Help you and you healthcare team make the best decisions about your health
Share your military health records with civilian providers
Prove useful in the case of emergencies where you or your family aren't physically able to share your
necessary information

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Active duty service members, veterans, and beneficiaries from a select group of pilot sites are already
participating. Starting June 1, 2016, VLER HIE is available to all patients who have records in the DoD Clinical
Data Repository (CDR). If you were treated in a military hospital or clinic in the past 20 years, you likely have some
information in the DoD electronic health record that will be available through the exchange. The VLER HIE fully
complies with the most rigorous privacy and security standards. Your information is securely shared. Through the
eHealth Exchange, your health care providers can share information, such as prescriptions, allergies, illnesses, lab
and radiology results
Immunizations, and past medical procedures. Health information marked sensitive including information about
treatment for sexual assault, substance abuse, mental health, and sexually transmitted diseases wont be shared.
The information shared through the eHealth Exchange is the same information you can see through the Blue
Button feature on the TOL system. If you want to see what will be shared:
Log
in
to
the
TOL
Secure
Web
Portal
https://www.tricareonline.com/portal/page/portal/TricareOnline/Portal
Navigate to the Blue Button
View, print or download a copy of your health information
Download the TOL Blue Button Brochure to learn more
Anyone who has a record in the DoD CDR will have their records shared unless they choose to Opt Out of the
program. This means if you were treated in a military hospital or clinic in the past 20 years, you may have records
that will be shared. Providers whose organizations participate in the eHealth Exchange and connect with the MHS
can see your information. These may include providers at military hospitals and clinics, VA providers, and civilian
providers who have joined the eHealth Exchange.
At www.health.mil/Reference-Center/FactSheets/2016/03/02/MHS-VLER-HIE-eHealth-Exchange-Partners can be viewed a list of participating organizations.
This service is part of your health benefit. You dont need to take any action to participate. On June 1, 2016, the
Military Health System (MHS) automatically begin sharing with participating eHealth Exchange healthcare
providers the health information for all current and former TRICARE beneficiaries who have records in the DoD
CDR.
Those affected will be Active duty service members who must participate and all other veterans or beneficiaries
who may choose to opt out. If you choose to opt out, MHS cant share your healthcare information through the
eHealth Exchange, possibly not even in the case of an emergency. To opt out, you can go to
http://www.tricare.mil/vler, download and complete the VLER Opt-Out (In) Letter template, then mail it to the
address provided on the letter. This process opts you out of the MHS HIE. It doesnt opt you out of any civilian HIE
programs. State law helps guide varied rules civilian providers have regarding HIE program participation. Please
contact your civilian providers to learn how to opt in or out of their HIE process. If you choose to opt out now and
change your mind later, you may opt back in. For a video on this program and other aspects of the MHS refer to
https://youtu.be/rb8kUVV_-DU . [Source: Tricare Communications | March 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

Healthy Eating

National Nutrition Month | March

Nutrition is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists being
overweight as one of the risk factors for prediabetes, a condition that affects 86 million American adults. Prediabetes
puts people at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It has been estimated that without weight
loss and moderate physical activity, 15-30 percent of people with prediabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes
within 5 years. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietics celebrates National Nutrition Month each March to teach both
adults and kids about food, nutrition and healthy living. The academy offers several tips that can help you on your
way to better nutrition:
94

Eat breakfast
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
Watch portion sizes
Fix healthy snacks
Get to know food labels
Follow food safety guidelines

There are several resources to help you on your quest for better nutrition and healthy food choices. Visit the
Academys website http://www.eatright.org/resources/national-nutrition-month for tip sheets, videos and games, all
designed to help you learn more. You can also find information about health and wellness on the TRICARE website
http://www.tricare.mil/HealthWellness.aspx. [Source: TRICARE Communications | March 10, 2016 ++]
********************************

TRICARE Autism Care Update 18

30 MAR Cut to ABA Rates Opposed

A bipartisan group of senators is urging the Defense Department to postpone impending cuts to reimbursement rates
for autism benefits under TRICARE. Defense has proposed cuts of up to 15 percent for reimbursement rates for
Applied Behavior Analysis, a popular therapy for children with disorders on the autism spectrum. ABA can help
increase an autistic childs I.Q., language abilities and coping skills. The rate changes for 2016 are supposed to take
effect on 30 MAR. The lawmakers questioned the different reimbursement rates that two studies requested by the
Defense Health Agency came up with, including one from RAND Corporation that said the departments new
proposed rates were 35 percent below the national average. Because of the discrepancies, the senators have asked
Defense Secretary Ash Carter to hold off on implementing the cuts until valid reimbursement rates for ABA
providers are established.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and three other senators signed a letter to the Defense Department

With the announced cuts, some ABA providers have already announced plans to leave certain service areas and
we expect more providers will follow suit upon implementation of the cuts, said the March 8 letter from Sens.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Over time,
given the disparity between the national average reimbursement rate and TRICAREs proposed rates, we expect the
imbalance between supply and demand to further reduce military family access to these ABA services. The
Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The proposed cuts would be in addition to a 5
percent cut in ABA reimbursement rates that hit 22 states and Washington, D.C., in 2015. In 2014, TRICARE
launched the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration, which runs through 2018, to consolidate the three
previous ABA programs into one comprehensive benefits package for all TRICARE beneficiaries.
Defense previously has postponed cuts to the TRICARE autism benefit after complaints from military families
and advocates. More than 26,000 military dependents have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Lawmakers also said
the timing of the cuts, which come as DHA is imposing new certification requirements for ABA providers, could
make things worse. While these certification requirements will ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries obtain ABA
95

services from qualified technicians, they also impose additional costs on TRICARE ABA service providers, the
letter said. Certification may extend as many as 130 additional days to the time it takes to hire, train, and credential
BTs to serve TRICARE beneficiaries. When considering that BTs are typically part-time employees with high
turnover rates, these certification requirements will likely exacerbate the impact of reimbursement rate reductions.
The Office of Personnel Management announced in February that beginning in 2017 all insurance carriers
participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program must cover ABA as a medical treatment for children
with some form of autism. Since 2013, FEHBP insurance carriers have had the option of covering ABA, as a
medical treatment (rather than an educational intervention) for enrollees children with disorders on the autism
spectrum. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | March 9, 2016 ++]
********************************

Traumatic Brain Injury Update 49

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Veterans Health Council encourages you to spread the word about ways to prevent traumatic brain injury,
including concussion. Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability in the United States,
contributing to about 30 percent of all injury deaths. A traumatic brain injuryor TBIis caused by a bump, blow,
or jolt to the head and can affect how a person feels, thinks, acts, and learns. A TBI not only impacts the life of an
individual and their family, but it also has a large societal and economic toll.

Everyone is at risk for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially children and older adults. Centers for Disease
control (CDC) research and programs work to prevent TBIs and help people recognize, respond, and recover if a
TBI occurs. Get the facts at http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html. [Source: VVA Web
Weekly | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

VA Pain Management Update 06

Congressional Hearing Testimony

Veterans Administration officials from New Hampshire and Vermont say the VA is making progress in reducing
opioid use among its patients, but members of Congress studying the issue remain concerned that successful
approaches arent being widely shared. A U.S. House subcommittee heard testimony at a field hearing 4 MAR in
Concord about innovative pain management practices at VA medical centers in Manchester, New Hampshire, and
White River Junction, Vermont. Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican from Colorado, questioned whether the VA is
doing enough to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative treatments and promote their use across the country. The
department cant simply introduce well-intentioned programs and then fail to manage them properly, said Coffman,
96

chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. If these alternative treatments
really work, they need to be implemented rapidly.

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Coffman was joined by New Hampshires U.S. House members, Democrat Annie Kuster and Republican Frank
Guinta. In New Hampshire, drug overdose deaths are four times more common than car crash fatalities, and
veterans have been particularly hard hit, Kuster said. She said she hoped the VA could be on the cutting edge in
developing better treatment models that could be shared with the civilian health care system. Dr. Julie Franklin said
that in Vermont, she oversaw the creation of an Opioid Renewal Clinic and led efforts to reduce the number of
veterans taking high doses of opioids. Both at her center and in New Hampshire, interdisciplinary pain teams work
with patients to explore other options, including lower doses, acupuncture and chiropractic care.
When Kuster asked Dr. Franklin how the VA is ensuring that veterans with chronic pain get the services they
need if their doses are reduced, she said the problem isnt likely to be solved with an across-the-board rule or policy.
Hiring good people and ensuring they have time to do work they need to do is a good step, she said. Asked why
alternative treatments arent more widespread, Dr. Grigory Chernyak from the Manchester center noted that
acupuncturists are hired as health technicians at low salaries, and while medical doctors can practice acupuncture,
not many are trained in it. Opioid addiction has become a significant public health and safety problem across the
country. [Source: Associated Press | Holly Ramer | March 4, 2016 ++]
********************************

Sleep Disorder Update 04

Dont Snooze on Getting Enough Sleep

The National Sleep Foundation on March 6 th celebrated, its annual Sleep Awareness Week event to raise awareness
regarding the health benefits of sleep. When you dont get enough sleep it affects your health, mood, productivity
and more. Talk to your health care provider if you are having trouble sleeping. They can help determine if youre
having a short period of restlessness or if you have a sleep disorder and may share helpful tips to improve your sleep
habits. If its determined that a sleep study is necessary you must be referred to a sleep disorder center by your
doctor in order for TRICARE to cover a sleep study. TRICARE also covers home/portable sleep studies as an
alternative to in-facility studies for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in an adult when certain criteria are met.
Check with your regional contractor for details. You should try to get seven to eight hours of quality sleep every 24
hours. Research shows that after only one day without sleep, even young, healthy service members lose 25 percent
of their ability to think clearly. For more information about how much lack of sleep affects you, including how much
you really need, visit the National Sleep Foundations website https://sleepfoundation.org . [Source: TRICARE
Communications | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

97

TRICARE Help

Q&A 160315

Have a question on how TRICARE applies to your personal situation? Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service,
6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. In e-mail, include the word
Tricare in the subject line and do not attach files. Information on all Tricare options, to include links to Handbooks
for the various options, can be found on the official Tricare website, at this web address:
http://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans.aspx or you can your regional contractor. Following are some of the issues
addressed in recent weeks by these sources:

(Q) I qualified for Tricare Standard last year when I turned 60 and began collecting Reserve retirement pay. I will
qualify for Tricare for Life when I turn 65 in 2020. My wife will turn 65 before I will become eligible for Medicare
and Tricare for Life. Does she have to wait for me to turn 65 to apply for Medicare and Medicare Part B with Tricare
for Life?
A. Since you are retired, your wife will be eligible for whatever plan is age-appropriate for her, which, when she
turns 65, is Medicare and Tricare for Life, even though you dont make the transition for another year. Enrollment in
Medicare Part B is required to be eligible for Tricare for Life.
(Q) My husband retired a few months ago and my college-age son will be spending a semester abroad next year.
He is on Tricare Prime in the States. What are his options overseas?
A. Tricare Standard Overseas is the program that will cover your child while he is overseas. While Tricare Prime
Overseas does exist, it is available only to active-duty, activated Guard and reserve members and commandsponsored families in populated areas. Retirees, family members and others use Tricare Standard Overseas.
Enrollment in the program is not required, but the beneficiary must be in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility
Reporting System, DEERS, and should have a valid DoD ID card. Go to
-o-o-O-o-o-

Have a question for the TRICARE Help column. Send it to tricarehelp@militarytimes.com and include the
word Tricare in the subject line. Do not attach files. [Source: MilitaryTimes | 1 thru 15 MAR 2016 ++]

* Finances *

IRS Rental Income Tax

Allowable Deductions

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The good news is that almost every expense associated with rental properties is deductible. The bad news is that it
must be documented, and not all of the deductions are simple. So, the first step in avoiding a tax season nightmare is
to have all proverbial ducks in a row. Every expense should be accounted for, with supporting paperwork saved and
organized. Landlords with four or fewer properties may decide to forego hiring an accountant or tax attorney;
however professionals say that is an unwise decision. Real estate tax laws have many nuances and technicalities
which could make or break a landlord. Having knowledge of the intricate details or access to them is crucial when it
comes to getting the full benefit of being a landlord, and there are many benefits of which landlords will want to
take advantage. Most landlords know at least some of the basic deductions. Here are 14 deductions which landlords
can take to ensure their rental properties pay off at tax time, hopefully in addition to paying good cash flow all year
long.
1. Depreciation: The IRS allows for the theoretical cost of wear and tear on your rental property(s) to be deducted
for a life span of 27.5 yrs.
2. Repairs: All rental properties will require repairs on occasion. Fortunately, repair expenses are deductible.
3. Home Office: Landlords often work from home and can deduct a portion of their mortgage or rent for the space
used to conduct their business (warning: home office deductions are allegedly audit triggers, since they are so often
abused). In a new simplified rule for 2013, the home office deduction is now $5 per square foot, up to 300 square
feet (maximum deduction of $1,500).
4. Travel: Whether traveling across town to make repairs or across the country to check up on your rental
property(s), car mileage and some travel expenses (for out of town travel) are deductible. Unfortunately, these
expenses are also often abused, making them a likely trigger for an audit when extravagant deductions are claimed.
5. Tenant Screening: The cost of running credit reports, criminal background checks and other
background/screening checks on prospective tenants are also deducible.
6. Mortgage Interest: The mortgage interest paid on your rental property(s) is also deductible (but may not be
forever, if some Washington lawmakers get their way).
7. Mortgage Insurance: This one actually expired at the end of 2013, and may not be available next year. But for
tax year 2013, mortgage insurance premiums paid out each month as part of the mortgage payment are deductible.
8. Property Insurance: Annual premiums to insure rental properties against theft, fire, flood, etc can be deducted.
9. Losses Due to Theft/Casualty: Landlords who experience theft on their property or other casualty may be able to
deduct a portion of any expenses not covered by insurance.
10. Professional Services: Professional services such as legal or tax advice from an attorney or accountant are tax
deductible. The professional services of real estate agents, property managers, home inspectors, appraisers and the
like are deductible as well. This also includes do-it-yourself services (such as, ahem, EZ Landlord Forms accounts).
11. Computers and Cell Phones: Its next to impossible to manage a rental portfolio without the use of a mobile
phone or computer. These tools of the trade can also be deductible when used for business.
12. Settlement Costs: Settlement costs, such as title searches, settlement agent fees, attorney review fees and the
like are deductible.
13. Real Estate Taxes: While intuitive, real estate investors should remember to deduct the cost of local real estate
taxes, to avoid paying taxes twice.
14. Segmented Depreciation/Cost Segregation: Many landlords are unaware that the IRS allows non-structural
assets such as carpets, appliances, etc. to be depreciated over a shorter term (5-15 years) and separately from the line
item depreciation of the property itself. This is allowed because the government recognizes that these items will not
last as long as the property and therefore, will not fully benefit from the line item depreciation of 27.5 years.
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Landlords are encouraged to seek the assistance of a professional to utilize segmented depreciation, given the
complexities involved. Segmented depreciation may be ill-advised for new landlords.
Careful tax planning throughout the year with the help of a wizard tax professional will bring joy to landlords this
tax season or will at least save them money, which could be used to buy more rental properties (or maybe a muchneeded vacation).
[Source: https://www.ezlandlordforms.com | The Ultimate Landlord's Guide | January 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

Federal Pay and Benefits

Presidential Candidates Position

With the presidential primaries dominating the news, you might be wondering whats at stake in the election when it
comes to your pay and benefits. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump hasnt offered many specifics about his
views on the subject, though he did tell Newsweek last year: I have great relationships with unions. New York is
mostly unionized. That could be important because hed likely run up against federal employee unions if he
attempted to make big cuts to federal employee compensation. Its also worth noting, however, that Trumps
company has fought every step of the way as his Las Vegas casino employees attempted to unionize.
On the other side of the aisle, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton also hasnt been too specific about pay, but
she has endorsed added benefits for federal employees, including an expansion of paid parental leave. She cosponsored a bill (S.2521) as a senator to make all same-sex domestic partners of feds eligible for government
benefits. Where do the other presidential candidates stand on pay and benefits? GovExec.com has have compiled a
summary at http://www.govexec.com/feature/on-the-issues-federal-pay-benefits looking at their views on that, as
well as the size of government and reform of the Veterans Affairs Department.
One pay-related issue that will likely be decided before the next president sets foot in office is the size of the
2017 civilian raise. President Obama proposed a 1.6 percent boost in his budget request, but lawmakers have started
pushing for a much bigger increase. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) is sponsoring a bill that would provide a total 5.3
percent raise, with 3.9 percent going toward an across-the-board increase and 1.4 percent devoted to locality pay.
That movement is gaining momentum. Federal News Radio reports that Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., has expressed
support for the 5.3 percent figure.
The 2017 raise wont matter for recent retirees, but retirees face another set of concerns. First, they may need to
exercise some patience while waiting for their retirement paperwork to go through. The backlog of retirement claims
crept back up again in February, according to new statistics from the Office of Personnel Management.
(https://www.opm.gov/about-us/budget-performance/strategic-plans/retirement-processing-status.pdf).
The
inventory of applications stood at 22,692 at the end of last month, representing an increase of 2,931 applications or
14.8 percent since January and the biggest backlog in one year. What does this mean about wait times? If your
application is among those that can be processed in 60 days or less, you should plan to wait a little over one month.
As of February, the average processing time for those completed in 60 days or less was 36 days. If you have a more
complicated case that takes more than 60 days, you should plan to wait more than three months. The average
processing time for those cases as of February was 96 days.
Finally, federal employees who travel for work and are concerned about the Zika virus might be able to breathe a
bit easier. Office of Personnel Management acting Director Beth Cobert on Monday issued a memo to agency chief
human capital officers asking them to monitor this situation closely. The memo noted that pregnant women and
infants are at increased risk if they contract the virus, which is thought to cause birth defects. Cobert said agencies
should consider using teleconferencing and other alternate arrangements to accomplish work in areas prone to Zika
without putting employees at risk. Supervisors should carefully consider requests from employees who wish to opt
out of this travel [to areas with Zika], and/or solicit qualified volunteers if travel is necessary, the memo added.
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Employees and families in affected areas should make every effort to minimize risk by preventing exposure to
mosquito bites. [Source: GovExec Staff | March 9, 2016 ++]

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Delinquent State Income Tax | Military

Servicemembers Liability

Defense officials are working with state tax collectors to help out when states mistakenly go after service members
and spouses for delinquent taxes. "It's not a new issue, but it's an issue people are struggling with," said Army Lt.
Col. Samuel Kan, executive director of the Armed Forces Tax Council. Its happening in many different
jurisdictions, Kan said. As states and governments overall are struggling with their budgets, I think we might have
more problems in the future because everyone is looking for more revenue.
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, troops dont have to pay state income taxes where they are stationed
if their legal domicile is another state. This prevents service members from having to pay taxes in two states. But as
states match up their information with Internal Revenue Service data about taxpayers living in their state who have
filed federal tax returns, they question why a state return is not filed. States don't know the taxpayer is military and
has a legal domicile in a different state, Kan said. They also may see that a person is new to the area and has bought
a house. So the states start the process of collecting those taxes, but this process may not happen until two or three
years later, and thats an issue for mobile military members, Kan said. The state sends letters, but the service
members and/or spouses dont get the letters because they have moved once or twice. The state turns the matter over
to debt collectors, Kan said. This also happens to those who have left the service.
Then the debt collectors go after the member, and its not a good situation, he said. Were trying to work with
states to minimize the problem, Kan said, noting that officials from the Armed Forces Tax Council met in late
February with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, for example. Weve begun to identify points of
contact [within states and other jurisdictions], he said. The issues are getting resolved fairly efficiently. He
advises service members not to ignore any letters they receive from states or debt collectors. Even if you dont
think its a valid letter, engage, he said. Go to the tax center or legal assistance office, but dont ignore it. Ask them
how to proceed. Kan declined to name all the states where the problem is happening.
Military Times reported on the problem in 2012, when some service members were receiving mistaken notices
from the California tax board about taxes owed. One Air Force staff sergeant said at the time that she was notified
that taxes from 2008 amounted to about $100, but with penalties, fees and interest, the amount had grown to about
$500. The first notice she and her husband received was a notice that if they didnt pay the taxes, penalties and
interest within a month, their account would be turned over to collections. She pays taxes in New York. Although a
California tax official said previous notices were sent, the staff sergeant said she had received none.
Military officials have found that spouses are having similar issues. The 2009 Military Spouse Residency Relief
Act allows eligible spouses to claim a state of legal residence. Most states have a form spouses must fill out to claim
this right. But spouses cant just pick any state for the legal residence to qualify it must be the same state of legal
residence as the service member; they must actually have lived there; and they need to maintain that domicile, for
example, by continuing to vote in that state, have property in the state, have a drivers license and perhaps a
professional license in the state.

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Another issue that has cropped up is that spouses lose this protection when they remain in a state after the service
member is stationed elsewhere for example, if the service member leaves on an unaccompanied tour. Kan said,
for example, that if a service member and spouse move from their legal domicile of Texas to the service member's
new duty station in New York, and want to continue with Texas as the legal domicile, the spouse files a form so not
to pay income taxes in New York. A couple of years later, when the service member is transferred to South Korea on
an unaccompanied tour, the spouse remains in New York but has lost the protection and must pay New York state
income tax because the service member is no longer there. "Spouses have to notify the state immediately to let them
know they've lost coverage," Kan said. "Many [states] have significant penalties." In some cases, those penalties
may be as much as an extra 50 percent of the amount of taxes due. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers | March
9, 2016 ++]
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IRS Tax Refund

Taxpayer Options

The Internal Revenue Service says that the fastest way to get your refund is to have it directly deposited. Uncle Sam
is so supportive of sending refunds straight to taxpayer accounts, he'll even let you put the tax cash into 3 different
accounts. You can split your tax refund into, for example, a standard checking or savings account or even an
individual retirement account or a myRA. Plus, you have a 4th refund option: using up to $5,000 of your tax money
to purchase savings bonds. The option to send your tax refund directly to several accounts was prompted by the
increasing popularity of direct deposit. Since direct deposit of tax refunds was introduced in 1987, it's become one of
the IRS' most popular innovations. Direct deposit figures for federal tax refunds in 2015 were:
86.2 million returns.
$255 billion in refunds.
$2,957 average direct deposit refund amount.

You still can choose to have your entire refund sent to just one account. That option remains on the 1040EZ,
1040A and 1040. It's also available on 1040s filed by nonresident and Puerto Rican taxpayers, as well as selfemployed taxpayers who must file the 1040-SS. But if you want to divide your refund into multiple accounts or buy
savings bonds, you'll have to send along Form 8888, Allocation of Refund (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/f8888.pdf) with your individual return. It can be sent along with whichever version of the 1040 you are filing.
Mind these important details:
It's not a difficult process or form. If you've used the single account direct deposit option before, there's
nothing to worry about other than the number of accounts you can enter.
Even if this is your first year to have your refund money sent electronically to a bank account, the
directions are clear, and Form 8888 includes a blank check diagram showing you exactly what to look for
and enter. But there are some things you need to pay attention to or your good deposit intentions could go
astray.
First, be sure to check the box on your Form 1040 that indicates you are splitting up your refund. It will let
the IRS know you want your money sent to multiple accounts and that agency employees need to look to
your Form 8888 for details.
The check box is on each of the various 1040 forms, just above where you would enter information if you were
sending the money to just 1 account. And about that 1040 section for a single direct deposit: Leave it blank. If you
complete the account information on your main return, don't be surprised if the IRS then sends all your refund
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money to that 1 account. Instead of using your 1040 form, you'll enter all your multiple account information on
Form 8888. The form has room for 3 accounts, but that doesn't mean you have to choose that many. If you want your
IRS cash deposited in only 2 accounts, that's fine. All you have to do in this case is simply enter account information
for the pair on Form 8888. And if you're happy with your refund going to 1, just enter that single account info in the
appropriate section on your Form 1040.
Married couples can ask the IRS to directly deposit a refund on a joint return into individual accounts held by
either partner or one held in both names. However, do verify that your financial institution will accept a joint refund
sent to an individual account. You do have to receive a minimum refund amount to use the split deposit option. But
when the IRS says minimum, in this case, it means minimum. As long as you request that at least $1 go directly into
each account, the IRS will follow your instructions. So if your refund is $3, you can have one buck each sent to 3
accounts.
For questions about your refund call the IRS Refund Hotline at 1-800-829-1954. [Source: Bankrate | Kay Bell |
February 26, 2016 ++]
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IRS ID Protection Service

Hacked | Shut Down

After last years massive data breach at the United States Internal Revenue Service, the agency gave secret codes to
the taxpayers whose personal information had been compromised. These Identity Protection PINs were to be
included on future tax returns as an extra layer of security, since hackers had already stolen their Social Security
numbers. Now, the IRS says identity thieves have stolen at least 800 of those PINs through its online retrieval
service, and it has taken that service offline.
In a statement released March 7, the IRS said it had sent PINs by mail to 2.7 million people for this tax season.
Of those, 130,000 had used the online tool to retrieve their PINs before it was shut down. The thieves who stole 800
PINs subsequently used them to file fraudulent tax returns, which the IRS says were flagged and stopped. The
compromised PIN retrieval system used the same method of authentication, known as knowledge-based
authentication, (KBA) that led to last years breach of the agencys Get Transcript service. (That service allowed
taxpayers to retrieve the details of their past tax returns.) Despite the original breach, a report by the Government
Accountability Office that pointed out the weaknesses in the PIN retrieval system, and questions last year from
Quartz that raised doubts about the safety of the system, the IRS left it in place. The thieves presumably got into the
PIN retrieval service this tax season the same way they got into the Get Transcript system last year. They were able
to correctly answer authentication questions that KBA is based on, such as On which of the following streets have
you lived? or What is your total scheduled monthly mortgage payment?
The IRS shut down its Get Transcript service shortly after the data breachnine months agoand still hasnt
brought up a new system to replace it. In its statement 7 MAR, the IRS said shutting down the PIN retrieval system
is part of its ongoing security review. The agency has not yet said when either system will be brought back up, or
whether theyll continue to use KBA. President Barack Obama signed an executive order in 2014 mandating that all
federal agencies implement multi-factor authentication to improve security. And although KBA does not meet the
standards laid out in that order, the IRS seemed to be investing further into the method as of last spring. According
to a report by Federal News Radio, the agency put out a request for quotations to federal contractors in April, saying
it was looking to build upon its KBA systems, and invest $130 million.
The IRS did not respond to questions from Quartz this week about where that request stands, and whether its
been altered following the continued exploitation of KBA on its website. During an investigation into the original
breach last August, Quartz asked the IRS what it was planning to do about the PIN services authentication system,
since it appeared to be using KBA, the system that had already been hacked. At the time, the agency would not
confirm the method of authentication, but said it was taking a number of steps to protect taxpayers and Identity
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Protection (IP) PINs. It wasnt clear whether the IRS was indeed using KBA on its PIN retrieval service until
security researcher and journalist Brian Krebs reported on 1 MAR that at least one of the PINs had been
compromised. [Source: Quartz | Keith Collins | March 8, 2016 ++]

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IRS Taxed Income Update 02

Taxed, Not Taxed, and May be Taxed

Taxed Income
There's not much the IRS doesn't consider taxable income. Of course, there are the standbys: salaries, wages, tips,
commissions, interest and dividends, rent on property you lease, and all the money you make from that photography
business on the side. Bartering your services won't help, either. The value of noncash items must be determined and
then counted as income. Nor can you put money in a foreign bank to earn interest out of Uncle Sam's reach. If it's in
your name and you can get to it, it's considered income, and the IRS has become really strict about these offshore tax
havens in recent years. And don't think for a minute you can get away with some underhanded ways to make a few
extra bucks. The IRS specifically says kickbacks and embezzlement proceeds are taxable, too. The tax folks don't
care if you steal it, as long as they get their piece of the action. Remember, it was the IRS that tripped up Al Capone.
Even trying to get a better grip on your finances could cost you at tax time. Did you negotiate with a lender or
other account holder to eliminate some of your debt? While you may no longer have a recurring payment, you'll
probably now have to make one to the IRS. In most cases, debt you owe that is canceled or forgiven generally is
considered income -- taxable income. An exception is made for some canceled home mortgage debt under a law that
was passed in late 2007. This provision applies, however, only to specific residential loans and only those forgiven
during tax years 2007 through 2016. Congress must take action to extend this tax break beyond then. Then there are
those minimal amounts you get when trying to do the right thing. Fulfill your civic duty as a juror and get a few
bucks, and you owe taxes on that pay. Serve as the administrator or executor of an estate, and any stipend you get is
taxable.
Efforts you made to reduce one year's tax bill also could come back to bite you if you get what the IRS terms
"recoveries." For example, your itemized deductions last year included medical expenses, mortgage interest and real
estate taxes. This year, however, your insurance company had a change of heart (or at least policy) and paid you
back for some of those expensive tests. In an election-year frenzy, your county government rebated some of your
past property tax payments. And your lender discovered it had misapplied some of your payments as mortgage
interest when the money really went toward your home's principal. The IRS requires you to include these amounts as
income in the year you receive them up to the amount you previously claimed them as a deduction or credit.
Rewards for a job well done could cost you, too. If you get a bonus, it's income. Many fringe benefits, such as a
company car or use of a health club, are also included in your income as compensation unless you pay fair market
value for them or the law specifically excludes them. Your employer generally must withhold income tax on these
benefits from your regular pay. You can't get around taxes by claiming the company reward was a gift. The IRS will
let it slide if your boss hands out a turkey, ham or nominally priced item at holiday time. But if you're given cash, a
gift certificate or an item you can easily exchange for cash, you must include the gift's value as extra salary or wages
regardless of the amount involved. Heck, even if you're out of a job, you're out of tax luck. Unemployment benefits
are taxable. Some instances where the taxman wants his cut include the following
Alimony received.
Awards, prizes, contest winnings and gambling proceeds.
Back pay awards.
Notary public fees.
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Patent, royalties, license receipts and any infringement compensation.

Profit on sales between family members.
Punitive damages.
Residence sale profit above the exclusion limits.
Severance pay.

Income Not Taxed

There are few sources of income that are not taxable. Unfortunately, many represent money you wish you didn't
need to get in the first place. Types of income the IRS usually can't touch are:
Black lung disease benefits.
Payments from a state crime victims fund.
Disaster relief grants.
Casualty insurance and other reimbursements.
Child support payments.
Compensatory damages awarded for physical injury or physical sickness.
Damages for emotional distress due to a physical injury or physical sickness.
Disability payments if you paid the premiums on the policy with already-taxed dollars.
Foster care payments when the care is for youngsters.
Interest on certain state or local government obligations.
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI.
Veterans benefits.
Welfare benefits.
Workers' compensation.
And while an inheritance of property is not a taxable event, you'll owe Uncle Sam on any income the
bequest produces.

Navigating Murky Tax Waters

As with almost every tax situation, it's not always clear-cut when it comes to taxable versus nontaxable income.
For example:
Life Insurance. The tax laws treat various scenarios regarding life insurance payments differently. If you
surrender a life insurance policy for cash, you must include as taxable income any proceeds that are more
than the cost of the policy. But life insurance proceeds paid to you as the beneficiary of the insured person
are not taxable unless the policy was turned over to you for a price.
Scholarship. Another instance where income may or may not be taxable is scholarship or fellowship grant
money. If you are a candidate for a degree, you can exclude from income amounts you receive as a
qualified scholarship or fellowship and used to pay tuition, fees or buy books or other required educational
equipment. Grant money used for room and board, however, is taxable.
Profession. Special taxable income rules for certain professions, such as the clergy or folks who work for
foreign employers, as well as for volunteers who might receive nominal amounts for their services.
These examples are not all-inclusive. So if you have an unusual income situation, check out the IRS rules with
your tax adviser. You may or may not have to pay taxes on the money. A complete look at what the IRS considers

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taxable or nontaxable is available in Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income. [Source: Bankrate | Kay
Bell | March 4, 2016 ++]
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Shipping Charges

25 Free Shipping Stores

Recently, Amazon decided yet again to hike the minimum amount you need to purchase to qualify for free shipping.
Doing so has brought attention to the retail giants competitors with lower minimums. Amazons minimum is now
$49 a 40 percent increase while Target, for example, requires online shoppers to spend a minimum of only $25
at a time to qualify for free shipping. Walmart and Best Buy have $35 minimums. But there are also plenty of online
stores that continue to ship for free no purchase minimum or promo code is required. Weve identified 25 of
them.

Sure, these retailers cant compete with Amazon, as they tend to sell a limited range of product types with prices
ranging from moderate on up. But they sell items that are also offered on Amazon. So check this list before you next
shop Amazon for items that total less than $50. And dont forget to check a cash-back portal like Ebates as well.
Youll likely save money because most of the 26 sites highlighted below partner with Ebates, which essentially pays
you to shop online. (Such shopping portals get a commission from stores when you make a purchase, and Ebates
opts to share a percentage of that money with you.) Just sign up for an account, which is free and requires you to
provide only an email address. Then, visit http://www.ebates.com before shopping online. Thats it. For example, if
you want to earn cash back while shopping at Nordstrom, instead of going directly to Nordstrom.com, visit Ebates
Nordstrom page and click on the orange Shop Now button.
Now, on to the retailers that offer free shipping on all purchases. It is important to note that in most cases, it is
only standard shipping that is free. Also, free rates may not apply in Alaska and Hawaii:
Ashford, an online-only retailer that sells designer watches for men and women
Asics, a brand of athletic shoes and clothing for men, women and children
Barneys New York, an upscale department store
BaubleBar, an online-only retailer that sells womens fashion jewelry
Bergdorf Goodman, an upscale department store
Blue Nile, an online-only retailer that sells fine jewelry for men and women
Coach, a designer brand of bags and other accessories for men and women
Dell, a retailer that sells computer, electronics and accessories
DermStore, an online-only retailer that sells makeup, skin care and hair care products
Hush Puppies, a comfort-shoe brand for men, women and children
Jack Spade, a designer brand of clothing and accessories for men
Kate Spade, a designer brand of clothing, shoes and accessories for women and children, as well as home
decor
L.L.Bean, a brand of clothing and shoes for men, women and children as well as luggage and outdoor
equipment, including hunting and fishing gear
LovelySkin, a dermatologist-owned retailer that sells makeup, skin care and hair care products
Madewell, a retailer that sells womens jeans as well as other womens clothing, shoes and accessories

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Molton Brown, a British brand of bath and body products

Neiman Marcus, an upscale department store
Nordstrom, an upscale department store
Perricone MD, a dermatologist-backed brand of skin care products
Philips, a brand of personal care, baby and household products
Ray-Ban, a brand of sunglasses and eyeglasses
Smashbox, a brand of makeup
Sunglass Hut, a retailer that sells sunglasses for men and women
Theory, a brand of clothing, bags and accessories for men and women as well as shoes for women
Zappos.com, an online-only retailer that specializes in shoes for men, women and children but also sells
clothing and accessories for men, women and children as well as handbags

[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Karla Bowsher | March 8, 2016 ++]

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Home Sale Capital Gains

What You Pay if You Sell

What's the best tax break available to Jane and John Q. Public? If they're homeowners, it's selling their house.
Homeowners already know the many tax breaks that Uncle Sam offers, most notably mortgage interest and property
tax deductions. Well, he also has good tax news for home sellers: Most of them won't owe the Internal Revenue
Service a single dime. When you sell your primary residence, you can make up to $250,000 in profit if you're a
single owner, twice that if you're married, and not owe any capital gains taxes. "Most people are not going to have a
tax obligation unless their gain is huge," says Robert Trinz, senior analyst with Thomson Reuters Checkpoint.
Some sellers are surprised by this break, especially if they've been in their homes for a while. That's because
before May 7, 1997, the only way you could avoid paying taxes on your home-sale profit was to use the money to
buy another, more-expensive house within 2 years. Sellers age 55 or older had one other option. They could take a
once-in-a-lifetime tax exemption of up to $125,000 in profits. And in all instances, there was Form 2119 to fill out to
show that you followed the rules. But when the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 became law, the home-sale tax burden
eased for millions of residential taxpayers. The rollover or once-in-a-lifetime options were replaced with the current
per-sale exclusion amounts. "There is some logic to this law change because most people under the prior rules didn't
recognize a taxable gain, because they rolled it over into another residence," says Trinz. "The change essentially
makes it easier to dispose of your residence."
Still some requirements to meet
If you used pre-1997 rules for residential sales, don't worry. That doesn't disqualify you from claiming the
exclusion on any residential sales now. The law change applies to all sales since it took effect. Another bonus to the
new rules? You don't have to buy another home with your sale proceeds. You can use the money to travel Europe in
style, buy a recreational vehicle and drive across the country or get all those designer shoes you never could afford.
Even better, there's no limit on the number of times you can use the home-sale exemption. In most cases, you can
make tax-free profits of $250,000, or $500,000 depending on your filing status, every time you sell a home.
Ah, but we are talking taxes here. You did notice that phrase "in most cases," didn't you? Before you put a "for
sale" sign in the yard, you need to make sure your house-sale situation is one of those "most cases."
First, the property you're selling must be your principal residence. That means you live in it. This tax break
doesn't apply to a house or other property that you have solely for investment purposes. In those cases, the
usual capital gains rules apply.
You also must live in that principal residence for 2 of the 5 years before you sell it. This is known as the use
test. It also means, practically speaking, each sale must be at least 2 years apart.

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That still leaves you room to make some money on several properties. You can sell your residence this year,
pocket any gain within the tax limits and buy a new residence. Then 2 years later, you can do the same thing, again
and again, every 2 years. And you no longer have to worry about that pesky prior-law reporting requirement. When
your gain doesn't exceed the limit, you don't have to file anything with the IRS.
Second home sales take a tax hit
Owners of multiple homes, however, will now find it's not as easy to shelter sale profit as it used to be. A
provision of the Housing Assistance Act of 2008, the bill designed primarily to provide relief to some homeowners
facing foreclosure, could cost the owners of a vacation or other type of 2nd property -- when they sell. Previously,
you could move into the 2nd property, make it your primary residence, live there for 2 years and then sell it and
pocket most or all of the profit. Now, however, even if you convert a 2nd piece of real estate to your primary home,
you'll owe tax on part of the sale money based on how long the house was used as a 2nd, rather than your main,
residence.
Special rules for married couples
While spouses get double the exclusion of single home sellers, couples also have some additional considerations
when it comes to determining whether their sale is tax-free. Either spouse can meet the ownership test. For example,
the IRS says it's OK if you owned the home for the past 2 years, but you just added your new spouse to the title
when you got married 6 months ago. Since you owned the residence for the requisite time, as joint filers, you have
no problem meeting the ownership test even though your spouse wasn't an official owner for that long. However,
both spouses must pass the use test; that is, each must live in the residence for 2 years. But the shared use doesn't
have to be while you file jointly. If you and your now-spouse shared the home for 1 1/2 years before tying the knot
and then 6 months as newlyweds, the IRS will allow you to claim the exemption. But if your better half didn't move
in until the wedding day, you're out of tax-exclusion luck.
And while you're learning about your new spouse, make sure you find out all about his or her previous home-sale
history. "The 2-year eligibility rule applies to both spouses, so full home disclosure is another financial area you
need to consider when getting married," says Trinz. "You need to find out what you're getting." Under this couple
requirement, if either spouse sold a home and used the exclusion within 2 years of the sale of any jointly owned
property, the couple can't claim the exclusion. That means if your new spouse sold his or her town house a month
before the wedding, then you'll have to wait 2 years after that property's sale date before you can dispose of your
shared marital residence totally tax-free. In some cases, a couple might be able to exclude some profit from taxation,
but not the full $500,000 allowed joint filers, based on 1 spouse's eligibility qualifications.
It's your gain, or profit, that determines the size or lack of a tax bill. In fact, you can sell your house for $1
million and still not owe Uncle Sam as long as the profit portion was not more than $250,000 or $500,000,
depending on your tax filing status. If you can exclude all the gain, then you owe no taxes. To arrive at your gain
amount, you first must establish your basis in the home. For most people, says Trinz, this is what you paid for the
residence and all capital improvements you've made, such as adding a room or finishing a basement. Also, if you
sold a residence prior to the 1997 law change and rolled the profit into the home you're now selling, you must
account for that rollover amount; your basis will decrease by the amount of gain you postponed years ago. "Then
you compare that basis amount to what you get from the sale, less your commissions and other expenses," says
Trinz. "When you subtract your cost basis in the residence, this will give you the amount of gain on the sale."
In most instances, sellers will find they made a nice profit, but not one large enough to trigger a tax bill. Some,
however, could find their residences appreciated so much that the great sales prices they got ended up costing them
at tax time. That's why it's important to accurately track anything that could affect your home's cost basis. The
improvements increase your basis, so a smaller portion of the selling price would be viewed as gain. Any overage is
taxed at the applicable long-term capital gains rates, which is 20% for higher-income taxpayers, 15% for most
individuals and, for some sellers, zero percent.
Partial exclusion still a good deal
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Even if you don't meet all the home-sale exclusion tests, your tax break might not be totally lost. When an owner
sells a house because of special conditions, such as a change in health, employment or unforeseen circumstances, he
or she is eligible for a prorated tax-free gain. In such a case, the seller first calculates the fractional amount of time
that he or she met the 2-year use test. For example, a single homeowner is transferred to a job in another city and
sells after being in the home for only a year and a half. That would be an occupancy period of 18/24 or 0.75, the
number of months lived in the home divided by 24, the number of months in the 2-year occupancy requirement. By
multiplying the full $250,000 exclusion amount by 0.75, the seller would be eligible to exclude a sale gain of up to
$187,500.
Special rules for special circumstances
Members of the military also get special home-sale consideration. Because of redeployments, soldiers often find
it hard to meet the residency rule and end up owing taxes when they sell. But a law change in 2003 exempts military
personnel from the 2-year use requirement, for up to 10 years, letting them qualify for the full exclusion whenever
they must move to fulfill service commitments. Another law change, this one beginning in 2008, takes into account
the special circumstances that a homeowner faces when selling after a spouse dies. Previously, to exclude the full
profit amount allowed married homeowners when they sell, the surviving spouse had to sell the property in the same
tax year that the husband or wife passed away. But now, an unmarried widow or widower has up to 2 years to sell
the home and not face taxes on up to $500,000 in profit.
So quit worrying about taxes when you put your house on the market. Chances are good that Uncle Sam won't be
able to lay any claim to your hefty home-sale profit. [Source: Bankrate | Kay Bell | March 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

Senior Discount Update 04

Grocery, Retail & Apparel

Keep this list and send a copy to your senior friends and relatives. Note: YOU must ASK for your discount!
RETAIL & APPAREL
Banana Republic: 30% off (50+)
Bealls:
20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk's:
15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots:
30% off
Bon-Ton Dept
15 % off on senior discount days (55 +)
C.J. Banks:
10% off every Wednesday (50+)
Clarks :
10% off (62+)
Dress Barn:
20% off (55+)
Discount Drug Mart 10% off on the 1st. Wed. of the month
Goodwill:
10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark:
10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart:
40% off (Wednesdays only) (50+)
Kohl's:
15% off (60+)
Modell's Sporting Goods: 30% off
Rite Aid:
10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores:
10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: Up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart:
20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55 +)
GROCERY
Albertson's:

10% off first Wednesday of each month (55 +)

109

American Discount Stores:

10% off every Monday (50 +)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets:
5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion:
60% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket:
Free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55 +)
Great Value Food Store:
5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket:
10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter:
5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee:
5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger:
10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed:
10% off every Tuesday (50 +)
Publix:
15% off every Wednesday ( 55 +)
Rogers Marketplace:
5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace: 15% off (62+)
********************************

Saving Money

Home Projects | Lowering the Cost

Although the first impulse is to seek out a top professional for a problem (including minor ones), it may save money
to get a semi-pro to help. Lynn Bulmahn has this to say about that:
Plumbing. Two out of the three toilets in my home did not work. I called the plumber, but he never called back.
Maybe he was tired of making yet another trek to my house. Meanwhile, my handyman was over doing some other
work. I mentioned the bathroom problems and he said, "Let me see if I can fix it." He did. My toilets flush but no
longer run half the night, filling up over and over again due to a leak. Even better, my handyman charges far less
money than the plumber. And he did a better job! The lesson I learned is that from now on, unless it is a major
plumbing problem, I'm calling the handyman..
Animal Care. I found this out a couple of weeks ago. I took my dog to the vet for her rabies shot and a heartworm
check. I nearly had a heart attack when I got the bill. Did I pay that much last year? I looked up the bill. Nope, I'd
taken her to a non-profit animal clinic and paid far less. Next time, my dog will get her shots and pills either from
that clinic or from one of the community clinics that are often held one Saturday a year at fire stations or town halls.
My dog will receive identical medication, and I'd save enough money to buy her an overpriced Wobble Wag
Giggle ball.
Health Care. I've done that for my own health care. If it's not a major problem, I've gone to the so-called "Doc-inthe-Box" clinics for rashes and routine needs. A physician's assistant or nurse practitioner can handle the recurring
routine problem. I can go there without missing work, and when I'm not insured, it's a cheaper fee. Currently, the fee
is the same as my insurance co-pay at the doctor's, but the clinic is often handier. Prior to being insured, I would get
my annual woman's exams at Planned Parenthood. The nurse practitioner would be able to detect any problems, but
again the fee is cheaper. Some states permit physician's assistants to practice on their own, and you may get routine
health care cheaper this way.

110

Glasses. Usually when I need new glasses, the prescription does not come from an ophthalmologist but from an
optometrist. If the doctor of optometry sees a problem, he refers me on. Again, there is a cost savings. In some
states, paralegals are semi-professionals who can help you draw up a will or do other routine legal business. They
don't charge as much as an attorney. Another source of inexpensive legal help may be a Legal Aid office.
Research. Instead of hiring a researcher, a reference librarian may point you in the right direction for free.
Painting. Although I'm not physically able to stand on ladders and paint, I still saved money. Instead of a paint
professional, my handyman did the chore. For years, I dreamed of granite countertops to replace the dated white
with gold glitter Formica in my kitchen. The cost was prohibitive! Researching on the internet, I found a "granite
look" paint kit. My handyman once again did the job. The results were so beautiful that he had his wife come over to
see it. She's a bit miffed that they installed real granite when my counters look so similar. My cost? It was under
$400, which included two $79 paint kits.
Take the Next Step: Ask yourself is it a DIY project? Check out the following home projects by clicking on the
title:
DIY backyard waterfall
Are used appliances a good deal?
Home improvements not to do
Kid friendly decorating
Do-it-yourself home remodeling on the cheap
A few simple steps that will lower your water and sewer bills
6 cheap, effective home security solutions
5 simple and affordable luxuries for your home
5 frugal ways to expand your living space
Top 10 DIY mistakes made by home 'handymen'
How spring cleaning can save you money
4 secrets to budgeting for a home purchase
[Source: The Dollar Stretcher | Lynn Bulmahn | July 2015 ++]
********************************

Smart TV Scam

How it Works

One of the hot gift items this past December was an Internet-connected "smart TV," but what many new owners
don't realize is that these TVs can be hacked -- just like a computer or smartphone.
How the Scam Works

111

When you use your smart TV to browse the Internet or connect through apps, scammers can take advantage
of security holes to gain access to your device. On some TVs, the apps aren't as secure as those on your
smartphone.
Once they hack your TV, scammers can access the camera and voice controls. They can use this to spy on
your home (to time a break in) or listen in on conversations. Scammers can also gain access to information
on the machine, such as usernames and passwords, or even computers on the same network.

Smart TV hacking isn't really a big issue yet. But as more people purchase these TVs, con artists are bound to
find ways to use them for scams. This just happened with smartphones a few years ago.
Tips to keep your smart TV secure:
Treat your TV like a computer. Your smart TV is a computer, so use the same common sense you would for
keeping your laptop safe. For example, don't visit suspicious websites or click on strange links.
Keep your TV system up-to-date. Manufacturers will do their best to patch security holes. System updates
are annoying but vital for protecting your device.
Use firewalls. Any device that connects to the Internet should be guarded by a firewall, and your smart TV
is no exception. Be sure to use your smart TV's built-in firewall settings and a router with an enabled
firewall.
Secure your network. Be sure your home's wireless network is secure by having proper passwords and upto-date software.
Watch the camera. Assume your TV's camera and microphone are turned on. If you are concerned, cover
the camera with a piece of tape.
Learn more about the "The Internet of Things" and how to keep Internet-connected devices in your home secure
in this infographic https://staysafeonline.org/ncsam/resources/internet-of-things-infographic from the National
Cyber Security Alliance. To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper www.bbb.org/scam. To
report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us. [Source: BBB Scam Alert |
February 3, 2015 ++]

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

Energy Audit Scam

How it Works

It's the middle of winter and, for much of the US and Canada, that means high heating bills. Scammers know this,
and they are tempting homeowners with a "free energy audit." Don't fall for this con.
How the Scam Works
You get a call or a knock on the door from someone claiming to provide "free energy audits." They may
appear to represent your utility company or local government. In either case, the scammer wants to come
into your home, look around, and identify ways for you to save on your utility bills.
Don't let them in! The "energy audit" is really a set up for another scam; the actual con varies. In one
recently reported version, scammers claimed after the audit that homeowners were eligible for government
rebates or programs, a common scam where victims are asked to pay upfront for a non-existent grant. Other
times, the "energy audit" is part of a high pressure sales technique, which tricks homeowners into
purchasing marked up products (such as a $4,000 solar blanket) or shoddy construction work.
Tips to avoid a utility impersonation scam: Local gas, water, and electric companies do sometimes contact their
customers by phone. It can be difficult to tell a scammer from a real agent. Here are some tips:
112

Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes, or appliances unless you
have scheduled an appointment or reported a problem.
Ask utility employees for proper identification. Make sure their ID card matches their story and uniform.
Prepaid debit cards are a red flag. If a caller specifically asks you to pay by prepaid debit card or wire
transfer, this is a huge warning sign. Your utility company will accept a check or credit card.
Don't cave to pressure to pay immediately. If you feel pressured for immediate payment or personal
information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill. This will ensure
you are speaking to a real representative.
Remember that electrical meters are the property of the utility company. It's never your responsibility to
replace or repair them.

To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper www.bbb.org/scam. To report a scam, go to
BBB Scam Tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | February 8, 2016 ++]

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

Tax Burden for District of Columbia Retired Vets

As of Mar 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. States raise
revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property
taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a
few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in the District of Columbia.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 5.75% (temporary increase from 5.75% for the period from October 1, 2009 to September 30,
2012) (food, prescription and non-prescription drugs, residential utility services exempt)
Gasoline Tax: 41.9 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Diesel Fuel Tax: 47.9 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Cigarette Tax: $2.50/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes (Click here)

Tax Rate Range: Low 4.0%; High 8.95% (of the excess over $350,000)
Income Brackets: Six $10,000; Highest $1M. Note: Excludes Social Security income and maximum $3,000
exclusion on military retired pay, pension income, or annuity income from DC or federal government.
Personal Exemption: Single $5,200; Married $8,350. Note: Exemptions are phased out by 2% for every
$2,500 in income above $150,000.
Standard Deduction: Single $1,775; Married filing joint return $3,550 - Dependents $1,775
Medical/Dental Deduction: Same as Federal taxes
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None
Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security is exempt. Taxpayers 62 and older can exclude $3,000 of military,
federal, and state/local pensions. All state government pensions are fully taxed.
Retired Military Pay: Up to $3,000 of military retirement pay excluded for individuals 62 or older, Survivor
113

benefits are taxable.

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 service-related
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
Property is assessed at 100% of market value. Taxes on owner-occupied real estate are $0.85 per $100 of assessed
value. The first $67,500 of assessed value (homestead deduction) is exempt from taxes. Several property tax relief
programs are available to assist property owners and first time home buyers. These include a homestead deduction,
tax credits for historic properties, senior citizen tax relief and property tax exemptions and deferrals. Homeowners
65 and older with household adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 receive an additional exemption equal to
50 percent of their homestead deduction. Refer to http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/homesteadsenior-citizen-deduction for
details.

The real property tax deduction has increased. As a result of changes made to Federal year law, non-itemizers (those
who take the standard deduction) may now increase the standard deduction by up to $500 (if single, head of
household, married filing separately) and up to $1,000 (if filing jointly) if they took the real property tax deduction
on their Federal tax return as an increase to the standard deduction. Tangible personal property is taxed at the rate of
$4.30 per $100 of assessed value. The first $225,000 of taxable value is excluded from tax. Call 202-727-1000 for
more information.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax and only a limited estate tax.

For further information visit http://cfo.dc.gov or contact the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at 1350
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 203, Washington, DC 20004 Tel: 202-727-2476/1643F TTY: 711 Email:
ocfo@dc.gov.
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-alabama-iowa#DELAWARE Mar 2016 ++]
********************************

Thrift Savings Plan 2016

Returns as of 11 Mar 2016

There are currently 10 investment funds in the Thrift Savings Plan. Five are individual stock and bond funds, and the
other five are target retirement date funds. The table below summarizes the historical performance and risk
characteristics of the five primary TSP Investment Funds. Click on any link in the table header to see performance
charts and other details for that fund.

114

TSP Investment Funds

8/31/1990 - 3/11/2016

TSP
G Fund

TSP
F Fund

TSP
C Fund

TSP
S Fund

TSP
I Fund

Last Price (3/11/2016)

14.9738

17.2481

27.4127

34.0967

23.3699

Change (1-Day)

0.00%

-0.10%

1.67%

2.20%

2.03%

YTD Return

0.39%

1.73%

-0.54%

-3.23%

-3.01%

1-Year Return

2.08%

1.93%

1.39%

-8.46%

-6.28%

3-Year Return

2.11%

2.73%

11.53%

7.92%

2.02%

5-Year Return

2.00%

3.80%

11.60%

9.14%

2.72%

10-Year Return

2.90%

4.97%

6.98%

7.16%

2.36%

Annual Return Since 8/31/1990

4.8%

6.4%

9.8%

10.5%

5.3%

Annualized Standard Deviation [2]

0.3%

3.9%

18.1%

20.0%

18.0%

-6.6%

-55.2%

-57.4%

-60.9%

Maximum Drawdown [3]

Sharpe Ratio [4]
Value of $1,000 invested on 8/31/1990

0.41

0.34

0.36

0.12

$3,330

$4,896

$10,764

$12,746

$3,77

Notes
1.

The first TSP fund became available to investors in April 1987, and others followed in 1988 and 2001. TSP.gov has
published monthly fund returns since inception, and daily fund price history since 2003. To allow for a longer
performance comparison, we extended the available TSP fund price history for the C, G, F, I, and S funds with their
underlying index data. For example, we extended the TSP C Fund with the S&P 500 Total Return index. The same was
done for the other TSP funds and their underlying index. The indexes we use do not account for fund expenses, so
earlier returns are slightly higher. However, in practice the difference is not significant: the TSP funds have extremely
low expense ratios (0.027% per year as of this writing).

2.

Standard deviation, also known as historical volatility, is used by investors as a gauge for the amount of expected
volatility. Volatile TSP funds like the C, S, and I fund have a high standard deviation, while the deviation of the G and F
funds is lower. When comparing investments, a low standard deviation is preferable.

3.

Drawdown: the peak-to-trough decline in the TSP fund value, measured as a percentage between the peak and the
trough. Perhaps best expressed in the historical drawdown charts for each fund, which show the
magnitude and duration of each periodic decline. A good investment strategy aims to minimize drawdowns.

4.

The Sharpe Ratio measures risk-adjusted performance. It's calculated by subtracting the risk-free interest rate from the
rate of return for a specific fund, and dividing the result by the standard deviation of the fund returns. Since we only
track TSP funds on this website, we use the G fund returns as our risk-free investment. When comparing investments, a
high Sharpe Ratio is preferable.

5.

There are 5 active TSP Lifecycle Funds, and one retired fund. The L Income, L 2010, L 2020, L 2030, and L 2040 funds
were introduced on 8/1/2005. The new L 2050 fund opened up to investors on 1/31/2011. The L 2010 fund was retired
on December 31, 2010, its assets folded into the L Income Fund.

SP Lifecycle Funds
8/1/2005 - 3/11/2016
Last Price (3/11/2016)

TSP
L Income
Fund

TSP
L 2020
Fund

TSP
L 2030
Fund

TSP
L 2040
Fund

TSP
L 2050
Fund

17.7955

23.1058

24.8627

26.2928

14.8264

Change (1-Day)

0.37%

0.87%

1.19%

1.39%

1.58%

YTD Return

0.12%

-0.44%

-0.80%

-1.05%

-1.33%

1-Year Return

1.46%

0.13%

-0.67%

-1.33%

-1.98%

3-Year Return

3.57%

5.54%

6.37%

6.93%

7.36%

5-Year Return

3.68%

5.93%

6.85%

7.49%

7.94%

115

TSP
L Income
Fund

SP Lifecycle Funds
8/1/2005 - 3/11/2016

TSP
L 2020
Fund

TSP
L 2030
Fund

TSP
L 2040
Fund

TSP
L 2050
Fund

Annual Return Since 8/1/2005

4.1%

5.4%

5.8%

6.1%

8.0%

Annualized Standard Deviation

4.1%

12.0%

14.6%

16.7%

14.2%

-11.0%

-36.9%

-43.3%

-48.4%

-19.8%

Maximum Drawdown
Sharpe Ratio
Value of $1,000 invested on 8/1/2005

0.29

0.25

0.26

0.26

0.48

$1,533

$1,744

$1,823

$1,874

$1,483

TSP Lifecycle Funds

The five TSP Lifecycle Funds are target retirement date funds, invested in a professionally designed mix of domestic and international stocks,
bonds and government securities. Each L Fund is invested in the five individual TSP funds (G, F, C, S, and I Fund). TSP investors choose a fund
based on when they expect to retire and start making withdrawals:
The TSP L 2050 Fund is for participants who will need their money in the year 2045 or later.
The TSP L 2040 Fund is for participants who will need their money between 2035 and 2044.
The TSP L 2030 Fund is for participants who will need their money between 2025 and 2034.
The TSP L 2020 Fund is for participants who will need their money between 2015 and 2024.
The TSP L Income Fund is for participants who are already withdrawing their accounts in monthly payments, or who plan to need their money
between now and 2014.

[Source: http://www.tspfolio.com/tspfunds March 12, 2016 ++]

* General Interest *

Notes of Interest

1 thru 15 Mar 2016

Soldier of Fortune Magazine. The controversial SOF magazine that chronicles mercenaries, soldiers, gun
enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in the world of warfare, will shutter its print edition after a 41-year
run and become an online-only publication. April will be its last issue
Survivor Brian Shul. Check out https://www.youtube.com/embed/3kIMTJRgyn0?autoplay=1 and listen
to former Air Force pilot Brian Shul, who was shot down in Vietnam and near death, talk about his
experiences in service.
GTMO. A Republican congresswoman is pressing President Obama for more information on the
recidivism rate of former Guantnamo Bay detainees, following the arrest of a former detainee the same
day the administration unveiled its plan to close the facility.
Starbucks. In 2013, Starbucks made a commitment to hire 10,000 veterans by 2018. So far, the company
said it is more than half way there, having hired 5,500 veterans.
High Diving Giraffes. Go to https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/nPrWo5pEvyk?rel=0 to view this
Circus Act is only seen in Australia. They don't tour because it costs too much to transport these highly
trained and valuable animals. It takes about 2 years to train one giraffe to feel comfortable in the water and
then another 3 or 4 years to get them to dive. They train them using only the reward system. Harsh training
techniques are forbidden.

116

North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on 4 MAR ordered his country's nuclear weapons made
ready for use at a moment's notice. Kim also said his country will ready its military so it is prepared to
carry out preemptive attacks, calling the current situation very precarious. North Korea has threatened
nuclear war in the past, but it is unclear just how advanced the country's nuclear program really is.
Military Discounts. Go to http://www.bradsdeals.com/blog/military-discounts for a list of 230+ stores and
services. Two important caveats: First, some stores offer discounts only at the owner's discretion and other
discounts vary by state. Second, many stores that give a military discount don't advertise it. It is always
worth asking a store whether they have one or not and to have your military ID on you.
Vet Free Dental Care. The University of Southern Indiana Dental Hygiene Clinic repeated their annual
free dental cleaning, fluoride and X-rays for military veterans February 29 and March 2. The USI Dental
Hygiene Program expanded the appointment schedule to include evening hours in attempt to serve more
veterans. Appointments were required and could be made by calling 812-464-1706. Proof of military
affiliation and a picture identification was required. The USI Dental Hygiene Clinic is located on the USI
campus in the Health Professions Center Room 1040, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, Indiana
47712.
Presidential Elections. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 8 MAR he had declined an
offer to meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House later this month because of the heated U.S.
election campaign. He was reluctant to be drawn into the U.S. presidential campaign, where candidates
have been vying to assert their bona fides as friends of Israel. In 2012, Netanyahu hosted then-Republican
contender Mitt Romney in Israel in what many Democrats saw as a bid to undercut Obama's second-term
run. Israel denied meddling.
USS South Dakota. Gov. Dennis Daugaard has approved the appropriation of $100,000 to support
activities related to the commissioning of a submarine bearing the state's name. The SSN-790 submarine is
under construction and is expected to be completed in 2018. The nuclear sub will carry a crew of 15
officers and 117 enlisted service personnel. Its projected lifespan is up to 33 years.
Same Sex Marriage. Veterans in same-sex marriages who believe they are entitled to benefits (including
those whose claims were previously denied because of their marriage status) are urged to promptly apply
for benefits. For more information, updated guidance and instructions on how to re-apply, visit the VA
website http://www.va.gov/opa/marriage, call 800-642-4838, or contact your local benefits counselor.
Olive Garden. Go http://www.olivegarden.com/locations/location-search?redirectToMenu=true to see
their buy one take one home for free deal.
Burn pits. Servicemembers interested in reading the book, Burn Pits: The Poisoning of Americas
Soldiers by former Marine and investigative journalist Joseph Hickman, will have to look outside their
bases to find a copy. Post exchanges arent selling it. Hickman claims the military was criminally negligent
in exposing troops to deadly chemicals.
Servicemembers interested in reading a new book charging the military was negligent in exposing troops to
burn pits
Property tax. Resident of Rhode pay roughly 8 times as much as resident of Hawaii. See where your state
ranks at https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585/#.
Trains & Snow. Go to http://1funny.com/trains-plowing-snowy-tracks to see how modern day trains deal
with snow covered tracks.
SeaRAM. The Navy successfully launched the Raytheon SeaRAM Anti-Ship Missile Defense System
from an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer for the first time ever on 4 MAR, a final step in
rapidly fielding a self-defense capability on the Mediterranean-based USS Porter (DDG-78) through an
unconventional acquisition process.
Hunger. Thirty four countries nearly 80 percent of them in Africa don't have enough food for their
people because of conflicts, drought and flooding, according to a U.N. report released 9 MAR.

117

Extremist. A U.S. Air Force veteran was found guilty of attempting to provide material support to the
Islamic State on 9 MAR in what authorities hailed as a first-of-its-kind conviction after a trial. Tairod
Nathan Webster Pugh faces a possible maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.
Seabees. The Navy has unveiled an updated Seabees logo and theme ahead of the fighting construction
force's 75th anniversary in 2017

[Source: Various | March 15, 2016 ++]

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

Have You Seen

Photos of Interest | 160315

The following are included in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, Have You Seen.
Aviation Art 104 Lady in the Dark
Battle of Okinawa Machinato | Suicide Bomber
D-Day Fuel Stocks
Ghosts of Time Then & Now Photos of WWII Sites (12)
Help!!! Things that might make you say it (08)
Interesting Ideas Plastic Bottle Cap Alternate Use
Interesting Inventions Pocket Molecular Sensor
Moments of US History Abandoned New York City Baby 1971
Most Creative Statues Brussels, Belgium | Toppling Policeman
Parking Revenge Tactic #15 Against Inconsiderate Parkers
Spanish American War Images 85 USS Olympia Apprentice Boys
WWI in Photos 139 Equine Gas Mask
WWII Advertising Piper Cub Points the Way
WWI Stills Bastogne supply drop
WWII Posters Know Your Place, Shut Your Face
[Source: Various Mar 2016 ++]
********************************

RP~China Dispute Update 15

China's Minister Takes A Hard Line

China's foreign minister took a hard line 8 MAR on the country's claims to virtually all the South China Sea, saying
Beijing won't permit other nations to infringe on what it considers its sovereign rights in the strategically vital area.
Wang Yi, speaking to reporters at an annual news conference in Beijing, said that another nation's claim to freedom
of navigation in the region doesn't give it the right to do whatever it wants an apparent reference to the U.S.,
which has sent naval ships past reefs where China has engaged in island-building. Wang sought to deflect allegations
118

China is militarizing the region by building military facilities on the artificial islands. He said China's development
there was defensive and that other nations were being militaristic not China. "China cannot be labeled as the most
militaristic. This label is more suited to other countries," Wang said.
In addition to reaffirming that South China Sea islands were an "integral" part of China's territory that "every
Chinese is obligated to defend," he reiterated Beijing's refusal to cooperate with an International Court of Arbitration
case brought by the Philippines over disputed claims in the area. China has conducted a massive program in the
South China Sea over the past two years of land reclamation, piling sand atop reefs then adding airstrips and military
facilities. Neighbors have complained that the work has raised tensions by changing the status quo in the area, where
six Asian governments have overlapping claims and which include some of the world's busiest sea lanes. When
asked whether China would allow foreign journalists to visit those islands, Wang stressed that they also were
intended for civilian uses and that once they are completed, foreign journalists would be invited.
In the interim Gen. Lori Robinson, the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, announced 8 MAR the U.S. Air
Force will continue to fly daily missions over the South China Sea despite a buildup of Chinese surface-to-air
missiles and fighter jets in the contested region, with both nations' militaries in discussions to avoid any
"miscalculation. She also urged other nations to exercise their freedom to fly and sail in international airspace and
waters claimed by China in the South China Sea "or risk losing it throughout the region." Also, it was announced 3
MAR that the U.S. Navy has dispatched a small armada to the South China Sea. The carrier John C. Stennis, two
destroyers, two cruisers and the 7th Fleet flagship have sailed into the disputed waters in recent days, according to
military officials. The carrier strike group is the latest show of force in the tense region, with the U.S. asserting that
China is militarizing the region to guard its excessive territorial claims.

John C. Stennis (CVN-74)

Zhiqun Zhu an associate professor of political science and international relations at Bucknell University, where
he heads the China Institute said he doesnt think either China or the United States wants to clash with each other
directly. But he believes for the United States its essential to send a message to China that you can't just push people
around. But for China, China he feels that, 'All these islands belong to us. I have every right to do what I want on
these islands, they are not militarized, so why are you sending warships to challenge us?' They see it as provocative.
Zhu thinks both sides need to take a step back. [Source: The Associated Press | Christopher Bodeen | March 8, 2016
++]
********************************

CVS Theft Policy

Vet Stops Robbery | Loses Job

When two suspects tried robbing a Maryland CVS on 4 MAR, Army veteran Joe Morici sprang into action. And it
cost him his job. Morici, who served seven years in the Army, including a stint in Afghanistan, was fired from his
management job at a Beltsville CVS because he intervened and tried to catch the men, FOX5 reported. But Morici
said his reactions were purely based on instinct when two men tried robbing the CVS pharmacy during his shift. He
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quickly told cashiers to call 911 and helped an elderly man out of the store before locking the doors, preventing the
suspects from leaving. Then he confronted them. The two kids ran into the door, which was closed now, and Joe
got one of them and had him, Chick Hernandez, a customer in the store at the time, told FOX5. The kid, he had
said to his partner, Shoot him.And then Joe said, Ive been in the military far too long. You dont have
anything.

CVS fired employee Joe Morici

It turned out there was no gun, though one of the suspects held a screwdriver. I dont really know that they
didnt really have one, Morici said. I just kind of assumed. Morici grabbed the screwdriver, but eventually the
men got away. When Moricis boss arrived, however, Morici said he was told he was being terminated because of
his actions. My boss, when he came in to deliver the news, he was sick to his stomach, Morici said. He didnt
want to, but he didnt have a choice. In a statement to FOX5, CVS said it would not comment on specific security
procedures or polices as we do not want to undermine them.
Morici said since news of his heroics went public hes received numerous job offers and interview opportunities.
Hes also applied for a position with the Prince Georges County Police Department. My Facebook has been
blowing up from people all over the country just thanking me and reposting it, Morici said. Ive got people from
Wichita, Kansas to the Philippines. People back home are calling me. It blew up way bigger than I ever thought it
would. [Source: Fox News | February 26, 2016 ++]
********************************

Rep. Tammy Duckworth Maligned

Recirculated Tweet A Mistake

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) briefly posted a tweet 8 MAR that said a Democratic
candidate from Illinois who lost both legs as an Army helicopter pilot "has a sad record of not standing up" for
veterans. NRSC spokeswoman Andrea Bozek acknowledged the tweet about U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth was a
mistake that was deleted "within minutes." "It would be great if reporters would pay as much attention to a deleted
tweet as they should" to other issues in the race, she added in an emailed statement. The tweet was recirculated on
social media and appeared on political blogs. Duckworth's campaign noted it as a "disgraceful attack" in an
afternoon email soliciting campaign donations. Duckworth is seeking the Democratic nomination in next week's
Illinois primary for a chance to challenge U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican seeking a second term. "Tammy has
made fighting for veterans her life's work, and will continue to do so in the Senate," said Duckworth campaign
spokesman Matt McGrath, who called the tweet "tasteless and dishonest." Duckworth, who held state and federal
veterans affairs positions, lost her legs and part of an arm after a Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting in 2004
was shot down in Iraq.

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[Source: The Associated Press | Sophia Tareen | March 9, 2016 ++]

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

How Old is Grandpa?

Would You Believe

Stay with this -- the answer is at the end. It may blow you away. For some of us, including the RAO Bulletins
Editor/Publisher, this is all true.
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather
what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandfather
replied, "Well, let me think a minute. I was born before:
Television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods. Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill.
There were no: credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens
Man had not invented: pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, and clothes dryers. The clothes were hung
out to dry in the fresh air and space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
Your Grandmother and I got married first and then lived together.
Every family had a father and a mother.
Until I was 25, I called every woman older than me, "mam". And after I turned 25, I still called policemen
and every man with a title, "Sir."
We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Bible, good judgment, and common sense.
We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for
our actions.
Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege.
We thought fast food was eating half a biscuit while running to catch the school bus.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends - not purchasing
condominiums.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.
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We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever
remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk!
The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam.
Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.
We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents.
Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to
splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe for $600, ... but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11
cents a gallon.

In my day: "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, "rock
music" was your grandmother's lullaby, "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, "chip" meant a piece of wood,
"hardware" was found in a hardware store and "software" wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to
actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say
there is a generation gap or its from the archives. How old do you think I am? I bet you have this old man in
mind ... you are in for a shock! Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.
Are you ready ????? This man would be only 70 years old today.
GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ... PASS THIS ON TO THE OLD ONES, THE YOUNG
ONES WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
[Source: VFW Post 6756 - Centerline MI | Leo Miller | March 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

Remember When

Nostalgia (2)

Who Can Still Remember

Howdy Doody and The Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell , Roy and Dale,
Trigger and Buttermilk
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles...
Coffee shops with Table Side Jukeboxes...
Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum...
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers...
Newsreels before the movie...?
Telephone numbers with a word prefix...( Yukon 2-601). Party lines...
Hi-Fi's & 45 RPM records...
78 RPM records...
Mimeograph paper...
The Fort Apache Play Set...
A Time When:
Decisions were made by going...? 'eeny-meeny-miney-moe'??
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, 'Do Over!'??
'Race issue' meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching The Fireflies Could Happily Occupy An Entire Evening?
It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best Friends'...?
Having a Weapon in School meant being caught with a Slingshot?

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Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for action figures?

'Oly-oly-oxen-free' made perfect sense?
Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles?
The Worst Embarrassment was being picked last for a team?
War was a card game?
Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?
Taking drugs meant orange flavored chewable aspirin?
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?
Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?
They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed... and they did it!
When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and
people went steady?

If you can remember most or all of these, Then You Have Lived!!!!!!!
********************************

Brain Teaser

Storigram IX

Below is a (very) short story with 10 capitalized words or phrases which are anagrams of words that all fit in a
certain category. Can you find the anagrams and determine the category?
There once was an eclectic farming family who would use A TRICK HOE on A SUGAR SAP maple and raised
hens with one brown FOWL AURICLE and one white. They also had a SLY PEAR tree and an aquarium where you
could hear an EEL CRY. The daughter once said, "MOM, HOURS have been wasted listening to 'COLIC' ROB
telling us that he had to BEG A CAB to take him TO A TOP beach to listen to a LUAU RAG."
********************************

Have You Heard?

Senior Citizens 2

Drivers

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A homeowner was working in his yard when he was startled by a late model car that came crashing through his
hedge and ended up in his front lawn. He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a
lawn chair.
He said with excitement, "You appear quite elderly to be driving."
"Well, yes, I am," she replied proudly. "I'll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough, that I don't even need a
driver's license anymore." He asked "How do you know?"
She responded, "The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver's license. I told him,
yes and handed it to him." He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the
waste basket, saying, 'You won't need this anymore.' So I thanked him and left!
-o-o-O-o-oGun Shop
There was a bit of confusion at the Cabelas Sporting Goods store this morning. When I was ready to pay for my
purchases of gun powder and bullets the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me."
Making a mental note to complain to the NRA about the gun control whackos running amok, I did just as she had
instructed.
When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out that she was referring to my credit card. I
have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to us Seniors a little clearer!
-o-o-O-o-oMedicare Part G
It makes you really think about things.....
Say you're an older senior citizen and can no longer take care of yourself. The government says there's no Nursing
Home care available for you. So, what do you do? You opt for MEDICARE - Part G.
Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun (Part G) and four bullets. You are allowed to shoot four politicians.
This means, of course, that you'll be sent to prison where you'll receive three meals a day, a roof over your head,
central heating & air conditioning, cable TV, library, and all the Health Care you need. Need new teeth? No problem.
Need glasses? That's great. Need a hearing aid, new hip, knees, kidney, lungs, sex change, or heart? They're all
covered. As an added bonus, your kids can come and visit you at least as often as they do now!
And, who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you they can't afford for you to go into a
home. And....you can get rid of 4 useless politicians while you're at it. And now, because you're a prisoner, you don't
have to pay any more income taxes.
Is this a great country or what?
Now that we've solved your senior financial planning, enjoy your weekend!
-o-o-O-o-oIce Cream Truck
Upon hearing that her elderly grandfather had just passed away, Katie went straight to her grandparent's house to
visit her 95 year-old grandmother and comfort her. When she asked how her grandfather had died, her grandmother
replied, "He had a heart attack while we were making love on Sunday morning."

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Horrified, Katie told her grandmother that 2 people nearly 100 years old having sex would surely be asking for
trouble. "Oh no, my dear," replied granny. "Many years ago, realizing our advanced age, we figured out the best
time to do it was when the church bells would start to ring. It was just the right rhythm. Nice and slow and even.
Nothing too strenuous, simply in on the Ding and out on the Dong."
She paused to wipe away a tear, and continued,
"He'd still be alive if the ice cream truck hadn't come along."
-o-o-O-o-oAids
Senior citizens are the nation's leading carriers of aids!
HEARING AIDS
BAND AIDS
ROLL AIDS
WALKING AIDS
MEDICAL AIDS
GOVERNMENT AIDS
and
MOST OF ALL,
MONETARY AIDS TO THEIR KIDS!
Not forgetting HIV (Hair is Vanishing)
-o-o-O-o-oMenu
An elderly golfer comes in after a good round of golf at the new course and heads straight to the bar & restaurant
area of the club house. As he passes through the swinging doors, he spots a sign hanging over the bar that reads:
COLD BEER: $5.00
HAMBURGER: $10.00
CHEESEBURGER: $15.50
CHICKEN SANDWICH: $18.50
HAND JOB: $250.00
Checking his wallet to be sure he has the necessary money, the old golfer walks up to the bar and beckons to the
exceptionally attractive female bartender who is serving drinks to a couple of sun-wrinkled golfers.
She glides down behind the bar to the old golfer. "Yes?" she inquires with a wide, knowing smile. "May I help you
sir?"
The old golfer leans over the bar and whispers, "I was wondering young lady, are you the one who gives the handjobs around here?"
She looks into his wrinkled eyes and with a wide smile purrs, "Yes sir, contemplating an easy $250, I sure am." The
old golfer leans in even closer and into her left ear says softly:
"Well then, be sure to wash your hands real good, because I want a cheeseburger!"
********************************

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Brain Teaser Answer

Storigram IX

ARTICHOKE
ASPARAGUS
CAULIFLOWER
PARSLEY
CELERY
MUSHROOM
BROCCOLI
CABBAGE
POTATO
ARUGULA
Category: Vegetables
********************************

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FAIR USE NOTICE: This newsletter may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically
authorized by the copyright owner. The Editor/Publisher of the Bulletin at times includes such material in an effort to advance
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in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this newsletter is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for educating themselves
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-o-o-O-o-oTO READ and/or DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ARTICLES, ATTACHMENTS, OR PAST BULLETINS
Online GO TO:
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4. New subscribers and those who submit a change of address should receive a message that verifies their addition
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********************************
RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher:
Lt. James (EMO) Tichacek, USN (Ret) Tel: (858) 432-1246 Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net
Bulletin Web Access: http://www.nhc-ul.com/rao.html, http://www.veteransresources.org, http://frabr245.org, and
http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html [PDF & HTML Editions w/ATTACHMENTS
RAO Baguio Director:
SMSgt Leonard (Len) D. Harvey, USAF (Ret) PSC 517 Box 4036, FPO AP 96517-1000, Tel: 63-74-442-3468;
Email: lenharvey@live.com.ph
RAO Baguio Office: Red Lion Inn, 35 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, 2600 Philippines
FPO Mail Pickup: TUE & THUR 09-1100 --- Outgoing Mail Closeout: THUR 1100

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