Since 02-11-06
Armed Forces News Issue
10 Feb 2006
Since 02-11-06
From: Armed Forces News [mailto:afn@fedweek.com]
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 10:48 AM
Subject: Armed Forces News Issue: Fri, Feb. 10, 2006
-------------------------------------
Armed Forces News Weekly Newsletter To Military Personnel & Their Families
Friday, February 10, 2006
-------------------------------------
FEDweek and Armed Forces News are the largest information resource in the
Federal Government, with over one million weekly readers.
FEDWEEK'S FREE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS Go to
http://www.fedweek.com to Sign Up-FREE for these newsletters!
FEDweek Weekly Electronic Newsletter Federal Manager's Daily Report Retirement &
Financial Planning Report Armed Forces News
------------------------------------------------------
BRAC Seminar Announcement: BRAC Seminar in Pensacola, FL (March 27 & 28) Who
Should Attend? HR Specialists, Civilian Employees who may be facing involuntary
separation Managers and Supervisors
Go to
http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/295219516/326053/528/0/ For more
information.
-------------------------------------------------------
In Today's Issue:
-----------------------
1. JCS Brand Washington Post Cartoon "Reprehensible" On Jan. 31, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff signed a letter to the editor of the Washington Post concerning
an editorial cartoon by Tom Toles on page B6 in the Jan. 29 edition. "Using the
likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the
central theme of a cartoon is beyond tasteless," they wrote. They added that
they "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your
paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have
volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and
life-altering wounds." They concluded: "As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we
all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go
unanswered."
--------------------------------------------------------
2. Defense Budget Targets Young Retirees The Defense Department budget released
Feb. 6 includes a previously disclosed plan to increase Tricare costs for
military retirees younger than age 65 and their families. Fees for health
benefits would triple over three years for officers and double for enlisted.
According to Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for
health affairs, the changes will not modify the benefits military beneficiaries
receive under the program. The Defense Department's only motivation in making
these changes is to ensure health benefits are maintained at their current
level, he asserted. The proposed changes will save billions of dollars over the
years and will allow the department to sustain the best health system in the
country, he declared. He said the "leadership" is in agreement that the plan is
"appropriate, prudent, fair, equitable and necessary." Many veterans'
organizations vehemently disagree and are lobbying Congress to reject the plan.
--------------------------------------------------------
3. GAO Declares VA Budgeting Process Flawed The Government Accountability Office
has made an initial report of an investigation requested by House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and members of the Senate. GAO
blamed unrealistic assumptions, errors in estimates, insufficient data, and an
unresponsive budget model for health care funding shortfalls at the Department
of Veterans Affairs in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. GAO declared that the federal
budgeting process itself, which uses information up to three or more years old,
had contributed to shortfalls. Projections were understated for a number of
reasons, including returning Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom soldiers and requirements for long-term care. The funding shortages,
which were discovered by VA officials in the spring of 2005, were ultimately
filled by supplemental funding. The GAO will continue its review of the process
used by the administration to formulate the VA budget. (See next item.)
--------------------------------------------------------
4. Evans, Akaka, Lambaste VA Budgeting Lane Evans, ranking Democratic member,
House Committee on Veterans Affairs, says the Department of Veterans Affairs
used "phantom claims to offset VA budget requests for health care. Basing his
comments on a Government Accountability Office report issued Feb. 1 (previous
item), he added that "while calling for the establishment of user fees and
increased copayments for veterans seeking health care, and altogether barring at
least 260,000 veterans from the (VA) health care system," the administration
falsely claimed billions of dollars in unsubstantiated 'management
efficiencies.'" Democrat Daniel Akaka, Evans' counterpart on the Senate
Committee on Veterans Affairs, said "It is distressing that VA's health care
budget over the past three years has been built like a house of cards." Evans
and Akaka stressed that replacing the Administration's savings claims in the VA
budget would have averted the needs for the $1.3 billion supplemental request in
2005 and increases in pharmacy co-payments.
--------------------------------------------------------
5. Navy Skills Earn Civilian Certification The United Services Military
Apprenticeship Program (USMAP), managed by Naval Education and Training Command,
is a formal military training program that provides Coast Guard, Marine Corps,
and Navy service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to
complete civilian apprenticeship requirements while on active duty. The
Department of Labor requires 144 hours of classroom instruction for every 2,000
hours of on-the-job training (OJT). Kenneth Ledbetter, subject matter expert and
USMAP registrar, said the trades average from 2,000 to 10,000 hours and can take
from one to four years to complete. Service members get recognition for their
jobs in the civilian world by logging their hours during OJT and meeting the
knowledge specifications of the program. A Sailor doing an average eight-hour
job can complete
2,000 hours in a year. The Navy offers apprenticeship certification in 124
trades. For more information, visit
https://www.cnet.navy.mil/usmap.
--------------------------------------------------------
6. Tricare Dental Program Adds Benefits Tricare Management Activity began a new
Tricare Dental Program (TDP) contract with United Concordia Companies Inc. Feb.
1. United Concordia will continue to furnish worldwide, comprehensive dental
coverage to include preventive, diagnostic, restorative and maintenance services
to all eligible uniformed services active duty family members and to National
Guard and Reserve members and their eligible family members. Benefits added are
dental implants and related prosthetics, and extended restorative services to
teeth affected by attrition, erosion, abrasion, and congenital or developmental
defects. Cost shares will continue to be reduced for active-duty service members
in pay grades E-1 to E-4 for some dental services. For more information, visit
www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com, or call toll-free (800) 866-8499. If residing
outside the continental U.S., dial your country code followed by (888)
418-0466 toll-free. Beneficiaries may also access the Tricare Web site at
www.tricare.osd.mil.
--------------------------------------------------------
7. Young Vets Face 15% Unemployment The Department of Labor reported that the
unemployment rate for veterans ages 20-24 was more than 15 percent in July
2005, the last month for which data was available, while non veterans in the
same age category had an unemployment rate of just under 8 percent. The number
of young unemployed veterans has grown dramatically since the start of military
operations in Afghanistan. That trend caused the chairman of the Senate
Committee on Veterans' Affairs to express frustration to the Department of
Labor's Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training Charles
Ciccolella. "This trend of rising unemployment suggests to me that we -- as a
nation -- must do more to help these young veterans succeed in the civilian job
market, said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Feb. 2. "Much of that help must continue
to come from leaders in the business community and in the public sector who
recognize the distinct advantages of hiring former service members."
--------------------------------------------------------
8. Legion Commander Decries Divisiveness Ushering in a new legislative session,
American Legion commander Thomas L. Bock declared that "a veteran is a veteran,"
and that no veteran can accept budget-driven politics that aims to divide
veterans. He stressed that disabled military retirees, unless their service fits
a particular type of combat duty, are denied full retirement pay (concurrent
receipt) if they are also compensated for service-connected disabilities. He
also charged that "the federal government divides veterans into eight priority
groups for health care," but the VA cut off the eighth group. He asked if
Priority group 7 veterans are next in line to have VA health care denied. And he
objected to the DoD plan to impose draconian enrollment fees and double
co-payments for Tricare-eligible retirees.
--------------------------------------------------------
9. Class Act Closes Down Retired Air Force Colonel and Medal-of-Honor holder
George "Bud" Day closed down the Class Act Group Dec. 31. The group, operating
from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., had fought for years, both in federal court and in
Congress to restore free lifetime health care to older military retirees and
their spouses who had been promised it. Day says that full free health care has
not been achieved because the retiree group affected are paying Medicare Part B
premiums, although retirees now have 95 percent of what they were promised. A
key portion of it is furnished by Tricare for Life and Tricare Senior Pharmacy
benefits. Day said that factors in the decision included a need to make
congressional money available to hurricane victims, and less interest by the
retirees involved and Congress.
--------------------------------------------------------
10. Recent Military Promotions:
Army FY06 Major, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Selection Board Results
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/select/Maj_JA06.htm
FY07 Lieutenant Colonel, Army Medical Dept. (AMEDD) Command, Selection Board
Results
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/select/LtcAmedCmd07.htm
--------------------------------------------------------
11. 2006 In-Print Retired Military Personnel Handbook Available For Immediate
Shipment! http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm
Distribution is Available to ALL Military Bases and we are now excepting bulk
orders for shipment. Go to
http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm order yours or to find out more
information.
Dear Armed Forces News Reader: For 2006, The Retired Military Personnel Handbook
has been COMPLETELY REVISED AND EXPANDED AND IS STILL ONLY $9.95! The Retired
Military Personnel Handbook is now in its seventh year and has been distributed
to military installations and federal government agencies all over the world! It
is specifically written for all military personnel and retirees and their
families and is designed to guide you through every aspect of your retirement,
explaining what benefits you may qualify for and how to get them, as well as
providing a context for making many of the important decisions that lie ahead.
Here's a look at just some of what's NEW in the 2006 edition:
TRICARE Plus program --A complete, down-to-earth explanation of the eligibility
requirements and the covered benefits
Federal LTC Insurance program --Contains the eligibility, benefit choices, and
premium considerations, including how the program differs for active employees
versus retirees, tax considerations and other aspects of the program
Tax Policies--The latest information affecting your retirement accounts, estate
tax treatment and long-term care premiums
New Retirement Lifestyle Information --Including how to evaluate continuing care
communities and nursing homes Incapacity Planning--New important information on
protecting your heirs
Pay and Benefit Policies --The latest on COLAs, health and life insurance,
Medicare and Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Defense Department programs,
and a look at key legislative initiatives affecting retirees Important Points of
Contacts--Just updated points of contact, benefit rates, addresses, tax
treatment of annuities, status of important legislation and other vital material
The new SGLI family coverage option--What it will cost you and what it will
provide
Survivor Benefits --The latest information on survivor -benefit policies and
rates
Moving in Retirement--Special considerations for those moving
PLUS, COMPLETELY REVISED INFORMATION ON: Retired pay and benefits--how the
latest changes affect you and your family
Disability retirement--qualifying, compensation, implications
Medicare and Social Security benefits--eligibility and requirements
Re-employment with the Government--the veterans' advantage
Financial planning--maximizing your military retirement income
Taxes in retirement--minimizing your tax burden
A plain-English explanation of TRICARE for Life--what it does and doesn't cover,
eligibility rules and how to make in prescription drug policies
The new Senior Pharmacy Program--who is eligible, and how you can use it to save
money on your prescription drugs
Tricare dental benefits--what's covered and what's not
VA health benefits--eligibility and facilities
Survivor benefits--spouses and family members, divorce
VA retirement compensation--types and how much
Life insurance--USGLI, VSLI and other Government plans
Other VA programs--assistance with loans, income, education, etc.
And much, much more!
"The 2006 Retired Military Personnel Handbook gives you the absolute latest
information available on your military retirement and is a perfect tool to be
used as a reference guide whether you are just nearing retirement or are already
retired." Don Mace Publisher, Armed Forces News
Go to http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm
or see Below.
The 2006 Retired Military Personnel Handbook is only $9.95
(plus s&h) and you can place your order online at
http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm
under our Military Interest section.
You may also call our 24 hour toll-free order line at
(888) 333-9335 and place your order or send your order with payment ($14.45) to:
FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058.
--------------------------------------------------------
Armed Forces News
11541 Nuckols Rd.
Suite D
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Publisher, Don Mace
Website: http://www.armedforcesnews.com
Published weekly by Armed Forces News, LLC
This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm