Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 05/14/2001

Dear Sgt. Shaft:

We are extremely grateful for Congress' approval last year of landmark legislation authorizing Medicare-eligible military retirees pharmacy benefits (after April 1, 2001) and TRICARE For Life (TFL) as second payer to Medicare (after October 1, 2001). This should save Medicare-eligible military retirees hundreds of dollars in pharmacy costs and thousands more in premiums for Medicare supplemental policies they should be able to cancel after October 1. Timely implementation and funding of these upgraded benefits is The Retired Officers Association's (TROA) top priority for 2001.

Some of your retired readers who are age 65 or older may need to take personal action to get ready for TFL's scheduled start on October 1, 2001. Specifically, they should ensure their address and other personal information is correctly updated in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS. They can call DEERS at 1-800-538-9552, 1-800-334-4162 (California), or 1-800-527-5602 (Alaska and Hawaii), to check the accuracy of this data.

Closely behind health care initiatives on our 2001 priority list are doing away with the current laws that require (1) a Survivor Benefit Plan annuity reduction for military survivors after age 62 and (2) disabled military retirees to forfeit $1 of their earned retired pay for each dollar they receive in veterans' disability compensation. We believe these laws treat retirees and survivors very unfairly, and their overhaul is long overdue.

We are also pushing for an aggressive active duty pay increase. After years of having their pay raises capped below that of the average American, military members' pay now lags a cumulative 10.9% behind private sector wage growth. The President has proposed adding $1 billion to the troops' pay package in addition to the regularly scheduled January 2002 raise; TROA believes this is a good first step toward the ultimate goal of restoring military pay comparability.

The road to success in all of these areas is not easy, but we--and the other 30 organizations in The Military Coalition--won't give up in seeking equity for our present and past servicemembers. Our common goal is improving our Nation's military readiness by providing a compensation and benefits package that will attract and retain the kinds and numbers of quality people required to sustain a strong national defense.

Many thank for all you are doing to keep members of the military and veterans community informed and to promote awareness of key issues that affect them.

Michael A. Nelson
Lt. Gen. USAF (Ret)
President, The Retired Officers Association

Dear Gen. Nelson:
It was a pleasure to join you and the distinguished members of TROA at your recent Capitol Hill ceremony honoring eight people who played key roles in obtaining TRICARE for Life. The Colonel Arthur R. Marix Congressional Leadership Award was presented to Senator John Warner (R-VA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Tim Hutchinson (R-AR); and Congressmen Steve Buyer (R-IN) Ronnie Shows (D-MS) for their work in spearheading legislation that resulted in TRICARE For Life. The TROA Distinguished Service Award went to General Henry H. Shelton, USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who received the award for making health care a military leadership priority and raising the issue on Congress' agenda. Gen. Shelton was also recognized for persuading the Administration and Congress to increase active duty and Reserve pay and repeal the REDUX retirement penalties imposed on post-1986 service entrants. Two key staffers, Mr. Charles. S. Abell (Senate Armed Services Committee) and Mr. Edward P. Wyatt, Jr., (House Armed Services Committee) received the Colonel Paul W. Arcari Meritorious Service Award for their initiative in helping develop a TRICARE For Life concept that came to reality in the National Defense Authorization Act. Col. Arcari recently retired from TROA, where he was Director of Government Relations.
It is so essential that notable organizations such as TROA not only educate but recognize those Members of Congress and staff who continually serve our nation's military retirees and veterans.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge salutes the U.S. Marine Corps for their outreach to Marine families who conceived children while living in Marine Corps Base (MCB) housing at Camp Lejeune from 1968 through 1985 to participate in a health survey regarding these children. The Marines report that the health survey focuses on compounds that existed in low amounts within the MCB Camp Lejeune water distribution system between 1965 and 1985 and gathering data about the effects that these substances may have on children when exposed before birth. Eligible persons are encouraged to participate in the survey whether or not your child has exhibited any adverse health systems. To participate, call the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at 1-800-639-4270. For more general information about the survey, call the Agency for Toxic Substances and the Disease Registry at 1-888-422-8737, ext. 5132. The Marine Corps has also established a toll-free contact number, 1-877-261-9782. 

The Sarge is helping to spread the call to father-and-son pairs, both living, where the father is a veteran of World War II and the son a veteran of Vietnam. Author Michael Takiff is preparing a book of oral histories on over 30 father-and-son pairs. The contrast between WWII and Vietnam form the book's foundation: the clear aims of World War II and the heroes' welcome accorded the earlier veterans, the muddied goals in Vietnam and the disdain heaped on its returnees. The book will include a broad range of people, from every geographic, ethnic and economic background; every military specialty and every branch of service. Author Takiff has found that seemingly ordinary men tell extraordinary tales. "These individuals have offered amazing insights into war and peace, life and death, courage and fear." Father-and-son pairs interested in participating in this oral history can contact Michael Takiff on-line at mtakiff@earthlink.net.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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