Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 07/09/2001

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) of the United States is an association that represents all enlisted members of the Uniformed Services, Guard and Reserves. Enlisted men and women have historically borne the brunt of battle since the conception of this free land we call America. It is strange that those who made the military a career and only left the profession-of-arms when they were killed, physically disabled, or retired are continually called upon to sacrifice even more for the good of the Nation. This sacrifice results from the fact that military retirees have their earned military retired pay off-set, dollar for dollar, by any service-connected disability compensation to which they are entitled from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The federal military retiree is discriminated against as she/he is a member of the only retiree group in the federal government or civilian sector required to forfeit an earned retirement benefit in this manner. In fact, a service-connected disabled veteran who is not a retiree can go to work as a civilian employee for the Department of Defense and receive both civilian pay and entitled service-connected disability compensation.

NCOA and other veteran service organizations have worked for years to secure legislative authority in law that would permit Concurrent Receipt of earned longevity military retired pay and entitled VA service-connected disability compensation. This year the legislation seemed a shoe-in because it had a clear majority in both chambers of Congress. With 355 elected Representatives as cosponsors in the House and 55 in the Senate, it appeared that this post-Civil War inequity was about to be corrected. Regrettably, when victory seemed so near, Representative Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced an amendment that has sent the issue to the Department of Defense for further study. The amendment appears to have pulled the plug on passage of concurrent receipt, but neither NCOA nor any other veteran organization is going to concede the battle to provide equity for all of America's service disabled veterans. 

The ability of DoD to act correctly or as freedom-loving Americans would have them act in this matter is likened to the action of the proverbial fox guarding the hen house. It's not in DoD's best interest to correct the problem. The fact that DoD reduces its Congressional appropriation request by the amount off-set by military retiree disability compensation means that DoD has a distorted, arbitrarily lower, budget. DoD correction of concurrent receipt is a money issue requiring a larger appropriation that could jeopardize other defense programs. The same Department of Defense that exposed personnel to mustard gas testing, atomic radiation, Agent Orange, depleted uranium munitions, anthrax immunizations, and vertical landing troop aircraft is certainly not going to shoot itself in the foot over the matter.

Congress adopting the Thornberry Amendment should outrage every freedom-loving American whose forbearers stood for freedom, whose grandfathers and parents, brothers and sisters answered the clarion call to military service. Enough is enough, Congress! It's time to do the right thing. Let's take the moral high ground and authorize concurrent receipt. 

Semper Fi,
David W. Sommers
The 11th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Retired
President, Non Commissioned Officers Association

Dear Sergeant Major:
You should be proud of your fine organization and the great work it does for our nation's military retirees and veterans. And as the old military saying goes, "If you want something done, get the NCO to get it done," especially in battle. However, the battle of concurrent receipt takes the efforts of not only those in the Military Coalition, but all veterans service organizations. And we must get the word out to the members of Congress and the White House. HR 303 currently has 350 co-sponsors. S 170 currently has 68 co-sponsors. This bill would provide the restoration of military retired pay for those who served a career in the military. It also includes those who served 20 or more years and retired for reasons of longevity or medical. Also included in this bill are those veterans who served 15 years and retired due to the draw down. Finally, those who retired from the National Guard and Reserve would receive restoration of retired pay. 

Two pats on the back to NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw for their running two stories about the injustice of concurrent receipt on their May 21 and June 8 broadcasts. A special thanks to Mr. Brokaw, producer Ms. Na Eng, and reporter Fred Francis for their outstanding work. These stories were outstanding opportunities to tell more about the issue to that the law can be changed and disabled military retirees receive the retired pay that they earned. The Sarge urges all veterans to write and thank NBC and Mr. Brokaw at this address: Mr. Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News, 30 Rockefeller Center, Suite 3003, New York City, NY 10012.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Please inform your readers that the 102nd National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be held in Milwaukee, Wis., this August 18 to 24. Featured speakers include VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi (Aug. 21), Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (Aug. 22), and former NATO Commander and retired General Wesley Clark. President Bush has been invited to address a joint session of the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary (holding its 88th National Convention). General Clark, guest speaker at the Distinguished Guests Banquet on Aug. 20, will receive the VFW Dwight David Eisenhower Distinguished Service Award for his contribution to the cause of American security, unity, and world peace. Also accepting awards are former Miss America Heather French Henry, country singer Travis Tritt, former Navy master diver Carl Brashear, and philanthropist Lois Pope.

Bill Smith
VFW Public Affairs

Dear Bill:
Consider it done.

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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