Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 10/29/2007

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
A widow of an Air Force retiree is still carrying Mail Handlers Insurance. Her husband had it while in civil service. Several of us are trying to convince her to drop the Mail Handlers. I have Medicare and Tricare for Life, and have had no problems at all. Would you happen to know the number of the form she has to have to send to Mail Handlers? I can't find the one I submitted a few years ago.

Thanks.
Bob E.
Niceville, Fla.

Dear Bob:
My sources agree that the widow should at least consider suspension of Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) to use Medicare and Tricare for Life. The form she needs to suspend her FEHB coverage is the Office of Personnel Management's SF 2809, the Health Benefits Election Form.

This form was effective October 2004 and can be obtained by calling OPM's retirement information office at 202/606-0500 from inside the Washington area or at 888/767-6738 from outside. Eligible individuals must submit a completed suspension form and provide all necessary documentation to show eligibility for Tricare for Life during the period beginning 31 days before and ending 31 days after the date they designate as using care other than FEHB coverage.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am really glad you mentioned the film "Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq" on HBO. I do not have cable so I would have never heard about it if you hadn't. However, your article said that on www.hbo.com you could watch it online and I went to the Web site and saw no way to watch it. I wanted to make you aware of this.

Thanks. God bless America.
Heather H.
Via the Internet

Dear Heather:
I forwarded your missive to Janet Walley at HBO's corporate affairs and regional public relations office. As I'm sure she told you, the complete show was available online for one week only — Sept. 9 to Sept. 17. HBO continues to re-air it, though. You can check the HBO "Alive Day" site (www.hbo.com/aliveday/index.html) to find the schedule or to order the video.

In her note, Ms. Walley said she "had the pleasure of working on HBO's premiere of 'Alive Day' on September 7th in St. Petersburg which honored Marine Corporal Michael Jernigan, one of the 10 injured Iraq veterans featured in the show. It was a very heartwarming experience and one that filled me with tremendous pride and gratitude for these outstanding Americans."

Shaft Notes

• The Sarge is looking forward to joining other Marines for the "Glory to the Corps" luncheon commemorating the 232nd birthday of the Marine Corps. The special event begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Marine Barracks Crawford Hall. Many notable guests will join the old gang of 30 in telling tall tales while tipping tall ones toasting our fellow Marines, past and present. Those wishing to join the joking jarheads should contact Buzz Hefti at 202/737-8942 or at bhefti@vsadc.com.

• The Military Officers Association of America is sponsoring the MOAA Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center on Nov. 8. Admission is free and open to all service members — active, Guard/Reserve, former and retired — plus government employees and spouses.

Veterans will be able to meet with more than 150 military-friendly employers from across the nation who are willing to hire candidates immediately. This is one-of-a-kind event, and resumes will be included on a special disk available to every participating employer.

MOAA will co-sponsor another Career Fair with RecruitMilitary on Nov. 14 in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit www.moaa.org/careerfair2007.

• Washington area McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants will host their annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Nov. 11 and will offer all retired U.S. military veterans who show their veterans ID a free entree in appreciation for their service to our country. This popular event provided more than 15,000 veterans with this special meal last year.

"McCormick & Schmick's is proud to continue our tradition of showing appreciation for the military veterans who have served our nation with such dedication," said Doug Schmick, co-founder of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants.

"The response to our annual veterans event has been overwhelming," said Barry Hathaway, general manager for McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in Reston Town Center. "Year after year, it warms our hearts to hear from countless guests who have shared stories about their experience visiting one of our restaurants on this special day."

McCormick & Schmick's and M&S Grill restaurants extend the offer to those defined as a veteran by the Veterans Affairs Department — a person who served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

BAVF Home | Who We Are | Sgt. Shaft | Flag Week | Links | Financials | Search | Contact BAVF

BAVF - P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900

Copyright BAVF 2007