Personal Affairs November - December 2007
Who Says Vets Can't Salute the Flag?
Have you ever been confused whether you're supposed to put your hand over your heart or if you're authorized to salute when the U.S. Flag passes or the national anthem is played?
Current law (Section 9 of title 4, United States Code) says that veterans and service members not in uniform should put their hands over their hearts. It doesn't expressly say they're not authorized to salute the Flag -- but it doesn't say they can, so that's the implication.
That's a sore spot for many veterans, for whom the salute is a point of pride in their service. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) introduced legislation (S. 1877 and H.R. 3380, respectively) to change the law to state that those present in uniform "should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute."
Last month, on July 25, the Senate approved S. 1877 by unanimous consent, and it has been forwarded to the House for consideration.
MOAA fully supports this change. Please note that it does not mandate the salute for members and veterans not in uniform, but simply clarifies that they are authorized to honor the Flag with a salute rather than the hand over the heart if they prefer.
Personal Affairs May - June 2007
BEFORE AND AFTER RETIREMENT - PERSONAL AFFAIRS PLANNING
In September of 2006, the Chapter President, Capt. George R. Stubbs, USN, Ret. and the Director of Personal, Major Howard P. Haines, USMCR, Ret., attended the MOAA Chapter Presidents' Symposium in Savannah, GA. The Symposium was sponsored by the National Chapter of MOAA and focused on the roles and duties of the Chapter President and the Director of Personal Affairs. Personal Affairs activities were divided into three areas: (1) those planning services available to an Active Duty or Retired Officer; (2) those services available to meet the needs of a surviving spouse; and (3) those services that the local MOAA Chapter should provide to a surviving spouse. This first in a series of three articles will focus on Personal Affairs Planning services available to an Active Duty or Retired Officer.
BEFORE AND AFTER RETIREMENT - PERSONAL AFFAIRS PLANNING
The National Chapter of MOAA offers many books and guides to assist Active Duty Officers to begin planning for retirement; and to assist Retired Officers to continue planning so that the benefits being received during retirement are maximized. These books and guides can be obtained from MOAA by calling (800) 234-6622, or by going on line at www.moaa.org and selecting Books and Guides from the Publications drop down menu .For Active Duty or Retired Officers, one book or guide that appears to be most helpful is the Help Your Survivors Now, A Guide To Planning Ahead. This book is divided into three chapters entitled:(1) Potential Financial Benefits; (2) Continuing Entitlements, and (3) Your Record of Personal Affairs. The book also includes other forms , worksheets, and information. Chapter 3 includes several Appendices including one entitled Personal Affairs Workbook, which can be obtained, or downloaded, as a separate document from MOAA. This Workbook is extremely useful in that it provides about 9 pages upon which to record valuable information on a variety of documents that all Officers should have, or if they don't have, should obtain. The Workbook provides space to record information on Personal Data, Family Records, Important Papers, Bank Accounts, Property Ownership, Stocks and Bonds, Life Insurance, Military Retirement Documents, Funeral and Burial Arrangements, and other data.
While it is important to gather the necessary information as outlined in the Personal Affairs Workbook, we live in an area that could be impacted by hurricanes. It is my understanding that placing documents in a safe deposit box at a local bank does not provide you will full-proof protection. If the bank's safe deposit vault is flooded and your personal documents are flooded and ruined, the bank claims no responsibility for your loss. In my own personal case, I am a Red Cross Volunteer for one of the local evacuation shelters. Therefore, I need to be able to have our personal documents in one location and ready to go. I purchased a plastic file case, with a snap-on lid, which can hold all of my most important documents. It is just a matter of picking up the file case and putting it in the back of the car. I have also included a Table of Contents which list the documents contained under each main file folder. You may find that you want to put some original documents in a safe deposit box and copies of those documents in your file folder; or you may want to purchase a small fireproof safe to keep in your home. These safes can be found on various Internet sites.
Regardless of the storage or filing system that you choose to use, the most important and first step is determining the documents you need, and then finding them. The Workbooks listed above, that are available from MOAA, will assist you in beginning to make that first step.
Howard P. Haines, Major, USMCR, Ret.
Director of Personal Affairs
Personal Affairs July - August 2006
By Howard Haines
Some additional medications have been classified as non-formulary and the
Tricare co-pay will be $22 per 30-day supply, unless medical necessity is established.
The Armed Forces Personal Subcommittee approved legislative provisions to:
Bar any increases on Tricare fees for those under age 65 through the end of 2007.
Agreed with Pentagon plan on Tricare pharmacy co-pay to reduce co-pay on generic drugs from $3 to $0 on mail order system drugs, but raise the co-pay on drugs bought from retail stores from $3 to $5 for generic drugs and from $9 to $15 for brand-name drugs.
Manpower Levels- Maintain increase of 30,000 in Army as allowed for FY 2006 and increase Marines by 1,000. Restore to full strength of 350,000 for Army National Guard, and reduce Navy by 12,000 and Air Force by 23,000.
If you need a copy of DD Form 214, it can be obtained at http://www.vetrecs.archives.gov. You can also write to National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO., 63132-5100. Telephone is 314-801-0800.
PERSONAL AFFAIRS
MARCH 2005
Dependent Permanent ID Cards - Age 75+
The 2005 National Defense Authorization Act grants dependants age 75 and older permanent military identification card (ID) status. However, DoD informs us the permanent ID card program will not be available until later this year. In the interim, the defense Enrollment Eligibility System (DEERS) considers these dependents eligible for benefits so long as a death or divorce has not been reported, meaning that TRICARE claims should not be rejected due to ineligibility.
DEERS, as does MOAA, strongly encourages those who are able to renew their ID card to do so. Until the permanent ID card change has been incorporated, the issued ID card will be good for 4 years. Once the change is implemented, the issued ID card will say INDEF. To locate the nearest ID Card facility call 1.800.538.9552 or visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl .
TRICARE Launches Healthy Choices for Life
The Department of Defense (D0D) announced the launch of TRICARE's "Healthy Choices for Life" campaign, a two-year initiative dedicated to building awareness for three key health issues: reducing alcohol abuse, tobacco cessation and weight management. TRICARE is collaborating with the seven Uniformed Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to develop effective, innovative prevention programs that meet the diverse needs of the 9.1 million TRICARE beneficiaries. Go to www.tricare.osd.mil/healthychoices for more information.
December 2004
The next time someone asks, “What does MOAA do?”, a good response would be the national organization's championing of long sought improvements in 2004 in pay, benefits, and health care for active, retired, and reserve components. Noteworthy achievements include:
Survivor Benefit Program
The commonly called “military widows tax” will be eliminated over a relatively short three and a half years period. The age 62 annuity will be raised from 35% of SPB covered retired pay to 40% as of October 1, 2005 ; to 45% on April 1, 2006; to 50% on April 1, 2007; and to 55% of covered retired pay on April 1, 2008.
Restoration of Pay
Restoration of full longevity-based retired pay as of January 2005 for all 100% disabled retirees with at least 20 qualifying years of service.
Permanent Spouse Military Identification [ID] Cards
Permanent military ID cards for spouses and survivors 75 and older. This will ensure those eligible will no longer be faced with ID card renewal and possible hassles over health coverage because of an expired ID card.
TRICARE Coverage for Members of the Selected Reserve
Members of the Selected Reserve who have been mobilized for at least 90 days since September 11, 2001 will have fee based TRICARE Standard coverage. Members will be eligible for one year of coverage for themselves and their families for each 90 days on active duty. When not on active duty, members will pay a premium equal to 28% of the government's cost.
Increase in Military Manpower
The Army will have a 20,000 increase in FY 2005 plus another 10,000 at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. The Marine Corps will have an additional 3000 in FY 2005 with discretionary authority for an additional 3,000. This additional manpower was authorized to help ease deployment burdens on servicemen, women, and their families.
Pay Raise for Service Members
All uniformed service members will receive a 3.5% pay raise-one half percentage point above the average American workers pay raise. There is also a 7% increase in housing allowance to cover 100% of the median housing cost for each grade and locality.