AFSA AND AFSA AUXILIARY EXECUTIVE COUNCILS MEET

This week is also the mid-year meeting for your AFSA and AFSA Auxiliary Executive Council(s).  The Association’s various committees will meet Wednesday through Saturday to prepare the budget, finalize the legislative platform, discuss membership strategies, and attend to various other duties as they make governance decisions. AFSA President Ledoux and AFSA Auxiliary President McDowell provided leadership over the mid-year meeting of their respective council.

CMSAF ROY, MRS ROY, FORMER CMSAF’S AND WIVES HOSTED AT AFSA

AFSA Headquarters hosted CMSAF Roy and several of the former CMSAF’s and spouses for a briefing on the Air Force Family of the Year in conjunction with the Airey Court dedication (in honor of the first CMSAF Paul Airey) at JB Andrews, MD this week.  Current and former CMSAFs and their spouses included:

CMSAF James Roy and his wife Paula

CMSAF Bob Gaylor and his wife Selma

CMSAF Jim McCoy and his wife Kathy

CMSAF Sam Parrish and his wife Inge

CMSAF Jim Binnicker and his wife Jan

CMSAF Gerald Murray and his wife Sherry

AFSA ATTENDS CEREMONY HONORING WASP

This week AFSA staff attended the Congressional Gold Member Ceremony honoring Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP). During WWII, these women were the first women in history to fly American military aircraft and became pioneers and heroes. March is women’s history month, and we attended this ceremony in honor of the WASPs who changed the course of history and pioneered the future integration of female pilots in the military. A Congressional Gold Medal was minted and given to the Smithsonian Museum “in honor of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) collectively, in recognition of their pioneering military service and exemplary record, which forged revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.” This ceremony is the result of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introducing S. 614 on March 17, 2009, and the bill was signed into law by President Obama on July 1, 2009.

AFSA VISITS WITH CONGRESSMAN GARNERS LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT

Thanks to AFSA representatives visiting Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), he has since co-sponsored the following:

• H.R. 208 – to give reserve component members credit for time served on Active Duty since 9-11-01 for early retirement
• H.R. 613 – which allows survivors to draw a full months pay in month of retiree’s death
• H.R. 1695 – to reduce the reserve component retirement age from 60 to 55 years
• H.R. 4324 – to expand the scope of the Housing Assistance Program to benefit military servicemembers affected by BRAC and PCS orders during the mortgage crisis

MARYLAND FIGHTS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS

Maryland Delegate William J. Frank, District 42, introduced MD-HB 1359, which will be heard before the Judiciary Committee to review proposed changes to the Maryland divorce law. Delegate Frank has personally taken up the fight for Maryland military service members by sponsoring MD-HB 1359. This Bill will allow retirees to terminate retired/retainer payments upon co-habitation or remarriage of a former spouse.

Veterans who support this bill are encouraged to send an e-mail of support (http://mlis.state.md.us/).  Sign your email with your full name, military affiliation and rank, address, and phone number.  This will validate your correspondence.  It doesn’t matter if you are a Maryland Resident or otherwise.  Let them know veterans are supporting the position of Maryland legislators standing up for their veterans.

A similar bill, Oklahoma HB 1053, is now awaiting the nine Senate conferees to sign off on the conference report. The five House conferees have already signed off 100%. It would then be scheduled for a House and Senate floor vote.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND NEWS

H.R.4764: the “Military Spouses Employment Act,” by Rep. John Carter, R-TX, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make employers of spouses of military personnel eligible for the work opportunity credit. This act gives employers tax credit incentives to hire military spouses. Initiatives like this will help military families as they PCS and those families that rely on the spouse’s additional income.

H.R.4765: by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.

S.3082: by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, to authorize individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided through congressional offices, and for other purposes.

S.3065: by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-CT, to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

S.AMDT.3353 to H.R.4213: by Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-VT, to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack of cost-of-living adjustment for such year, and for other purposes.

S.AMDT.3390 to H.R.4213: by Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC, to provide an emergency benefit of $250 to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities in 2010 to compensate for the lack of cost-of-living adjustment for such year, to provide an offset using unobligated stimulus funds, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4213 is a tax bill that will extend certain current tax provisions that are expiring and for other purposes. These amendments will provide some relief for those who did not receive a COLA this year.

WE NEED YOU TO WRITE AND CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS ASKING THEM TO FIX THE 21% MEDICARE/TRICARE CUT. Unless Congress changes current law, Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors will be reduced 21% effective April 1, 2010. (The March 1st cut has been delayed 30 days due to legislation passed recently. The Military Coalition is calling for 7 additional months to be granted so that a solution can be set up). Without relief, such dramatic payments cuts will cause many doctors to stop seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

STATES ASSISTING MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES – UPDATE: Federal law requires a Service member to designate who will be authorized to direct disposition (PADD) of their remains. The Military Services contact the PADD designated on the Record of Emergency Data (DD 93) to direct burial benefits. Unfortunately, most State statutes, used by funeral directors to determine who is authorized to direct disposition, require it be determined through state-specific documentation or by the next of kin, rather than the individual designated on the DD 93. Disconnects can lead to family turmoil during a time of bereavement and potential for litigation to resolve disagreements.

The Governor of Mississippi signed legislation this week, becoming the first state to officially recognize the DD 93 as the way military members designate their PADD. For more information on this issue and the other nine issues impacting the quality of life of our service members and their families which the Department is working with state governments, visit http://usa4militaryfamilies.dod.mil/.

RETIREE DENTAL COVERAGE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: With the Tricare Retiree Dental Program, retired servicemembers can purchase affordable dental coverage for themselves and their eligible family members. The program is available around the world to retired servicemembers who receive retirement pay; “gray area” retired National Guard and Reserve members who are entitled to but not yet receiving retirement pay and Medal of Honor recipients. Spouses and children up to 21 years old, or 23 years old if they’re full-time students, of these retirees are also eligible for the retiree dental program.

DOD BOARD TO REASSESS SERVICE DISABILITY RATINGS: Recommendations from a congressionally directed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review resulted in 61 percent of applicants having their status changed from a medical separation to retirement on the permanent disability list, said Michael LoGrande, president of the PDBR. PDBR members reassessed the accuracy and fairness of the combined disability rating assigned to service members who were separated as unfit for duty due to a medical condition with a disability rating of 20 percent or less and weren’t eligible for retirement. The review only considered service members separated from the Armed Forces between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009.

AIRMEN IN ACTION

AIRMEN FOR CHILDREN: The Airmen for Children program is a volunteer activity where uniformed military members and civilians visit local children’s hospitals to interact with sick children. The objective of Airmen for Children differs from many volunteer organizations. Some groups mentor children through whatever pain and hardships they are encountering and help them through it. Sergeant Hicks said his program is the opposite. “Our mission is to simply take their minds off of whatever illnesses they may be experiencing and brighten their day,” he said. “If we can do that, we’re making a difference.”

COMMENTARY

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: CELEBRATING A CULTURE OF EQUALITY: Commentary by Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon, 86th Airlift Wing commander — As we enter March and begin to recognize Women’s History Month, I’d like to take a moment to talk about an Air Force pioneer who passed away a few weeks ago. Retired Maj. Gen. Jeanne M. Holm, credited as the single driving force in achieving equality for today’s military women, died Feb. 15, 2010, at 88 years old.

In 1971 she became the first woman to achieve the rank of brigadier general, and two years later she became the first female two-star general in U.S. military history. She retired in 1975, but many of the ideas she championed came to pass long after her time in uniform. Women were later admitted to service academies, allowed full participation in campus ROTC programs, allowed to serve as pilots and given greater roles in combat.

Today, women in the Air Force still face significant challenges. But thanks to the sense of determination and the culture of equality women like General Holm infused into our branch of service, we know we are headed in the right direction. She’s shown us that by standing together, we can achieve greater success by embracing our uniqueness, versus dividing it.

AIRMEN’S FORUM

Question: I saw where the gray area bill S.731 was passed in November, 2009. The effective date was I believe 11-18 months or by the start of the new fiscal year Oct.1, 2010. I currently have the continued Health Care benefits, a cobra type TRICARE. It is good for 18 months and mine expires April 30, 2010 and unless I can extend this, it will leave me without coverage for me and my wife until the new TRICARE for Guard and Reserve becomes operational.

Terrel Stamps

Columbia, SC

Answer: You’re right, in the 2009 NDAA Congress passed a provision that provides gray area health coverage to Guard and Reserve retirees. Before this piece of legislation passed, these retirees were not eligible for health coverage past their retirement until they reached age 60 and could enroll in TRICARE Standard. Now, as a result of this legislation, TRICARE is creating a new program of health coverage for the “gray area” between retirement and age 60, which will hopefully be effective October 1, 2010.

Because this program is NOT effective yet, there is still no health care coverage for gray area retirees. If your current continued health care plan is ending and there is no additional eligibility to extend it, then you will unfortunately be left with no health care and will need to find another source. Once the gray area retiree TRICARE plan is operational, you will be able to enroll; once you turn 60, then you can enroll in TRICARE Standard.

AFSA MEMBER BENEFITS

INSURANCE: PROPERTY & CASUALTY

Protect what’s important to you with affordable insurance from USAA. USAA offers top-rated coverage at low rates. Combine that with award-winning service — in fact, USAA was ranked one of Business Week’s top two “Customer Service Champs” the last four years in a row. To make it easy for you, you can do it all online — quote, buy, print ID cards, and much more. Call USAA at (800) 531-8722 or go online HERE.

HYATT HOTELS DISCOUNT

The Air Force Sergeants Association is thrilled to announce our newest member service provider, Hyatt USA.   AFSA and AFSA International Auxiliary members are able to book rooms at any Hyatt Hotel in the U.S. at a discount of 5% off the Government Per Diem rate Thursday through Monday and receive the Government Per Diem rate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, based on availability. For more information, please visit our website at www.hqafsa.org under Services – Member Benefits, or call Member & Field Relations at (800) 638-0594.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AIR FORCE ENLISTED MEMBERS DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL AUXILIARY MEMBERS NOW AVAILABLE

The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), the Airmen Memorial Foundation (AMF), and the Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force (CMSAF) join together annually to conduct a scholarship program to financially assist the undergraduate studies of eligible, dependent children of Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command enlisted members, and Air Force Sergeants Association members in active, retired, or veteran status.

To date, the AFSA Scholarship programs have granted 1.5 million to dependents of the Air Force enlisted. Dependent youth who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and a minimum combined SAT score of 1650 or minimum combined ACT score of 24 are encouraged to submit an application. More criteria and application package information is available on the AFSA website.

All completed applications packets must be received at AFSA Headquarters no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Incomplete packages are ineligible for the competition.

OTHER INFO

AFSA MEMBERS! ARE YOU MOVING? RECENTLY PROMOTED OR RETIRED?

Let AFSA know your new mailing address, email address, and contact number. Updating your member information will insure uninterrupted receipt of SERGEANTS as well as other important member benefits. Please call toll free, 1-800-638-0594.