ATTENTION!! Ed Burke is looking for ONE good man. If interested, please e-mail me and I'll let Ed Know to expect you. BB
Ed Burke *****************************************************************
2. The Crowne Plaza will sell it to us at their cost plus 7.4% taxes that they are required to pay.
3. The service procedures will be as follows for your convenience:
a. The hotel will provide bartenders who will set-up a bar in each hospitality room (CP) and stock it for us.
b. The bartenders will keep a daily tab of consumption, replenish bars accordingly and keep an account for each CP.
4. The Society will be provided a daily summary for each CP and will give each CP a copy.
5. Payment. The cost of all alcoholic beverages and soft drinks consumed in the CPs during the reunion will be added to the Society’s master reunion account. An accounting for each hospitality room will be provided.
6. 1/4th Cav Association of Veterans will reimburse the Society for the amount that the Society is billed for their unit hospitality room.
7. Please let Bill Baty know via e-mail what you desire to drink so I can make a list for the bartenders in our CP. Whiskeys, Scotch, brandys, wines, beer and soft drinks including water.
Thanks, BB
George Villanueva remembers. Do you? BB
1950's Sandwich Menu ...
and a sandwich at Woolworths in the 1950's,
here's proof of the era we lived........
and it was a GREAT ERA to live as a teenager !!!!
*****************************************************************
Here's a good article from the latest "Army Echoes" with some insight about what lays ahead for we retirees. It also mentions SGM Army (Ret) Jack Tilley, known by some of us from the Quarter Horse in Vietnam when he was a member of A Troop tanker. BB
Health care continues to be the single greatest issue for both current and future Retired Soldiers, according to the Chief of Staff, Army, (CSA) Retiree Council. The Council Co-Chairmen, LTG (Ret) Frederick Vollrath and SMA (Ret) Jack Tilley, met with the CSA to report the top issues at the closing of the Council’s 48th meeting, held 21 -25 Apr 2008, in the Pentagon. “I told the Chief that Retired Soldiers are still proud, still serving and still saluting,” LTG (Ret) Vollrath said “We’re proud — we wear our Retired Soldier pins and display our decals. We’re still serving — we’re always ready to volunteer and to support the recruiting drugs mission. And we’ll never stop saluting, even though we no longer wear the uniform. ”The Council also recommended that the Army support current and future Retired Soldiers — its “most credible ambassadors” — by arming them with information. The Council, made up of seven retired officers and seven retired noncommissioned officers, reviewed issues submitted by installation retiree councils, which consisted of 13 medical/healthcare issues; 10 benefits/entitlements issues; and 10 issues dealing with a variety of retiree concerns. In its report to the CSA, the Council warned that recruiting and retention would be impacted if health care policy was determined by budgetary constraints alone, without considering the sacrifices asked of the current force. The Council made the following recommendation. • Sustain the military health care system with resourcing and emphasis on direct care.
The Co-Chairmen will meet with the CSA in October to be updated on progress with these issues and to offer their further support.
MSG (Ret.) James Elliott Ill, who left the Council this year after six years service, echoed the sentiments of the rest of the Council when he commented, “I love my Army, I love our Army and I’ll do anything to serve.”
*****************************************************************
BAGDAD (ARNEWS) — (We all know the story of SSG Keith Matthew Maupin who died serving his country. What you might not know is the story of those who never gave up the mission of finding him and bringing him home. They live the Soldiers Creed — Never Leave a Fallen Comrade)
The remains of SSG Keith Matthew Maupin were recovered by elements of the Multi-National Division - Baghdad’s (MND-B) 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment (SCR), which is based out of Vilseck, Germany. The recovery was the result of four years of intensive effort by MND-B Soldiers and multiple joint and interagency
organizations. The Soldiers of the 2nd SCR were able to recover SSG Maupin’s remains by approaching the recovery as a criminal investigation and employing appropriate investigative techniques.
“Since beginning operations in Abu Ghraib, we made finding SSG Maupin a top priority to clearly demonstrate to every service member, and every Family , that we
will never leave a fallen comrade,” said COL John RisCassi, the Commander of the 2nd SCR. The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment “Gimlets,” who are based out of Schofield Bar¬racks, HI, are under the tactical control of the 2nd SCR and per¬formed the actual recovery mission. The recovery was made possible by the Gimlets relentlessly pursu¬ing intelligence leads and simulta¬neously leveraging the new relation¬ships made possible by reconcilia¬tion, officials said.
Many of the terrorists involved in this incident had continued to attack coalition forces and Iraqi people for the past four years and the 2nd SCR identified and detained the vast majority of these insurgents. In addition to recovering SSG Maupin’s remains, they have been removing a significant threat to the security of the Iraqi
Though honored to return a fallen comrade to his Family, leaders said the Dragoons of the 2nd SCR and Gimlets of 1-21 Infantry Regi¬ment will continue to pursue those responsible for SSG Maupin’s death and all who threaten the security of Abu Ghraib.
Note: SSG Maupin was laid to rest in a private burial ceremony with full military honors at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, OH, on Apr. 27
*****************************************************************
BOTTLE OF WINE
For all of us who are married, were married, wish you were married,
or wish you weren't married, this is something to smile about, the
next time you see a bottle of wine.
Mary was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern
Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of
the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car
and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.
With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.
Resuming the journey, Mary tried in vain to make a bit of small
talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently,
looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail,
until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Mary.
'What in bag?' asked the old woman.
Mary looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine.
I got it for my husband.'
The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two.
Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said:
'Good trade.....'
*****************************************************************
Q:You are driving along a narrow two lane dirt road with a NO PASSING sign posted and you come upon a bicycle rider going only 3 MPH. Do you?:
*************************************************************************Thanks to George Villanueva for sending this one in.
Subject: business humor
An old prospector walks his tired old mule into a western town one day. He'd been out in the desert for about six monthswithout a drop of whiskey.
He walked up to the first saloon he came to and tied his old mule to the hitch rail. As he stood there brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger walked out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, 'Hey old man, have you ever danced?'
The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, 'No, I never did dance. I just never wanted to.'
A crowd had gathered by then and the gunslinger said, 'Well, you old fool, you're gonna' dance now,' and started shooting at the old man's feet. The old prospector was hopping around and everybody was laughing.
When the gunslinger fired his last bullet, he holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon. The old man reached up on the mule, drew his shotgun, and pulled both hammers back making a double clicking sound. The gunslinger heard the sound and everything got quiet. The crowd watched as the gunslinger slowly turned around looking down both barrels of the shotgun.
The old man asked, 'Did you ever kiss a mule's ass?'
The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, 'No. But I've always wanted to.'
The lessons from this story are:
1. Don't waste ammunition.
2. Don't mess with old people.
*************************************************************************I don't know why I'm posting this since I know that QH Troopers don't ever talk like this....OK...around women.....Thanks to John Termini for sending this one our way.
Cursing at Work
Dear Employees:
It has been brought to our attention that some individuals throughout
Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily
We do, however, realize the critical importance of being able to
Therefore, a list of 18 new and innovative 'TRY SAYING' phrases have
Number 1
INSTEAD OF: You don't know what the f___ you're doing.
Number 2
INSTEAD OF: She's a f___ing bit__.
Number 3
INSTEAD OF: And when the f___ do you expect me to do this?
Number 4
INSTEAD OF: No f___ing way.
Number 5
INSTEAD OF: You've got to be sh___ing me!
Number 6
INSTEAD OF: Tell someone who gives a sh__.
Number 7
INSTEAD OF: It's not my f___ing problem.
Number 8
INSTEAD OF: What the f___?
Number 9
INSTEAD OF: This sh__ won't work.
Number 10
INSTEAD OF: Why the f___ didn't you tell me sooner?
Number 11
INSTEAD OF: He's got his head up his a__.
Number 12
INSTEAD OF: Eat sh__ and die.
Number 13
INSTEAD OF: Kiss my a__.
Number 14
INSTEAD OF: F__ it, I'm on salary.
Number 15
INSTEAD OF: Shove it up your a__.
Number 16
INSTEAD OF: This f___ing job sucks.
Number 17
INSTEAD OF: Who the f___ died and made you boss?
Number 18
INSTEAD OF: He's a pr_ck.
*****************************************************************
Uncle Sam's on a Hiring Spree
Two key factors are driving the federal government's hiring projections, according to the organization's research:
-- The brain drain. Nearly one-third of the federal workforce, 530,000 employees, is expected to retire or leave in the next 5 years.
-- The need to keep American's safe. 193,000 mission-critical jobs must be filled by September 2009, including scientists, medical personnel, lawyers, accountants, IT experts and a variety of security positions, including: border patrol agents, customs officers, immigration agents, food inspectors, criminal investigators and airport screeners.
*****************************************************************
TurboTAP Offers Transition Assistance *****************************************************************
Free SAT-ACT Software for Military Families *****************************************************************
Support the Purple Heart Cruise for Vets *****************************************************************
Judge Issues PTSD Treatment Decision *****************************************************************
Policy Aims to Prevent Loss of Leave *****************************************************************
New 'Lemon Law' in California *****************************************************************
Guard Reintegration Hearings
Dr. Edward Hayes's Weekly Medical Advisor
The drug, called lodamin, was improved in one of the last experiments overseen by Dr. Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who died in January. Folkman pioneered the idea of angiogenesis therapy -- starving tumors by preventing them from growing blood supplies.
Lodamin is an angiogenesis inhibitor that Folkman's team has been working to perfect for 20 years. Writing in the journal Nature Biotechnology, his colleagues say they developed a formulation that works as a pill, without side-effects.
They have licensed it to SynDevRx, Inc, a privately held Cambridge, Massachusetts biotechnology company that has recruited several prominent cancer experts to its board.
*************************************************************************
Effects of Healing Touch Therapy Being Studied
Now, UC researchers are looking at a similar occurrence by pairing a complementary therapy known as Healing Touch with mild sedation to see if the technique truly calms patients undergoing minor procedures.
Healing Touch is a series of techniques that balance energy for wholeness within a person's body, mind and soul. It is an energy therapy that can be used in conjunction with other traditional medical treatments.
Nathan Schmulewitz, MD, the lead author of this investigator-initiated study and assistant professor of digestive diseases, says people undergoing procedures often have problems falling asleep because of anxiety.
*************************************************************************
New Antibiotic Beats Superbugs At Their Own Game
The research, to be published in the August 2008 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, looked at how well Ceftobiprole worked against bacterial clones that had already developed resistance to other drugs. In every case, Ceftobiprole won. "It just knocked out the cells 100 percent," says the study's lead investigator, Alexander Tomasz, head of the Laboratory of Microbiology at Rockefeller.
Previous research had already shown that - in general - Ceftobiprole was highly effective against most clinical isolates of S. aureus. "Instead, we looked more carefully at the highly resistant cells that already occur in such clinical isolates at very low frequency - maybe in one bacterium in every 1,000," says Tomasz. Ceftobiprole was able to kill these resistant cells.
*************************************************************************
Statins Have Unexpected Effect On Pool Of Powerful Brain Cells
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins have a profound effect on an elite group of cells important to brain health as we age, scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found. The new findings shed light on a long-debated potential role for statins in the area of dementia.
Neuroscientists found that statins, one of the most widely prescribed classes of medication ever used, have an unexpected effect on brain cells. Researchers looked at the effects of statins on glial progenitor cells, which help the brain stay healthy by serving as a crucial reservoir of cells that the brain can customize depending on its needs. The team found that the compounds spur the cells, which are very similar to stem cells, to shed their flexibility and become one particular type of cell.
The new findings come at a time of increasing awareness among neurologists and cardiologists of the possible effects of statins on the brain. Several studies have set out to show that statins provide some protection against dementia, but the evidence has been inconclusive at best. Meanwhile, there is some debate among physicians about whether statins might actually boost the risk of dementia. The new research published in the July issue of the journal Glia by Steven Goldman, M.D., Ph.D., and first author Fraser Sim, Ph.D., provides direct evidence for an effect of statins on brain cells.
Accidental Fungus Leads to Promising Cancer Drug
A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
The drug, called lodamin, was improved in one of the last experiments overseen by Dr. Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who died in January. Folkman pioneered the idea of angiogenesis therapy -- starving tumors by preventing them from growing blood supplies.
Lodamin is an angiogenesis inhibitor that Folkman's team has been working to perfect for 20 years. Writing in the journal Nature Biotechnology, his colleagues say they developed a formulation that works as a pill, without side-effects.
They have licensed it to SynDevRx, Inc, a privately held Cambridge, Massachusetts biotechnology company that has recruited several prominent cancer experts to its board.
*************************************************************************
Blood Vessel Inhibitor Shows Promise Against Metastatic Thyroid Cancer
The investigational drug, motesanib diphosphate, is a VEGF inhibitor, a biologic agent that targets receptors on a protein known as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is instrumental in angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), a process that allows tumors to grow and spread.
Study lead author Steve Sherman, M.D., chair and professor of M. D. Anderson's Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, noted strong evidence that VEGF receptors play an important role in metastatic thyroid cancer, a disease with few treatment options.
"There is no standard accepted chemotherapy for advanced metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer, and response rates have typically been 25 percent or less," Sherman said. "Most patients are not treated with systemic chemotherapy because the limited benefit rarely justifies the side effects. Treatment of thyroid cancer has been a completely unmet need."
*************************************************************************
An examination of newborn intensive care finds that newborns undergo numerous procedures that are associated with pain and stress, and that many of these procedures are performed without medication or therapy to relieve pain, according to a new study.
>
"Repeated invasive procedures occur routinely in neonates [a baby, from birth to four weeks] who require intensive care, causing pain at a time when it is developmentally unexpected. Neonates are more sensitive to pain than older infants, children, and adults, and this hypersensitivity is exacerbated in preterm neonates. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that repeated and prolonged pain exposure alters their subsequent pain processing, long-term development, and behavior. It is essential, therefore, to prevent or treat pain in neonates," the authors write. "Effective strategies to improve pain management in neonates require a better understanding of the epidemiology and management of procedural pain."
Ricardo Carbajal, M.D., Ph.D., of the Hôpital d'enfants Armand Trousseau, Paris, and colleagues collected data on neonatal pain, based on direct bedside observations in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Paris region. The study, conducted between September 2005 and January 2006, included data on all painful and stressful procedures and corresponding analgesic (a medication used to relieve pain) therapy from the first 14 days of admission collected within a 6-week period from 430 neonates admitted to tertiary care centers. The average gestational age was 33 weeks, and the average intensive care unit stay was 8.4 days.
*************************************************************************
Resveratrol Found to Improve Health, But Not Longevity in Aging Mice on Standard Diet
The findings, published July 3, 2008, in Cell Metabolism, may increase interest in resveratrol as a possible intervention for age-related declines, said NIA scientists. The authors emphasized, however, that their findings are based on research in mice, not in humans, and have no immediate and direct application to people, whose health is influenced by a variety of factors beyond those which may be represented in the animal models.
The study is a collaborative effort between the laboratories of Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., of the Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology at the NIA; David A. Sinclair, Ph.D., of the Glenn Laboratories for Molecular Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School; and an international group of researchers. The investigators compared mice fed a standard diet, a high-calorie diet, or an every-other-day feeding regimen with or without high- or low-dose resveratrol to study the impact of resveratrol on aging and health. In previous studies, different forms of dietary restriction, including every-other-day feeding, have been shown to improve markers of health.
*************************************************************************
Believe it or not
Miniature dachshund gnaws off diabetic owner's toe
The 56-year-old says she has no feeling in her toes because of nerve damage from diabetes. She discovered the toe missing after waking from a nap Monday. She called her daughter, who phoned 911.
A veterinarian says the toe had been bandaged because of a healing hangnail. That might have somehow attracted the dog.
FALLS CHURCH, VA- TRICARE beneficiaries whose weight poses a serious health risk have a new surgical alternative available. For those who medically qualify, TRICARE covers laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, also called lap-band surgery. TRICARE policy change was made recently, coverage is retroactive to Feb. 1, 2007.
“We at TRICARE are careful to only cover proce¬dures that have been proven safe and effective, and are accepted by the medical community,” said MG Elder Granger, TRICARE Management Activity Deputy Director. “We’ve added this procedure because, for some beneficiaries, it may be the right course of action to preserve their health.”
MG Granger adds that, like gastric bypass, gastric stapling or gastroplasty, lap-band surgery is only for
those suffertng morbid obesity. In medical terms, that means their body weight is 100 pounds over ideal weight for their height and bone structure, and their weight is associated with severe medical conditions known to have higher mortality
Body weight that is more that twice the ideal weight for the person’s height and bone structure may also indicate morbid
obesity.
In addition, TRICARE will cover the surgery if a patient has had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, requires a second surgery.
Coverage details are in the TRICARE Policy Manual under “morbid obesity”, at http://manuals.tricare.osd.mil.
*************************************************************************
"UPDATE" on TRICARE shingles vaccine
(Note: Many of you commented that the TRICARE article on coverage of the shingles vaccine for beneficiaries age 60 and older (Jan-Apr issue, pg. 11) did not tell the whole story TRICARE responded with the following updated information.)
FALLS CHURCH, VA- For beneficiaries 60 and older, TRICARE now covers Zostavax, the vaccine designed to prevent shingles. TRICARE officials caution that "covered” doesn’t necessarily mean “free” for TRICARE Standard or TRICARE for Life beneficiaries.
Just as with any TRICARE medical benefit, beneficiarIes are responsible for meeting their deductibles and paying their cost shares. This means the shingles vaccine could cost you $100 or more. We’ve also heard from retirees, and
confirmed with TRICARE, that some doctors do not offer the vaccine. Talk to your doctor to find out If your doctor offers the vaccine and if your doctor advises that you need the vaccine.
Zostavax is covered under the TRICARE medical benefit and is not reimbursable under the pharmacy benefit because vaccines cannot be self-administered. Beneficiaries must have vaccinations administered in a doctor’s office.
According to TRICARE officials, the physician should supply the Zostavax and include its price on the itemized bill for the office visit and the injection. TRICARE will reimburse a provider for administering the Zostavax vaccine in its office as a part of the TRICARE medical benefit.
*************************************************************************
DoD Launches Video to Encourage Mental Health *************************************************************************
New Board to Ensure Consistency in Disability Ratings
The Defense Department created the new board to reassess the accuracy and fairness of disability ratings assigned to discharged troops. Several task forces and studies cited inconsistencies in the way the military departments assigned disability ratings for similar conditions. The Army tended to assign the lowest ratings, according to the studies.
*************************************************************************
Uncle Sam's on a Hiring Spree
Two key factors are driving the federal government's hiring projections, according to the organization's research:
-- The brain drain. Nearly one-third of the federal workforce, 530,000 employees, is expected to retire or leave in the next 5 years.
-- The need to keep American's safe. 193,000 mission-critical jobs must be filled by September 2009, including scientists, medical personnel, lawyers, accountants, IT experts and a variety of security positions, including: border patrol agents, customs officers, immigration agents, food inspectors, criminal investigators and airport screeners.
To read more about career opportunities in the Federal Government continue reading.
*************************************************************************
Payments for Disabled Veterans *************************************************************************
House Passes Epilepsy Bill *************************************************************************
Court Rules in Favor of Military Widows
The decision in Sharp, et al v. United States, handed down by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ordered the Department of Defense (DoD) to refund military retiree Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities that were withheld from three widowed spouses who also received veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The court found that the DoD's dollar-for-dollar deduction of DIC payments from SBP benefits was based on a faulty interpretation of federal law.
*************************************************************************
Volunteers Needed for Wheelchair Games *************************************************************************
Judge Issues PTSD Treatment Decision *************************************************************************
Training Grants for Veterans *************************************************************************
Committee Approves Second Amendment Legislation *************************************************************************
VA Raises GI Bill Payment Rates *************************************************************************
Committees Consider College Loan Bill *************************************************************************
VA Announces 44 New Clinics
**************************************************************
Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep,
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you God, for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall..
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!
P.S. Please bless all my friends and family too.
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
Jul 17, 1965: 1/18th Inf claims 1st VC KIA for 1st Inf Div Units.
Ron Davidson
Peter Arp
Jorge Esquilín
Bill Baty
Dan Slaughter
Joe Dabney
Dan Thompson
Joe West
Richard Guerine
Terry Valentine
Paul Miller
Sie Moore
Bob Corbini
Steve Determann
SGT ROCK
Wayne Lura
Dennis Swindle
Larry Laney
Alan Benoit
Willie Siebert
Dan Baker
James Smith
Jerry McDonald
Executive Director, Society of the First Infantry Division
Don't you wish we could go out and find a menu like this one?
If any of you have doubt about what we kids paid for a coke
Chief’s Retiree Council calls health care, communication top retiree concerns
• Limit any increase in TRICARE fees to the annual rate of growth in retired pay, with special consideration to not overburdening retired NCOs E-7 and below.
• Raise the TRICARE provider reimbursement levels to create the physician network needed to make care accessible.
• Support legislation to authorize pretax payment of TRICARE enrollment fees and premiums.
• Eliminate copayments for generic and chronic care to encourage use of the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy.
• Ensure that support to beneficiaries and medical facilities in Alaska in the new TRICARE contracts equals the support given in the rest of the country
• Continue to support DoD and VA collaboration to improve the compatibility of the two health care systems, improving service and ensuring seamles transition, especially for Wounded Warriors.
In the strategic communication arena, the Council asked for information and communication tools for the Army'sRetiredSoldierambassadorsbothforsupporting the Army and for their own well-being. The Council recommended:
• Creating an Army Knowledge Online (AKO) site with information on retirement benefits and programs using the Retired Soldier pin as the icon to enter the site.
• Educating Soldiers and spouses on their retirement entitlements and benefits not only as they near retirement, but also as they reach the 10- to 12-year point in the Soldier’s career. The Council recom¬mended adding retirement modules to courses for mid-grade and senior grade officers and NCOs and to courses preparing Soldiers for command. They suggested that spouses receive similar instruction in Family Readiness Groups and through Army Commu¬nity Services.
• Communicating at least annually by the OSA and SMA, sharing their priorities with Retired Soldiers and giving Retired Soldiers theArmy messages to commu¬nicate in their communities.
• Continuing to fund three issues a year of Army Echoes, the bulletin for Retired Soldiers and Families, while encouraging recipients to switch from the paper to the e-mail copy.
• Authorizing full account access to AKO for spouses. In addition, the Council asked the CSA to:
• Fully fund the Retirement Services Program at installations and garrisons.
• Support changing military postal rules to authorize mail privileges for retirees overseas for parcels up to five pounds, unless restricted by host governments.
• Complete the transition to standard job descriptions and grades for all full-time Retirement Services Officers (RSOs) and standardize all part:tirne RSO positions with retirement services functions as the primary duty.
• Establish RSOs at major Reserve and National Guard commands to ensure all retiring and Retired Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and their Fami¬lies and survivors are informed on retirement-related benefits and entitlements.
• Eliminate the Dependency and Indemnity Compen¬sation (DIC) offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity.
• Authorize space-available air travel for surviving spouses.
• Provide full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation for all eligible military retirees.
• Urge the Director of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to establish a toll-free line for countries such as Germany and Korea with sufficient beneficiary population.
• Issue eligible surviving spouses an indefinite ID card at age 65.
Stryker Cavalry’s search for SSG Maupin
(a) Follow this slow-moving bicycle rider for the next 6 miles, or
(b) Do you break the traffic law by passing so you may get to your destination on time?
Which is the correct choice?
Most women choose the "B" answer and would pass regardless of the posted no passing sign.
A:Most Men answer--
Why take the unnecessary risks and get a ticket?!!
the office have been using foul language
during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers.
offended, this type of language will no longer be
tolerated.
accurately express your feelings when communicating
with co-workers.
been provided so that proper exchange of ideas
and information can continue in an effective manner.
TRY SAYING: I think you could use more training.
TRY SAYING: She's an aggressive go-getter.
TRY SAYING: Perhaps I can work late.
TRY SAYING: I'm certain that isn't feasible.
TRY SAYING: Really?
TRY SAYING: Perhaps you should check with...
TRY SAYING: I wasn't involved in the project.
TRY SAYING: That's interesting.
TRY SAYING: I'm not sure this can be implemented.
TRY SAYING: I'll try to schedule that.
TRY SAYING: He's not familiar with the issues...
TRY SAYING: Excuse me, sir?
TRY SAYING: So you weren't happy with it?
TRY SAYING: I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
TRY SAYING: I don't think you understand.
TRY SAYING: I love a challenge.
TRY SAYING: You want me to take care of that?
TRY SAYING: He's somewhat insensitive.
Thank You,
Management
Sunny days will be just around the corner when Elmo and his friends bring their live show in a (http://www.military.com/news/article/elmo-visits-military-kids-to-help-with-deployment-stress.html) Sesame Street/USO tour to 43 military installations. The show aims to help children trying to cope with parents -- deployments. When military families attend the live show, "The Sesame Street Experience," they be entertained, and walk away with tools to help deal with deployments including "Talk, Listen, Connect" DVDs. For more information, visit Sesame Street's " (http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/) Talk, Listen, Connect" website and access the tour (http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/pdf/tlc2_USO_flyer.pdf.) schedule in PDF format.
Despite the grim job forecast, the nation's largest employer -- Uncle Sam, is on a hiring spree, looking to bring on hundreds of thousands of the nation's best and brightest, according to the Partnership for Public Service.
TurboTAP is an easy to use, interactive web portal that provides life-long support to separating military servicemembers (Active Duty, Guard and Reserve) and their families. It is a single source starting point for accessing key resources available for servicemembers transitioning out of the military at any point in their military career. Each transitioning servicemember is encouraged to establish a TurboTAP Account within 48 hours of attending a Transition Assistance Program or as soon as they learn about this important resource. If you are overseas, deployed, or in the states, you are able to use TurboTAP. Once registered, TurboTAP is available for life. For more information, visit (http://www.turbotap.org/) www.TurboTAP.org.
For the second year, a group of NFL, NFL Europe, AFL and CFL football players have sponsored several million dollars worth of $199 SAT and ACT test prep programs to every family in the U.S. Military (all branches-active or retired). Specifically, the sponsorship allows any military person (active or retired) to request as many programs as they need for the students in their lives. The Department of Defense has created a secure website to quickly confirm a person's military status. Personnel can access the confirmation and request pages through several military related associations and organizations, including: (http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/) Military Home Front website for families, offers access to the forms to confirm military status and process the order. Programs ship to domestic U.S. addresses and APO addresses. The sponsorship covers the regular purchase price of $199 and the family pays only the S&H. To learn more about the program and the NFL/CFL players who are providing this offer visit: (http://sat.eknowledge.com/military.asp) eknowledge.com.
The annual Kup's Purple Heart Cruise will set sail again on July 31st, 2008 on the waters of Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL. Re-launched last year, the 4 hour Cruise is an event of entertainment and appreciation for several hundred veterans. To lend your support by sponsoring a veteran attending the cruise, view local and national media coverage of the 2007 Cruise, or to sign up for the 2008 cruise, please visit (http://www.kphf.us) www.kphf.us.
A Federal Judge ruled that he lacks the legal authority to force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to immediately treat war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Judge Samuel Conti of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also ruled that he could not order the VA to overhaul its internal systems that handle benefits claims and medical services for war veterans. The veterans advocacy groups Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) and Veterans United for Truth had filed a lawsuit last year. For more information, visit the (http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/) Veterans for Common Sense website and read the entire (http://www.veteransptsdclassaction.org/pdf/courtfiled/2008-06-25-Memorandum%20of%20Decision.pdf) 82-page ruling in PDF format.
Servicemembers expecting to lose annual leave on Sept. 30 due to caps on carryover leave will be the first to benefit from a (http://www.military.com/news/article/new-policy-aims-to-help-prevent-loss-of-leave.html) new policy that allows them to keep more annual leave, earn or hold on to certain special leave categories, and in some cases, sell back accrued leave. The new military leave policy, part of the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, allows troops to carry over 75 days rather than the previous 60 days into the next fiscal year. The new policy, in place until Dec. 31, 2010, is expected to reduce the amount of lost leave caused by the current high operating tempo.
An amendment to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act changed the "Lemon Law" so that it now protects all military personnel stationed in California. The Lemon Law protects consumers who buy or lease a motor vehicle that is still under manufacturer's warranty. What's more, the new amendment allows servicemembers to qualify for relief using the California Lemon Law even if their vehicle was purchased in a different state. Servicemembers can file a claim if the vehicle manufacturer sells cars in California, or the servicemember is stationed in California at the time of purchase, or at the time in which the Lemon Law action is filed.
The House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee recently conducted a hearing to evaluate the progress of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) in improving the reintegration process for members of the National Guard and Reserves. Witnesses testified that several states currently have successful reintegration programs. Also, the National Guard Bureau is already prepared to implement a comprehensive national reintegration program. Prepared testimony and a link to the webcast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=260) House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.
A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
Often, a gentle hand on your shoulder when you're upset is all it takes to ease your mind and calm your nerves.
The problem with antibiotics is that, eventually, bacteria outsmart them and become resistant. But by targeting the gene that confers such resistance, a new drug may be able to finally outwit them. Rockefeller University scientists tested the new drug, called Ceftobiprole, against some of the deadliest strains of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, which are responsible for the great majority of staphylococcal infections worldwide, both in hospitals and in the community.
Thyroid cancer that has spread to distant sites has a poor prognosis, but an experimental drug that inhibits tumor blood vessel formation can slow disease progression in some patients, a research team led by investigators from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports in the July 3rd edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists have found that the compound resveratrol slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age. This study, conducted and supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, is a follow-up to 2006 findings that resveratrol improves health and longevity of overweight, aged mice. The report confirms previous results suggesting the compound, found naturally in foods like grapes and nuts, may mimic, in mice, some of the effects of dietary or calorie restriction, the most effective and reproducible way found to date to alleviate age-associated disease in mammals.
An Illinois woman says her beloved miniature dachshund gnawed off her right big toe while she was asleep. Linda Floyd told the Alton Telegraph for a story Wednesday that her beloved Roscoe was euthanized because of safety concerns.
Different Kind of Courage: Safeguarding and Enhancing Your Psychological Health is a new educational video depicting how servicemembers and their families may be affected by combat and deployment stress. Featuring interviews with military mental health experts and chaplains, as well as personal stories by servicemembers and their families, the video explores issues of concern such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol abuse, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, exposure to violence, emotional numbness, and difficulties faced when a loved one is deployed.
Former servicemembers who disagree with the disability ratings they received when they were discharged as unfit for military duty can now apply to have those ratings reviewed by a new Physical Disability Board of Review.
Despite the grim job forecast, the nation's largest employer -- Uncle Sam, is on a hiring spree, looking to bring on hundreds of thousands of the nation's best and brightest, according to the Partnership for Public Service.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reminding disabled veterans that they have until Oct. 15, 2008 to file claims for economic stimulus payments. Those eligible include people receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability, pension or survivors? benefits. As many as one in four disabled veterans and retirees have not yet filed a claim for economic stimulus payments. For more information, find your local Taxpayer Assistance Center on the (http://www.irs.gov/) IRS Website under "Contact My Local Office," visit the (http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html) IRS' Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center, or or contact your nearest Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Service Office.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed (http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11526906) H.R. 2818, which provides for the establishment of Epilepsy Centers of Excellence at each of the five polytrauma rehabilitation centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=674&lvl=C&chamber=H) Bob Filner (D-CA), said, "Studies show that 50 percent of U.S. Vietnam War veterans with penetrating brain injuries developed epilepsy within one to 15 years post-trauma. Traumatic brain injury is the signature wound of the current wars, and we should be prepared to care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that have been exposed to blast trauma and are at risk of developing this neurological disorder."
A recent federal court ruling voted in favor of restoring an estimated $30 million in death benefits that were wrongly withheld from the surviving spouses of disabled military retirees.
Omaha will host more than 500 wheelchair athletes at the 28th National Veterans (http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2008/default.cfm) Wheelchair Games July 25-29, 2008. Volunteers are needed to assist with registration, meals, transportation, site set-up, timing, scoring, towel and water distribution, and other important tasks. Volunteers under age 18 must have written parental or guardian permission to participate in this volunteer program, and written authorization for diagnostic and emergency treatment in case of injury. For more information about how to apply to be a volunteer, contact Michael Wittrock by telephone at (402) 943-5563, or by e-mail at (mailto:michael.wittrock@va.gov) michael.wittrock@va.gov.
A Federal Judge ruled that he lacks the legal authority to force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to immediately treat war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Judge Samuel Conti of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also ruled that he could not order the VA to overhaul its internal systems that handle benefits claims and medical services for war veterans. The veterans advocacy groups Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) and Veterans United for Truth had filed a lawsuit last year. For more information, visit the (http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/) Veterans for Common Sense website and read the entire (http://www.veteransptsdclassaction.org/pdf/courtfiled/2008-06-25-Memorandum%20of%20Decision.pdf) 82-page ruling in PDF format.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced 103 grants, totaling nearly $30 million, to provide approximately 19,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP). Funds are distributed on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. Grantees network and coordinate their efforts with various local, state and federal social service providers. More information on the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs for
veterans can be found on the (http://content.military.com/Admin/News/DigestVRNews/www.dol.gov/vets) Department of Labor website.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act (S.3167), which would end the government's ability to strip veterans of their Second Amendment rights. Currently, when the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) deems a veteran mentally incompetent and reports him or her to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act would require a judicial body to deem a veteran, surviving spouse, or child as a danger to himself or others before being listed in NICS. The legislation is supported by several veterans? organizations.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that the Montgomery GI Bill will soon be increased by 20 percent -- a total increase of nearly $220 a month increase over last year's rate. The full-time student payment rate of $1,321 multiplied by the 36-month brings the GI Bill to over $47,500. If you are GI Bill eligible and have benefits remaining, you get this increase no matter when you became eligible or begin using it.
House and Senate Committees are considering a veterans benefits bill that would require colleges to refund loans and out-of-pocket costs to students who are called to active-duty in the middle of a semester. The bill would also give students the right to sue colleges that fail to do so. Several educational associations voiced their concerns. One association suggests that the Federal government discharge the loans rather than require colleges to repay them. The bill would also require colleges to re-enroll veterans at the same academic status they held when they departed.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced plans to create 44 new community-based outpatient clinics in 21 states. The new clinics are scheduled to be activated over the next 15 months and will increase VA's network of independent and community-based clinics to 782. In addition to on-site primary care staff, the outpatient clinics will have state-of-the-art telehealth systems permitting veterans to maintain regular contact with doctors in specialties at regional VA hospitals. A national health records system allows practitioners at even remote clinics to review patient records stored at VA facilities anywhere in the country.
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