Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said 6 NOV he’s decided to expand the list of “presumptive” ailments for Agent Orange compensation subject to approval by the Trump administration. Shulkin didn’t disclose the expanded list — “I’m protecting the sanctity of the process” — but stressed, “I have made a decision. I have passed that on in the process that we follow in the federal government.” A VA official later said Shulkin’s recommendations on Agent Orange compensation expansion would go to the White House Office of Management and Budget and other agencies for approval and analysis of the costs. Shulkin said he expected approval “in a matter of a few months.”

Recent incidents regarding the photocopying of military identification cards and common access cards (CAC), by commercial establishments to verify military affiliation or provide government rates for service, have been reported. Personnel are reminded that the photocopying of US Government Identification is a violation of Title 18 (Crimes and Criminal Procedure), US Code Part I (Crimes), Chapter 33 (Emblems, Insignia, And Names), Section 701 (Official badges, identification cards, other insignia) and punishable by both fine and/or imprisonment.
“Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”
Many military members, family members and DoD employees are unaware of this law. Please pass this information along to your fellow retirees and veterans. Criminal elements and terrorist organizations place U.S. government identifications as a high value logistical element when planning acts against the U.S. military.

Before you read the following, I would like for you to clear your mind and think – How do I feel after 1 week away from my family?
The top military life concern for military families and active duty service members has shifted from pay and benefits issues to time away from their families. The Blue Star families survey shows the “time away from home” is the top concern for active duty military and their families
This change shows a weariness and a cultural shift in expectations among military families according to Cristin Shifter, the senior adviser for policy and surveys at Blue Star Families.
Multiple deployments is, in my opinion, causing concerns among our deployed military and their families and is one of the leading causes of post traumatic stress disorder. Most will never understand or believe what a combat soldier goes through and that is one reason a combat soldier will talk to another combat soldier before they talk to anyone. A veteran will talk to another veteran before they talk to anyone else as there is a brotherhood/sisterhood there that few will understand.

Tricare users soon will be blocked for more than three weeks from making changes to their plans or primary-care providers due to the systems upcoming shift to a new pair of contractors and region shake-up. The blackout will run from December 1 to December 23 and during that period no changes, including switching from Tricare Prime to Tricare Standard will be made or processed through the Tricare website, by phone, mail, or fax.
Users have until November 20 to make any changes through the website and after that, all changes must be made by phone.
If you have Tricare I suggest that you either go to their website or call Tricare to review your options. You can also go to the DAV magazine as they have an article explaining the changes.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Executive Director Allison Jaslow joined the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute and the bipartisan House Women’s Caucus for their annual Women Veterans Briefing in Washington D.C. Jaslow underscored the need for IAVA’s groundbreaking She Who Borne the Battle campaign. Launched not long after the “Marines United” photo scandal revealed shocking harassment of women troops in the military, IAVA’s #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign is anchored by the Deborah Sampson Act and a quest to change the outdated VA motto that excludes women. Jaslow joined Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Executive in Charge of the Veterans Health Administration, Shurhonda Love, Associate National Legislative Director of Disabled American Veterans and Cindy Hall, President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute on the panel to discuss the need for increased recognition and improve services for women veterans.
More than 345,000 women have deployed in support of combat since 9/11, women are breaking down barriers in the military, but far too many women veterans still feel invisible.

H.R. 1212 creates two categories of burial benefit: service-connected and non-service connected deaths. Veterans would be eligible for:
$2,000 for a death from service-connected disability; the benefit would be indexed for inflation
$749 for a death in a VA department facility (this amount is currently indexed for inflation)
$749 for a non-service-connected death or veterans with no next of kin; the benefit would be indexed for inflation
In order to be eligible for this benefit the veteran must not have been dishonorably discharged. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
Veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability
Veteran receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death
Veteran is entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but took full military retirement or disability pay
Veteran died while hospitalized by VA or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility
Veteran died while traveling under authorization and at VA expense to, or from, a specified place for purpose of examination, treatment, or care
Veteran had original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension pending at the time of death and would have been entitled to benefits from a date prior to the date of death
Veteran died on, or after, October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state facility

Leaving the military can be a major life change for many military members and their families. Traditionally, transition is simply a class they have to take and paperwork they have to sign before they officially return to the civilian world. Unfortunately, that move from the military to the civilian world can often be a more significant jump than often anticipated. And one that is not necessarily managed well.
Onward to Opportunity in Partnership with Veterans Career Transition Program (O2O-VCTP) is a free, Department of Defense supported training program—offered either online or in person–that provides industry-specific instruction and certification in business, technology and customer service industries up to six months before separating from the service. The program has skilled over 10,000 members to date and has an aggressive goal to place 30,000 veterans into employment or better employment by 2022.

According to military news –
Service members must choose soon whether to keep their retirement plans or enroll in a new plan that more closely resembles those available in the private sector. Training required for service members to decide whether to switch to the new plan, known as the Blended Retirement System, must be completed by Dec. 31.
Currently, retired service members each month receive 50 percent of the average of their highest three years of base pay, plus 2.5 percent more for each year of active duty after 20 years.
Under the new plan, the payout is reduced to 40 percent and 2 percent more for each year of active duty after 20 years. However, the new plan includes matching contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, a program similar to a traditional 401(k). Service members can choose to invest their money in different funds, with varying risk.

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan bill to increase certain VA benefits for veterans and their families. Tester’s Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act increases the VA’s compensation to disabled veterans and Gold Star Families, the spouses and children who’ve lost a loved one in service to the nation. The cost-of-living adjustment is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis. The cost-of-living adjustment for veterans, equal to the adjustment given to Social Security recipients, would go into effect on Dec. 1, 2017.
Tester recently introduced legislation to honor Gold Star Families by increasing the benefit awarded to these families by about $300 a month and expanding the benefit to families of fully-disabled veterans.

Military veterans could see their payouts increased by 2 percent later this year – one of the biggest gains in at least six years – under legislation slated for presidential approval next week.
The plan, the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017, would boost cost-of-living payments and could be reflected in the recipient’s January checks. The legislation was passed unanimously by the Senate this week, following approval of an identical bill in the House during summer.