President’s Message
Fellow Officers:
I trust you are all well and hunkered down and warm in the midst of
our rather unusual “Southern sunshine.” Your officers and directors
have been busy during the past month and we have some news that we are
eager to share with you.
On the Community Affairs front, Dave Wade and Jim Smith
have developed an idea to invite the Professors of Military and Naval Science
from ODU, Norfolk State and Hampton University to bring a couple of their
Cadets/Officer Candidates to our luncheons. Dave is setting up a
schedule to have this happen over the next few months. As you know,
we support them by providing a MOAA Leadership Medal to an outstanding
Cadet each year as well as presenting their first set of “Gold Bars” and
a one year free membership to MOAA each year at their commissioning ceremony.
They support us and the community by providing Color Guards and formations
through which the WWII Vets pass during our biannual Honor Flight sendoffs.
We know that you will enjoy getting to meet these outstanding young men
and women who are preparing to begin their military careers and they will
gain a lot by getting to know us and seeing what life is like on the other
end of a military career.
Sylvia and Jim Smith have overseen the creation and production
of another banner for the NAS Air Terminal, this time a farewell banner
for sailors and troops deploying. We owe them a great debt of gratitude
for this remarkable idea and for sharing it with our chapter.
Lauren Heckelman, our Secretary and TOPS (The Officer Placement
Service) has developed a plan in conjunction with our Webmaster, Clif
Furedy, where he will be posting information about job fairs and networking
opportunities focused on separating officers and those looking to otherwise
change employment after separation or retirement. You will see these
now under the events tab on our web site. Later there will be a more
accessible and identifiable way to access this information. Thanks
Loren and Clif.
Holly, Jack Colgan, Jim Jones and I represented
you at the Virginia Council of Chapters Dinner in February at the Jefferson
Hotel in Richmond where we were recognized for having recruited 114 new
members for national MOAA during 2009. Congratulations to Jack for
spearheading this effort along with Dave Wade who signed up over 60 newly
commissioned officers through our Gold Bar program. Thank you all
for your continued support of the chapter and I look forward to seeing
you all at our next luncheon.
Respectfully,
Norm
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HRCMOAA Directory
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| MOAA Legislative Update
(Weekly Issue) |
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| DoD Budget on Pay Raise, Concurrent
Receipt, TRICARE Fees |
| The Pentagon rolled out its FY2011 defense
budget this week, proposing a $549 billion base budget (a 3.4% increase
over 2010) and $159 billion more to support war operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
During testimony before the House and Senate
Armed Services Committee this week, Secretary of Defense Gates outlined
three major priorities in the DoD base budget:
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Strengthening the nation's commitment to the
all-volunteer force
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Rebalancing America's defense posture to prevail
in current conflicts
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Continuing DoD's commitment to reform, especially
in acquisition
Highlights of initiatives proposed in the
new budget include:
Pay Raise - A military pay increase
of only 1.4%. This would match private sector pay growth between 2008 and
2009. But it would be the lowest military raise since 1963. If enacted,
it would be the first year since 1999 without at least some progress in
reducing a basic pay raise gap that still stands at 2.4%.
Concurrent Receipt - The budget
again proposes a five-year plan to phase out the disability offset to military
retired pay for all members whose service-caused conditions forced them
into medical retirement. Congress failed to enact a similar proposal last
year after being unable to identify cost offsets.
Family Support - The budget provides
$8.8 billion - an increase of $450 million from last year - to emphasize
the importance of child support and youth programs, spouse employment,
commissaries, and schools.
Health Care - The budget proposes
$50.7 billion to fully fund the Defense Health Program without any TRICARE
fee increases for retirees.
When asked about rising health costs, Secretary
Gates made it clear he thinks retiree fees should rise. "There has not
been an increase in the premium for TRICARE since the program was founded
in 1995," he said. "I ask anybody to point me to a health insurance program
that has not had a premium increase in 15 years...We absolutely want to
take care of our men and women in uniform and our retirees, but at some
point, there has to be some reasonable tradeoff between reasonable cost
increases or premium increases or co-pays or something and the cost of
the program."
Gates said that when DoD previously proposed
fee hikes and cut the budget to reflect that, Congress refused to make
the increases, so the funding shortfall had to be made up. Rather than
facing that scenario again, DoD has proposed full program funding, and
looks to Congress for any action on TRICARE fees.
Pentagon Settles PTSD Lawsuit
The Government, in order to stay a final
ruling, negotiated a deal in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims - the result
will provide disability retired pay and family TRICARE coverage, at least
temporarily, for thousands of veterans previously separated from service
after suffering PTSD.
The arrangement stems from a class action
lawsuit brought by the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP).
The NVLSP, representing seven veterans, claimed that the veterans' Military
Service Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) violated their legal rights, by
assigning a disability rating for PTSD below the minimum 50% as required
by the Veterans Administration Schedule of Rating Disabilities (VASRD).
The seven veterans have asked the Court
to order the military services to give them all of the military retirement
benefits to which a veteran with at least a 50% PTSD rating would be entitled.
For those who "opt-in" to the class action
suit, the military services agreed to prioritize applications to the records
corrections boards requesting an increase of their PTSD ratings. In most
cases, any such correction will be effective retroactively to the date
of the action taken on the report of the Military Service PEB.
Veterans who choose to opt-in have until
July 24, 2010 to return their form by either fax or postmark. The lawyers
involved with the lawsuit have agreed not to charge any service fees to
veterans who agree to join the lawsuit. |
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From the Editor 
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following
website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214s online:
http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ |
| This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his
DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans
with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their
military files.
Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members
may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.
Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard
Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site.
Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential
for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has
to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based
application was designed to provide better service on these requests by
eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time. |
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| HRCMOAA Joins with VIPMOAA to work the 80th Training
Command Conference |
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| Shown above are MOAA members from the VIPMOAA and HRCMOAA Chapters
as they manned a table at the 80th Training Command Conference. Left
to right, is LTC Jay Harper, USA Ret, COL David Wade, USA
Ret, and Col Jim Pauls, USAF Ret. Not shown is CDR John
Vermillion, USN Ret., photographer. The conference was being
held at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center in Virginia Beach.
The objective was to recruit new members for National MOAA and receive
credit for the Give Me Ten Program. These chapter members and others
worked the Reserve members on 28 and 29 January before closing down due
to the snow storm on Saturday. The 80th Training Command is the third
largest unit in the U.S. Army Reserves. The command is composed of three
training divisions and several training centers spread across the United
States. |
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Military ID Card Notification Program
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| This program is designed to help Chapter members and their dependent’s
to renew their ID cards in a timely fashion. Once you and your dependents
are enrolled, you will be notified of your impending ID card expiration
date in sufficient time for renewal prior to the expiration date.
Note: Over age 75 members, who are eligible uniform family
members and survivors of deceased personnel are now eligible for Permanent
Identification Cards. Apply within 90 days of expiration of current
ID card. |
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| To enroll in this voluntary program, fill in the form at the link below
for each dependent and Send by Email or Print and Mail to: Military ID
Card Notification Program, HRCMOAA, P.O. Box 4612, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-0612. |
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ROWS Dinner Dance Dec. 09
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| Held at Princess Anne Country Club, with the Walter Noona Band for
dancing, and listening. |
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HRCMOAA Presents a Return Home Banner for the
Returning Troops.
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| HRCMOAA Presents a Return Home Banner for the Returning Troops.
On 13 January 2010, the Hampton Roads Chapter, Military Officers Association
of America, presented a banner to the Naval Air Terminal Norfolk Naval
Station to welcome back home returning military personnel and their families
who have been serving in the Middle East and elsewhere overseas. The project
was initiated by Mrs. Sylvia Smith and the banner was donated to the Chapter
by Sylvia and her husband, Colonel James A. Smith, USA (Ret).
The presentation was made to Mr. Lou Lawton, Air Terminal Director by
Major Norm Crews, USA (Ret), Chapter President, Captain Paul Hollandsworth,
USN (Ret), Chapter Vice-President, and Chapter members Captain Bill Lehr,
USCG (Ret), Commander John Vermillion, USN (Ret), and Colonel and Mrs.
Smith. An additional banner, to wish departing and deploying military men
and women a safe trip and rapid return, is being planned. This new banner
will also be presented to the Terminal for display.
The mission of the Naval Air Terminal is to support our warfighters
through the movement of passengers, mail, and cargo via AMC and Navy
airlift as a vital component of the worldwide defense logistics pipeline. |
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| Shown in the photo are, front row left to right, Linda Jones,
Ramp Superintendent, Vanessa Smith, Director Air Terminal Operations,
Ora
Whitt, Director of Passenger Service, Lou Lawton, Major Crews,
Anthony
Merriweather, Terminating Cargo. Back row, BM1 Orlando
Gandy, LPO, Stacy Daubert, Passenger Supervisor, Raymond
Lewis, Terminating Cargo, Captain Hollandsworth,
Captain
Lehr, Colin Lewis, Terminating Cargo, and Barbara Mandley,
Data Records Supervisor. |
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MOAA Scholarship Fund
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| Memorial contributions may be made to the MOAA Scholarship Fund, for
deceased members of our Chapter, at Dept 889, Alexandria, VA 22334-0889.
Contributions may also be made at www.moaa.org.
Or you may call 800-234-6622. |
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Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
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How can I help?
Virginia has provided a limited amount of funding for the Wounded Warrior
Program. The Commonwealth anticipates that its citizens will want to help.
The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation is available to receive contributions
to support the Program. The Foundation is an agency of the state
and is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under Internal
Revenue Service Section 170 (c) and Code of Virginia Section 2.2-2719.
Donations are placed in the Veterans Services Fund and cannot revert to
the Commonwealth’s General Fund. In this case, they only can be used for
the Wounded Warrior Program. Donations to the Foundation are audited
annually by the Commonwealth’s Auditor of Public Accounts. This assures
that the maximum amount of citizens donations will go to our veterans and
not to administrative overhead. Information about contributing is
provided on the following page.
Contribution/Pledge of Support
Yes! You can count on my support to assist Virginia’s veterans, members
of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents of the Armed Forces
Reserves not on active federal service, and their family members, who are
dealing with the effects of traumatic brain disorders, combat stress, and
post-traumatic stress disorders resulting from their combat service and
sacrifice in the U.S. Armed Forces.
I am enclosing/pledging my most generous contribution in the amount
of:
__ $1,000 __ $500 __ $250 __ $100
__ $50 __ Other $________
Please make checks payable to:
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
For: VWWP: 900 East Main Street, Ground Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Your contribution is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Section
170 (c) and Code of Virginia Section 2.2.2719. Donations are placed in
the Veterans Services Fund and cannot revert to the Commonwealth’s General
Fund. Please complete the following five lines for contributions
of checks or cash, or when making a pledge.
Name(s) ______________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
Home Phone _______________________
Work Phone _______________________
Email_______________________________________
Employer __________________________
Occupation ________________________
For additional information about the Foundation or about contributing,
contact Col. Jack Hilgers (USMC, Ret) at the Department of Veterans
Services, 900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, 804-382-3715 or 757-481-4164
or Steven Combs at the Department of Veterans Services, 804-786-0294. |
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HRCMOAA Annual Check Presentation to the
Princess Anne High School NJROTC
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| CAPT Paul “Holly” Hollandsworth, Hampton Roads Chapter MOAA
First Vice President, is shown presenting a $600 check to Cadet LCDR
James Dwight, Commanding Officer of the Princess Anne HS NJROTC Unit.
Also on hand is Cadet ENS Ryan Gardner, Executive Officer.
The money will be used to help purchase the trophies for the February Drill
Competition to be held at the Little Creek Amphibious Base gymnasium.
At least 12 High Schools will participate. |
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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
By COL David Wade
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| Heads-Up to Coming Activities |
| Honor Flight: Honor Flight is a non profit organization which
conducts a recognition program where World War II veterans are provided
a free, one day trip to Washington to see the World War II Memorial, other
war memorials and Arlington Cemetery for the first and last time in their
lives. Your chapter coordinated departure formations by our supported ROTC
units in May and October of last year. The next Honor Flight is 17
April.
For those who want to participate in this event there are
two possibilities. One is to attend departure of the veterans early the
morning of 17 April along with the ROTC that your chapter coordinates and/or
be a volunteer in case transportation is required for veterans from their
home to the departure site and return in the evening.
For those who would like to attend or participate as volunteers or have
questions, please contact HRCMOAA, Honor Flight Coordinator, COL Jim
Smith, USA Ret at eaglenest6@juno.com
or COL Dave Wade USA Ret at dcwade@cox.net
or 757 425-5934. |
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| April – May |
| Leadership Recognition and Gold Bars presentations. The MOAA
Leadership Award is presented each year in the spring to those ROTC cadets
who have demonstrated the potential for successful military service.
The chapter also presents gold bars and a certificate of free MOAA membership
for one year to officer candidates that are going to be commissioned in
the ROTC units in our region. All are encouraged to attend
these presentations as presenters or simply to see the caliber of individuals
in our supported ROTC units. More to follow as schedule is developed. |
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| May |
| Massing of the Colors. There will be a Massing of the Colors at the
US Military Aviation Museum on Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach (Pungo
Area) on 2 May. This is a patriotic event in which numerous active military
and ROTC participate en masse. All are encouraged to attend. |
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HRCMOAA January Luncheon
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| Above, President Norm Crews presents the Jefferson Cup to guest
speaker U. S. Marshal John Hackman.
Our guest speaker briefly discussed the history of the U.S. Marshall
Service and the organization.
The Marshal Service was created in 1789 by George Washington when he
signed the Judiciary Act of 1789. There were 13 Marshals for the
13 States. During the earlier days it cost the Marshal Service $1,072
to take down William Bonny (aka Billy the Kid).
Today there are 94 Federal Judicial Districts. Each has a presidential
appointed U.S. Marshal and U.S. Attorney. The Branches of the Marshal
Service include: Investigate Operations, Asset Forfeiture, Prisoner Operations
(runs CONAIR), Witness Security, Special Operations Group, started
in 1971 (urban and rural assault units), and the Judicial Security Operations.
In the Eastern District of VA, this includes 4 offices and 6 courthouses.
To provide this coverage, he has 47 deputy U.S. Marshals, 100 contract
deputies for court security and 40 local deputies.
A U.S. Marshal has the authority and power to swear in people as Special
Deputy U.S. Marshals for Task Forces. They will often solicit aggressive,
hard charging officers from local area police departments who then undergo
special training before teaming up with the Marshals on a case by case
basis. The Marshal Service has a “top 15” list.
His office arrested 1500 local, state and federal fugitives last year
in the Eastern District and seized $21M in assets last year.
Their main goal is to “get their man.” Everything else is secondary.
They are known as “The Silent Agency.” |
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| From left to right: Mrs. Sylvia Smith, Mrs. Jo Carter,
Fleet and Family Program Liaison, US Navy Expeditionary Combat Readiness
Center, NAB and LCDR Ned Hazlett, US Navy Expeditionary Combat Readiness
Center, NAB. |
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VCOC Give Me Ten Dinner
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The Virginia Council of Chapters GMT Dinner was held in February at
the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. For the 4th year in a row, VCOC
won the MOAA Give Me Ten Dinner. It was held in the spacious Empire Room
of the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia on January 24, 2010. VCOC
won
(Photo by VCOC PAO, MM)
this dinner by having 100% Chapter participation in the 2009 MOAA Give
Me Ten Program. Shown from the left is CAPT Paul Hollandsworth, MAJ
Norm Crews, COL Bill Flanagan and next picture, MAJ Norm Crews, COL Bill
Flanagan, COL Hank Shelton, and CAPT Jack Colgan. |
Photos by VCOC PAO, MM |
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| Shown from the left is CAPT Paul Hollandsworth, MAJ
Norm Crews, COL Bill Flanagan and next picture, MAJ Norm
Crews, COL Bill Flanagan, COL Hank Shelton, and CAPT
Jack Colgan. |
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MILITARY OFFICERS STORM STATE CAPITOL
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| Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) leaders from throughout
Virginia stormed Richmond Monday, January 25. This 13th annual Virginia
MOAA Day at the General Assembly was led by MOAA Virginia Council of Chapters
(VCOC) President, COL Sam Wilder, USA Ret, of Chester and
Vice President /Legislative Chair, COL Don Kaiserman, USA, Ret,
of Richmond.
Leaders from Hampton Roads Chapter, one of 18 MOAA chapters throughout
the Commonwealth, called upon their delegates and senators to thank them
for past support and ask them to co-patron bills in support of the Joint
Leadership Council of Veterans Services Organizations (JLC) Legislative
Priorities. Top priorities are: Real Estate Tax Exemption for Virginia’s
100% disabled veterans; and key budget items for the Department of Veterans
Services including the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program; an Automated Claims
Processing System for veterans; and The Southwest Virginia’s Veterans Cemetery.
The Hampton Roads Chapter was represented by CAPT Jim Jones, USN
Ret, VCOC Representative, and Col Jack Hilgers, USMC Ret, Legislative
Representative.
Shown above, left to right is COL Sam Wilder, President VCOC, CAPT Jim
Jones, Chapter VCOC Representative, and Col Jack Hilgers, Chapter Legislative
Representative. All were taking a break from the Storming of the Hill meeting
in the General Assembly Building. |
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Chapter Schedule
For the most current and up-to-date schedule of chapter events, click
on Calendar of Events
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| Board Meetings; held the first Saturday of each month. |
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Proposed HRMOAA schedule through June.
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| April TBD; Harbor's Edge; Member of MOAA Headquaters Staff on
Health Care legislation.
May TBD; Congressman Randy Forbes. (Tenetive)
June TBD; An evening affair, Dinner and entertainment.
VCOC Congressional Luncheon, 27 April 2010
1130-1400 Hours, Senate Office Building, Russell Caucus Room, SR325.
Members $35. Contact CAPT Jim Jones, NLT 5 April. |
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IN MEMORIUM
CDR Robert C. Patton
USN (Ret), Died Dec 2009
CWO-2 David P. Graham, Jr.
Died Jan 2010
June B . Sandlin
Wife of Lt. Col Jesse O. Sandlin, USAF (Ret)
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