NAUS Weekly Update for February 22, 2008

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for Uniformed Services®Weekly UpdateFebruary 22, 2008
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"This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."
~ Theodore Roosevelt ~

WASHINGTON REPORT

TRICARE Under Attack (Again)
While NAUS works to fight off steep increases in TRICARE fees and co-pays (as recommended by the Pentagon's Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care and the Department of Defense), President Bush signed a $698 million aid package with Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in the Tanzanian capital during a mid-February visit to Africa.

The U.S. commitment to Tanzania comes under a foreign relations account called the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). The MCA grant, however, is only a "small" part of the more than $5.6 billion of U.S. aid sent to Africa during the Bush presidency. During the last few years of the Clinton administration, aid to Africa was between $600 million and $800 million a year.

As Tanzania gets $698 million, NAUS continues to hear key members of the Administration say resources may be insufficient to secure fulfillment of the promises made to retirees for completion of a 20-year or more career in the uniformed services. For instance, during recent DoD budget testimony, Comptroller of Defense Tina Jonas said retirees would have to pay $1.2 billion in higher healthcare fees to secure their earned healthcare benefits, which DoD refused with prejudice to pay.

(Pentagon Comptroller Jonas also said, "We spend more on our health care than Germany spends on its entire defense." For the benefit of current day Pentagon officials, NAUS notes that our World War II members, and their sons and daughters, take a measure of serious pride in hearing this particular statistic. After all, they won the war and many still remember the friends they left behind or the injuries they themselves suffer for their precious sacrifice to save Europe and protect American freedom.)

The legislative fight for earned benefits is unfolding and underway. Over the past two years, NAUS and some of the other military associations have successfully convinced members of Congress to reject the Pentagon's recommendations for steep increases in TRICARE fees and co-pays for military retirees, their families and survivors.

However, if we are to continue our success in winning protection and improvements in military health care, cost-of-living adjustments, and other earned benefits in the present budget cutting and defense rebalancing political culture, we need to work together.

You now know the alarm. TRICARE is under attack. To protect your earned benefit requires NAUS and you working together. Only by working together can we win the victory and ensure that spending priorities are in their correct place.
NAUS Note: NAUS does not single out the Tanzanian agreement and the billions of dollars flowing from America under the Millennium Challenge Account. These are but two of the many examples of our government's spending decisions. We have previously cited, for example, the high dollar programs that grant free health care to illegal aliens while simultaneously asking military retirees to pay for the health care they were promised and earned in military service. Our elected officials make choices. It's a matter of priorities.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)
If you have lost your military healthcare coverage or will lose it soon, the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) can protect you in the interim between military health benefits and civilian health care. Following the loss of entitlement to military medical benefits, you may apply for temporary, transitional medical coverage under this program.

The Continued Health Care Benefit Program is a premium-based healthcare program providing medical coverage for former military beneficiaries ($933 per quarter for an individual, $1,996 per quarter for a family). It is similar to, but not part of, TRICARE and extends healthcare coverage to the following individuals when they lose military benefits:

• <LI class=MsoNormal>Service members released from active duty (under other than adverse conditions) and their eligible family members. Coverage is limited to 18 months. <LI class=MsoNormal>Certain unremarried former spouses.
• Children who lose military coverage due to age or marriage.

For more information about CHCBP, visit the CHCBP Web at http://www.humana- military. com/chcbp/ main.htm or call 1-800-444-5445. You may also contact your regional contractor or a Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) to discuss your eligibility for this program.

Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is available for active duty service members, including activated National Guard and Reserve members at designated military treatment facilities (MTFs) throughout the United States. For a list of participating MTFs and more information on the program, go to www.tricare. mil/mybenefit/ home/overview/ SpecialPrograms/ ChiropracticCare.

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

Pulling the Plug on Overseas On-base Slot Machines
H. R. 4497, The Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh Stop DOD-Sponsored Gambling Act, would prohibit the military from operating slot machines on military bases overseas. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), named the bill after Army Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh, a decorated Apache helicopter pilot who became addicted to gambling on military slot machines. Walsh eventually committed suicide after several failed attempts to break his addiction."This isn't about troops' right to choose how they entertain themselves. It's about the U.S. government endorsing gambling," said Davis.

Gambling is banned at all stateside bases and those in U.S. territories like Guam and Puerto Rico, but more than 5,400 gambling machines are being operated at overseas military facilities, raking in $185 million a year for MWR programs. Rep. Davis said money for those programs shouldn't come from soldiers' wallets. A 2001 Pentagon study asserted that overseas gambling "does not have a negative effect on the morale or financial stability of our forces," though it acknowledged cases of individuals with gambling problems. Davis says the money raised off the gambling of soldiers is not worth the risks.

Army Offers Home, Small Business Incentives to Recruits
Army recruits in five cities could receive as much as $40,000 if they agree to a five-year commitment. The money could be used to either start a small business or make a down payment on a home. Reservists could receive as much as $20,000 for a similar commitment. The program is now being tested in five cities: Albany, N.Y; Cleveland, OH; Montgomery, AL; San Antonio, TX; and, Seattle, WA.

Navy Lifts Tuition-Assistance Restrictions
Sailors who have less than one year of service remaining can now take advantage of the Navy's tuition assistance program to help pay for approved college or continuing-educatio n courses. The Navy announced the policy change in NAVADMIN 042/08, available on the Navy Personnel Command's Web site at http://www.npc. navy.mil/. Sailors who wish to use tuition assistance must complete the courses before they leave the Navy. For more information, contact Ann Hunter at (703) 695-3905, DSN 296-3905.

Air Force Launches Self-Service Assignments Application
Officers and airmen can now use the Web to list as many as eight preferred future duty stations in the continental U.S. (CONUS). Requests submitted by users of the new Expanded Permissive Assignment program will be sent directly to their commander, then to the staff that handles permanent change of station (PCS) assignments, and then back to the senders. They will be notified if confirmation, approval or disapproval of their requests via email.

Applicants will no longer have to leave workstations to make PCS requests. More information is available at http://ask.afpc. randolph. af.mil (search for "expanded permissive") , or by calling the Air Force Contact Center at (800) 616-3775.

VETERANS NEWS

USS Ingersoll (DD 652) Service in Vietnam

The USS Ingersoll (DD 652) operated during the Vietnam Era as a Navy destroyer gunship conducting fire support missions along the coast of the Republic of Vietnam for military ground operations. In addition to coastal duty, the USS Ingersoll traveled up the Saigon River on Oct. 24 and 25, 1965, to fire on enemy bases.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) C&P Service has reviewed the ship's deck logs, located at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and confirmed this service on the "inland waterways" of the Republic of Vietnam. As a result, the presumption of herbicide exposure, as described in 38 CFR 3.307(a)(6), can be extended to any crewmember who served aboard the vessel on these dates.

Anyone who served on the Ingersoll on the dates in question and had previous claims for Agent Orange-related conditions denied should reapply.

VA regional offices are directed to extend the presumption of herbicide exposure to new claims involving a veteran who served aboard the USS Ingersoll during Oct. 24 and 25, 1965. Additionally, if regional offices are aware that any such claim was denied due to lack of evidence for herbicide exposure, they are directed to reevaluate the claim as soon as possible.

Veterans names will be checked against the official crew manifest of those on board the ship during those dates.

PTSD Verification Policy to Change
According to an Air Force Times article, VA has agreed to drop a policy that requires combat vets to verify in writing that they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event before filing a claim for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Current rules require a veteran to provide written verification in the form of a statement from a commander, doctor or coworker that he or she was involved in a traumatic situation in order to receive disability compensation for PTSD from VA. This in turn slows down the claims process while the individual works to obtain the additional documentation. In the future, PTSD claims will be based solely on medical evaluation with no additional proof required.

An official announcement of the change by VA has not been made but is expected soon. In the interim you can read the Air Force Times story at http://www.airforce times.com/ news/2008/ 02/military_ ptsdproof_ 080218w/.

INCOME TAX NEWS

Economic Stimulus Payments (IRS Press Release)

The Internal Revenue Service is advising taxpayers that in most cases they will not have to do anything extra this year to get the economic stimulus payments beginning in May. "If you are eligible for a payment, all you have to do is file a 2007 tax return and the IRS will do the rest," said Acting IRS Commissioner Linda Stiff.

The IRS will use information on the 2007 tax return filed by the taxpayer to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payments.

The IRS will begin sending taxpayers their payments in early May after the current tax season concludes. Payments to more than 130 million taxpayers will continue over several weeks during the spring and summer. A payment schedule for taxpayers will be announced in the near future.

Stimulus payments will be direct deposited for taxpayers selecting that option when filing their 2007 tax returns. Taxpayers who have already filed with direct deposit won't need to do anything else to receive the stimulus payment. For taxpayers who haven't filed their 2007 returns yet, the IRS reminds them that direct deposit is the fastest way to get both regular refunds and stimulus payments.

Most taxpayers just need to file a 2007 tax return as usual. No other action, extra form or call is necessary.

The law also allows for payments for select taxpayers who have no tax liability, such as low-income workers or those who receive Social Security benefits or veterans' disability compensation, pension or survivors' benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007. These taxpayers are eligible to receive a payment of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying income. Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits, certain veterans' benefits and earned income, such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. While these people may not be required normally to file a tax return because they do not meet the filing requirement, the IRS emphasizes they must file a 2007 return in order to receive a payment.

Recipients of Social Security, certain Railroad Retirement and certain veterans' benefits should report 2007 benefits on Line 14a of Form 1040A or Line 20a of Form 1040. Taxpayers who already have filed but failed to report these benefits can file an amended return by using Form 1040X. The IRS is working with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that recipients are aware of this issue. "Some people receiving Social Security and veterans' benefits may not realize they will need to file a tax return to get the stimulus payment," Stiff said. To reach these people, the IRS and Treasury will work closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and key beneficiary groups on outreach efforts.

Eligible taxpayers who qualify for a payment will receive an additional $300 for each child who qualifies for the child tax credit.

Payments to higher income taxpayers will be reduced by 5 percent of the amount of adjusted gross income above $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for those filing jointly.

Taxpayers must have valid Social Security Numbers to qualify for the stimulus payment. If married filing jointly, both taxpayers must have a valid Social Security Number. And, children must have valid Social Security Numbers to be eligible as qualifying children.

Beware of Email, Telephone Scams Using the IRS Name (IRS Press Release)
Officials caution taxpayers to be aware of scams involving proposed advance payment checks. Although the government has not yet enacted an economic stimulus package in which the IRS provides advance payments, known informally as rebates to many Americans, a scam using the proposed rebates as bait has started.

The goal of the scams is to trick people into revealing personal and financial information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, which the scammers can use to commit identity theft. Some examples of scams are listed below.

Rebate Phone Call
Scam: Consumers receive a phone call from someone identifying himself as an IRS employee. The caller tells the targeted victim that he or she is eligible for a sizable rebate for filing his or her taxes early. Fact: The IRS does not gather the information by telephone.

Refund eMail
Scam: The IRS has seen several variations of a refund-related bogus email, which falsely claims to come from the IRS, telling the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount. Fact: The IRS does not send unsolicited email about tax account matters to individuals or businesses.

Audit eMail
Scam: An e-mail notifies a recipient that his or her tax return will be audited. It may contain a salutation in the body addressed to the specific recipient by name. Fact: The IRS does not send unsolicited, tax-account related emails to taxpayers.

Paper Check Phone Call
Scam: In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to the individual being called. The caller states that because the check has not been cashed, the IRS wants to verify the individual's bank account number. Fact: The IRS does not contact taxpayers to verify bank information.

The only official IRS Web site is located at www.irs.gov.

People who have received a questionable email claiming to come from the IRS may forward it to a mailbox the IRS has established to receive such emails, phishing@irs. gov. Those who have received a questionable telephone call that claims to come from the IRS may also use the phishing@irs. gov mailbox to notify the IRS of the scam.

NAUS NEWS

NAUS Oklahoma Chapter Meeting
The next meeting of the NAUS Oklahoma City, WILEY POST Chapter, OK-3, will be on
Mar. 19, 2008, from 11:30 AM to1:00 PM at the Tinker AFB Officers Club. The guest speaker will be Lt Col John Currie, USAF, (Ret) who will be discussing counter-terrorism.

Cost of the buffet line is $7.50 plus tip.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Maj Gen William (Bill) Bowden, USAF, (Ret) at home: (405) 722-6279; cell: (405) 659-0614; by email: at wpbowden@earthlink. net; or snail mail (letter) at 6516 N.W. 110th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73162.
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Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen stand in harm's way around the globe to defend our nation and our cherished liberties. NAUS asks you to please pray for their continued strength and protection—and pray as well for their families, who daily stand in support of their spouses, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters.

GODBLESSAMERICANational Association for Uniformed Services®
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Springfield, VA 22151
1-800-842-3451
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