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BBlluueeggrraassss CChhaapptteerr,, MMiilliittaarryy OOffffiicceerrss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ooff AAmmeerriiccaa JJaannuuaarryy 22001166
CChhaapptteerr sswwiittcchheess ttoo FFrriiddaayy mmeeeettiinnggss Beginning with this month’s meeting the Bluegrass chapter plans to hold
its 2016 meetings on the fourth Friday of every other month. The one ex-
ception will be during November, when we will meet on the 18th
to avoid
collision with Thanksgiving plans.
As in 2015, meetings will be held at the Equestrian Woods Country
Club, 107 Clubhouse Drive, Nicholasville. Here’s the complete annual
schedule: Jan 22, March 25, May 27, July 22, Sept. 23, and Nov. 18.
Mark these dates on your calendars now!
The change was made after members attending the November business
meeting were polled on preferences. Also during the meeting the following
slate of officers was approved by unanimous voice vote: BG Les Beavers,
President; MAJ Marty Pinkston, 1st Vice; COL Tom Little, 2nd
Vice; Mrs.
Pat Jones, Treasurer; COL John Shotwell, Secretary; and CWO4 Ike Pink-
ston, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mrs. Jones also gave the financial statement at the meeting, reporting
that the current account balances for the chapter stood at $1978.23 check-
ing and $415.23 savings. Donations for the year included $2,240 to
Thomson-Hood Veterans center and $1,800 to area ROTC units.
Note at Bugle press time a January speaker had not been confirmed. The pro-
gram will be announced via email before the meeting. Please RSVP for the January
meeting to Pat Jones (contact info on p. 2) NLT Wednesday Jan. 13. Social time
begins at 11:30 with lunch at noon. The club will serve a buffet with meat choices,
vegetables, salad, dessert and drinks for $17, gratuity included.
NNeeww MMOOAAAA lleeaaddeerr ttaakkeess hheellmm Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret.) took the reins as
president & CEO of MOAA on Jan. 4. He replaced Vice
Adm. Norb Ryan, who retired after leading MOAA since
2002.
At the time of his USAF retirement in 2012, Atkins, a
Portland, Ore., native, commanded Alaskan Command,
Alaska; NORAD Region; JTF Alaska; and 11th
Air Force
at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Atkins served as a command pilot with more than
4,000 hours in fighter aircraft. His career included as-
signments as vice commander, 7th
Air Force and USAF
Korea, as director of operations (J3) U.S. Pacific Com-
mand, and as special assistant to the Supreme Allied
Commander Europe during the air war over Serbia. He
also flew as a demonstration pilot for both the European
A-10 demonstration team and the USAF Thunderbirds.
Since his military retirement he has been president of
Chronicle Media, a large communications company in
the Augusta, Ga., metro area. In his new role at MOAA,
Atkins leads more than 390,000 members of the na-
tion's largest military service organization and fourth-
largest veterans service organization in its advocacy mis-
sion on behalf of the uniformed services community.
Lt. Gen. Atkins briefing media while on active duty in 2002.
INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE
President’s Corner, Recruit members … p. 2
Member profile, LTC Thad Vann … p. 2
Officers’ contact info … p. 2
Dues payment process … p. 2
ROTC meeting guests … p. 3
Chapter Viet vets recognized … p. 3
ACA requires new tax form … p. 3
Welcome new member, Lt.Col. Shoup … p. 3
New Veterans ID explained … p. 3
Membership renewal form … p. 4
BBlluueeggrraassss CChhaapptteerr
CCoonnttaacctt IInnffoo President
BG (ret) Les Beavers
(502) 226-3876
First Vice President
MAJ (ret) Marty Pinkston
(502) 695-1059 [email protected]
Second Vice President
Col (Ret) Tom Little
Secretary
COL (Ret.) John Shotwell (859) 263-5436
Treasurer
Mrs. Pat Jones
(859) 271-2606
[email protected] Sergeant-at-Arms
CW4 (ret) Ike Pinkston (502) 330-5569
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MOAAB
luegrassChapter Web: http://moaabluegrasschapter.web
s.com/
BBLLUUEEGGRRAASSSS BBUUGGLLEE,, pp 22
PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT’’SS CCOORRNNEERR I’m honored that members have elected me to a sixth term
as chapter president. Thank you for your show of confidence.
One of my primary goals for 2016 is to increase chapter
membership. Our rolls have dwindled over the past several
years for a number of reasons, mostly because members have
moved away or passed on.
I need your help in this regard. I’m sure that most of you
have friends and neighbors who’ve served as officers in our
armed forces. Bring them to our meetings. Encourage them to
join. It doesn’t take a mathematical wizard to figure out that if
each member brought just one new member into our fold over
the next year, we’ll double our paid roster.
Member Spotlight
LTC Vann advised South Vietnamese Forces Before he was commissioned through Army ROTC, LTC Thad Vann’s
leadership skills were honed on the football field at the U. of Southern Missis-
sippi where he was coached by his father, legendary collegiate Hall of Fame
member Thad Vann, Sr. He graduated from there in 1968.
As an advisor to the South Vietnamese armed forces, then-lieutenant Thad
Vann found a niche with his Australian NCO in directing tactical air, navy
riverboat, helicopter gunship support and other fire power support. The com-
pany performed recon by fire missions and gathered information for the divi-
sion intelligence staff. Its most important campaign was the successful siege of
running the North Vietnamese forces out of the U-Minh Forest, a dense jun-
gle in the southeast region of the Mekong Delta.
As the years passed Vann continued to find niches in which to excel. He’s
commanded infantry companies, served as an instructor with the 5th
Advanced
Infantry Training Brigade at Fort. Polk’s famed Tigerland facility, and retired
as assistant division chief, 2nd
Maneuver Training Commanded, U.S. Army
serves. Reserves. In that capacity he conducted training ex-
ercises and evaluated combat readiness for units in
the southeast and Puerto Rico. He served a com-
bined 25 years in the regular army and reserves.
Vann’s civilian career includes 30 years of trade
and industry association executive service for three
major industries, the last being the Kentucky Manu-
factured Housing Institute (KMHI). His primary du-
ties as chief staff executive included overall staff lead-
ership, coordination of volunteer committees and a
In Country – Vann (center) shown with South Vietnamese
soldiers he advised during the war in Southeast Asia
board of directors, professional training, public/media
relations, legislative and government relations, member
services, and legal affairs. He retired from KMHI in
2011.
Vann currently works part-time in event planning,
vehicle parking and ushering at for the UK athletic de-
partment, Lexington Legends Baseball, Lexington Cen-
ter/Rupp Arena and Keeneland Race Course. He is
married with three adult children and one granddaugh-
ter. The Vanns make their home in Frankfort and be-
long to Tates Creek Presbyterian Church in Lexington. LTC (Ret.) Thad Vann
BG Leslie E. Beavers (Ret)
On another matter, I’m so proud of our members for stepping up to the plate to support
Thomson-Hood residents. After a lackluster contribution during 2014, you folks reached into
your hearts and wallets last month to allow us to make a sizeable donation. I’m sure that the
great patriots who reside at THVC will be greatly appreciative when we present that check.
IItt’’ss tthhaatt ttiimmee ooff yyeeaarr aaggaaiinn……..
Chapter dues obligations for 2016 began Jan. 1. To renew, com-
plete the form on p. 4 and either mail it with your check to Pat
Jones or bring it to her at this month’s meeting. Or you can renew
online. Go to MOAA’s home page. Click on the “Chapters &
Councils” tab at the top, then click on “Chapter dues” and follow
the instructions.
Welcome aboard – The Bluegrass Chapter welcomes our newest member, LtCol
(USAF, Ret.) Ed Shoup, a chaplain.
November Meeting – The chapter was pleased to host two UK Army ROTC cadets, Drew Myers
(left) and Trent Rice, to our November luncheon. They were accompanied by UK Professor
of Military Science, LTC Thomas Krupp, at right.
pp.. 33,, BBLLUUEEGGRRAASSSS BBUUGGLLEE NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 22001155
VViieett VVeettss RReeccooggnniizzeedd oonn 5500tthh
AAnnnniivveerrssaarryy
Chapter President BG Les Beavers presented Vietnam
veterans, including CAPT Jerry Cook, Vietnam War lapel pins at the November meeting. The pin, shown
below, was created to com-memorate the war’s 50th anniversary.
Veterans ID card to replace DD-214 Last year Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the Veteran’s
Identification Card Act of 2015. The law directs the VA to issue a veteran’s ID
card to a requesting veteran who is neither entitled to military retired pay nor en-
rolled in the VA system of patient enrollment.
The law requires the card, among other things, to: (1) display the veteran’s
name and photograph, and (2) serve as proof that the veteran has a DD-214 form
or other official document in his or her military personnel. The law also directs VA
to charge a card fee and states that the card shall not serve as proof of entitlement
to benefits.
However veterans eager to trade in their DD-214s for the new cards will have
to wait a while. The VA is drafting regulations that will allow the department to
implement and enforce the legislation. This is a lengthy process that requires time
for a public comment period as well as approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB). The rule-making process is expected to take 12 months or
more. VA is also in the process of developing procedures and policies to implement
the VA ID card program. VA currently estimates the program will be implemented
in 2017. In the meantime, the VA continues to provide a Veterans Identification
Card (VIC) for veterans to use at VA medical facilities. The VIC is issued only to
veterans who are eligible for VA medical benefits and only for the purpose of iden-
tification and check-in for VA medical appointments.
ACA requires new tax
form for retirees
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA),
all Americans including all military mem-
bers (active duty, retired, Selected Re-
serve, or Retired Reserve) and their eligi-
ble family members must have health
care coverage that meets a minimum
standard called minimum essential cov-
erage or pay a tax. TRICARE coverage
meets the minimum essential coverage
requirement under the ACA.
Beginning in January 2016, DFAS will be
providing IRS Form 1095-C to all U.S. mili-
tary members, and IRS Form 1095-B to all
retirees, annuitants, former spouses and
all other individuals having TRICARE cov-
erage during all or any portion of tax
year 2015. An IRS Form 1095 documents
you (and your family members, if appli-
cable) have the minimum essential cov-
erage. More information will be forth-
coming about the delivery method of
these forms.
These forms will document the infor-
mation that DFAS will provide to the IRS
on yourself and your authorized family
members. The forms will be required to
be reported with your 2015 federal tax
return. DFAS will provide you with IRS
Form 1095 series forms no later than Jan.
31, 2016. More info can be found at:
http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act,
or http://www.dfas.mil/taxes/aca.html.
(source: Army Echoes, Oct. 2015-Jan.
2016.
Bluegrass Chapter
Military Officers Association of America
Mrs. Pat Jones
1660 Atoma Drive
Lexington, KY 40511
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID
LEXINGTON, KY PERMIT NO. 398
Last, first, middle name: Rank: National MOAA member no: ________ Spouse name: Email address: ________ Date of birth (month/day): Street address – city, state, Zip code: ________ Month/year entered service________________ Month/year separated________________________________________ Phone number: Cell number: Military status (circle all that apply): Active Duty Drilling National Guard/Reserve Retired
Separated honorably ROTC (1 year free) Widow(er) (no charge) Branch of service (circle one): USA USMC USN USAF USCG NOAA USPHS Want to make a donation? General use: $________ Vets: $_______ ROTC scholarships: $_______
Total enclosed: $________________
Bluegrass Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) New Membership/Membership Renewal/Donations
Please complete this form and your dues check payable to: BGMOAA. Mail the form and check to our return address. Membership (new/renewal)=$25; widow(er)