JEFFERSON BARRACKS SATELLITE RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE

NEWSWIRE MAY 2014

The Volunteer staff of the Jefferson Barracks Satellite Retiree Activities Office publishes this NEWSWIRE to inform all military retirees, spouses, widows, widowers and their families of changes to their benefits, the status of current legislation impacting their retirement, health related information, defense policies and other matters affecting their military rights, benefits and other obligations. It contains information about Scott AFB; Jefferson Barracks AFS and the local retired community.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR MAY 8 May, Thursday—1300 Hours, Scott RAO monthly council meeting: Located at 215 Heritage Drive, Building P-10, Room A-209. The meeting includes reports from committee chairmen and other directors generally related to Scott AFB activities and services. Updated reports from the Lambert/ St. Louis RAO and the Jefferson Barracks Satellite Retiree Activities Office (JBSRAO) are part of the meeting agenda. 15 May, Thursday --- Monthly luncheon 1100 Hrs. Bandanas BBQ 1220 Big Bill Road, Arnold, MO 63010 (636) 282-3328 Directions: I-55 south to MO State Highway 141, then turn east on Highway 141 to Big Bill road. Coming from the south, take I-55 north to Mo State Highway 141, then turn east on Highway 141 to Big Bill Rd.

ID/DEERS UPDATE The ID card Section at Jefferson Barracks is unavailable until further notice and doubt it will ever open with convenient hours to serve the retired community. We suggested that you use the Navy ID Section at Lambert Field, 10810 Lambert International Blvd, Bridgeton MO 63044. Phone number is (314) 263-6493 or (314) 263-6113. They are located in the white building right inside the south entrance to the base. Park on the lot located at the left of the building, go in the lower door, up the steps and you are there. There hours are 0700-1530. They close for lunch at 1130-1230 hrs. There is a sign in roster and service is provided through the roster with continues in order of sign in after the lunch break. The ID card section at the 375 AMW/FSS, Scott AFB is another option.

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New Web Address for Scheduling ID Card Appointments DoD’s Defense Manpower and Data Center (DMDC) has announced a new web site for the Uniformed Services ID Card Appointment Scheduler. You should use the Appointment Scheduler in concert with the RAPIDS Site Locator to find an ID card office in your area and to schedule ID card appointments for yourself and your dependents. To find ID card locations in your area used this web Site: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rls/ To schedule an appointment use this web site: https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil Please note that all ID card locations offer online appointments. The 375 AMW/FSS at Scott AFB does offer on-line appointments.

Dental Program Open for New Enrollments

Source: TRICARE

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) offers comprehensive dental coverage to all enrolled members. Available to retired service members and their family, retired National Guard and Reserve members and their family, Medal of Honor recipients, their family and survivors, TRDP is currently open for enrollment. TRDP covers diagnostic and preventive services, like exams and cleanings at 100 percent. Emergency services and basic restorative services, like fillings, are covered at 80 percent. The annual deductible is $50 per person, each benefit year, and $150 per family per benefit year. The annual maximum benefit is $1,300 per person per year for enhanced enrollees; this is an increase of $100 from last year. The annual maximum for orthodontia increased from $1,500 to $1,750. For more information, visit www.tricare.mil/Dental/TRDP/Costs. Eligible beneficiaries can enroll online through the Beneficiary Web Enrollment website (BWE), www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/bwe or go to www.trdp.org to print, complete and mail in a TRDP enrollment application. To enroll on the BWE website, beneficiaries will need a common access card (CAC), Defense Finance and Accounting Service or Family PIN. Enrollees may be asked to enter information to establish an electronic funds transfer (EFT) method for payment of their monthly premiums, but EFT is not an option for the TRDP so enrollees should not enter anything in that section. Federal law requires that TRDP premiums be deducted automatically through a monthly allotment from retirement pay. EFT is available only as an alternative method of payment for beneficiaries who do not receive retired pay or whose retired pay is insufficient to cover the allotment amount. For those eligible to pay TRDP monthly premiums by EFT, visit www.trdp.org to download the EFT authorization form. There is a 12-month commitment for initial enrollments. After a year, beneficiaries can decide to continue on a month-to-month basis as long as they haven’t added additional family members to the plan. If a beneficiary and spouse are already enrolled, adding a child or any other family member resets the 12-month period. Retirees who enroll in TRDP within four months of their retirement date have immediate access to the full benefit package. If they miss that four-month window, there is a 12-month waiting period for coverage of more advanced services such as crowns, bridges and implants. Delta Dental of California manages the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program. Beneficiaries can register at www.trdp.org to access several online features such tracking claims, and adding or removing family members. For information, visit www.tricare.mil/TRDP.

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Calculate Savings: New TRICARE Pharmacy Calculator Debuts Source: TRICARE

TRICARE.mil features a new tool that lets beneficiaries calculate how much they can save by switching their prescriptions from a retail pharmacy to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Visit www.tricare.mil/pharmacy to use the calculator and see the savings! The Pharmacy Calculator lets beneficiaries enter the number of brand name and generic medications they are currently filling at a retail pharmacy and see right away how much money they can save moving those medications to Home Delivery. A 30-day supply of medication at a retail pharmacy has a copayment of $17. Prescriptions through Home Delivery can be filled for up to 90-days at a cost of $13. In many cases, beneficiaries can save themselves hundreds of dollars every year on their prescription copays. Home Delivery works for “maintenance” medications, which are those taken regularly for a chronic condition over a long period of time. Many beneficiaries have to take several different maintenance medications to treat their health conditions, multiplying their savings from making the switch. Switching to the convenience of Home Delivery is easy, and beneficiaries can sign up through e-prescribing from their doctor, or by calling, mailing or having their doctor fax their prescription to Express Scripts, the TRICARE pharmacy contractor. Call 877-363-1303 or visit www.tricare.mil/homedelivery to get started today.

Notify DFAS of Life- Changing Events Source: DFAS

As you move through your retirement years, make sure you keep DFAS informed whenever anything changes that could affect your retired pay. You should make sure your contact information and check payment information in myPay are always current. If you experience a life-changing event, make sure you contact DFAS directly at Retired and Annuitant Pay to let them know.

The following are examples of life-changing events you should notify DFAS about, and the parentheses describe how these events could impact your account:

Marriage (SBP, arrears of pay beneficiary, federal income tax)

Divorce (SBP, arrears of pay beneficiary, federal income tax)

Death of a spouse (SBP, arrears of pay beneficiary, federal income tax)

Birth of a child (SBP, arrears of pay beneficiary, federal income tax)

Moving to a new place of residence, even if just for the winter months (general correspondence

delivery, 1099-R and retiree account statement mailing, state income tax withholding)

Opening, changing or closing a bank account (net pay and allotment direct deposit)

Changing your e-mail address stored in myPay (myPay account change notifications, retiree

newsletters, myPay notifications for 1099-R and retiree account statement availability)

Paying off and/or closing an insurance policy (net pay and allotment direct deposit)

If you keep in your information current in myPay and submit the appropriate paperwork when a life-

changing event occurs, you will help DFAS improve the service provided to you and your loved ones.

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Report life-changing events to:

DFAS U.S. Military Retired Pay P.O. Box 7130 London, KY 40742-7130

You can also FAX information to: 800-469-6559, or call the DFAS Customer Care Center: 800-321-1080, option 1.

Home Depot and Lowes Discounts Source: Retireenews Hawaii

So we have been hearing that there seems to be a lot of confusion concerning Military discounts offered by Home Depot and Lowe’s. Seems you ask two people and you will get two different answers to the question. So we did a little research and found out that not only are patrons confused, but even the store personnel are sometimes confused by the policy. From what we have been told Home Depot’s policy for Military discounts are as follows: Home Depot Military/Veteran Discount Policy They offer a 10 percent discount, up to a $500 maximum, to all active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members with a valid military ID, every day of the week. All other military veterans qualify for a 10 percent discount during Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day. Lowe’s Military/Veteran Discount Policy They offer an all day, every day 10 percent discount to all military personnel who are active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members, with a valid, government-issued military ID card. All other military veterans will receive the discount on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. But please remember when asking about the discount, if the employee does not understand, do not make a big deal out of it. Ask to speak with the manager, and have your ID with you. And it must be a valid Government issued ID. It seems sometimes the employees get confused as to which policy a person falls under, which is understandable if they never served. So please be patient and courteous when asking about the discount. These two companies have offered these discounts to the Military community as a courtesy for your service and sacrifice, it is not something they are required to do by any means. Remember if you are a Veteran, but not Active, Reserve, Retired or disabled Veteran you are only authorized the discount on the above stated Holidays. If you Are Active, Reserve, Retired, or a Disabled Veteran with a valid ID you can get the discount any day of the week. We would like to thank Lowes, and The Home Depot for thanking our current Military and Veterans with this discount.

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History of the Purple Heart Source: The National Purple Heart Hall of Fame

The award known as the Purple Heart has a history that reaches back to the waning days of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress had forbidden General George Washington from granting commissions and promotions in rank to recognize merit. Yet Washington wanted to honor merit, particularly among the enlisted soldiers. On August 7, 1782, his general orders established the Badge of Military Merit:

"... The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit directs whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple

cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding."

This award was open only to enlisted men and granted them the distinction of being permitted to pass all guards and sentinels as could commissioned-officers. The names of the recipients were to have been kept in a "Book of Merit" (which has never been recovered). At the present time there are three known recipients of the Badge of Military Merit: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, 2nd Continental Dragoons; Sergeant William Brown, 5th and Sergeant Daniel Bissel, 2nd Connecticut Continental Line Infantry.

Washington stated that the award was to be a permanent one, but once the Revolution ended, the Badge of Merit was all but forgotten until the 20th century.

General John J. "Blackjack" Pershing suggested a need for an award for merit in 1918, but it was not until 1932 that the Purple Heart was created in recognition of Washington's ideals and for the bicentennial of his birth. General Order No.3 announced the establishment of the award:

"...By order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart, established by General George Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the War of the Revolution is hereby revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements.

By order of the Secretary of War: Douglas MacArthur General, Chief of Staff

On May 28, 1932, 138 World War I veterans were conferred their Purple Hearts at Temple Hill, in New Windsor, NY. Temple Hill was the site of the New Windsor Cantonment, which was the final encampment of the Continental Army in the winter of 1782-1783. Today, the National Purple Heart continues the tradition begun here in 1932, of honoring veterans who have earned the Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart has undergone many changes with respect to the criteria for being awarded. At first, the Purple Heart was exclusively awarded to Army and Army Air Corps personnel and could not be awarded posthumously to the next of kin. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing the Navy to award the Purple Heart to Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel. Also in that year, the Purple Heart was made available for posthumous award to any member of the military killed on or after December 7, 1941.

Originally the Purple Heart was awarded for meritorious service. Being wounded was one portion of consideration for merit. With the creation of the Legion of Merit in 1942, the award of the Purple Heart for

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meritorious service became unnecessary and was therefore discontinued. The Purple Heart, per regulation is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917 has been wounded, killed, or has died after being wounded.

Vietnam Wall Courtesy: Annette Jennings, US Army (Ret), RSO MOARNG Ike Skelton Training Site, Jefferson City, MO

This is really sobering. Click on the link and find the city you went to high school in and look at the names. Click on the name and it will give details of the death. First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals. This really is an amazing web site. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to create it. I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country. The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam War with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed. http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

Happy Band Brother’s Day to You Source: Unknown About 9% of the US population has served in the military. Just under one percent are serving on active duty today. These numbers are small but often it is the small things that nurture greatness. Bless you all. You may have served in Combat or in non-combat. You may have retired out or you may have served for a short time. You may have been a draftee or a volunteer. You may have served in the Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or the Merchant Marines, BUT YOU SERVED. YOU DID YOUR JOB HONORABLY and for that I am PROUD to call you Brother. You may have served during Korea, WWII, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq or Afghanistan, but you served, you did not run. You have a DD 214 or NGB Form 22 with those words "HONORABLY DISCHARGED" two of the noblest words in the world. Again I am proud to know each and every one of you. * Today is Band of Brothers' Day*; send this to all your brothers,

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fathers, sons and fellow veterans you know. Happy Brothers' Day! To the cool men that have touched my life: Here's to you!! I was never a hero, but I am thankful and proud to have served among them. A real Brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks on you. Send to all your Band of Brothers, because the fake ones won't. Editor’s Note: I am not sure if there is a Band of Brother’s Day, but if there is then I also want to wish a Happy Band of Brother’s Day.to all who served.

A man wearing a helmet defending his country should make more money than a man with a helmet

defending a football.

Unknown Note to Our Readers: The Newswire will at times provide links to web sites for additional information. To our readers who receive the Newswire via the U.S. Postal Service, you are not getting full use of this publication because of these links to other information that can only be seen on a computer with internet access. We recommend that you have the Newswire sent to you via e-mail if at all possible. For those readers who do not have Internet access you can come visit us at Building 65, Room 106 Jefferson Barracks. We would be happy to download and print a copy of any information that you may need. See our office hours at the end of this publication.

Still Serving 73, Jerry Gerald B Hansen, CMSgt, USAF, (Ret) Robert W. Julius, SMSgt, USAF, (Ret) Director, JBSRAO Newswire Editor Contact Us: JBSRAO Scott RAO Telephone: 314 527-8212 Telephone: 618 256-5092 E-mail: 157aog.rao@ang.af.mil E-mail: scottrao@scott.af.mil Address JBSRAO Stop 15 Address: 375th AMW/CVR 65 Kearney Street Rm. 106 215 Heritage Dr. Rm. 107 St. Louis, MO 63125 Scott AFB, IL 62225-5009 Office hours are 0900 to 1200 hours Tuesday, Wednesday Office Hours are 0900-1500 Hrs Monday - Friday and Thursday.

On the 2nd

and 3rd

Thursdays the office will be closed at

1100 Hrs for the staff to attend Scott Retiree Council meeting and monthly luncheon.

NEWSWIRE MAY 2014

Disclaimer: Information and views expressed by writers in this Newswire are their own and should not be construed to be the official position or policy of DoD, USAF, MONG, Scott AFB or Jefferson Barracks AFS. Every effort is made to verify information provided in this publication, the JBSRAO “Volunteer” staff cannot guarantee the accuracy of information furnished by other agencies.