JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
WOMEN IN COMBAT UNITS UNDER REVIEW
A commission established to study diversity among military leaders recommends that the Department of Defense rescind its policy that prevents women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level.
Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, commission chairman, said the recommendation is one way the congressionally mandated body suggests the military can get more qualified women into its senior leadership ranks.
The commission was established as part of the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act to evaluate and assess policies that provide opportunities for promotion and advancement of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the armed forces. The 1994 combat exclusion policy precludes women from being "assigned" to ground combat units For years women have served in combat situations deemed "attached" to ground units, Lyles said.
That distinction keeps them from being recognized for their ground combat experience - recognition that would enhance their chances for promotion, he added. DoD reported it "will thoroughly evaluate" the panel's recommendations.
Women make up about 15 percent of the active force, ranging from 7.5 percent in the Marine Corps to 19.2 percent in the Air Force. About 10 percent have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
MEDICARE ESSENTIAL PARTNER WITH TFL
Military retirees enrolled in Tricare For Life are reminded that Medicare is your primary health insurance. Medicare determines what is covered, what provider you can go to and how much is allowed.
TFL acts as a supplement to Medicare which pays your annual Medicare deductibles and co-insurance. Most medically necessary care is covered by both Medicare and TFL and your bill is paid in full. Where a service is paid by Medicare and not TFL - maybe a chiropractor -- you pay the 20 percent co-insurance. TFL becomes first payer only when a service is covered by Tricare and not by Medicare. Then you pay the annual Tricare annual deductible and 25 percent coinsurance.
TFL has no "insurance" card. Your military ID card verifies eligibility. Unless there is other health insurance, providers generally do not bill TFL. They bill Medicare which pays and forwards to TFL which pays the provider what you owe.
EXPOSURE DATES EXTENDED
Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving along the demilitarized zone in
Korea have an easier path to access quality health care and benefits under a new Veteran's Association regulation that expands dates when illnesses caused by herbicide exposure can be presumed to be related to Agent Orange.
VA now presumes herbicide exposure for veterans who served between April 1, 1968, and Aug. 31, 1971, in units determined by VA and DoD to have operated in an area in or near the Korean DMZ in which herbicides were applied.
Previously, VA recognized only such service between April 1968 and July 1969. VA encourages veterans with covered service in Korea who have medical conditions that may be related to Agent Orange to submit their applications for access to VA health care and compensation. For more information, call 1 (800) 827-1000.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
The Retiree Activities Office has an urgent need for volunteers. Past volunteers have included retirees from all of the armed forces and interested spouses *The RAO is located in Building 1535 in Room A200A. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Volunteers are asked to work one day per week. Two volunteers are scheduled for each shift. Our customers contact us via telephone. email and visits to the office. Their questions cover most all areas relating to retiree benefits including pay, medical care, space-A flights, and military sponsored leisure and recreation activities. Training in all subjects covered will be provided. Please call (301)-981-2726 for further information. The motto of the Air Force -wide Retiree Activities Program is "STILL SERVING." You will find that serving as an RAO volunteer can be a very fulfilling undertaking.