Readers suggested including the Public Health Service in the Military Times Service Members of the Year awards, railed against housing allowance cuts, took Air Force Times to task over election coverage, and provided tips for disabled veterans to avoid having their disability pay taken by state courts for alimony or support payments.
Want to share your take on these and other issues? Send them to airlet@airforcetimes.com. Include your name, address, phone number, city, state and rank. Submissions may be published in print and online, and edited for content, clarity and space.
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UNSUNG HEROES DESERVE RECOGNITION
Congratulations to the 2016 Military Times Service Members of the Year. They are an impressive group of service members who exemplify the best qualities of our uniformed services.
We thank Air Force Times and Sightline Media Group for continuing to recognize service members for their contributions in and out of uniform, and we would urge you to consider including the Public Health Service in your 2017 Service Members of the Year recognition.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was created in 1889 and traces its roots back to1798. Led by Surgeon General Vice Adm. Vivek Murthy, the 6,700 men and women in the Public Health Service are physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, engineers, scientists, dietitians, veterinarians, environmental health officers, health service officers and therapists. They work throughout the federal government to provide clinical care and non-clinical management of programs which affect millions of Americans and advance our national interests.
Beyond their day jobs, the men and women of the Public Health Service are deeply committed to service in their local communities. We know scores of officers who go above the call of duty.
Many members of the Public Health Service work closely with their sister services: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and NOAA Commissioned Corps. They provide all medical care for the Coast Guard. They provide mental health services for the Army. Last year, they worked hand-in-hand with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps for the Ebola response, serving as the only uniformed professionals providing direct care for Ebola patients. Hundreds of Public Health Service officers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as either clinicians or supervisors for the re-establishment of critical health systems.
Their work is often performed under the radar, without much fanfare. Being recognized by the Military Times as 2017 Service Members of the Year would be an amazing tribute to these dedicated uniformed service professionals.
Army 1st Lt. John E. McElligott
Deputy Executive Director
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
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QUIT TARGETING OUR PAY
Retired Lt. Col. Robert Wido recently expressed sorrow for Senior Airman Kimber Rachuy’s angst about proposed cuts in her housing allowance [“Dual-military families and BAH,” Aug. 8], but then justified those cuts and advised her too “brace herself” for more.
I find his sorrow to be misplaced and misguided. SrA Rachuy has a right to be disappointed that U.S. leaders, both civilian and military, are again looking at reducing military benefits.
Yes, the nation has a staggering debt. Yes, we all should do our part to help reduce that debt. However, we all need to do our part. Many people seem to forget that military members pay taxes and help fund Social Security and Medicare.
Military raises are the lowest they have been in 40 years. In the early 2000s, pay was greatly increased for service members because there was such a disparity between the civilian sector and the military. Even with a law in place to ensure military raises are on par with the civilian sector, recent pay raises have fallen short of what they should be. Cuts to the Basic Allowance for Housing, increases in Tricare co-pays, proposed cuts to commissary benefits, reductions in bonus pay, reductions in services on base, reductions in PCS move benefits, proposed reductions in GI Bill benefits and other reductions really wear on members’ morale.
Military members give a lot, some giving all. Erosion of benefits and pay is a travesty and should be re-examined. Balancing the budget of the U.S. should not be focused so much on the backs of the military men and women who have been asked to do so much in a hostile world, within ever increasing budget constraints.
I’ve been in 23 years and this period of time is probably the worst I’ve seen it. Arizona Senator John McCain said that morale is at the lowest it’s been in the military. Constant pay and benefit reductions is a major reason why. Military pay seems to be an easy target. Lawmakers need to investigate other savings in the national budget to address debt concerns.
Maj. Cordy F. Herring III
Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
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SLANTING THE NEWS
I just had to laugh at the political stories you chose to print in the Aug. 15 issue of Air Force Times [“Generals: Retired brass should not endorse candidates”; “Trump meets with Gold Star families amid controversy”; “Military is at the center of presidential politics”].
You have a story that generals should not endorse candidates, but you then published two other stories that could have been written by the Democratic National Committee. Not a word of criticism of Hillary. You should practice what you preach, stay out of politics.
Master Sgt. Greg Kulus (ret.)
Blair, Neb.
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DISABLED VETS GET A RARE COURT VICTORY
Due to the dedication of a disabled veteran, state courts’ seizure of federally funded VA disability compensation for alimony/support payments, in violation of 38 U.S. Code 5301, has finally been broken.
The legal specifics provided by disabled veteran Lt. Greg Parsons helped Illinois disabled veteran Antoine Smith succeed in court. Said Smith, “The judge was stunned to see the information and the points I made about my
Why was this judge stunned? Because Smith went to court prepared. He presented his case in affidavit form and cited the specific laws that apply to disability compensation.
For many disabled veterans, protecting their VA disability benefits from seizure in divorce cases seemed impossible, facing state court systems that often ignored the U.S. Code’s clear statements about the “nonassignability and exempt status of [VA disability] benefits.”
A state court that overrides federal law regarding these exemptions violates the intent of Congress, as explained in Title 31, Part 212, of the Code of Federal Regulations (31 CFR 212).
Disabled veterans facing divorce or child-support issues need to fight the injustice of state courts’ control over their earned VA disability compensation. The following link has the tools you need: www.facebook.com/groups/VeteranChildSupportGroup.
The group members are not attorneys, but provide the research and written strategies that are winning in court.
Only you can prepare yourself for those unknowns. Protect what belongs to every veteran from those who want to take away your right to your earned VA disability compensation.
Former Navy AD3 William Heino Sr.
Bourbonnais, Ill.
