Post on 26-Mar-2020
Bluegrass
Bluegrass Chapter, Military Officers Association of America January 2017
NATIONAL RECOGNITION — Outgoing chapter president BG
(Ret.) Les Beavers (right) was presented with the MOAA
Leadership Award at the Annual Business meeting Nov. 18.
The certificate cited his vision and personal involvement as
Bluegrass Chapter president for the past six years. It was
signed by MOAA national president Lt.Gen. (Ret.) Dana
Atkins and delivered by outgoing first vice MAJ (Ret.)
Marty Pinkston.
New Defense Authorization Act reflects MOAA advocacy
President Barack Obama signed into law the FY2017 National Defense Au-
thorization Act (NDAA) on Dec. 23. MOAA issued the following statement that
day in response to the president signing the annual defense bill in advance of the
holidays.
“This is one of the most important and comprehensive defense bills passed in
many years, and we are pleased with the broad consensus on compensation and
healthcare,” said MOAA president and CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Atkins.
Acknowledging the congressional achievement, Atkins said, “We appreciate the
magnitude of effort by the Armed Services committee members. Even in this tough
fiscal environment, Congress found a way to treat military people fairly, resolving
hundreds of differences between their respective versions of the bill, accommodat-
ing MOAA's and The Military Coalition's recommendations on most of them.”
Atkins also pointed out, “MOAA believes the health care reforms required in the
new law are positive steps toward our goal of improving beneficiaries' access to
quality health care and elimination of administrative hassles beneficiaries have ex-
perienced too often.
“All in all, the vast majority of NDAA issues reflect the positive outcomes of our
advocacy,” Atkins concluded.
The 2017 NDAA puts into law new requirements spanning many of DoD's pro-
grams. Most notably, it will entail sweeping changes for the military health care
system.
This legislation puts into law a number of MOAA's advocacy priorities. Specifi-
cally, it: (SEE NDAA, P2)
Inside this issue… P. 2 President’s Corner; NDAA (cont.); chapter contacts
P. 3 In memoriam, Nick Weiler; chapter donates to First
Strike singles; MOAA ramps up chapter recruitment, gives
talking points; EKU ROTC grad sustains family tradition
P. 4 November meeting highlights; 2017 meeting sched-
ule; ROTC winter commissions; 2016 fund drive meets
goals; January program background
P. 5 Chapter members honor Pearl Harbor vets; 2017
state military/veterans legislative preview; KDVA salutes
women vets at THVC
PRESENTATION: MALTA’S MILITARY HISTORY (program information on p. 4) WHERE: Equestrian Woods Country Club, 107 Clubhouse Drive, Nicholasville TIME: Social hour, 11:30, lunch at noon HOW MUCH: Buffet with meat entrees, vegetables, salad, dessert and drinks for $17, gratuity included RSVP: Please let Pat Jones (contact info on p. 2) know no later than Monday, Jan. 23, that you plan to attend and bring guests. To get to the clubhouse, go south on Harrodsburg Rd. (U.S. 68) about two miles past Man o’ War. Spring Crest Drive is the first right before the Bran-non Rd. intersection, and Clubhouse Drive is the next right.
Chapter Contacts Chapter Contacts (eff. 20 Jan 2017)
President
Col. (Ret.) Tom Peters
(859) 329-7320 thomas.peters03@gmail.com
First Vice President
COL (Ret.) Tom Little
(859) 338-3301
tlittlelex@gmail.com
Second Vice President
COL (Ret.) Jo Ann Wever
(859) 336-5938 J.wever@att.com
Secretary/
Newsletter editor
COL (Ret.) John Shotwell
(859) 263-5436
jmshot0@g.uky.edu
Treasurer
Mrs. Pat Jones
(859) 271-2606
ppatcatfan@aol.com
Chaplain
CAPT (Ret.) Jerry Cook (859) 533-7600
cooksurpri@att.com
Sergeant-at-Arms
COL (Ret.) Chris Dolt
(859) 494-3452
christopher.dolt@ morganstanley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MOAABluegrassChapter Web: http://
moaabluegrasschap-ter.webs.com/
EDITORIAL POLICY
MOAA, including the Ken-tucky Council and the Blue-grass Chapter, is an independ-ent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan organization. Member-ship is open to officers from every branch of service - includ-ing active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their immediate families. The MOAA Bluegrass Chap-ter is a Sect. 501(c )(10) tax-exempt veterans organ-ization.
Bluegrass Bugle January 2017 p.2
“May you live in interesting times.” That’s an old expression purportedly translated
into English from a Chinese curse. An ironic hex because the phrase, “interesting times,”
implies conflict and chaos, while “uninteresting times” of peace and tranquility are pre-ferred by most people (not to mention cats, dogs, and our cousins, the orangutans).
According to Wikipedia, the curse isn’t found in any known Chinese historical docu-
ments. Maybe it was invented by Ben Franklin about three pints into a happy hour in a
Philadelphia tavern.
Whatever the source, actual curse or idle apocrypha, 2016 by anyone’s definition was
an interesting year in terms of the nation’s direction. And 2017 is likely to exceed that
level of interest with little peace and tranquility. What does this have to do with MOAA? A lot, actually. In the article beginning on the
first page in this newsletter, MOAA President/CEO Lt.Gen.(Ret.) Dan Atkins, praised mem-
bers for their advocacy in helping ensure that the latest National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) the President signed last month reflected many positive outcomes, particularly in the areas of military
compensation and health care. MOAA members peppered Capitol Hill with about 250,000 letters, emails and phone
calls that helped to influence Congress, particularly Armed Services committee members, to treat military people fairly
and accommodate most of the recommendations of MOAA and The Military Coalition. The incoming administration is perceived by many to be more military friendly than the one it replaces. We’ll see.
About the only thing we can predict is unpredictability. And change. An administration that takes a business approach
to government might result in reduced spending on inefficient programs and practices to the ultimate benefit of the
Pentagon. We used to say that "sacred cows" made the best hamburgers. A few of those blessed bovines may head
to the slaughterhouse in the coming years. The only thing we know for certain is that things will be different, and it’s
impossible to predict their outcomes.
Since its founding, MOAA, initially as The Retired Officers Association (TROA), has emerged as the leading lobby-
ing organization on behalf of uniformed service members, retirees, veterans and their families. Its effectiveness has been constant, regardless of the party affiliation of the administration. And that proficiency depends directly on the
vocal support of individual chapters and members across the U.S., as demonstrated by the latest budgeting cycle.
I trust that some of the correspondence to Congress relating to MOAA’s positions on NDAA came from Bluegrass
Chapter members. As I assume chapter leadership, I echo the MOAA mantra, “Voice matters,” and that includes yours.
FROM P1 NDAA Secures a 2.1 percent military pay raise versus the
1.6 percent pay raise proposed by the administration.
The 2.1 percent pay raise matches the average Amer-
ican's, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics'
Employment Cost Index.
Stops the force drawdown and actually increases
manpower levels, especially for the Army, Air Force
and Marine Corps.
Requires an array of reforms to improve beneficiaries'
access to timely and high-quality health care.
Protects currently serving and retired beneficiaries
from a variety of steep TRICARE fee increases pro-
posed in the administration's budget.
Rejects a Senate proposal to cut housing allowances
by $10,000 to $30,000 a year for dual-military
couples and other service members who share hous-
ing.
Provides needed survivor benefit improvements: (a)
extending the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance
(SSIA) until May 2018 at $310 per month, and (b)
increasing Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for
survivors of reservists who die during Inactive Duty
Training, to match benefits provided for active duty
deaths.
The long list of health care improvement requirements
are aimed at addressing the systemic and chronic prob-
lems MOAA and others have highlighted with beneficiary
access (appointments and referrals), quality of care and
safety and consistency of care.
They include changes in contracting, appointment and
referral processes and holding medical providers and com-
manders more accountable for productivity and consistency
of beneficiary-centric care, especially in military facilities.
One major aspect affecting TRICARE Standard benefi-
ciaries is a change to this program, effective Jan. 1, 2018,
to a preferred provider organization called TRICARE
Select. Another big difference is all non-Medicare-eligible
retired beneficiaries will be required to formally enroll
every year in either TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select,
starting in 2018. Previously, only TRICARE Prime re-
quired a formal annual enrollment.
Lt.Gen. (Ret.) Dana Atkins
MOAA President/CEO
“All in all, the vast majority of NDAA issues reflect the positive outcomes of our advocacy.”
Thomas Peters Col., USAF (Ret.)
President, Bluegrass Chapter
In memoriam
Chapter members lose son, brother in tragic accident Nicholas Koch Weiler, 37, son of CW4 Logan Weiler Jr.
(Ret.) and brother of 1LT Logan Weiler III was struck from
behind and killed instantly on Nov.18, 2016, while driving
across the Ravenel Bridge in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Nick was preceded in death by
his wife, Ashley. In addition to his
father and brother, Nicholas is
survived by his mother, Rhonda.
A lifelong resident of Lexing-
ton, Nick was a graduate of Lafa-
yette High School and attended
UK. Nick served as a Kentucky
pre-trial officer of the court for 15
years. Following the death of his wife, Nick relocated to Mt.
Pleasant where he was a photographer and videographer on
“Wahoo” a sport fishing yacht out of Charleston.
Nicholas (Nick) Weiler
CHAPTER DONATES TO “FIRST STRIKE” –
members MAJ (Ret.) Marty Pinkston
(right) and CW4 (Ret.) Ike Pinkston
(left) drove to Clarksville, Tenn., last
month to deliver the chapter’s donation
to help out single soldiers from 1st Bat-
talion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne
Division (First Strike). The battalion is
commanded by LTC Shawn Umbrell,
formerly the PMS at UK’s Army ROTC
unit. Accepting the award at the unit’s
home base at Ft. Campbell are Sarah
Basham (2nd from left, wife of 1-502
Command Sergeant Major James Ba-
sham), and LTC Umbrell’s wife Becky. In
a note of appreciation Becky and Sarah
subsequently wrote to the chapter,
“First Strike can’t thank MOAA enough for your generous donation. Our single soldiers will return home knowing they are loved and appreciated by so many people.”
p.3 January 2017 Bluegrass Bugle
MOAA is encouraging chapters to
accelerate recruiting this year. The
2017 Chapter Recruiting Program
will provide a single effort to recruit
new chapter members.
More tools and better information
to chapters will help recruit and
retain chapter members more effec-
tively. The focus of the Chapter Re-
cruiting program is on recruiting
new chapter members using the
recruiting-members lists provided by
National MOAA. In early spring
national MOAA will provide a re-
cruiting list to each of its chapters
which can serve as the foundation
for the chapter’s annual recruiting
campaign.
The recruiting list will now only
contain the names of current nation-
al MOAA members who live in each
chapter’s proximity, but who do not
belong to the chapter. In addition,
MOAA will
per iod i ca l l y
ask national
MOAA mem-
bers who aren’t chapter members to
share their email addresses with
their local chapter. Each recruiting
list will incorporate all the national
MOAA (non-chapter) member email
addresses that have opted in for this
correspondence from those living
within a chapter’s geographic area
for membership.
Two additional times (summer
and fall), a follow-up recruiting list
will be sent to each chapter. This list
will be much shorter and only con-
tain the names of national MOAA
members in good standing who
moved into the chapter’s catchment
area since the last recruiting mem-
bers list was sent out together with
any deaths reported to MOAA. The ultimate goal for MOAA is to
remain the premier military advocacy
organization that can affect legisla-
tion and make a difference in the
quality of life for all members of the
military and their families. The chap-
ter system is critical to attaining that
goal.
National MOAA board of directors approved the formal affilia-
tion of councils and chapters in 1953
Over 440 affiliates nationwide
Councils and chapters are independent, self-governing, self-supporting organizations who voluntarily choose to affiliate
with national MOAA for the purpose of cooperation and mutual
support in attaining common goals
Personal/professional responsibility to never stop serving
Affiliate members are highly encouraged to be national MOAA
members
Grass-roots advocacy: influence local, state, federal legisla-
tion
Community Ambassadors: opportunities to volunteer locally
Support JROTC, ROTC, newly commissioned officer programs
Provides opportunities for local networking for second career service members
Camaraderie with a purpose: maintain connection to the mili-
tary family by developing close and lasting friendships with
other members with similar backgrounds and interests
EKU ROTC GRAD — 2LT Patrick Riley (left) was commissioned by EKU ROTC PMS LTC Darell Robinson (right) following a family tradition. Ri-
ley’s father is a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant, his older brother an Army Staff Sergeant and most recently his younger brother completed Army basic training. The lieutenant was presented a MOAA gold bar by MAJ (Ret.) Marty Pinkston. (UK and MSU ROTC winter grads are featured
on p. 4. )
Bluegrass Bugle January 2017 p.4
Chapter sets 2017 schedule Mark your calendar now to make sure you
don’t miss any 2017 meetings.
Unless announced otherwise, all meetings
will take place at noon (social time at 11:30)
at the Equestrian Woods Country Club, 107
Clubhouse Drive, Nicholasville on the follow-
ing dates: Jan. 27 (officer installation); Mar.
24; May 26; July 28; Sep. 29; Nov. 17
(annual business meeting).
NEW OFFICERS — Chapter Presi-
dent-elect Col. (Ret.) Tom Peters
(left photo) conferred with newly
elected 2nd Vice COL (Ret.) Jo
Ann Wever. The new slate of offic-
ers was approved by unanimous
voice vote by chapter members
who attended the November meet-
ing. The officers will be installed
Jan. 27. The complete list of new
and re-elected officers is on p. 2.
Special guest Kristina Cherish-
neiva, (center photo) a native of
Ukraine, served in the U.S. Army
and now works as a nurse at Lex-
ington VAMC. She was a guest of
Treasurer Pat Jones. At right, LTC
Tom Krupp, UK Army ROTC Profes-
sor of Military Science, provided a
short briefing about his unit’s
training and operations.
Chapter recognizes ROTC
winter grads with gold bars
NEW ROTC GRADS — Chapter member and UK alum MAJ (Ret.) Marty Pinkston presented MOAA gold bars last month to the follow-
ing new officers at UK. ROW 1 (L-R): 2LT Raven Starks (a KSU grad through UK’s satellite ROTC program); 2LT Sterling Lewis, 2LT Mitch Kline. ROW 2 (L-R): 2LT Erik Fatkin, 2LT William Johnson, and 2LT Sean Miller. Below, chapter member and MSU grad COL (Ret.) Fred-
die Waggoner presents gold bars to MSU ROTC grads 2LT Zachary Lambert and 2LT Lauren Higgins. MOAA has announced that it is discontinuing the Gold Bar Program nationally, but individual chap-ters may keep it as a local initiative.
Holiday THVC/ROTC donation goals met We thank all members who contributed generously to the chapter’s holiday
year-end drive, particularly those who responded to a New Year’s Eve appeal
when it appeared, to use a football expression, we were in the red zone, just
short of the goal line. Those last-minute contributions were just enough to put
us over the goal line and into the end zone.
Because of the chapter’s benevolence, residents of the Thomson-Hood Vet-
erans Center will soon be able to appreciate a top-of-the-line Broda brand
wheelchair that provides tilt-in-space positioning for extra comfort. The dona-
tions will also cover a MacBook Air Laptop for residents to check out for use in
the rooms (THVC now has Wi-Fi capability) and an iPad for use in the Eisen-
hower unit.
The donations also make it possible for the chapter to extend the scope of
scholarships for area ROTC units, increasing both the award amount (to $300)
and including for the first time ROTC cadets at Morehead State University. The
IRS reinstated the chapter’s tax-exempt status for charitable donations.
January program — Malta’s military history
Though it’s less that half the size of Fayette County, the island of Malta has served as a
strategic hub in the Mediterranean for more than two millennia. It became part of the Roman, then Byzantine Empires after the Punic wars and was conquered by Arabs who were overthrown by the Normans of Spain during the Medieval period. In a dramatic battle in 1565 the Knights
of St. John (latter known as the Knights of Malta) fended off an Ottoman force of more than
40,000 led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, effectively preventing the Ottoman Empire from expanding into Western Europe. After several centuries of peace and prosperity, Malta was invaded by Napolean in1798, who
was subsequently vanquished by the British three years later, making the island part of the British Empire. With its location between North Africa and southern Europe, Malta gained strategic importance during WWII. Gen Dwight Eisenhower
established a command post there to plan and execute the successful Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky). Chapter secretary Col. (Ret.) John Shotwell recently visited Malta and will provide an illustrated presenta-
tion of Malta’s military history. Also, BG (Ret.) Les Beavers will provide a Washington update. Fort San Angelo (1500s), Valletta, Malta
Bluegrass Chapter members make 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary event memorable
PEARL HARBOR COMMEMORATION — Chapter
member COL (Ret.) Larry Arnett (at left), who
was the event’s guest speaker, greets Pearl
Harbor survivor David Walker, age 99. At center
is the other Day of Infamy survivor in attend-
ance, Vaughn Drake, 98. A third survivor who
was expected to participate, Herman Horn, 96,
was not strong enough to travel from his resi-
dence at Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in
Wilmore. He was represented by his daughter.
The annual event held on Dec. 7 at the Oleika
Shrine Temple in Lexington included a number
of World War II veterans. At right, chapter mem-
ber CWO4 (Ret.) Don Dixon, who has organized
the commemoration every year for decades, is
interviewed for a news segment broadcast on
Lexington’s ABC affiliate, WTVQ-36. The Blue-
grass Chapter contributed $100 to the event.
p.5 January 2017 Bluegrass Bugle
State 2017 legislative pre-filed bills
include new veterans centers Kentucky lawmakers convening for the 2017 legislative session
that begins this month will be weighing bills proposing new veterans
centers in Bowling Green (BR 69/BR 58/BR 157) and Magoffin
County (BR 200).
About 20 acres of land have already been donated for the facility
in Warren County. Magoffin County has the state’s highest unem-
ployment rate.
Kentucky currently has three veterans centers in Wilmore, Han-
son, and Hazard, with a fourth to open soon in Radcliff.
The 2017 legislative session convenes during Jan.-Mar. Other
pre-filed bills of military/veterans interest include:
BR 298/BR 373 — a comprehensive act relating to enhanced
secure identity documents that would include a provision allow-
ing active duty military service members to renew operator’s
licenses and personal ID cards by mail.
BR 238 — an act that would reduce motor vehicle property tax
rates for certain disabled veterans.
BR 369 — a proposed constitutional amendment that would
fully exempt property taxation for totally or permanently disa-
bled veterans.
BR 32 — an act that would direct the Transportation Cabinet
to designate a bridge on U.S. Highway 23 in Greenup County
as the “Greenup County Korean War Veterans Bridge.”
BR 11 — a proposed Constitutional amendment that would
exempt from property taxation certain veterans’ organizations
that have qualified for exemption from federal income tax.
BR 277 — an act the would prohibit authorization of a state
veterans nursing home unless the facility will accommodate the
total number of beds allotted to the state by the VA.
THVC WOMEN VETS FETED — The Kentucky Dept. of Veterans Affairs pro-
vided a special Christmas dinner for women residents at Thomson-Hood
Veterans Center in Wilmore. Guest speaker LuWanda Knuckles, Kentucky
Women Veterans Coordinator, shown above with resident Dorothy Farmer, who recently celebrated her 99th birthday, helped distribute Christmas
stockings, gift bags, and hand-made angel centerpieces to the veterans.
Give your mailperson a rest …
If you’re still receiving this
newsletter via USPS home
delivery and you’re okay with
the email version instead,
please let us know and pro-
vide us with your email ad-
dress. It’ll save the chapter
postage and printing costs.
Bluegrass Chapter Military Officers Association of America Mrs. Pat Jones 1660 Atoma Drive Lexington, KY 40511 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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.