Military Officer - January 2006 - (Page 16)

yourviews MILIT ARY NOVEMBER 2005 $4 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MOAA | ONE POWERFUL VOICE W W W. M O A A . O R G OFFICER Battle Scars Returning servicemembers face another fight — at home 46 DEFENSE BILL DELAY Congress drags its feet in meeting troops’ needs 25 FINANCIAL GUIDEBOOK MOAA helps you plan for your family’s future 53 “As one who has been to the morgue six times … I really needed the reassurance of [“Aftershock”].” — Capt. Henry McCain, USA It is imperative that we create a culture in which help-seeking is encouraged and expected. We must ensure that our human weapon system is maintained as well as our other instruments of power. Maj. Jill Scheckel, USAF Chief, Air Combat Command Behavioral Health Branch, Office of the Command Surgeon, Langley AFB, Va. Trudeau Defended It appears that Maj. Fred B. Thompson III’s personal sensibilities are too easily offended [“Unfunny Funnies,” “Your Views,” November 2005]. Garry Trudeau’s book The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time is pretty much apolitical and ideologyfree. Trudeau’s general “antiwar, antiIraq” political posture is not exactly unique. Millions of Americans, on the left, right, and the middle, many of whom have served or are currently serving in our armed forces, view our military involvement in Iraq as a failed policy. Few cartoon strips are completely void of acerbic content. One can, if one wishes, view the “Beetle Bailey” comic strip to be disrespectful of and anti-military. CWO4 Janis Sunins, ARNG-Ret. via e-mail 1RYFRYHULQGG 6HF Timely Part D Info As the caregiver for my mother [the spouse of a retired Army ofﬁcer], who suffers from Alzheimers, I have been trying to ﬁgure out if Part D is something she should be signed up for. … Your article on this subject [“Say NO to Part D,” “Rapid Fire,” November 2005] was informative and timely. Jackie Scofield via e-mail riage stronger after a deployment. Please let us chaplains help. I appreciate this article. You have given soldiers permission to vent. That is so important! I would like to thank the [combat stress teams] that helped many of my soldiers. 30 Chaplain (Capt.) Henry McCain, USA Mannheim, Germany Aftermath As one who has been to the morgue six times, been attacked (IEDed thrice), and knew someone who was killed downrange in Iraq, I really needed the reassurance of [“Aftershock,” November 2005]. Operation Iraqi Freedom II with a battalion of MPs was the best and worst experience of my life. I am so proud of our MPs and all soldiers who serve our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. … Building Strong and Ready Families is a great opportunity to make a mar16 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2006 While most of the information [in “Aftershock”] was very good, I was disheartened to read a quote by Carolyn Martin, a former Marine who now works as a federal contract investigator. Martin stated, “Sure, the military offers medical assistance, but I can tell you right now [the servicemember’s] career will probably be over.” In reality, within the Air Force, only 3 percent of those who self-refer experience any adverse consequences when seeking help via mental health channels. This percentage increases when servicemembers are command-directed to seek assistance. This suggests that early intervention is beneﬁcial and that delaying assistance may degrade both personal and professional performance. Capital Gains Confusion [“Long-Distance Landlord,” November 2005] states that “you can move back into a rental” [property to avoid paying capital gains taxes on its sale]. This is no longer always necessary. President George W. Bush signed the Military Family Tax Fairness Act Nov. 11, 2003. That bill contained a stipulation that active duty military personnel … may suspend the ownership and occupancy tests (two of the ﬁve years prior to selling a house) on rental property for up to 10 years. http://WWW.MOAA.ORG

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Military Officer - January 2006

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