Military Officer - January 2007 - (Page 12)

fromthechairman Stepping Up Assuming the position of chairman of MOAA’s board of directors, Gen. Michael Carns, USAF-Ret., offers his thoughts on the association’s path — and his promise to serve members. A fter a full military career serving the nation, I am genuinely looking forward to serving once again, this time as chairman of the MOAA board of directors for the next two years. This organization is rich with great leadership. In the past two years, Gen. Jay Hendrix, USA-Ret., has provided solid guidance and oversight for MOAA’s multifaceted operations. He leaves a proud legacy: New ideas emerged, new products were developed for members, and progress was made on membership. MOAA members are equally fortunate to have Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., as our president, along with MOAA’s exceptionally able staff, working on our behalf. Norb’s daily direction has consistently furthered the best interests of all members of the military family — ofﬁcers, enlisted personnel, family members, and survivors. The MOAA staff’s dedication knows no limits; they all take great personal and professional pleasure in serving MOAA’s members. In recent years, MOAA’s legislative successes have been hard-won, very signiﬁcant, and well-chronicled: TRICARE For Life, defeat of large TRICARE fee hikes for retirees under age 65, concurrent receipt, phaseout of the Survivor Beneﬁt Plan (SBP) offset for older widows, better health care for Guard and Reserve personnel and their families, active duty compensation improvements, and many more. But it’s never over. Expect challenges to maintain these important gains. We MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2007 must be both persuasive and relentless in advancing the legitimate concerns of the military member — such as addressing the increase in health care costs, correcting multiple inequities under the concurrent receipt laws, remedying GI Bill inequities for guardmembers and reservists, ﬁxing SBP inequities for survivors and “greatest generation” retirees, and winning incentives to promote doctors’ participation in TRICARE. Sustained success in these and other important efforts depends critically on increasing MOAA’s membership. Numbers count. Membership “count” is clout: the coin of the realm in Washington. All of us must spare no effort in building the MOAA team. Each of us is a recruiter, individually and in our chapters. I ask each of you to do your part to ensure that eligible people know about MOAA and are actively encouraged to join this ﬁne asssociation family. I’m fully committed to this organization and to you. Be assured that my fellow directors and I will do our very best on your behalf. You deserve, and will get, no less. — Gen. Michael Carns, USAF-Ret. PHOTO: ROBERT CUMMINGS 12

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2007

Military Officer - January 2007 Contents From the Editor From the Chairman Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Osprey Rising? Battlefields of the Great War I Resolve ... New Mission Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Member Books Encore

Military Officer - January 2007

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