Military Officer - June 2007 - (Page 12)

fromthepresident Democracy Works Every year, MOAA council and chapter presidents Storm the Hill to discuss issues such as TRICARE fee increases, SBP changes, and military pay raises. Their activism is effective. T o people in many nations, democracy — direct contact with legislators who have been elected by the people — is only a dream; many might not see it in their lifetime. It’s what America’s servicemembers have fought for and been willing to sacriﬁce for. Sure, democracy can be bureaucratic and frustrating — and move in unexpected directions. But our founding fathers included a system of checks and balances in the American government to ensure extremes don’t last all that long. If we, the people, don’t like something, we can do something about it. I’ve watched this happen many times as MOAA has worked TRICARE For Life, concurrent receipt, the size of America’s all-volunteer force, and other issues. Nowhere was your association’s practice of democracy more evident and purely practiced than in April when MOAA Stormed the Hill (see page 34). Council presidents joined members of the board of directors and headquarters staff to meet with legislators about issues ranging from eliminating potential TRICARE fee increases for retirees under age 65, to paid-up SBP (Survivor Beneﬁt Plan), to eliminating SBPDIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) offsets, to getting increased pay raises for America’s active duty personnel. What I saw during Storming made me proud of the association’s council and chapter leaders and members. Will MOAA achieve everything its members want and need? That remains to be seen. But we 12 MILITARY OFFICER JUNE 2007 must keep using the democratic process to inform and inﬂuence our elected leaders. Even if you haven’t been to Washington lately, you help MOAA exercise democracy. Your membership makes MOAA a respected organization that people listen to; you recruit new members to keep our numbers strong; you visit your legislators at their home ofﬁce or call or write to let them know you care about a strong national defense. Thanks for doing your part to make sure democracy continues to work — and hats off to the Stormers who represented you. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), right, meets with MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USNRet., left, and Lt. Col. John P. Frederick, USAF-Ret. — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT

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

Military Officer - June 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Getting the Best Care Stand By Me Promise for PTSD Cover Story: Heavy Duty Unified Medical Command Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar MOAA Scholarship Donors Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - June 2007

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