Military Officer - August 2008 - (Page 12)

fromthepresident Two-Way Street Current conﬂicts have dramatically increased the burden of sacriﬁce imposed on Guard and Reserve families; our nation owes them proportional compensation and beneﬁts. O ur nation learns a lot of things during war, and the current conﬂicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are no exception. The National Guard and Reserve have emerged into the national spotlight — and so has the concurrent obligation of our country to recognize and adequately compensate those who serve in those organizations. Most Americans “get” that the Guard and Reserve are embedded totally in the action. What they don’t get is that guardmembers and reservists are not receiving beneﬁts proportional to their service. The Pentagon has resorted to saying “they’re just reservists” when they’re not on active duty as a reason to oppose TRICARE, early retirement, gray-area TRICARE, and many other items. Most Americans have become more sensitive to the dramatically increased burdens of sacriﬁce being imposed upon Guard and Reserve families — including multiple combat tours and family separations. But Americans don’t necessarily see the behindthe-scenes battle being waged to ensure Guard and Reserve sacriﬁces are recognized and compensated appropriately. MOAA has been at the front of this battle, urging Congress to adopt measures that match the realities of reserve component service in the 21st century and arguing that guardmembers and reservists are on the front lines and deserve frontline beneﬁts. MOAA was an early advocate for opening TRICARE to reserve forces; lowering 12 MILITARY OFFICER AUGUST 2008 the reserve retirement age; expanding the role of the chief of the National Guard Bureau; creating a GI Bill that allows reservists to be credited for multiple call-ups for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan; and strengthening reemployment rights, ﬁnancial protections, and readjustment effort for reserve families. We have made progress in all these areas. This year, MOAA continues to push for fairer health coverage for Guard and Reserve families. Under current law, Selected Reserve families can purchase TRICARE coverage while in drilling status but lose eligibility between the time they stop drilling and age 60. MOAA is pushing to reduce their premiums in drill status and allow them the option to purchase continuous coverage until they attain retirement eligibility at age 60. (See “Washington Scene,” page 33.) When MOAA advocates on the Hill for military “people issues,” we always are sensitive to the needs of the Guard and Reserve. Our country owes fair treatment when it asks people and their families to serve so unselﬁshly. — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - August 2008

Military Officer - August 2008 Contents MOAA Online From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor MOAA Member Services Cover Story: A Stronger Voice Virtual Combat Mental Floss Steady as She Goes Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Scholarship Donors Encore

Military Officer - August 2008

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