Military Officer - November 2006 - (Page 23)

rapidfire Changes for Vietnam-Era Sailors A Eyes in the Sky demonstration of the remote-operated, videoenhanced receiver (ROVER) July 28 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado allowed cadets to see how an extra set of eyes in the sky can be a critical weapon in military arsenals. 1 The 4⁄ pound ROVER system consists of a laptop 2 that receives video captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Raven UAV (above) has 45 to 60 minutes of ﬂight time on one battery; it can record day and night videos and map and save captured images at 30 frames per second. Streaming video from cameras aboard the Raven shows real-time, nearby dangers and helps ground troops make quick decisions regarding air strikes. ROVER is also highly precise in its ability to strike against insurgents within 75 meters of troops without endangering the troops. A recent ruling in the case of Haas v. Nicholson by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims might open disability claims for many Vietnamera veterans who never set foot in the country. Navy veteran Jonathan L. Haas had appealed a VA decision rejecting his claimed service-connection for diabetes mellitus and other conditions due to Agent Orange exposure while he served aboard a Navy vessel during the Vietnam War. The Court of Veterans Appeals rejected the government’s long-held regulation that limited potential VA disabilities to presumed exposure to herbicides only to veterans who actually set foot in Vietnam. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims said the law was “not clear on its face concerning the meaning of the phrase ‘service in the Republic of Vietnam’ ” and determined that the law does not “limit [application of the] presumption of service-connection for herbicide exposure to those who set foot on the soil of the Republic of Vietnam.” What does the ruling mean for Vietnam-era veterans who never entered the country? The implication of the ruling is that any servicemember who received a Vietnam Service Medal (www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn .htm) and who later contracted a “presumptive disease” (www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/beneﬁts/herbicide/#bm04) could expect the VA to rule that disease is considered to be service-connected. But the VA could appeal the ruling or issue another regulation interpreting the court’s decision more narrowly. Miscellany: Tribute to Service MARINE CORPS MUSEUM The National Museum of the Marine Corps, intended to be a lasting tribute to past, present, and future U.S. Marines, opens this month. For more information about the museum, see “Monument to Marines,” page 87. To find out which sponsorship and naming opportunities still are available, visit www.usmcmuseum.org/involved_museum.asp or e-mail info@marineheritage.org. * NUTRITION NOTES Lentils are very healthy — 25 percent of their weight is protein and only 1 percent is fat — and with only 100 to 150 calories per cup of soup, depending on the other ingredients, lentils are a great addition to any diet. For recipe ideas, visit www.moaa.org and click on Health and Wellness under Services. IMAGES: ABOVE, TECH. SGT. ANDY DUNAWAY, USAF; RIGHT, ROSE RICHEY NOVEMBER 2006 * MILITARY OFFICER 23 http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn.htm http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn.htm http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide/ http://www.usmcmuseum.org http://www.moaa.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - November 2006

From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Financial Guidebook Got (the right) Insurance? A Penny Saved, a Degree Earned The “Y” MOAA Scholarship Recipients Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - November 2006

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