Earned Benefits and the Next Five Years

October 2010 Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

There have been several forewarnings of the looming cuts in military expenditures. The Secretary of Defense & the Chairman of the JCS has now mentioned the “personnel” cost factor in several speeches and events. Current Congressional leaders are calling for cuts in Defense. There should be no surprise at this time that the Office of Management and Budget (the White House) and the Secretary of Defense will submit a budget for 2012 that will significantly impact military personnel benefits in some way. For FY 2011, there will be no impact if the FY 2011 NDAA is passed. Retirees below the age of 65 and, most likely, future military retirees will face changes to earned benefits initially.

With the Defense Business Board report and the “Debt” Commission, along with other boards, to report their findings by 1 December 2010, it is clear that currently serving military members, retirees, and, most likely, existing veterans are in for some altered times in regards to earned benefits and policy. There are different opinions on earned benefits for service members and their families.

The Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel, commissioned by Congress, has a different view of where the Defense Department budget should be going than the recently released DoD QDR which was completed by the Department. Overall, the panel’s findings call for an increase in defense spending. It concludes that the military currently does not possess enough capabilities to meet national strategic goals.

This panel highlights the need for “continued, sustained, strong defense funding, if we are to maintain the forces we need to protect our security.” Recommendations include improving the overall security capabilities of the federal government, changes in military force structure, recapitalizing and modernizing weapons and equipment, acquisition reform, and changes to the QDR process. The QDR Independent Panel concludes “while the volunteer military has been an unqualified success, there are trends that threaten its sustainability,” citing “recent and dramatic growth in cost.” The Panel recommends establishing a National Commission on Military Personnel, similar to the 1970 Gates Commission, which proposed the all-volunteer force, to map out compensation and retirement benefit reforms.

We agree there is a need to control costs, but we take exception that only personnel costs are the issue. We believe that expensive technology that is never used or cancelled can be better controlled in the acquisition process. If the 1990’s were used as a base to project personnel cost growth, then what is used for a baseline for acquisition and hardware cost? A recruiting and retention and manpower crisis prompted Congress to plus up personnel spending (including the creation of TRICARE for Life) after the debacles of manpower cuts.

Congress must remain practical when considering compensation and benefit reform. The all-volunteer force has remained flexible in the midst of ten years of war, and defense reforms must preserve the most precious resource in our nation’s arsenal, its people in uniform. Only you the members and Friends of the Navy, can ensure that Congress and the Executive Branch remain practical and steadfast in maintaining a strong national defense.

Final Agent Orange Rule Issued by VA

The final federal rule regarding addition of Parkinson’s Disease, ischemic heart disease, and B-cell leukemias as presumptive conditions caused by exposure to Agent Orange has been issued by the VA, www.va.gov. Veterans with presumed conditions do not have to provide extensive proof linking their medical problems with their military service, which simplifies and speeds up the claims process and helps ensure these veterans receive the benefits they deserve. Any veteran who served in Vietnam between 9 January 1962 and 7 May 1975 is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. Additionally, service on many Navy and Coast Guard vessels also presumes such exposure.

The regulation remains subject to the Congressional Review Act that requires a 60-day Congressional review period. After the review period, VA can begin paying benefits for new claims and may award benefits retroactively for earlier periods. Vietnam veterans with any of these three conditions are encouraged to submit their claim for access to VA health care and any benefits compensation. How to file a claim for presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, as well as what evidence is needed by VA to make a decision about disability compensation or survivors benefits, can be found at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/.

For TRICARE Programs and Toll-Free Numbers:

• Continued Health Care Benefit Program – 1.800.444.5445
• DEERS (Eligibility) – 1.800.538.9552
• Military Medical Support Office – 1.888.647.6676
• TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program – 1.866.984.2337
• TRICARE Dental Program – 1.800.866.8499
• TRICARE For Life/Dual Eligibles – 1.866.773.0404
• TRICARE On-line (TOL) – 1.800.600.9332
• TRICARE Pharmacy Program – 1.877.363.1303
• TRICARE Retiree Dental Program – 1.888.838.8737
• US Family Health Plan – 1.800.748.734