Now Hear This... October 2010

October 2010 Navy

by CAPT Tom McAtee

TRICARE for Gray-Area Retirees

The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) announced that the new program is on track to roll out on the TRICARE Web site, www.tricare.mil on 1 September. During September, eligible Gray-Area Reservists will be able to enroll in TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR). Once qualified, two months premiums must be paid. Medical coverage for those enrolling in September will begin 1 October 2010.

TRR Highlights

The new statute requires that qualified Retired Reservists pay premiums equal to the cost of the coverage. The premium rates for the portion of calendar year 2010 during which TRR is in effect and the rates for 2011 are listed below.

The 2010 TRR premiums are based on the actual costs during calendar years 2007 and 2008 for providing benefits to the population of retired members and their family members in the same age categories as the Retired Reserve population in order to make the underlying group actuarially appropriate. The historical costs were trended forward to 2010 and a two-percent adjustment was applied to cover overhead costs for administration of the program by the government. Similarly, the TRR 2011 premiums are based on the actual costs during calendar years 2008 and 2009 and are trended forward to 2011 with two-percent added for overhead. TRR premiums are higher than TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) because TRS participants only pay 28% of the actual cost of coverage.

Congratulations to All New Navy Chief Petty Officers

AUSN congratulates the Navy’s new Chief Petty Officers – the best of the best. Through superior performance, dedication, and a true commitment to the values of the Navy, over four thousand Active and Reserve first class petty officers have donned the CPO khaki uniform.

Enlisted Warfare Qualification Now a Mandatory Requirement

Initial enlisted warfare qualifications are now mandatory for all Sailors according to the recently released NAVADMIN 268-10. The NAVADMIN announces promulgation of OPNAVINST 1414.8, Navy Enlisted Warfare Qualification Programs Instruction, which issues the basic overarching requirements for the qualification and designation of all enlisted warfare programs. The basis for the mandatory qualification revolves around the fact that the arduous and often unforgiving environment we operate in as a Navy, dictates the need for all Sailors have a basic understanding and operating knowledge of the platform or command to which they are assigned. Warfare programs are essential in ensuring Sailors understand and are able effectively to engage a casualty, operate equipment or platforms safely and ensure backup as needed. Warfare qualifications are about ship, shipmate and self, and ensure the safety and safe operation of each command and platform on a daily basis. “It’s a standard every Sailor must achieve. The warfare device itself is a symbol that the Sailors who are wearing it have a basic level of knowledge to ensure they are capable of fighting the ship, saving a shipmate and ensuring the safety of themselves at all times,” said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Rick D. West. “Having every Sailor at or working toward that level will only strengthen the war-fighting ability of that command and the Navy.” According to the NAVADMIN, qualification and/or requalification is mandatory for all enlisted Sailors assigned to designated warfare qualifying commands.