Ike Puzon posted on January 01, 2009 21:56
January 2009 NRA News
by CAPT Ike Puzon, Director of Legislation
The Department of Defense and the military services have stated that the level of Reserve Component contributions to the total force will continue at the same pace for many years. Currently, over 677,000 Guard and Reserve members have been mobilized for GWOT and contingency operations. When these service members are mobilized or utilized for an operational force, it greatly affects their families, their civilian employers, and the entire military force. Without these forces, the United States cannot meet national security requirements or threats now and well into the future. Thus, we must assign more attention immediately to how we resource Reserve Components. The Reserve forces have been treated as second-class citizens for the last 30 years of the Total Force policy. This must stop. Proper resources and policies must be applied to all Reserve forces since they are utilized as an operational force multiplier. How veterans and Reserve veterans are treated during and after war is watched closely by forces currently serving, families, and civilian employers in the case of Reserve forces. If the country desires a Reserve force to call upon, much has to be done to ensure a Reserve force is recruited, retained, and properly treated as veterans just as an Active force. The Naval Reserve Association believes the following issues must be addressed almost immediately, as currently serving Reserve members are tired of illtreatment and know how Reserve veterans have been viewed in the past. Reserve force members are volunteers just as currently serving Active forces.
Reserve veterans recruit Reserve force members. The NRA believes that, to accomplish a viable force for the future, Congress and the new Administration should immediately address the following issues:
GI Bill – Selected Reservists Left Behind
The “Webb GI Bill” incorporates a number of major Naval Reserve Association goals for the GI Bill including benefits that match the cost of education, extension of the post-service usage period to 15 years, and cumulative credit for G-R service on active duty. However, volunteers who joined the Selected Reserve were left behind in this legislation. Benefits for joining the Selected Reserve
were not upgraded or integrated in the post- 9/11 GI Bill as the Naval Reserve Association has long recommended. Today, the ratio
between these benefits and active duty Montgomery GI Bill benefits has plunged to 24.9% against a historical ratio of 47-50%. These benefits are essential to successful recruitment programs for the Guard and Reserve. Reserve service members, families
and veterans are monitoring closely to see if basic Reserve MGIB benefits for initially joining the Selected Reserve are restored to the historic benchmark of 47-50% of active duty benefits. Additionally, Congress must ensure that all Reserve members utilized in post 9/11 in support of contingency operations on active duty orders or transferred out of Selected Reserve status due to loss of their billets in response to downsizing or force structure changes in response to BRAC are afforded opportunity to participate in the GI Bill improvements. We believe that MGIB Selected Reserve benefits should be integrated into Title 38 laws and administration.
Reserve Force Equipment
To keep a Reserve force trained, NRA believes Reserve forces must have their own equipment or constant access to equipment. Equipment can be made available through National Guard & Reserve equipment accounts to be trained and ready for Presidential recall. Having access to equipment will work if infrastructure is made available to Reserve forces. Reports indicate that Reserve force structure is important, as well as equipment. Some believe that this is why Guard and Reserve forces have performed during the current wars. Having units and unit cohesion and equipment has built over time a Reserve force that is second to none.
Full Veteran Status for Certain Guard/Reserve Retirees
Many Guard and Reserve service members complete 20 years of qualifying service for retirement without having been called to active duty service during their careers, at no fault of their own. At age 60, they are entitled to Reserve military retired pay, government health care, and other benefits of service, including some veterans’ benefits. However, current statute denies them full standing as a “veteran” of the armed forces. The Naval Reserve Association recommends that Title 38 should be amended to include in the definition(s) of “veteran” retirees of the Guard/Reserve Components who have completed 20 or more years of service, but are not considered to be veterans under the current statutory definitions.
Family Support Programs to Meet the Unique Needs of Guard and Reserve Families and Reserve Veterans
Many improvements have been authorized in support of service member families. But much more needs to be done. Family support programs promote better communication with service members. Reserve forces need specialized support for geographically separated Guard and Reserve families and training and back-up for family readiness volunteers. Ensure that programs are in place to meet the special information and support needs of families of individual augmentees or those who are geographically dispersed. Provide robust preventive counseling services for service members, families, Reserve veterans, and training so they know when to seek professional help related to their circumstances.
Continuum of Health Care Insurance Options
Reserve members are greatly concerned about health issues since they are being utilized at increased rates. There have been recent improvements in health care access for Guard and Reserve families, including: implementation of TRICARE Reserve Select at GAO recommended rates. These improvements point to Congressional recognition that Guard and Reserve and Reserve veteran health care access must be commensurate with their increased responsibilities. The Naval Reserve Association calls upon Congress to ensure that resources and policies sustain Reserve Component health benefit through maintaining a moratorium on TRS premium increases, to direct DoD to make a determined effort for the most efficient use of resources allocated, and to cut waste prior to the consideration of any adjustment in TRS premiums on eligible beneficiaries. TRS is an earned benefit and the Naval Reserve Association believes the regulation governing TRS premiums should align with any adjustment applied to covered services for the overall TRICARE population to receive health care coverage. It has become clear that Guard and Reserve members must have adequate access and treatment in the DoD and VA health systems for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury following separation from active duty service in a theatre of operations. Allow eligibility in Continued Health Care Benefits Program (CHCBP) for Selected Reservists who are voluntarily separating, or lose Selected Reservist billets due to BRAC, or loss of billet due to downsizing, and subject to disenrollment from TRS. And, NRA will seek permanent legislation to allow “Gray Area” Reservists that are 20-year veterans, to purchase TRS health care coverage.
Approximately, 4,000 to 5,000 Navy Reservists are mobilized for duty in OIF/OEF per month. To date, over 50,000 Navy Reserve
members have served since 11 September 2001 on mobilization orders or on active duty orders. As the NRA changes into a new 21st century Association as the Association of the United States Navy, we will work on officer and enlisted Active Duty Navy issues and Navy Reserve issues for a total force as a total force association.