1  

     

RETIRED  and  SEPARATED…Not  gone,  Not  forgotten.                                                        

   

RETIREE RAG January 2018

 

JOINT  NGAKS/EANGKS  CONFERENCE  DETAILS  –  March  23-­‐24,  2018  RETIREE  EVENTS  

 REGISTER  TODAY  AT  www.NGAKS.org      Double  Tree  Hotel  by  Hilton,  200  McDonald  Drive,  Lawrence,  Kansas Friday  night  March  23    Family  night  for  all  conference  participants!    Hospitality  rooms  will  be  open  at  the  conference  hotel  after  event.      Joint  Retiree/Separated  Hospitality  Room:  Retire-­‐Rita  for  $2  donation  (for  Kansas  Military  Funeral  Honors  Program),  Prizes  

 Saturday  March  24    0700  to  0800  Joint  Retiree  Breakfast-­‐Members  and  Spouses;  Visit  with  friends,  all  spouses  invited  0800  to  Noon  Briefing  by  Adjutant  General  and  more  Noon  Retiree  Luncheon  –  Visit  with  Friends/Elections  1300  to  1600    Business  and  Closing  sessions  1700-­‐1830    Joint  Retiree  Hospitality  Room  open  1830  Evening  Social  and  award  ceremony  

Retirees  urged  to  wear  mess  dress/class  A  uniforms,  and/or  medals  on  civilian  attire.    2100    Joint  Retiree  Hospitality  Room  open,  Retire-­‐Rita  for  $2  donation  (for  Kansas  Military  Funeral  Honors  Program),  Prizes.    Go  to  www.ngaks.org/2018conference.shtml    for  more  information  now!  

 

National  Guard/Disabled  Veterans  Hunting/Fishing  Licenses  and  Park  Permits.    To  receive  free  licenses  and  permits,  Kansas  guardsmen  apply  to  Kansas  Department  of  Wildlife  and  Park's  website.  Application  forms  for  license  and  permits  can  be  downloaded  from  the  KDWP  website  at  www.ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Applications-­‐and-­‐Fees  .  The  form  link  is  listed  on  the  page  with  instructions.  The  forms  must  be  signed  by  the  National  Guard  member's  unit  commander  and  mailed  to  KDWP  with  photocopies  of  appropriate  documentation.      Military  Distinctive  License  Plates.    You  may  make  application  for  a  Kansas  distinctive  military  license  plate  by  meeting  the  qualifications  outlined  in  the  Kansas  Statutes  Annotated  listed  below.  Applications  should  be  presented  to  your  local  County  Treasurer's  office.    The  following  plates  are  available:  

*   Combat  Wounded  Purple  Heart     *National  Guard  (see  also  Form  TR-­‐129)    • Congressional  Medal  Of  Honor     *Pearl  Harbor  Survivor  • Disabled  Veteran  (See  also  Form  TR-­‐103)  *U.S.  Veteran  • Ex-­‐prisoner  Of  War         *Vietnam  Veteran  

 

  2  

TRICARE  CHANGES:    There  are  several  changes  to  TRICARE  coverage  for  those  service  members  and  families.    Almost  all  types  of  Tricare  coverage  will  face  sweeping  changes,  upgrades  and  reforms  in  2018  resulting  from  legislation  passed  last  year  and  a  contractor  changeover.  There  are  no  changes  to  TRICARE  For  Life.    That's  because  Tricare  for  Life,  used  by  military  retirees  over  age  65,  isn't  like  the  Defense  Health  Agency's  other  plans.  Rather  than  provide  stand-­‐alone  comprehensive  coverage,  Tricare  for  Life  pairs  with  Medicare  Part  B  as  wrap-­‐around  coverage.  Quick  Facts:      TRICARE  changes  coming  Jan.  1,  2018,  include:  

• consolidation  of  TRICARE's  existing  three  regions  into  two;  • consolidation  of  TRICARE  Standard  and  Extra  into  TRICARE  Select;  • shifting  of  TRICARE  operations  to  the  calendar  year  (beginning  Jan.  1)  rather  than  the  fiscal  year  

(beginning  Oct.  1);  • new  enrollment  requirements  starting  with  an  open  enrollment  period  December  2018;  and  • a  new  TRICARE  cost  structure.  • there  are  no  changes  to  TRICARE  For  Life.  

 To  track  TRICARE  program,  go  to    https://tricare.mil/changes  .    MILITARY  RETIREES  COST  OF  LIVING  ADJUSTMENT:  The  Cost  of  Living  Adjustment  (COLA)  will  be  2%  in  2018,  which  is  the  first  substantial  increase  in  years.  This  means  the  average  social  security  recipient  will  receive  about  $25  more  a  month  or  $300  a  year.      MEDICARE  PART  B  will  remain  at  $134  a  month  for  2018.  However,  for  those  who  are  currently  paying  less  than  $134/month  as  part  of  the  hold-­‐harmless  reduction  there  will  be  an  increase  which  will  offset  some  of  the  social  security  increase  benefits.  Find  more  about  2018  Medicare  Premiums.    Read  more:  https://militarybenefits.info/cola-­‐increase-­‐watch/#ixzz52xvnbPuZ  .  

HOW  WILL  VETERANS  RANK  DURING  2018  KANSAS  LEGISLATIVE  SESSION??    On  December  2,  2017,  several  Kansas  Veterans  Service  Organizations  (VSOs)  met  to  discuss  the  upcoming  2018  Kansas  Legislative  Session  and  initiatives  to  collaborate  on  during  the  session.    NGAKS  and  EANGKS  were  represented  in  the  group  and  submitted  one  of  the  top  priorities  agreed  on  for  support  in  2018.      The  priority  is  full  funding  of  the  Kansas  National  Guard  Tuition  Assistance  Program.  Full  funding  would  ensure  enough  funds,  regardless  of  the  amount  raised  by  the  Veterans  Lottery  Ticket  games  currently.    This  is  a  more  stable  source  of  funding  for  KNG  tuition  assistance  to  members.    In  addition,  several  of  the  other  priorities  agreed  on  impact  the  Kansas  National  Guard,  including  support  of  maintained  funding  for  the  TAG  and  KCVA  offices  for  FY  2019,  and  elimination  of  sales  tax  on  proceeds  used  to  directly  assist  veterans  for  VSOs  and  501c19’s.      Below  is  the  actual  document  created  by  the  groups  for  dissemination  to  Kansas  Legislators,  VSO  members,  and  other  advocates  who  may  wish  to  share  this  message.  Feel  free  to  print  and/or  forward  to  anyone  who  is  interested  in  protecting  veterans  and  families  quality  of  life  in  Kansas.    

Left:  Representatives  of  NGAKS,  EANGKS,  MOAA,  MOPH,  VFW  1650,  and  KCVA  met  with  the  Governor’s  Policy  Director  Andrew  Wiens,  to  share  the  priority  list  for  veterans  and  families  for  the  2018  Legislative  Session.    

 

  3  

 

KANSAS VETERANS AND FAMILIES COUNT!

KANSAS IS A MILITARY FRIENDLY

STATE

!  Military(members(and(families(have(sacrificed(for$our$Na(on’s$security.$1000’s$of$Kansans$deployed$to$all$parts$of$the$world.$$

!  Veterans/service(members(are(9%(of(Kansas(popula<on((Kansas$Army$and$Air$Na(onal$Guard;$Army,$Navy,$Air$Force,$and$Marine$Reserves,$re(rees$and$separated.)$

!  Veterans,$families$and$Kansas$companies$have$an$economic$impact$of$$7.7(billion(($50(millionCcity,($73.5(millionCcounty,($270.2(millionCstate.)$

!  Veteran/families(live(in(every(Legisla<ve(District(in(Kansas.(

Kansas Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) identified these priorities and ask you to move them forward during the 2018 Legislative Session.

"  Authorize(Full(Funding(($3M)(of(Kansas(Na<onal(Guard(Tui<on(Assistance(Program((

"  Support(maintenance(of(FY(2018(funding(levels$for$military/veteran$programs/agencies$(Adjutant$General$and$Commission$on$Veterans$Affairs)$

"  Urge(separate(fee(fund(for(loWery(sales(suppor(ng$KCVA$using$percentage$of$sales$

"  Remove(caps(from(use(of(federal(dollars$to$maximize$state$funds$for$KCVA$

"  Eliminate(tax(on(VSO(funds(raised$to$help$veterans$

Kansas%Policy%Makers,%Thank%you%for%your%service%to%Kansas%and%con8nued%support%for%Kansas%Veterans%and%Families.%

Military$Officers$Associa(on$of$America,$Kansas$Council$of$Chapters$$www.kansasmoaa.net$$Na(onal$Guard$Associa(on$of$Kansas$$www.ngaks.org$$Enlisted$Associa(on$of$the$Na(onal$Guard$of$Kansas$$www.eangks.org$Veterans$of$Foreign$Wars,$Post$1650,$Topeka,$Kansas$$www.vfw1650.org$Military$Order$of$the$Purple$Heart,$Heartland$Chapter$$www.purpleheart.org$$

12X9X17$

For$more$informa(on,$Contact$Sheli$Sweeney$at$shelisweeney@hotmail.com$or$785.213.9053$

  4  

 ARMY RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE: Don’t forget your Retiree

Representative for Army is available to take your input anytime. I am Ray Rhodd, LTC Retired, and serve on the NGAKS board representing the issues that are important to National Guard members who are separated or retired. Please feel free to reach out to me with suggestions, comments, events and articles at: LTC Ray Rhodd (Ret), Kansas Army National Guard Retiree Representative, 785-640-8751 or rhoddrl2@gmail.com .

 

MARCH 3, 2018 RETIREE BRIEFING AND LUNCH! On March 3, 2018, at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, NGAKS and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Kansas will sponsor a Retiree Briefing for all Kansas National Guard Retired/Separated members who wished to attend. It will be a great time to see old friends, make new friends and learn about military retirement. NGAKS and EANGKS leadership will attend and offer information as will representatives on other topics like Tricare, Prescriptions, Dental, Hospice and Nursing Home Care; Federal Long-Term Care Insurance programming; VA health benefits and eligibility; Assistance from the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs including Kansas Military cemeteries, markers, nursing homes; Military ID cards, military records and inheritance and gift taxes; KPERS; Armed Forces Vacation Club and Space-A Travel –190th ARW (Forbes) & McConnell AFB and more! The highlight of the event will be a briefing by the Adjutant General’s Office on the State of the Kansas Guard, Command Structure & Commanders, Units and Unit Locations, Staff Office Locations & Contacts, Future Plans for the Kansas Guard. The NGAKS and EANGKS Continuity Committee members are planning the event, and will sponsor a luncheon. If you and/or your spouse would like to attend, please RSVP to Sheli Sweeney at shelisweeney@hotmail.com or Ray Rhodd at rhoddrl2@gmail.com . WHERE: MUSEUM OF THE KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD 125 SE Airport Drive Forbes Field, Topeka, KS WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2018

9:00am to Noon, with lunch to follow LUNCH: No charge for lunch, but must make a reservation!

Sponsored by NGAKS, EANGKS and Museum of the Kansas National Guard RSVP to Sheli Sweeney at shelisweeney@hotmail.com , 785.213.9053 or Ray Rhodd at rhoddrl2@gmail.com , 785.640.8751  

 

“Excess on occasion is exhilarating. I t prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.” ~W.  Somerset  Maugham~

 

“People w ho enjoy what they are doing invariably do it w ell.”                                                                                                                                                                                      ~Joe Gibbs~