4E Tnursdav June 3 1999 Weber Standard Senate votes on gains for vets halts those leaving service In t'K'or action on the S289 defence authorization the Senate on la 27 w js set to pass amendments to raise the pa of more sen ice people including severely disabled retirees retired regular officers working as federal ci ilians and sun is or benefit plan annuitants But esen as the list of sen ice people ssith a slake in the detonse bill grows a new Air I orco-wiJ- e order reinlorces the a ol overworked military image and underpaid I ffeetive June 15 saiJ Acting Air I orse Secretary I hitten IMsrs 40 percent of Ins sen ice -more than I200IH1 persons trained in specialties critical to the air campaign in the Balkans -are barred Irom separating or retiring Irom acme sen ice Die first "Stop Loss" order issued by the US nuhtan since the 1990 buildup for the Persian Ciulf ar means more than 6000 people who planned to separate or retire between June 15 and Dec 31 will have to change their plans The All olunteer Force for a time won't be filled just with volunteers “We do not take this action lightly” said Peten on Ma 26 Stop Loss he said will "presene the critical skills essential to support our missions in 1 urope and Southwest Asia while remaining prepared to meet another major regional contingency" It w ill allow the Air Force to keep its “training base intact” so it can “reconstitute our forces quickly when Kosovo operations cease” Peters added He acknowledged however that the order "is inconsistent with fundamental principles of voluntary service" and that it "will adversely affect the lives of raise military compensation u various ways to ease the recruit mg and retention challenges But pay alone won't solve the problem officials contend In time the armed forces either wall have to reduce the pace of operations or begin to reverse a force drawdown that has cut overall personnel numbers by a third since 1988 Meanwhile final pay amendments to the defense bill m the Senate were to focus on raising the compensation of some retirees and their survivors The Senate is expected to adopt Sen John McCain's "first-step- " measure toward old ban on softening the 100-yeconcurrent receipt of both military retired pay and VA disability compensation Retirees with disability ratings of 70 percent or higher if ratings were awarded within four years of retirement would receive a special payment of SI 00 $200 or S300 a month This would help relieve retired pay losses from a requirement that military annuities be offset by the amount retirees get in VA disability compensation The House bill contains a similar provision making passage likely this year Both bills would provide an extra $100 a month to retirees with 70 or 80 percent disability ratings $200 a month for those rated 90 percent (R-An- z) airmen and their families We have done our best to minimize this disruption by limiting 'affected’ career fields" Air Force reservists and Air National Guard personnel attached to units at risk for call up to support the Kosovo operation also arc barred from leav ing ar dollar-for-doll- The order reflects the operational toll of the NATO air campaign but also the strain on the Air Force of a grow mg pilot shortage and declining retention rates among many high-tec- h job specialties Defense bills moving through the House and Senate would disabled $300 a month for 100 percent disabled The Senate also was expected to approve Sen Michael Crapo’s amendment to end “dual compensation” penalties on retired military who work second careers as federal civilians This would include lifting the current cap of SI 10700 on combined federal pay and ending a sharp reduction in retired pay for retired regular officers who work as federal civilians That last dual compensation penalty doesn't impact reserve officers or enlisted retirees The House bill has no similar dual compensation changes so prospects for final passage are unclear Senators also were expected to approve an amendment by Strom Health benefits are already lost ! i So which is the greater erosion y A for prescriptions or complete denial of pharmacy privileges which is appar- of benefits: co-pa- ently where we are headed? If they can't afford to provide us prescriptions by charging a copay how can they afford it without one? I F ROY L HLMPHREY MSgt LSAF-Ret Via Claim form label co-pa- cost-of-livi- u Not too long ago your column discussed the cost of processing claims under TRICARE Standard and other military health plans In particular offbase providers were having trouble getting paid on time A major prob- - WEEKLY SYNDICATED oggpgcgi 0 I&Mtrggmims :l than ever Now more important to take a close look at jour investments At Edward Jones we’re happy to prov ide free portfolio reviews even if you’re not a current customer it’s D: O 01 "Dadcc Hiudci 1 I HINCKLEY DODGE ” 2810 Wash Blvd ““Jj S Dear Percy: For years my life was consumed by Started out innocent enough a little alcohol and marijuana Most high school kids experiment This continued through college I added a little speed and LSD no real extreme use though I married and divorced in my 20s We were too young and thank goodness had no children My 30s were my career building days Somehow I completed law school and passed the bar By my 40s I had a real problem namely with cocaine Things were becoming unglued in my relationships and finally in my law practice Through the care and concern of family they did an intervention and was placed in a chemical dependency center This would start the long road back to recovery I've been clean now for 2 years My life along with an enormous debt load has been anything but a walk in the park I keep chipping away one day at a time I’m not asking for your help with my debts I made ‘em I'll pay ‘em What I’m seeking help with is pnnt costs I lead a teen for group for drug awareness My goal is to educate teens on the early pitfalls which may lead to addiction Hey if it can happen to a nice kid from the ‘burbs it can happen to anyone are walking bulletin boards and help unify a group I’m seeking a one time donation of $600 for my cause It would be worth it if it saves one teen from the life I’ve lead That’s powerful stuff Percy Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvwvi you would like to be a Mr C T sponsor of Dear Mr Thirfty Nickel Indianapolis T: Addiction is powerful stuff IN It throws one person into the eye of a tornado and pulls everyone else along And with the aftermath of a tornado comes the piecing together of one’s shattered fragmented life from all the destruc- Thanks a tion If you can spare another individual this heartache then $600 Is peanuts All the best to you as Q VA 0 Q VA C VA Trent Christofferson Automatic EBBS SOASP65 oz Weber County Center 2380 Wash Blvd Suite 108 (801) 334-823- 1 www cdwardiones com SiPC LAYTON GROCERY OUTLET Serving Individual 1 ones Edward Investors Since 1871 COLUMN by PERCY £44-15- 55 "The family Store That Sate )ou Vorvr' 01 SAVE TO 25 Use this valuable coupon on any purchase of S20 or more now through July 6 1999 and the savings is yours Not valid with any other special offers or disoounts Vintage Thrift 3135 Harrison Blvd Ogden 392-540- 0 W Dear Mr Ross: My husband keeps telling me I’m nosey and it’s none of my business but I say somebody has to make it their business My next door neighbor has 6 children and just recently has allowed 3 more to move in That's 9 kids! Where are they goirg to put them all? OK-- so maybe it isn’t my business but when I saw them haul out the refrigerator to the ga’bage yesterday I had to comment on how nice it will be to get a new one Wrong! There is no replacement coming The old one gave up the ghost and they have to make room for the “ice chest" Now you can’t raise 9 kids without a refngerator! Somebody has to do something so I approached my neighbor about what she intended to do Do you know what she told me? She told me “The Lord will provide for our needs” She must have some pretty strong faith if she thinks God is going to send her a new refrigerator just for the asking Blind faith is what I call so blind she can’t see what a fool she is making of herself I’m tom between seeing her eat her words and seeing that those kids are provided for Frankly after wnting this letter I wash my hands of the whole ordeal Mrs F A The Telegram Columbus NE Dear Mrs A: There are two sides to every story Upon contacting your neighbor I learned the reasons for taking in the additional 3 children and also what happened to the old refrigerator Yes she claims strong religious ties but she certainly didn’t expect the Lord to personally navigate a new refrigerator to her kitchen Imagine her delight when I told her a new one was on the way She also thanked you for your concern Tongue in cheek she said for once your noslness paid off er B Name Brands like Hoover Eureka Royal etc up Don's Vacuum Villa 3151 Washington Blvd Ogden v 4 Bdrms 3 Baths Hardwood Roots Rambler Design Island kitchen Vaulted Ceilings Budl in Bookcases c 'Two lone Painl Cul Lot Crown Moldings IN HAST LAYTON NEAR NORTH RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL ' $179500 SUMMIT HOMES Mobile Phone: 547-813- 3 390-757- 6 Ask about buyer incentives! orooBBosofm Many good people are denied credit because of problems which are behind them MURDOCK CHEVROLET offers a great first step in putting these problems behind them With understanding and integrity we can help you reestablish major credit while obtaining reliable transportation Questions? 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VA Member Thanks 1 welcomed Write to Military Update PO Box 1230 Centreulle Va 20122-823- 0 to: or send nulupdateaol com ‘S lem cited was filling out claim forms properly with correct information on a patient’s military status location rank and so on com (R-Fl- 0A or stop by today to arrange an appointment Letters may be edited for clarity or space Write to: Military Fonim PO Box 1230 Centreville Va 20122-823- 0 or send to: much-criticiz- :! Call Why not provide TRICARE users with something like paste-o- n address labels but marked with everything about the user a provider would need to process a TRICARE claim The provider would only have to note actual medical procedures performed apply the label and mail it in DON VAN DYKE Lawton Okla retirement eligibility after 1985 It also would benefit many who reached retirement eligibility earlier though they fall under a different SBP formula But many who joined the plan that used the Social Security “offset” formula already receive an annuity higher than 40 percent or even 45 percent of the covered annuity They therefore would not gam from this proposed change The House bill contains no similar SBP provision but Rep a Joe Scarborough ) was expected to offer such an amendment on the House floor Comments ami suggestions are vr ar MILITARY SOUIJDOFF I don't know why Defense officials suddenly are so worried about an “apparent" erosion of benefits if they were to charge for prescriptions filled on base and use the money to improve the drug benefit for the popmilitary's Medicare-eligibl- e ulation They have been doing a good job eroding our benefits for years without concern! When they came out with TRICARL and its S460 per famiy ly enrollment fee and S12 per visit wasn't that an erosion of benefits? How about the copay of up to S9 on prescriptions through TRICARE’ These charges basically wiped out any adiustments retirees have received for a few years (non-Reserv- e) Thurmond (P SC) o raise survivor benefits paid at age 62 and older It would raise the current formula of 35 percent of the member’s covered annuity tc a new level of 40 percent starting Oct 1 1999 Another increase to 45 percent would occur in 2004 The goal is to ease a drop tn SBP annuities at 62 from 55 percent of the covered annuity down to 35 It surprises and angers thousands of beneficiaries annually even though SBP counselors insist they fully bnef members and spouses on the two-ste- p formula when they sign up for the program at retirement The proposed SBP increases would affect any beneficiary whose sponsor attained 2375 South 625 West - Woods Cross UT 84087