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KITCHEN TABLE GANG TRUST NEWSLETTER - 26 JULY 2010
Please excuse me for not sending you our weekly newsletter this past Monday. The day before, my wife Nancy had to call the ambulance and I was taken to St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno, CA. I was the victim of severe "heat stroke," and was hospitalized for four days. I had not been drinking enough water, and had been trying to do too much work for my age (70).
If anyone out there would like to help me keep our website online, please use the PayPal icon on the front page or send a check to THE KITCHEN TABLE GANG TRUST, 42922 Avenue 12, Madera, CA 93636-8866. Thanks!
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FUNNY STUFF
Want a really funny military saying or quote, then visit MILITARY WORDS OF WISDOM, http://www.militarywisdom.net/
AF Launches New Uniform Website
The Air Force has launched a new public website to help educate and inform Airmen about the service's dress and appearance standards and policies. Having this information on a public website ensures uniform changes and updates are available to the field in a timely manner instead of waiting for updates to Air Force Instruction 36-2903, which is being revised. While the new website will be a valuable resource, Airmen should continue to work through their chain of command for clarification and guidance on Air Force dress and appearance standards and policies. For more information, visit the (http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dress/index.asp) Air Force Dress and Appearance public website.
Update Enrollment Information Overseas
To assure beneficiaries receive information and educational material about the TRICARE Overseas Program managed care contract changeover in September, sponsors are advised to confirm or update their DEERS enrollment and address. Military health clinics and other authorized organizations access the DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment System) database to mail information and educational material to beneficiaries. To update DEERS, visit the (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/deerswebsite/home.do) DEERS website or your nearest ID card-issuing office.
New VA Claims System in Development
Under the $9.1 million development contract awarded by the Veteran's Administration, IBM is building a system to allow veterans to file disability claims online. Initially, the system will target veterans with B-cell leukemia, Parkinson's disease, or ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam war. Eventually, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) plans to expand the system to handle veterans' claims for other conditions. VA estimates that the first trial of the system will benefit as many as 100,000 veterans.
Vietnam Statue Restoration
The newly refurbished Three Servicemen Statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was recently unveiled after six weeks of restoration. The statue was created by sculptor Frederick Hart. Nearly 26 years after its original unveiling in 1984, weather damage and age had taken a toll on the statue. The restoration was done in place, and it repaired oxidation damage and added a new patina coating and wax. The statue sits on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Washington, D.C. about 200 feet away from and facing the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. The restoration project is part of a maintenance and restoration program by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to assist the National Park Service in site upkeep. For more information, visit the (http://www.vvmf.org/552.cfm) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.
TRICARE for Guard, Reserve
The (http://www.tricare.mil/smart) TRICARE SMART website is a one-stop, online information portal full of accurate, up-to-date information about TRICARE benefits that members and their families can easily access in the comfort of their homes. The "TRICARE Choices Guide," which can be found under "Handbooks" on the website, makes it easy for a guardsman or Reserve member to make informed decisions about programs such as TRICARE Prime and Standard for his or her family. A guardsman or reserve member can also subscribe to (http://www.tricare.mil/subscriptions) TRICARE alerts to receive updates on new benefits and programs.
Senate Hearings on VA Claims
The U.S. Senate recently held a hearing on how the Department of Veterans Affairs processes claims from veterans seeking benefits. At the hearing, top VA officials, veterans organizations and advocates testified about the current status of VA's claims processing system and made suggestions for changes to S. 3517, the Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010, which would improve VA's disability claims processing. Information on the hearing including statements, testimony and a webcast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=ed4232e4-b0e4-485e-906b-31fd1a9d27a4) U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs website.
AF Expedites Civilian Hiring
Air Force managers hiring civilian federal employees for certain cyber security positions have been authorized to use the streamlined Schedule A hiring authority to help expeditiously fill more than 680 positions. Individuals can apply for these Air Force positions on (http://usajobs.gov) USAJOBS.gov. Veteran's preference is applicable, in accordance with 5 CFR 302. For details on how to apply, visit the (http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/afcivilianjobs) Air Force Personnel Center website. For more on the cyber security Schedule A, visit (http://gum.afpc.randolph.af.mil/cgi-bin/askafpc.cfg/php/enduser/home.php) AFPC's personnel services website keyword "Cyber Schedule A." Air Force employees may call the 24-hour Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.
House Hearings on Vet Suicide Prevention
The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs recently held a hearing to examine the progress of suicide prevention outreach efforts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Subcommittee evaluated the current state of VA's ability to educate the public of VA services concerning suicide prevention and discussed the effectiveness of the media campaign to encourage veterans to seek help at the VA. Prepared testimony and a link to the webcast of the hearing are available on the (http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=604) House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.
VA Eases PTSD Claims Process
The Veterans Affairs Department has published a final regulation intended to ease the claims process and improve access to health care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Under the new rule, VA no longer will require substantiation of a stressor tied to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist can confirm that the experience recalled by a veteran supports a PTSD diagnosis and the veteran's symptoms are related to the stressor. The Veterans Affairs Department has posted a fact sheet including questions and answers about the new rule governing PTSD claims on the (http://www.va.gov/PTSD_QA.pdf) VA website or call VA's toll free benefits number at 800-827-1000.
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That's all for this week, thanks for all the "get well" cards you folks sent me!
Charlie Taliaferro, Director
charlestaliaferro@kitchentablegang.org
THE KITCHEN TABLE GANG TRUST
http://www.kitchentablegang.org
42922 Avenue 12
Madera, CA 93636-8866
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