New River Current, June 2015 Page

June. 2015 Vol. 6, Issue 3

New River Chapter Newsletter

President:

Doug Ehrhardt, CAPT., USN (Ret.)

1st Vice President:

Charles Knapp, COL., USA (Ret.)

Secretary/Treasurer:

Ken Lynn, Col., USAF (Ret.)

Programs Committee Chair:

Charles Knapp, COL., USA (Ret.)

Membership Committee Chair:

Currently Vacant

Personal Affairs Committee Chair:

Barbara Sears

Scholarship Committee Chair:

Linda Marsh

Legislative Committee Chair:

Ron Wilsbach, CDR., USN (Ret.)

Past President:

Not Yet Applicable

At-Large Director:

Currently Vacant

At-Large Director & Veterans Outreach:

Louis Burge, Maj., USAF (Ret.)

Auxiliary/Spouse Liaison:

Currently Vacant

Newsletter Editor:

Ken Lynn, Col., USAF (Ret.)

Webmaster/E-newsletter Editor:

Doug Ehrhardt, CAPT., USN (Ret.)

Inside this issue:

June Program…………..…………..1

President’s Message………………1

Chapter Happenings & News..2 & 3

Committee Updates……………3 - 6

Legislative Update…..………6 & 7

Auxiliary Update…………………...7

Navy & Marine News………………8

Army & Air Force News………….9

Contact Info……………………….10

Copyright © 2015, The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), all rights reserved. Part or all of this message may be retransmitted for information purposes, but may not be used for any commercial purpose or in any commercial product, posted on a website, or used in any non-MOAA publication (other than that of a MOAA affiliate, or a member of The Military Coalition) without the written permission of MOAA and the New River Chapter. All retransmissions, postings, and publications of this message must include this notice.

From the President…

It’s summertime! Well, not officially until summer solstice on 21 June, but the long awaited arrival of warmer weather is always a much appreciated shift on the calendar…now, if it would just RAIN! In a few short days from this newsletter, the NC Council of Chapters will hold its biennial state convention, the last being a cruise to the Bahamas in

2013. On June 11-14, we’ll be participating in a “land option” in Cashiers, NC at the historic High Hampton Inn for 4 days of dining, golf, swimming, hiking, visits to the spa, fly fishing, shuffleboard, croquet, corn toss, paddle boating, etc…whew! I’m not sure 4 days will be enough! What is not on the schedule is “WORK,” although council officers and board have a few opportunities to manage some council affairs. There’ll also be a few special guests to include COL Barry Wright (MOAA National), Congressman Mark Meadows (NC 11th District), COL Marvin (AL Council President) and Ross Van Kleveran (USAA sponsor), but they’ve agreed to keep their remarks short! I wish you all could be there to enjoy the getaway, but I’ll plan to update in a later newsletter. Now for the hard work! As 2015 picks up speed, I’m looking ahead to 2016 when I’ll become President of the NC Council of Chapters. Of course, I’ll still be heavily involved with chapter activities, but will have too much on my plate to do the job of president. I’ll be lending my support where needed, but WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please look at your own calendar of activities, as well as your time in the mountains and think about becoming an officer for a one year cycle, or work with one of our committees. We have so much to be proud of since our chartering in ’09…four consecutive 5-Star streamers, awards for our website, newsletters, e-newsletters and most recently another Unique Communications award. In every area, we can really use some fresh faces, new ideas and ways to continue in our support to all veterans here in Ashe County. Think on it, and we’ll see you at the upcoming June meeting when newest member Mik Mikulan, will educate us about the USPHS. Very respectfully,

Doug (MOAA Life Member)

June Program: “New” New River Chapter (NRC)

member Mik Mikulan, CDR, USPHS (Ret.) will speak on the role and mission of the 7,000 member U.S. Public Health Service.

5-Star Chapter Awarded For: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

New River Current

New River Current, June 2015 Page 2

New River Chapter Happenings Community Involvement: Below left, Veteran Outreach Officer Lou Burge and Chapter President Doug

Ehrhardt recognize WWII veteran Fred Vannoy for his military service. Below right, NRC members turned out to

serve water to New River Marathon runners. Supporting this event earned us $315.00 for the scholarship fund.

JROTC Leadership Awards: Below left, Lou presents Wilkes Central High School Cadet Technical

Sergeant Cordell Draves with the MOAA Leadership Award. Below right, Doug presents North Wilkes High School

Cadet Second Lieutenant Heavan Walker with the MOAA Leadership Award. Also pictured are NRC member and

AFJROTC Detachment Commander Tim Fuller and Principal Michelle Shepherd.

Membership: Below left, three new members joined the NRC: Mik Mikulan, CDR., USPHS (Ret.); Jim Doss,

CAPT., USN (Ret.) and Deanna Burleson, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.). Below right, April’s guest speaker Jim Reeves gets

a certificate of appreciation from Program Chairman Charles Knapp.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 3

Scholarship Awarded: NRC President Doug Ehrhardt presented a $1000.00 Sears Memorial Scholarship to

graduating Cadet Second Lieutenant Melisa Gonzalez at the North Wilkes High School USAF JROTC Awards Ceremony held on 2 May 2015. Gonzalez becomes the third recipient of a New River Chapter-sponsored scholarship. Pictured below (from the right) is the North Wilkes High School USAF JROTC Commander and NRC member Tim Fuller, Doug Ehrhardt, Cadet Gonzalez and the North Wilkes High School Principal Michelle Shepherd.

Programs Committee Report Charles Knapp, COL., USA (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

Commander Michail “Mik” Mikulan, USPHS (Ret.), one of our new members and first retired officer of the uniformed U.S. Public Health Service to represent that service, will speak at the 16

June meeting. He will present an overview of the history and operations of the 7,000 member U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of the two non-armed services within the seven Uniformed Services. Mik has had a unique 27 year uniformed service career. He was commissioned an Army Engineer who became a rated Army helicopter and fixed wing aviator and served a combat tour in Vietnam and peace-keeping missions in Central America. Using the GI Bill after active service and while in the reserves, Mik earned a degree in nursing. In 1989, his commission was transferred to the USPHS and he served for most of the next 14 years as the Medical/Surgical Clinical Charge Nurse on the “federal death row” of the 1,250 bed maximum security Federal Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

Ilario G. Pantano, Director of North Carolina Veterans Affairs will visit Ashe County and discuss his mission to make North Carolina the most Veteran friendly state in America. His visit and presentation will also key note the formation of the Ashe County Veterans Coalition. The New River Chapter will be Mr. Pantano’s host, but all High Country veterans are invited. This will represent his first visit to the High Country. Mr. Pantano was a Marine sniper/scout leader during the Gulf War and later in support of UN peace-keeping operations in the ex-Yugolsavia. After his enlisted service, he earned a degree in business and finance and worked as a commodity trader for Goldman Sachs. After losing many co-workers in the 9/11 collapse of the World Trade Center Towers, he rejoined the Marines and led a platoon of Infantry Marines in the first fight for Falluja, Iraq in 2004. Please take note that the 21 July meeting will be held at The Ashe Arts Council Gallery and begin at 6:30 PM with a meet and greet…and the program will begin at 7:00 PM. Only light refreshments will be available.

Want to continue helping local high school graduates realize their college and career

dreams? Then start planning now to make an end of year donation to the N e w R i v e r Chapter’s Scott L. Sears Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. Your donation is tax deductible a n d C h a p t e r Treasurer Ken Lynn will provide you with a donation letter for IRS filing and record keeping.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 4

Getting to Know Barbara Sears

Riding to school in a colorful, rickety bus with open sides...Saturdays at beaches "littered" with driftwood and beautiful shells...peasants and their burros laden with coal the size of boulders going door to door...lunch breaks at school during which we came home for 2 hours...dancing "cumbias" and "bambucos" while teens in the U.S. were jitterbugging and strolling...speaking a foreign language as easily as she spoke English. These are memories of Barbara Sears' childhood in Panama City, Panama and Cali and Bogota, Colombia where her father served as a public health administrator under the auspices of the Point Four program which would eventually become the Agency for International Development. Returning permanently to the United States at age 14 was reverse culture shock for this teen who had attended Colombian schools from grades 3 though 8 in which boys and

girls were kept separate in classes as well as at recess, and where classes were taught in Spanish. High school in Wantagh, NY led to college at Rockford College in Illinois where she majored in Spanish and minored in English. After a very brief marriage, she returned to Long Island with two year old Kathy where she taught both subjects on the Jr. and High School level but eventually, in a leap of faith, moved to Alexandria, Virginia with all of her belongings in a borrowed station wagon. Though unknown to her at the time, this move would put her in the perfect location to meet Scott Sears, though eleven years would have to pass before they met at a single parents' support group at church in 1980. A brand new Commander, Scott was on his first shore duty in the 14 years since graduation from USNA. At the first meeting of this group, by means of introduction, he told the group of 5 (2 men and 3 women) that while he was on shore duty he hoped to find a wife to help with his son (then 13), his duties as the commanding officer of a submarine, and with entertaining and all things domestic. Barbara wondered why he had not considered a nanny, caterers, and a gardener, but kept such thoughts to herself. Almost two years later Scott invited her to his office Christmas party. Two months after that first date, they announced their engagement at a party at his boss's house (Frank Kelso, then the CNO), and on a cool June Northern Virginia evening they were married in Burke, Virginia. A year later the blended family of 4 was on its way to Groton, Connecticut where Scott would command the USS Albuquerque and Barbara's career as a Navy wife would move into full swing. Alone for about 65% of the year, she managed two teens, boat wives with "issues" (teens were easier!), entertaining, and keeping the house and yard presentable. Yes, she had, without realizing it right away, answered his verbal classified ad expressed at that first meeting of the single -parents' support group! During Scott's command tour, Barbara served two years as the president of the Submarine Force Officers Wives Club, was a member of the O’Club advisory board, a vestry member at their church, and took the first of what would be many clay classes at the hobby center on the Subase. Subsequently she accompanied Scott on tours of duty to Subase Bangor (Washington State), the Pentagon (again and again!), and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI. Civilian life led to Greensboro, NC in 1995 where on one Sunday afternoon on the recommendation of a book that listed weird things to see in NC, they ventured out to find Tom Dooley's jail cell in Wilkesboro. Obviously new to this part of the country, they didn't realize that most everything is closed on a Sunday! They continued up 421 and discovered Ashe County, decided to

rent a cabin the following summer, and in 2000 purchased a small cabin on Old Wilkesboro Rd. in Glendale Springs. In 2007 Scott retired permanently and they moved into a house they built in Warrensville. In 2011 Scott succumbed to Multiple Systems Atrophy and Barbara has decided to continue calling Ashe County home. She has found friends who feel more like family, is involved in community and church activities and has started working with clay again in the studio built in the house. As for those teenagers that were part of the "matrimonial deal," they are now in their mid-forties. Paul lives in Tempe, Arizona and is the father of two children, Tori (16) and Zachary (13). Kathy lives in Newport, RI with her husband Antoine and three children, Beatrix (17 and headed to the University of Maine in the Fall), Billy (14), and Luc (11).

This picture ran in the

Newport Daily News, and

is one of my favorite

pictures of her.

— Scott Sears, Facebook

New River Current, June 2015 Page 5

Personal Affairs Committee Report Barbara Sears, Auxiliary Member

Patriotism and Fourth of July Memories, a month early! Some of my earliest childhood recollections include a keen awareness of being an American citizen. I went to nursery school and 1st through 3rd grades in Ancon, in the Canal Zone, then a United States territory. We spent Saturdays at Amador Beach and I took swimming lessons at Ft. Kobbe. After swimming lessons, my mother would stop at the playground where my favorite piece of equipment was the swings. Rubber "hammocks" for seats and long chains allowed for swinging almost as high as the palms trees. Swinging was interrupted by the daily playing of Taps. All vehicles stopped. I got off the swing. Mother and I stood quietly and reverently at kind of "semi-attention" until the last note sounded. Then we quietly walked to the car and returned to our home in Panama City. Every morning in school we pledged allegiance to the flag and every day I at that moment was keenly aware of being an American in a country that was not my own, although I felt very comfortable living in Panama City. One of my earliest lessons from my mother was about the importance of my American citizenship. This was an especially poignant lesson from a woman who was born in what is now Slovakia and who, as an orphan, immigrated

to these shores at the age of 6 with a maiden aunt. The first 4th of July celebration that I remember with any degree of accuracy was in 1956. We lived in Cali, Colombia where every July 4th the American community had a big picnic at a park. Parents visited while children ran three-legged races, participated in relays with an egg on a spoon, and other contests. In one we had to eat several saltine crackers and then whistle. I couldn't whistle by blowing the air forward out of my mouth, but I could whistle by sucking it in through pursed lips. I won with my backward whistle! The prize was a small white and red plastic duffle bag which became my book bag for several years. When we moved back to the United States in 1961, we settled in Wantagh, a town on the southern shore if Long Island. This little town had a 4th of July parade the likes of which I had never seen. There were bands, twirling teams,

all of the high school's service clubs, clowns, church youth groups, contingents representing all of the military branches, families who had decorated strollers and wagons pulling/pushing children. The parade wended through the neighborhoods and all of the houses were dressed for the holiday. We all sat on the curb cheering and waving to familiar faces. The parade ended at an elementary school where the crowning of Miss Wantagh took place. It was Americana at its finest. Fast forward to 1994. Scott was at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at the Navy base in Newport, RI. Bristol, RI, named "the most patriotic town in America," was right across the bay from the base. The town is the home of the longest continuous running Fourth of July celebration in the county. Started in 1785 by a veteran of the American Revolution, the celebration starts in June on Flag Day and culminates on July 4th. In 1994, Scott lead the Navy contingent in the parade. It was a beautiful sunny day with a breeze coming off the bay. Every house was festooned with flags and buntings. Crowds gathered early, vying for positions under shade trees. The Navy contingent looked especially sharp in their whites and I was one very proud Navy wife when they came down the street led by my beaming husband! I have had experiences outside of patriotic celebrations that have brought home the importance of being an American and more importantly, why we are Americans. At the launching or commissioning of every U.S. submarine protestors gathered outside the gates. They painted their faces gray, writhed on the ground and moaned as if suffering a nuclear holocaust. They carried large signs protesting America's defense forces. One horrifying time a protestor broke through the barricade formed by Connecticut State Troopers as my husband was entering the gates of Electric Boat. He missed spilling a vile of thick red liquid on Scott's dress whites by inches. Later, shaking his head in disbelief, Scott commented, "I do my job so they have the freedom to express themselves as they do." On the 4th of July we owe a huge debt of thanks to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have served and in many cases paid the ultimate price, to keep us free. So, thank you New River Chapter members for your unselfish acts of service that allow us the freedoms we enjoy every day.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 6

MOAA Legislative Update Ron Wilsbach, CDR., USN (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

We started our last article talking about all the legislative activity taking place around the “Storming the Hill” activities in Raleigh and Washington, DC on April 15th. Perhaps we should have rephrased that as a talking activity since very little legislation has been passed. At the North Carolina level, our primary effort of moving the Bailey-Patton Issue to a vote to remove the tax liability of those Federal and eligible state retirees who retired after 12 August 1984 failed. The bills remain bottled up in several NC State legislative committees (House and Senate), so we still have two classes of retired military and government retirees in the state of

North Carolina. Speculation on my part suggests that an improved state economy and/or the potential of Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) actions by the federal government might persuade NC Senate and House Committee Chairs to move Bailey-Patton to respective floors for a vote. BRAC actions closing bases or moving commands out of NC could negatively impact North Carolina and could lead to significant numbers of retiring service members choosing to retire in states more “friendly.” At the Federal level much debate is being waged over the Defense Bill, especially as it pertains to pay and benefits of the existing active duty forces, as well as retired members. On 15 May 2015 Col Mike Hayden, USAF (Ret.), in his, “The Bottom Line” article, expressed concern for DoD’s efforts to “fast track” changes to the FY 16 defense bill, specifically the changes from the existing retirement system to a blended retirement system featuring a 401k in exchange for reduced benefits when leaving the service. Col Hayden’s, and MOAA’s concern is Congress’ rush to make drastic changes without a thorough understanding of the potential consequences to the All Volunteer Force. Both the Pentagon and the administration have requested additional time to study the impacts proposed by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. So why the rush? Some folks on the Hill think if Congress fails to put something on the books now before next year’s election, no one will support changing career military benefits. To say the above bears close scrutiny is putting it mildly. We need to watch this closely and respond when needed. TRICARE changes being proposed by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) in the defense bill include significantly higher TRICARE pharmacy fees. Members should keep in mind that last year’s mail-order mandates were developed as a compromise for higher fees and were fully supported by MOAA. Those changes have saved DoD millions and slowed the growth of health care but still the Senate seeks to shift a disproportionate share of health benefits onto retirees who are already doing their part to lower costs. We need to loudly tell the Senate to

reject the administration’s effort to increase our pharmacy costs. A proposed pilot program by the House Armed Services Committee in the FY16 defense bill would give military beneficiaries the option of using a designated “preferred retail pharmacy to obtain medications.” If enacted, the program will run from 1 May 2016 to 30 September 2018. FY16 Defense Bill – The House and Senate defense bills show differences on military compensation and benefits. House Bill – The

House rejected most of the administration’s efforts to shift costs onto the backs of service members, retirees and families in the form of pay caps, increased TRICARE fees and higher out-of-pocket housing costs. The bill requires DoD to provide a report on commissary management and pricing options before changing existing operations. A provision overhauls the military retirement system with a 401K Thrift Savings Plan that matches funds for troops beyond 20 years of service. This change would cut the existing retirement benefit by 20%. Senate Armed Services Committee Bill – (Not passed by the full Senate.) The bill includes the third consecutive year of pay caps below private sector pay. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate is reduced by 5%. For service members living together, rates are reduced as follows: married living together restricted to spouse of higher rank; troops living together, the BAH would be reduced by 25%. TRICARE beneficiaries may use urgent care up to four times per year without preauthorization. However, the bill proposes to double TRICARE pharmacy co-pays over ten years. The SASC has a similar retirement proposal as the House excepts the Senate to stop matching at the 20 year point. The SASC rejected the need to wait for the commissary report and directs a DoD cut of $322 million to the commissary subsidy. The bill also includes a provision for a pilot program to privatize at least the five largest markets across the country and a provision to investigate privatizing all commissaries. As always, members need to watch their Legislative Affairs updates every Friday afternoon and respond as requested.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 7

TidBits

MOAA is now offering a vision insurance plan through Met-Life. The company has a large network of providers and the plan offers savings on eye exams and glasses or contact lenses. To get more

information, call the plan administrator at (800)-247-2 1 9 2 ; e - m a i l : moaa.service@mercer.com; o r y o u c a n v i s i t : www.moaainsurance.com.

Funny Bone

The reason the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines bicker amongst themselves is that they don’t speak the same language. For instance, take the simple phrase “secure the building.” The Army will post guards around the place. The Navy will turn out the lights and lock the doors. The Marines will kill everybody inside and set up a headquarters. The Air Force will take out a 5 year

l e a s e with an option to buy.

Auxiliary & Spouse Update Ken Lynn, Col. USAF (Ret.) & Life Member

As you all know, Betty Schuette has stepped down as Auxiliary and Souse liaison. The New River Chapter is now looking for someone to replace her. Are you interested in helping our members and our chapter? If so, please contact NRC President Doug Ehrhardt and express your interest. There are a number of resources available to help the incumbent. For example, MOAA maintains an Auxiliary Liaison website: http://www.moaa.org/amac/. Below is a position description: Role: To help surviving spouses continue to feel a part of the military family and raise the chapters and nationals awareness of their needs. Requirements: 1. Chapter and national MOAA auxiliary membership. 2. Email, Word and Excel capabilities. 3. Some knowledge about MOAA services (MOAA Member Service Center can provide background/education) Responsibilities: 1. Relay information from the MOAA Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee (AMAC) via announcements at chapter meetings, chapter board meetings and/or articles in your chapter newsletter. 2. Encourage surviving spouses to participate in legislative issues to protect their benefits by sending emails, signing and mailing cards and letters, and making phone calls to Congress. 3. Forward suggestions/recommendations to the AMAC regarding surviving spouse member’s needs and interests. 4. Help support your MOAA chapter (possibly by serving on chapter Personal Affairs Committee, serving on the board, setting up an auxiliary committee, welcome new members, etc.). 5. Encourage the reprinting of Auxiliary Corner articles from The Affiliate in your chapter newsletter as well as other information received in the AMAC monthly memo. 6. Assist chapter surviving spouses with MOAA headquarters contact if and/or when necessary. 7. Remind your chapter’s surviving spouses about our web site at www.moaa.org/survivors and the many articles, stories and testimonials they will find there. Plus the helpful links to other sites, a list of books for surviving family members, and of course, the many publications and services offered by MOAA for the surviving families of our military. 8. Help recruit and retain surviving spouses as auxiliary members of MOAA for national and your chapter.

How to Contact Your State and Federal Representatives

Rep. Jonathan Jordan: NC House of Representatives, 300 North Salisbury St., Room 418C, Raleigh, NC 27603-5925; Tel.: 919-733-7727; E-mail: jonathan.jordan@ncleg.net Sen. Dan Soucek NC Senate, 300 North Salisbury St., Room 310, Raleigh, NC 27603-5925; Tel.: 919 733-5742; E-mail: dan.soucek@ncleg.net Rep. Virginia Foxx: 1230 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515; Tel.: 202-225-2071 nc05re-ply@mail.house.gov Sen. Richard Burr: 217 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510; Tel.: 202- 224-3154 Sen. Thom Tillis: G55 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510; Tel: 202-224-6342

New River Current, June 2015 Page 8

Navy News Compiled by Jim Dunne, CAPT., USNR (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

The Navy’s deck guns could take on new relevance if ongoing tests to fire a guided round at five times the speed of sound from their muzzles are successful. Using rounds initially designed for the service’s emerging electromagnetic railgun, Naval Sea Systems Command is now in early testing phases of using the planned hyper velocity projectile (HVPs) with the service’s existing gunpowder-based deck

guns found on almost every Navy surface ship. The HVPs from a traditional deck gun will be slower than one launched from a railgun — a little over Mach 5 versus Mach 7 — but still double the speed of an unguided regular shell from the service’s Mk 45 five-inch gun found on its guided missile cruisers and destroyers. While deck guns are standard throughout the fleet, they lack the range and precision of the guided missiles found on cruisers and destroyers and have had shrinking utility in high-end warfare. A high speed guided round from a deck gun could give U.S. ships more options to deal with air and ballistic missile threats while the Navy continues to refine the railgun design. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens spoke at a ceremony honoring fallen service

members at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial in Virginia Beach, VA on 25 May. MCPON spoke about the significance of Memorial Day and what it means to honor those who have died serving their country. "On this very special day, it is so humbling to see the citizens of our nation take a knee and bow their heads as we all pay tribute and give thanks to our fallen heroes," said Stevens. He told the audience he remembers standing on the sea wall at Norfolk Naval Station watching the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) coming through the channel after losing 47 of its Sailors due to an explosion in one of its gun turrets. He also reminded them of the bombing of the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) in 2000, and of Operation Red Wing in 2005, when the special operations community lost 19 members in one day.

Marine Corps News Compiled by Ken Lynn, Col., USAF (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

Though long considered career-ending, Corps officials are making it explicitly clear that officers who've been removed from their leadership posts won't get a second shot at a

command billet. The clause is spelled out in Marine administrative message 268/15, which announced the upcoming meeting of the Fiscal Year 2016 Command Screening Boards for colonels and lieutenant colonels. The stipulation, one of nine reasons an officer might be unsuitable for command, is new this year. Now ineligible to go before the boards will be "officers who’ve been relieved for cause from a designated [lieutenant colonel] or [colonel] command screened billet regardless of length of time in command," the message states. The boards, consisting of general officers, screen colonels and lieutenant colonels for command-level

leadership billets. The move falls in line with the Corps' top brass' very public push for more accountability. Marine Corps Recruiting Command recently sent a solicitation asking for research and studies to help identify non-cognitive predictors for success at Officer Candidate School and The Basic School that follows. The document explains that officials have found consistent attrition patterns with current recruiting methods which focus on a prospective candidate's grades, test scores and physical fitness performance, as well as qualities such as integrity and leadership. Historically, from one-quarter to one-third of officer candidates don’t make it through OCS. The new testing concept is closely linked to an initiative in the Commandant's Planning Guidance, published by Gen. Joseph Dunford. There’s room for improvement in the Corps' recruit-screening processes, he wrote. He pointed to psychological evaluations used by law enforcement, industry, and even special operations forces. He directed officials to assess available tools, screening the best for future use by recruiters.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 9

Air Force News Compiled by Ken Lynn, Col., USAF (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

A full military honors funeral service honoring the ninth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, James C. Binnicker, is scheduled to be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 0900 14 August. Binnicker died on 21 March in Calhoun, Georgia. The ceremony is open to the public and attendance is expected to include immediate family, friends, civic leaders and military

members. “Chief Binnicker was a leader amongst leaders,” said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody. “We will always remember his service ... not because he was the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, but because he set the standard as an innovator and as a leader, because he added to our joy and brought triumph and glory to our Air Force, and because he left an everlasting impact on every Airman who crossed his path.” In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Air Force Enlisted Village. The first ever F-35 Lightning II pilot training class was held at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in early May. Two F-

16 instructor pilots and two A-10 instructor pilots were selected for the class, making them the first students to learn how to operate the fifth-generation fighter. "Luke's Academic Training Center focuses on the academic and simulator training and the 61st Fighter Squadron will train on the flying piece," said Lt. Col. Matt Hayden, the 56th Training Squadron director of operations. The training in total, from academics to simulators to flight line, takes approximately three months. This first class is training to become flight ready with the F-35, but to also become instructors upon completion of the course. The students have many challenges ahead to become F-35 pilots, as well as become knowledgeable enough to instruct future classes.

Army News Compiled by Ken Lynn, Col., USAF (Ret.) & MOAA Life Member

President Obama honored two World War I Soldiers with Medals of Honor on 2 June. The White House ceremony came nearly a century after the valorous acts of Pvt. Henry Johnson, who

was African-American, and Sgt. William Shemin, who was Jewish. Johnson enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Company C, 15th New York (Colored) Infantry Regiment, an all-black National Guard unit which would later become the 369th Infantry Regiment known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." He’s credited with helping staving off a German raiding party and protecting a fellow Soldier from capture on 15 May 1918. Shemin was assigned as a rifleman to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded troops during the Aisn

-Marne Offensive in France 7 – 9 August 1918. After platoon leaders had become casualties, Shemin took command and displayed initiative under fire until he was wounded. Shemin's daughters, Elsie Shemin-Roth and Ina Bass, accepted the Medal of Honor on behalf of their father who died in 1973. Maneuver Soldiers, leaders, and formations that are "fast," have the ability to outmaneuver their enemies - physically and cognitively. The Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence is working to develop forces that are "fast," as well as smart, lethal, and precise. Forces that are smart, fast, lethal, and precise are the centerpiece of future maneuver. Units at Fort Benning have been working to help Soldiers improve their athletic performance and become physically faster. One significant way is through the Warrior Athletic Training (WAT) program where civilian athletic trainers are embedded with units to help prevent injuries, provide injury treatment and rehabilitation, and provide fitness education and research. The WAT program is a partnership between Fort Benning and Auburn University.

New River Current, June 2015 Page 10

The New River Current is the Military Officers Association of America New River Chapter bi-monthly newsletter.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1202, Jefferson, NC 28640

Visit the Chapter website: http://www.newrivermoaa.org

E-mail the Chapter: info@newrivermoaa.org

Visit MOAA National’s website: http://www.moaa.org/

MOAA is a nonprofit veterans' association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and the preservation of earned entitlements for

uniformed services members, their families and survivors. Membership is open to those who hold or have ever held a warrant or commission in

any component of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, or NOAA and their surviving spouses.

Regular membership meetings are held at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant in Jefferson starting at 1730

(social time and dinner) 1800 (official program start) on the third Tuesday of the following months unless otherwise noted: March, April, May, June, July, August (picnic social), September, October (Annual Meeting) and December (holiday social). Board of Director meetings are held immediately prior to the regular meetings at 1700 hours.

Want to comment? Mail your comments of no more than 150 words to: Editor, New River Current, P.O. Box

1202, Jefferson, NC 28640. All responses must include your name, retired/former rank, and/or affiliation.

NRC Thanks These Local Businesses for Outstanding Chapter Support

http://www.facebook.com/newrivermoaa

Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jefferson, NC