PRESIDENT S COLUMN · corpse. “This is a very typical example of the hostile information, and...

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN BY PAUL LIETZ

September 2018

Volume 21, Issue 9

We are approaching the upcoming elections at a time when disinformation on social media is at an all time high. This month's RAO (Retiree Activities Office) bulletin gave the following example:

On 7 JUN, during a training exercise in the Baltics, four U.S. Army

Stryker vehicles driving along a road between Kaunas and Prienai, Lithuania, collided when the lead vehicle braked too hard for an obstacle on the roadway. Not long after the incident, a blog post made to look like a popular Lithuanian news outlet claimed the Americans had killed a local child in the collision. A doctored image was posted showing unconcerned soldiers near a crushed bicycle and child’s corpse. “This is a very typical example of the hostile information, and proves we are already being watched,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis said of the fabricated event during a 8 JUN meeting with NATO officials. “We have no doubt that this was a deliberate and coordinated attempt aiming to raise general society’s condemnation to our allies, as well as discredit the exercises and our joint efforts on defense strengthening". Lithuanian officials denounced the photo as an attempt to divide the NATO alliance. In this case, the phony image and news article were quickly refuted, but what happens when it’s not so easy to tell truth from fiction? The ability to distort reality is expected to reach new heights with the development of so-called “deep fake" technology: manufactured audio recordings and video footage that could fool even digital forensic experts. “I would say 99 percent of the American population doesn’t know what it is, even though for years they’ve been watching deep fakes in science fiction movies and the like, in which special effects are as realistic as they’ve ever been,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said 19 JUN before a technology panel at the Heritage Foundation. “But never before have we seen that capability become so available right off the shelf.”

In some cases, even our national news media has fallen victim to

this disinformation: Please keep a close eye on all that you see in social and national media. If you have questions or something just doesn't sound right, I suggest that you look at multiple outlets to get a more extensive outlook on a subject or topic. One place I have found to

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THE E-9ERS ASSOCIATION

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING

September 26, 2018

11:00 AM

Mr. Panda Restaurant 2852 S Havana St

Aurora CO

The E-9ers of Colorado

www.e9ers.org

www.e9ers.com

The E-9ers Officers The following officers of the E-9ers Association are interested in hearing from you and what suggestions that you may have to improve our group. If you have any thoughts that you would like to share, please give one or more of them a call. They would love to hear from you. President: Paul Lietz 303-456-9588 [email protected] Vice President: Dick Stephenson 303-669-5727 [email protected] Secretary: Shirley Patenaude 720-851-9541 [email protected] Treasurer: Ann Kelm 303-955-2514 [email protected] Membership Director: Jack Hunter 303-797-3136 [email protected] Program Director: Bob Olsen 303-503-4884 [email protected] Social Director: Ann Kelm 303-955-2514 [email protected] Sergeant-at-Arms: Mike Phelps 720-284-4865 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Andrew Grieb 303-204-3203 [email protected]

E-9

September - Happy Anniversary Ed & Margaret Chando

Jerry & Debbie Gamache ............... 9/5 (48)

John & Carol Paul ........................ 9/13 (49)

Ronald & Jennifer Mathews ......... 9/14 (42)

George & Terri Sykora ................. 9/15 (17)

Bob & Sandy Tomlinson .............. 9/15 (45)

September - Happy Birthday Art Engelbrecht

Maria Barbour ....................................... 9/1

Rene Simard ......................................... 9/1

Diane Simard ........................................ 9/1

Walt Wilson, Jr ...................................... 9/3

Michael Gallagher ................................. 9/3

Donna Tellgren ..................................... 9/5

Buck Ward ............................................ 9/5

Robert Oden ......................................... 9/8

Patty Lee ............................................... 9/8

George Angermeir .............................. 9/10

Steve Linn ........................................... 9/10

Kayln Nelson ....................................... 9/12

Louise Malouff .................................... 9/13

Cynthia Rochford ................................ 9/13

Lillian Pierce ........................................ 9/16

Dave Allen ........................................... 9/17

Tim Cary .............................................. 9/19

Jessie Rush ......................................... 9/19

Gayla Platt ........................................... 9/20

David Howard ...................................... 9/21

Manny Maciel ...................................... 9/21

Margaret Chando ................................. 9/21

Nicole McIntosh ................................... 9/21

Charlie Dugan ...................................... 9/23

Anne Rosa ........................................... 9/23

Carolyn Cruz........................................ 9/23

Carrie Winningham .............................. 9/23

Mary Ann Bascio ................................. 9/26

Ted Gembczynski ................................ 9/27

Mike Mattie .......................................... 9/27

Marta Hills............................................ 9/27

Chung S. (Kim) McMullen .................... 9/28

Dick Stephenson ................................. 9/30

Ron Vigil .............................................. 9/30

Dorothy McIlrath .................................. 9/30

Shirley Patenaude ............................... 9/30

CALENDAR

September 2018 Victory over Japan Day ..... 9/2 Labor Day ......................... 9/3 Rosh Hashanah Begins .... 9/9 Grandparents’ Day .......... 9/10 Patriot Day ...................... 9/11 Rosh Hashanah Ends ..... 9/11 US Air Force Birthday ..... 9/18 Yom Kippur ..................... 9/18 POW/MIA Recognition Day9/21 First Day of Autumn ........ 9/22 Gold Star Mothers Day .... 9/23 September Meeting ....... 9/26 October 2018 Columbus Day ................ 10/8 US Navy Birthday .......... 10/13 Boss’s Day .................... 10/16 October Meeting .......... 10/24 Halloween ..................... 10/31

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Articles and photographs are due to the Newsletter Editor by the 15th of each month for publication in the next month’s newsletter.

Articles will be reviewed and edited for content, grammar and spelling.

Photographs should be submitted in JPEG format. Please submit names of people in pictures; from left to right, front to back; in a separate document.

Submission of articles and photographs does not guarantee publication.

Thank you,

Andy Grieb

be helpful is FactCheck.org. This is a non-profit, non-political web site that just researches facts. They do not give an opinion one way or the other. A better-informed public is a better voting public. Knowledge is power.

On a lighter note, I hope everyone is having a good summer. Our

turn out for our monthly meetings has been very good and I appreciate everyone’s participation.

Ann Kelm is trying to coordinate a European River Cruise social

event for next year. Julie and I have been on two river cruises and have a third scheduled for this October. If you can attend I would greatly recommend it. Ann will have more information to follow. The E-9ers did an ocean cruise a few years back as a group and I heard a good time was had by all.

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

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Military.com | 27 Jul 2018 | By Jim Absher You may have seen them standing outside convenience stores, those guys dressed in camo that vaguely resembles a uniform. They have signs saying claiming they are charities that help veterans. Are they legit? Well, not all of them are. The Federal Trade Commission, along with law enforcement officials and regulators from offices in every state, DC, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico, announced more than 100 actions and a consumer education initiative in “Operation Donate with Honor”. The action was a crackdown on fraudulent charities that con consumers by falsely promising their donations will help veterans and service members. “Americans are grateful for the sacrifices made by those who serve in the U.S. armed forces,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons. “Sadly, some con artists prey on that gratitude, using lies and deception to line their own pockets. In the process, they harm not only well-meaning donors, but also the many legitimate charities that actually do great work on behalf of veterans and service members.”

TWO CHARITIES FACE FEDERAL CHARGES Help the Vets Neil G. “Paul” Paulson, Sr. and Help the Vets, Inc., (HTV) will be banned from soliciting charitable contributions under settlements with the FTC and the states of Florida, California, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio and Oregon, for falsely promising donors their contributions would help wounded and disabled veterans. The defendants were charged with violating federal and state laws related to their actions. According to the FTC’s complaint, HTV did not help disabled veterans, and 95 percent of every donation was spent on fundraising, administrative expenses, and Paulson’s salary and benefits. Operating under names such as American Disabled Veterans Foundation, Military Families of America, Veterans Emergency Blood Bank, Vets Fighting Breast Cancer, and Veterans Fighting Breast Cancer, HTV falsely claimed to fund medical care, a suicide prevention program, retreats for veterans recuperating from stress, and veterans fighting breast cancer. In addition to the ban on soliciting charitable contributions, the proposed settlement order bans Paulson from charity management and oversight of charitable assets. To ensure that donors to HTV are not victimized again, HTV and Paulson must destroy all donor lists and notify their fundraisers to do so. The order imposes a judgment of $20.4 million, which represents consumers’ donations from 2014 through 2017, when HTV stopped operating. The judgment will be partially suspended when the defendants have paid a charitable contribution to one or more legitimate veterans charities recommended by the states and approved by the court. Paulson must pay $1.75 million – more than double what he was paid by HTV – and HTV must pay all of its remaining funds, $72,000. Veterans of America The FTC charged Travis Deloy Peterson with using fake veterans’ charities and illegal robocalls to get people to donate cars, boats and other things of value, which he then sold for his own benefit. The scheme used various names, including Veterans of America, Vehicles for Veterans LLC, Saving Our Soldiers, Donate Your Car,


FEDS CRACK DOWN ON BOGUS VETERAN CHARITIES

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Donate That Car LLC, Act of Valor, and Medal of Honor. Peterson allegedly made millions of robocalls asking people to donate automobiles, watercraft, real estate, and timeshares, falsely claiming that donations would go to veterans charities and were tax deductible. In fact, none of the names used in the robocalls is a real charity with tax exempt status. Peterson is charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. At the FTC’s request, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Peterson from making unlawful robocalls or engaging in misrepresentations about charitable donations while the FTC’s enforcement action is proceeding.

STATE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS States also identified and charged several charities and fundraisers who sought donations online and via telemarketing, direct mail, door-to-door contacts, and at retail stores. These groups falsely promised to help homeless and disabled veterans, to provide veterans with employment counseling, mental health counseling or other assistance, and to send care packages to deployed servicemembers. Some actions charged veterans charities with using deceptive prize promotion solicitations. Others targeted non-charities that falsely claimed that donations would be tax deductible. Some cases focused on veterans charities engaged in flagrant self-dealing to benefit individuals running the charity, and some alleged that fundraisers made misrepresentations on behalf of veterans charities or stole money solicited for a veterans charity.

NATIONWIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN As a result of these actions, the FTC and its state partners are launching an education campaign to help consumers avoid charity scams and donate wisely. The FTC has new educational materials, including a video on how to research charities, and two new infographics. Donors and business owners can find information to help them donate wisely and make their donations count at FTC.gov/Charity.


VA KICKS OFF “CHOOSE VA”

CAMPAIGN

Military.com | Week of July 16, 2018

Emphasizing a multitude of benefits and services to its 9 million Veteran customers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently kicked off its new 'ChooseVA' marketing campaign. The ChooseVA campaign encourages all stakeholders to make an ultimate decision to ChooseVA. The ChooseVA campaign includes testimonials from veteran customers and employees, and will run initially on social and digital media platforms, then later on traditional media channels to include billboards and banners, as well as through broadcast media. The campaign focuses on three areas: (1) spotlighting VA’s foundational services, (2) attracting future employees, and (3) retaining the 'best and brightest' employees.

FEDS CRACK DOWN ON BOGUS VETERAN CHARITIES

VA LAUNCHES VETEXT


The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched

VEText, a text messaging appointment-reminder system. 138 VA

facilities are currently using the automated interactive text message

system, which reminds Veterans of upcoming health care

appointments, allowing them easily to confirm or cancel the event.

Veterans can update their phone numbers during the check-in or check

-out process for an appointment, at any kiosk. For more information,

visit this VEText webpage.

https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/VEText.asp

4


The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reviewing previously-denied

claims from World War II Veterans who participated in full-body testing

for mustard gas or Lewisite in the 1940s. VA has contacted identifiable

World War II Veterans with a previously-denied claim for exposure to

mustard gas or Lewisite to re-adjudicate those claims. World War II

Veterans who were previously denied benefits for mustard gas or

Lewisite exposure and have not been contacted by VA should call

(800) 827-1000 to request that their claim be reviewed. For more

information, visit the VA Exposure to Mustard Gas or Lewisite

webpage and read the VA VAntagePoint Blog.

26 Jul 2018 | Military.com | By Tom Philpott A House-Senate conference committee tasked with ironing out differences in separate versions of the defense authorization bill has rejected Senate-passed provisions that would have sharply increased TRICARE fees, deductibles and co-pays for a million retirees under age 65. Lawmakers who in recent weeks shaped a final $716 billion John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515) also voted to allow disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients and caregivers of veterans severely injured in war to shop on military bases, paying slightly more at checkout than current patrons. They also will be able use base recreational facilities. Expansion of access to on-bases services, which the Department of Defense endorsed in part to make commissaries more self-sustaining, is to occur Jan. 1, 2020. Conferees also narrowed the scope of Senate-passed reforms to officer accession and promotion practices so officers will continue to be considered for promotion as part of the same year group they were promoted to current rank. Also shelved was the Senate plan to repeal use of authorized officer strength tables to instead require that Congress annually authorize number of officers allowed to serve in the ranks of O-4 through O-6 across all the services. Officer promotion law long has required consistent promotion timing and promotion opportunity across officer year groups. The Senate wanted to replace those requirements by grouping officers based on competitive categories -- similar qualifications, specialties, occupations or ratings. Conferees also rejected that idea.


VA REVIEWING WWII MUSTARD GAS CLAIMS

CONGRESS REJECTS RETIREE TRICARE HIKES; LETS DISABLED VETS SHOP ON BASE

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Lawmakers ... also voted to allow disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients and caregivers of veterans severely injured in war to shop on military bases, paying slightly more at checkout than current patrons. They also will be able use base recreational facilities.

However, a host of other accession and promotion reforms survived the conference and will “begin to modernize officer personnel management to bolster the effectiveness, recruitment and retention of the all-volunteer force,” says a Senate Armed Services Committee press release. “The 38-year-old Defense Officer Personnel Management Act requires all military services to manage their officer corps in the same general manner within specific constraints. By beginning to reform this system, the [2019 defense authorization bill] will provide for flexibility in the careers of commissioned officers [to] better serve the demands of the modern force.”

MILITARY PAY ISSUES The highlight of compensation provisions embraced by conferees was decided months ago: a 2.6 percent military pay raise effective Jan. 1, 2019, to match recent wage growth in the private sector. It also will be the largest percentage military pay increase in nine years. On the other hand, conferees agreed to end a “personal money allowance” that, by law, has been paid to senior naval officers holding five prestigious positions. The titles impacted, and the size of allowances disappearing are: Director of Naval Intelligence ($5,200); Superintendent of the Naval Academy ($5,200); President of the Naval War College ($1,000); Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy ($800) and President of the Naval Postgraduate School ($400).

TRICARE CHANGES Military associations lobbied successfully against Senate language to repeal an unusual grandfather provision in current law that protects working-age retirees from a host of TRICARE fee increases that, for now, target only members who enter service this year or later and eventually retire. Senators wanted the higher TRICARE cost-shares applied to all current and future retirees under age 65 and not disabled, as the Defense Department intended. Conferees blocked that but said they “remain concerned about the high cost of military health care, understanding that much of the cost has been driven by new benefits and benefit enhancements authorized by Congress.” With the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimating the average military cost of providing health care to a typical retiree household at $17,800 by 2021, conferees directed the defense secretary to update that estimates by next February and to list policy options both to improve quality of health care and to better control costs. The compromise bill also directs that a survey be conducted “to ascertain whether beneficiaries would be amenable to additional modest fee increases to maintain a fiscally viable, comprehensive health benefit.” The sweeping fee increases blocked included a first-ever TRICARE Select enrollment fee and, for retirees who use non-network providers a new annual deductible. CBO estimated that retiree users of Select would have seen average out-of-pocket costs jump from $1,645 a year to $2,800 for family coverage and from $570 to $1,160 for self-only coverage. Retiree households using Prime would have seen more modest increases. TRICARE for Life recipients would been spared. COMMISSARY & EXCHANGE Commissaries and exchanges nationwide are expected to see a few



UPCOMING SPEAKERS

September

Jon Holbrook

October & November

Barbara Martin-Worley

CONGRESS...

6

NEW MEMBERS

Robert Jeffries, MCPO,

USCG (RET)

Lisa B. Jeffries

Legislation has been introduced that would expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

hundred thousand more shoppers. Conferees accepted House language to open base stores and services, starting in 2020, to any veteran with a service-connected disability, as well as to Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war and veteran caregivers. Defense officials supported the House-backed provision, to strengthen the military resale system and to reward deserving veterans with shopper discounts, if an extra user fee could be imposed on these “secondary” groups of store patrons. A department study concluded that “a large influx of new patrons is necessary to continue efficiently providing commissary and exchange benefits into the future.” Military associations and veteran groups also had backed the move.


Military.com | Week of August 06, 2018

Legislation has been introduced that would expand the Radiation

Exposure Compensation Act. The current law has distributed more

than $2 billion to residents within Nevada, Utah and Arizona who suffer

from radiation-related illnesses, but will end payments by 2022. The

last year for people to apply for coverage is 2020. The proposed

amendment would extend RECA by 19 years and offer up to $150,000

in medical coverage to residents of Guam, Idaho, New Mexico and the

Navajo Nation.

CONGRESS

NEW RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT

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Finding the best long-term care approach can be a challenge. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care offers sick and disabled veterans options regarding the setting of their care and the types of care they receive. Long-term care services include: (1) nursing and medical care; (2) physical therapy; (3) help with daily tasks, like bathing, dressing and making meals; (4) comfort care and help with managing pain and (5) support for caregivers. To access these services, Veterans must be enrolled in VA health care, and VA must determine a specific service is necessary. Learn more and explore VA health care on the VA website.

VA ASSISTANCE FOR LONG TERM CARE

The E-9ers Association

Andrew Grieb, Editor

PO Box 31261

Aurora CO 80041-1261

Phone: 303-204-3203

E-mail: [email protected]

Return Service Requested

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM WORLD WAR I


The WWI Centennial News Podcast recently focused on the use of

photography in WW1. Corine Reis, a French public historian, spoke

with host Theo Mayer about her WW1 photography blog, Waldo Pierce

Goes to War. Later in the show, the discussion digs into the importance

of photography to military operations and personal photography among

soldiers in WW1 Tech, and examined the word 'snapshot.' Visit

the WWI Centennial Commission website to read a transcript of the

Podcast.

https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-

media/wwi-centennial-news/4822-podcast-article-photography-great-

war-2.html

Lieutenant Ira P. Gilette, photographic officer of the 1st Division, A.E.F., in France, April 1918. Signal Corps photograph, courtesy Harry B. Kidd

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