January 24, 2023 Share this on: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
  Breaking News  
   
 

Court Overturns Ruling That Would Have Given Some Vets Extra GI Bill Money For More School

A federal court has overturned an earlier decision that would have allowed veterans to receive up to an additional year of education benefits under the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI bills, a judgment that will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the plaintiff's attorneys say.

To read more, please click here.


 

Fixing Disability And Retirement Pay Is Congress' Next Big Vets Issue

Last year, Congress passed a massive benefits expansion for veterans who suffered toxic exposure injuries while in service. This year, the biggest legislative push on veterans issues could be making sure those veterans and others hurt on duty get all the money they’re owed.

To read more, please click here.


 

Parents: Here's Your Chance To Speak Your Mind About DoD Schools 

 

 

Parents of students in schools operated by the Defense Department around the world can now participate in a survey about the quality of education in their schools and areas that need improvement.

To read more, please click here.


 
  AFSA on the Hill  
   
 

VA Adds Several New Political Appointees

By: VA Office Of Public Affairs | VA.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs has added several key leaders to the team in recent months, all of whom will help VA serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

Jaime A. Areizaga-Soto - Chairman, Board of Veterans’ Appeals: A citizen, soldier and Army judge advocate, Areizaga-Soto most recently served as the principal deputy general counsel of the National Guard Bureau. In August 2021, he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General, making him the first Latino JAG general officer in the Armed Forces. He was mobilized from 2018 to 2021 as the chief of the Army National Guard Trial Defense Service, a 218-soldier strong formation between each of the 54 National Guards.

In the civilian sector, the last two governors of Virginia appointed him as the deputy secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, where he advised Governors McAuliffe and Northam on matters related to the 30 large DOD installations in Virginia and the Commonwealth's 730,000 Veterans and their military families. Previously, he was appointed by the Obama administration as the senior attorney advisor at USAID’s Office of General Counsel. He also served as a White House Fellow assigned to the Treasury Department. Areizaga-Soto started his legal career in international law for twelve years with large U.S. law firms, including eight years in Brazil, focusing on cross-border infrastructure project finance.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Areizaga-Soto graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He holds a law degree (juris doctor) and masters in Latin American studies from Stanford University, a master’s in security and defense from the Inter-American Defense College, and a mágister from the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies of Chile.

Victor LaGroon - Chief Diversity Officer: LaGroon is a U.S. Army Veteran who served with the 10th Mountain Division as an intelligence analyst prior to being medically separated in 2006. Most recently, he served as the director of strategic partnerships and alliances for the Division of Health Equity, Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope from 2018-2022.

As the first Chief Diversity Officer at VA, LaGroon is charged with the development of VA’s Inclusive, Diversity, Equity and Access strategy and governance. He leads the development, adoption and implementation of VA-wide I-DEA programs and policies in support of the department’s strategic priorities, enabling accountability and transparency of data, driving results, ensuring the most effective initiatives are in-place and communicating and amplifying the I-DEA message.

Henry Montalbano - Strategic Advisor, Office of Enterprise Integration: Prior to his time at VA, Montalbano, a U.S. Army Special Forces combat Veteran, focused on Veterans’ issues, working across the philanthropic and federal government sectors. After serving as a program officer at the Schultz Family Foundation managing the Veterans grant portfolio, he transitioned to the Office of Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) where he covered defense personnel and Veterans’ issues for the senator, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Montalbano earned a B.A from Williams College and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Alberto Ramos - Chief Speechwriter: Ramos is a U.S. Naval Academy alum and Navy Veteran who served 12 years as a submarine officer. Following his transition from active duty, he completed a non-partisan White House Fellowship at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Most recently, Ramos led candidate recruitment at New Politics, supporting Veterans and national service alumni interested in transitioning to politics. A proud native of Las Vegas, Nevada, he volunteers extensively with several organizations dedicated to serving Veterans and causes related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Ramos also holds an MPP from the University of Chicago.

As these new leaders join the department, there are four individuals who have left VA.

“We want to express our sincerest appreciation for Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, deputy assistant secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs; Saif Khan, attorney advisor, Office of General Counsel; Kimberly McClain, PhD, deputy assistant secretary, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Catherine C. Mitrano, acting general counsel, Office of General Counsel,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “Their great work was critical to helping VA serve Veterans. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”


AFSA 2023 Total Force Survey!

The Total Force 2023 survey is now available on the HQAFSA.org website, just in case you missed it or haven't caught up. Please take the time to complete the survey so that our Military and Government Relations Team can best assist you. The survey this year is thorough and covers a variety of vital subjects for our members, such as an Active Component, Reserve Component, and more! Have any inquiries? Contact our M&G team by sending an email to milgov3@hqafsa.org.

To complete the survey, please visit https://www.hqafsa.org/takeaction.html


 
  Legislative Action Center  
   
 

Introduced By The 118th Congress 

Several historic events occurred on Tuesday, the first day the 118th Congress met. Despite being a long list, these legislation addresses a larger variety of public policy objectives that fall under the purview of the seven main emphasis groups of our legislative platform. The bills are currently being introduced, and AFSA is striving to provide more details on the following:

  • H.R.254 – To amend title 10 United States Code, to improve the administration of the TRICARE program in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon [R-PR-At Large]
  • Committees – House Armed Services

 

  • H.R.236 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate a week as “Battle Buddy Check Week” for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Sheila Lee Jackson [D-TX-18]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.234 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a burial allowance for certain veterans who die at home while in receipt of hospice care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Sponsor: Jack Bergman [R-MI-1]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.228 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
  • Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.226 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to veterans.
  • Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.221 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for participation in the Federal Pell Grant program to certain trade schools.
  • Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
  • Committees – Education and Labor

 

  • H.R.214 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide eligibility for TRICARE selected for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Gregory W. Steube [R-FL-17]
  • Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.196 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the information technology systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the automatic processing of claims for certain temporary disability ratings, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Matthew M. Rosendale Sr. [R-MT-2]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.129 – To require the Secretary of Defense to ensure drop boxes are maintained on military installations for the deposit of unused prescription drugs, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Vern Buchanan [R-FL-16]
  • Committees – House Armed Services

 

  • H.R.105 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.104 – To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

  • H.R.41 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the timely scheduling of appointments for health care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  • Sponsor: James R. Baird [R-IN-4]
  • Committees – House Veterans Affairs

 

If you have any additional questions on this specific issue, please e-mail our Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.


 
  AFSA Membership Information  
   
 

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

This edition features Port Mortuary and America’s Missing Heroes, Living with Bipolar Disorder in the Military, Fly-By Wire Defense and AFSA’s American Award Recipient – Don Ward. Read, download, print and share: https://www.hqafsa.org/fallmagazine.html


 


Greetings AFSA Division and Chapter Leadership,

We are pleased to share the AFSA Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay procedures and marketing materials to help share the process with our members, your membership and potential new recruits.

The Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay program creates an opportunity to JOIN AFSA or RENEW a membership by making a $36 once-a-year/every-year auto payment, or a $4-each-month/every- month auto payment. The $36 once-a-year option is set at $36, and the $4-a-month option includes a bank processing fee of $1 each month.

Review the two ways to enroll, the benefits to using the auto-pay option, and the marketing materials to help share the details of this program and ensure its success.

For more information, please click here.

For questions, please contact AFSAHQ Member & Field team at 800-638-0594 x 288.


Please Update Your Contact Information Today!

Dear Air Force Sergeants Association Member,

In order for the AFSA to effectively communicate with our members, it is essential to ensure we have your current and / or valid e-mail address. 
 
We are in the process of updating our records and need your help! Please take a moment to ensure that we have your most current mail and email address (no .mil's); and accurate membership listing information.

We've made it easy, as you can update your information in either one of three ways: 

  1. Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
  2. Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
  3. Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right

We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.


 
  And that's the way it is...  
   
 

In sum, a 2021 decision by a three-member Federal Circuit panel that would have allowed Army veteran James Rudisill to receive the full amount of schooling benefits allowed by the GI bills was overturned this month by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Attorneys claimed that Rudisill, who served in the Army as an enlisted man from 2000 to 2002 and as an officer from 2007 to 2011, was entitled to the maximum amount of benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is up to 48 months from both programs, under the legislation.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill law, according to the lawyers for the VA, restricts eligibility to one program or the other, depending on the veteran's choice. In July 2021, a three-judge panel ruled in Rudisill's favor, but the federal government filed a petition to have the issue examined by the whole court. The court determined in its Dec. 15 ruling that the law mandates that if a person chooses to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 program after having used some of their entitlement under the Montgomery GI Bill program, their benefits will be restricted to one month, or a portion of a month, of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for each month of unused benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill program.

 

In addition, veterans' supporters are already putting pressure on lawmakers to simultaneously receive and pass the Major Richard Star Act in order to address the payouts issue. A coalition of 21 veterans organizations wrote a letter to all members of Congress this week pushing them to discuss and approve a resolution as soon as possible, even before the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees had been formally established for the current congressional session.

Even in a divided Congress, getting this issue passed should be simple, according to Jose Ramos, vice president of government and community relations for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The discussion is not brand-new. Changes have been lobbied for for years, but with little success. Leading veterans organizations and a number of senators, however, assert that they are enthusiastic about the prospects for progress on the disability/retirement pay issue following the enactment of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (commonly known as the PACT Act) last year.

 

And lastly, the optional and anonymous survey will be available until February 4. The Department of Defense Education Activity Stakeholder Feedback Survey is open to sponsors or spouses of the approximately 67,000 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
A link to a survey is sent to prospective participants' DoDEA Student Information System email addresses. The survey link is also available to parents at https://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/2023-sfs.cfm.

It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to complete the survey. Parents who have more than one child enrolled in a DoDEA school may complete a survey for each child. Students in grades 4 through 12, educators at the school level, and support personnel will all be invited to take part in separate surveys in the upcoming weeks. Participants must be at the school level or below to participate.

 

And that's the way it is for Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Stay tuned for our next M&G-B, where we will continue to keep you in the loop on all things pertinent to the coronavirus, veterans, active-duty members, guards and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!