Breaking News

Democratic Plan To End Senate Blockade Of Military Promotions Takes Critical Step Forward  

A Democratic-sponsored plan to break the blockade Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has placed against senior military promotions has advanced out of committee, setting up a showdown on the Senate floor that could lead to hundreds of generals and admirals getting confirmed after a nearly nine-month wait.

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After 9,000 Guardsmen Weren't Paid Owed Bonuses, House Lawmakers Say They Want Answers  

Following a report published by Military.com detailing the National Guard's failure to pay over 9,000 soldiers their signing bonuses, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers has sent a letter to the National Guard's commanding officer, demanding answers for the lack of accountability and to know when the service members will get their bonuses.

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Congress Has Plan To Avert Shutdown But It's About To Make Pentagon Budgeting Even More Complicated 

Military construction funding would expire earlier than the rest of the Pentagon budget under legislation on track to become law in order to avert a government shutdown at the end of the week.

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AFSA On The Hill

Will DoD's Plan To Improve Quality Of Life Be Different This Time?

By: Karen Jowers, MilitaryTimes.com

What can military and defense officials do to really address long-term problems like the condition of on-base housing and barracks, shortages of child care, spouse unemployment, and the destruction or damage of property during a move to a new duty station?

Over the last several decades, these problems have been persistent, and while there have been numerous efforts over the years to fix them, it sometimes seems like a game of whac-a-mole.

But now there’s a culture change happening in the Army, to include the demise of the practice of “end-stating” when it comes to quality of life, said the Army general responsible for many of those programs.

As Gen. Charles Hamilton, commanding general of Army Materiel Command, put it in an interview with Military Times, “end-stating” refers to the final phase of an operation. According to the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, end state is “the set of required conditions that defines achievement of the commander’s objectives.” But just because a project or building is finished, the responsibilities don’t end for that project or building, said Hamilton, who is in charge of many quality-of-life programs, such as housing, child care and spouse employment.

Service members and families have faced problems for decades with a number of issues affecting quality of life, as the Government Accountability Office and the Military Times have been reporting through the years. These include problems such as mold in family housing and barracks and a lack of timely maintenance; shortages of affordable, quality child care; problems with broken or lost household goods; military spouses’ difficulty in finding employment; and inadequate dining facilities.

To read more, please click here.

IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: AFSA Honoring All Who Served On Veterans Day!

By: Vanessa Lee, AFSA's Legislative Communications & Administrative Assistant

The 70th annual National Veterans Day Observance was held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), with AFSA's Chief Executive, Keith A. Reed, Military & Government Affairs Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs Jonathan Nutman, and Legislative Communications & Administrative Assistant, Vanessa Lee in attendance.

AFSA's Chief Executive, Keith A. Reed, Military & Government Affairs Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs Jonathan Nutman laid the wreath at the tomb of the unknown.

Every year on November 11th, the Veterans Day National Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery. The service begins at 11:00 a.m. with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by Veterans' organizations and statements by dignitaries. The ceremony honors and thanks all who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

President Joe Biden, his wife Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband Mr. Douglas Emhoff, VA Secretary Denis Mcdonough, and leaders of VSO/MSOs marked Veterans Day by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

In his remarks, Biden emphasized the PACT Act, which was passed into law last year. The Act aimed to improve healthcare access for veterans and their families who had been exposed to harmful chemicals.

To View President Joe Biden's Speech, Please Click Here

Also, On Monday, November 13, 2023, the President signed into law:
 
H.R. 366, the “Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act” or the “Korean American VALOR Act,” which extends eligibility for certain VA health care and benefits to specified members of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea; and

Thank you to Representatives Takano and Bost, and Senators Braun and Hirono, for their leadership.
 
H.R. 1226, the ” Wounded Warrior Access Act,” which provides veterans with electronic access to certain information from their personal files.

Thank you to Representatives Aguilar, Takano, and Bost, and Senators Padilla and Braun, for their leadership.

Click Here to View Bill H.R.366

Click Here To View Bill H.R.1226

Legislative Action Center

Support the Sergeant First Class Michael Clark TRICARE Reserve Parity Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107490/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Amend existing law to ensure three years of benefits for Guard and Reserve families, as is standard for active duty military.
• Bringing parity for guard and reserve survivor benefits to that of active-duty personnel.

Support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107499/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Modifies the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE by allowing a dependent at the age of 26 to be covered without an additional premium.  
• Authorizes such coverage of dependents without a premium regardless of whether they are eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan.

Support the Mental Health For Military Children Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107509/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Would direct the DoD to establish a pilot program to provide routine mental health screenings or check-ups for common disorders for children ages 3-17, including questions about patients' mood, emotional state, habits, and behaviors.
• To ensure that children of military families who are at a greater risk for mental and behavioral health problems than the general population, have access to mental health screenings and check-ups at Department of Defense Education Activity schools (DoDEA). 

Support the Revisit Pay Equity Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107467/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Increases the rate of the differential wage payment tax credit from 20% to 50% and requires that the maximum dollar amount of such credit be adjusted for inflation after 2023. 
• The credit is allowed to employers for their employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services. 

Support the Military Spouse Hiring Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103707/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Spouse Hiring Act would encourage companies to employ military spouses, who frequently face disproportionate impediments in the job market, by extending the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include them. 
• Intends to help military spouses find better work opportunities. 

Support the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93860/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation. 
• Makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.

Support the Major Richard Star Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93862/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Qualify approximately 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries to concurrently receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation. 
• Provide total offset relief to veterans who suffered combat injuries or illnesses who were medically retired with less than twenty years of service.

Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/92798/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability.
• Extends full concurrent receipt eligibility to individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability.

Support the Military Family Nutrition Access Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103672/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Family Nutrition Access Act was created to aid military families with active duty members who are facing food insecurity. 
• By eliminating Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the income calculations used to establish eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bipartisan bill will combat food insecurity. 
• Military personnel risk their life to protect our nation; they shouldn't have to worry about providing for their families. 

Support the Not Just a Number Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103681/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Not Just a Number Act would oblige the VA to look into how veterans use their benefits in their yearly report on suicide prevention in order to assess the connection between VA benefits and suicide outcomes. 
• In its fight against veteran suicides, the VA evaluates which VA benefits have the best impact on preventing suicide and requires the Department to submit recommendations for an increase in such benefits.

If you have any questions, please reach out to AFSA's Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.

AFSA Membership Information

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

The Summer 2023 edition features an Eye on Washington, AFOTEC – 50 Years of Operational Testing Excellence, The AFSA SUMMIT Award Nominees, Recipients and Photo Collage. 2023 Scholarship Recipients, Dropping Nuggets: A Senior Leadership Perspective, Final Fly-Bys and more. Read, download, share, print the magazine here now: https://www.hqafsa.org/summer2023magazine.html

Have you called to verify, update, and correct your membership contact information? If you received a postcard asking you to call in, please take a few moments to call to update your info, and learn about the AFSA Oral Historical Project 2023. Learn more here now... 

Please click here to view

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, On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Rules Committee voted along party lines to move the "standing order resolution" to bypass Tuberville's hold on general and flag officer appointments. While the bill passed out of committee, it is uncertain whether it will receive enough votes to succeed on the Senate floor. It needs at least nine Republican votes to clear the entire Senate, and no Republicans have officially committed to voting for it so far.

Nonetheless, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who chairs the Rules Committee, left the door open to subsequently supporting the resolution despite voting against it Tuesday.

In addition, the letter, written by Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., all military veterans, questions the Guard's handling of incentives, demanding the status of incentive oversight teams, what the National Guard is doing to address the backlog, and why the Guard does not currently have a policy covering the payout of incentives.

The letter highlighted the circumstances underlying the ongoing flaws with the incentive payment system, which were first reported by Military.com in October. The Army National Guard Incentive Management System, or GIMS, was built in 2012 and allowed states to track and manage incentive bonuses until it crashed in 2018.

And lastly, It's unclear if the staggered dates would have any practical impact on military construction projects, which have gotten a lot of attention in recent months as probes have shown unlivable barracks conditions. Military construction cash previously approved by Congress is typically allowed to be used for up to five years, though a government shutdown restricts the circumstances under which the money can be spent.

However, the unique strategy to funding the government adds another wrinkle to what has already been a very difficult process this year to fund the Pentagon and the rest of the government.

And that's the way it is for Thursday, November 16, 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!