Breaking News

Hegseth Orders Review Of Medical Conditions That Disqualify Recruits 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants individuals with certain medical conditions to be disqualified from joining the military, according to a new memo released Monday.

To read more, please click here.

US Supreme Court Resolves Pay Fight In Favor Of Federal Workers Who Also Are Military Reservists

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday that federal employees who also are in the military reserve must be paid the equivalent of their civilian salaries when called to active duty during national emergencies.

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GOP Bill Repeals Rule On How For-Profit Schools Count Vets Benefits

(Business Wire)

House Republicans are moving to repeal rules preventing for-profit colleges from counting military education benefits as non-government funding in their financial accounting, a move that advocates said could allow predatory companies to prey upon student veterans.

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AFSA On The Hill

LEGISLATIVE NEWS | On our Radar this week.

Legislative Update | Congress is back in session, and it’s time to familiarize yourself with our Legislative Action Center:

https://www.hqafsa.org/takeaction.html

Legislative Action Center

The 119th Congress 

Several historic events occurred on Friday, January 3rd, the first day the 119th Congress met. Despite being a long list, this 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:

Support The CHIP IN Act 

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/123293/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Bi-Partisan, Bi-Cameral Support: The bill is backed by leaders in both the House and Senate, ensuring broad support for its passage.
• Successful Pilot Program: The original CHIP IN pilot program demonstrated significant success, with the Omaha VA facility serving as a model for cost-effective, community-supported development.
• Faster Project Completion: The public-private partnership model reduces bureaucratic delays, ensuring veterans receive quality healthcare services more quickly.
• Efficient Use of Funds: By leveraging private contributions, VA facilities can be built and improved without relying solely on federal appropriations.
• Expanding Veteran Healthcare: By making the program permanent, we can replicate the success of Omaha and expand access to modernized VA healthcare facilities across the country.

Support Protect Our Veterans’ Disability and Retired Pay Benefits

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/121980/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Veterans have served this country with unwavering dedication, often at great personal cost. Many rely on disability compensation and retirement pay to support themselves and their families after years of service and sacrifice. Any reduction or elimination of these benefits would betray our government’s commitment to those who have defended our freedoms. Building mistrust and hindering our recruitment and retention efforts.

Support Education Savings Accounts For Military Families Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/108025/Respond

Legislation Summary

• This bill urges the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to give cash for educational expenditures to children whose parents are on active duty in the uniformed forces.
• Specifically, ED must create a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in uniformed services to pay for their educational expenditures.
• Savings account funds may be utilized for specific objectives, such as the cost of attending a private elementary or secondary school or a higher education institution, private tutoring, or expenditures associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

Support Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign:

https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/113524/Respond

Legislation Summary

• This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs to create and implement a 5-year pilot program to treat TBI and PTSD. 

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 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.

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

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

AFSA NEWS | It's here... the latest edition of the AFSA Magazine! The Winter 2025 magazine features the Eye of Washington, President's Commentary, US Transportation Command, AFSA Quick Reference Guide, AFSA Afield: Member Highlights, Health Alert: Cervical Cancer Education, Prevention and Support, Waldorf University: Education for Airmen and their Families, Member Final Fly-bys and much more. View, Print, download, and share the magazine here now.

Winter Magazine 2025 - AFSA (hqafsa.org)

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

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, "The standards for entry into the United States military are high, uncompromising, and clear," Hegseth said in the memo, which was signed Thursday. "Young Americans seeking to serve in the greatest fighting force in history must be physically and mentally capable of performing their duties in the harshest conditions."

The instruction, issued to senior Pentagon leadership, directs the undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to examine existing medical criteria for enlistment and induction into the military services and identify any conditions that should exclude a medical waiver. He is also directed to identify any medical problems for which a waiver can only be granted by the secretary of a military department.

Additionally, the 5-4 judgment could effect hundreds of thousands of people, ensuring that they do not suffer financially when they temporarily switch from one type of government service to another. 

The justices ruled on an appeal brought by an air traffic controller who spent nearly five years on active service in the Coast Guard at a lower pay rate than he does as a Federal Aviation Administration employee.

In other news, members of the House Education and Workforce Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to advance their portion of the enormous legislative reconciliation package, which includes $330 billion in education expenditure cutbacks over the next decade. Panel Democrats criticized several aspects of the measure, as well as the GOP's broader approach to federal program cuts.

However, a provision in the law removing the "90/10 loophole" for GI law payments sparked special worry among veterans activists, who claimed the move is an attack on monitoring and accountability for post-military education benefits.

And that's the way it is for Thursday, May 1, 2025.

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