CONCURRENT RECEIPT APPROVED FOR 50% + DISABLED VETS
Congress and the White House agreed in October to provide certain service-connected disabled military retirees their full VA dis- ability compensation without offsetting their retired pay, known as "concurrent receipt." The new policy applies to retirees with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher. The payment began January 1, 2004, and will be phased in over a 10-year period. In 2004, retirees rated: 100% disabled will receive $750 a month; 90% disabled will receive $500 a month; 80% disabled will receive $350 a month; 70% disabled will receive $250 a month; 60% disabled will receive $125 a month; and 50% disabled will receive $100 a month. The monthly amounts will be increased each year so that retirees will be receiving their entire compensation and retired pay in 2014. Disabled retirees who began receiving larger payments last year under the Combat-Related Special Compensation Program must choose to continue with that program or opt for the new policy. National Guard and Reserve retirees with 20 years of service will be eligible, too. VFW MAGAZINE JANUARY 2004 TRUE STORY? In July 1941, my newly formed |
 |
First Marine Division trained along the Atlantic Coast. Life aboard the Navy transports was tough, and morale on the "rust buckets" was rock bottom. One gray evening, as we stood in ranks, the Marine bugler was ordered to sound "colors." Tired and seasick, he put his battered instrument to his lips and played a series of barely recognizable notes. "If you can't play any better than that," the officer in charge screamed, "then you'd better throw your bugle
overboard!" "Sir, yes, sir!" answered the bugler. And with Marine precision, he heaved his instrument into the Atlantic. It cost him a night in the brig and the price of a new bugle, but single handedly that fine Marine restored the ship's morale.
--Contributed to "Humor in Uniform" by Michael L. Santos
MEDALS NOT AWARDED The crucible of war is often the ultimate test of human courage. From that searing process emerge those few who went beyond duty and displayed significant courage. Some of these men and women are recognized for their courage by enlightened leaders and a grateful nation. That recognition often comes in the form of medals, from Commendation Medals, the Bronze Star, and upward to the Medal of Honor. Others receive medals that celebrate their exceptional accomplishment in the completion of their non-combat assignments. A few of these men and women earned their medals for individual acts; but most earned them as part of a team. During my service in Vietnam, and since, I have noticed that too few team leaders (particularly officers) fail to fulfill their primary duty of taking care of |
|
their troops by providing them with recognition for their courage and professionalism. Too often the members of that team are forgotten by the officers who receive medals for being in the same place at the same time doing the same thing. More often this sin is one
of neglect, not mean spiritedness many just wanted to put the war
behind them and get on with their lives. However, I may be a bit more sensitive to this issue because I was a "mustang," a Naval Officer who started in the enlisted ranks (as did my father), and my father
repeatedly reminded me where my primary duty lay.
During my tour in Vietnam aboard Navy patrol boats I was part of a six-man team, five enlisted and myself as the boat commander. We experienced intense combat together; we fought and shed blood together: were a team of brothers. Some of us were wounded, and some of us did not come home. Because we (note the "we") performed with distinction in combat, I was singled out and awarded a number of personal decorations for our combat performance. I remembered my father's words; I understood that my medals were not solely mine. If I hadn't had each of my brave men with me, "we" would not have prevailed. So I made sure that each of my crewmembers were recognized for their bravery and I recommended them for their awards. I thought that this was the right thing to do, and I believed that everyone else did as well. I was wrong. What I discovered was that many of my fellow boat officers had failed to recognize that they were part of a team and had neglected to take care of that team. (Of course, this syndrome is not |
Main Page |
Semper Fi |