POST 131 COURIER
HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH Volume 2 Number 1 January 2012
B E ST O F T H E B E ST 足 UNITED STATES NAVY DIVERS
About the Cover . . . Image Source: http://www.lighthouselens.com/items/images/308/DSC07647.JPG March 1, 1939, when the USS Squalus (a Sargo class submarine) was commissioned and set its course for crew training and fine tuning of the sub. As the USS Squalus’, built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine was conducting test dives near the New Hampshire coast, the main induction valve did not close, and the aft compartments were flooded. The submarine sank 240 feet to rest on the sea floor. Once the sunken vessel was located, Navy divers and salvage ships responded quickly and began rescue operations the next day. Using the newly developed McCann rescue chamber, all 33 crew members from the forward compartments of the sub were rescued, but the aft crew suffered a different fate. During the following rescue and salvage operations, new technologies for diving were introduced into the field: the McCann Rescue Chamber and the Mark V Helium Helmet. http://www.divebubbles.com/usssqualusandthe markvhelmet/
IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE Priority Group 8 Veterans ..................................................................................................... 3 Oratorical Contest ................................................................................................................. 4 Special Compensation for Women .......................................................................................... 4 United States Navy Diver ...................................................................................................... 5 Equine Assistance (PTSD) ...................................................................................................... 6 Improving the American Legion Charter ................................................................................ 8 War Memorial Dedicated ...................................................................................................... 10 Veteran Suicide Remains High Despite Increased Support ..................................................... 11 Veteran Employment Statistics ............................................................................................... 12
Post 131 Courier is a monthly publication edited and produced entirely by American Legion Shirley足Holloway Post 131 located in Columbiana, Alabama.
For information on how to subscribe or how to advertise, please contact the Post: American Legion Shirley足Holloway Post 131 Post Office Box 357
Columbiana, Alabama 35051 http://post131.alaaldist23.org All articles must be submitted by the 15th of every month in order to be printed the the current newsletter
JANUARY 2012
Submitted by Eldon Erickson The American military has been at constant war for more than 10 years. We went to Afghanistan as part of a war on terror, but our politicians have changed the mission, from fighting terror to building a nation. While the United States was successful on the first, we will likely fail on the second. Destroying alQaida and building a modern nation state where none has ever existed are two entirely different things. Too much money has been wasted, with a vast amount spent on foreign workers’ high salaries, security and living arrangements. This occupation has made millions of dollars for individuals and corporations, and these millions are made at the expense of our military men and women. Thousands of soldiers, marines, and other service members have been killed; tens of thousands have been wounded. The economic cost has been over $444 billion. You would think that the result is we would have rebuilt the infrastructure of Afghanistan 10 times or 20 times over. But, the reality is there is very little to show for this nationbuilding mission. Partly due to corruption, illiteracy and deeply held tribal rivalries that blunt progress, we are no further along in accomplishing our goal of establishing a functional nation. The $444 billion would have been better spent on improving access to VA healthcare for all the returning veterans who have suffered countless injuries, ranging from missing limbs to traumatic head injuries. It's time for the United States to exit Afghanistan and focus on rebuilding America. We have achieved our two primary goals for going to war in Afghanistan, (1) destroying all alQaida training bases and (2) killing Osama bin Laden. It’s now time for America to focus on America’s needs, not Afghanistan or Iraq. Our bridges are crumbling; roads in dire condition and money for these repairs have been drained away for other projects. We must start to rebuild America now. Americans are asking, given that we have successfully pursued our original two missions, isn't it time to bring our sons and daughters home? The problem is the politicians are not listening. Unfortunately, many of our public servants have a vested monetary interest in remaining in Afghanistan and Iraq. Only we, the American people, can force our politicians to do the right thing by bringing our young men and women back to American soil and put a stop to the major money drain occurring for America. Each and every American has a right to their opinion on whether you believe we should stay in Afghanistan or get out now. Regardless of how you believe, contact your elected politicians and let them know. This year is especially important because it is an election year.
POST 131 COURIER
Group 8 Vets Invited Back To VA
By Tom Philpott September 16, 2009Legion.org The VA healthcare system has lifted its sixyear ban on new enrollments of Priority Group 8 veterans. This decision qualifies about 266,000 more veterans – middleincome without serviceconnected health conditions – for entry into the system. The first 3,900 of these veterans were notified June 15 by mail that recent enrollment applications had been approved, said Philip Matkovsky, a senior official at the Veterans Health Administration. Group 8 veterans using VA health care pay $15 per outpatient visit and slightly more for specialty care. Inpatient fees are a bit more complicated but also modest. A popular feature is that prescription drugs are discounted, usually $8 for a 30day supply. VHA is sending letters and application forms to 420,000 veterans rejected for enrollment since Jan. 18, 2003, when the Bush administration imposed a ban on new Group 8 enrollments. The letters will encourage them to reapply.
The Bush administration had feared that a wartime VA healthcare system couldn’t accept more Group 8 patients without affecting access to care for higherpriority veterans – those who are poor or have servicerelated disabilities. On an initiative from Rep. Chet Edwards, DTexas, Congress added $350 million to the VA budget for fiscal 2009 and ordered the department to create, in effect, a new subcategory of Group 8 veterans: those with incomes “10 percent or less” above the income ceilings for Group 8 veterans. The VA healthcare system is now open to Group 8 veterans with 2008 incomes below a new national means test threshold of $32,342 (without dependents) and $38,812 for one dependent. The ceiling is $45,478 for four dependents and climbs by $2,222 for each additional dependent.
continued on page 9
JANUARY 2012
Oratorical Contest www.legion.org
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. The 70yearold program presents participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former president candidate Alan Keyes and CNN anchor Lou Dobbs. Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over $138,000 in scholarships can be awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets an $18,000 scholarship. Second place takes home $16,000, and third gets $14,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $1,500 scholarship. Those who advance past the first round receive an additional $1,500 scholarship. The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States. High school students under age 20 are eligible. Competition begins at the post level and advances to a state competition. Legion department representatives certify one winner per state to the national contest, where department winners compete against each other in two speaking rounds. The contest caps off with a final round that decides the three top finishers. Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are eight to 10 minutes long; three to fiveminute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest.
Special Compensation For Women http://www.va.gov/womenvet
Did you know you may be eligible for a special monthly compensaton? VA broadened its coverage of special monthly compensation for women Veterans who suffered loss of breast tissue related to their military service. The benefit covers those losing 25 percent or more tissue from a single breast or from both breasts in combination. It includes loss by mastectomy or partial mastectomy, or following radiation treatment. In addition to breast tissue loss, special monthly compensation rates also apply when a Veteran experiences loss of a reproductive organ or its use. Women Veterans with serviceconnected breast tissue loss who are not receiving the special monthly compensation should contact VA (18008271000) to find out if they are eligible.
POST 131 COURIER
United States Navy Diver
adapted from http://www.enotes.com/topic/United_States_Diver A Navy Diver refers to a member of the community of officer and enlisted personnel in the United States Navy who are qualified in underwater open/closed circuit breathing apparatus, deep sea type diving apparatus and saturation diving. Personnel in the Navy Diver (ND rating) are part of the Navy Special Operations (NSO) community. Navy Divers serve at several diving platform types including; Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), Navy Special Operations/Special Warfare commands, Marine Corps dive teams, rescue/salvage and repair diving detachments, saturation diving commands and diving research/development to name a few. Some of the mission areas of the Navy Diver include; deep sea underwater salvage, harbor clearance operations, inwater ship/submarine repair, demolition operations, submarine rescue, SEAL Delivery Vehicle deployment/recovery, saturation diving, experimental diving, underwater construction/welding as well as serving as diving technical experts at SEAL/Marine Corps/and United States Navy EOD diving commands. In 2006, the U.S. Navy established a new Navy Diver (ND) rating. Navy Divers are the foremost experts in all types of diving operations in the U.S. military and serve as the single resource managers for diving technical knowledge and training across the entire Department of Defense (DOD). TRAINING AND RATINGS Navy Divers are trained at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida. Initial training is an arduous 810 month process from when someone enters "Boot Camp" until they are rated as a Navy Diver (ND). Although rated as an ND, Navy Divers are not authorized to wear the Second Class Dive pin until they qualify as Diving and Salvage Warfare Specialist (DSWS) at their first assignment—this normally takes an additional 1–2 years. The Navy Diver works in extreme conditions, performing various underwater tasks ranging from underwater ship repair, underwater salvage and http://www.navy.com/careers/specialoperations/diver.html special operations/special warfare type diving. Because their area of operations are so varied, they can be required to utilize any type of diving equipment for use in any depth or temperature in any part of the world. Certain diving qualification allows ND's to live and work at extreme depths for days or weeks at a time, a discipline known as saturation diving. Personnel that graduate from Second Class or First Class Dive School; and ultimately Master Diver comprise the rating Navy Diver (ND). ND's are the inwater operators and supervisors for the various mission areas mentioned previously as their primary day to day mission is that of inwater operator and/or supervisor. There is also the Diving Officer designation/badge for Commissioned Officers. There are three enlisted diving badges/qualifications in the ND rating: continued on page 7
JANUARY 2012
Legslative Committe
Submitted by Patricia Erickson
It may be okay to put a foreign national in a Prisoner of War camp (i.e. Guantanamo) for years, but a U.S. citizen is not a foreign national and will need to have a fair trial before being imprisoned. In December, the Senate passed the 2012 Department of Defense Authorization bill, including a provision allowing for indefinite military detention of U.S. citizens, by a vote of 937. The problem with this bill (and almost all bills that mention the word “terror”, “terrorist”, “terrorism”, or “war on terror”, like the misnamed Patriot Act) is that terrorism is a tactic, not a person or group of people. By a strict definition of “terrorism”, some tactics employed by the US army could classify them as a “terrorist organization”, but that’s not the point. Since “Terrorism” is a tactic, in order to call someone a “terrorist”, you need to give that person a fair trial and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person in question did in fact use terrorist tactics. Bills like this give the US Government the ability to skip that step and classify someone as a “terrorist” arbitrarily without a fair trial, which is no different than giving the Executive branch the power to call someone a murderer and execute them on the spot. Once you start going down that path, the potential for abuse is catastrophic! Section 1031 needs to be removed. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill, arguing that the indefinite military detention section is an attempt by the Senate to “micromanage” the work of the Defense Department. Senators opposing the detention provision appear to have enough votes to reject an override attempt of a veto. Earlier in the month, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Mark Udall [D, CO] to strip the detention language from the bill, but the amendment did secure more than the 34 votes (2/3rds majority) that would be needed to sustain a veto. Let your elected politicians know how you feel.
A New Program to Assist PTSD Patients When we think of horses assisting the military, we think of a gallant officer atop his steed charging in full gallop into battle with his sword drawn. Today the battle that the horses are assisting in is the battle of Post Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
http://tackandtalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/happyo.jpg
A new coalition is being formed by multiple equine agencies to use horses in the battle against PTSD. These agencies, which are spread across
central Alabama, all bring a unique ability to the coalition. Some agencies are able to offer therapy and riding instruction to the handicapped, while others can offer therapy to only "able body" riders.
All programs will focus on treating the whole person both mind and body and will also have programs for the entire family. It is the hope that this program will be available by the spring of 2012. If you are interested in helping with this program, please contact Mike Welborn (2057556509).
POST 131 COURIER
United States Navy Diver (cont)
adapted from http://www.enotes.com/topic/United_States_Diver Second Class Diver E4 to E5 personnel. This is the basic diving qualification in the ND rating awarded upon completion of ND 'A' School (pin awarded upon warfare qualification). Primary duties are to serve as inwater operators during various missions. First Class Diver E6 to E8 personnel. Advanced Diving Qualification awarded upon completion of ND 'C' School. In addition to duties as a Second Class Diver, First Class Divers serve as diving and chamber treatment supervisors. Master Diver The highest degree of technical diving operational knowledge in the military. Awarded upon successful completion of the Master Diver course which includes exceptionally demanding diving operational problems and acceptance by a Master Diver Board. Oversees diving operations and train/qualify diving supervisors. Personnel in the Seabee ratings can qualify as Underwater Construction Technician (UCT). Like Navy Divers, UCT operators are primary inwater operators that conduct underwater construction. They also have three qualification levels with similarities to those in the Navy Diver (ND) rating. Navy Hospital Corpsmen can qualify as a Diving Medical Technician (DMT), where they are given training in medical aspects of diving. Primary responsibilities are to provide medical advice and treatment to diving personnel. They also instruct members of the diving team in first aid procedures when the presence of diving medical personnel is indicated. Additionally, there is a SCUBA Diver qualification primarily for those stationed on submarines to serve as sub divers in a limited capacity. Navy SCUBA Divers are also trained at NDSTC at a 4 week course. Their duties consist primarily of conducting occasional inspections on the submarine they are stationed on. SCUBA Divers maintain their Navy rating such as ET or MM as their diving NEC is a collateral duty not their primary one.
Altmire Succeeds in Improving American Legion Charter
JANUARY 2012
December 7, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that will update the American Legion charter to improve the membership process. Congressman Altmire sponsored the House companion bill to S. 1639, which received final passage yesterday and can now be sent to the president for his signature. Congressman Altmire's bill, H.R. 2369, the American Legion Charter Modernization Act, received 432 cosponsorships, a record for any bill in the House.
"Streamlining the membership process for the American Legion makes funds more readily available for local posts to continue their important work independently and prevent legal concerns that could not have been anticipated when they originally crafted their charter," Congressman Altmire said. "At a time when bipartisan bills are rare, I am proud that a recordbreaking 432 Members of Congress cosponsored this bill to support our veterans. Moving forward, I will continue to push for this type of bipartisanship in Congress and look forward to working with the American Legion to help the organization be as successful as it can be." "The American Legion is indebted to the leadership of Representative Altmire in pursuing the changes to our corporate charter," said Tim Tetz, Legislative Director for the American Legion. "For too long, the courts have upheld the autonomy of the local posts. This bill will guarantee that legal costs associated with defending this position can be better used for the programs, scholarships, and community efforts we support throughout Pennsylvania." The American Legion Charter Modernization Act and S. 1639 will allow individual posts to operate autonomously even though American Legion members now pay their dues and renew their membership online through the use of a credit or debit card. This is necessary because of liability issues that occur when money flows from the national organization to individual posts rather than vice versa. In the past, Legion members paid their dues and renewed their membership in the American Legion by cash or check at their local posts. This commonsense change gives American Legion members a new, more convenient option to meet their financial obligations, while allowing their post to continue to operate independently. Under current law, all changes to the Legion's charter must be approved by Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States.
POST 131 COURIER
Group 8 Vets Invited Back To VA (cont) By Tom Philpott September 16, 2009Legion.org
Group 8 veterans also can enroll if incomes fall below a geographic means test threshold for more costly areas of the country. For example, a veteran in San Francisco making less than $69,685 in 2008 (with no dependents) could still qualify for VA care. The same veteran, but with four dependents, could have earned up to $107,470 and still enroll. For Washington, D.C., new income ceilings are $47,335 for vets with no dependents, $54,120 with one dependent and $73,040 for four dependents. “You can see how these geographic thresholds adjust for the specific set of circumstances, depending on where veterans live,” Matkovsky said. A veteran can use the online calculator at VA’s Web site to determine if last year’s income was low enough to qualify for care. Veterans need not rush to apply for enrollment, because no one with qualifying income levels will be turned away. The 266,000 vets expected to gain access is merely an estimate and does not represent any sort of cap on new Group 8 enrollees. For convenience, veterans who applied for enrollment on or after Jan. 1 this year – and were rejected – will not have to reapply. VA will reconsider their applications automatically and enroll them if they qualify. Those denied enrollment before Jan. 1 will have to reapply because VA needs to see their full incomes for 2008. Once veterans are enrolled in VA health care, no further income checks occur. They will not lose access to care if their annual incomes rise. The Obama administration plans to continue to raise income thresholds for Group 8 veterans, in increments of 5 or 10 percent through 2013, enough to allow 284,000 more of these veterans into the system. But VA officials have promised to monitor closely any adverse impact on access to care for higherpriority veterans. The potential pool of Group 8 veterans could total 22 million. “The thing we don’t want to do is open it up in a way that compromises our ability to provide timely care and quality care,” Matkovsky said. More information on Group 8 enrollment is available online at www.va.gov/healtheligibility or by calling (877) 222 VETS (8387).
JANUARY 2012
The Shelby County ReporterDemocrat Thursday, November 11, 1954 WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATED BY LEGION NOV. 7 A 11 foot high marker, the Shelby County Legion Memorial to its dead of three wars was dedicated at 3:00pm Sunday afternoon in Columbiana on the courthouse grounds, with Conrad M. Fowler, of the Columbiana Legion Post in charge of the ceremonial presentations. The marker contains the names of 31 Shelby Countians who lost their lives in World War I; 72 in World War II [2 Columbiana Courthouse Circa 1900 more names were added later, H.W. Beane & Edgar http://tinyurl.com/4xq8zal Connell];and 13 in the Korean War [error, should be 12, no removal of a name appears on marker]. [On the backside there are 11 names that were added later for the Vietnam War, 19641975.]
Central Hotel, Columbiana Alabama Circa 1900 http://tinyurl.com/3zvtjxj
The memorial program was sponsored by the seven American Legion Posts of Shelby County. Preceding presentation of distinguished guests by Mr. Fowler, the invocation was spoken by the Rev. Hollis Hendon of the Baptist Church. The flag raising ceremony was put on by the Color Guard of the Talladega Post. The Drum and Bugle Corps of the Gen. Gorgas Legion Post in Birmingham presented several musical selections after which C.C. Horton, director of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs from Montgomery, made the dedicatory address and unveiled the monument.
The closing prayer was spoken by the Rev. F.P. Richey, pastor of the Methodist Church. Over 1000 people witnessed the impressive ceremony.
Thanks to Shelby County Historical Society for this recount.
Columbiana City Council and Marshall Circa 1900 http://tinyurl.com/67pe8wr
POST 131 COURIER
Veteran Suicide Remains High Despite Increased Support December 2, 2011 House Committee of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled, “Understanding and Preventing Veteran Suicide,” to track the progress being made to prevent suicide and steps taken to identify at risk servicemembers and veterans by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Despite increased resources and services, significant obstacles remain including limits on data, stigma, access issues, and a lack of partnership with community care providers. “The statistics are sobering—18 veterans commit suicide each day with almost a third receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of their death,” stated Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, Subcommittee Chairwoman on Health. “Each month, there are 950 veterans being treated by VA who attempt suicide. What’s more, data from the Department of Defense indicate servicemembers took their lives at an approximate rate of one every 36 hours from 2005 to 2010.” Testimony was heard today on recently released reports from the RAND Corporation “Veterans Health Administration Mental Health Program Evaluation” and the Center for a New American Security, “Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide.” As stated in the Center for a New American Security report, “The health and survival of service members hinges on the removal of the stigma associated with mental health care. This stigma exists in both military and civilian culture.” According to RAND, “The size of the veteran population with mental health and substance use disorders is likely to increase as military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan decrease in size and service members leave the armed forces. Given the clinical complexity and high costs associated with these disorders, identifying ways to increase efficiency while improving quality is paramount. Moreover, even though the VA performed as well as or better than the private sector on quality measures where comparable data were available, there is room for improvement.” Steps recently taken by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the National Veterans Crisis Line and suicide prevention campaigns, have shown some improvement, but outreach to at risk veterans is still the biggest obstacle to reaching those most in need. “We must do more to reach out to veterans inside and outside of the VA and DoD health care systems to ensure that all those who need it get the help they earned and deserve before time runs out,” said Buerkle. “Until a family no longer bears the pain of losing a loved one, we are failing and not enough is being done.”
JANUARY 2012
Veteran Employment Statistics House Committee of Veterans Affairs
HO NO RI NG T HO S E WHO GAVE SO MUCH