YOUR AIR FORCE ENLISTED VOICE

1
YOUR AIR FORCE ENLISTED VOICE
FOR OVER 46 YEARS!
2
Overview

• Who Are We?
• Association advocacy examples
• Life without AFSA
• 08 09 legislative platform
• Your Role
• Invest in yourself

3
Who We Are

• AFSA represents the professional and
  quality-of-life concerns of the Total AF (active
  duty and reserve components) enlisted members
  (active, retired, veteran status, and their
  families
• AFSA is member of Military Coalition
• Veterans alliance made up of 31 military and
  veterans service organizations
• 2.5 million members
• Purpose
• Maintain uniformed services compensation and
  benefits at levels sufficient to attract and
  retain professional uniformed service members for
  careers of service to the Nation
• NOTE LOSS OF VOICE
• Previously had 35 military and veterans service
  organizations
• consisting of 5.5 million members

4
Why Military Coalition (AFSA)
EXPECT EVEN-LOWER NUMBERS AFTER NEXT YEARS
ELECTIONS.
110th Congress
5
Association Advocacy
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
PAY RAISE
MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL
Quality of Life
6
AD Pay Raises (2009-3.9 proposed raise)
DOD BUDGET
AFTER YOUR INPUT
2001
3.7
3.7
1992
3.2
4.2
2002
5.0-9.5
6.0-9.5
1993
3.7
3.7
2003
4.1
4.1-6.5
1994
0.0
2.2
2004
2.06.25
1995
1.6
2.6
2005
3.5
3.5
3.7-6.25
1996
2.4
2.4
2006

3.1
1997
3.0
3.0
2007

2.7
1998
2.8
2.8
2008

3.5
1999
3.1
3.6
MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX (ECI) PLUS 1/2
PERCENT, MEASURED 15 MONTHS IN ADVANCE
2000
4.4
4.8
7
Retiree Pay

• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
• 2008, 2.3 percent
• 2007, 3.3 percent
• 2006, 4.1 percent (biggest jump in 15 years)
• COLA is based on the change in consumer prices
  from Jul-Sep quarter of each year compared to
  preceding year
• 100,000 Disabled Retirees Owed Back Pay
• Underpayment occurred as DoD/VA implemented laws
  to end Concurrent receipt (military retirement
  and VA disability)
• Those eligible must have at least 50 disability
  rating

8
Latest News-Education

• MGIB (H.R. 5740 upgraded to H.R. 5684)
• Raise payment to 1450 from 1101
• Value 52,200 for 36 mos (full-time)
• 500 per month housing stipend (full) 250
  (part)
• Extend post-service usage period from 10 to 15
  years
• Bills face daunting challenge of overcoming
  congressional budgeting requirements
• CA National Guard Education (SB1752)
• CA is one of the only states that do not provide
  an education benefit to ANG members
• Bill would provide education assistance by
  funding student fees and books at CA Universities
  and Colleges
• Requirements Active ANG member in good standing
  for at least two (2) years maintains a 2.0 GPA
  or higher

9
Latest News-Education

• GI Bill for Military Spouses
• DoD and DoL launched 35M, three-year pilot
  project for military spouses in eight states
• Provides up to 6000 for tuition, books,
  equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees
• Eligible spouses with sponsor, E-1-E-5 and
  O-1-O-3
• View http//caa.milspouse.org

10
Latest News-Retirement

• Reserve Retirement
• Effective Jan, reservists can retire by three
  months for every 90 days af active duty served in
  support of contingencies/wars in Iraq and
  Afghanistan
• Only applies to assignments after Jan 28, 2008
• S2836/HR4930 would change eligibility date back
  to 9/11/2001
• Discussion of making AD retirement plan mirror
  Reserves
• Retire w/ 20 year however, unable to receive
  retired pay until age 60
• Cap Lifted for those serving 30 years or more
• Retirement will no longer be capped at 75 of
  base pay
• Example Serve 32 yrs80 Serve 42 yrs105
• NOTE Military retirement can be worth millions
• 18 yr-old Airman makes AF career and advanced to
  CMSgt, can retire after 20 years at age 38
  under current retirement plan, projected earnings
  approx 5 million by age of 80

11
Latest News-Health Care

• Increase fees for beneficiaries of TRICARE and
  DoD Pharmacy programs
• Target retirees younger than 65 because most work
  and have access to employer-sponsored health care
  plans
• Moratorium on TRICARE fee increases ends in
  October
• National Military Veterans Alliance wrote, 4 Apr
• It is particularly disturbing that these
  proposals have been made while previous and
  current actions by the Defense Department result
  in increasing medical costs. These actions
  include reductions in the numbers of uniformed
  physicians, nurses and other military medical
  personnel. This contributes to inadequate
  staffing of Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs)
  which forces beneficiaries into more expensive,
  private sector care.
• Fee increases are being proposed during a time of
  war when health care costs are at their highest.
• Public Records being requested for health care
  studies

12
Latest News -Misc

• Number of Homeless Vets Down
• Decreased 21 in the past 2 years
• 200,000 in 2006 to 154,000
• Housing Privatization implemented AF wide
• Commissary Surcharge Increase from 5?
• Force reduction/BRAC effecting costs
• Military Wives Becoming Surrogate Mothers
• Significant increase of service members applying
  since invasion of Iraq
• Earn more than husbands annual pay
• Attractive candidates because of the TRICARE
  health coverage

13
News - Misc

• California Motor Vehicle Gas Refund Tax
• Reimbursed .18 per gal for fuel consumed on
  installation (Benefits Vandenberg/Edwards)
• New Cellular Phone Laws are effective 1 Jul 08
• Motorists 18 and over may use hands-free device
• Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a
  wireless telephone or hands-free device
• First offense baseline is 20 and 50 for
  subsequent
• W/ addtl penalty assessments, fines can triple
  base
• Applies to out-of-state drivers

14
Life without AFSA

• Health Care (06, 07, 08)
• Won ban on TRICARE fee increase
• Defeated proposal to charge enrollment fee/raise
  prescription co-pays for VA care
• Defeated 5.1 and 9.9 cut in Medicare and
  TRICARE payment to doctors (07, 08)
• Barred pharmacy copay increases (07, 08)
• Retirement/Survivor Issues
• Increases in retired pay/SBP COLA
• Minimum SBP annuity raised (40, 45, 55)
• Permanent ID card at age 70
• Expand CRSC eligibility to disability retirees
  with less than 20 years full service
• Full concurrent receipt for those rated
  unemployable effective Jan 05 (payable Oct 08)

15
Life without AFSA

• Active/Reserve Force Issues
• Pay raises above minimum employment cost index
• Won 400 free SGLI coverage for members deployed
  to Afghanistan or Iraq
• Reimburse up to 33 in drill-travel expenses
• Raised maximum hardship duty pay from 300 to
  750 per mo
• Authorized licensing and certification tests
  under the MGIB for mobilized members
• Increased PCS weight allowances

16
Life without AFSA

• Absence of a Montgomery G.I. Bill
• Little or no tuition assistance
• Basic pay would be a fraction of what it
  currently is
• Allowances would be quite a bit less or non
  existent
• Reimbursement for PCS moves would be
  significantly less
• Hazardous duty pay would be much lower or non
  existent
• Dormitory standards would be much poorer
• Frankly, YOUR military life would be very
  different

17
08 - 09 Legislative Platform

• Military Pay and Compensation
• Housing andPermanent Changes of Station
• Military Health Care
• Educational Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• AFRC and ANG
• Military stores
• Child Development Centers/Base Realignments
• Survivor Benefits
• Veterans Programs
• POW/MIA
• Voting/Patriotism

18
Your Role

• Armed Forces Voters Week (3-9 Sep 08)
• AFSA has a key role encouraging voter
  registration
• Promote during Armed Forces Voters Week
• Team up with Base Voting Officer
• Legislative Awareness Week 19-25 Oct 08)
• Chairman Carton urges AFSA Chapters to promote
  legislation during Legislation Awareness Week
• Help us educate congress by writing your
  representatives
• REMEMBER, they work for you!
• Help us build an even more powerful voice
• Legislative training course is now free to all
  members

19
Your Role

• Keep Community Informed on Legislative Info
• Read Sergeants, view websites
• Distribute to Chapter members/Base organizations
• Place in Public areas (may need approval)
• CA Veterans Legislation
• CA State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC)
• http//www.califveterans.com
• Pete Conaty and Assoc lobby for CSCVC
• Considered small donation to pay for services
  when Chapter finances permitmembership fees
  dont generate enough revenue for to pay services
  rendered

20
Invest in yourself

• E1-E4 less than .4c per day (18 for 18 mos)
• Two sodas per month
• E5 E9 less than .7c per day (25 for 12 mos)

21
What is AFSA

• Vigilance
• Organization
• Intensity
• Character
• Effectiveness

22
YOUR AIR FORCE ENLISTED VOICE
FOR OVER 44 YEARS!