Reposted from http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123248204

by Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/23/2011 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Operations appear to be returning to normal around Misawa Air Base. During the past 1.5 weeks, the men and women assigned to the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron have worked to get the base to where it is now, but they still have work ahead of them.

When an earthquake struck Northern Japan March ... << MORE >>

Reposted from Health.mil, link to original article:
http://www.health.mil/About_MHS/Organizations/MHS_Offices_and_Programs/PDBR.aspx

Physical Disability Board of Review
Service members who have been medically separated since September 11, 2001 will have the opportunity to have their disability ratings reviewed to ensure fairness and accuracy.

 
The new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) will examine each applicant’s medical separation, compare DoD and VA ratings, and make a recommendation to the respective Service Secretary (or designee.) A disability rating cannot be lowered and any change to the rating is effective on the date of final decision by the Service Secretary.
 
To be eligible for PDBR review, a service member must have been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less, and not found eligible for retirement.
 
There are significant differences between this new PDBR review and a Board for Correction of Military (or Naval) Record (BCMR/BCNR) review. These differences are outlined here and are also in the instructions accompanying the application (form DD-294).
 
While the Air Force is the lead for the PDBR process, case tracking and reporting, a joint service board will conduct the evaluation and review of each case. Applicants will not be able to appear in person, but may include any statements, briefs, medical records or other supporting documents with their application. After the document review is completed and a final decision is made, each applicant will be notified of the decision and any further information regarding a change of rating. 
 
A final version of the application (form DD-294) was approved on January 9, 2009 and is available at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/formsprogram.htm (under "DoD Forms Inventory 0001-0499"). Applications are now being accepted.
 
Please refer to the FAQ document for more information about the Physical Disability Board of Review. 
 
You may contact the PDBR intake unit at the following address:
            SAF/MRBR
            550 C Street West
            Suite 41 
            Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4743 
 
Please keep in mind that this office cannot discuss the merits of your application. You may wish to contact your local veterans’ service organization for advice or guidance.
 
The DoD Instruction on the PDBR process is available here: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/604044p.pdf.

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Now for my comments

If the applicant gets retiree status they may get more pay, but it's not likely to be significant. It's in the benefits of being a retiree that has the most value, they and their dependents would now be eligible for Tri-Care health coverage (for information on Tri-Care benefits go here http://www.triwest.com/beneficiary/benefits.aspx.) They and their dependent will be able to use all base services that any other retiree and retiree dependents can such as the BX, the Commissary, Base Gas Stations and the Gym, Space A travel on military flights and much more. I would say just the benefits of being a retiree makes it worth the effort of applying, They certainly wouldn't get less than what they have now.

For more information

Military Disability (Medical) Separations and Retirements
Air Force Retiree Services
Army Retirement Services Office
US Navy Retired Activities Branch
The Marine Corps Retired Activities Office

I wrote this after reading this article 'Controversial Memorial Cross Stolen' on military.com and the associated comments posted by other readers

The transfer of land to private hands seems to me an appropriate solution in this specific case, even as a supporter of the separation of church and state. Some seem to have the idea that the Supreme Court ruled it is not a religious symbol for the purposes of a memorial on public land. ... << MORE >>

Last year in Prague President Obama said; "The United States will take concrete steps towards a world with out nuclear weapons".Now that he is making good on that, some accuse him of weakening our nation ... << MORE >>

... << MORE >>

2/22/2009 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFNS) -- Capt. Alan Yee had just finished pilot training and was out with friends celebrating. He and his friends realized they had one too many drinks to drive, and called a cab. As they were travelling down a 50 mph road, a truck slammed into their cab. Moments later, one friend in the cab was ejected out of the back, another friend was choking on his own blood, one friend had his knee severely injured, and Captain Yee's neck was broken. ... << MORE >>

As an Atheist and retired military, the implications of religion before country and the pervasive association of military service with religion along with government support and endorsement of religious organizations on base are offensive to me. Far too often people talk freedom, but what they really mean is the freedom to do as they do. For so many exercising your freedoms in a way they don't like is un-American. It is not American to be like everyone else. The freedom of religion is not just the freedom to worship as you like, it's also includes not believing in any deities in any form.

When it comes to the Constitution's Bill of Rights, the ban from government supporting or restriction religion is in the first line of the first amendment. Think about it it's the very first line that's how important is was and still is. It’s even before the freedom of speech, of the press or right of assembly and redress of grievances. This first and most important protection is intended to prevent any abridging of those rights describe as "separation of church and state".

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The most important right is being ignored in ways such as modification of pledge of allegiance in the 1950's, the addition of religious statements on our money and the fact that in the military certain religious sects get an official priest as an actual uniformed officers and government built churches on bases, Why is that? I say because people’s religious beliefs bring them to the ideal of religion before county. Then use that as a justification to enforce only their rights in regards to religious beliefs. This is a blatant gross injustice and black eye to the ideals of freedom and protection of rights that are suppose to be the core foundation of this country and its claim to being “the land of the free”.

If you’re an American and really believe in and support freedom for all, not just you or your group, you wouldn’t let any personal religious belief be more important for this country than the Bill of Rights that allows you to worship as you like in the first place.

In other news (like any one reads this shit)

 Below is an email letter from myself to Tracfone in regards to recent events between myself and their telephonic customer service line. Even with my opinion being that this incident is egregious display of unfair treatment towards a “valued customer” it does not in itself make them fraudulent or illegitimate as an entity for consumer use

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     18 April 2009
 To Whom It May Concern:

 My phone had recently been damaged beyond function; hence I purchased a replacement, after two phone calls the phone was finally activated properly (due to poor customer service, but not the issue at hand). The problem comes when transferring the unused minutes from my previous phone of which I had 199. This is not a maybe or I think it should be, I know my minutes without the slightest doubt as my phone is not routinely used and I keep a tight eye on my minutes remaining (1 minute from 200 used in the last two weeks). After waiting for the Tracfone representative to confirm this fact, I was told that I only had 170 minutes remaining a 29 minute difference from the actual, to myself a clearly unjustifiable discrepancy on the part of Tracfone.

 Despite my avid protest, [edit](delete typo)[edit] detailed information on why I know the exact minutes remaining, a strong affirmation that slighting me would result in the lost of myself as a future Tracfone customer and that I would warn other off of the use of said service, I was told that since I could not prove the minutes I stated as remaining I had no recourse in the matter. That being I should just take the minutes Tracfone was willing to give and be happy about [edit] it [edit]. To myself the 29 minutes in dispute represent from one to three months of actual use, while to Tracfone they are in essence nothing, invisible in the overall use during the same time frame. What a disgraceful display of corporate bullying of the consumer.

 In these actions by representatives of Tracfone, Tracfone has both insulted myself by impugning my integrity and proved itself unreliable and therefore untrustworthy in the maintenance of its own data. Tracfone representatives have also proven that a handful of minutes are more precious to Tracfone than both the customer and its reputation to such. As a result I will disseminate the facts of [edit] today’s events [edit} to as may people as I can in as many ways as I can.

For Tracfone’s 29 minutes worth of disgrace and shame,
Good Bye,
R***************

I can't hold out any longer I went to a bankruptcy lawyer.  He wants $2000.00 for a chapter 7. He said he might take my truck in trade towards his fee. It's a slightly beat up 95 F-150 4x4. I have to fill out a large packet of forms and provide copies of all my financial and assets information.

I don't see my dick head sons anymore since they stab me in the back so their mother could cheat me out of money she owed me. My step-daughter in Phoenix (26) had a baby with her boyfriend (he's nearly my age), she is so immature and irresponsible with her own life, alone she could never care for this baby. Her boyfriend is better and is keeping things stable for now, but he has a history of poor decisions relating to drugs and alcohol as well as petty theft. They had no money to get things they needed for the baby. I ended up using the last of my cash savings to buy them a crib, stroller, car seat carrier and a bunch of other stuff.

I having more medical problems, now I  have heart condition and arthritis in my shoulders. My cat has been having various skin problems, the large vet bills are not helping, but she's getting better now.

I'm not happy these days, but I'm still alive, with a roof over my head and am not going hungry so I'm better off than some. Hopefully things will improve in the coming year, I say that every year, so I'll see.

Arizona-Rick