|
May 27, 2009
NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATE:
Join Us in Orlando, Fla., for ROA's Summer Convention as We Honor the HEROES AMONG US—Our Nation’s Citizen Warriors
Service Section luncheons are on! Any registrant who had previously signed up for the joint service luncheon will automatically be assigned to their service section luncheon. The speaker for the Air Force luncheon is LtGen Dave Deptula, the senior intelligence officer for the Air Force. Speakers for the Army and Naval Services will be announced at a later date.
 Visit ROA's Orlando Web page
Registration page
LEGISLATION AND MILITARY POLICY UPDATE:
Temporary Suspension of Certain Retired Pay Recoupment Actions
The Department of Defense is undertaking a formal review of the policy and legal considerations relative to the recoupment actions for SSB, VSI, and Separation Payments, a step toward ROA's position that these repayments should be halted. This review will determine what options, if any, are available in addressing these recoupment actions and determine the most appropriate manner in which the Department of Defense can meet its statutory responsibilities. As a part of this formal review, DFAS is temporarily suspending SSB, VSI and Separation Payment recoupments for retirees in an active pay status on June 1, 2009.
ROA Resolution
Recoupment of Old Separation Bonuses Halted (Military Times)
NEWS FOR CITIZEN WARRIORS:
- National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May 19, 2009 (Defenselink.mil)
- Air Force Chief Predicts Fewer 'Exquisite' Acquisition Programs (AFPS)
- Air Force Reservists Make History with Blogger Flight (AFRC Public Affairs)
- Army Reserve Lapses Demand Sharper Eye (PilotOnline.com)
- Study: 28% of Deployed Troop Votes Not Counted (Marine Corps Times)
- Guard Seeks Remedy for Fighter Shortfall (Air Force Times)
- Faces of the Fallen (Washington Post)
- The Fight To Fit Back In (Washington Post Magazine)
ROA NEWS:
TAPS: ROA Mourns Former President
Former ROA President (from 1982 to 1983), and Deputy Executive Director (July 1988-April 1991) RADM Bennett "Bud" S. Sparks, USCGR (Ret.), passed away May 22 at his home in Windsor, Calif. He died in his sleep at 5:33 a.m. after a lengthy illness. Adm Sparks joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve in 1942 and was the first Coast Guard President in the then sixty-year-old history of ROA. In the 1980's, he served as Chief of the United States Delegation to the Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. In 1990, he was appointed International Secretary General of CIOR. During his term of office the 870,000-member organization held its annual meeting in the United States. He served as the National Deputy Executive Director of ROA from 1988 to 1991 with additional duties as Director of Administration and Director of Finance.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, June 13, at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, Calif. A funeral service will follow at Shiloh Cemetery, Windsor, Calif., at approximately 1:30 p.m. In honor of Adm. Sparks, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard has ordered the flag to be flown at half mast at all Coast Guard buildings, grounds, and vessels not underway on June 13.
The family of Admiral Sparks recommends memorial contributions in his name be given in lieu of flowers, to:
The Veterans Home of California, Yountville
180 California Drive
P.O. Box 1200
Yountville, CA 94599
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
4200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 60
Arlington, VA 22203-1804
Alzheimer’s Association North Bay Chapter
4340 Redwood Hwy, Suite D314
San Rafael, CA 94903
A memorial Web site has been established. You can sign the guest book, and add your memories of Admiral Sparks to the Web site.
See the announcement on USCGR Web site
See the article on Admiral Sparks in The Reservist March/April 2001 issue (PDF), go to page 28
Voices of My Comrades: America's Reserve Officers  Remember World War II
"Voices of my Comrades features so many exhilarating and untold accounts, it is as if the story of the war were being told for the first time." -- Andrew Carroll, author of War Letters and Behind the Lines. Part of your purchase price goes to support the ROA.
Voice of My Comrades on Amazon.com
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES:
Highlighted on ROA's Web Site: Departments and Chapters
Visit your department or chapter Web page to see what you are doing locally.
Departments and Chapters Page
Great American Video of the Week
Tune in to watch this week's Great American video: These Things We Do, Memorial Day Edition.
Watch this week's video
Upload your videos on the Great Americans Web site
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Donate to American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will be a symbol of honor and unity for all disabled veterans from all branches of the service and from all conflicts and generations. It will also educate, inform, and remind all Americans of the human cost of war, and of the sacrifices that our disabled veterans, their families and caregivers, have made on behalf of American freedoms.
Find out more and help make it happen by donating here
ROA Travel Partner Offers Hot Deals in May
The Most Government & Military Discounts - Guaranteed! Cruises, resorts, vacation packages and more! No booking fees!
Visit Government Vacation Rewards
 Back to top of page
Click here to Unsubscribe |
|
