|
2009 EANGUS Accomplishments:
- Pay increase 3.4% (.5% more than requested by the President)
- No TRICARE fee increase
- TRICARE Standard for ‘Gray Area’ retirees under 60
- Reserve Component Pre-Mobilization Health Care - doubles from 90 to 180 days the amount of time a Reserve Component member is eligible for TRICARE coverage prior to mobilization
- More full-time support
- New GI Bill education benefits (tuition, stipend, books and tutors)
- Lower TRICARE Reserve Select fees
- Additional National Guard member on the Defense Military Family Readiness Council
- NG Youth Challenge: Increases DoD share of program from 60% to 75% of the costs; includes $110.8 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge
- Program, which is $15 million above the President’s request of $95.8 million
- AGR PAY INCREASE Additional (.5 Percent above Presidents Request)
- Mil-Tech Pay Increase
- Two Year advance VA funding
- Variance in Reserve Component End Strength - allows the Service Secretaries to waive Reserve Component end strength by up to two percent if such a waiver would enhance manning and readiness in essential units or in critical specialties
- Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence - allows up to $200 for each day of Admin-istrative absence that a member would have earned between January 19, 2007, and the date of the implementation of the PDMRA program had the program been implemented during that time
- Stop Loss Special Pay - authorized for any month, or portion of a month beginning October 1, 2009, and ending on June 30, 2011, for a Reserve Component member who serves on active duty while the member’s enlistment or period of obligated service is extended, or has the member’s eligibility for retirement suspended due to Stop Loss
- Continued Service after AGR Retirement - includes provisions allowing for recomputation of retired pay and election to receive Non-regular retirement pay after qualifying for regular retirement
- Military Construction - authorized $585 million in Army National Guard Military Construction ($156 million above the President’s Budget Request) and $236 million in Air National Guard Military Construction ($108 million above the President’s Budget Request.)
- $50 million for state specific National Guard counter-drug programs as well as an additional $15 million to sustain current levels of staffing for High Priority National Guard Counterdrug Programs. This continues the elevated funding for National Guard state plans nationwide which Congress has provided in recent years; includes $1.1 billion for Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug activities, Defense-wide. Fully funds the request of $166.5 million for National Guard State Plans that support domestic law enforcement efforts and counter-narcoterrorism schools
- An additional $20 million for Yellow Ribbon Reintegration and Outreach programs
- STARBASE - received full funding of $16.4 million
2008 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Pay raise of 3.9%, 0.5% over what the President asked
New GI Bill with better financial benefits, still have MGIB
Tuition assistance for spouses for portable careers
Increased full time support positions
Recalculation (lowering) of TRICARE Reserve Select fees
No TRICARE fee or pharmacy increases(3rd year in a row)
Waiver of copayments for preventive health services for those under 65
Expanded medical and dental readiness with onus on services not individual
Health risk management demonstration project
Smoking cessation programs with Rx at no cost and 24 hr quit line
Presumption of service connection for retirement eligibility (medical issues)
2007 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Pay raise of 3.5%
Raise creditable retirement points from 90 to 130 per year
Early retirement provisions -- 90 days off age 60 for 90 aggregate days deployed
Use of MGIB REAP benefits for 10 years after discharge
IDT travel cost reimbursement in limited situations
National Guard Empowerment Act provisions (except no seat on JCS or procurement authority)
Repeal Insurrection Act changes
No TRICARE fee or pharmacy increases
Retain Mil Techs as non-dual status if combat injured and discharged
Salute the flag when not in uniform
Extend VA health care from 2 years to 5 years post-deployment
Retain JCA program with Army and not transfer to Air Force
Obtain funding for more C-17 aircraft
2006 EANGUS Accomplishments:
TRICARE for all reservists at only ONE rate (28%) and not three rates
Maintained end strengths of Army and Air Guard against DOD push for reductions
Federal retirement credit for Guard members in four New Jersey counties who performed state active duty on 9/11/2001
Restricting pay day lenders to maximum interest rate of 36%
Stopped DOD attempts to increase TRICARE fees for under-65 retirees
Stopped DOD attempts to charge enrollment fees and higher deductibles for TRICARE Standard
Stopped DOD from attempting to increase pharmacy co-pays and mandatory use of TMOP
Full funding of full time support ramp despite DOD attempt to curtail it
2005 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Reenlistment bonus eligibility extended from 16 to 20 years service
Modification of MGIB benefits for those who are mobilized or served on full time National Guard duty for national emergencies for more than 90 days
Use of MGIB for mobilized members use in securing licenses and certifications
Military retirement credit for those in NY and VA who served on state active duty after 9/11/2001
TRICARE for all reservists (TRS)
BAH II all but eliminated; moved threshold from 139 days of active duty to less than 30 days
Extension of recruiting and retention authorities
Continuance of Full Time Support ramp
Another pay raise above the ECI, 3.5% pay increase (no targeted raises for senior enlisted this year)
Flexible payment of assignment incentive pays
2004 EANGUS Accomplishments:
New education benefit for Guard and Reserve members who have served in support of a contingency operation since September 11, 2001: 90 days to less than one year of service would earn 40% of the active duty MGIB benefit level; one year to less than two years earns 60% of active duty level; and two years or more of continuous duty earns 80% of the active duty level. Benefits can be paid for up to 36 months, but the member must remain in the Selected or Ready Reserve.
New TRICARE program for Reserve Component members who commit to continued service in the Selected Reserve after release from Title 10 active duty for a contingency operation. Member receives one year of coverage, with a 28% premium, for each 90 days of Title 10 active duty served.
Transitional health benefits for 180 days after separation from active duty made a permanent program. Requires DOD to perform a pre-separation physical exam.
Early eligibility for TRICARE, 90 days before mobilization, made permanent.
Authorization for increased reenlistment bonuses for Guard and Reserve members and extends the time period the bonus can be received to 16 years of service from 14 years of service.
Extension of FEHBP coverage to 24 months for federal civilians who are on active duty.
Clarified the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provision regarding termination of residential and motor vehicle leases - dependents also covered by that protection.
Increase in the maximum home loan amount which VA will guarantee under its home loan guaranty program from $240,000 to $333,700, the maximum level allowed by the federally-chartered Freddie Mac program. This level would be indexed in future years to the Freddie Mac maximum amounts.
2003 EANGUS Accomplishments
Extension of benefits under the Survivor Benefit Plan to surviving spouse of reservists not eligible for retirement who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during IDT Authorization for gray-area retirees to participate in the federal long-term care insurance
Defeated DOD proposal to change training requirements that would have cut pay and retirement points
Permanent VA Home Loan program for Guard and Reserve
Extended SSCRA (now Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) protections covering higher amounts of rent and vehicle leases
Restoration of tax-deductibility of non-reimbursable expenses for travel to drill
TRICARE benefits for National Guard members who are unemployed or without employer-sponsored health insurance
Unlimited commissary access for Guard and Reserve
Targeted Pay Raise - varies according to grade, but it will be at least 4.15%
Elimination of 7200 point rule for special compensation/concurrent receipt
Increased full-time manning for ARNG
Funding for an additional 12 WMD-CST teams
2002 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Extended protections under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act to National Guard members called to active duty under Title 32
Increase in the time to use MGIB-Selected Reserve benefits from 10 to 14 years
A permanent reduction of minimum service required before qualifying for retirement pay from eight to six years
Increase in Army National Guard full time manning
Targeted pay increases for mid-grade and senior NCOs
2001 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Targeted pay raises with at least a 6% increase for Enlisted members Immediate commissary access for new Guard and Reserve members
Federal government agencies are directed to pay FEHBP premiums for federal Guard and Reserve employees called to active duty for more than 30 days to serve in a contingency operation
Authorizes concurrent receipt, IF the President recommends the necessary legislation and provides the necessary funding
Requires a study of National Guard and Reserve healthcare
Prohibition on forced choice between DOD and VA healthcare for military retirees
Large increase in Control Grades for AGRs
Extension of the VA Home Loan program for Guard and Reserve members to 2009
Increase over the President's budget request and over last year's numbers for ARNG full time manning - technicians and AGRs
Authorizes National Guard members performing funeral honors duty the same rights, benefits, and protections provided to service members performing inactive duty training
Cap on funding for Youth Challenge program lifted; program kept in DOD control
2000 EANGUS Accomplishments:
TRICARE for Life - permanent lifetime TRICARE eligibility is provided for Medicare-eligible military retirees and their family members beginning FY2002. TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program - allows participation in DOD's mail order and network retail pharmacy programs by all beneficiaries, including the over 64 population without enrollment fees.
Medicare Subvention test - extended to December 31, 2001.
Basic pay increase - 3.7%
Increase in maximum number of IDT points allowed in one year - from 75 to 90
Special compensation for severely disabled retirees beginning in FY2002.
Additional funding for facilities enhancements - an additional $266 million for the ARNG and $195 million for the ANG.
NCO Pay Table Reform - increased the basic pay rates for E5s through E7s as well as authorizing the Secretary of Defense to increase the pay tables for enlisted members on a one-time basis, to be effective July 1, 2001.
An increase in the maximum number of retirement points a Guard or Reserve member can accrue in one year from 75 to 90.
End strength increased over the budget request - by 526 for the ARNG and 22 for the ANG.
AGR End strengths: Army - was increased 526 over the budget request or 544 over last year's authorization; Air - was increased 22 over the budget request or 13 over last year's authorization
Dual Status Technician End strengths: Army - was increased 771 over the budget request or 3 over last year's authorization; Air - was increased 26 over the budget request but 0 over last year's authorization
Non-dual Status Technicians End strengths: Both Army and Air were not increased over the budget request and it actually resulted in a decrease of 24 over last year's authorization.
An additional $25 million for National Guard Counterdrug activities.
Control grades increase for AGRs - an additional 76 E-8s and 97 E-9s in the Air Force; and an additional 228 E-8s and 119 E-9s in the Army.
Special duty assignment pay for Guard and Reserve members.
Authority to establish up to five additional Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (formerly called RAID teams) for a total of 32.
Authorization for payment of incapacitation pay for Guard and Reserve members who incur an injury, illness or disease in the performance of funeral honors duty.
Drill pay for funeral honors duty instead of the $50 stipend.
Extension of bonuses and special pays for Guard and Reserves: Selected Reserve Reenlistment bonus, Selected Reserve Enlistment bonus, Special Pay for Enlisted Members Assigned to Certain High Priority Units, Selected Reserve Affiliation bonus, Ready Reserve Enlistment and Reenlistment bonus, Prior Service Enlistment bonus.
Authority for legal services for Reserve Component members following release from active duty.
Employers are required to grant an authorized leave of absence for employees who are members of a reserve component to participate in honor guards for funerals of veterans
Heart attacks or strokes that are incurred or aggravated by a member of a reserve component in the performance of duty while performing inactive duty training will now be considered to be service connected for purposes of benefits under laws administered by the VA
1999 EANGUS Accomplishments:
VA Home Loan for Guard and Reserve - Extended until 2007.
Retirement Flags - Will be given to retiring Guard and Reserve members.
Small Business Administration Loans - Approved for mobilized Reservists.
Pay Raise - FY2000 military pay raise of 4.8% plus targeted pay raises later in the year.
REDUX Repeal - Servicemembers who entered the military after July 31, 1986, will receive 50% of high three year's average basic pay for 20 years of service rather than the 40% under REDUX. As an alternative, when they attain 15 years of service, servicemembers will have the option of receiving a $30,000 retention bonus, provided they agree to remain under REDUX and serve for a minimum of 20 years.
Medical care for injured Reservists - Authorizes a member of a Reserve Component to be ordered to active duty for more than 30 days while the member is being treated for, or recovering from, an injury, illness, or disease incurred in the line of duty. Family members authorized for medical and dental care also.
1998 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Increase in Commissary Privileges - From 12 to 24 times per year for Guard and Reserve members.
VA Home Loan for Guard and Reserve - Extended until 2003.
FEHBP Demonstration Program - Authorized for Medicare-eligible retirees and their families in six to ten areas of the country.
Imminent Danger Pay Equity - Authorization acquired for Reservists to receive a full month's imminent danger pay even if their service in imminent danger is for less than one full month, on par with the active component's policy.
Government Airfares for Reservists - Reservists authorized to use government airfares when traveling to weekend drills.
MGIB Changes - Included in the Higher Education Act was a provision which would no longer allow Montgomery GI Bill benefits to be treated as other financial assistance (income) for the purpose of determining need for financial aid for college; 20% increase in MGIB benefits.
Burial Flags for Reservists - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has been directed to provide U.S. flags to drape the caskets of members or former members of the Selected Reserve.
1997 EANGUS Accomplishments:
Pay Raise - 2.8% for FY98.
Reserve Component Automation System - Fully funded despite proposed cuts for FY98.
Military Leave - The President's proposal to eliminate the 15-day leave for federal civilian employees was rejected by Congress.
Temporary Early Retirement Authority - The authority was saved for FY98.
Education Assistance - Entitlement to educational assistance was preserved for Reservists who have to discontinue a course of study when ordered to active duty.
New Positions on Joint Staff - Two new positions were created on the Joint Staff titled Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one for matters related to the Guard, the other for the other reserve components.
Persian Gulf Illness - Legislation passed providing entitlement to members of Reserve Components with Persian Gulf Illness to the same medical care as an active duty member.
|
