fromthepresident
Two-Way Street
Current confl icts have dramatically increased the burden of
sacrifi ce imposed on Guard and Reserve families; our nation
owes them proportional compensation and benefi ts.
O
ur nation learns a lot of the reserve retirement age;
things during war, and the expanding the role of the
current confl icts in Iraq chief of the National Guard
and Afghanistan are no Bureau; creating a GI Bill
exception. The National that allows reservists to be
Guard and Reserve have emerged into the credited for multiple call-ups
national spotlight — and so has the con- for duty in Iraq and Afghani-
current obligation of our country to rec- stan; and strengthening re-
ognize and adequately compensate those employment rights, fi nancial
who serve in those organizations. protections, and readjust-
Most Americans “get” that the Guard ment effort for reserve fami-
and Reserve are embedded totally in the lies. We have made progress
action. What they don’t get is that guard- in all these areas.
members and reservists are not receiving This year, MOAA contin-
benefi ts proportional to their service. The ues to push for fairer health
Pentagon has resorted to saying “they’re coverage for Guard and Re-
just reservists” when they’re not on ac- serve families. Under current
tive duty as a reason to oppose TRICARE, law, Selected Reserve families
early retirement, gray-area TRICARE, can purchase TRICARE coverage while in
and many other items. drilling status but lose eligibility between
Most Americans have become more the time they stop drilling and age 60.
sensitive to the dramatically increased bur- MOAA is pushing to reduce their premi-
dens of sacrifi ce being imposed upon Guard ums in drill status and allow them the op-
and Reserve families — including multiple tion to purchase continuous coverage until
combat tours and family separations. But they attain retirement eligibility at age 60.
Americans don’t necessarily see the behind- (See “Washington Scene,” page 33.)
the-scenes battle being waged to ensure When MOAA advocates on the Hill for
Guard and Reserve sacrifi ces are recognized military “people issues,” we always are
and compensated appropriately. sensitive to the needs of the Guard and
MOAA has been at the front of this bat- Reserve. Our country owes fair treatment
tle, urging Congress to adopt measures that when it asks people and their families to
match the realities of reserve component serve so unselfi shly.
service in the 21st century and arguing that
guardmembers and reservists are on the
front lines and deserve frontline benefi ts.
MOAA was an early advocate for open-
ing TRICARE to reserve forces; lowering — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.
12 MILITARY OFFICER AUGUST 2008 PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
AAug_prespage.indd
12ug_prespage.indd 12 77/7/08 9:00:09 PM/7/08 9:00:09 PM
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