informationexchange
Coast Guard USCGC Rockaway (W-377), March 13-16, Savannah, Ga. Contact: F. Carlsson, (352) 253-0588,
adselinc@aol.com.
All Services All Aviation Cadets, April 29–May 1, Eureka Springs, Ark. Contact: E. Severe, (479) 253-5008,
av1cadet@arkansas.net,
www.aviationcadet.org.
Reader Exchange
Col. Steve V. Smith, USAF—We are look- ing for him. He was a B-52 pilot. Contact: D. Duvall, 1200 Clear Fork, Lockhart, TX 78644, (512) 376-0164, fax: (512) 357-6103,
dduvall2@austin.rr.com, or D. Carey, daisyj
933@sbcglobal.net.
Cmdr. Richard S. Olinger, USN-Ret.— I am looking for him. Contact: J. Addison, 110 April Wind Dr. S., Montgomery, TX 77356,
jwaddison@yahoo.com.
CWO4 Paul R. McElhaney, USN-Ret.— I am looking for him. Contact: J. Thiel, 308 Duck Pond Rd., Connellsville, PA 15425,
nmsalt@hotmail.com.
Robert F. Mercier, USCG-Ret.—I am look- ing for him. I do not know his rank. I think he lives in either Tomahawk, Wis., or McKin- ney, Texas. Contact: R. Zwieg, 1111 Golfview Woods Dr., Ruskin, FL 33573, rogzwi2000 @
yahoo.com.
Military Veterans of Arsenal Technical High School (Indianapolis)—I am looking for information about all military veterans — living or dead — who either attended or graduated from this high school. They will be honored during the 100th anniversary year. Contact: W. Harris,
jwharris1@juno.com.
Air Force Navigators, Observers, Electronic Warfare Officers, Weapon System Officers, and Combat System Officers—I am looking for members to join our association. The Air Force Navigator Ob- server Association currently has about 1,250 members from World War II to current ac- tive duty. Contact: J. Bannerman, (386) 257- 3853, jimmybannerman@cfl
.rr.com, www
.afnoa.org.
John Grogan, USA-Ret.—I am looking for him. He is either a colonel or brigadier gen- eral. I served with him in World War II in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1944-46. Con- tact: B. Fuller, 3200 Westland, Melbourne, FL 32934, (321) 253-3533,
azan04@bellsouth.net.
Charles M. Kruse Jr., USN—I am looking for information about my father, Kruse. I do not know his rank. He graduated in 1953 from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. He was killed in an aircraft accident in February 1963 in the Mediterranean while serving on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Contact: L. Ackerman,
lavonneack@comcast.net or
perhgd@comcast.net.
Col. Bill Wade, USAF-Ret.—I am looking for him. Contact: D. Munson, 741 Sherwood Dr., Yuba City, CA 95991, (530) 673-3623.
For submission information, see page 20. MO
108 MILITARY OFFICER MARCH 2011
STAKES [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 104]
efi t Plan (SBP) reduction for military survivors, to name just a few. There were compelling reasons why those changes were enacted. Ten years ago, military leaders com- plained of retention problems as de- cades of pay-raise caps had depressed military pay nearly 14 percent below private-sector pay; military retirees and their spouses were being uncer- emoniously dumped from military health care coverage at age 65; all disabled retirees were forced to fund their own VA disability compensation from their service-earned retired pay; SBP benefi ciaries suff ered a 34-per- cent annuity cut at age 62; and GI bill benefi ts had eroded dramatically, among other challenges. Congress’ actions to address those problems were spurred in no small part by national concern to protect the interests of servicemembers whose severe and extended wartime sacrifi ces have been highlighted in the news for nearly a decade. A more extended view of history demonstrates public and congres- sional support for protecting military people programs can fade quickly in times of strained budgets or when a period of extended military confl ict is (or is expected to be) coming to an end. That was true in the 1920s, ’40s, ’50s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. It’s certain to prove true again when budget pressures get tight enough. And the hard fact is budget pressures never
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
What do you think about the commis- sion’s proposals? Click on Proposals at www
.moaa.org/discussion or write to MOAA, Attn: Editor, 201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314, to share your thoughts.
have been anywhere near as tight as they’ll get in the coming years. Regardless of good or bad budget times, a military career is a unique and arduous calling that cannot be equated to civilian employment. Suf- fi cient numbers of high-quality per- sonnel will choose to pursue a career in uniform only if they perceive the extreme commitment demanded of them is reciprocated by a grateful nation and the unique rewards for completing such a career are com- mensurate with the unique burden of sacrifi ce they and their families are required to accept over the course of it. History shows failure to sustain that reciprocal commitment inevita- bly leads to retention and readiness problems that are considerably more expensive to repair than to prevent. MOAA’s position is not that no military benefi t or compensation program should be touched and no fee ever raised. Rather, our eff orts will be direct- ed to making the case that: There must be broader consider- ations in assessing changes to mili- tary career-compensation programs than mere budget savings; Servicemembers’ and their fami- lies’ sacrifi ces must not be taken for granted by assuming they will con- tinue to serve and endure regardless of signifi cant changes in their career incentive package; We must learn from history that there are unacceptable retention and readiness consequences for short- sighted budget decisions that cause servicemembers to think their com- mitment to the service of their nation is poorly reciprocated; and Any new assessment of “shared budget sacrifi ce” must include prop- er acknowledgment that the military community has borne 100 percent of the burden of national wartime sac- rifi ce for the past decade — and many more decades of hot and cold wars before that.
MO
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