Battle Stations fromthepresident
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We at MOAA are very proud that we have been, and will continue to be, part of the solution for our country’s security challenges. We understand our members want us to get things right. We know you want your association to keep doing what is best for the nation as well as the entire military family. We also know the issue of America’s national defense can’t be compromised. When it comes to making defense cuts, the country’s leaders must understand all the risks involved. The process of knowing the right things to do must be balanced by know- ing the smart things to do. It’s usually better to be eff ective than perfect, and MOAA has a good track record of know- ing when to make that call. We have worked in a cooperative way with those who propose legislation that aff ects our members and, thus far, the results have been fair — and balanced. That’s why we were as shocked as
you to fi nd the language in the adminis- tration’s budget-cutting plan was inap- propriately insensitive to the radical diff erences between military and civilian working conditions. The language in the administration’s plan makes it clear the intent of the initiative is to generate large savings by making both the military health care and retirement systems more like civilian plans.
This is not balanced and shows very little understanding of the risks involved
Proposed changes to the military health care and retirement systems are an assault on the very core of the all-volunteer force. MOAA needs you to join the fi ght.
with compensating servicemembers like civilians. It shows very little comprehen- sion of the value of what you’ve paid forward to your country. So, MOAA is driven to Man the Battle Stations like never before. But remember, MOAA is not just our
board of directors and staff ; it’s all of you. Our way of operating, combined with our membership numbers, is what makes us strong. We can do a certain amount of infl uencing from headquarters. Since the administration’s proposal was released, our legislative staff has been quoted in major media outlets because we are the go-to source on military subjects. We are proud of this, and it matters. However, what will take us to the next
level in this fi ght — and it is a fi ght — will be you, answering the call to communicate with your elected representatives. Mem- bers of the congressional “super commit- tee” will be behind closed doors deciding the fate of the benefi ts you earned with your sacrifi ce and service. By its recent ac- tions, we are not sure the administration gets it. We’ve given you the tools you need for your voice to be heard, and we need you to use them. Call, write, or visit the link below to urge your legislators to op- pose these misguided initiatives.
— Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.
*online: Visit
www.moaa.org/protectmilitary to send a message to your legislators. 12 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2011
PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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