When Col. Jim Bushong, USA (Ret), found out in July 2014 he had prostate cancer, he was shocked by the diagnosis because there wasn’t a family history of the disease and he had followed the recommended screening protocols.

But when Bushong’s urologist asked him whether he had been in contact with Agent Orange during his mili- tary career, he realized the connec- tion. With tours in Vietnam and on Johnston Atoll, Bushong had in fact been exposed to the herbicide. Categorized by the VA as a pre- sumptive disease for servicemem- bers who were exposed to Agent Orange while deployed, Bushong’s prostate cancer qualified him for disability compensation. That’s when he contacted MOAA, who assigned veterans service officer Capt. Paul Frost, USN (Ret), to help him file his claim. By September 2014, just two months after Bushong re- ceived the diagnosis, the VA had adju- dicated and approved his application. “During my VA claims process,

Paul did the heavy lifting,” Bushong says. “We were both surprised at

MOAA provided me. — Col. Jim Bushong, USA (Ret)

Paul did the heavy liſting. ... I am very grateful for the hard work and competent assistance

During my VA claims process,

the speed with which my applica- tion was processed and completed. ... I am certain without his help and the help of the pros on the MOAA staff, I could have generated a much more complex and involved situa- tion, even with the help of the VA agents. I am very grateful for the

58 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2015

hard work and competent assis- tance MOAA provided me.”

Meeting an urgent need Because of the growing need to help those like Bushong, MOAA es- tablished a foundation, the MOAA Military Family Initiative. It serves as a lifeline for servicemembers and vet- erans — regardless of rank or service or MOAA membership status — and their families when they need it most. “Few, if any, veterans’ organiza- tions in the nation offer the breadth and depth of cradle-to-grave services and assistance the MOAA Military Family Initiative funds,” says Col. Mike Turner, USAF (Ret), executive director, Development, MOAA Mili- tary Family Initiative. “In any given year, the initiative sustains over a dozen programs that help the entire military family.”

The foundation offers support in

five key areas: disability assistance, career transition, military family rein- tegration, military spouse programs, and professional education.

Disability assistance With veterans filing about 1 million disability claims with the VA a year, the claims backlog in recent years has averaged almost 700,000. And nearly 400,000 claims have been pending for longer than 125 days. This process is nothing short of challenging. About 50 percent of all claims

filed by veterans each year are filed using veterans service organiza- tion (VSO) services, and the aver- age annual disability compensation increases by about $6,225 when a