washingtonscene \\ COLA News //
COLA Fizzles The November 2016 Consumer Price Index was 235.215. That’s 0.1 percent above the FY 2016 COLA base- line. Follow the trends for yourself at moaa .org/colawatch.
Arlington Cemetery and
Space Issues Closure is preferable to restricting retirees.
A
ſter the completion of two cur- rent expansion projects, Arling- ton National Cemetery (ANC) will
reach maximum capacity around 2050. Over the past several months, the Advi- sory Committee on ANC, an independent federal advisory committee, has been meeting to discuss ways to extend the ac- tive life of the cemetery. The committee wrote a letter for Congress discussing sev- eral options moving forward. As Congress begins discussions on the fate of the cemetery, MOAA wanted to know what you thought was best. Over 6,800 people took MOAA’s sur-
vey and the results are summarized in the chart below.
Participants overwhelmingly rejected the idea of restricting retirees, with the majority preferring expansion options as the initial course of action. In fact, most participants favored continued eligibility for retirees, even if that means closing ANC to future burials once it reaches capacity. Based on the results, there’s no single dominant reason why individuals choose to be buried at ANC compared to other veterans’ cemeteries. Of the 47 percent of participants who
stated they planned to be interred or in- urned at ANC, the reasons for this choice were split evenly among : 1) the cemetery’s military connection, 2) the special nature of the location, 3) the rites and ceremonies performed at ANC, and 4) other reasons. This response is significant because it
illustrates just how difficult it would be to create an analogous cemetery option if Con- gress decides to restrict eligibility. As discussions on the future of ANC
proceed, MOAA urges Congress to keep in mind these results and the importance
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) could reach capacity in 25-35 years under the current rules. Potentially at capacity 2016
Should ANC procure additional land before making eligibility restrictions?
Yes 69%
Are you comfortable with ANC closing to future burials when it becomes full?
There is no clear consensus on the future of ANC.
If it will reach capacity in 25-35 years under current rules, what should be done?
Eligibility should stay the same Rules should change Undecided
Why do you want to be buried at ANC?
Military connection Special nature of the location Rites and ceremonies Other
2041
Do you plan to be buried at ANC?
68% Yes
Yes 47%
Should ANC be restricted to active-duty deaths or MOH recipients only?
Should retirees remain eligible?
2051
No 73%
Yes 64%
36 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2017
18%
42%
27%
40%
24%
23%
26%
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
