This newsletter is produced and released on a weekly basis by AFSA HQ. To read the full newsletter, as well as archived entries, visit the AFSA On Call Newsletter section of www.hqafsa.org.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND NEWS

Breaking News – HASC Subcommittee Says “No” to TRICARE Fee Increases

The House Armed Services Committee released legislative language that will be considered by the Subcommittee on Military Personnel at their markup later today (Thursday). This year’s proposal:

• Authorizes a military pay increase of 1.7 percent and extends many bonuses and special pays
• Provides significant new regulations and procedures for combating and prosecuting sexual assault within the military
• Extends access to family housing for six months and Commissary and Exchange benefits for two years for troops who are involuntarily separated.
• Extends some TRICARE benefits to members of the Selected Reserves who are involuntarily separated.

Most significant, the Subcommittee mark does not, repeat, does not, contain provisions that will provide for higher TRICARE fees and premiums. Instead, the Subcommittee inserted language expressing a sense of Congress that “Career members of the uniformed services and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20- to 30-year career in protecting freedom for all Americans; and those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member’s retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money.” This belief tracks in line with the position AFSA and its Coalition partners have maintained for many years.

We are pleased with the Subcommittee’s decision but remain cognizant of the fact their efforts could easily be overturned by the full Committee when it meets to address the bill in early May. It happened last year and comments made by some of our sources on Wednesday suggest a repeat situation is likely. The bottom line, the Subcommittee got this one right and now they need our support. Please contact your representative and urge them to support the Subcommittee plan. Don’t delay, do it today!

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This newsletter is produced and released on a weekly basis by AFSA HQ. To read the full newsletter, as well as archived entries, visit the AFSA On Call Newsletter section of www.hqafsa.org.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND NEWS 

Congress in Session

Lawmakers resumed legislative activity on Monday and next week the House Armed Services Subcommittees will begin marking up their respective sections of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.  Presently, it is unclear how the Personnel Readiness Subcommittee which provides oversight of military personnel programs like pay and health care will respond to the Administration plan to raise TRICARE fees. 

Last year the House Personnel Readiness Subcommittee rejected a different plan for higher fees only to see their efforts reversed during the full Committee markup.  The HASC Chairman removed the Subcommittee recommendations from the draft bill , replacing it with language of his own which allowed TRICARE Prime fees to rise by 13 percent in FY 2012, and in future years by the same rate of the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA).  Eventually the House provision went on to become law when Congress approved its final bill late last year.  Even if the Subcommittee blocks the Administration plan, it must still past muster before the full Committee then the House as a whole.   Of course, we can’t rule out the Senate which will no doubt come up with a few ideas of its own.  There we hope the upper chamber follows the advice of Senator Jim Webb’s who recently told DoD, “You cannot renegotiate the moral obligation to provide health care to retired service members” .

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This newsletter is produced and released on a weekly basis by AFSA HQ. To read the full newsletter, as well as archived entries, visit the AFSA On Call Newsletter section of www.hqafsa.org.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND NEWS

Congress in Recess

Congress remained in recess this week. The House and Senate will resume normal legislative activity on Monday, April 16.

Early Retirement Possible for Some Enlisted Airmen

The Air Force on Friday announced that a small number of active duty Staff Sergeants, Technical Sergeants and Master Sergeants in 19 over manned career fields may soon be eligible for early retirement in FY 2012 under the Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA).
“The application window for TERA, commonly referred to as the 15-year retirement, will be open April 10-30 in order to shape the force to meet current and future mission requirements,” said Colonel Kenneth Sersun, Chief of Military Force Policy Division. “The current voluntary and involuntary force management programs have enabled the Air Force to continue to size and shape congressionally mandated end strength levels,” said Sersun. “However, we must have the right balance of skills to meet future mission needs, so we will continually assess requirements and force management options.”

The Air Force plans to approve approximately 250 TERA applications this fiscal year and individuals selected must retire by September 1. Initially, approval for early retirement will be based on overmanned specialties, time in service of 15 to 19 years, and grade. If it becomes necessary, additional selection criteria may be considered including active duty service commitment, time in grade, and commander recommendation. Those approved will have their retired pay reduced by 1/12th of 1 percent for each full month by which the number of months of active service are less than 240 as of the date of the member’s retirement.

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