Army Retains SFC Martland: The army announced that Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland will be allowed to continue his career in the Army. The decorated Green Beret had been fighting an involuntary discharge after confronting an Afghan police officer in 2011 for sexually abusing a small boy and assaulting his mother. VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki said in a statement that the VFW was pleased to hear that SFC Martland will continue to serve our great nation in uniform. “He is an outstanding soldier who did the absolute right thing for the right reasons, and we are very pleased that Army leadership agreed,” he said.
FY 2017 Defense Bill Overview: The House Armed Services Committee passed its fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill draft. The full House still has to vote on the $610 billion package, plus differences have to be worked out with a Senate version that is still in committee. Some of the troop strength and quality of life programs contained in the HASC bill include: A 2.1 percent pay raise, which is a half-percent higher than the Administration’s request; halting most planned troop drawdowns by adding 25,000 more soldiers to the Army National Guard and Reserve, increasing the active Army by 5,000, adding 1,000 more marines and 285 airmen; retain Tricare Prime and create a new Tricare Preferred program out of the current Standard/Extra programs. Current fee structures would remain in place, but could change in 2020 if the Pentagon can meet certain standards for patient access and care. All personnel now serving or who will retire before 2018 will stay in Tricare fee structures, with enrollment fees adjusted to the cost of living, as mandated by law.
Anyone enlisting after Jan.1, 2018 would pay an annual fee for services; require military treatment facilities to extend their normal business hours to improve patient access, and realign military health facilities under the Defense Health Agency, which is a step closer to the VFW-supported goal of a joint military medical command; require women to register with Selective Service System; extend by one year the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance of $310 per month through Sept. 30,2018, as well as eliminate the different treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded to members of the Reserve Component who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during inactive duty training; amend the Uniformed Service Former Spouse Protection Act by eliminating the “windfall provision,” which currently grants divorce awards based on expected retirement pay, not on the actual pay grade at the time of divorce. This is another longtime VFW-supported goal. Former spouses would still benefit from annual COLA increases as approved by Congress.
New Four-Star Leadership: The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the nomination of the first female officer to lead one of the military’s nine combatant commands as well as two other four-star generals to lead U.S. forces in Europe and Korea. The full Senate is expected to confirm all three nominations. Approved was Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson to be commander of U.S. Northern Command. She is a life member of VFW Post 541 in Prescott, AZ, and currently the commander of Pacific Air Forces.
Also approved were Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti to lead U.S. European Command and Army Gen. Vincent K. Brooks to lead U.S. Forces Korea. Scaparrotti is currently the USFK commander and will succeed retiring Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove. Brooks, a life member of VFW Post 2979 in Washington, D.C., is currently the commander of U.S. Army Pacific.
