From: FRA NewsBytes [Newsbytes@fra.org]

Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 03:59

To: fra@fra367.org

Subject: FRA NewsBytes -- 1-15-10

In this week's NewsBytes:
FRA Meets with DoD Assistant Secretary
Save Our Navy Seals
Navy ROYs Recognized by FRA
FRA Launches Survey of Legislative Priorities
Papp Nominated as 24th Coast Guard Commandant
FRA NHQ Closed Monday, January 18


FRA Meets with DoD Assistant Secretary
Members of FRA's Legislative Team and other representatives of The Military Coalition (TMC) met with Lt. General Dennis McCarthy, the newly confirmed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, and his staff to discuss issues of mutual concern. FRA and TMC stressed the importance of making Reserve early retirement retro-active to service on or after 9/11/01. (Currently only service on or after January 28, 2008 - when the legislation was enacted - can be used to reduce retirement age.)

McCarthy explained that all Reserve Component units are being deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq on a rotational basis so Reservists will continue to play a substantial part of Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF).  He also noted family readiness programs as a high priority and informed those in attendance that less than eight percent of Reservists have elected to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).  McCarthy also pledged to work closely with FRA and other TMC members to achieve mutual goals during the Second Session of the 111th Congress.  


Save Our Navy Seals
Indiana Representative Dan Burton has joined the fight to support the Navy SEALS who are in the midst of court-martial proceedings for their actions related to the capture of Ahmed Hashim Abed, the alleged accomplice in the murder of four American contractors in Fallujah, Iraq in March of 2004. Burton sent a letter, signed by 40 of his congressional colleagues, to DoD leaders asking that the charges be dropped.  FRA thanks Burton for his efforts and encourages shipmates to visit www.SavetheNavySeals.com to sign an online petition of support.


Navy ROYs Recognized by FRA
FRA continued a long-standing tradition of recognizing excellence by Sea Service personnel this week by honoring the Navy's 2009 Recruiters of the Year (ROYs). The Association recognized the 15 honorees and their family members at a special Capitol Hill luncheon by presenting recognition awards to each. RADM Craig Faller, Commander of Navy Recruiting Command (NRC); and Force Master Chief for NRC Chris Penton thanked FRA for the Association's ongoing efforts to support Sailors and recognize outstanding performance. FRA's National President Gary Blackburn participated in the recognition ceremony.  National Vice President James Scarbro and  LA FRA National President Cindy Rodman Tuck also attended the event.

FRA also contributed to the costs associated with the ROYs' stay during their visit to Washington, D.C., arranged a tour the Capitol for the ROYs and their families, and participated in a formal awards event sponsored by the U.S. Navy.


FRA Launches Survey of Legislative Priorities
FRA is conducting an online survey to gauge which military benefits and quality-of-life programs are most important to enlisted personnel. The survey, found at www.fra.org/survey, is open to current and former Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel and the results will be shared with members of Congress and other key decision-makers. Past surveys have indicated strong support for higher-than-ECI pay hikes and overwhelming opposition to proposed drastic increases in retiree TRICARE fees. FRA has successfully advocated for larger pay increases and opposed increases with the support of shipmates who contact their elected officials through the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org


Papp Nominated as 24th Coast Guard Commandant
President Obama, upon recommendation from the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, has nominated Vice Admiral (VADM) Robert J. Papp Jr. for appointment as the 24th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

VADM Papp hails from Westbrook, Maine, and was commissioned in the U. S. Coast Guard after graduating from Officers' Candidate School in 1976. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine, he holds a Masters in Business from Embry-Riddle University and is a 1996 graduate of the U. S. Air Force Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. Papp was promoted to Flag rank in 2005 and served as Assistant Commandant for Acquisition at Coast Guard Headquarters and subsequently as Commander of the Coast Guard's Thirteenth District.


FRA NHQ Closed Monday, January 18
FRA National Headquarters will be closed Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King's Birthday, and will reopen Tuesday, January 19.
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