WHISPERINGS. Casper Society Internet Base. December 2017/January 2018

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1 WHISPERINGS Casper Society Internet Base December 2017/January 2018 USSVI Creed: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution. LOST BOATS for December/January: USS Capelin (SS 289), December 2, 1943 USS Sealion (SS 195, December 10, 1941 USS F 1 (SS 20), December 17, 1917 USS S 4 (SS 109), December 17, 1927 USS Scorpion (SS 278), January 5,1944 USS Argonaut (SS 166), January 10, 1943 USS Swordfish (SS 278), January 12, 1945 USS S 36 (SS 141), January 20, 1942 USS S 26 (SS 131), January 24, 1942

2 Treasurer Report: Bank Account, Balance 30 November 2017: $ Casper Patches NSK USSVI $ Website Renewal HostGator Total $ Interest Earned: $ 0.00 Other Income: $ 0.00 Bank Account: Balance - $ Editor s Comment: I sincerely wish to make an apology to all for my delinquency in staying up to date on the newsletter publications. No excuse except to say I will strive to do much better. This past year has not been good to our base with the Eternal Patrol departures of CTTCM(SS) John Norosky and CAPT Pat Ogren, both retired and longtime direct support types. We will all miss them both and especially J J to keep us all up to date on his sea stories. Old Business: Please continue to visit the Base Website at for information on the Base and matters of general interest to Casper. There are still a large number of CT s of all branches who are eligible to join Casper Society. Now is also a good time to become USSVI members as the annual dues are $25 and will be valid through 31 December As all are aware, Casper Society has no membership dues nor does the USSVI Internet Base. A blank membership application is on the last page of this newsletter. A reminder to all Casper Society Internet Base members, the on-line version of The American Submariner magazine is available at ussvi.org. It is one way to reduce the publication cost by individual mailings. New Business: The 2018 Casper Reunion is fast approaching and as requested will be in North Little Rock, AR April 5-8. Our host is the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel and the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum home of USS

3 Razorback (SS 394) and YTB Hoga. You are free to contact the hotel at Toll Free at or Be certain to tell them you are with the Casper Society Reunion in April Events are still being planned and will be promulgated at the earliest possible date. Welcome Aboard to our newest Base Member, CWO-4 (CTTC) John Sweeting now living in Forrest City AR. John qualified on USS RAY (SSN 653) and is the NJROTC Department Head at Forrest City HS. The below was received from our COB and PR man, CTTC(SS) Mike Pepe Varone and is important to all retired members. Please read and if you have questions they will be answered as quickly as possible: TRICARE Reform: Changes Will Arrive Soon and What You Need to Know to Prepare November 16, 2017 Administrative and structural changes to the TRICARE program will accelerate in the very near future, and will affect most beneficiaries except those using TRICARE for Life. For those beneficiaries who are under age 65, to include active duty family members, it is time to listen up and take the required action if you need to. Some of these changes are happening simultaneously, which adds to the complexities of this large scale system transformation. There are key system transitions which necessitate modified technology adjustments to beneficiary data in the DEERS system - commonly called file transfers and new identifiers changing TRICARE Standard to the new TRICARE Select. In addition, the three current TRICARE Regions will be reduced to two, and the TRICARE contractors will be changing in both the East and West regions. If you want to make changes to your TRICARE coverage, TRICARE officials are urging beneficiaries to do so as soon as possible. What you need to know: Beginning December 1, DoD will freeze enrollment files as they will be transferred to the new TRICARE contractors and revise the plan options (Standard to Select) in the DEERS system. Beneficiaries can still send enrollment forms to the contractors and they will be processed in DEERS when the file transfer is complete. This will take 3 weeks.

4 By November 20, 2017, beneficiaries should complete any and all enrollment actions. Beneficiaries will not be able to use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment website to enroll in or dis-enroll from TRICARE Prime options. Additionally, beneficiaries will not be able to use the web enrollment to enroll in TRICARE Young Adult or TRICARE dental options while this website is unavailable. Regional contractors will accept enrollment applications through other channels, for example by phone and mail. The contractors will be able to process these enrollments after the freeze is complete. This will not affect any care you receive during the enrollment freeze. Remember to keep any and all receipts for purchased care. Remember, keep your DEERS information up to date as beneficiaries must be registered in DEERS to enroll in TRICARE Prime or a Prime option online, by phone or by mail. Our challenge coin and patch sales are in progress and will be available at the Reunion in April. You may also order via mail. Each are priced at $10/each plus postage. Significant events and dates: December 7 Pearl Harbor Day December 21 Winter Solstice December 25, 2017 Christmas January 1, 2018 New Year s

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