6 April 2016 CHAPTER BULLETIN No. 90 1. MEETING SCHEDULE: Our next meeting will be: April Meeting: 1:00 PM on 16 April, 2016 Mike Linnig's Restaurant, 9308 Cane Run Rd, Louisville, Kentucky, 40258 May Meeting: 1:00 PM on 14 May, 2016 VFW Middletown Post #1170, 107 Evergreen Road, Louisville, KY 40243-1439 So mark your calendar and come on out for a little Airborne camaraderie and a good time. 2. WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN: Okay Trooper, here is the skinny on what is going on; April 1, 2016, Chairman Lee Johnson and Vice Chairman Laurie Clay got together with a group of chapter members at Buffalo Trace Distilleries to pick a barrel of bourbon to bottle and sale at this year s 82 nd Convention. We are having our annual lunch at Mike Linnig s April 16, 2016. The Chapter will be setting up a booth with the Military exhibit during Thunder Over Louisville on April 23, 2016, and we re looking for volunteers to help man it. Should be a good time right in the middle of all the action during the Air Show and Fireworks. Contact Vice Chair Laurie Clay (540-330-8399) lkzvarep@cox.net for more information. From now till the convention we will be busy, so stay in touch and we are counting on everyone to help when they can. For those of you who don t know and for those that have heard the rumors, our Quartermaster US Military Marketplace has gone out of business. We were able to recover what little property we had with USMM, and we have shifted our on-line membership and convention registrations to our own Pay-Pal account, so that those wishing to do business by credit card will be dealing directly with the chapter without going through a third party. Those of you that have already registered on-line through USMM; not to worry you are good, and we have your registration. Not sure? Please feel free to contact us and verify. Everything is moving forward for the 70 th National Convention in Louisville next August. A registration form and Hotel reservation information is attached. Don t wait too long to make your reservations, as there will be a limited amount of rooms with a single king bed. Most rooms have two queen beds. Also rooms are going fast and there are a limited numbers of rooms available, so don t wait too long to make those reservations. Just a heads up. You can renew your membership or register for the 82 nd National Convention online at: www.kentuckyairborne.org Airborne, All The Way! Lee Johnson Chairman, Kentucky Airborne Chapter
3. NEW, RENEWAL, REINSTATEMENT AND LIFE (AAM) MEMBERSHIPS: I d like to thank these members for renewing their memberships with the Kentucky Airborne Chapter or transferring their Life (AAM) memberships Robert Burkhart, Lexington, KY Terry Sheehan, Louisville, KY Annual Renewal Annual Renewal 4. LOUIE MANION MEMORIAL FUND: The Louie Manion Memorial Fund is one way we support our charitable contributions to both the 82d Airborne Division Wounded Warrior Fund, and the Chaplain s Paratrooper Pantry on Ft. Bragg. If you wish to participate please send $12.00 (or as much as you feel comfortable with) to your Kentucky Airborne Chapter. When complete, make checks payable to: Kentucky Airborne Chapter Mail to: Kentucky Airborne Chapter 82 nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. 4913 Flushing Way Louisville, KY 40272 Contributors for Mar 2016: Robert Burkhart, Lexington, KY $20.00 5. W ITHIN THE DIVISION AND FORT BRAGG: a. 1 st BCT: Paratroopers from 2-501 PIR conducts a Joint Force Entry operation at Fort Stewart Ga., March 23, 2016. The #Paratroopers are assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, #82nd Airborne Division. The exercise serves as a preparation tool for the battalion and the brigade, who are currently the Global Response Force, and allows Pa ratroopers to train in unfamiliar terrain. b. 2 nd BCT: FALCONS - Engineers from the 37th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division joined engineers from the "The 20th Engineer Brigade" and the 82nd Airborne Division to train on new Airfield Damage Repair kits designed by the Engineer Research and Development Center, at Sicily Drop Zone over the last 2 weeks! U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) c. 3 rd BCT: More than 500 paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, hunkered down in the vegetation and weapon ranges at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune preparing for a 17-day training event, Feb. 27 through March 14. During the two-week period, companies from the battalion branched out over Camp Lejeune s 246-square miles of land, training exclusively in key roles for the unit. d, DIVARTY: Charlie Battery 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, was named the top field artillery battery in the active duty U.S. Army by the Fires Center of Excellence when they were awarded the 2015 Henry A. Knox award for excellence in field artillery last month. e. Aviation Brigade: Leaders from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the 101st Airborne's 3rd Brigade Combat Team said the training showed the units are prepared to fight together "tonight" if
needed, despite of or because of the friendly rivalry. The 82nd flew 10 helicopters from Fort Bragg to Fort Campbell for the nearly week-long training in mid-march. The eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters worked alongside aircraft from the 101st's aviation brigade, providing support for artillery and infantry units. f. Division HQ: The 82nd Airborne Division relinquished command of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command Iraq, to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) March 8 in Baghdad, Combined Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters here today. The mighty all-americans of the 82nd Division showed their mettle here for nearly a year, and they've earned the trip home back to see their families, all the way, he said. It was a pleasure serving with the 82nd. NOTE: These articles and more can be read at http://www.paraglideonline.net/, the FT. Bragg Paraglide newspaper that is published weekly on Thursday. Also, please visit the 82nd Airborne Division website http://www.bragg.army.mil/82nd/pages/default.aspx, for past and current Division information. 6. ALL AMERICAN WEEK 2016: All American Week is scheduled for 23-26 May 2016. We have again arranged for rooms at the Airborne Inn-Moon Hall Bldg. D-3601 Darby Loop, Fort Bragg, NC 28310 (910) 396-396-7700 (POC: Ms. Monica Wells, www.ihgarmyhotles.com from 22-27 May. Please contact the hotel directly for reservations and use group code: ABD. The Association Dinner Social is scheduled for May 26. The AAW Registration and AAW flyer is posted on our website. Registration for AAW is on-line and can be paid for on-line or by write in application. We will also be offering annual AAW coins that can be purchased on our website or with your registration or at AAW. I hope to have them available on-line by mid-february. You will be able to either purchase them on our website and have them shipped to you or pay with your registration and pick them up when you arrive to register at AAW and thereby saving on postage. I will also be posting the schedule of events on the website by in Mid-February. Of course it is subject to changes, but we will continue to update it as information comes in. It will be another great event hosted by the 82 nd Airborne Division. The Division will dedicate the memorial to those lost during training at this year s AAW. Also, this year, on Friday, 27 May at 1000 hours we will dedicate a monument honoring those who served in the 4th Battalion, 68th Armor and or 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum on Hay Street, in Fayetteville. We hope to see many of you there and are working hard to make this great event for all 7. NEW DATABASE: We are continuing to work on our new database and some of you may have already seen emails that it sends when your applications are processed. I wish it could be fully operational quicker, but with only a small few members working on a database of its magnitude, it will take us several months of work to get it fully on-line with all the bells and whistles that we want it to provide. In the end it will provide a much greater capability in assisting our members, and in providing members who have registered email addresses with us, with up to date information directly to them. If you have not registered your email address with us please do so by sending us the update, preferably using the information update on our website. 8. 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION TRAINING MEMORIAL: The Association is fully supporting the efforts of the Division to erect a Memorial to those Troopers who have lost their lives, during training, while assigned to the
82nd Airborne Division. Please go to the what s new page of our website for information on how you can donate to this worthy cause. 9. ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FUND: Applications and additional information are available online under Quick Links/Education Fund and should be mailed PO Box 87482, Fayetteville, NC 29304-7482 which is also listed on the bottom of the application. NOTE: This is USPS box and, therefore, does NOT accept UPS, FEDEX, etc. packages. All questions should be directed to Allen Schoppe, Treasurer for the Fund. Applications must be mailed and received no later than 1 November 2015! 10. WOUNDED WARRIOR FUND: Thank you for your continuing support of the Wounded Warrior Fund. The Association s Wounded Warrior Fund is an IRS 501(c)3 entity and all contributions are tax deductible. This year your generous donations were be used to bring Wounded Warriors to All American Week and will bring Wounded Warriors to our Annual Convention in Orland, FL. Please continue to mail contributions to: 82d Abn Div Association Wounded Warrior Fund, PO Box 87482, Fayetteville, NC 28304. 100% of all donations go to support 82 nd Wounded Warriors. 11. UPCOMING ASSOCIATION EVENTS: Chapter publicity of and member attendance at these upcoming Association Chapter and Regional events is encouraged. Registration and hotel information for these events can be found on the Association webpage "Events" link, and also in the Winter Paraglide. a. 2016 Annual Airborne Awards Festival, 13-16 April 2016 is at College park, GA and is hosted by Donald D. Lassen Atlanta All Airborne Chapter. The host hotel is Atlanta Airport Marriott. Please go to the Events tab at the Association s website for more information. b. All American Week is scheduled for 23-26 May 2016. We have again arranged for rooms at the Airborne Inn-Moon Hall Bldg. D-3601 Darby Loop, Fort Bragg, NC 28310 (910) 396-396-7700 x1712 (POC: Ms. Monica Wells, www.ihgarmyhotles.com from 22-27 May. Please contact the hotel directly for reservations and use group code: ABD. The Association Dinner Social is scheduled for May 26. The AAW Registration and AAW flyer will be posted on our website next week. As we get closer to the event, we will post a schedule of events. c. 2016 NATIONAL CONVENTION: Planning continues for the 70th National Convention, August 10-13, 2016 in Louisville, KY. The Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport will host the Convention. The hotel room rate is $99.82 per night, including tax. This rate is good from 7 August 2016 through 17 August 2016. To make hotel reservations call 888-233-9527 and request the 82nd Airborne Division when calling. Please call ONLY this number when making reservations or go online to https://aws.passkey.com/event/14216594/owner/2812/home POC is Joe Steen or kyairbornechapter@yahoo.com The registration form is attached and is available on our website under Events http://www.kentuckyairborne.org/events.html
12. VETERANS UPDATE: a. VA Firing Top Officials at Phoenix VA Hospital, Week of March 21, 2016: Three top officials at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, are being targeted for removal. VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson on Tuesday identified the three as Associate Director Lance Robinson, Chief of Health Administration Service Brad Curry, and hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Darren Deering. The Phoenix VA became ground central to the wait-times scandal that eventually revealed that officials across the VA system were hiding their inability to meet appointment standards by keeping secret lists of veterans seeking care. b. VA Expands Hep-C Treatment, Week of March 21, 2016: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it is now able to fund care for all veterans with hepatitis C for Fiscal Year 2016 regardless of the stage of the patient's liver disease. The move follows increased funding from Congress along with reduced drug prices. Treatment priority is established for the sickest patients. Also, if veterans are currently waiting on an appointment for community care through the Choice Program, they can now turn to their local VA facility for this treatment or can elect to continue to receive treatment through the Choice Program. VA expects that with the expansion, many more Veterans will be started on hepatitis C treatment every week. For more information, visit VA's Viral Hepatitis website. c. TRICARE Releasing New Reimbursement Rates for Autism Care, Tricare.mil Mar 30, 2016: The TRICARE Health Plan announced new reimbursement rates effective April 1, 2016 for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, which are provided under the Autism Care Demonstration (ACD). TRICARE's ABA coverage and benefits are not changing. The new provider rates align ABA with all other TRICARE rates, ensuring the rates are reviewed and appropriately adjusted each year. d. Pentagon Proposes First Changes to UCMJ in 30 Years, Stars and Stripes Mar 28, 2016 by Nancy Montgomery: The Pentagon has proposed significant changes to how troops are tried and sentenced, two years after a comprehensive review of the military justice system was ordered by then-defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in the wake of persistent sexual assault controversies. The changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice are the first proposed by the Pentagon in 30 years, after years of Congress mandating change, and would also make the system more transparent to public view. e. Tips and Tricks to Accessing VA Health Care, Week of March 28, 2016: Here are several tips one veteran uses to have a good experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) schedule your appointments first thing in the morning or right after lunch so you will be seen on time; (2) have a referral to a specialty clinic? Call that clinic yourself to schedule an appointment; (3) ask for an appointment tomorrow and see if it works; (4) use My HealtheVet secure messenger to talk with your physician; (5) choose a different VA if necessary; (6) if you need to be seen sooner than your appointment, use the VA medical center emergency room; (7) use the kiosks, and avoid the lines; and (8 prepare and double-check your list of needs with your physician. 13. U.S. COMBAT JUMPS APRIL: Date Unit Operation Pers Country A/C Type Jump 02 Apr 67 5 SFG Harvest Moon 356 Vietnam C-130 Day/CE/Mass Tac
14. CONTACTING CHAPTER HQ: For whatever reason you would like to talk with us, please do. We always love hearing from follow troopers. We try and make it as easy as possible, and here are all the ways to do it: KENTUCKY AIRBORNE CHAPTER 82 nd Airborne Division Association, Inc 4913 Flushing Way, Louisville, KY 40272-3175 Phone: E-mail: kyairbornechapter@yahoo.com Website: https://www.kentuckyairborne.org/ Kentucky Airborne Chapter is on Facebook AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME! Chairman Kentucky Airborne Chapter 82 nd Airborne Division Association Encl: 4 OFFICIAL: Joe Steen