FRA Today – May 2017
COMMUNICATIONS
FROM THE BRIDGE
sHIPMATE FORUM
ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL
MAIN FEATURE
second feature
TRICARE
LIFE MEMBERS
membership matters
SHIPMATE NEWS
auxiliary of the fra
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
TAPS
Reunions/Looking For…
FINANCE MATTERS

COMMUNICATIONS

What FRA Has to Offer

T
he value or benefit of becoming a member of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) has changed throughout our 94-year existence. Back in the day, when sailors cashed their pay, there was a senior sailor at the pay window urging sailors to join the Fleet Reserve Association, or so I have been told. Back then, the benefits of membership were clear and easy to justify.  FRA successfully fought for benefits and quality-of-life programs for Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel before Congress. 
One of FRA’s first major accomplishments during the 1930s was advocating for senior officers whom Congress was planning to omit from a major pay initiative. Senior Lobbyist Charlie Lofgren appeared before a congressional subcommittee and argued the merit of a pay raise for the “admirals and generals,” something they could not do for themselves. It had a telling effect on Congress. It enacted the pay bill, including increases for senior officers.
Of course, we are still very active and have enjoyed many success stories. In fact, there has recently been a very positive forward motion on Capitol Hill with the Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Act and the VA Choice program. Efforts at promoting and advocating an increased awareness and prevention of veteran suicide have also been underway. FRA leadership has met with Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (California), House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Rep. Tim Walz (Minnesota) and other Democratic legislators to discuss women veterans’ issues.
In addition to the constant FRA legislative activity in the halls of Congress, we provide a constant stream of information relevant to our constituents. There are several channels of outbound communication with members, both electronically and in print. Headquarters publishes the monthly magazine and two electronic newsletters (NewsBytes and OnWatch). It also maintains the FRA website and our social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. These are all great benefits of membership. If you do not receive any of these aforementioned communications or have any trouble accessing them, please call or email me. FRA

Bill Stevenson is FRA’s Director of Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact him at williams@fra.org.

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FROM THE BRIDGE

 The Value of an Education

B
ack in February, our FRA NHQ Communications and Marketing Director William “Bill” Stevenson suggested that I write about the value of an education for my next article. This past August, at the age of 56 years old, I graduated from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, Tex., with a Bachelor’s in Psychology/Social Worker. Like many of you—let’s hope—I spend many days involved with some kind of education of veterans, their family members and Active Duty. I don’t just help them with their benefits and entitlements, but also how to use the internet and online social media in order to gain access to the vast amounts of information now available online.
Being a recent college student, I immediately went into student mode and Googled “the value of an education.” Hey, that’s what students do. While careful not to plagiarize the thousands of “hits,” or results of my search, I found a general consensus that there must be a “take away” of some sort, in other words, a “worth” of some kind. In my case, the “worth” was to obtain the piece of paper required for me to be able to work with veterans and their family members who are experiencing difficulties brought on by their experiences in the military and/or afterwards. While I can sit in the classroom and learn about how to be a proficient counselor, obviously what veterans have experienced either then or now, cannot be taught in the classroom environment. However, the “worth” of learning effective counseling measures proved to be my take away. Please read the feature article that begins on page 16. It addresses some recent trends of older online users and also provides eight resources for using technology—several are free!
You may ponder “is the FRA National President suggesting that the Shipmates return to school?” The answer is, no.  My wish is for your “worth” and take away from this column is, that as veterans, retirees, reserves, Active Duty and family members, we must educate ourselves about our benefits and entitlements. This is what we have gained from the decades of FRA Shipmates’ grassroots efforts on and off Capitol Hill. 

The Value of FRA 
Are you aware that many of the benefits and entitlements that we take for granted today are from the bills passed by Congress that FRA Shipmates advocated many years for?  These Congressional Bills passed for our benefit can and are being taken away from us. Most importantly, we as service members are allowing lawmakers to change these laws by not speaking up! We see this happening to our health care, our prescription services and Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, just to list a few of the most significant. In short, if of our elected officials don’t hear from you and others, they assume this is an indication that as citizens of the United States who have pledged our lives to defend our country, we don’t necessarily mind relinquishing our benefits and entitlements. We do not understand the “worth” of our military service. 
When not on Capitol Hill or communicating with key legislative people about FRA’s legislative agenda, Shipmate and FRA Legislative Program Director John Davis, along with his team, constantly update our “FRA Action Center,” which is accessible on our website (action.fra.org) or now using the FRA App. The App can be downloaded for free from the App store, just type in “FRA App.”  I call upon you to use the “Action Center” and sound off to your elected officials with the goal of educating Congress about why these bills need to be passed. Not merely for our own personal “worth,” but your family and all the past, present, and future veterans of our Sea Services!  FRA

Donald Larson is the FRA's National President for the 2016-2017 year.

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sHIPMATE FORUM

Blended Retirement System
I know this will never get printed but I have to get this off my conscience. The only thing that ever gets printed in your magazine is whatever is “politically correct,” according to some idiot’s guesswork!
 This “blended retirement plan,” featured in the March issue, is a total disgrace to anyone who ever became member of the U.S. Armed Forces. This “thing” is disgusting, and I guarantee, I could never recommend anyone to join the military today. I have a 20-year-old grandson and will not encourage him to be a part of this sham. This “thing” was designed by a bunch of politicians and overpaid government employees ... both military and civilian.
 It sure as hell is NOT a “benefit plan”!  The “earned” military retirement system is a small repayment of what we went through for more than 20 years of service-days and weeks and months spent “underway” on ships that were intentionally understaffed and without appropriate funds to maintain these vessels by the same politicians and overpaid government employees. ...
 If you are some four-star Admiral or an overpaid civilian being paid by the American taxpayers, it’s very easy to sit around and dream up these wild ideas.  They surely are not worried about ever paying for a “retirement benefit plan.” There’s going to come a time when the only military you idiots will come up with is “conscription” where everybody is forced to serve, whether they like it or not.
 RMC Donald L. Kimble, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
In my opinion, [the Blended Retirement System] should be called the “New Convoluted Retirement System.”  Leave it to Congress and members who are elected to represent all of us to tamper with a system that has worked very well for those of us who volunteered to serve for 20 or 30 years, which included months away from home and families and other deprivations. Which one of them has spent time in service? They have instead turned a well-tuned retirement machine into a “Rube Goldberg nightmare”!  
Maybe they need to examine their own pay scale and retirement system. This “new” plan should have been shot down at its concept!
I retired years ago under the old system, which covers promises made. … [M]y expectations were no bonuses and my “Vested Interest” was signing up for another four or six years of service until I reached 20 or 30! 
Ron Baptista, ENCS(SS) (Ret.)
Defense Business Board
In the February 2017 issue of FRAtoday, “Report Claims $125 Billion Wasted at DoD,” I can’t help but wonder whether the body claiming such waste, the “Defense Business Board,” isn’t a major contributor. As has been argued for many years, why do we need such a civilian board looking over our military shoulders? I believe we could eliminate millions of dollars from defense [spending] by doing away with such extraneous civilian overkill.
Frankly, in the 54 years since I first committed to service in the Navy, I have never even heard of the “Defense Business Board.”
Mike Woods, Branch 70

Prescription Drug Provider Change
There has been a change with Tricare For Life. They have replaced CVS Pharmacy and now suggest that we use Walgreen’s Pharmacy. I was a little upset, since I would now have to drive 10 miles to Walgreen’s. So I decided to take a new prescription to CVS (2miles away) and see what my copay would be. It [was] a $20 copay. I thanked them and placed it on hold. A few days later, I happened to be next to Walgreen’s so in I went with the script and it [was] a $40 copay. This certainly is not any savings for us.
Jim Mendoza, HMC USN FMF (Ret.)

Submissions Send Shipmate Forum letters to Editor, FRA Today, 125 N. West St. Alexandria, Virginia 22314. E-mail submissions may be sent to fratoday@fra.org. Please include “Shipmate Forum” in the subject line. FRA reserves the right to select and edit letters for publication. Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and views of FRA members. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of FRA as a whole. FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content.

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ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL

HVAC Reviews VA Community Care and VA to Expand Mental Health Care

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC) recently held an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Program and the future of VA community-care programs, authorities and budget impact. Recent work performed by the VA Inspector General (IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) very clearly illustrates the Choice Program is not set up to succeed at its primary mission - providing timely care to veteran patients who cannot access that care within the VA because it’s not offered, it’s not available within a reasonable amount of time, or it would entail the veteran traveling a great distance.  
In his opening statement HVAC Chairman Rep. David P. Roe (Tenn.) stated, “[V]eterans could potentially wait up to eighty-one calendar days before receiving care due to the burdensome bureaucratic process that VA imposed on the Choice Program. That is unacceptable to me and, I’m sure, everyone in this room.”  Ranking Member Rep. Tim Walz (Minnesota) echoed the sentiments of the Chairman and promised to work on this issue in a bipartisan manner.  The next day, the HVAC approved the “Eliminating the Sunset Date of the Choice Act” (H.R. 369) legislation that eliminates the sunset (expiration date) on the Choice Program. Be sure to use the FRA Action Center online and ask your representative to support extending the VA Choice Program.  
During the hearing, Secretary Shulkin announced his intention to expand provisions for urgent mental health care needs to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.  This move marks the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on expanding access to assist former OTH service members who are experiencing mental health distress and may be at risk for suicide or other adverse behaviors.

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FRA Co-sponsors House Guard and Reserve Caucus Breakfast

As part of its strong support of Sea Services Reserve Component enlisted personnel, FRA joined other organizations in co-sponsoring the House Guard and Reserve Caucus Breakfast on Capitol Hill. Representatives Steven Palazzo (Mississippi) and Tim Walz (Minnesota) co-chair the bipartisan caucus. Attendees included caucus members, legislative staff, Reserve Component senior enlisted leaders and members of key military associations.
Co-chairman Palazzo announced the introduction of legislation (H.R. 1384) to ensure that an order to serve on active duty under sections 12304a and 12304b of title 10, U.S. Code, is treated the same as other orders to serve on active duty for determining eligibility and calculating deadlines for certain benefits.

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House Subcommittees Review Impact of Sequestration

Subcommittee of The House Committee on Armed Services held hearings for two weeks at the end of March to discuss the impact of The Budget Control Act (BCA) on funding the military. Specifically the BCA mandates across-the-board cuts to the armed services budgets-known as sequestration.
Representatives from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy all testified on the impact these budget cuts and budget uncertainties have had on modernization and readiness. All testified that the current budget situation is forcing the military to choose between current readiness and future modernization efforts. This is resulting in shortfalls in maintenance and other key areas. It is also constraining their ability to meet current and future threats, which results in increased risk for service members and our nation.
FRA agrees with the concerns expressed and believes that the BCA should be repealed or amended to exclude defense. This law poses a threat to national security and will substantially impact member pay and benefits. These automatic cuts require 50 percent of budget cuts come from Defense even though Defense makes up only 17 percent of the total federal budget. Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center online at: action.fra.org/action-center, and ask your legislators to exclude Defense from Sequestration (automatic budget cuts)
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Senior Enlisted Testify at Subcommittee Hearing

The military senior enlisted summarized their prepared testimony in April and ranked their respective quality-of-life concerns before the House Committee on Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee (MilCon/VA). Those senior enlisted included:

• Daniel A. Dailey, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army
• Steven S. Giordano, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy
• Ronald L. Green, Sergeant Major, U.S. Marine Corps
• Kaleth O. Wright, Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force

The hearing focused on recent allegations that nude photos of female Marines, both enlisted and officers, were posted in an online Facebook group without the women’s knowledge or consent.  MilCon/VA Chairman Rep. Charlie Dent (Pennsylvania) condemned the activity in his opening statement. Ranking Member Debra Wasserman Schultz (Florida) said this type of activity “promotes a culture of sexual harassment and encourages sexual assault.” Rep. Schultz stated that the lack of outrage sends the wrong message to women in the military and urged the Marine Corps to express more outrage about the incident. Rep. Dent stated that putting nude photos on the internet without the person’s permission is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) Ronald Green denounced the activity in his oral testimony saying the posting of the photos disrespected Marine Corps values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment.” He claimed that the Marines are actively engaged in the fight against sexual assault by modeling positive leadership engagement and disseminating messages about expectations of how all Marines should comport themselves.  
SMMC Green went on to testify the Marine Corps needs “fiscal certainty.” Green’s testimony discussed family readiness and physical fitness.  This includes the Marine Corps’ efforts to improve child care. In FY 2016, the Marines extended childcare development center hours to a 14-hour minimum, ensuring military families are able to have access to care for their children when they are on duty.        
The testimony of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steven Giordano also spoke to family readiness. He informed the subcommittee there are more than 25,000 Sailors deployed away from their families. In the current environment, the demand for Navy operating forces is increasing. MCPON specifically mentioned a lack of lead time on Permanent-Change-of-Station changes. These short notices have distracted Sailors and put stress on their families. He also expressed concern about adequate child care and the lack of availability of spouse employment opportunities.  Giordano noted that only 62 percent of single Sailor housing is rated as “adequate.” (SMMC Green also said adequate single housing is also a concern in the Marine Corps. Giordano added that Basic Allowance for Housing is a recurring topic at all-hands calls during 
command visits.

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NP Testifies Before House and Senate Veterans’ Committees

FRA National President (NP) Donald Larson testified before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. NP Larson was the second person to testify in a panel of nine witnesses from other MSO/VSO organizations. NP asked Congress to pass legislation (S. 422/H.R. 299), which expands presumption of coverage for Blue Water Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange herbicide while serving off the coast of Vietnam.
The National President’s testimony requested Congress to enact legislation that will reduce the large backlog of disability claims appeals at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would provide critical oversight and reform for the Veterans’ Choice Program, which increases veterans’ access to non-VA care. NP Larson asked that the VA Caregiver Program be expanded to include those who care for all catastrophically -disabled veterans. Currently the program applies only to caregivers of veterans who were disabled after 9-11-01.  A copy of the written testimony is available on the FRA website under the “Advocacy” tab at: www.fra.org.

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RA NED Meets with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 

FRA’s National Executive Director, Thomas Snee, along with representatives from other military and veteran service organizations, met with Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (California) and Ranking Members of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Rep. Tim Walz (Minnesota) and other Democratic legislators to discuss women veteran’s issues. 
Some of the issues discussed included the quality of care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers including; mental health care for women, access to child care, availability of mammograms, accessibility of in-vitro fertilization benefits for service-connected disabled veterans and changing the VA moto to be gender neutral. Some women veterans at the event claimed they feel the VA does not make them feel welcomed when they visit a VA center. 
It was also noted during the meeting that there is an increasing number of women veterans seeking gynecological, prenatal, obstetric care and other gender-specific services at VA medical centers. Women veterans at the meeting claimed facilities serving women veterans need to improve privacy and safety. FRA is supporting the “Deborah Sampson Act” (S. 681), which seeks to improve and expand the VA’s programs and services for women veterans.

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Bills to Expand Caregivers Program Introduced 

“The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act” (H.R. 1472/S. 591) has been introduced in the House and Senate to expand the Caregivers Program to include veterans catastrophically disabled before September 11, 2001. The current program applies to veterans disabled on or after September 11, 2001. 
A 2014 RAND study commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation estimates the services caregivers provide to veterans, saves our nation $13.6 billion annually. These caregivers too often pay a price by suffering from physical stress, emotional stress and illnesses. They have difficulty maintaining employment and can suffer from financial or legal problems, family strains and isolation. 
These military caregivers shoulder the everyday responsibilities of providing care to those who suffered the emotional and physical tolls of war. These dedicated individuals make many sacrifices to care for their loved ones and they deserve our support. This bill will expand access to services for caregivers and help ensure they have the resource they need to care for these severely disabled veterans.

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White House Petition on Agent Orange/Blue Water Navy Issue

A petition has been put on the White House website asking President Trump to direct the VA to rescind the exclusion of Blue Water Navy Veterans who served in the bays, harbors and territorial seas of the Republic of Vietnam from the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. The herbicide was used to destroy foliage on river shore used by the Viet Cong to hide and shoot at passing ships. The chemical got into rivers that ran out to sea. Ships used the water for bathing and drinking. It has been proven the desalinization process for water intensified the toxicity of the small amounts of herbicide in water. The petition can be found online at: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/compel-va-give-blue-water-navy-veterans-their-presumptive-agent-orange-rights. 

FRA is seeking a legislative remedy by supporting the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 299/S. 422), to bring a degree of justice to several thousand Navy personnel who have been denied service connection by the VA since 2002. They will no longer have to prove direct exposure to Agent Orange, and they will receive expedited consideration for VA benefits if they are afflicted with any of the health conditions associated with exposure to this defoliant. 

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Press Reports VA Suicide Hotline Still Has Problems

A recent USA Today news story reported the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suicide hotline is still forwarding nearly a third of all calls to outside backup call centers. This is still happening despite pledges by VA officials to stop the practice in 2016. This followed a report from the Office of Inspector General that found the call centers routed veterans to voicemail. The VA established the call center in 2007, anticipating 10 percent of calls would be routed to a backup call center if all the phone lines were busy. However, the number of rerouted calls remains high, even though a second call center was opened in 2016. This story was first reported in the April 2016 issue of FRAtoday. An average of 20 veterans a day commits suicide and suicide prevention is a priority issue for FRA. The number for the Veterans Crisis Line is 800-273-8255. Online “chatting” is also available at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by texting 838255. A copy of the USA Today story is available online at http://www.usatoday.com. Search by title.

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Congress Begins to Work on FY 2018 Budget
As you get this issue of FRAtoday, the Administration should be delivering its FY 2018 budget request to Congress. Usually, budget proposals are released in early February, but all new administrations take longer to develop and release their initial budget request. After Congress receives the complete budget request, lawmakers will work to pass 12 different appropriations (spending) bills before the beginning of a new fiscal year on October 1, 2017. In recent years, Congress has not enacted all 12 of the appropriations measures before the start of the new fiscal year, requiring the enactment of a Continuing Resolution to keep the government operating at the current spending levels.  Starting the budget process in May puts Congress behind schedule before work begins on the FY 2018 spending bills, but the House and Senate leaders are working to finalize the budget on time.

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Houses Passes VA Legislation
The House of Representatives recently passed three bills that impact veterans. The first bill “VA Accountability First Act of 2017” (H.R. 1259), sponsored by Rep. David P. Roe (Tennessee) and supported by FRA, would increase the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to discipline and fire workers at the VA while still protecting the legal rights of those employees. It would also strengthen protections for whistleblower employees at the VA. The second, H.R. 1367, sponsored by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Ohio), would expand the authority of the VA Secretary to hire and retain physicians and other employees.
The third bill, the “Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act” (H.R. 1181), sponsored by Rep. David P. Roe (Tennessee), would prevent veterans who mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent or experience extended loss of consciousness, from being banned from owning firearms. The bill would require determination from a judge or magistrate that the veteran is a threat or a danger to themselves or others before the veteran could be put on the list of persons prohibited from receiving or transporting guns. The bills now go to the Senate for further consideration.

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TRICARE Meetings 

FRA staffer Bob Washington recently participated in a meeting with Acting Deputy Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Navy Rear Admiral Colin Chinn, who was joined by the Surgeons General of three branches of service. Discussions focused on implementation of the TRICARE changes enacted in the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Health care for military children, specifically hospice care and programs for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the May 1, 2017transition of the TRICARE dental program from MetLife to United Concordia were also discussed.
In related news, concerns were expressed during a recent Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council meeting that some military families are seeing doctors and other health care providers dropping out of the TRICARE network in advance of this year’s change to the contracts. Among other changes in the new contract, TRICARE’s three regions are now consolidated into two, with Humana in the East region and HealthNet in the West, pending one court challenge to the contract. FRA will monitor the health care reform mandated by the FY 2017 NDAA and advocate that TRICARE and VA Health Care programs are not adversely impacted by unanticipated consequences during implementation.
TRICARE beneficiaries should make sure that they and their family members are enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS) and review the information in DEERS for accuracy, especially contact information (address, phone and email address). Your primary care manager—either a new one or the same one you currently have—will need to be able to reach you.
If you don’t already have a milConnect account, register for one by visiting the DEERS website at www.dmdc.osd.mil. If you have an account, log in and check if your information is correct. While you used to get some materials such as claim forms and your Explanation of Benefits statements mailed to you, under the new contract you will only be able to access that information online.  Obtaining or maintaining an active milConnect account will be important staying current with your information.

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New TRICARE Contract Delayed

During a recent meeting of the Military Health System (MHS) MSO/VSO Executive Council, attended by FRA National Executive Director Thomas Snee, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced the transition to the new TRICARE contract will be delayed from October 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018. The new contract reduces TRICARE from three regions-North, South and West-to two regions, East and West. Humana Health Insurance Company will manage the East region and Health Net Inc. will manage West region. This delay aligns the rollout of the new regions and contractors with the transition to TRICARE Select, which will replace TRICARE Extra and TRICARE Standard. This alignment is intended to reduce disruption of care for TRICARE recipients. 

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Bill Introduced to Improve VA Programs for Women Veterans

Senator Jon Tester (Montana) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the bill on behalf of himself and 9 other senators and Senator John Boozman (Arizona) recently introduced the “Deborah Sampson Act” 
(S. 681), which seeks to improve and expand the VA’s programs and services for women veterans.  
The Act gets its name from Deborah Sampson, the woman who disguised herself as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. She was wounded in 1782 and spent half of her life fighting to be recognized for her service.

The FRA Legislative Team is National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee, Director of Legislative Programs John Davis, Assistant Director of Veterans Programs Brian Condon and National Veterans Service Officer Chris Slawinski.

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MAIN FEATURE

Adults and Social Media Today

On
e of my favorite shows on television during the early 1970s was Star Trek. The futuristic aspects of the show were really something to consider. I recall the suave, cool, collected Captain James T. Kirk walking into a room and simply speaking out loud, “Computer, tell me the specifics about some pending disaster should be. …” Or the communicator he used; just flip it open and start speaking to one of the crew, anywhere, with no cords, wires or connectivity. 
Well, guess what? We have arrived at both those “futuristic” pinnacles of technology use. Today, there are two generations of Americans who have never had a telephone with wires leading to the wall. The telephone of today has more technological capability than the computers used to launch the first moon landing! In fact, today’s cellular telephones are so much more than just a communication device. The applications, calendars, email, web access and other tools make cell phones some pretty robust little bundles of technology.
The artificial intelligence (AI) that is now available is pretty much like Star Trek. There are a few better-known AIs available, such as Google’s Home, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa. I am sure you have either seen commercials or read advertisements about these household know-it-alls. We are not quite that plugged-in at my house, but there is almost always a conversation that needs fact verification. So instead of asking “Alexa,” my family pulls out their laptops or cell phones and within seconds (sometimes longer when we are ALL on the wireless connection at the same time), the winner is declared by online verification!

Walk Before You Run
All of this technology can be very overwhelming, particularly for first-time users. Technology is rapidly changing but once you get into a groove and use it with some level of frequency, you are certain to become less frustrated. In fact, I’ll bet you may even come to enjoy your online escapades. Keeping this in mind, for some of you still hesitant to make the leap into technology, let’s look at some trends of older generations who go online. Maybe you will be convinced to at least take an online test drive. 
To jump start your journey, check out some statistics, as reported in the Pew Research Center’s Internet, Science & Tech article by Kathryn Zickuhr about “Generations Online in 2010.”
As expected, Millenials are more likely to use the internet wirelessly on a laptop, tablet or mobile device and far outnumber the older generations when it comes to accessing social media and instant messaging, listening to music and playing online and virtual games. This is the group that is vacating Facebook because all their parents are online, constantly butting into their stream of conversations. Privacy has just been invaded. These Millennials are the population evolving fastest, introducing online forums such as Snapchat. Skip it, not worth discussing any further.
The older generations–Generation X, Young and Older Baby Boomers, the Silent and G.I. Generations–are more likely to access online information sites, such as government or financial websites, as well as community websites detailing local activities from sporting to community events, and more. Let’s look at what websites are being used by both groups! The following types of websites are some of the most common and popular among all age groups: search engines, health information, current news, online purchasing, online banking, travel reservations and product or service ratings. This list makes complete sense when you think about it. These are typical activities for most people in today’s society who want to do or know something and the most efficient and real-time method to learn about it is online. Instantaneously. 
Although the younger generations are still more likely to use social networking sites, the fastest growth—particularly with respect to social media usage has been to internet users 74 years and older. The social media use for this group has quadrupled since 2008 and jumped from 4 percent to 16 percent. The percentage of adult internet users watching video online has jumped 14 points (52 percent to 66 percent) between 2008 and 2010. Fifty-one percent of all online adults listen to music, compared with 34 percent when asked in 2004. Searching for health information online was once only done by older generations, but it has now become one of the most popular searches for all adult internet users.
A study Dr. Robert S. Miller participated with through his affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine and their website, shows that one in four physicians uses social media to explore and comment on medical information. The survey was conducted in 2011 with 485 responses out of 1,695 practicing physicians polled. The results showed that 61 percent of physicians scan the internet for medical information and 46 percent contribute and post their expertise to these online forums.

Social Media
A recent article authored by Anita Kamiel, R.N., M.P.S., titled M.P.S., “A Hot Trend: The Internet, Social Media & The Elderly,” had some great facts derived from the same Pew Research Center article mentioned earlier. Most of us think Facebook is just for kids; however, many older folks have not only been drawn into the online world, but are also becoming proficient in using the tool. It has opened virtual “doors” for many. The article stated that, of those online users who are 65 years or older, 71 percent are daily users, 34 percent of which use social media. Kamiel reported that the internet has become an important avenue for reducing isolation, loneliness and other depressive symptoms. In addition to searching for information, destinations or informative sites easily and comfortably, many seniors have found their way to the wonderful world of Facebook. 
Most teens have moved out of Facebook as seniors have found great value in online connections. One big difference between the two generations is their attitude toward privacy. Younger social media users work in what Kamiel characterized as a “selfie” type of environment where their world is an open book for anyone and everyone to read, comment or “like.” Older users tend to be more private and sensitive to what they share and with whom they share it. They also recognize that others in their same generation have started discussion groups on common topics such as dementia, depression, diabetes and more. Physicians and other health care professionals are also leveraging the social media pages to take advantage of this online doctor-patient relationship.

FRA Online
I have been working with the Fleet Reserve Association since July, but one of the things I have noticed was that the Facebook page for FRA is significantly underutilized. While we are continuously working to improve this, we also need to consider our membership and what information headquarters pushes out to our subscribers. We try to provide news that we think updates our readers on relevant legislation as well as other topics pertinent to veterans.  We understand that this may not be appealing to all our Shipmates, some of whom may be more interested in what’s happening at their local region or branch, for example.
Some Shipmates use social media on a daily basis. These are the users with whom I have connected and now have a network of “boots on the ground.” I have learned so much about FRA and what our Shipmates do for other veterans and their communities through these connections. We have some active members who do not always share what the branch or unit is doing, but once online, you can see all that they do. It is amazing how much our members give back and post online! I noticed all the volunteer work FRA and LA FRA members do around the November and December months. So many Wreaths Across America, Veterans Day, Christmas and local community events happen without much fanfare. But once I log on and navigate the Facebook pages for FRA, it is evident many of our members are plugged in. In fact, some Shipmates have used Facebook to locate past Shipmates or help grow membership for their branch.

Facebook’s Social Value
I use Facebook more than other social media sites. It initially started in 2006 or 2007 when the association for which I was working wanted to make a commitment to communicating with current and prospective members through as many channels as possible. The “free” aspect of Facebook fit the budget nicely. Some of the unforeseen outcomes I noticed was how my personal life quickly blended with my professional life. I did not have the foresight to set up unique accounts for both my personas–my work life and my private life.
The big upside for me is how I am able to stay in touch with so many relatives all across the country. I have three aunts, one uncle and a mother-in-law in my circle of older family members. All four use technology, albeit at different levels. Nonetheless, we all stay connected very easily and, most importantly, constantly.  Now some of my relatives are more tech-savy than others. Those folks send pictures, jokes and an occasional video. It has really closed the communication gaps that were starting to appear. As my children’s lives became more active, my time to write letters–or even make that quick telephone call–all but disappeared. As a result, our extended family, nieces, nephews, cousins and even our children, I think, are all so much more tuned into each other’s lives, now more than ever. 
Facebook and email have been great methods to experience milestones, good news and shared pictures of our extended family. I really enjoy being connected with my nieces who are all at different times in their lives. Weddings, children’s birthdays, home renovations, vacations, a first bicycle ride without training wheels. Just about all the things in which I could participate in person can now happen virtually–and in real time–using technology. Not as satisfying as real life, but a very close second.
Bottom line is social media is here to stay and there is an entire world, or two, out there worth exploring! It allows us the opportunity to reunite with old friends, read the latest politics and discover places from the other side of the world about which we never knew, all in one click. But moderation is key–don’t let it consume you and get in the way of living your daily life. 
If you need help setting up a Facebook page for your branch or for yourself, there are many resources. The Technology Teaching Tools included in this article is a great resource for finding someone who can help you get started using technology and social media. If you need more help, please email me at Williams@FRA.org, and we can get you going in no time.
You can also connect with us via social media for any and all updates. Find us on Facebook (www.fra.org/fb), but also on our Twitter page (a social networking site used to send and read messages called “tweets”) (www.twitter.com/FRAHQ) and Instagram (a free website and app used to share pictures) (www.instagram.com/FRA_HQ). Join us and help us spread the word on about FRA! FRA

Bill Stevenson is FRA’s Communication Director and can be reached at Williams@FRA.org

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second feature

Traditional Whole Foods Diets May Improve Your Mental Health
By Christine Lehman, M.A., N.T.P.

W
hen psychiatrist Emily Deans, M.D., hired a nutritionist to help her implement a personalized Paleo-style diet without gluten, dairy and legumes, she was pleasantly surprised by the results.  The Paleo diet, also called a traditional or ancestral health diet, emphasizes unprocessed nutrient-dense food including grass-fed meat and poultry, wild-caught fish, healthy fats and unrefined carbs, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. 
Deans’ experience was so positive that she began wondering whether traditional whole foods diets could improve mental health.  Her interest in alternative approaches also coincided with the end of the “Decade of the Brain,” a federal mental health initiative designed to promote brain research in 1999.  Psychiatrists thought that if they were able to understand just how the brain’s neurons work and communicate, mental illness could be cured. In other words, if the right receptors were accessed in the right way, it would be amazing.
Brain research led to a new class of antidepressants known as selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which target the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.  Physicians commonly prescribed well-known SSRI’s such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft to treat depression and anxiety.  “As well-meaning physicians, we were trying to follow evidence-based medicine in our practices, not realizing that a lot of the negative studies on SSRI’s were not published. They were not nearly as effective as we were led to believe,” said Deans.
She began diving into the research on mental health and traditional whole foods diets including the Mediterranean and Paleo diets. “I was dismayed by the lack of high-quality research cited in even a few popular Paleo books.  However, since 2009, the quality of research has improved with several randomized controlled trials, which are considered the gold standard,” added Deans.

Traditional Diets Decrease Risk of Depression 
Most of the gold-standard studies showed, according to Deans, a traditional whole foods diet makes you more resilient and less likely to develop depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. In some studies, the risk of depression decreased by half. 
“These are diets that people have eaten for decades in Australia, Japan and Italy.  In studies that compared traditional diets for brain and heart health, the Mediterranean diet came out ahead. ... It has a lot of monounsaturated fat and traditional whole grains like wheat berries used in salads.” Deans continued, “But even if you just eat a traditional lower fat diet, such as a rancher’s diet in Australia that consists mainly of steak, eggs and vegetables, you get some benefits.”
Red meat consisting of beef, lamb and pork is not typically considered a major part of the traditional Mediterranean diet.  However, when a researcher in Australia added red meat to the subject’s diet in a randomized controlled trial, it decreased the risk of major depression further. According to Deans, “What they found … is that none of the traditional whole foods diets that restricted red meat worked, or helped decrease depression.”  

Are Vegetarians and Vegans Healthier? 
The research literature shows most vegetarians (people who don’t consume animal proteins except sometimes eggs or fish) and vegans (people who abstain from all animal proteins and products such as honey) tend to be healthier than the general population because they typically smoke less, drink alcohol less, have better sleep habits and exercise more. When it comes to their mental health, Deans said,  “studies have also found that vegans and/or vegetarians tend to be more neurotic, are up to three times more likely to have an eating disorder and twice as likely to be anxious or depressed than people who consume meat.” 
Deans cautioned that the research findings are correlational and not causational, which means that the research only showed an association between their diet and mental health rather than a direct cause and effect relationship. Another potential explanation is that more people who are prone to depression and anxiety also tend to be vegetarian eaters.
Deans commented that the definition of vegetarian varies both in the United States and in Europe. For example, in the United States, vegetarians typically do not consume poultry or seafood (except fish occasionally) or any red meat.  In contrast, vegetarians in some European countries consume everything but red meat. 
Abstaining from meat, poultry and seafood can lead to several nutrient deficiencies and mental health problems.  For example, meat contains the vitamin B12 and a deficiency can increase depression and anxiety and cause memory loss, paranoia and hallucinations. Meat also contains the mineral iron and a deficiency can lead to anemia as well as anxiety. “Vegetarians and vegans also seem to be deficient in the mineral zinc, which can lead to obsessiveness and anxiety,” said Deans.  Zinc is an essential mineral found in large amounts in meat, poultry and seafood and in smaller amounts in beans, whole grains and nuts.  
Another common deficiency is the essential fatty acid omega 3, found in large amounts in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna and in smaller amounts in nuts, seeds and fish oils. People who don’t get enough omega-3 in their diet face an increased risk of developing dementia, depression, attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia and schizophrenia.
Vegetarians and vegans often compensate for deficiencies in vitamins and minerals derived from animal proteins by consuming more supplements and/or foods fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as cereals fortified with folic acid.  In addition, women of childbearing age have long been advised to take folic acid supplements because a folate deficiency can cause neural tube defects in an unborn child.
However, an estimated one in three people has a gene mutation named MTHFR, which means they can’t convert folic acid into folate due to the fact that they do not produce enough of the chemical dihydrofolate reductase. This unmetabolized folic acid ends up in the blood stream, and can lead to health issues such as cognitive decline and susceptibility to certain cancers. 
There are a many whole food diets available in addition to the Paleo and Mediterranean diets discussed in this article. Regardless of which diet you choose, enough studies and research are available to clearly substantiate the value of a whole foods diet. Eating mostly whole foods—foods that are as close to their natural form as possible or look like they grew in nature—is just plain healthier. Maybe we should eat the way people did centuries ago?  FRA

Resources:
Visit Dr. Emily Deans’ Evolutionary Psychiatry blog at https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry.
Visit Christine’s Website and blog at www.reversediabetescoach.com
Diet comparison study: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1368980014002614
Dyes in Skittles: http://www.dyediet.com/2011/06/12/candy-and-snacks/skittles-taste-the-rainbow-of-dyes/
Folate and folic acid: http://blog.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/2015/05/13/the-difference-between-folate-folinic-acid-and-folic-acid/

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TRICARE

How to Avoid a Common Military Benefit Surprise-Especial After Hospital Stays

T
RICARE For Life (TFL) made medical benefits easier for many FRA members and military retirees.  By eliminating the need to pair a Medicare supplement with traditional Medicare coverage, TFL also helped military retirees save a good deal of money in their retirements as well.
Now, an important benefit program for FRA members – called the FRA Hospital Income and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan – can help protect even more of your finances during retirement.  

When “Most” May Mean Trouble for Military Retirees
Saving money with an earned entitlement that takes care of “most” of your medical care sounds like a great deal.  And it is.  But there are a couple of situations to watch out for:
First, that pesky “most” word.  While TFL delivers a dependable package of benefits for military retirees, it simply was not set up to handle “all” medical expenses.  That can become especially apparent during a hospital stay.  
Why?  Because during a hospital stay, you’re most likely running up more expenses than normal.  Doctor visits, nursing care, specialist treatments, medical supplies, prescription drugs, care from therapists, charges for your room or medical equipment. It all adds up quickly.  Hospital bills totaling THOUSANDS of dollars are common.  
But you’ve got TFL for “most” of those expenses.  Which expenses are NOT covered?  You’re not likely to find out until after you check out.  Seeing the portion of your hospital bill for which you’re responsible after TFL can bring a nasty financial surprise.

Home Sweet Home May Bring Even More Bills
Going back home after a hospital stay can feel like a sweet victory.  But that’s another situation to beware of because unexpected medical costs may again rear their head.  
It’s no secret that hospital stays – even for serious health conditions – are shorter than they were for older generations.  In fact, many military retirees find themselves released from the hospital with strict doctor’s orders to recover at home.
But what if those doctor’s orders include nurse visits to monitor your recovery?  What if your doctor recommends physical therapy to help get you back on your feet?  What happens if you need help around the house while you’re recovering?  They’re all common during a home recovery.  But they’re definitely not free.

FRA Plan Delivers Cash Benefits to Help Round Out Your Financial Safety Net
No one wants to spend a hospital stay worrying about their portion of the bills – either in the hospital or after they’re released to go home.  That’s why FRA set up an important plan to help take care of bills that aren’t covered by Medicare or TFL.  The FRA Short Term Recovery Plan steps in with benefits paid for a hospital stay for a covered sickness or injury PLUS home health care benefits to be paid when you’re recovering at home after a hospital stay.
It’s valuable peace of mind to help protect Shipmates against unexpected medical bills.
For more information about the FRA Short Term Recovery Plan, call 1-800-424-1120 or visit us online at frainsure.com. FRA

All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.  Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, Hartford, CT 06155, detail exclusions, limitations, and terms under which the policies may be continued in force or discontinued. Hospital Income Plan Form Series includes SRP-1151, or state equivalent. This limited health benefit plan (1) does not constitute major medical coverage, and (2) does not satisfy the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because the coverage does not meet the requirements of minimum essential coverage. This policy provides limited benefits health insurance only. It does NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Program Administered by Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLCAR Insurance License #100102691 •  CA Insurance License #0G39709 In CA d/b/a Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services LLC 81239 Copyright 2017 Mercer LLC. All rights reserved.

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LIFE MEMBERS

FRA CONGRATULATES THE FOLLOWING Shipmates who have become Life Members during the first quarter of 2017. The listing, which is arranged by Join Date, also includes their branch number or designation as a Member-At-Large (MAL). Call 1-800-FRA-1924 to learn how you can become a Life Member of the FRA.

Name		Branch

January
Charles D Carnahan		91
Raymond McCracken		MAL
Jesus G Tan		MAL
Jerry M Fugich		104
John C Laukkanen		MAL
Juan J Mongalo		91
Linda Franklin		MAL
Gary W Parsons		67
Vilice E Johnson		192
Richard Keyworth		126
James J Hillar		MAL
Gregory L Womeldorff		MAL
Nicanor C De Los Reyes		MAL
Hatsune Marshall		997
Clinton Fort		MAL
Stephen E Arndt		MAL
Scottie A Thompson		61
Donald E Smallwood		MAL
Douglas R Malston		210
Conrado G Celestial		269
Jane Evans-Sellers		MAL
Eugene J Hussey		126
John A Moore		99
Harvey L Belcher		269
Doug Wells		147
Dean Crawford		91
Michael F Burror		230
Carroll W German		126
Tim Brooks		MAL
Douglas A Wood		MAL
J D Crouch Jr.		94
Thomas Kravets		MAL
Timothy S Schwarzbauer		234
Paul Tidwell		186
Rodney D Hansen		183
John L Turner Jr.		47
Hazel C Bettencourt		382
Gerald Brimacombe		136
Derrill E Thompson		MAL
Virgil L McIntire		MAL
Kenneth J Conrad		91
Gary L Smith		367
Jon B Cockreham		MAL
Douglas R Kesler		24
Virgil R Stanger		287
James V Sisson		161
Reynaldo A Damo		46
Bobby G Cannon Jr.		MAL
Edward J Comes		46
Eric B Guenther		103
William P Hernandez		94
Gerald R Atkins		90
William Houser Jr.		106
James E Gardner		166
Bruce L. Adams		285
Richard Castro Jr.		162
Richard Boorman		20
Johnnie R. Willis		99
Steven L. Russell		MAL
Lawrence O Dietz		174
Edward W Dudley Jr.		226
Dennis W Armstrong		293
I. E. Green		MAL
Carl J Schmoock		89
Paul Winkler		MAL
Gilbert D Baker		175
Galmar S Ylagan		67
William Hoffman		MAL
Nicholas J Peters		70
Wayne White		MAL
Bruce W Keefer		MAL
David C Bunch		MAL
Elwood W Philhower		31
Kenneth E Sankey		46
James H Masters		290
Tom Punda		70
William J Lansing		MAL

February
Wally Tesch		120
Daniel M Fitzgerald		MAL
Benny Fune		84
Harold E Patton		MAL
Shawn L Putnam		185
Richard E Bull		70
Amos L Crepeau		MAL
Dennis E Holland		275
Ira Lee Edgerton		141
Robert D Litten		MAL
Lyle C Shanks		298
Marcelino S Santos		247
Virgilio R Gadiano		154
Damien Di Paolo		20
Kenneth E O’Connor		86
Billy Paul Hrbacek		104
Benjamin L Leith		260
Harold W Cushing		60
Marvin W Schwinn		47
Donald L Vester		MAL
Roger T Davis		24
Geraldine P Saich		137
Fred L Migliorini		175
George N Andrews		20
Gerald G Kaschak		MAL
Roger O Paulhus		MAL
Jackie Carl Evans		46
Vincent M Woods		MAL
Todd M Brown		MAL
Paul W Orstad		20
Linus G Riehle		MAL
Leanne S Pollard		104
Billy G Thompson		112
Ernest Ressler		MAL
Robert N Matoka		MAL
William F Blount		MAL
Troy Horsley		290
Marion E Ritchie		307
Joseph R Huffman, II		197
Johnny M Isaacs		91
Cleto L Lastrella		127
Lawrence W Hynson		MAL
Stuart J Tyle		175
William A Hawks		MAL
David W Thompson		371
Dan Durham		MAL
Alan L Metcalf		40
Jack M Dunlap		MAL
Jackie B Watkins		175
Robert K Cooke		8
Robert C Hammer		MAL
Nicholas J Martocci		115
James B Bugtong		166
Laurence R Hansen		261
Ferdinand R Thomas		31
James P Schrayer		MAL
Daniel P Hartman		136

March
Robert E McAllister		MAL
David L Compton		MAL
Kenneth P Gray		269
Jesse H Deloach		201
Oliver L Widerburg		MAL
V Marie Vines		MAL
Richard J Stewart		67
Ambrocio Platon		91
Danny L Hunt		382
David Jelin		174
George W Woodward		40
Roger N Stephenson		MAL
Virlene R Roberts		MAL
Terry Muth		MAL
Tommy Smay		MAL
Newbury E Meader		MAL
Frank L Russell		281
Earl L Jones		276
Lloyd S Saunders		MAL
Isabelo B Arcalas		MAL
Ralph A Hill		210
Douglas A Gilbertson		MAL
Zenith L Parker Sr.		MAL
Michael A Shupp		24
Don J Krauss		22
Leslie R Joslin		77
John W Davenport		MAL
Leon Werner		137
Paul W Murray		42
James Collins		MAL
Ronald G Lamon		293
Allen E Brinsfield		166
Phyllis R Green		MAL
Frederick Wainwright		91
Coy L Gillenwater		162
Julie Weckwerth		90
Leslie E Burl		162
John Wilmoth		294
Ralph F Appelgate		70
Charles H Bowen Jr.		MAL
Alan J Follis		47
Virgil L Johnson		MAL
Michael E Canavan		MAL
Frank A McCulloch		70
Hilary L Harrison		MAL
Fred Barton		192
Daniel R Lang		91
Claude I Leasure		91
Elmer W Longmire Jr.		24
Kenneth Michaud		MAL
Thomas E Thompson		290
Philben A Sims		156
Clifford A Maddox		MAL
Joseph M Manuz		91
Jose De La Garza		MAL
Donald E Mansfield		274
Donald J Boula		299
Donald R Snead		269
Gary E Pellowski		MAL
Betty J Ellis		MAL
Arthur P Kalimon		MAL
Harold  Young		38
Lawrence Ward		136
Donna M Barnett		90
Raymond A Hall		MAL
Samuel H Coates		291
John Henry Gough Jr.		24
Reece Cox		MAL
Walter Stabenow		26
William A. Turpin		316

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membership matters

Membership Year Finale

W
e are into the first month of the new recruiting year, which began on April 1 and runs through March 31, 2018.  Planning your strategy for attracting new members is an important aspect of recruiting.  Most importantly, you should be able to explain the benefits of membership and share them with Sea Service personnel wherever you go.  
Attracting new members should be easy and rewarding.   You may already know a dozen eligible people because of shared hometown interests or activities, such as being members of another veteran organization. Consider forming a committee to develop your plan to participate in several outreach events to promote the value of an FRA membership.  Think about creating a letter or postcard to mail to your list of prospective members.  Sometimes a good place to start developing a mailing or prospects list is your local Chamber of Commerce. A list of military active members and veterans may also be available if there is a Retired Affairs office in the Family Service Centers at your local base. Newspapers on base also distribute information about community events. Since these are typically free, a lot of people read them to find out what is going on.  Use the base newspaper to promote your events, fundraisers and monthly meetings. Most newspapers have event calendars, both in print and online. Post your events in both places, it’s FREE!
Try developing your own prospects list by participating in outreach events—get a table, booth or tent. Contact HQ and we can provide the materials to make it more successful. Collect names of potential members through raffles during air shows, retention fairs, commissaries, exchanges or any other event that draws a large military or retiree population.  Be sure to follow up with a telephone call or send an email invitation to attend a meeting or an event planned by your Branch or Shipmates.  Following up is the key to maintaining contact with prospective members.
If you take the time to call or write a letter, it may give them the desire to belong to something important, fun and valuable in their community.  Consider asking Shipmates if they have any co-workers or friends eligible to join the FRA.  Developing a “Friends & Family” list to use for recruiting can be very successful. If you have a list of 10, and one or two decide to join, that can be considered a success!  
Some of the most popular membership benefits include the monthly magazine, email newsletters (NewsBytes, OnWatch) and social media, as well as the website and mobile app. Members also have access to legislation and health care experts. FRA can assist with preparing disability claims and access to our Disaster Relief Fund for Shipmates in need. There are also a wide variety of health, life and dental insurance products, and financial services. Additionally, there are several scholarships available for members and their immediate family each year.  
Looking back at the membership year for 2016-2017, there were 32 Branches who reported a gain and no loss of members during the year. These Branches and Shipmates will be recognized and will receive the FRA Recruiting Awards at the 90th FRA National Convention scheduled for September 19-24 in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The Branches who had membership gains or no losses are listed to your left.
Recruiting and retaining members is a challenge.  Plan ahead and set a goal for your membership needs; it’s a win-win situation for all. FRA  

Penny Collins is FRA’s Director of Membership Development and a member of FRA Branch 24 in Annapolis, Maryland.  She can be reached at penny@fra.org

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SHIPMATE NEWS

1. Branch 113, Stockton, California
Branch President Maria Behm accepted an award for 2013-2014 for 100 percent continued membership of her members from Branch 113 during their Mid year Convention held in Corning, Calif. Behm is pictured with West Coast Regional President Larry Briggs.

2. Branch 89, Atlanta, Georgia
Branch President, Shipmate Rose (L), presented continuous membership pins to Shipmates (L to R) as follows: Shipmate Hayes (35 years), Shipmate Hardy (35 years), Shipmate Bierkamp (20 years) and Shipmate Barron (35 years).

3. Branch 24, Annapolis, Maryland
During the monthly Branch meeting, 10 new Shipmates were initiated as FRA members on March 14.  

4. Branch 112, Birmingham, Alabama
Branch 112 Secretary/Treasurer Juan Bowden presented Shipmate Richard Thompson with his 50-year continuous membership certificate and pin.

5. Branch 22, Pensacola, Florida
(L to R) Branch President Jim Richmond, initiated new Shipmate BMC(SW) Nelson Castro, USN (Ret.) into the FRA while JrPRPSE Dave Davis, Branch 290 looks on. The initiation was done during the recent Southeast Regional Midyear Meeting held at Branch 290 in Mayport, Florida

6. Branch 245, Bellingham, Washington
The awards presentation for the Branch 245 winners in The Americanism Essay Contest was held at the Burlington/Edison High School. Shipmates Ted Olson (L to R), Robert Baisden, Cadet PO3 Sarah Crosby, NJROTC, Cadet LCDR Benjamin Crosby, NJROTC (both of Burlington-Edison High School Tiger Company Navy JROTC) and Mike Cole, President of Branch 245, were present.

7. Branch 34, Tallahassee, Florida
Branch 34 President Earnest Reed (R) presents Shipmate Lorenzo Johnson USN (Ret.) with his 40-year continuous membership certificate and pin. 

8. Branch 99, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Boy Scout Reese Etiemble from Troop 16 Driver/Suffolk, Virginia, presented a plaque to Branch 99 in February for donations that allowed him to complete his Eagle Scout project. He is pictured with Branch Vice President Art Bailey.

9. FRA Staff
The FRA Legislative and Veterans’ Services team (L to R) NP Donald Larson, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), FRA Legislative Director John Davis, and NED Thomas Snee, presented the association’s prestigious Pinnacle Award to honor Senator Gillibrand’s outstanding leadership in preserving and enhancing the quality of life for military personnel, retirees, veterans and their families. 

10. Branch 307, Gulfport, Mississippi
“Old Naval Home” Branch 307 President Harry Rhizor (L) presented Shipmate Marion Ritchie with her “Life Membership” card and certificate during her 100th birthday party.  Shipmate Ritchie is an “independent” resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport and lives alone. Branch Membership Chair Robert Rutherford (R) looks on.

11. Branch 258, Erie, Pennsylvania
Branch President George Greenawalt (R) presented a 40-year pin and Continuous Membership certificate to Shipmate Joseph Marschak at a branch meeting in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

12. Branch 136, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Branch President Tom Dooley (L) Presented a 50-year Continuous Membership certificate & pin to Shipmate Loyal Younggren.

To submit a photo for News from the Branches, please e-mail a photo as an attachment in jpeg format to FRAToday@fra.org or mail a high-quality photograph to FRA Today, 125 N. West Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Please include a brief description of the photograph and include the names of those pictured. Laser prints and scanned copies of photographs cannot be accepted. 

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auxiliary of the fra

LA FRA East Coast

E
ast Coast Region Units are all working diligently and contributing to their surrounding communities. Unit members provide hot meals, fill and distribute backpacks with needed school supplies to children and provide many items needed by Fisher House residents. We aim for the children in Title One schools to receive books, and musical instruments to play with.  Each month cookies are donated to every resident of a chosen nursing home, and we provide live musical entertainment at veterans’ homes; cases of computer paper for veterans’ resource centers, food baskets and toys during the holidays.  Additionally, we assist in other ways such as, providing transportation to meetings, doctor appointments and shopping trips.  
LAFRA Unit members work tirelessly at Navy Hospitals.  From hosting a game of Bingo at a nursing home, visiting schools and speaking about Americanism and Patriotism, to gathering and donating items for Stockings for Soldiers for Christmas.  Our hope is that every veteran at a VA Home gets a Christmas card and friendly visits year round to brighten their days.  All these donations from the Units are made possible by ongoing fundraising events across the East Coast Region, which are supported by their Branches, to which ECR Units say a warm “Thank You!” 

Yours in Loyalty, Protection and Service, RPEC Shirley Vatter. FRA

Shirley Vatter is the LA FRA Regional President, East Coast.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Importance of State Planning

M
y wife and I recently started the process of updating our wills and associated documents after a long period of procrastinating– particularly by me. I know this is not something to ignore and getting serious about ensuring that our personal affairs are in order is very important. However, it’s really easy to keep putting this off because the reality of accepting our own mortality is part of this.  In short, we’re not always going to be here and we must proactively plan accordingly.  
We’ve been aware of the need to update our wills; however, our new financial advisor repeatedly urged us to do so as part of comprehensive (and smart) planning for the future. The focus is not simply on maximizing our retirement savings, we also are looking to ensure that our remaining assets go where we want them when we pass from this life.
In getting to this point, we researched financial planners when I retired for the second time and found a firm we believe is managing our retirement savings in a responsible manner and in our best interests (fiduciary responsibility).  This involves continually monitoring our investments and the effects of market swings and changes in the overall economy.  
Back to the updating process, the associated questionnaires are provided by the law firm we selected based on the recommendation of our financial advisor and research on our part.  These are similar to forms we completed when working with Navy Legal Services many years ago in preparing our existing wills.  Completing these documents is significantly more complicated now since much has changed during the ensuing years.  
We listed assets, detailed life insurance policies and items we own, identified who will be the executor and discussed bequests to our church and other charitable or educational organizations.  
A top priority for us is donating to our church and credible military and veterans’ organizations, including the FRA and the FRA Education Foundation.
In considering these decisions, it occurred to me that there are a number of FRA Shipmates that have selected support for our scholarship program as priorities when finalizing their estate plans.
These include Shipmates Robert Treadwell, Stanley Doran, Hazel Benn, Angelo Nunez and his wife Mildred, and others.  All specified that all or part of their respective estates were donated in support of our scholarship program to benefit future scholars pursuing their education goals.
Thanks to their foresight and generosity, we are now awarding annual scholarships in their names to deserving students each year. 
A key aspect of making such a decision is determining that the receiving organization is well managed, operating ethically and that there are low administrative expenses associated with the organization’s work.
There are many service related entities seeking support of their causes but not all are doing so ethically, or with support of veterans and their families as utmost priorities. From the Foundation’s perspective, we’re especially proud of our low administrative costs due in part to great volunteer support and assistance from FRA NHQ.  This is a key consideration in conjunction with our selection to participate in the Office of Personnel Management’s government wide Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
That being said, we’re moving ahead with the process of updating our wills and estate plan while working with a financial planning firm committed solely to working on retirement plans.  I strongly urge all readers to do likewise to ensure that your personal priorities are addressed and that beneficiaries and family members are clearly identified.  Good luck in doing so! FRA

By NEDE Joe Barnes

TAPS

IN MEMORIAM

Name 			Rating		Branch
Alexander, Charles B.		HMCM, USN	94
Anderson, Richard L. 		ML1(DV), USN	MAL
Andrasovsky, Henry W		GYSGT, USMC	70
Aussey, Jon D. 			ETCM (SS) USN	99
Barton, Bruce S. 			PRC, USN	MAL
Basselgia, Robert C. 		PRC, USN	MAL
Battista, Luigi A. 			AE1, USN	156
Bizzell, Clayton K. 			CPO, USN	91
Bleskey, Martin F. 			1STSGT, USMC	175
Boucher, James L. 			BM1, USN	137
Brickle, Preston S. 			ADJ1, USN	91
Brown, Dennis E. 			ATC, USN	47
Bury, John J. 			MR1, USN, 	1
Carlson, Joan M. 			YN1, USN	238
Carlton, Gillie D. 			CTC, USN	 67
Carrick, Kermit W. 			HTCM, USN	217
Chadwell, Harold Lee		AOC, USN	91
Citta, William G. 			SGT, USMC	MAL
Cochran, George W. 		BTC, USNR	34
Cook, Colby C. 			GMGCS, USN	156
Cook, Willis W. 			ADCS, USN	49
Cunningham, James H. 		BMC, USN	126
Dallman, Edwin L.			FTCM, USN	120
Dalton, Dock F. 			ADCS, USN	91
Eaddy, Davis O. 			SKCM, USN	254
Everett, James			SN(CDR), USN	 MAL
Fetterolf, Richard L. 		GM		MAL
Flynn, Daniel J. 			SGTMAJ, USMC	53
Francia, Wilfredo			DK1, USN	175
Genesky, James B. 		SGT MAJ, USMC	42
Goddard, Freddie D. 		AMSC, USN	210
Grabowski, Emil E. 		ADJC, USN	91
Green, Floyd Jack			CWO3, USN	104
Grobel, Kent W. 			ADRC, USN	136
Guadagnolo, James V. 		SSGT, USMC	208
Hamilton, Ronald K. 		PHC, USN	67
Hampton, James C. 		HMC, USN	204
Hanson, Lawrence J. 		BMC, USN	136
Hargiss, Philip R. 			YN1, USN	316
Haskell, Glenda J. 			AGCM, USN	117
Henwood, Robert F. 		ETCM, USN	61
Housley, Richard G. 		OSC, USNR	 MAL
Ignacio, Benjamin B. 		MS1, USN	171
Ivanoff, George R. 			LT, USN	346
Jackson, James C. 		BMCM, USN	311
Johnson, Harold			ADJ1, USN,	124
Johnston, Armand M. 		AVCM, USN	MAL
Joslin, Jack P. 			YNC, USN	MAL
Kane, Bernard			AEC, USN	93
Kaspala, John			RMC, USN	MAL
Katsarelis, Manuel T. 		AMHC, USN	101
Kauffman, Dean R. 		BTCM, USN	42
Kelley, Charles M. 			AVCM, USN	MAL
Kolonko, Richard P. 		ADR1, USN	201
Kramer, Roger N. 			SHC, USN	210
Lare, Lee J. 			MMCS, USN	MAL
Lavelle, Ronald R. 			BM1, USN	296
Ledger, Roland I. 			RDC, USN	101
Lee, James T. 			AMCS, USN	105
Little, Truman H. 			DKSN, USN	89
Lynch, Peter			MAJ, USMC	91
Marion, David M. 			PN1, USN	276
Mateo, Salustiano A. 		SKC(SS), USN	57
Mayo, William			USN	MAL
Merrifield, Julius Q. 		UTC, USN	MAL
Morgan, Ottis N. 			LCDR, USN	126
Muldoon, James E. 		CPO, USN	307
Naujoks, Richard L.	 	FTBC(SS), USNR	166
Nye, Lawrence E. 			AMSC, USN	91
PNC, Owens, Robert H. 		QMC, USN	MAL
Oyler, Jimmie D. 			LCDR, USN	161
Pascoe, William F. 			YN1, USN	91
Perkins, Beverly W. 		HTCM, USN	70
Perrello, Robert J. 			QMC, USN	MAL
Piatt, Ira A. 			AD1, USN	115
Pinkston, William T. 		GYSGT, USMC	254
Pool, Larry			EMCS, USN	117
Randby, Lawrence B. 		SKCS, USN	334
Rankin, Richard K. 			CT2, USN	124
Raynor, Harold L. 			HT1, USN	MAL
Reese, Loren D. 			ADCS, USN	MAL
Rien, Howard E. 			RDC, USN	MAL
Rosenberg, Marvin			CDR, USN	263
Scheinkoenig, Roderick 		ASCS, USN	11
Seagrist, William I. 			MMC, USN	MAL
Segovis, Charles E. 		Shipmate, USN	MAL
Seybold, Robert V. 		EMC, USN,	296
Shimer, Harold J. 			CWO4, USN	170
Smith, Verne K. 			RMCS(SS), USN	38
Smith, Douglas R. 			RM1, USN	MAL
Smith, George L. 			ADJ1, USN	MAL
Smith, Orville E. 			CSC, USN	98
Smith, George W. 			GM1, USN	70
Smith, Stanley L. 			CPO, USN	290
Sousa, John P. 			PO1, USN	86
Sullivan, George W. 		AMHC, USN	91
Taper, Theodore I. 			BM1, USN	72
Tenley, Ronald			HMCM, USN	208
Thompson, William Y. 		MSGT, USMC,	91
Townley, Donald A. 		S/SGT, USMC	MAL
Turley, John J. 			CPO, USN	334
Vandervoort, Albert C.	 	TD1, USN	91
Walter, Bert			ADC, USN	97
Washington, Ronald 		TM1, USN	307
Wilkins, Guy D. 			PNCS, USN	60
Zinsmeyer, Clarence E. 		MMCS, USN	285
Zittel, Rudolph W. 			AMEC, USN	104
Zuidema, Andrew S. 		DPCM, USN	5

Names in red indicated 50 year continuous members.
Name in bold indicate past national officers.

To report the death of a Shipmate, please contact us via email at mserfra@fra.org or by telephone at 703- 683-1400 ext 1.

Names in red indicate 50 year continuous members. Names in bold indicate Past National Officers.

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Reunions/Looking For…

USS Iowa (BB-61)
08/12/2017-08/16/2017, Nashville, Tennessee
Contact: Paul Ogg
Telephone: 306-908-4856
Email: kjoggpr@aol.com

VP-69 / NW Patrol Squadrons
08/18/2017-08/20/2017, Oak Harbor, Washington 
Contact: Daryl Phillippi, 4014 SE 9th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97202
Telephone: 503-238-6020
Email: darylp2p3@gmail.com
Website: www.vp69.wordpress.com

The National Association of Destroyer Veterans National Reunion
08/20/2017-08/24/2017, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 
Contact: Monica Ventura, P.O. Box 100, 
Somerset, Massachusetts 02726 
Telephone: 508-677-0515 
Email: nationalreunion@destroyers.org

USS Wiltsie (DD-716)
08/20/2017-08/24/2017, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 
Contact: Ted Laurila, 1101 S Scheuber Road #58,
Centralia, Washington 98531
Telephone: 360-736-3853
Email: DD716TED@COMCAST.NET

VP-4
08/22/2017-08/27/2017, Arlington, Virginia
Contact: Larry Hames, 21015 124th Ave. E,
Graham, Washington 98338
Telephone: 503-688-9804
Email: Larry.Hames@VP4Association.com
Websites: http://www.afr-reg.com/

VAH-21
09/12/2017-09/16/2017, Pensacola, Florida 
Contact: Atcs Gerald L. Tripp, 459 Casper Drive
Hemet, California 92545
Telephone: 951-926-6047
Email: trippg748@verizon.net

USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36)
09/13/2017-09/17/2017, San Diego, California 
Contact: Patty Kelso, 6916 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park, Kansas  66204
Telephone: 913-677-1837
Email: pattykelso@usslyspear.org
Websites: www.usslyspear.org
www.holinnbayside.com

USS Wahoo (SS565)
09/14/2017-09/16/2017, Cleveland, Ohio 
Contact: Tom Young, 25 Kristopher Drive 
Hampstead, New Hampshire 03841
Telephone: 603-918-0166
Email: tank@tomandshirleyyoung.com

MCB11 Seabees
09/17/2017-09/21/2017, York, PA. 
Contact: Larry Hagler, 21012 Boggy Ford Road 
Lago Vista, Texas 78645
Telephone: 512-267-8873
Email: lhagler475@earthlink.net

AE/AOE Sailors Association
09/20/2017-09/24/2017, San Diego, California
Contact: Kurt Julsen
Telephone: 907-632-9961
Email: aesaki@yahoo.com

USS Prairie (AD-15)
09/20/2017-09/24/2017, Nashville, Tennessee 
Contact: Brad Allen, P.O. Box 29, 
Schuylerville, New York 12871 
Telephone: 518-695-4821 
Email: bradleyeallen@msn.com

USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23)
09/27/2017-09/30/2017, Grantville, Pennsylvania
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, 604 Station Road
Grantville, Pennsylvania  17111
Contact: Robert G. Earnest
Telephone: 724-267-4002 

USS Leyte (CV-32)
09/27/2017-10/01/2017, Baltimore, Maryland 
Contact: Le Grande W. Van Wagenen
Telephone: 732-727-5993
E-mail: leyte1956@aol.com

USS Sargo (SS-188/SSN-583)
09/27/2017-09/30/2017, Washington, District of Columbia
Holiday Inn-Washington Dulles International Airport
Contact: Mike Hacking, 637 Little Rock Drive
Santaquin, Utah  84655
Telephone: 801-754-1183
Email: mrhacking@cut.net
Website: www.ssn583.com 

USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) 
9/27/2017-10/1/2017, Three Rivers, Michigan 
Contact: Robert Crosbie, 60964 M-40, 
Jones, Michigan 49061 
Telephone: 269-244-5474
Email: bcrosbie@voyager.net 

USS Inchon Association 
10/15/2017-10/19/2017, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Beach Cove Resort
Contact: David Fix, P.O. Box 636, 
Nalcrest, Florida 33856 
Telephone: 717-203-4152 
Email: ussinchon@gmail.com 

USS Waller (DD/DDE-466)
10/15/2017-10/19/2017, Charleston, South Carolina 
Contact: Keith Lemons
Telephone: 606-365-2902
Email: schulerlemons98@gmail.com

USS James E. Kyes (DD-787)
10/18/2017-10/22/2017, San Diego, California
The Holiday Inn Bayside
Contact: Roger Donnay, 1486 Loggers Pond Place #11, 
Boise, Idaho 83706
Telephone: 202-344-0108
Email: rogerdonnay@donnay-software.com

Looking For-May 2017

Anyone who served with ADR1 Mackey R Morris, USN in Airborne Early Warning Squadron One (VW-1), Naval Air Station, Agana, GU, Sep 1967-Aug 1968 and/or Naval Air Support Unit, Iwakuni, JP November 1974-November 1975. Please contact me at mackey_morris_first_adrc@yahoo.com or call 843-209-4259.

Looking for anyone who was stationed or drilled at the Naval Reserve Center in Saint Joseph, Missouri until its decommissioning on April 16, 1994, for the possibility of setting up a picnic. Please contact EM-2 Terry D. Gann USNR (Ret.) at tgann@att.net or 6221 Hallet Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66216.

All Reunions/LookingFor… must be submitted in writing to FRA Reunions/Looking For, 125 N. West St. Alexandria, Virginia 22314 or to 
victoriad@fra.org. Include your FRA member ID and a daytime phone number.  Reunions can also be submitted online at http://www.fra.org.  For questions regarding submissions contact Victoria at 1-800-FRA-1924, ext. 124.
 
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FINANCE MATTERS

Stretch IRA Strategy and Your Estate Plan

M
ost Americans understand an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can provide a powerful way to save for retirement. But what many don’t know is an IRA can also be an effective estate-planning tool. 
If one of your goals is to transfer wealth to your children or grandchildren and leave a financial legacy that could potentially increase over time, the stretch IRA strategy may help you achieve this goal. With some planning on your part – along with educating your beneficiaries on how they need to manage their inheritance – you may be able to turn even relatively small balances into large payouts over time. 
The stretch IRA is a strategy, not a special type of IRA. It’s an approach to estate planning that attempts to maximize the tax-advantaged potential of the IRA assets by leaving them in the IRA as long as the law allows. That’s because when a non-spouse beneficiary inherits an IRA, he or she must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from the IRA in the year following the original owner’s death to take advantage of the stretch IRA strategy.  
The term “stretch IRA” refers to the ability of the beneficiary who inherits the IRA to draw out the RMDs over his or her own life expectancy on a “term-certain” basis. “Term-certain” means the assets can’t remain in the account indefinitely; at the end of the “term” the account will be emptied.  The younger the beneficiary is, the longer his or her life expectancy – resulting in a smaller RMD as a percentage of the IRA balance. This strategy minimizes how much must be taken out of the IRA each year and, more importantly, allows the funds remaining in the account to potentially continue to grow on a tax-advantaged basis. 
To understand how this strategy might work, let’s look at the following hypothetical example. John names his grandson Stephen as the beneficiary of his IRA. John passes away at age 69, and Stephen inherits the IRA with a value of $79,500 at age 21.  He begins taking RMDs from the inherited IRA in the year following John’s death. At age 83, assuming Stephen takes only the RMD amount each year, he will have reached the end of his “term-certain” or projected life expectancy and received a total of $866,624 from the Inherited IRA, depleting the account. 1
While Stephen will owe taxes on the pre-tax dollars distributed from the inherited IRA, the impact is a lot less than if he had chosen to take a lump-sum distribution and liquidated the IRA. And, by doing this, he would have foregone the opportunity for the dollars to stay in the IRA and continue to potentially grow on a tax-deferred basis.
In order to make sure the intentions of the stretch IRA strategy are met, the following are some important points for beneficiaries to note.  
When a beneficiary inherits the IRA, he or she should direct the firm holding the account to open an Inherited IRA. The Inherited IRA will list the name of the individual who inherited the account as the beneficiary and list the name of the IRA owner as deceased (for example, “Jane Doe, beneficiary, John Smith, deceased). Additionally, the beneficiary must begin taking RMDs by December 31 in the year following the year the IRA owner died. It is important to remember the beneficiary is not the owner of the IRA – that person is deceased. The beneficiary can take distributions and make investment choices, but he or she cannot make contributions to that account. 
If you’re considering including your IRA in your estate plan, you can use the stretch IRA strategy with either a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA. It’s important to note that with a Traditional IRA, you have to take RMDs the year you turn 70 ½. Any remaining balance after your death can pass to your beneficiary, and he or she can employ the stretch IRA strategy.  
Additionally, you’ll want to give careful consideration to the individual you name as beneficiary.  You must list your beneficiary on the IRA beneficiary designation form. You can also name contingent beneficiaries. Since a non-spouse who inherits the IRA will take RMDs based on his or her life expectancy, the younger the beneficiary, the less he or she must take out each year. Therefore, if maximizing the tax-deferred compounding of the IRA is the main goal, a young person is the ideal individual to designate as a beneficiary.
When considering the stretch IRA strategy for your estate plan, keep in mind your needs and tax laws can change over time. The stretch IRA strategy is appropriate for individuals who have other assets to cover expenses in retirement and don’t anticipate needing the funds in his or her   IRA to fund retirement. 
However, if you’re unsure about whether you’ll need your IRA assets to fund your own retirement, remember that any amount left in the IRA after your death can be stretched by the beneficiary. You can change the beneficiary at any time and you should review beneficiaries at any life event such as a birth of a child or grandchild, marriage, divorce, or death of a beneficiary. 
If you have questions about which IRA and estate-planning techniques are right for you, you may want to discuss your options with your Financial Advisor, tax advisor, and attorney. FRA

Our firm is not a legal or tax advisor. 
1 Example is based on a hypothetical projection of the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) option. The projected values should be reduced for any applicable federal and state income taxes that will be due. All distributions are assumed to be taken at the end of the year. Calculations are based on a 6% annual rate of return and were invested in a Traditional IRA. 
This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, VA at 800-247-8602.
Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE
Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
© 2016 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved
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