FRAtoday July 2020
comunicaitons
FROM THE BRIDGE
SHIPMATE FORUM	5
On & Off captol hill	7
FEATURE  STORies
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS23
SHIPMATE NEWS24
TAPS26
Reunions	27
AUXILIARY OF THE FRA30
FINANCE MATTERS32

COMMINICATIONS

Happy Birthday, America!

When I was very young, my first recollections of the Fourth of July, besides getting out of school, were of the fireworks at the local city stadium. Nothing large, like what I see in the Washington-Baltimore corridor, but a large enough stadium to have a full-size football field and a quarter-mile track around it. Between the stadium, where the ground displays were set off, and the parking lot, there was plenty of flat, grassy space where my family would stake out their blanket. As I grew up, we went to other events over the years, but nothing seemed as special as those bags of popcorn we would bring from home, the blanket, my parents and two sisters.

Fast-forward about 20 years and my wife and I carried on the tradition with our children. As they grew older, their desire (and mine) to deal with parking, traffic and the huge crowds decreased until we moved to a much less populated county and could view the city fireworks from my back deck.

Now that I have been blessed to be able to publish FRAtoday, I look at this most important holiday of the United States in an entirely different regard. The FRA is an organization that is comprised of members who decided to serve in the sea services. Arguably, the most influential branches of the military due to their constant representation globally in times of peace, conflict and disaster. It is amazing what a ship can deploy in times of need.

The reason I use the word “blessed” is because of all the associations and companies that I have worked with these past 40 years, the Fleet Reserve Association is the only one that begins its conventions and meetings with the presentation of colors, an opening prayer, the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and the posting of our colors. These are the things I hold dear and regret that society seems to constantly try to remove from my life.

So this Fourth of July, please thank a service member for their decision to serve our country and preserve our freedom, and enjoy the fireworks with some family, friends and of course, a big bag of popcorn.

In Loyalty, Protection and Service,
William D. Stevenson, Editor-in-Chief

Source: California Telehealth Resource Center

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FROM THE BRIDGE

Today’s Pandemic and the FRA’s Response

This is an unprecedented time for the members of the Fleet Reserve Association and the auxiliary. The well-publicized COVID-19 has changed everything about life as we know it. During these past few months, we all have been focused on how to best protect and support our families and our Shipmates while being asked (or rather directed) to stay at home. I want to let you know on behalf of the National Headquarters staff and the national board of directors, our thoughts are with all those who have been affected.

I would like to add a special thanks to all of you, for taking great strides in limiting the spread of COVID-19. The safety of our Shipmates is our primary concern.  In these uncertain times, the FRA BOD stepped up and contacted the branch presidents and secretaries within each of their regions and in turn, the branch presidents and secretaries contacted each of their branch’s Shipmates to check on their health and welfare.

As we have adopted a “new normal” over the past months, I am impressed with the number of branches that are holding their meetings virtually by using Skype, Zoom or other telecom services. Of course, this combined with lots of emails and telephone calls has managed to keep the association functioning.  

I am convinced these changes to our routines presented many new challenges.  Yet we have overcome those challenges and operated our branches while maintaining our collective health and safety — and we have done it with great efficiency.  In summary, the FRA never truly closed — we’re just operating differently.

Even though there is a lot of work to do, I have faith that we are up to the challenge.  By working together to support one another, we will come through this a stronger and more united FRA.  Our mission remains the same: to represent the interests of the sea service community, past or present, before the U.S. Congress!
For now, please continue doing exactly what you are doing. Your discipline, patience and commitment to the FRA is remarkable and through the continuation of your efforts, we will all emerge from this difficult time together — stronger than ever. 

In Loyalty, Protection and Service,
Donna M. Jansky

Donna is national president of the Fleet Reserve Association and may be reached by email at: janskyd@comcast.net

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sHIPMATE FORUM

Americanism Essay Contest Branch 40
Dear Mr. Campbell:
I cannot thank you enough for the incredible surprise that showed up in my mail! While I am usually unboxing things like masks that finally make it to our house from Amazon or some paper towels that were located at Costco, I found instead a unique box that really made me pause. I figured out that it might be a certificate, so I waited for my family (including my sister who is a disabled veteran) to get together for the unveiling. I was completely stunned to see what the box contained! 

The essay contest itself was a gift because it made me pause and consider exactly what an open and unencumbered vote, one of the hallmarks of our freedoms as Americans, would mean. In my case, it was not only a reflection of what my ancestors experienced but also the meaning behind my canvassing work this past fall, trying to support individuals of integrity who wanted the very best for citizens. Today, with COVID-19, it seems impossible to even remember a time when crowds could gather to discuss politics and when it was possible to knock on a door to talk about pressing issues that did not involve a virus. 

As someone who represents a class of students as President of the Freshmen Class at Midlothian High School, I know that it is sometimes frustrating to see a project from start to finish because of logistics. I am amazed by what you accomplished, and I am grateful for your dedication during a pandemic. I will really treasure this flag and the effort you went to in creating really distinguished certificates. You will most definitely see future essays from me.
Respectfully, Brennan Lane

Recruiting Obstacle
As you and the FRA Headquarters are well aware, the number of Shipmate members is dwindling at a rapid pace. Our Branch 263 has approximately, at last count, 86 active members, with six shipmates “ready to renew.”  We do not have a Branch home, but meet at the local veteran’s center, we have no auxiliary.  Our monthly meetings are attended by anywhere from 12 to 20 faithful shipmates. We have a monthly “social” at various local restaurants with our spouses/partners and that is always well attended.

One of the biggest obstacles to recruiting, unfortunately, is the name of the organization, the Fleet RESERVE Association (FRA). The name of the FRA is one of the biggest deterrents to recruiting new younger members.  When the recruiting pitch is given, almost always a young former sailor will say “why would I want to go back and be in the reserves.” Recruiting efforts are becoming harder and harder.

If the FRA wants to try and increase recruiting numbers, then maybe Headquarters may want to consider re-branding the organization with a new name.  At the very least, Headquarters may want to do a survey to see how the other branches feel.

Additionally, on a personal note, Headquarters may want to consider allowing Merchant Marine personnel who have served on USNS ships to join, thus increasing membership.

Branch 263 has a great bunch of shipmates and I am proud to be one of them, but unfortunately the core members, like myself, are increasing in age and the younger core members will not be able to sustain our branch once we have passed on.
Sincerely,
David D. Clayton SCPO(SS/SW/AC), USN (Ret.), 
President, FRA Branch 263, Merritt Island, Fla.

Battle of the Coral Sea
First off, it was a good article except for a glaring mistake on page 22! I do not think the Japanese were escorting our carriers, maybe they did the coup-de-grace for their carrier, but the Lex was sunk by one of our own.  
Ernest LaChapelle, Mount Rainier Branch 104

Interesting article but contains at least two glaring errors; there were no Me-109 fighters flown by the Japanese in the Coral Sea.  Second, the Lexington was scuttled by the USS Phelps, not the Japanese.
P.L. Guckian, CTRCM(NAC), USN (Ret.)

Battle of the Coral Sea
On page 20 of the May issue (of FRAtoday), you made reference to the Japanese aircraft flown in the Battle of the Coral Sea as Zeros and ME-109s.

Were there Germans there (of course not)? The ME-109 is/was a German aircraft, and after referring to authoritative reference material, I can find NO Japanese aircraft with the designation ME-109.

Well written and a drastic improvement over the “PUEBLO” article in the January 2018 issue.
Chic Sale, OSC(SW), USN (Ret.)

Battle of the Coral Sea
In the May 2020 issue’s story The Battle of The Coral Sea, the photo on page 19 showing the F4F-3 Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), just below the front windshield on the fuselage is a figure of the squadron’s emblem. I have to admit that is hard to identify, but I’m almost certain that this is the emblem of Felix the Cat carrying a round bomb. During one of my sea tours (1960 - 1962) I was attached to Fighter Squadron 31 out of Cecil Field, Florida nicknamed The Tomcatter’s and the squadron emblem was the very same.
Fraternally submitted, 
ADC Preston L. Rose, USN (Ret.)

FRAtoday: There were many Shipmates who pointed out the two mistakes in the article. The first was the “scuttling” of the LEXINGTON, which was certainly done by us. At the proof stage, I tried to add clarity. The other comments about the Me-109s are probably correct. Of the many sources used for that article, the factual items were checked against the actual Combat Narrative from the battle that was recently declassified by the Office of Naval Intelligence. That source clearly states Me-109s were spotted. It is a lengthy read but nonetheless an informative account, mistakes and all. You can do a simple Google search with the topic: The Battle of the Coral Sea - Naval History and Heritage. It is also available as a PDF at: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1942/battle-of-coral-sea.html.

Immigrant Life in the U.S. Military
The article in April FRAtoday that focused upon the sea service is very interesting, educational and touchy. I went in as a resident (green card) and my first command did not require me to have a security clearance due to my job. Therefore, I was not pressed to become a citizen. I believe the legal office did not handle citizenship applications, since I was overseas. I stood the BM of the watch and was required to pass the orders of the day. They made fun of my accent by repeating what I said and other [comments]. But I also found Shipmates that did not care about my race or accent. They saw me as part of the team. I like your conclusion of those five sailors as examples of the ones who had gone before us, and also, for the next generations.
Francisco Rubi, BM3, USN
Flamingo Branch 51, Opa Locka, Fla.

Second Class Citizens
We in the military and military veterans have become 2nd-class citizens. Every month or so the Department of Defense Pharmacy and Therapeutics (DoDP&T) Committee which oversees the TRICARE Management Activity for military personnel and military veterans sends out a list to the insurance companies of medicines that they cannot support for the military and veterans due to its high cost.  Therefore, we are not allowed to purchase medicines if we come under the TRICARE Insurance program. Much unlike our neighbors who are perhaps not in the military or do not come under the TRICARE Program.

 I would like this practice stopped and the DODP&T disestablished. WE should be able to get all the medicines that we are entitled to regardless of cost to the DoD! Also, our co-pays are getting out of sight thanks to the DoDP&T! This has to stop. We used to pay nothing for our co-pays. We need NO co-pay or very little co-pay.       
R. Colligan, ATCS, USNR (Ret.), 35 years

FRAtoday: The FRA opposes efforts to shift the cost of pharmacy prescriptions to beneficiaries. The association argues that retirees have in large part earned their health care benefits with 20 or more years of arduous military service.

Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and views of individual FRA members. They do not reflect the position of the FRA. The FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content. Submit letters to FRAtoday, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or to fratoday@fra.org

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ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL

Celebrate the Fourth!
As you get this issue of FRAtoday, the nation will be preparing to celebrate Independence Day. This past Memorial Day was the first in many years where the FRA did not lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. With Pandemic protocols still in place to fight the “invisible enemy,” Americans all across the country were forced to observe smaller and more subdued acknowledgment of the sacrifices our service members made in defense of the nation. Although NED Chris Slawinski attended President Trump’s Memorial Day event at Ft. McHenry, in Baltimore Maryland. Hopefully, our country will be able to celebrate its independence this 4th of July in a more robust manner, with the pandemic in the nation’s “rearview mirror.” 

Veteran’s Issues
FRA NED Participates in Ft. McHenry Memorial Day Event
National Executive Director Chris Slawinski attended President Trump’s Memorial Day address that was televised at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. The event honored recent and past fallen military members while likening their contributions to service members currently on the front lines battling the coronavirus. “I stand before you at this noble fortress of American liberty to pay tribute to the immortal souls who fought and died to keep us free.  Earlier today, the First Lady and I laid a wreath in their sacred honor at Arlington National Cemetery.  Now we come together to salute the flag they gave their lives to so boldly and brilliantly defend. And we pledge, in their cherished memories, that this majestic flag will proudly fly forever.” The president referred to the coronavirus as “the invisible enemy” on a day when much of the city and the nation remained shut down. Since the nation’s death toll from the pandemic was nearing 100,000, the observance of the holiday was subdued. The First Lady Melania Trump accompanied the president at the event. 

Report Claims Service Members on Guam Were Exposed to Agent Orange
The National Veterans Legal Services Program and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School have recently released a study  that indicates veterans who served on the island of Guam between 1962 and 1975 were likely exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides containing dioxins. These veterans may have valid claims to service-related disabilities. 

The FRA and several other organizations have dispatched a letter to key lawmakers of the Senate and House Armed Services Committee urging them to add a provision to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act that authorizes the National Academy of Medicine to perform an independent study to determine if Agent Orange was used in Guam. FRA members can go to the Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/74620/respond) to ask their legislators to support this important provision.

Bill Introduced for Hearing Aid Specialists at all VA Medical Centers
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (Calif.) and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (Tenn.) introduced legislation (H.R.6612), which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to appoint at least one licensed hearing aid specialist to each VA Medical Center in the country. This legislation builds on the Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016, which granted the VA authority to appoint licensed hearing aid specialists at their medical centers, though they have so far failed to exercise that authority. This bill would mandate the VA hire these specialists in a timely manner.

“Veterans should not have to travel long distances to receive check-ups related to their hearing or seek help from non-VA contracted hearing aid specialists. VA should widely provide this service so that veterans can access this essential care” said Chairman Mark Takano. “Hearing loss is a tragically common problem among veterans of all generations,” said Ranking Member Roe. “This bill would ensure that every VA Medical Center across the country has at least one licensed hearing aid specialist on board to give our nation’s heroes who rely on hearing aids the care they need in a timely manner.”

Members can go on the FRA Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/73965/respond) to weigh in on this issue. 

FRA and Others Express Concern about VA Caregiver Regulation
Director, Legislative Programs, John Davis recently participated in two conference calls regarding an upcoming draft regulation by the Department of Veterans Affairs that would implement the caregiver expansion provisions in the VA MISSION Act of 2018. The participants in the call are drafting a letter to express their concerns about the lack of specificity in the proposed regulation’s regards to the initial eligibility assessment, appeals, and reassessment process to maintain eligibility for disabled Post-9/11 veterans. The VA proposes to keep the eligibility and appeal process procedures through policy directives that are outside the regulatory process. The FRA is also troubled by the proposed regulation requiring that caregivers must personally deliver all assistance to the veteran, which would preclude caregivers from working outside the home. The FRA wants to see the caregiver expansion succeed and quickly integrate the Vietnam-era veterans, while also properly reforming a program that suffered numerous problems in the past. 

President Signs Student Veteran Coronavirus Act
President Trump signed into law the FRA-supported Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.6322), sponsored by HVAC Chairman Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.). The legislation will ensure student veterans will not see a reduction in their monthly housing allowance as a result of their schools moving to online instruction due to COVID-19. The bill takes effect immediately. 

VA Secretary Confers with House MilCon/VA on VA Response to COVID-19
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie appeared before the House Military Construction-VA Appropriations subcommittee to discuss the VA’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The secretary noted that out of the 11,500 veterans who tested positive, more than 9000 have recovered with 1500 currently being treated. The VA has maintained a minimum of a two-week stockpile of critical supplies used for combating the virus. The VA changed its hiring process to meet the current demands, which lead to the hiring of more than 10,000 employees who were able to quickly get to the front lines. The secretary hopes to make the changes in the hiring process permanent because it allowed the VA to rapidly employ and deploy workers. Wilkie claimed that the policies put in place to safeguard employees is, in part, the reason the VA had a very low infection rate among the staff. He vowed that the VA would continue to provide rapid testing for all employees. 

The VA has met with the CEO’s of major companies in order to put a plan in place for supplies in case the virus boomerangs. The expansion of telehealth has helped the VA to continue the mission of taking care of veterans even in rural areas through a supply of internet equipped tablets. The VA is assisting state run veterans’ centers manage the onslaught of the virus.

The hearing marks the first in-person appearance by a cabinet-level official at a House hearing since much of the Capitol campus was locked down in mid-March to stem the spread of the virus. Only 25 people were allowed into the hearing. That includes the panel of witnesses as well as up to 11 lawmakers on the appropriations subcommittee.

Court Allows Veterans to use both MGIB and Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims issued its final ruling on the case of Bo v. Wilkie letting stand an earlier decision that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ practice of making veterans relinquish their Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) eligibility in order to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits is improper. 

Federal officials argued in court that the arrangement is designed to make sure veterans aren’t doubling up on their government benefits for personal profit; but the court rejected that argument, saying that instead veterans eligible for both programs should receive each set of payouts, just not simultaneously. The association welcomes this decision and opposes shifting additional cost of higher education to beneficiaries.  

Memorial Day Observances Subdued
The Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration commemorated Memorial Day this year with solemn wreath laying ceremonies. They offered a new online memorial feature that allowed the public to pay tribute to veterans interred in VA national cemeteries across the country.  

Each VA national cemetery conducted a brief wreath laying ceremony, accompanied by a moment of silence and the playing of Taps. In keeping with The Center for Disease Control guidelines that limit large gatherings, these ceremonies were not open to the public.  

Other public events typically associated with Memorial Day at national cemeteries, including group placement of flags at grave sites, did not take place. However, all VA national cemeteries were open Memorial Day weekend from dawn to dusk for public visitation.

Retiree Issues
Delay Cuts to Military Healthcare Staff During Pandemic
The FRA has signed onto a letter, with other like-minded organizations, addressed to key members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees asking Congress to delay and closely review proposed cuts of nearly 18,000 military medical billets from the current 130,000. The letter asserts that the COVID-19 pandemic requires medical readiness requirements be reassessed and updated with lessons learned from the entire nation’s response to the coronavirus emergency.  

The Defense Department’s fiscal 2021 budget calls for the elimination of about 18,000 military medical positions, and the FRA is concerned that such drastic cuts would impact access and quality of care for retirees, active duty service members and their families. These proposed cuts could also impact combat casualty care capabilities. 

FRA Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/74006/respond) to weigh in on this important issue. 

FRA Supports Repeal of 180-day Delay for Retirees Applying for DOD GS-13 and Below
The FRA supports an amendment in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act, sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop (Utah), that authorizes military retirees to transition to DOD GS-13 and lower positions directly after retirement. The current law requires a 180-day waiting period after retirement before a military retiree can be appointed into the Civil Service within the Department of Defense. This time restriction forces many who wish to continue national service toward other careers. The waiting period has resulted in a talent management problem for hiring officials. They are grappling with an antiquated hiring process that often takes months to hire a qualified candidate with a current security clearance.  

The intent of the 180-day rule is to prevent senior military officers in positions of influence from creating GS positions for themselves upon retirement. However, the current scope of the 180-day rule severely restricts the ability of federal hiring authorities to hire highly qualified individuals for GS-13 and below positions that require current military certifications and experience. This issue has become severe at many of our nation’s depots and organizations that require diverse experience. Changes to the 180-day rule will support efforts to improve the quality of the talent pool competing for GS positions while increasing the readiness of the force—both major concerns for our military leaders. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now even more important to get these retirees back to work where they are desperately needed. Many defense programs have slowed and are unavailable for the warfighters until we get the personnel in place. Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/74578/respond) to urge their U.S. Representative to support this amendment. 

Stimulus Bill Does Not Include Pharmacy Home Delivery Co-pay Waiver
The House passed another coronavirus response bill (H.R.6800) — estimated to cost three trillion dollars — with little to no help from Republicans. The House bill does not include a co-pay waiver for pharmacy home delivery for retirees, which the FRA and other military service and veteran service organizations had asked to be included. The bill does provide enhanced benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs such as:
•	No co-pays for veterans for COVID-19 preventative services at VA medical facilities.
•	Streamlining voucher processing for homeless veterans during the pandemic.
•	Extending deadlines to veterans who are filing claims and appeals for VA benefits during the pandemic.
•	Allowing active duty service members to terminate cable, internet and telephone contracts without penalty due to stop movement orders.
•	Suspending VA debt collection until 60 days past the end of the pandemic.
•	Requiring the Defense Department to report to Congress on active duty suicides during the pandemic 90 days after the end of the pandemic.

Critics of the bill claim the legislation is a nonstarter because it came too early, is too expensive and includes too many measures unrelated to the virus. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has declared the bill will be dead on arrival when it gets to the Senate. The Senate is expected to introduce their own coronavirus response bill soon. As FRAtoday goes to press, the FRA is urging the Senate to include the pharmacy co-pay waiver for home delivery during the pandemic in its version of the stimulus bill. Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/73200/respond) to ask their Senators to support this pharmacy co-pay provision.  

DHA Eliminates Fees for TRICARE Telehealth During Pandemic
The Defense Health Agency has announced that effective immediately co-pays and cost-shares for TRICARE telehealth be eliminated during the pandemic. The DHA has also temporarily relaxed licensure requirements across state lines for health care providers, which will give beneficiaries access to more providers. The DHA claims this is in line with many states that have relaxed licensure requirements to allow providers to practice across state lines. Previously, providers had to be licensed to practice in their own state, as well as in the state where the patient was located. This will especially help families who live in more rural areas with limited access to health care providers.

GAO Doubtful of the Benefits of Merging Military Retail System
The Department of Defense says merging separate retail operations across the services into a single agency will save the taxpayer $700 million to $1 billion in the next five years. But the Government Accountability Office is not convinced. A recent GAO report indicates that the DOD task force set up to study consolidation may have overestimated the savings and underestimated the costs, in part, by not considering relocation costs.  

The FRA opposes consolidation or closure of military exchanges and wants to ensure adequate funding for the Defense Commissary Agency. The FRA and several other organizations signed onto a letter in February of 2019 that was sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The letter addressed the proposals of merging the various elements of the defense resale system, which could pose a threat to its continued viability, and requested further study and oversight by Congress.

In January of 2019, a task force convened by the DOD chief management officer recommended consolidating the exchanges and the commissaries. While the military service branches concurred with this recommended, they did express concerns that consolidation would take longer and cost more than anticipated, while failing to result in promised efficiencies. The FRA is concerned that if these predictions are accurate, the defense resale system may be unable to provide the services — low cost groceries and support for MWR programs — relied on by service members, their families, retirees and survivors. 

Active Duty/Reserve Issues
Expand Service Members’ Legal Protections During COVID-19
Key legislators on the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees are backing recently introduced legislation (S.3637/H.R.6767), sponsored by SVAC Ranking Member Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.), and Rep. Mike Levin (Calif.) respectively. The bill would expand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to provide additional legal protections for service members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The SCRA provides legal protection to service members to prevent them from being taken advantage of while on active duty or deployed. The act can postpone or suspend financial or civil obligations, including preventing foreclosures, evictions, or repossession of a vehicle under certain circumstances. This legislation expands SCRA protections to service members who were previously issued orders to change duty stations but, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, received a stop movement order and may have a housing or car lease in two different locations.

“Service members are prepared to sacrifice for our country, but they should never suffer significant personal financial losses as a result of following orders,” said Rep. Levin. “While I appreciate the Defense Department’s efforts to keep service members safe during this pandemic, it’s unacceptable that some military families have been forced to pay for a second home that they can’t even move into due to the stop movement order. I’m glad to introduce bipartisan legislation to rectify this situation.”

“When our military families are called upon to relocate to posts around the world in service to this nation, we have a responsibility to ensure their transitions are as smooth as possible,” said Ranking Member Tester. “For service members facing two housing payments because they followed the military’s stop movement orders in response to the pandemic, this means we’ve got to provide them with legal and consumer protections.”

Members can use the FRA Action Center (www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/74367/respond) to weigh in on this issue.

SecDef Reverses Course on Excluding Coast Guard Children from Childcare Centers
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has reversed course on his proposed restriction of children being allowed to attend Child Development Centers at military installations. This issue first reported in the May, 2020 issue of FRAtoday, noted that the FRA dispatched a letter to the Secretary of Defense urging him to re-consider his decision to restrict attendance at CDCs for children from U.S. Coast Guard families. Press reports indicate that one of the unintended consequences of this proposed change was that as many as 1,000 children of active-duty U.S. Coast Guard families would have lost their spots at base CDCs. The association believes it is important to provide adequate childcare at all military installations. The FRA advocates that the DoD should increase funding for Child Development Centers rather than restrict usage.  

Pentagon Outsources Moving Household Goods in PCS Moves to one Company
The U.S. Transportation Command has awarded a three-year contract for relocation of household goods for military Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves to American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group, Inc. This is the first time a single company has exclusive rights to moving household goods in PCS moves. The company will receive $7.2 billion over three years. The contract covers both the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard. In a statement provided to the media, the company said it planned to lead a “full-service, worldwide relocation effort with a team of subcontracting partners” with the intent of improving military moves and offering better service.

Personal vehicle (POV) shipments are currently outsourced to a single private contractor, International Auto Logistics (IAL). That contract was awarded in May of 2014 and came under intense scrutiny after hundreds of service members complained that their POVs were undelivered far past their expected arrival dates, could not be located on IAL’s shipment tracking system or they arrived damaged. Press accounts claim that approximately 70 percent of the vehicles that IAL was tasked with shipping over 2014’s peak moving dates were considered late. 

The FRA will monitor implementation of this contract to ensure that PCS moves go smoothly.

Navy Wants Ships at Sea to Be Free of COVID-19
After outbreaks of the coronavirus on the aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT and the destroyer USS KIDD while at sea, the Navy developed new standardized operational guidance for the fleet during the pandemic. The guidelines were based on lessons learned from combating the disease. The Navy’s new standards for ships at sea is to now operate as clean “bubbles,” allowing only people aboard who have been medically screened and who adhere to health mitigation measures. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak onboard ships, the DOD Inspector General has initiated an evaluation of Navy’s approach to preventing the spread of infectious diseases aboard its ships and submarines.

SecNav Confirmed by Senate
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed Kenneth J. Braithwaite as Secretary of the Navy. He most recently served as the U.S. ambassador to Norway. He was selected for the top civilian post in the Navy in November and will succeed Richard Spencer. Braithwaite is a former naval aviator and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. During his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Braithwaite promised to set the proper tone at the top and work to restore the appropriate culture at the Navy.
FEATURE  STORY

Legislative Check-In: The Military Housing Privatization Initiative

How far have we come in 17 months?

By Elise M. Howard

“They are covering up, painting over mold, threatening military members with their command, using scare tactics and intimidation, lying to us and making the problems worse,” said Air Force spouse Janna Driver, testifying before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel and Readiness subcommittees on Feb. 13, 2019. “They have been banking on the fact that we would likely PCS to another base before what they covered up would reappear. On the surface, these homes appear to be flawless. But inside, the walls tell a different story.”

Driver went on to describe nearly two years of fighting with Balfour Beatty Communities, the housing company that manages on-base housing at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, to properly treat five types of toxic mold in her family’s home and pay for the hotel her husband, five young children, and she had to live in for months when the unit was finally deemed uninhabitable. 

Her testimony was joined by other heartbreaking stories recounted by two more military spouses and several lawmakers. The hearing had been called after a series of Reuters reports, beginning in August 2018, had documented the presence of lead, toxic mold, pest infestations, construction defects, faulty electrical wiring, raw sewage and other health hazards in military family housing managed by several different private companies across multiple bases. Although members of Congress and much of the public were shocked by the reports, for many military families, it felt like their broken record was being heard for the first time.

Inconsistency in the Military Housing Experience
“I was cautiously optimistic last year when the hearings were brought to the Senate floor,” says Rosa Ramirez, a Marine Corps spouse who requested that we not use her real name to avoid retaliation against her husband. “I had hoped that maybe some action would finally be taken to remedy the situation, instead of having to deal with placating and nonaction.”

Like many military families, the Ramirezes have found that conditions in privatized housing vary significantly across bases and housing providers.

“We never had problems with Atlantic Marine Corps Communities in North Carolina, but we had problems with Lincoln (Military Housing in Virginia) from the moment we got our keys,” she says. “We fought with them every week for the first four months we lived here to take care of things that should never have made it past their own private walk-through — ripped flooring, contractor dust everywhere, a leaking sink pipe, a broken garage door lock and a locked storage shed with no key. They shrugged and told us to deal with it or fix it ourselves. Any maintenance request put in was deleted, or they’d come out and not fix anything.”

Ramirez notes that the issues were finally resolved in a single day when her husband brought them to the attention of Lincoln’s district manager. Lincoln Military Housing did not respond to a request for comment.
Navy spouse Theresa Aldred has also noticed significant differences between bases in the condition of privatized housing and the quality of maintenance services, even within the same housing company.

“In Groton, (Connecticut,) one night around midnight, we heard our furnace try to come on and then a strange sound,” she recalls. “It was bitterly cold that evening. We called the emergency line and they had a team there fixing it within the hour in the middle of the night. It was above and beyond. We never had any issues really in Groton.”
But when the Aldreds moved to a second Balfour Beatty community in Kings Bay, Georgia, they found a much less responsive maintenance department.

“We actually complained of a spot in the ceiling of our bathroom in Georgia and they would ‘patch’ it repeatedly until one night during a torrential rain, water poured into our home!” she recalls. “The entire building — it was a fourplex — had to have a new roof. Had they addressed the real issue when we reported it, it would not have come to that.”

Later, when they moved into a larger unit to accommodate their new child during a sweltering Georgia summer, they found upon arrival that the air conditioning did not work.

“In order to get my AC replaced, we had to call daily to tell them the unit was frozen. This was at their request in order to justify the cost of replacing the unit,” Aldred says. “So our family had to endure a miserably hot home until they had justification according to their standards to replace the AC.”

The Immediate Impact of the Hearing
Aldred and her family were living in Georgia when the February 2019 hearing took place. She says her husband’s command became very involved in ensuring that all of their repair requests had been handled, although it was too little too late for her leaky roof and broken air conditioning. She did appreciate a difference at the housing office, however.

“After Congress got involved, the attitudes of the Balfour Beatty employees took a complete 180,” she recounts. “They were much more friendly and courteous. Their willingness to fix issues and listen to resident complaints and concerns changed as well. Over the course of our five years there, we had been treated rudely or ignored … enough that we just avoided the housing office as much as possible. So when there was a change, it was blatant.”
But in Virginia, Ramirez did not see meaningful change.

“Things got a little bit better while the hearings were underway, but they petered out quickly,” she says. “During the hearings, the CO at (our base) held a few town halls to hear complaints, but there was no follow-up or pressure on housing to fix the issues. (My husband’s) command did a walk-through … but the issues noted and submitted up the chain of command were currently being ‘taken care of’ by housing so there was no follow-up.”

Discussing Accountability and Solutions
On Capitol Hill, March, April and May of 2019 brought a steady stream of hearings and legislation on privatized military housing, as well as thousands of emails and phone calls from military families. On March 7, 2019, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to bring accountability to service members’ chains of command for failing to adequately oversee the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. In a rare group appearance, the Army chief of staff, chief of naval operations, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Air Force chief of staff, as well as the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force gathered for 2.5 hours to answer legislators’ questions and testify about the conditions at privatized housing units they had personally visited since the February hearing. 
“The standards are there; we need to enforce the standards,” Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer noted during the hearing. “We were not keeping our eye on the ball. The (military) housing office needed to be the quality control check and balance.”

That same day, the Ensuring Safe Housing for Our Military Act was introduced in the Senate. The bill’s proposals included the elimination of deposits and nonrefundable fees, the creation of electronic work order systems, inspector general investigations into retaliation against service members voicing housing complaints, annual reviews of housing companies’ mold management and pest control plans, the withholding of Basic Allowance for Housing and incentive pay when health hazards are not addressed, and reimbursement for relocation costs for families in hazardous living conditions. 

On April 4, 2019, the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing to discuss legislative housing solutions with the undersecretary of the Navy, the assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, and the Army and Air Force assistant secretaries for installations, environment and energy. These witnesses testified to enacting a number of short-term measures to assess and address substandard housing conditions across the service branches, including chain of command education, site visits, inspector general investigations, hotlines for reporting housing concerns, meetings with housing company executives and town halls where families could raise issues directly to military leaders.

The witnesses also reported that many of their oversight billets and housing education programs for command leadership had been reduced or eliminated under the financial pressure of sequestration and the belief that the privatization initiative was going well. They requested additional funding to restore these positions and programs to their former strength. 

A Flurry of Bills
The pace of military housing legislation intensified in the month following this third high-profile hearing. On April 11, 2019, two bills were introduced in the House and one in the Senate aimed at establishing DOD policies for granting base access to certified lead inspectors, mandating lead screening in all TRICARE-covered infants, and punishing service members who attempted to impede lead testing. An additional bill introduced in the House proposed that the secretary of each branch submit an annual report on whether or not military housing under their jurisdiction met the lead-related requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1992. 

On April 29, 2019, Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced the Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act, a lengthy set of suggested housing reforms including lease standardization, routine building code and health inspections, a public database of complaints against housing companies, and mechanisms for withholding payment from and terminating partnerships with housing companies in breach of their contracts. 

May brought Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Better Military Housing Act of 2019 to the Senate floor. The bill proposed that the Secretary of Defense consult with military leaders, families and advocacy organizations to create a plan for resolving privatized housing issues and report that plan to Congress within a year. It also suggested the creation and dissemination of a “Tenant Bill of Rights,” a concept that had been brought up repeatedly in hearings by witnesses and lawmakers alike. 

Navigating the many bills being introduced and discussed on this topic was the FRA legislative team, which had been advocating for military housing improvements even before the hearings began.

“We’ve had a lot of communication with Capitol Hill staff on the Armed Services committees of both the House and Senate, and we’ve talked to the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps about it. And … the commandant of the Marine Corps,” says FRA Director of Legislative Program John Davis. “It’s something like motherhood, apple pie and Chevrolet. Everybody’s (saying) ‘This is great.’ The question is enforcement, oversight and money.”

Reform Codified in the NDAA
Many of the ideas set forth in the multitude of spring bills gained real momentum when they were incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The FY2020 NDAA drafts that were introduced in the House May 2, 2019, and the Senate June 11, 2019, both contained a full title dedicated to military housing reform. However, momentum for passing the NDAA stalled in committee over a variety of issues, and the final version of the bill was not passed until Dec. 20, 2019. But the legislation seems to have been worth the wait for military families, containing 38 full sections on improving privatized military housing.

Some of the most notable portions of the law are measures requiring DOD approval of common leases and nondisclosure agreements, mandating electronic work order tracking systems accessible to tenants and the DOD in real time, allowing the secretary of a military branch to withhold payment or revoke a housing contract if a company is found to be in material breach of the contract, authorizing the DOD chief housing officer (whose role was also established by the bill) to identify underfunded privatized housing projects each month and provide them with additional funding, requiring mold and pest control plans be reviewed by installation commanders, and establishing routine inspections for each unit and satisfaction surveys for each tenant by military housing office personnel. 

Among other things, the law also requires housing companies to provide an annual financial disclosure to the secretary of defense, pay the relocation costs of tenants whose homes contain health or environmental hazards, and reimburse the DOD for the costs of evaluating and treating tenant medical conditions caused by unsanitary or unsafe housing units. It also obliges the secretary of defense to publish on a publicly available website each year the incentive fees that were paid to private housing providers, along with the metrics that were used to determine how much of each incentive fee was given.

The Tenant Bill of Rights
The FY2020 NDAA also includes the highly anticipated Tenant Bill of Rights. Eighteen rights were delineated for military families living in privatized housing, although the bill describes these as a “minimum” that the secretary of defense can add to. On Feb. 25, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force signed a letter resolving to provide service members with “the full benefit” of 15 of these rights by May 1. 

“With respect to the remaining three rights — access to maintenance history, process for dispute resolution, and withholding of rent until disputes are resolved — the Department will continue to work with the MHPI companies and, as necessary, Congress to ensure the benefits of these rights are fully available,” the letter noted. As the secretaries had testified in prior hearings, the remaining three rights require altering the original contracts made with the housing companies, which cannot be done without the companies’ consent.

While 15 out of 18 rights may not sound like a bad deal, Davis, Ramirez and many housing advocates argue that the three remaining rights are the most crucial to lasting reform. Davis notes that although negotiations for the remaining three rights have not been completed as this issue of FRAtoday goes to press, “I've been told the contractors have gotten together and said ‘We will accept the other three provisions.’”

Only time will tell what the results will be of each branch’s negotiations with the 14 privatized housing partners, and whether or not the judicial branch will need to get involved in determining whether the old contracts or the new laws are more legally binding.

The GAO Reports on “Misleading” Metrics
On Dec. 3, 2019, the Government Accountability Office published a preliminary report assessing the progress made by the DOD in overseeing privatized military housing. While the GAO found that progress had been made in some areas, such as increased work order tracking and more specific oversight guidance, the efforts were not translating into effective oversight. The report noted that point-in-time assessments, such as change of occupancy walk-throughs and work order reviews, were too limited in scope to useful. They also reported that the metrics used to measure private partner performance “may not provide meaningful information on the condition of housing,” that housing companies were not collecting work order data consistently or reliably, and that the collection and calculation processes used to report statistics like resident satisfaction rates to Congress were unreliable and misleading.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the GAO’s findings on Dec. 3, 2019, with representatives from the GAO, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Lawmakers grilled military leaders about the lack of progress, pressed them to renegotiate contracts with housing providers and recommended they seek criminal prosecution where applicable. 

On Dec. 5, 2019, the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Readiness held another hearing with top executives from the five largest housing partners: Corvias Group LLC, Hunt Companies Inc., Lendlease Americas, Balfour Beatty Communities and Lincoln Military Housing. If legislators had seemed tough on military leaders two days earlier, it was nothing compared to the wrath brought down upon the housing company representatives. Richard Taylor, the president of facility operations, renovations and construction at Balfour Beatty, weathered particularly harsh criticism for Reuters reports in June and November 2019 that at least five employees at three separate military installations had admitted to falsifying maintenance records to earn performance incentive bonuses from the DOD.

The housing company executives testified to ongoing challenges in addressing systemic housing concerns, including young tenants with little knowledge about how to care for a home, the high cost of repairing older units inherited from the DOD (some as old as 1870, with historic home repair restrictions) and the difficulty of attracting outside investment and using traditional financial tools like refinancing following a policy reversal in FY2015 that limited the amount of debt private housing partners could take on. They also reported that they had taken numerous steps to ameliorate families’ housing concerns, such as creating work order tracking apps, increasing maintenance staff, obtaining third party reviews of their mold remediation policies, issuing more stringent guidance for move-in inspections, and increasing the frequency of maintenance follow-up calls and satisfaction surveys.
On March 3, the GAO presented their findings once again in a final report to the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. The final report noted that the DOD had already begun its response to the GAO’s recommendations by reviewing its data collection processes, issuing guidance to standardize the granting of performance incentive bonuses, and working with private partners to implement the Tenant Bill of Rights, including the establishment of a common dispute resolution process across all 14 housing providers. 

The GAO’s written testimony concluded, “We found that while DOD and the private partners have taken steps to address concerns raised about their ability to adequately maintain and oversee the condition of these housing units and provide quality housing for servicemembers, the extent to which the efforts will be sustained and result in improvements remains unclear.”

Continuing the Pressure for Change
To help make sustained oversight efforts a reality, the FRA legislative team continues to press for housing improvements. At a January 2020 event, Davis asked some Marines present if they had seen any changes in privatized housing since the NDAA became law the previous month.

“They all said housing was horrible and hasn’t improved at all. That’s when we knew something was wrong,” Davis recalls. “From time to time in America, we have a disconnect. We have Congress pass something and everybody applauds, and then nothing happens. And that’s what occurred here. And it’s really unfortunate, and it does have an impact on readiness.”

To keep the pressure on lawmakers to see privatized housing improvement through to the end, the FRA legislative team is using their connections on Capitol Hill as well as grassroots advocacy tools.

“We’ve put the issue on our Action Center and we’ve asked people to write their congressmen and their legislators. We’ve had 1,000 people (do so) over the last week or so,” Davis says. “We’ve provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee that the situation has not been fixed. … We also worked with the Military Coalition, a group of 33 organizations, and put together some information for legislators. It’s all signed by all 33 groups and so that gives it more push, more clout, in the legislature when it goes over there.”

The Privatized Housing Experience Today
As this issue of FRAtoday goes to press, the COVID-19 health crisis has consumed most of Capitol Hill’s legislative attention and suspended further work toward improving privatized military housing. But pests and mold are not taking a break for the pandemic.

While the GAO presented their final report on Capitol Hill, Ramirez was breathing a tentative sigh of relief at the end of over a month of battling to get termites and mold in her walls and HVAC system properly treated. Despite reporting suspicions of mold and water behind her wall for a year, Ramirez says Lincoln Military Housing refused to investigate the area “until the water finally burst through the wall.”

“Our wall was left open for five days and it took an email before someone came out to look again,” Ramirez recalls. “Turns out there should have been a containment unit up from day one. It took three more weeks for them to get the wall back up, another week for painting and HVAC. Another week for them to fix the windowsill they broke, clean the vents, and fix the floor they left paint on. … At the end of the work, we had a walk-through with the new district manager, the maintenance manager, the regional manager, the regional maintenance manager, and a rep from the base military housing office. More issues were identified at that time, and we are still, 10 weeks later, waiting for solutions.”

Although Lincoln Military Housing has introduced a work order app to help residents submit and track maintenance requests, Aldred reports that the app is not user-friendly, and Ramirez has not found that having a record of her request improves response time.

“They have always been understaffed in the maintenance department, so while they move your request into ‘in progress’ quickly, you also get an immediate email saying, ‘We are currently behind in orders, but we should be able to take care of your request by the end of the week/beginning of next week,’” Ramirez says. “I have also noticed that recently all of my previous, completed maintenance requests have disappeared from the app.”
Fortunately for Aldred, her family’s experience in one of Lincoln’s newly constructed homes in Virginia has been a positive one. In May, when she discovered black, oily debris in her bathwater, Lincoln sent friendly and professional maintenance staff to repair her water heater two days later.

“Before the changes, there was sometimes an attitude and mindset of ‘Oh well’ if you had an issue, behavior that in the civilian world, landlords by laws and regulations cannot get away with,” she says. “Since the change last year, there is definitely a shift towards respecting tenant rights more.” 

But Aldred adds that more needs to be done for many military families.

“We have been fortunate enough to be in renovated or new construction homes, but we have seen the other units that are not new or renovated, and they are run down and falling apart,” she says. “There are some places riddled with mold, and crumbling homes that need to be torn down and replaced.”	
For lasting change, Ramirez is waiting for renegotiated contracts.

“Unfortunately, the contracts are so lopsided in favor of the housing companies, there isn’t much that can be done — and housing knows it!” she says. “I think the government needs to step up, find the inevitable loophole written into the contracts with these companies that allows them to claim housing is in breach, and rewrite these things to be in our favor.”

The Road Ahead on Capitol Hill
In Washington, Davis is optimistic that the Department Of Defense will implement meaningful improvements to the Military Housing Privatization Initiative within the next year.

“The Department of Defense takes the GAO’s concerns pretty seriously and they’ll probably have a report coming out in the fall or something saying that ‘we’ve complied with this,’” Davis says. “When there’s a bad GAO report, they usually respond with something within six months or a year.”

He adds that the military services will be motivated to resolve housing issues because the bad press could reduce already flagging recruitment numbers. Davis hopes to use the FY2021 NDAA as an opportunity to press for fully funding oversight of the military housing program and re-evaluating how Basic Allowance for Housing rates are calculated to give service members more housing options.

“They (the GAO) also want the audit conducted on BAH calculations, which we have always been in favor of,” Davis says. “A long-term goal of ours is to have BAH be more reflective of reality.”
Raising BAH seems to be a point everyone can agree on. 

“This program was predicated on the Basic Allowance for Housing remaining stable,” Corvias Partnership Advisor Heath Burleson noted in his written testimony for the March 3 hearing. “Instead, BAH has been reduced and troop draw-downs have decreased the market, all while expenses have increased, and homes have aged and require more capital investment. Stabilization of on-post Basic Allowance for Housing is the single-most important factor in ensuring long-term MHPI success.”

But for Ramirez, recalculating BAH in 2021 will be too late. As she and her two small children prepare to follow her husband to the D.C. area this year, privatized housing will be their only affordable option.

“Unfortunately, we are moving to an area that currently does not have housing options available for us in the civilian sector that would not put us into unnecessary debt,” she says. “We will be living in Lincoln housing on base and my only hope is that being a Marine base (instead of a Navy one), the conditions will be better.”    

FEATURE

Independence Seaport Museum
New Leadership Inspires a Renaissance on the Philadelphia Waterfront.

By Ann Norvell Gray

The Independence Seaport Museum started life in 1961 as the Philadelphia Maritime Museum in Philadelphia’s historic Washington Square. Its founder, the prominent maritime collector J. Welles Henderson, was deeply aware of the city’s maritime history and its importance to every aspect of the creation of the nation from its earliest Colonial days. His significant collection became the museum’s initial assets, and remains in the archives and library that bear his name. The museum has moved twice, first in the 1970s into a bank building, and then in 1995 into its current spot at Penn’s Landing on the banks of the Delaware, at which point the historic cruiser USS OLYMPIA (C-6) and submarine USS BECUNA (SS-319) were added to its collection.

After the first 15 years of its current residence on the waterfront, the museum was found to have suffered at the hands of a member of its leadership who had unacceptable ideas about who its money was meant to serve. The donors were not amused. As this situation was resolved, John Brady, who had for years directed the museum’s Workshop on the Water boat shop project, was chosen to serve as CEO. After four years under his determined leadership, the museum received three grants generous enough to double its endowment. 

“The Seaport Museum’s mission is to deepen the understanding, appreciation and experience of the Philadelphia region’s waterways,” Brady told the Chestnut Hill Local in June 2015. “We do this with exhibits, hands-on activities like boat building, our ships … and activities on the water. … We are using maritime history as a window into science, and using science as a way to have fun.” 1

Its reputation restored and its benefactors re-engaged, the museum has continued its renaissance. Its virtual educational capabilities are readily visible on its website, Facebook page and other social media outlets. 

The Site
In 1682, William Penn sited the city of Philadelphia where the Schuylkill River meets the Delaware. The Delaware River rises in New York’s Catskill Mountains and flows through five states into Delaware Bay, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of New Jersey. Its importance to the creation and sustenance of Philadelphia and to the entire Northeastern American economy, culture and government cannot be overstated. 

The Schuylkill flows in a great looping curve from its source in Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal country. As a lifeline to the Industrial Revolution, the river delivered millions of tons of coal from the Allegheny Mountain mines into Philadelphia to supply the iron and steel industry, and with it, enough devastating pollution to deprive aquatic life in the lower Delaware of enough oxygen to survive, and to allow the Schuylkill to catch fire more than once. Fast-forward to the present, and the Delaware River and Bay have been recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding water pollution remediation and control success stories. 

The Ships
Two veteran vessels are berthed in the Delaware as part of the museum’s collections, and are perhaps the most visible and recognizable aspects of its commitment to maritime history. The larger and older of the two is the 1892 cruiser OLYMPIA (C-6), the oldest steel warship afloat in the world and one of only two World War I ships that remain. When it was launched, it was a marvel of new design and technology developed for the new steel Navy. Its 27 active years spanned six presidential administrations and two wars, including service as Commodore George Dewey’s flagship in Manila Bay at the start of the Spanish-American War in 1898, and ending as it brought home the American unknown soldier who died in France during the First World War. Among its other missions, it delivered food and supplies for European communities decimated by the 1918 flu pandemic, a fact that has particular resonance with the world right now.

Nestled between OLYMPIA and the Penn’s Landing walkway lies the WWII submarine BECUNA (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine built in New London, Connecticut, and launched in 1944. “Becky” gets its name from a Mediterranean fish similar to a pike. Its first job was to find and neutralize Japanese warships in the Pacific. In the 1950s, it was converted as part of the Navy’s Greater Underwater Propulsion Program. As an upgraded GUPPY I, it was deployed in the Atlantic to shadow and listen in on Soviet submarines during the Cold War, and saw service during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts before retiring to serve as a training ship. Like the respected old professor it is, its job now is to rest at Penn’s Landing and educate younger people about its place in maritime military history. 

The Workshop on the Water
A third historic vessel has been re-created to rest inside the museum and usually proves irresistible to curious youngsters who are encouraged to get their hands on every part of it. The schooner, named DILIGENCE for the 18th century schooner of the same name designed and built in Philadelphia, is a full-size waterline model that was constructed as part of the museum’s Workshop on the Water. In the workshop’s full-scale boat shop, projects include the restoration of old boats, the construction of new ones, and some repairs and maintenance for the museum’s own ships and artifacts. As part of the museum’s commitment to education and community service, an after-school program supports STEM learning by using boatbuilding to teach basics of engineering, math and science; to model leadership skills; and to introduce its students to the ecological importance of the rivers around them. For some of these urban youngsters, this is the first time they have ever been aware of the rivers that surround their city.

The Ship Model Shack
On Saturdays and Sundays, members of the Philadelphia Ship Model Society man this fully outfitted model-building studio so that visitors can watch them work on their own projects and talk with them about this craft. The society is housed at the museum and is the oldest organization of its kind in the country. Their generosity with what they know is heartwarming, the care and precision of their work is hypnotic, and the resulting models are beautiful to see. Visit the society’s website and watch the short film “Closer you Look by PSMS” to see them in action.

The Installations and Activities
As this issue of FRAtoday goes to press,, the museum is closed to the public with no prediction of when it may reopen. In response, the staff has ramped up its already substantial online activities to give virtual tours of the ships, to keep its digital educational outreach to Philadelphia’s schools lively and engaging, and to describe for us the current exhibits so that we can be armchair visitors. A link in the Internet Resources section on page 32 connects you to the museum’s active page of digital resources, where you can learn more about Philadelphia’s maritime history, take virtual tours of the galleries or download activity pages for homebound children. The schooner DILIGENCE is the centerpiece of “Patriots and Pirates,” an exhibit illuminating the connection between the threat from pirates and Philadelphia’s role in the establishment of the U.S. Navy. The catalog for “Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor” can be thumbed through by following the link in the Internet Resources. 

The museum’s Facebook page is full of demonstrations and activities to dive into. A post from May 10 commemorates the 1797 launch of the UNITED STATES, and includes a photo of the model. Every Wednesday is “Workshop Wednesday,” for which staffers from the Workshop on the Water demonstrate their skills. Chief Curator Craig Bruns hosts the weekly “Collections Corner” to read you an 18th century letter of introduction instrumental to the creation of America’s commercial relationship with China, or show you an odd model ship formed on a chicken bone. Kevin Smith, the curator of ships, has created a virtual tour of OLYMPIA in a series of short episodes, each dedicated to one functional area of the ship.

Memorial Day in Shutdown
Perhaps the most affecting of all the Independence Seaport Museum’s virtual presentations was posted on Monday, May 25, when the COVID-19 sequestration forced the cancellation of Memorial Day commemoration ceremonies across the nation. Instead, CEO John Brady spoke alone from his quarters about the cruiser OLYMPIA’s losses in the 1918 flu pandemic, and its service to suffering communities in Europe while mourning its own. He was followed by retired Navy Capt. Lou Cavaliere,  vice chair of The Chapel of Four Chaplains, who honored the front-line workers during the current crisis as well as those who gave the last full measure of devotion. Then, in a video segment filmed by Brady, Luke Clauson, living history crew member on the OLYMPIA, closed the ceremony from the ship’s deck with the saluting battery.

Philadelphia’s rich history and influence on who we are as a nation is surely linked to its geographical position and its reliance on commercial and military vessels. The Independence Seaport Museum understands that a thorough understanding of Philadelphia’s maritime history and an abiding respect for its waters are critical to the city’s future, and continues to strengthen its contribution with preservation, education and community service. FRA

Return to Table of Contents

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

Virtual Meetings are Common and Easy to Use

With all the changes to our normal routines because of the COVID-19 epidemic, I wanted to share some positive news. This month I am going to discuss how branches have adapted to using online virtual meeting technologies in lieu of face-to-face get-togethers.

First off, it is worth understanding what these technologies are all about, if you have never participated in a virtual meeting. Online meetings evolved from conference call systems, where each participant dialed into a common telephone number to get connected so they could talk to one another. These services were voice-only and were very popular in the business world for a long time. They remain available today, though in practice, their use is rapidly dwindling.

Online meeting platforms have taken their place. There are many; they go by names such as Webex, GoToMeeting, Zoom and RingCentral. Instead of dialing a telephone number (although they still all offer that option as a backup for people who can’t connect to the internet), you install an application on your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone and use that to connect to a virtual meeting. Once connected, you can talk and listen just like the old telephone systems. You can also share a camera feed so people can see you, and of course, you can see them, but that is optional. You can also share electronic documents, participate in editing them with electronic “pens” and perform a lot of the same work from your living room, just like you would during a real branch meeting. The only things missing are the coffee and the box of donuts!

These virtual tools are all very useful and do not require the latest and greatest equipment to work. As mentioned, however, they do offer various options for pure telephone-based participation. You will not have the visual component, but you will not be excluded either. If you are unsure if your branch is conducting a virtual meeting, please call your branch secretary and let them know you are interested. Ask them how to be included in the next virtual meeting. The secretaries may need to know how many Shipmates to expect on the meeting before setting it up. Since many Shipmates cannot receive meeting invitations by email, branches may need a separate, mailed notice followed up with a telephone-based way to join the meeting.

With that said, if you do have a computer with internet access, or a relatively new smartphone and the issue is simply that you do not know how to use it to get connected, please call your branch and ask them to help you. We do not want to lose your input and opinions because of a technical support issue! Like any new experience, there is a learning curve, but it is not too steep and provides huge dividends, especially in this “new normal” we are all facing. 

Finally, just a brief reminder that most FRA branches have been calling and emailing their members during the stay-at-home period. If you have not had a call from your branch, please consider that it might be because the branch records do not have a current phone number for you. Give them a call directly and verify your information. It only takes a minute, and you will enjoy the bonus of getting an update from branch officers as well! You can always call FRA Member Services at 800-372-1924 to get your branch officers’ contact information, or you can use the new Branch Locator tool online at www.fra.org/BranchLocator.  FRA

Yours in Loyalty, Protection and Service,
Christina Hitchcock

Christina is the FRA’s director of membership. She can be reached at ChristinaH@fra.org or 703-683-1400, ext. 123.

Shipmate News

1. Branch 146, Johnsville, Pa.
State Rep. for the 152nd Legislative District Thomas P. Murt visited Branch 146 to brief Shipmates on benefits and services for veterans and beneficiaries in Pennsylvania during the March 10th meeting. Rep. Murt is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Services. 

2. Branch 94, Corpus Christi, Texas
Emily Clark placed first in the 11th Grade South Central Regional Finals for the Americanism and Patriotism Essay Contest. Her essay was forwarded to the national competition. Every entrant judged at the national level receives a certificate of recognition.

3. Branch 4, Washington, D.C.
Branch and unit members gathered at Arlington National Cemetery in January. Each has a family member buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  (L to R) Marco Flores, Unit 4 member Michel Padama, Unit 4 President  Grace Villanueva, Chico Fernandez, Dana Kibic Tayac, Claire Kibic Flores and Mely Bungato Ocampo.

4. Branch 24, Annapolis, Md.
A rendition of a U.S. Navy Mark V diver’s helmet from E.L. & Company was donated to the Carl Brashear Foundation and is displayed at the Carl Brashear Conference Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek- Fort Story in Virginia. (L to R) Philip Brashear, Kirk Towner and Tony Palm.

5. Branch 22, Pensacola, Fla.
(L to R) Bob Hall receives his FRA recruiting pin from Branch President Jim Richmond during their general meeting in March.

6. Branch 31, Peabody, Mass.
Veterans placed flags on veterans’ graves at the Peabody Veterans Council at Cedar Grove Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery (social distancing rules were in effect). The Branch 31 Shipmates pictured are, NP Donna Jansky, Branch President Bob Dunne and Shipmates Harry Gardner and Walter Blazewicz.

7. Branch 104, Puyallup, Wash.
(L to R) PNP John Johnson (L) and Jim Jones (R) presented Nahum Doskow (center) with his 60-year pin and certificate. Shipmate Rex Faubion was on the camera. Congratulations, Shipmate “Dos,” and thank you for your many years of service.

8. Branch 126, Jacksonville, Fla.
(L to R) Donald Rodely, Elmer Wine, Branch President James J. Thomas, Al Peter and Ed Gribbin participated in the 2019 Veterans Day parade in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo by NES/Unit President Veralyn Thomas.

9. Branch 269, Goose Creek, S.C.
FRA South East Regional President Laurie Bailey participated in the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony that is held each year on Dec. 7 at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.

10. Branch 208, Jacksonville, N.C.
This year’s Contest Winners. (L to R, front row) Shipmate Luis Alers; Maddy Templeton, Rebecca McLean, Caleb Mendiola and Charlie Skala, all from Infant of Prague Catholic School; Haley Moore from Swansboro Middle School and Elizabeth Schwend, Nathaniel Presson and Karl Benson, all from Lejeune High School. (L to R, back row) Branch President Raymond Applewhite, Erik Williams from Infant of Prague Catholic School, Shipmate Gerald Gray Jr., Branch Chaplain Alexander J. Nevgloski Sr. and Branch Secretary Paul Miethker.

11. Branch 222, Slidell, La.
The Coast Guard CPO selectees had a very successful car wash in the parking lot of American Legion Post 374. They wish to thank everyone for their support. (L to R) BMC Jason Boudreaux, BMC Jeremy Shaffer, CSC Beau Roper, OSC Bobby Cook, BMC Nick Testa (with Calyn, Melina and Ethan Testa), BMC Jeremy Devross, SKC Brady Adkins, ETC Derrick Brown, CWO Simson King, Jahsigh King and ENS Daniel Crisci.

12. Branch 161, Kansas City, Kan.
(L to R) Current RVPNC Jerome Lickteig welcomed NED Chris Slawinski to the 2019 North Central Regional Convention in Nashville, Indiana. Slawinski was a candidate for National Executive Director at the time.

TAPS
Name	Rating	Branch
Adams, Dale A.	SWCS, USN	04
Adragna, Salvatore	SK2, USN	MAL
Aki, Edward K.	GYSGT, USMC	230
Arellano, Renato S.	MSC, USN	MAL

Bailey, Richard	ADJ1, USNR	MAL
Beale, Donald K.	MSGT, USMC	208
Bradley, Douglas	BUC, USN	31
Bundy, Norman J.	CPL, USMCR	MAL

Christy, Robert L.	SCEM, USN	24
Cieslewicz, Anthony	ADJ1, USN	MAL
Consa, Robert	SM1, USN	MAL
Criswell, Vivian C.	ENC(SS), USN	20

Davis, Chester M.	BMC, USCG	MAL
Davis, Earl J.	TMCS, USN	MAL
Deneka, Harry	QMC, USN	MAL
Durkee, Kenneth L.	ATCS, USN	14

Eaton, William B.	AO1, USN	MAL
English, James M.	POC, USN	254

Fetterly, L. J.	ATCS, USN	184
Fleming, John P.	SMC, USN	MAL
Foust, Richard W.	PNC, USN	57
Frerich, William A.	ENC, USN	MAL
Frontz, Kenneth D.	AFCM, USN	91

Gage, Ronald D.	MSGT, USMC	181
Gomez, Fabian	LT/CWO/CPO, USN	293
Graham, Stanley C.	AVCM, USN	MAL
Griswold, Shelby F.	CPO, USN	94

Hadfield, Donald J.	HM1, USN	01
Hamus, Jerome H.	SK1, USN	238
Higgins, Harley J.	CDR, USN	182
Hines, Kenneth	CPL, USMC	382
Hudson, Kenneth J.	CTACS, USN	31
Humler, Paul E.	CWO3, USN	24

Jorgensen, Thomas G.	GMGC, USN	MAL

Keck, Clifford E.	ETN2, USN	301
Kilhefner, Carl A.	CPL, USMC	115
Koch, Edward B.	SMC, USN	90
Kovach, Joseph	DK1, USN	166
Kuisel, Harold W.	SK1, USN	298

Lampkin, Clarence	CS1, USN	161
Lehner, Will S.	PO1, USN	238
Litz, John J.	GYSGT, USMC	60
Logan, Clarence W.	SD1, USCG	212
Low, Robert R.	YN1, USN	08

McCabe, Eugene M.	ETCS, USN	MAL
McLaughlin, Robert D.	HMC, USN	MAL
Medina, Alfonso	POCS, USN	MAL
Mejia, Edilberto R.	SD2, USN	247
Merchant, William J.	AEC, USN	22
Mich, Norman F.	RM1, USN	MAL
Mitana, John	HTC, USN	115
Moore, Stanley R.	JOCS, USN	08

Nicholson, James H.	TMC, USN	34
Owens, Douglas M.	OSC, USN	59

Parker, Ralph G.	CPO, USN	MAL
Price, James M.	YN1(SS), USN	162
Przybyl, Florian P.	EMCS, USN	MAL
Repenning, Roy D.	USN	334
Rybczynski, Richard C.	HM1, USN	146

Sanders, Gerald W.	USN	156
Schulrud, Arthur W.	EMC, USN	238
Sheber, Alfred	IC1(SS), USN	226
Sikes, Thomas	DP1, USN	MAL
Smith, Dennis L.	MS1, USN	MAL
Stonecypher, Carl	ADJ1, USN	94
Szpiech, John F.	ADJ1, USN	24

Thompson, Jan R.	ATC, USN	91
Tolos, Ernest G.	LCPL, USMC	147
Turck, James	RMC, USN	MAL
Vearil, Raymond F.	ATC, USN	126

Wagner, Harry E.	MMC, USN	258
Wagner, Vernon E.	ADJ2, USN	MAL
Wallace, Terrill E.	POC, USN	17
Watkins, Robert L.	QMC, USN	MAL
Watson, Carol	1LT, USN	293
Weir, Michael D.	OTCS, USN	MAL
Willis, Charlie W.	MSC, USN	60
Winters, Alfred C.	DKC, USN	MAL
Wood, Charles R.	HMC, USN	113

Young, Milam C.	ET1, USN	MAL
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. 
Return to Table of Contents

REUNIONS/lOOKINGFOR…

Reunions

USS Ranger (CV/CVA-61)
9/30/2020 - 10/3/2020
Norfolk, Va.
Contact: Tom Ballinger
Telephone: 210-403-3302
 
USS Canberra (CAG-2/CA-79)
9/30/2020 - 10/4/2020
Pittsburg, Pa.
Contact: Ken Minick
Telephone: 740-423-8976
Email: usscanberra@gmail.com

USS Kaskaskia (AO-27)
9/30/2020 - 10/4/2020
Columbus, Ohio
Contact: Larry Kish
Telephone: 614-266-6095
Email: lrkish1@gmail.com

NMCB 3 NAVY SEABEES VETERANS’ REUNION
10/1/2020 - 10/4/2020
Branson, Mo.
Contact: Victor Horvath
Telephone: 832-722-9434
Email: bigbuzzard@outlook.com

USS Preston (DD-795)
10/1/2020 - 10/5/2020
Washington, D.C.
Contact: Bob Werner
Telephone: 703-860-0420
Email: rm_werner@hotmail.com

USS Mountrail (APA-213)
10/1/2020 - 10/4/2020
Biloxi, Miss.
Contact: Con Dicoio
Telephone: 973-725-1974
Email: dicoio44@aol.com

USS LaSalle (LPD-3/AGF-3)
10/6/2020 - 10/8/2020
Pensacola, Fla.
Contact: Andy Anderson
Telephone: 256-345-5711
Email: ceanders@hiwaay.net

USS TAKELMA (ATF-113) / NAFTS
10/6/2020 - 10/9/2020
Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: Dick Schreifels
Telephone: 651-455-1876
Email: richard_rosemary@msn.com

USS Sperry (AS-12)
10/7/2020 - 10/10/2020
Indianapolis, Ind.
Contact: David Jackson
Telephone: 360-435-6919
Email: djpanda34@cs.com

USS Saratoga Association
10/7/2020 - 10/11/2020
San Diego, Calif.
Contact: Steve Medina
Telephone: 804-589-1170
Email: steven.medina55@yahoo.com

USS Sea Cat (SS-399)
10/7/2020 - 10/11/2020
Summerville, S.C.
Contact: Edwin Hymer
Telephone: 515-981-3006
Email: ednmeg@mchsi.com

USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655)
10/7/2020 - 10/11/2020
Erlanger, Ky. / Cincinnati, Ohio
Contact: Dick Young
Telephone: 513-615-2910
Email: stimson655reunion2020@aol.com

Patron Four Five Association
10/7/2020 - 10/11/2020
Jacksonville, Fla.
Contact: Doug Mitchell
Telephone: 678-650-7500
Email: poohbearmit@aol.com

USS Reeves (DLG-24/CG-24)
10/8/2020 - 10/12/2020
San Diego, Calif.
Contact: Thomas Bailey
Telephone: 719-647-2872
Email: tombailey@ussreeves.net

NMCB 1, NMCB 9 AND NMCB 10 REUNION
10/15/2020 - 10/18/2020
Gulfport, Miss.
Contact: Peter Dowd
Telephone: 781-837-0393
Email: seabeemcb1@yahoo.com

A list of reunions is at: www.fra.org/Reunions. LookingFor/Reunions must be submitted online, via email to reunions@fra.org, or in writing to FRA LookingFor/Reunions at 
125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314. 

Include your member ID and a daytime telephone number. For help, contact FRA Member Services at 800-FRA-1924.
AUXILIARY OF THE FRA

A Message from the LA FRA South Central Regional President

During these trying times with COVID-19, I have been unable to travel this quarter.  I have stayed in touch with the units in the South Central Region via telephone. Hopefully with things starting to reopen, we will be able to get back to our normal activities. The units continue to collect items to donate to nursing homes. We have members making masks for hospitals and veteran nursing homes.  Some members are volunteering at soup kitchens helping to feed the needy.

Congratulations, Laura!
Each year, the Austin Young Lawyers Association presents the Liberty Bell Award to an outstanding non-lawyer in Texas who has made selfless contributions to their community and strengthened the effectiveness of the American justice system by instilling a better understanding and appreciation of the law. This year’s winner is Travis County District Clerk Executive Assistant Laura Jimenez.  She is the South Central regional secretary and a member of Unit 201.  

Convention Time
The South Central Regional Convention will be held at the LeBossier Hotel & Event Center located at 4000 Industrial Drive in Bossier City, Louisiana, 71112. The convention begins on Aug. 20 and runs through Aug. 23. The room rates are $69.00 plus tax per night. The telephone number to make reservations is: 318-747-0711. In order to get the special room rate, say you are with the Fleet Reserve Association.   FRA

In Loyalty Protection and Service,
Gini Larson

Gini is the LA FRA South Central regional president.
FINANCE MATTERS

Is Your Portfolio as Efficient as It Could Be?

When you look at a line chart of an investment’s historical performance, one feature to note is its volatility — how frequent and how extreme the ups and downs have been. This is significant because volatility is the most commonly used measurement of an investment’s risk. The greater the volatility, the riskier the investment is considered to be. 
If you viewed a chart comparing the stock market’s versus the bond market’s performance, you would see stocks have been significantly more volatile than bonds. Logically then, a 100 percent bond portfolio should be less risky than one including both bonds and stocks. Right? Not so fast.
According to a Morningstar study for the years 1970 through 2018, a portfolio comprising 67 percent bonds (measured by the 20-year U.S. government bond) and 33 percent stocks (using the S&P 500 index) offered less risk and better returns than a 100 percent bond portfolio. In other words, the former was more “efficient” than the latter, which points to a concept investors should be aware of: the efficient frontier.

Start with the Basics
Having a grasp of the efficient frontier begins with understanding:
• The relationship between risk and return.
• How diversification can help manage risk and return.
In general, risk and return go hand in hand. As an investment’s risk increases, so should its return. If you buy a Treasury bond, the return will probably be low because the risk of default is low. If you buy a stock, however, the potential risk can be significant — think back to what happened to stocks during the Great Recession — and you should expect a greater return potential as “compensation” from the market for accepting that additional risk. 
Diversification is simply blending different investments in a portfolio in an effort to manage risk and return. The result is your “asset allocation.” A very simple asset allocation might include stocks, which tend to be risky but offer growth potential, and bonds, which have been more stable and provide income (interest). You can help manage your risk and return by how much you allocate to each type of investment. For example, if you have a 75 percent stock and 25 percent bond portfolio, it should offer a greater risk and return potential than one that is 25 percent stocks and 75 percent bonds.

Getting to an Efficient Frontier
There are lots of other investments for you to choose from, and there are an infinite number of portfolios you could construct from the stocks, bonds and other assets available. Each of these blends has a unique overall risk and return level. If you plotted them all on a chart, you’d likely see what’s shown in this hypothetical graph. The “pies” — representing different asset allocations — farthest to the left and highest up are the ones with the best expected risk/return trade-offs. If you connected those “dots,” you would have it: the efficient frontier.
That’s what the efficient frontier is, but what does it mean for investors? 
It means that if your risk/return trade-off doesn’t land along the frontier, your portfolio is not as efficient as it could be. You’re taking on too much risk for the level of return you’re getting, and you probably need to make adjustments to decrease risk, improve return, or both. 

Finding Help
Determining whether your portfolio is as efficient as it could be may require help from a professional financial advisor. He or she will likely ask about your goals (what you’re investing for), time horizon (how long until you need to tap into your investments) and risk tolerance (how comfortable you are with swings in your portfolio’s value). Based on your responses, your advisor can help build a portfolio designed to help reach your goals as efficiently as possible. 

Asset allocation cannot eliminate the risk of fluctuating prices and uncertain returns.
S&P 500 comprises 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index; each stock’s weight in the index is proportionate to its market value. It is one of the most widely used benchmarks of U.S. equity performance.
The indices are provided for informational purposes only; investors cannot directly purchase an index. Past performance in not indicative of future results.
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.
© 2019 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.