February 10 2017

In this issue:
Support Constitutional Amendment to Protect American Flag
FRA Honors Senator Gillibrand
FRA Recognizes Outstanding Marine Performers
DoD Announces New Outreach on Veterans Discharges and Military Records


Support Constitutional Amendment to Protect American Flag
Rep. Steve Womack (Ark.) has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment (H. J. Res. 61) that allows Congress to pass a law to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Many brave men and women who are serving and have served in the Armed Services feel strongly about the honor and dignity of “Old Glory.” The physical desecration of this symbol of democracy and freedom is an offense to them and the memory of all those who died defending this Nation.

Members can use the FRA Action Center to ask their U.S. Representative to support this resolution.

FRA Honors Senator Gillibrand
For the past 22 years, FRA has presented its highest award to the member of Congress who goes above and beyond to advance FRA’s legislative agenda. FRA National President Donald Larson and National Executive Director Thomas Snee, presented the association’s prestigious Pinnacle Award to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), to honor her outstanding leadership in preserving and enhancing the quality of life for military personnel, retirees, veterans and their families. Delegates at the October 2016 National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida unanimously voted to give this award to Senator Gillibrand.

The junior senator from New York has served in the U.S. Senate since 2009 and was appointed chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Personnel Subcommittee in 2013. She served as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee since 2015. In the 114th session of Congress (2015-2016) she sponsored the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.” This FRA-supported bill would clarify that service members serving off the coast of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict have a presumption for filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for ailments associated with exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide. During the meeting, she confirmed that she would re-introduce the bill this year.

FRA Recognizes Outstanding Marine Performers
FRA recognized outstanding Marines this week at the Combined Awards Ceremony at Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ). FRA National President Donald Larson represented the association at the event attended by Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller. NP Larson presented special certificates, complementary one-year memberships, and FRA challenge coins to all awardees. Recipients of the 2016 Commandant of the Marine Corps Combined Awards attended the ceremony with their spouse and family members at the Clubs at Quantico at MCBQ. Commandant Robert Neller made a point of recognizing the spouses of the winners and runner-ups who support these Marines. Winners and runner-ups of the 2016

CMC combined awards program are:
Recruiter of the Year: Staff Sergeant Joshua C. Gonzalez (winner);
Staff Sergeant Jared R. Terrell (runner-up);
Prior Service Recruiter of the Year: Staff Sergeant Mohammed M. Sayied (winner)
Gunnery Sergeant Victor Alvarado (runner-up);
Drill Instructor of the Year: Gunnery Sergeant Vitali I. Kholodov (winner)
Staff Sergeant Crispiniano D. Curiel (runner-up);
Marine Combat Instructor of the Year: Staff Sergeant Mark J. Koerner (winner)
Staff Sergeant Johnathan D. Charles (runner-up);
Marine Security Guard of the Year: Sergeant Isaac V. Noriega (winner)
Staff Sergeant Christopher Mata (runner-up);
Career Planner of the Year: Sergeant Diana J. Dehoyos (winner);
Reserve Career Planner of the Year: Sergeant Christin J. McAdams (winner),
Staff Sergeant Jaim W. Bourg (runner-up);
Male Athlete of the Year: Colonel Stephen P. Armes;
Female Athlete of the Year: First Lieutenant Mollie B. Hebda.

The Marine Corps Combined Awards Program originated in 1995 and FRA has participated in the program for the past 18 years.

DoD Announces New Outreach on Veterans Discharges and Military Records
The Department of Defense (DoD) recently publicized a new effort (NR-459-16), to ensure veterans are aware of the opportunity to have their discharges and military records reviewed. The DoD encourages all veterans who believe they have experienced an error or injustice, to request relief from their service’s Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) or Discharge Review Board (DRB). In the past few years, DoD has issued guidance for concern about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as the repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and its preceding policies. Additionally, supplemental guidance for separations involving victims of sexual assault is currently being considered.

DoD is reviewing and consolidating all of the related policies to reinforce its commitment to ensuring an equitable review of separations for all veterans. Whether the discharge or other correction is the result of PTSD, sexual orientation, sexual assault, or some other consideration, the DoD is committed to correcting mistakes or injustices and treating all veterans with dignity and respect. Veterans who desire a correction to their service record or who believe their discharge was unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade, are encouraged to apply for review.

For discharge upgrades, the veteran should complete DD Form 293 if the discharge was less than 15 years ago and send it to their service’s DRB (the address is on the form). For discharges older than 15 years ago, the veteran should complete the DD Form 149 and send it to their service’s BCM/NR (the address is on the form). For corrections of records other than discharges, veterans should complete the DD Form 149 and submit their request to their service’s BCM/NR (the address is on the form).

For more information, please go to the DoD website.

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