FRA Today – October  2018
COMMUNICATIONS
FROM THE FANTAIL
sHIPMATE FORUM
ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL
FEATURE  STORY
FEATURE 2
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
SHIPMATE NEWS
TAPS
AUXILIARY OF THE FRA
FINANCE MATTERS
FRA PROFILE

COMMUNICATIONS

The 2019 FRA Calendar

Hello Shipmates! 
The 2019 Fleet Reserve Association Calendars are hot off the printing press. This year, the images compiled are some of the most illustrative and engaging photographs taken by Armed Services personnel in the past year or so.  The photographers not only serve their chosen branch of service, but they also have a real knack for being in the right places at the right times.
One example is the photograph used for January. I just cannot imagine standing on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf while an F/A-18F Super Hornet launches AND getting the picture! It is not like you can stand up and say, “Hold it! I didn’t get the shot. Can we do that again?”
The cover took a little more time, thought and research. Since we featured the Marines in 2017 and the Navy in 2018, this was the year for the Coast Guard. What struck me about the image we chose was the contrast created by the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with the Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE it was flying next to in Norfolk, Virginia. The EAGLE is a 295-foot barque sailing vessel used to train Coast Guard Academy cadets in the historic aspects of sailing, leadership, navigation and teamwork. Old and new, side by side.
I hope you enjoy your calendar and appreciate the fantastic images compiled this year. We really enjoy this project and look forward to it each year.       FRA

In Loyalty, Protection & Service,
William Stevenson, Communications & Marketing Director

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FROM THE FANTAIL

Happy 243rd Birthday, U.S. Navy!

On October 13, 1775, the Continental Navy was officially recognized as a “sea service” that would “support and defend” while spearheading a nation towards its independence.   
Our Navy, has not only served as a measurable gauge, but proclaims the “national defense and tranquility” of a nation that “secures the blessings” of a free-trade for economic development, while bringing together the peoples of the world.  This may not have been in the original Magna Carta but a blueprint for the future.
Sailors, as a whole, are kindred to each other. No place on our planet can awareness, understanding nor “carry-on” be more attributable to the ways of the oceans, seas, lakes and bodies of waters, than through the Navies of the world and its sailors. It unites us in “peril on the sea” while tapping off the “splice the mainbrace” to our mission.  More than 75 percent of our planet is covered with water and within that geographic dimension, our attention to the environmental respect of what “she” may throw at us, is demanded.
Sometimes we forget that bond, association and appreciation in the “BRAVO-ZULU” to each other.  Our sister sea services, the Marines and the Coast Guard know all too well those ideals in the “chewing the fat” of unity of “ALL HANDS ON DECK.”  Our “watch” is to “steam ahead” to share and take care of our shipmates and yes, their families. “Full steam ahead” to strive for progress, not perfection, from the engine rooms, on deck or even up in the “crow’s nest.” We have to maintain the “guard to protect” and be SEMPER PARATUS for our homeland and others.
As we “dress ship” to salute our Navy, take a moment and say, “Well Done” to all sea service members. “Holy stone” old ideas and make “brassy shine” new ones. Visit a Career Center (Recruiting Office) and Reserve Centers, to pass along the well-deserved “WELL DONE.”  “Toll the ships bell” for our “fallen” shipmates, but always toast the memory of “The Lone Sailor.”  
Two distinguished Americans have given “ahoy” in their character and esteemed memories in the following two quotes:
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, nor a lack of knowledge, but rather, a lack of will.” —Vince Lombardi
The most highly recognized “nautical mainstay” is from President John F. Kennedy.
“I can imagine no more rewarding a career, and man (or woman) who may be asked in this century what he/she did to make his/her life worthwhile, that can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: I served in the United States Navy.”
Again, Happy “Navy” Birthday, ANCHORS AWEIGH!  PRESS ON!    FRA
In Loyalty, Protection & Service 
NED Tom Snee
Tom is FRA’s National Executive Director and can be reached at NEDFRA@fra.org

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sHIPMATE FORUM

Is this the new Navy Pride?
The Great Memories letter from LCDR (LDO) Bruce De Wald USN (Ret.) in the July issue of FRAtoday started me thinking of my own observations, now that I am retired from the Navy after serving 26 years. At that time in 1992, I already felt there was something missing compared to when I started serving.  
The new Navy now appeared to want to show how much more important getting a college degree was to “getting the job done.”  I remember having to wait on needed information to get my job completed while the individual who needed to supply it had to leave work early for classes, which were only given at the local college during working hours. When evaluation time came around, he was commended for having achieved this.  No note was taken about his failure to train others in his work center to perform his duties during his absence, because getting that college degree was more noteworthy for the Command than others doing their jobs.
Now here it is, 2018, and I wonder where the Navy Pride has gone. I live in Pensacola, Florida and the only Navy uniforms I see off base are camouflage and flight suits. We had to wear our dress uniforms during off duty hours, even on weekends and holidays. While I did not much like the “crackerjacks,” I was still proud to wear it and show my pride in the Navy and with each rise in grade, to show off what I had accomplished.  Now it almost appears as if the Navy wants to be just another company, with no reason to train the next generation of Sailors. Encouraging them to get all of the college education they can and getting advanced, sending the message that military training is not so important any more. We will get by.			Walter B. Carillion, CEC, USN (Ret.)

Sorry Lowe’s, “I AM MILITARY, SEE?”
Recently, I visited a Lowe’s store in Florida. When checking out I asked if Lowe’s gave a military discount to military members. The clerk said, “yes” so I presented my Navy I.D. Without even looking at my I.D. she said, “in order to obtain a military discount you must fill out a form and register with Lowe’s before I can give you a military discount.” 
I was very much insulted that my official Navy I.D. card had no meaning to Lowe’s Corp. and that I must prove to them that I was legitimate. At that point, I asked the Lowe’s employee what the form for registration consisted of. She replied that it required information such as address, telephone number, I.D. card number or social security number. I said that I did not and never would give out such information for anyone to keep on their files. 
If Lowe’s Corp. told me they did not give military discounts I would accept that. Many other places do not offer military discounts and that does not offend me. What greatly offends me is that my military I.D. card, which I worked 34 years to obtain, means nothing to Lowe’s.
Since that day, I have not entered, nor will I ever enter a Lowe’s store. I have talked to more than 50 other military members about Lowe’s and 90 percent of them feel the same way. We are all upset that our official military I.D. card means nothing to the Lowe’s Corp.
I suggest Lowe’s either give military discounts based on producing a military I.D. card or just don’t offer a military discount. It is insulting to me that they ask for proof other than my official Navy I.D. card. I worked very hard for many years serving my country in the Navy to obtain my Navy I.D. card. 
MCPO Wayne Dean US Navy (Ret.) FRA Life Member
Submit Shipmate Forum letters to FRAtoday, 125 N. West Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Submissions may be sent to fratoday@fra.org. Please include “Shipmate Forum” in the subject line. FRA reserves the right to select and edit letters for publication. Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and views of individual FRA members. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of FRA as a whole. FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content. 
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ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL

Congress on Schedule for a Change

As this issue of FRAtoday goes to press, Congress is working to complete the FY2019 spending (appropriations) bills before the start of the fiscal year. FRA dispatched a letter to key appropriators reminding them that we are still a nation at war. The U.S. military is struggling to remain effective in the face of marginalized and unpredictable funding levels. The all-important FY2019 defense appropriations legislation provides the necessary resources and continuity for our military services to grow, equip, train and sustain the all-volunteer force necessary to meet today's growing global threats. This is also the first time since 1996 that the NDAA was sent to the President before October 1, the start of the new fiscal year. (See PresidentSigns NDAA story below for further details.)

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President signs FY 2019 NDAA into law

President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-H.R.5515) at Fort Drum, New York, which is the home of the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division. The bill passed both chambers of Congress with large margins (House 359-54 and Senate 87-10).  This is the first time since 1996 that the NDAA will be sent to the President on or before October 1. Key provisions of the bill include: 

•	Blocking a TRICARE fee increase that would have doubled annual fees for TRICARE beneficiaries under age 65;
•	Expanding the VA Caregiver Program to include all severely disabled veterans. The original program applied only to severely disabled veterans that were injured after September 11, 2001;
•	Limiting rent increases for residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) for next year and prohibiting the AFRH from removing residents only because they are unable to pay rent;
•	Increasing Navy and Marine Corps reserve and active duty end strength for FY2019;  
•	Increasing annual active duty pay by 2.6 percent, keeping pace with civilian pay increases;
•	Repealing a scheduled one percent cut in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for active duty; 
•	Expanding availability of Military One Source for retired and discharged members of the Armed Forces (see story on page 14);
•	Allowing Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, former POW, service-connected disability veterans and caregivers for disabled veterans to use commissaries and MWR facilities; 
•	Permitting veterans, who have a 100 percent service connected disability, to utilize a travel benefit currently extended to active duty and retired military members and their families to travel on military aircraft when there is extra space onboard; and
•	Mandating maximum life insurance coverage for service members deployed in combat zone. 
This final bill provides an overall increase in top line funding to support our troops and readiness recovery. FRA wants to thank Shipmates for using the FRA Action Center for issues pertaining to the NDAA.

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NED Meets with SecNav Retiree Council and VA Secretary

National Executive Director Tom Snee met with members of the Secretary of the Navy Retiree Council. NED Snee and staff from several other associations provided a legislative update to the Council. He stressed the need to pass the “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R.299) this year.  The original proposal 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 committee markup in the House, the legislation was amended to extend the presumption of herbicide exposure for veterans who served on or near the Korean DMZ between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971. As amended, the legislation will now also extend health care, vocational training and rehabilitation and monetary allowance to a child who was born with spina bifida, if at least one of the child’s parents served in Thailand between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 and the VA determines that at least one of the parents had been exposed to an herbicide agent during that period. The bill also now includes improvements to VA’s home loan program. The bill passed the House by a unanimous vote (382-0) and has had a hearing in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC). As of yet, no committee vote has been scheduled. Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center located on the website to urge their Senators to support the bill. 
Other issues discussed include:

•	The possibility for more TRICARE fee increases for military retirees;
•	SBP/DIC offset repeal legislation;
•	Discussing efforts to reduce veterans suicide;
•	Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharges being reviewed due to PTSD;
•	Burn pit exposure legislation (H.R.5671); and
•	Lack of financial literacy for active duty personnel making investment decisions with the new Blended Retirement System.
In related news, NED Tom Snee met with the new VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, confirmed in July, to discuss veteran’s issues. This off-the-record meeting included a discussion of the pending “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R.299), and VA efforts to reduce the frequency of veteran suicide.

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July 2018 CPI at 2.9 Percent

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for military retired pay, VA benefits for disabled veterans, survivor annuities and Social Security benefits for the next year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the CPI inflation rate for July 2018, was 2.9 percent and the rate of year-over-year growth is up 0.2 percent from last month. Last year’s COLA was 2 percent. Since 2008, the annual COLA has been above 2 percent only once and has been at zero three times. This year’s COLA will be announced in October. 
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an indicator of the general level of prices. CPI is a benchmark to determine the cost of a “basket of goods” for the average American.  Components in the “basket of goods” include gasoline, electricity, food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care and entertainment. When the consumer price index goes up, it is an indication that consumers have to pay more for the same amount of goods and services.

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SASC Chairmen Passes

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator John McCain passed away from brain cancer just before his 82nd birthday on August 25, 2018. The Senior Senator from Arizona who served as a Navy fighter pilot and for more than five years was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, served nearly 32 years in the Senate (1987-2018) and two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1983-1987). The Naval Academy graduate ran twice for President unsuccessfully (2000 & 2008). FRA awarded Senator John McCain the Pinnacle award in 2000. 
The Senator will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Only 31 Americans have lain in state or in honor in the Capitol Rotunda since the structure was completed in 1824. Most recently, evangelist Billy Graham lay in honor from February 28 to March 1, 2018. 

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FRA Media Briefing on Predatory Lending Regulations

LP John Davis participated in a media briefing to explain the association’s concerns about media reports that the Administration is planning to roll back enforcement of the Military Lending Act (MLA). Davis told the media that this legislation was included in the FY2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and passed in 2006. In addition, the Dodd-Frank banking regulation legislation passed in 2010 and included the creation of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) that provided for the Office of Servicemembers Affairs that enforced MLA, as well as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). 
FRA, with several other like-minded groups, signed and sent a letter to President Trump expressing the groups’ concerns, including the impact on military readiness and security clearances for service members. In addition, 49 Senators signed a letter to President Trump urging him not to relax MLA oversight over predatory lenders. 
The MLA was an FRA-supported measure that passed in 2006 as part of the FY2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It had bipartisan support to help safeguard active duty military members and their families from financial fraud, predatory loans and credit gouging. The law caps the annual interest rate for an extension of consumer credit to a service member or his or her dependents at 36 percent. Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center on the FRA website (www.fra.org) to send a message to President Trump asking him not to reduce regulatory oversight of predatory lenders.
In related news, the Department of Defense (DoD) made some significant changes to the way it monitors security clearances. The federal government recently implemented new security clearance guidelines that make it more important than ever for service members to stay on top of their bills and monitor their credit histories.  DoD will now “continuously” monitor the financial status of service members with security clearances. This means that a past-due bill or an error on your credit report could jeopardize your clearance status. For more information on new changes to security clearances go to:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/warno-new-security-clearance-guidelines-make-it-more-important-ever-servicemembers-monitor-their-credit

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CNO Selects New MCPON

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John Richardson selected Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith to be the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) on August 29. “After a thorough and deliberate review process, I am confident that Fleet Master Chief Smith is the right leader to be our Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy,” said Richardson. “I look forward to working with him to advocate for our Sailors and their families selflessly serving around the world.” The previous MCPON Steven Giordano resigned last June. His resignation came during an ongoing inquiry by the Navy Inspector General’s office into claims he created a “toxic work environment” in his office.  Fleet Master Chief SW/IW/AW Russell Smith had been acting MCPON since Giordano resigned. He joined the Navy in 1988 and began his career as an airman, later becoming a weapons technician and an intelligence specialist. His sea duty assignments have included SEAL Team 4 and the aircraft carriers USS ENTERPRISE, USS CARL VINSON and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
As the Navy’s 15th MCPON, Smith will serve as the senior-ranking enlisted leader and advisor to the CNO. The position of MCPON was created by legislation in 1966 that was strongly supported by FRA.  The MCPON also serves as a spokesperson on issues impacting enlisted personnel.

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Navy Retirement Boards for Officers and Senior Enlisted

Despite the increasing end strength authorizations, the Navy has announced it will hold selective early retirement boards for specific groups of officers later this year. The goal is to force non-performing senior officers into retirement. This is the first time since 2012 that the Navy has employed officer retirement boards. 
The Navy will also convene a senior enlisted board this coming December. As part of the “Sailor 2025 Up-And-Stay” program, officials will grant more High Year Tenure waivers to chiefs, senior chiefs and master chief petty officers who will serve at sea or other tough jobs in order to continue their Navy service.
FRA wants to ensure that early retirement and other benefits will be authorized for service members involuntarily separated with less than 20 years of service. This includes the temporary early retirement authority (TERA) program to minimize the impact of end strength reductions on career personnel.

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Bill to Expand Veterans Treatment Court Sent to President

The Senate recently passed the “Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act” (H.R. 2147), sponsored by Chairman of the House Armed Services, Military Personnel Subcommittee, Mike Coffman (CO). The House passed this bill in June, and recently the Senate passed it unanimously. The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his expected signing into law. 
This FRA-supported legislation requires the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to hire 50 additional Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists to aid in the rehabilitation of veterans caught up in the criminal justice system due to convictions on misdemeanor offenses. Under the expansion of this program, more veterans will be diverted from serving sentences behind bars to Veterans Treatment Courts providing them with a second chance by participating in a court-mandated treatment program with services coordinated and provided by the VA. Currently, there are not enough VJO specialists to serve all of the eligible veterans. Veterans Treatment Courts are designed to deal directly with behavioral problems associated with PTSD, substance abuse, and anger management—symptoms that are often associated with repeated combat tours of duty.

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Veteran’s Unemployment Drops

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows veterans who have served in the military since September 11, 2001 had an unemployment rate of 3 percent in July—the lowest it has ever been since 2006. Overall veteran unemployment dropped from 3.3 percent in June 2018 to 3 percent in July 2018. Non-veteran unemployment stayed at 4 percent for the same time period. 

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Eligibility for Military One Source Benefits Expanded

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced it will extend eligibility for Military OneSource benefits from the current 180 days to 365 days after separation or retirement from military service. This is to ensure that all service members and families have access to comprehensive support as they transition to civilian life. The change was authorized by the recently signed into law, National Defense Authorization Act, and goes into effect immediately. Military OneSource provides information, resources and support for active duty and Reserve Component members, as well as their families and survivors. Provided at no cost, Military OneSource gives exclusive access to programs, tools and benefits designed to help ensure service members and their families are mission-ready and able to thrive in both their military and post-military lives. 
As a DoD program, Military OneSource offers a wide range of services designed exclusively for the military community. Some of the services include help with relocation, tax support, financial planning and health and wellness coaching. Also offered are confidential non-medical counseling and specialty consultations for spouse employment, education, adoption, elder care and special needs care. Military OneSource services are accessible 24/7. Service members and family members can call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 or go to www.militaryonesource.mil. To explore the complete list of benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to https://explore.va.gov/.

FEATURE  STORY

Accelerated Resolution Therapy Can Save Veterans’ Lives

By Kevin E. Kip, Ph.D., FAHA, Distinguished Health Professor, University of South Florida

The number of U.S. veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is of great concern.  According to the Veterans Affairs (VA) assessment by service period, it is estimated that 11 to 20 out of every 100 veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) have PTSD in a given year. Similarly, about 12 out of every 100 Gulf War veterans have PTSD and about 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans were diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the National Vietnam veterans Readjustment Study conducted in the late 1980s. 
Both in-service and post-service planning of daily operations and transitioning to civilian life are essential components for members of our nation’s military. However, regardless of the amount of planning our servicemen and women do, they cannot always account for unforeseen circumstances and health challenges these factors often make the transition to civilian life especially difficult for many of our nation’s veterans. The numbers, while not exact, do not lie. PTSD is a serious condition that is prevalent among veterans who have served in all prior conflicts. Brian Anderson is one example of a combat veteran who was experiencing major symptoms of PTSD and sought treatment. Brian is now the founder and CEO of the Veterans Alternative. He is also a retired United States Army Green Beret with 14 years of service, 33 months in combat and 3 Bronze Stars. On September 29, 2010, Brian’s life changed forever. 

Brian’s Story
While on active duty, Brian watched two helicopters land at his base in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan. It was day two of Operation Sundown and what seemed to be the beginning of a great day–starting with the helicopters dropping off mail–tragically eroded into a memory of ongoing sadness and anguish for Brian. Later in the day, Brian learned that two of his military brothers were shot and killed by a high-ranking Taliban commander. As the remains of his military brothers made the journey back home to their final resting places, Brian never imagined the level of impact these losses would forever have on his transition out of the military and into civilian life. 
Soon after leaving the military, Brian started to “see” things, such as bullets flying toward his head or his military brother sitting next to him while he drove his car. He envisioned danger and rage coming through the car door.  
Each and every day became a struggle for him including frequent episodes of panic. The symptoms he was experiencing are what more than 24 million people in the United States living with PTSD face on a daily, or near daily, basis.
PTSD is a chronic and disabling condition that can develop after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic or life-threatening event. This condition prevents thousands of people from completing their normal daily activities because traumatic memories keep repeating, somewhat like a loop in their mind. These unresolved memories can also create feelings of isolation, anger, depression, anxiety and confusion.  
Thus, as is emblematic, each and every day became an internal battle for Brian as he lived with the symptoms of PTSD. Of major importance, veterans living with PTSD need to know that recovery is possible through the use of effective therapies and treatment options. Fortunately for Brian, a caring friend introduced him to Laney Rosenzweig, MS, LMFT, the developer of a therapy known as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). 
After just one session of ART, the therapy allowed Brian to stop seeing the images that persistently caused negative reactions. The therapy redefined his experiences in a positive manner as he transitioned to civilian life. He is now able to share the story of that September day in Afghanistan without experiencing distress. Moreover, he is no longer plagued by the historical emotional reactions that he once had. Simply put, Brian believes that ART saved his life. As a result of this, he has made it a priority to spread positive messages about this therapy across the country to ensure that other veterans, who are having similar experiences to what he went through, know that ART is a treatment option that may work for them. 
It is stories like Brian’s and many others, in addition to positive treatment results reported among groups of individuals, that motivate me to continue to conduct research on this emerging therapy. 

A Tried and Proven Solution
Developed in 2008, ART aims to resolve a traumatic memory through a combination of relaxation and memory visualization. The therapy’s distinct features include the use of horizontal eye movements and memory reconsolidation, which is a way in which new information is incorporated into existing memories. The therapy resolves how distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so that they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional reactions associated with PTSD, trauma, anxiety and depression. Research has shown that ART is effective in the majority of cases being treated for PTSD in as few as one to five sessions, with the average being four sessions.
Due to the physical desensitization and memory reconsolidation that are targeted within a treatment session, the patient typically does not experience troubling memories and symptoms of PTSD thereafter. Importantly, verbally recalling or writing details of the traumatic experience is not required, which sometimes offers patients a greater sense of safety and control than other trauma-focused therapies. 
In an ART session, patients can expect to sit across from the therapist and be guided through a thought process involving a previous experience. The pace of the session is directed by the patient as they move through imagining the original experience and then adding positive material and imagery to the memory. The therapist will often suggest metaphors to the patient to help create new images to be woven into, and take precedence over, the original memory and to guide the process to completion.
ART is continuing to gain acceptance nationwide and throughout military circles. Over the past five years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has shown considerable interest in ART by contracting for the training of 80 mental health clinicians at Fort Hood, Fort Stewart and Fort Drum, as well as more than 100 clinical providers at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. Planning for the training of clinicians at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the delivery of ART is in progress. Other clinician trainings in ART have been conducted at the Betty Ford Clinic and with the Idaho Army National Guard.
Earlier this year, the journal Military Medicine (2018 Apr 4. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usy027 URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29635395) published information that summarized aggregate results from several studies of ART that my colleagues and I directed. Specifically, the manuscript reviewed the use of ART as a potential first-line PTSD treatment approach in VA and DoD facilities It concluded that key components of ART align with the current VA/DoD trauma-focused clinical practice guidelines. Yet, delivery of ART is usually much shorter in duration than other treatments. The review includes comparisons to current treatments, while also reviewing primary treatment results from four published studies of ART, including treatment response rates. The studies reviewed in the Military Medicine publication, conducted at the University of South Florida, include a range of populations including civilians, combat veterans and military personnel who have experienced military sexual trauma as well as veterans who are homeless. In addition, the paper discusses plausible theoretical rationale for why ART may be particularly effective, and also references high provider satisfaction rates among mental health clinicians who deliver ART. 

Positive Results
The specific results from the four published studies, which included civilians, active duty service members and veterans, are based on a total of 237 treatment completers who received an average number of 3.9 ART sessions. Across the four studies, the means and standard deviations (in parentheses) of treatment-related reductions on an established 20-item PTSD symptom checklist, known as the PCL-5, ranged from 15.6 (13.2) to 25.6 (11.3), and the overall (pooled) mean reduction was 20.6 (15.0) points. By way of interpretation and in layman’s terms, if there is a reduction of 10 points or more on the 20-item PTSD checklist, that result is considered to represent a clinically and statistically meaningful improvements. This metric occurred in approximately three-quarters of all persons who completed treatment with ART. On the basis of these results and the theoretical rationale for the therapy, the study concludes that ART may be considered as a potential first-line treatment modality for military personnel being served in both VA and DoD facilities.  

The Next Steps
The therapy’s proven effectiveness in treating symptoms of PTSD inspired restauranteur and entrepreneur Chris T. Sullivan to form ART International Training and Research, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to making ART more widely available to individuals in need of professional mental health therapy. 
What motivated Chris to get involved in connecting more patients and therapists to ART was the staggering number of military personnel, active and retired, deeply and perhaps permanently affected by PTSD. Chris is an individual who is emphatically committed to helping those who have served our country. The work that he is doing to expand the reach of ART is extremely important to him.
To expand the reach of ART, the nonprofit is focused on three initial areas of interest: licensed-therapist recruitment and training; increased geographic access to the therapy; and providing funding for a three-year head-to-head clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of ART versus a widely-used, VA-endorsed evidence-based PTSD protocol. 
This year, the nonprofit aims to host more than 100 training sessions throughout the United States, offering local clinicians an opportunity to be trained and certified in ART. Licensed clinicians including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors are eligible to participate in the training. Therapists who complete the training session earn 21.5 continuing education hours and are immediately prepared to use ART in their clinical practice. More information on these training sessions can be found on ART International’s website at www.artherapyinternational.org. 

In Conclusion
As a scientist, I believe strongly in the results of ART. The published data from the studies conducted to date are highly encouraging and indicate that the therapy has the ability to become a first-line treatment for PTSD, not only for veterans, but also for individuals throughout the country who are suffering from various mental and behavioral health issues.    FRA

About the author:

Kevin E. Kip, Ph.D. is a tenured Distinguished Health Professor, epidemiologist and biostatistician with 18 years of experience on U.S. Federal, Department of Defense and industry-funded studies. His background is interdisciplinary with more than 170 peer-reviewed publications. With multimillion-dollar funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, he previously established the Research to Improve Emotional Health/Quality of Life of Service Members with Disabilities, (RESTORE LIVES) Center at the University of South Florida. 

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FEATURE 2

Preserving Maritime History in the City by the Bay-
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

By: Ann Norvell Gray

What do you think of when you think of San Francisco? Is it Tony Bennett, leaving his heart, or Steve McQueen as Detective Frank Bullitt, going airborne over its hills in that 1968 Mustang Fastback? Is it the Golden Gate Bridge emerging from the morning fog, or Grant Avenue, the colorful thoroughfare through one of the country’s oldest and most vibrant urban Chinese neighborhoods, or great food and wine of every imaginable style and nationality? The culture of this remarkable city is complicated, rich and wild, with an endless number of intriguing things to discover.

Among the best of them is the 34-acre San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, which contains more National Historic Landmarks than any other unit of the National Park Service. Once you begin to explore, it becomes clear that this fascinating spot should rank right up there with the city’s better-known landmarks. Located in the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf district, where the northern edge of the urban engine meets the San Francisco Bay, this waterfront park is a surprisingly quiet, relaxing oasis. It maintains a fleet of historic ships at Hyde Street Pier—including the Aquatic Park Historic District with its Maritime Museum, beach, lawn and bleachers—operates a research facility in Fort Mason Center.
The San Francisco Bay is a shallow estuary crossed by six geological faults, including the famous San Andreas fault, which runs roughly 750 miles along California’s length. The bay drains about 40 percent of the state and is actually made up of a group of interconnected waterways. Depending on which ones you include, it covers between 400 and 1,600 square miles. This measurement is complicated by the persistent filling in of wetlands since the mid-1800s and more recently, years of restoration, as the realization of their importance has grown. The Maritime Park is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a network of eleven affiliated national parks dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the bay and its surrounding environment.
To get to the Maritime Park, start from Russian Hill, a gorgeous vantage point high above the bay. Take a cable car on the Powell/Hyde line toward the Hyde Street Pier. After taking you right past the start of the famous Lombard Street corkscrew, “the crookedest street in the world,” with its eight hairpin turns in one block, it is a wonderful ride down the precipitous hill. Taking a cable car is much more scenic and much less terrifying than attempting to brave that hill in a car. 
The cable line ends at the Hyde Street Turnaround, which puts you at the eastern edge of the park with its visitor’s center across the street. The center is housed in the park’s 1908 historic brick cannery warehouse at the corner of Hyde and Jefferson Streets and is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (See the sidebar on page 31 for information about admission) Inside, the exhibits “tell the stories of voyage, discovery and cultural diversity.” 1  Despite the wealth of interesting things to see and do, the grounds are relatively compact and walking is the best way to get around. It also has the rare advantage of being level, unlike the topography of its home town.
Straight ahead of you, the Hyde Street Pier stretches into the bay, forming the eastern boundary of the park’s protected basin. A collection of seven historically important ships is berthed along its length and every one of them has a place in San Francisco history. Walking the pier is free. The view of Alcatraz Island and the rosy Golden Gate Bridge across the bay from the end of this pier is spectacular. 
Perhaps the most impressive of the vessels is the 301-foot, steel-hulled, three-masted square-rigger BALCLUTHA. It was built in 1886 by the Charles Connell and Company shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland, to carry a variety of cargo all over the world. With its complex rigging and 25 sails, it required a crew of about 26 men to handle the ship at sea and rounded Cape Horn 17 times. But it did far more in its working life than that. Follow the link below to read the ship’s remarkable worldwide history as a commercial vessel. At press time, it was due to return to its berth following several months of maintenance dry docking and to open for tours later in the season. You can learn more online (www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/balclutha-history.htm).
The three-masted lumber schooner C. A. THAYER was built in 1895 farther north in California and carried lumber all along the Pacific coast. It suffered serious damage during a storm in 1912, which put an end to its days in the lumber trade. In reality, it was as likely to have been the rise of steam power and not the storm winds that moved it from the lumber to the fish industry. With the exception of a pause during the Depression as well as its service in World War II, C.A. THAYER remained in the bay until retiring in 1950. Her full history is online (www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/ca-thayer-history.htm).
The Maritime collection also includes the 80-foot ALMA, an 1891 National Historic Landmark scow schooner designed to navigate shallow waters and deliver goods all over the bay area. The EUREKA, a wooden-hulled, side wheel paddle steamboat from 1891; the steam tug HERCULES, built in 1907; and the 1914 paddle wheel steel tug EPPLETON HALL are also berthed along the pier. The seventh member of the fleet and the only one out of the water, is the SAN FRANCISCO BAY ARK, a little houseboat typical of its type. It was one of a small community of similar boats moored in Belvedere Lagoon in Marin County during the early 1900s and used as summer retreats for San Francisco families.
At the other end of the beach lies the Maritime Museum, installed in the historic Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building. It is rich with art and artifacts chronicling the history of California’s complicated relationship with nautical life. Among its treasures are sailors’ tools, typical cargo, machines and ships’ supplies, intricate model ships and a network of murals illustrating the natural landscape and the development of human enterprise in the area since long before the United States was a country.
A bit farther to the west, you will find the Fort Mason Research Center, which is open by appointment with 24 hours’ notice from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. The park’s introduction describes it this way: “The Maritime Research Center provides access to the library, archives and museum collections and encourages research in maritime history and humanities … [it]is the premier resource for San Francisco and Pacific Coast maritime history and the portal into the park’s collections. Originating in 1939, the collections have become the largest maritime collection on the West Coast and the largest museum and research collection in the National Park Service…”
When you have absorbed all you can hold of the visual, historical and intellectual resources packed into this very compact area, walk back to the east along Beach Street and enjoy the shops and restaurants in the Fisherman’s Wharf historic district. To cap off this day of exploring part of the city’s history, you might want to get back on the cable car and ride up Russian Hill about eight blocks to the very first Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor, opened in 1948, on the corner of Hyde and Union Streets. It is hard to believe there are still places like this in San Francisco. Swensen’s is now an international company, but it started here, and the tiny ice cream parlor has survived for decades, decorated with a 70’s idea of Victorian style. The inside scoop from local sources informs us that its rather obscure Swiss Orange Chip ice cream, a citrus-scented milk chocolate flavor, is legendary.    FRA

Maritime Park Information

Address
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
2905 Hyde Street
San Francisco, California 94109

Visitor Center Information
(415)-447-5000

Website & Facebook pages
www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm
www.facebook.com/SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP

Fee to Board the Historic Vessels
$15.00 per person, and is good for seven days. Children 15 and younger are free.

Annual Park Pass
$45 and is good for one year; only valid for this park. Includes three additional adults and any number of children 15 years old and younger.

$80 National Park Service’s Senior Pass for citizens older than 62 and provides free entry for life to this and more than 2,000 other Federal recreation sites. Active Duty military also receive a free National Park Pass for themselves and three others.
FOOTNOTE
1. https://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

Branch and Unit 197: Making a Difference

Studies show that 29 percent of the homeless veteran community reside in California. Unit 197 President Gwendolyn (Peggy) Wild read an article in the Modesto Bee about how Stanislaus County was helping to relieve the stress of homeless veterans in their county. The ladies of Auxiliary Unit 197 (Modesto) have been a very busy “bunch of bees” recently. They saw the need to help out in the community and jumped right in to do what they could. 
A pilot housing program had planned to build ten homes in four different locations, nine of which would be one-bedroom, one-bathroom measuring 600 square feet; one would be a three -bedroom, two-bathroom measuring 1500 square feet plus a garage. These would be specially constructed homes that were found to be more practical and cost effective than modular homes. The custom homes would also meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
The first phase, known as Glendale Quarters, was built on a vacant lot in Modesto and dedicated in November 2017. These four units are now completely occupied and were built around a central courtyard with provisions for service dogs. The next phase (three-units) was scheduled for completion in August and another three are currently on hold. Veterans living in them receive management and other services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs but are required to pay 30 percent of the housing costs themselves. 
Great Valley Housing Development Corporation provided the essentials for modern living. Each house has a queen-sized bed, dresser and night stand in the bedroom. The living room has a love seat, club chair recliner and coffee table. The kitchen counter extends with a knee-level opening that accommodates either a stool or wheel chair for disabled veterans. Washers and dryers are located in a hall closet providing a convenient and compact living space. Originally the plan was to provide a captain’s bed with drawers underneath in each bedroom. However the builders found these were too awkward and heavy to maneuver so queen-sized beds were used instead. 
The ladies of Unit 197 were aware, however, that a house is only a house without the furnishings to make it a home. This is where they stepped in and went out to individuals and retail stores asking for donations of the material goods that make a home. They acquired/requested new linens, towels, curtains, bedding, pots, pans, various kitchen utensils and bathroom items. “It did not take long,” Peggy noted, “as people were very generous in giving us items such as microwave ovens, toasters, coffee makers, crock pots, baking pans, silverware and can openers.” 
Unit 197 held a housewarming for the first phase, Glendale Quarters. The ladies were busy placing towels, bath mats, shower curtains, mattress pads, blankets, pillow cases and comforters in the rooms.
“It is an absolute joy to know that because of the love and caring each of our members has shown, a veteran simply has to turn his/her key in the door, put clothes away and know that with great compassion LAFRA 197 welcomes the veterans and their families home,” Peggy cheerfully exclaimed. 
Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to see homeless veterans with different eyes. Once that happens nothing looks the same. You recognize that these men and women are the same men and women you served alongside. We cannot meet every need or solve every problem, but the ladies of Unit 197 remain involved and true to the principles of loyalty, protection and service. They were elated recently when they learned that one of the veterans helped was able to move out and buy a traditional unsubsidized home. The ultimate goal is to help veterans and their families become financially self-sufficient.    FRA
Story and photos By Leonard E. Churilla

SHIPMATE NEWS

1. Branch 208, Jacksonville, North carolina
Branch Treasurer Ed Blizard was recently appointed as Chairman of the Jacksonville Environmental & Appearance Advisory Committee. The committee works to achieve a clean and green city and carries out community appearance projects.

2. Branch 146, Johnsville, Pennsylvania
The American Patriotism Essay winner, Luke Duthie from La Salle College High School, is with (L to R) Mr. Duthie, Charlie Glass, Principal O’Toole, Tom Concannon, Luke Duthie, Otto Blavier, Joe Millman, Gene Dyer and Mrs. Duthie.

3. Branch 101, Santa Clara, California
RVPWC Steve Matthews (L) presents Ray Clark (R) with his 65-year FRA award and pin.

4. Branch 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(L to R) Pat La Rose and Frank Dillon manning an FRA table at the Fort Dix, McGuire and Lakehurst Retiree Appreciation Day April 28, 2018.

5. Unit 99, Virginia Beach, Virginia
East Coast Region’s newest unit was visited by three National Officers (Beatrice Parco, Christina Murray and Shirley Vatter) for their Installation of Officers Wednesday June 13th. Branch and Unit 99 are near Mount Trashmore Park in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach.

6. Branch 115, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Branch Vice President Dan Heitzer, President Bill Nixon, Treasurer Larry Roth, Secretary Don Bear and PRPNE George Folk congratulate the new officers.

7. Branch 244, Grand Junction, Colorado
Branch President Richard Reno (R) presents Shipmate Gerald Rose (L) his 40-year Continuous Service pin. 

8. Branch 126, Jacksonville, Florida
Shipmate Marlin Crider (R) receives a letter of commendation and lapel pin denoting his 65 years of continuous membership. The Award was presented by RPSE J. J. Thomas.

9. Unit 94, Corpus Christi, Texas
The recent installation of unit officers and board members was well attended.

10. Branch 40, Chesapeake, Virginia
RPEC Paul Phelps attended the Naval Academy’s Awards Ceremony held in Annapolis on May 24. A sword was presented and awarded to the top graduating Midshipman, MIDN 1/C Bridget Devey.

11. Branch 181, Arlington, Virginia
Bob Pierpont was a dignitary at the 4th of July Parade in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. There was a very large crowd on both sides of the street.

12. Branch 172, Yorktown, Virginia
The branch installation was held in June.  The Installing Officer was 99 -year-old Shipmate Ray Duley, USN (Ret.), WWII and Korean War Veteran. (L to R) Paul Kelly, Chip 'Chiappazzi' Imed, Ray Duley, John Frankenburg, Micki Baltigarvis, Lou Maher and Ira Millen.

13. Unit 230, Roseville, California
RVPWC Brenda Horton presents long-term service pins to (L to R) Naomi Dunlap-25 years, Doris Newland-50 years, Mary Ann Frank-25 years, Brenda Horton, Grace Stanley-50 years and Vickie Janek-25 years.

14. Branch 94, Corpus Christi, Texas
Branch President Ricardo Hankerson (R) presents a $1000 Scholarship Award to NJROTC Cadet Lieutenant Mikayla Trevino (L) at Foy H. Moody High in School in Corpus Christi.

15. Branch 226, Staten Island, New york
Branch President James Brown attends the New York Sector Change of Command at Ft. Wadsworth Staten Island, New York (L to R) Outgoing Commander Capt. Day, James Brown and Region 1 Commander USCG Adm Tiongson.

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TAPS
 
Name 			Rating		Branch
Aamodt, Palmer	SMC, USN	MAL
Adams, Dale D.	CWO4, USN	MAL
Aimone, Charles A. 	AOC, USN,	215
Albertson, L. T. (Tom)	MMC, USN	310
Aldridge, Charles R.	AXCS, USN	106
Alexander, Adam G. 	CDR, USN	MAL
Allen, Frank F.	CDR, USN 	MAL
Allen, Lyndall D.	SMCM, USN 	MAL
Anthonissen, Raymond R.	YNC, USN 	28

Baxter, Allan Gene 	CTOCM, USN 	182
Beauvais, Edward M. 	SK1(SS), USN 	194
Beavers, Mansel E. 	SKC, USN 	216
Beazer, Robert C. 	CE1, USN 	MAL
Beddoe, John E. 	HMCS, USN	61
Belanger, Gary R. 	ABCS, USN 	MAL
Belzer, William Lee	HTCM, USN	290
Benny, William L. 	AO1, USN 	MAL
Beverly, John C.	RMCS, USN 	147
Blalock, Gary F. 	CW04, USN 	MAL
Bond, Ovie 	BM1, USN 	210
Booth, David E. 	ADC, USN 	161
Boyd, Clifford J. 	MMC, USN 	61
Brackett, Hoyt J. 	AVCM, USN 	99
Brofford, Arthur W. 	YNCS, USN 	136
Bryant, Jennings R. 	HMCM, USN 	MAL
Burns, Claron R. 	PO1, USN 	61
Butcher, David C.L. 	ASCM, USN 	289

Cameron, Allan R. 	MLCM, USN 	MAL
Carino, Robert M.	SD3, USN 	289
Caruso, Francis D. 	GMGC, USN 	276
Chappell, Allen J. 	YN3, USN 	15
Christiansen, Lewis R. 	YNCM, USN 	53
Collier, Harry S. 	MMCM, USN 	41
Cook, Delos E. 	SKC(SS), USN 	136
Cox, Joseph A. 	AMS1, USN 	161
Crepeau, Amos L. 	AXC, USN 	MAL
Crider, George L.	STSCS(SS), USN	 163
Crist, Leroy 	AOC, USN 	MAL
Cummings, Walter L. 	SFC, USN 	11
Cupit, Calvin J.	HMCM, USN 	40

Deshazo, Thomas J. 	CS1, USN 	259
DeVries, Bernard F. 	HT1, USN 	53
Diede, Christian 	SK3C, USN 	230
Dodson, Fred D. 	MMCM, USN 	11
Doremus, William T. 	AKCS, USN 	MAL
Dreasky, Raymond Q. 	AK1, USN 	MAL

Fagiola, William 	ENCS, USN 	310
Farrar, William J. 	ADJC, USN 	91
Flint, Velton G. 	RM1, USN 	MAL
Fockler, Ralph B. 	ATC, USN 	147

Galbraith, Edgar D. 	HMCM, USN 	208
Garner, Oscar W. 	AFCM, USN 	11
Gayton, Lincoln F.	SK1, USN 	156
George, Davey L.	HMCS, USN 	MAL
Gibson, George E. 	AMSC, USN 	MAL
Giesse, Philip C.	EMCS, USN 	289
Gilcrease, Howard O.	CWO1, USN 	11
Gollen, Russell T.	FTG1(SS), USN 	245
Gray, Jeannine A. 	PN1, USNR 	55
Green, William J.	HMC, USN 	MAL
Green, William T.	SFI, USN 	MAL
Griffin, George E. 	ADC/CPO, USN 	22

Hall, Curtis E.	DTCM, USN 	293
Hamilton, James H.	BMC, USN 	99
Hansell, Ralph E.	HMC, USN 	MAL
Hardman, David A.	EMCM, USN 	29
Hawks, James R.	MNCS, USN	 MAL
Henderson, John W.	OSCS, USN 	210
Henley, James O.	EMC, USN 	175
Hoffer, Paul F.	TSGT, USMC 	307
Horn, Maurice D.	CDR, USN 	24
Hosgood, Richard A.	USN 	289
Huber, Wendell J.	YNCS, USN 	175

Name 	Rating	Branch
Inumerable, Gerardo	SKC, USN 	61
Isidro, Ernesto	USN 	MAL

James, Ernest W.	LCDR, USN	 MAL
Jeffers, Earl	AMH1, USN 	MAL
Jensen, Don C.	SGT, USMC 	260
Jones, Leonard L.	ADJ1, USN 	261
Jones, Marion Jervey	BMCM, USN 	MAL
Jones, Stanley G.	FTCM, USN 	MAL
Jones, Robert K.	NAP, USN 	24

Kahrimanian, Jack	RM1, USN 	261
Kelly, James F.	MCPO, USN 	22
Kieffer, Thomas J.	LCDR, USN 	MAL
Killian, Durmot E.	WO1, USN 	261
Kuehnen, Gerald D.	BM1, USN 	161

Leaver, Melvan J.	MMC, USN 	115
Legan, William Edwin	SKC	130
Lemay, Elmer T.	CS2, USN	62
Lence, James O.	LCDR, USN 	335
Lennefelt, Roy	CTC, USN 	295
Lookabill, Joe H.	FC2	269
Lowe, Frederick D.	CPO, USN 	MAL
Lutz, Charles W.	AZC, USN 	MAL
Lyon, Patrick G.	CS1 (SS), USN 	136

Mabb, Walter W.	AMHC, USN 	61
Markle, Robert C.	MMC(SS), USN 	269
Markowski, Casimer J.	PHC, USN 	MAL
Martin, Michael J.	BTCS, USN 	MAL
Matibag, Dalmacio	ATC, USN 	84
Matzke, Ray O. 	SSGT, USMC 	MAL
McCray, Robert W.	POC, USN 	MAL
Meadows, Garrett E.	RMC, USN 	MAL
Mehoves, John H.	ADRC, USN 	MAL
Meyer, Robert C.	MMCM(SS), USN 	MAL
Michaud, Thedore T.	CPL, USMC 	MAL
Miles, Joe D.	USN 	147
Miller, Edward A.	CDR, USN 	MAL
Moore, Eugene	AZC(TAR), USNR 	89

Nation, Charles F.	BMC, USN 	117
Nida, James O.	 SKCS, USN 	MAL
Nieves, Joseph	 RM1, USN 	MAL
Noel, Frank A.	 RMC, USN 	105

Oliveira, Joseph P.	HTC, USN 	72

Padre, Jaime R.	 MSCS, USN 	4
Peck, Keith	 BMC, USN 	276
Plouffe, Robert P.	 PNCS, USN 	42
Price, William A.	 GMTC, USN	24

Rausch, Henry J.	 MACM(AC), USN 	29
Reeves, Glennan C.	 EN2, USCG 	269

Sabo, William J.	 YNCS, USN 	42
Shunk, Robert J.	 AD1, USN 	MAL
Simmons, Earle E.	 ISCS, USN 	MAL
Simons, Thomas W.	 ICC, 	MAL
Simpson, James O.	 AWCS, USN 	MAL
Smith, Donald R.	 PO1, USN 	161
Sparks, Alferd D.	 YNC(SS), USN 	268
Stainback, William D.	 ATCS, USN 	MAL
Stanczyk, David W.	 HTCS, USN 	MAL
Stark, Walter W.	 YNC, USN 	106
Stewart, Stewart M.	 YNC, USN 	MAL
Straub, Cloyed 	PO1, USN 	MAL
Striley, George S.	 IC1, USN 	MAL
Szczepanski, Mark H.	 EM3, USN 	181

Tennyson, Charles R.	 PCCM/SW, USN 	130
Thompson, Gary	 AZ2, USN 	104
Thompson, Gary C.	 BM1, USN 	MAL
Tonkin, Marvin	 SKC, USN 	MAL
Townsley, Charles T.	 ACC, USN 	MAL
Turner, William A.	 LT, USN 	MAL
Tuthill, Alfred F.	RMCM, USCG 	166

Urban, Chester J.	 MSCM, USN 	248

Viering, Paul A.	 ETCS(SS), USN 	269

Wade, Frederick H.	 PO1, USN 	223
Walker, Norman D.	 HMCM, USN 	269
Walther, John M.	 1STSGT, USMC 	MAL
Weeden, Elbert R.	 DCCS(SW), USN 	54
Wetzsteon, Earl A.	 ENC, USN 	161
White, Thenman	 BM1, USN 	84
Whittington, Kenneth T.	 RM1, USN 	219
Wilcox, Clyde M.	 PNC, USN 	136
Williams, James T.	 BTC, USN	44
Wilson, Charles J.	 AOCM, USN 	MAL
Wilson, CLarence R.	 MS1, USNR 	MAL
Wiseman, Billy	 PH1, USN 	11

Young, Alvin W.	 AQCS, USN 	MAL

Any names in red indicate 50 year continuous members.
Any names in bold indicate past national officers.

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

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REUNIONS/lOOKINGFOR…

USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635)
09/26/2019-09/29/2019, Groton, Conn.
Contact: Larry Oiler, 1204 Thunderbird Way
The Villages, FL 32163-2126
Telephone: 207-651-5878
Email: ssbn635aganger@gmail.com
www.grotoninn.com
www.ssbn635.org

USS Saratoga Association (CV-3, CVA/CV-60)
10/10/2018-10/13/2018, San Antonio, Texas 
Contact: Chip Hayes 
Email: uss_saratoga@yahoo.com

USS Inchon Assoc.
05/04/2019-05/09/2019, Nashville, Tenn.
Contact: David Fix
Email: ussinchon@gmail.com

Looking For….

Looking for…survivors and family members of any sailor that served on the USS Oklahoma (BB-36) prior to its destruction during the attack on Pearl Harbor. USS Oklahoma sailors will be honored at an event in Oklahoma City in 2019. Contact Susan Frederici at 405-210-1405 or by email at: s.hammond@sbcglobal.net.

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

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AUXILIARY OF THE FRA

Greetings from the Northwest Region
Nearly a year ago, the Northwest Region was placed under suspension due to a lack of elected officers. In accordance with our C&BL, I volunteered and was subsequently appointed by our National Board to be the Regional Administrator, lifting that suspension. My job was clearly defined by our preamble in “to aid, assist and promote,” the welfare of this organization and its members.
This region has 550 hardworking and devoted members within its 11 Units. It stretches from Cheyenne, Wyoming to the Philippines. There were many questions with few answers. The biggest problem, and it is not just a problem in this region, was a lack of training and communication. Our Auxiliary, as a family, has an obligation to find the answers and assist as we can. This was my goal exactly.
I do not live in the Northwest but actually in Nevada, so my ability to meet the members and officers on a one-on-one basis was somewhat hindered. But today’s electronic communication network works like a charm. I was able to deal with one problem, get it resolved and move on to the next. The actual personal touch can be achieved without the person. This is true throughout our organization–we can show our family that we really do care and everyone is important, even if we are miles apart.
The members are extremely active in their communities and involved in Toys for Tots, parades, collecting and delivering school supplies, hosting parties and gift wrapping for vets in Veteran’s Medical Centers, assisting in natural disaster relief efforts and feeding families that live in landfills in the Philippines. This is not an inactive Region.
So where are we now? We have resolved most of the internal problems that existed this past year within some units. Unhappily, I assisted Seattle Unit 18 with the process of surrendering their charter but happily, I was also able (together with the branch secretary and our MSA, NFS and NT) to resurrect a unit that was struggling. We even gained a few members and are getting current with unit EIN obligations. The units have a better understanding of their responsibilities to the National Auxiliary. One example is that units have submitted 100 percent of their required Officer’s Reports, Regional and National Delegate Sheets by the second week in July! We now have a cohesiveness that makes us one.
The Northwest Regional Convention was held August 18, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. There was a total of 15 members/delegates present. A quorum was declared, all appropriate reports were given and discussions were held followed by a vote on standing rules and financial obligations for 2017, as well as the 2018-2019 year. I am very pleased to report a full slate of officers was elected and installed by NP Jean Smith.
This has been a working year for this region and success could not have been accomplished without the cooperation and working involvement of everyone–that includes our National Officers, as well as the many branches. I sincerely want to thank all of you and share that I will always be here to support you in whatever you need.    FRA
In Loyalty, Protection and Service, 
Gail Doloway, PNP LA FRA 

Gail Doloway is a Past National President of the LA FRA and currently the Northwest Regional Administrator

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FINANCE MATTERS

How to Avoid and Correct Tax Issues

Nobody likes unexpected tax bills or IRS penalties. So how can you minimize the possibility of errors on your return? And if an error does still slip through, what then? In both cases, it is often a matter of paying close attention to documentation.
Avoiding tax errors. Audrey Young, a tax attorney and senior manager at accounting, tax and consulting firm RSM US, says one of the basic things that everyone should do is pay attention to what their tax preparer sends them. “Most clients who work with professionals get a tax organizer,” Young says. The organizer is a document outlining a series of questions for people to answer. It helps taxpayers think through all the big and small items from the past year that could impact their taxes.
Big life changes in particular should be called out in the organizer, as they are a common cause of tax filing errors. These might include:

• Selling a business
• Selling interest in a building or shares in a closely held business
• Inheriting money or an IRA
• Turning 70½ and triggering mandatory IRA distribution requirements 

“Most people do a very good job except when an extraordinary transaction comes along,” Young says. In these cases, good record keeping is crucial —as is sharing that information with your advisor. For example, a problem that can attract unwanted IRS interest is when someone fails to note an extraordinary gift, such as land, to a university or charitable organization. The value of that property has to be properly documented. 
When gifts of stock or other property (like a vacation home) are made during one’s life, good records are essential to avoiding tax problems down the road—especially for the recipient. That is because the gift’s “cost basis” —the purchase price —also transfers to the gift recipient. Say mom and dad give their vacation home to their adult child. If, later on, that child sells that house, the cost basis used to determine how much profit was made on the sale is the purchase price of the home when the child’s parents originally bought it. 
Correcting tax errors. If you do make a mistake, do not panic. With some common mistakes, such as math errors, IRS computers will often detect the error and send you a bill. You will be required to pay interest on the unpaid tax, but unless the IRS thinks it is a deliberate or particularly large omission, you probably will not owe a penalty.
If you or your preparer discover an error after filing, Young recommends filing an amended return as soon as possible. “I think it’s always better to report your error before the IRS finds it,” Young says. Remember, your preparer will need to correct all the errors in the return—not just the ones that are favorable for you.
It is important to note that your preparer must file amended returns on paper (rather than e-filing) and they can take longer for the IRS to process. So, the sooner you correct any mistakes, the sooner you can resolve any potential conflicts.   FRA

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.
© 2018 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved. 

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FRA PROFILE

Branch 166’s Website: www.fra166.org

A
nyone who has attempted to construct a website knows first-hand the time, effort and frustration involved. New curse words are continually added to your lexicon when updating a website’s content. It brings you back to the brink of square one. 
The Marquis de Sade once said, “It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure.” 
Nobody knows this better than Sha’ron David “Marty” Martin, Virginia Beach Branch 166 President and website innovator, who built the branch website from scratch four years ago and has maintained it ever since.  
The branch’s website is not limited to who, what, when and where.
Marty has compiled links to local, state, regional, national and federal websites to keep members up-to-date on current and developing events that are at the very heart of FRA’s mission. Branch 166’s website also includes links to other local FRA branches, community events, high school JROTC awards, scholarships for the local community college and general stores as well as memorial page dedicated to departed Shipmates. 
Other helpful resources include information requests and downloadable membership applications, branch bylaws, visitors’ comments and links to all of the local commissaries and the latest sales that are at each one! 
When the branch holds a special event, Marty puts it on the website within a day or two for members who were unable to attend. Marty’s abilities and contributions are key to keeping the branch members fully informed of what the branch has done, is doing and will do. Marty has rewarded branch Shipmates with a beautifully crafted website. 
If the FRA held a Branch website recognition competition, I would have no doubt Virginia Beach Branch 166’s website would be in the winner’s circle!   FRA

Dan Shaughnessy, Branch 166 Public Relations

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