From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website
The Code of Support Foundation provides essential and critical one-on-one assistance to struggling service members, Veterans and their families with the most complex needs. One of their goals is to integrate service members, Veterans and families into a searchable, vetted, on-line platform called PATRIOTlink that makes direct connections to resources and services.
PATRIOTlink enables any user free access to vetted, direct, cost-free, Veteran services. PATRIOTlink users can login, browse, and use hundreds of resources available to them. Veterans, caregivers, family members and providers can sign up for a Free Account and start searching today!
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Experience Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Code of Support in December 2018.
RT @AirmanMagazine: During its heyday, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle was the pinnacle of U.S. air superiority. It incorporated advanced technology and a forward-thinking design, resulting in a highly-maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. pic.twitter.com/DNC7kyqUpw
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) April 25, 2019
The 199th Fighter Squadron flew the McDonnell Douglas F-15A/B Eagle from 1987–2009 and the F-15C Eagle, from 1991–2010. The 199 FS has flown the F-22A Raptor from 2010.
Many Air Force and Air National Guard squadrons still fly Eagles, including the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle. Other variants of the F-15 are flown by several of our foreign partners.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) website includes a page that covers safety issues and recalls. You enter your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if your vehicle (cars and motorcycles) are subject to any recalls.
What this VIN search tool covers
+ Vehicle safety recalls that are incomplete
+ Vehicle safety recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years
+ Vehicle safety recalls conducted by major light auto automakers, including motorcycle manufacturers.
What this VIN search tool does not cover
– Completed safety recall information
– Manufacturer customer service or other nonsafety recall campaign
– International vehicles *
– Very recently announced safety recalls for which not all VINs have been identified
– Safety recalls that are more than 15 years old (except where a manufacturer offers more coverage)
– Safety recalls conducted by small vehicle manufacturers, including some ultra-luxury brands and specialty applications
Check your car out now at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
* Although the webpage says it does not cover international vehicles, we tried entering Japanese, British, and German VINs and the search did work.
From the Air Force Times website
Federal military officials have agreed to review how the Wisconsin National Guard handles sexual assault in the wake of multiple alleged incidents dating back to 2002, Governor Tony Evers and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin said Wednesday.
Evers and Baldwin, both Democrats, asked the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex Investigations in Washington, D.C., in March to review the Wisconsin Guard’s sexual assault and harassment reporting procedures, investigative protocols and accountability measures. The governor and the senator issued a joint statement Wednesday morning announcing that OCI will conduct “a thorough, independent assessment” that could take several months.
From the Images of Old Hawaii website
Fort Kamehameha | click to enlarge
From 1890 to 1905, the United States undertook a massive program to modernize its coastal defenses. Known as the Endicott era; the huge construction program resulted in all the major harbors being fortified with newly designed steel guns ranging in size from 3 to 12 inches in diameter of bore and 12-inch, breech-loading mortars.
The gun emplacements were constructed with reinforced concrete and had huge earthen or sand parapets in front. Bombproof magazines were placed far underground.
In 1908 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in the midst of constructing O‘ahu armored fortifications in accordance with the recommendations of the joint board.
These weapons were to be emplaced within new military reservations that were eventually named Forts Armstrong, Kamehameha, DeRussy and Ruger.
Established in 1909, Fort Kamehameha played an important role within a system of coastal defenses of the Army Coast Artillery Corps that served as a key component of the national defense of the United States in the early 20th century.
As you drive to the 154th Wing compound, Battery Hasbrouck on your right as you past the sewer treatment plant. Further along on Seaman Avenue, you past Battery Hawkins on the right where it transitions to Malama Bay Drive. Hawaii Air National Guard members will recognize Batteries Jackson and Selfridge, both within the 154th Wing compound.
The April 2019 issue of the National Guard magazine features the following articles:
Numbers Game President’s budget contains a lot of positives for the Guard, but the proposal is far from a done deal.
In the House Nine current Guardsmen are members of Congress. None of them appears ready to take the uniform off, especially the new three.
‘The only things that get attention are the contentious votes’ A conversation with Senator Thom Tillis, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s personnel subcommittee
Fresh Perspectives NGAUS lobbying efforts has some new faces and a critical agenda. Just like Congress
What Has NGAUS Done For You Lately? A bunch. But recent victories are only the latest of a long list of legislative accomplishments.
Step Kids Guard children face many challenges, yet they’re not deemed full members of the military family.
Chairman’s Message A BREAKTHROUGH: More than 80% of personnel on the beta test deployments received TRICARE for the full 180-day predeployment period.
The National Guard Association of the United States
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20001 | www.ngaus.org
P: 202.789.0031 | F: 202.682.9358 | newsletter@ngaus.org
From the Consumer Affairs website
They were on busy thoroughfares, returning home from work or running errands, about to turn left, pulling into traffic or passing cars in the fast lane, when they remember seeing the same vague message flashing across the dashboard.
“CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM” it said, according to over two dozen drivers who submitted complaints to federal regulators since January 2018. The clock on Toyota’s “limp-home” mode, something that Toyota itself has billed as a safety feature in the Prius, had begun to tick. Drivers had just a few moments to get off the road.
Thanks to Gordon Lau for emailing this article to Retiree News.
The State Department of Defense publishes an annual report, which is coordinated by the Public Affairs Office. This report provides the Governor and the State Legislature a summary of the achievements of the department – the Hawaii Army National Guard, the Hawaii Air National Guard, State Civil Defense (now Hawaii Emergency Management Agency), the Office of Veterans Services, and the Youth Challenge Academy.
In the 2003 annual report, the section on the Hawaii Army National Guard included a listing of commanders and staff members. Brig Gen Vern Miyagi was the Assistant Adjutant General, Army and Commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Look for some familiar names – 2003 HIARNG Commanders and Staff
Earlier Retiree News post about the 2003 HIANG Commanders and Staff
Yesterday, the Hawaii State Senate voted to reconfirm Maj. Gen Arthur “Joe” Logan and Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara as the Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General. Both votes were 24-0 with one senator excused.
Earlier, the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs recommended both generals be reconfirmed in an Advise and Consent hearing.
The Department of Commerce and Consumers Affairs (DCCA) has begun airing a public service announcement (PSA) to highlight the BusinessCheck website at http://BusinessCheck.hawaii.gov/. The campaign encourages the public to protect themselves from unfortunate circumstances by utilizing BusinessCheck resources to lookup and check on companies, individuals or licensed professionals that they intend to hire or do business with.
“We hope this initiative will encourage consumers to take a minute to research a licensed professional or company before doing business with them,” said DCCA Director Catherine Awakuni Colón. “Doing a search on the Businesscheck website may help with decision-making before giving your money away.”
Consumers can use BusinessCheck as a one-stop shop to find information on various businesses, individuals, and entities operating within the State of Hawaii. The website offers online resources for consumers including licensee complaints and licensing status, tax and business registration, and other educational materials.
In addition to airing on local broadcast networks, the PSA can be viewed on DCCA’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/eSQSliNWNqU.
The C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft in the @usairforce‘s airlift arsenal. The design of the aircraft (high-lift wing, slats, and externally blown flaps) allows it to operate through small, austere airfields.
Learn more: https://t.co/ZLkS6M9bIS pic.twitter.com/oo6R3aL8Nj
— Airman Magazine (@AirmanMagazine) April 14, 2019
From the Los Angeles Times website
Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found.
Interviews with current and former Guard members and an examination of internal documents show that complaints go well beyond Fresno and extend to the army side as well. The allegations have come from fighter pilots, a top military prosecutor, Special Forces officers and a colonel who hoped to head the organization.
From the Chicago Tribune website
Medicare will run out of money sooner than expected, and Social Security’s financial problems can’t be ignored either, the government said Tuesday in a sobering checkup on programs vital to the middle class.
The report from program trustees says Medicare will become insolvent in 2026 — three years earlier than previously forecast. Its giant trust fund for inpatient care won’t be able to fully cover projected medical bills starting at that point.
The report says Social Security will become insolvent in 2034 — no change from the projection last year.
From the Images of Old Hawaii website
Bellows in the late 1940s | click to enlarge
Waimanalo Military Reservation was created in 1917 by Presidential Executive Order, and later renamed to Bellows Field in 1933 (named after Lieutenant Franklin Barney Bellows, a war hero who was killed in action during World War I while on a reconnaissance flight near St. Mihiel, France, on September 13, 1918.)
The land was leased from Waimanalo Sugar Plantation. It was used as the bivouac area and a target practice area by the Coastal Artillery, which strung a line of 90-mm guns along the beach. During the 1930s, Bellows was used as a bombing and gunnery range by aircraft from Luke (Ford Island,) Wheeler and Hickam Fields.
Both the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard have long associations with Bellows Field/ Bellows AFB / Bellows AFS and now Marine Corps Training Area Bellows.
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