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As 2013 ends, we reflect on our memories, good and not so good. Looking forward to 2014 and what the new year brings.
Photo from the webmaster’s condo window (raw not retouched).
Special Thanks to Michael Vollero who registered to “Follow Blog via Email” last week.
Apologies to the registered reader whose email address did not include a recognizable name, but thank you for registering.
The Royal Guard celebrated its 50th anniversary on November 16, 2013. To commemorate the event, unit members recently posed for photos at Iolani Palace.
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From the left. Noah Keaulii, Dwayne Lim, Ryan Schrieiner, Darrell Bactad, Franklin Ho, Maj. Gen. Darryll Wong, the Adjutant General, Ramon “Maui” Quizon, Herman Thompson, Thomas Mahi, Robert Lee, Prescott Looney, Mose Matila. Franklin Ho serves as the Kapena Moku (captain) of the Guard.
Historically, the ceremonial Royal Guard recreates the troops who guarded Hawaii’s monarchy in the latter half of the 19th century.
Colonel Walter F. Judd, a Hawaii Air National Guard member, organized the current Royal Guard. The unit made its first public appearance on November 16, 1963 at Iolani Palace to commemorate King David Kalakaua’s birthday. The unit has posted the guard every year since. The Royal Guard appears at public events honoring veterans and the U.S. military in Hawaii year round.
The Air Guard ceremonial unit currently has 22 members, all who have some Hawaiian ancestry. Uniforms and accouterments worn by the unit are exact replicas of King Kalakaua’s Royal Guard. All commands are given in Hawaiian.
Congratulations to the Royal Guard for their 50 years of service. Mahalo to all members past and present for volunteering their time to participate in this historical ceremonial unit
If you need your tax form for your Guard retirement, go to http://mypay.dfas.mil. Log on if you have a current account or setup an account.
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Mele Kalikimaka to one and all
The Social Security Administration has new my Social Security” online services. If you currently receive benefits, you now can get a benefit verification letter; change your address and phone number; and start or change your direct deposit. That’s in addition to assessing your earnings record and viewing benefit estimates if you do not currently receive benefits.
People age 18 and older who are not receiving benefits can sign up for a my Social Security account to get a personalized online Social Security Statement. The online Statement provides eligible workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement. In addition, the portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare.
For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
www.peek.com is a new website that highlights activities and tours in 17 U.S. destinations, London and Paris. You can explore activities based on themes first-time travelers might be interested in, such as Sightseeing, Food and Drink, Walking Tours, Off the Beaten Path and What to Do When It Rains, as well as topics that locals and returning travelers could use, such as Day Trips, Romantic, What to Do With Kids and more.
United States cities currently include: Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, and Seattle. The site promises the addition of more cities in the near future.
Information taken from an article by Jay Leo, Los Angeles Times.
Apologies to the two registered readers whose email addresses did not include a recognizable name, but thank you for registering.
Air Force Magazine is the magazine of the Air Force Association. The magazine is a monthly paper and electronic magazine. Read the December issue http://ow.ly/rZPi1
John “Johnny” Macayan Sr., 79, of Hilo, owner of Macayan Motors Inc., former used car sales manager at Hilo Motors and a Hawai‘i Army National Guard veteran, passed away on December 16, 2013. He was born in Hilo.
He is survived by wife Patricia, son John Jr., daughters Jonette Macayan and Tricia Anderson, brother Mariano Carriaga Sr., sister Rosita Padilla, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The December issue of the 154th Wing newsletter, Kūkā‘ilimoku, is out. http://ow.ly/rTVzC
Herbert E. “Buddy” Markle Jr., 81, of Waipahu, a retiree of the Army National Guard and the state Harbor Police, passed away on December 12, 2013. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Charles B., James E.P., Timothy W., David G., Antonio D. and Issac M.; daughters Mariquita L. Arambula, Dolores R. Musquez and Melissa A. Lanier; brother Glenn W.; sisters Audrey H. Shimabukuro and Iris B. Poepoe; 23 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Nearly 150 members of the House of Representatives have asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to not give in to an Army plan to reduce the size of the Army National Guard to 315,000 soldiers.
Gen. Frank J. Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, has set 345,000 as the preferred end strength for the Army Guard.
A reduction of the end strength of the entire Army is being forced upon the service because of cuts to the federal budget under the Budget Control Act, which includes the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration. Under that plan, all programs are cut equally without regard to their intent or effectiveness.
If the Bipartisan Budget Act passes the Senate this week, some of the sequestration cuts will be limited, but the overall budget for the military will still shrink.
“We believe that significant end strength and force structure cuts can be mitigated by better utilizing the Reserve Component, which would save money while sustaining defense capacity and capability,” the members wrote in the letter to Hagel.
They suggest a blend of active and reserve units, such as that found in the Air Force’s active-associate program. This would take advantage of the inherent cost effectiveness found in the reserve component.
NGAUS supports a larger Guard force.
“This letter sends a clear message that Congress is paying close attention to what’s going on between the Army and Guard,” says Annie Lively, the NGAUS senior legislative manager for Army programs. “Lawmakers understand that as we draw down and have to make necessary cuts that the Guard is the answer to maintaining capability that our nation needs.”
She said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia, and Rep. Candice Miller, R-Michigan, have been leaders on the issue in the House.”
The Pentagon has determined it can save $120 million a year if TRICARE For Life users fill some prescriptions by mail.
The government last week published an interim rule requiring retirees and family members age 65 and older to fill maintenance prescriptions by mail starting on Feb. 14, 2014, according to a story by Military Times.
The requirement does not apply to prescriptions needed for acute illnesses.
Half of the 70 million prescriptions filled by TRICARE beneficiaries in 2012 were for TRICARE For Life users. The Defense Department pays 17 percent less for prescriptions filled by mail, so requiring TRICARE For Life beneficiaries to use mail for certain prescriptions will save $120 million annually.
The requirement also saves money for beneficiaries, the newspaper pointed out. Refills of generic drugs cost nothing by mail, but $5 at a pharmacy. Brand-name drugs cost $13 by mail, but $17 at a store.
Affected beneficiaries will receive a letter with details of the plan.
