For the second straight year, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect historically small increases in their benefits come January.
Preliminary figures suggest a benefit increase of roughly 1.5 percent, which would be among the smallest since automatic increases were adopted in 1975, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Next year’s raise will be small because consumer prices, as measured by the government, haven’t gone up much in the past year. Read more http://ow.ly/pVnIw
Toyota is recalling 870,000 vehicles because a problem with an air conditioner part could cause airbags to deploy unnecessarily .
In some cases, the problem was caused by spiders. Sometimes, their webs can create a blockage in a drainage tube coming from the air conditioning condenser. That can cause water to drip down onto an airbag control module, causing a short circuit. That, in turn, could cause the airbag warning light to light up on the dashboard and it could even cause the driver’s side airbag to deploy, something that happens with explosive force.
Read more http://ow.ly/pVJHm
Community Cleanup Day at Kaimuki High School. It’s a great opportunity to clean up and turn in your old items like electronic equipment, batteries, recyclable materials. Check out the flyer for more details http://ow.ly/pVlQK
Click on photo to enlarge
In this photo taken on May 4, 1984, then Captain Gary Hara administers the enlistment oath to his youngest brother Kenny. Kenny was 17 years old and the fourth Hara son to enter service in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
In the background from left to right are brother Dennis, father Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hara, mother Janet, and brother Larry.
Henry Hara commanded the 2nd Battalion, 299 Infantry in Hilo for 13 years, and retired in 1988. All the Hara brothers continue their service in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Major General Gary Hara serves as the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Pacific
Sergeant Major Dennis Hara serves with the G4 Directorate of Logistics as a M-Day soldier
First Sergeant Larry Hara serves with the Combines Support Maintenance Shop #2 in Hilo
Colonel Kenny Hara serves as the Chief of the Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard
The Department of the Attorney General, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and State Narcotics Enforcement Division, is coordinating the 7th National Take Back Initiative on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii. Anyone with expired or unused prescription medications is encouraged to bring their medications to a collection site on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Read more http://t.co/OLrwj8cnAr. For information about collection sites, go to http://ow.ly/pUZ2q.
Earlier this year, Stephen Lum of the department’s Public Affairs Office completed a photo gallery recognizing the eighteen individuals who served as Hawai‘i’s adjutants general through the years. Each photo includes short biography of officer. This photo gallery is in the hallway outside the Adjutant General’s office here at the State Headquarters.
Special thanks to Steve for another superb job.
To share Steve’s hard work, we will post one of the photos each week. This week’s photo features the first Adjutant General, Brigadier General John H. Soper.
click on photo to enlarge
Retiree News received word that Henry Chang, a retired loadmaster with the 204th Airlift Squadron passed away on Sunday. Henry started in maintenance and later cross trained to become a flight engineer. In civilian life, he worked with the Honolulu Fire Department. Henry had some medical challenges in the last few years.
We will post Henry’s obituary when the information becomes available.
Special thanks to Gordon Lau and Sam Wong who shared this sad news.
Air Force Magazine is the magazine of the Air Force Association. The magazine is a monthly paper and electronic magazine. Read the October issue http://ow.ly/pFn5s
The United States has the highest fatality rate from fire in the industrial world. Why? Because we spend most of our money responding to fire, not preventing them.
Home tips from Compliance and Safety http://ow.ly/pFnE5
Special thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email” Robert Inouye, S. Vincent from Australia
TRICARE For Life (TFL) is the Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, regardless of age or place of residence.
TFL provides comprehensive health care coverage. You have the freedom to seek care from any Medicare-participating or nonparticipating provider, or military treatment facility on a space-available basis. Medicare-participating providers file your claims with Medicare. After paying its portion, Medicare automatically forwards the claim to TRICARE for processing (unless you have other health insurance [OHI]). TRICARE pays after Medicare and OHI for covered health.
This handbook will help you make the most of your TFL coverage. You will find information about eligibility requirements, getting care, and claims. This handbook also provides details about your pharmacy and dental coverage options.
Hawaii is full of tourists, sea turtles … and soldiers? Hawaii might be best known for luxurious resorts, beach-side weddings and wildlife, but did you know that the second-largest industry in Hawaii is the military? http://ow.ly/pFbly
Hold the water, please! Next time you’re on an airplane you might want opt for a bottled beverage. According to the New York Daily News, read more http://ow.ly/pFaiK
As part of the State Partnership Program, Hawaii National Guard Soldiers traveled to Bogor, Indonesia for a five-day Non-Commissioned Officer Development Class with the Indonesian Armed Forces. The class focused on advanced, platoon sergeant and above leadership skills. Read more http://ow.ly/pF8Wm
