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Commandant’s National Retiree Council Information
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Digitization of the Reservist Magazine.
Starting in January 2012, the Reservist magazine will be totally digital and available
online.
More ...
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Signing Ceremony for Tampa Bay Regional Retiree Council
On Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Commander Pete Martin, Deputy Sector Commander of Coast Guard Sector
St. Petersburg, presented the official Charter of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Coast Guard Retiree
Council to Chief Kim Lorigan, U.S. Coast Guard Retired, and Commander Don Goldstein, U.S. Coast Guard
Retired, the Co-Chairs of the newly chartered Retiree Council.
The Tampa Bay Area has a very large number of retired Coast Guard personnel, and the Council seeks
to address the needs of the many Coast Guard retirees who served our Nation ably and honorably throughout
their active duty, reserve or civilian careers. More ...
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Click on photo for a larger view
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Click on photo for a larger view
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National Council Meeting 2011
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Fred's Place is proud to represent over 13,600
retirees at the 2011 Commandant's Coast Guard National Retiree Council Annual Meeting.
Much of our discussions centered on exactly how the Council can better serve the Coast Guard
Retiree. We realize that a vast majority are satisfied and most likely have little
to do with "the" Coast Guard. After all the monthly check is automatically deposited and all is well.
However there are times that a small percentage have 'a problem' and need help or information.
In all probability you attended a TAPS or some other 'transition course' prior to retirement.
Surely, you recall that upon reaching 65 your ID Card expires and you have to decide whether
to elect Part B on your Medicare Plan, right? No one anticipates a divorce or death of a
spouse and surely everyone recalls all the ins and outs of the Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP),
right? I'm sure everyone follows the legislation in Congress and knows every new benefit due
them by recent legislation - case in point - the new Blue Water Sailor's disability the VA
now awards to those who qualify and served in Viet Nam. And surely you know when the time comes that you
may require a 'caregiver' that caregiver will know all the benefits you are entitled to?
What I've touched on above are not little problems. Yes, I asked these questions with
toungue in cheek but these situations can be emotional and fanicial disasters.
The Commandant's Coast Guard National Retiree Council stays abreast of the retiree's
benefits and entitlements through our association with many Military Organizations, briefings
by benefit providers, establishing a liaison with the other four Armed Force's Retiree
organizations and at vast array of other resources. In fact, this year we added two new
members to our Council. One representing the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
and another representing the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA).
One of the Council's goals
is to establish and maintain a reliable communications path to ALL Coast Guard
Retirees. At present we are doing that via the Retirees Newsletter, our National Help Desk
and our Local or Regional Retiree Councils. Plans and initiatives are being implemented to
expand our outreach efforts even further. However, it is imperative that YOU, the Coast
Guard Retiree also connect with us. Please contact and join your nearest Local Council. read
the Retiree Newsletter and if there's not a Local Council near you - establish one!
The official Council report is now
online and here's some
photos taken that week. ~ Fred
What is the Commandant's Coast Guard National Retiree Council and
what does it do?
Commandant Instruction 1800.5F provides guidance for the Commandant of the Coast Guard National Retiree
Council (CCGNRC) program, outlines council purposes and objectives, describes procedures for council formation,
identifies funding and support responsibilities, and explains the relationship between the Coast Guard and the
national and regional retiree councils.
Eligible Membership.
U.S. Coast Guard Retirees, retired Civilian Employees and annuitants.
Join a Local Council.
You are encouraged to seek out and join a local Council.
Click here for a listing of Local Councils and their co-chairs.
No Local Council in your area?
We have an easy-to-follow, Eight Step Guide to assist you in establishing a Local Retiree
Council. The Guide provides tools and sample letters - it doesn't get any easier
than this! Check it out!
Local Councils Needed - New England, St Louis & Where YOU ARE!
We have a large retired population in the New England & St. Louis areas that should
have representation at the National Council Meeting. If you are interested in establishing a Local
Council in any of these areas, I urge you to review our EASY
Eight Step Guide on how-to establish a Local Regional Council. It's so EASY, a Commander can do it!
Hawaii Expansion - Our Hawaiian Local Council Seeks Expansion.
The Hawaii Local Regional Council seeks to represent the entire Pacific Rim. Realizing a large retired
community is localed within the Pacific Rim, the Hawaii Local Regional Council is reaching
out to establish a large virtual Council. Are you living in the Pacific Rim and seeking up-to-date
information pertaining to the retired community? Contact either CAPT Rod Schultz USCG (Ret)
or BMCS Thomas R. Dutton, USCG, (Ret).
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2011 National Retiree Council Meeting Report.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard National Retiree Council (CCGNRC) held
its tenth annual meeting in accordance with COMDTINST 1800.5E from 10 thru 13 May 2011
at Coast Guard Headquarters.
Meeting Report
Can't find what you're looking for?
We understand and have estiblished a Helpdesk to assist you.
- Headquarters Retiree Program Coordinator's Office. Email: nrhdesk@gmail.com
Commercial: 202-475-5381 or toll free 866-664-6245.
- The Help Desk Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Click here
Help Wanted - Poor Pay - Great Rewards
Volunteers are needed for the Coast Guard’s National Retiree Council (NRC) Help Desk.
The Help Desk serves as a resource for Coast Guard retirees and family members to get
referrals or answers to questions about benefits and other matters of interest to retirees.
Volunteers that stand the Help Desk “watch” are responsible for responding to telephone
and e-mail inquiries. The watch is stood for one week, starting on Monday and ending on
the following Sunday. It is not a “live” watch in the sense that the watchstander does
not answer a telephone immediately, nor is the watchstander on line to perform a “chat”
or instant messaging function. Instead, watchstanders are asked to periodically check
the NRC Help Desk voicemail and e-mail accounts, to research answers to inquiries, and
reply by phone or e-mail. Training with an experienced watchstander, along with resource
materials, are available to all new volunteers.
Serving as a NRC Help Desk volunteer will not take a lot of time, but it will allow you
to help CG veterans and their families in need. For more information about volunteering,
contact CAPT Bob Warakomsky (USCG, ret.) or LCDR David Du Pont (USCG, ret.).
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Good Tips.
Military Education Transcripts. Following received from John F. Milohnick III ETCS, USCG Ret. Recently,
I was accepted for VA Vocational Rehabilitation. I needed a transcript of credits earned while I was on Active Duty.
I contacted the CG Institute and they prepared and forwarded a 'Military Education Transcript' to my school (Valdosta
State University). Good news! I can start working for a Masters degree instead of a Bachelors degree in education.
Congrats, John. Good luck in your continued education.
TRICARE & Medicare Part D. What TRICARE beneficiaries need to know about Medicare Part D, an article
published by Triwest Healthcare Alliance.
Click here to read the entire MS Word .doc article. Bottom line: For nearly all TRICARE-Medicare
beneficiaries, under most circumstances, there is no added value in purchasing Medicare Part D. The
exception to this general rule may be for those with limited incomes and assets who qualify for Medicare’s
extra help.
Announcements.
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SSN & Your ID Card. To protect the safety of Service members and their families’ personal
identity information, the DoD is removing the Social Security Number (SSN) from DoD ID cards
More ...
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Coast Guard Participation in the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) System.
The 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act was signed by President Obama on
October 15, 2010. With the signing of this bill, among other things,
comes the authority for the Coast Guard to fully participate in the
Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) System and a great opportunity to
honor our enlisted and warrant officer shipmates by providing those who
qualify a safe and affordable retirement residence.
More ...
Armed Forces Retirement Home: First U.S. Coast Guard retiree application approved.
Retired CPO Rayford Keen's application was approved today at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Rayford is the first retiree from the U.S. Coast Guard to be approved for admittance
into the Armed Forces Retirement Home facility. Rayford's years in service: Feb 1947 to March 1967
Overseas Service Ribbon.
The following information is provided to assist in determining eligibility,
specifically for the United States Territories:
a. Overseas is defined as duty outside the fifty United States at a
shore based duty station or on-board a cutter permanently assigned to an
overseas area.
b. U.S. Territories are considered overseas. Therefore, members that have
served or are now serving on permanent change of station orders to Guam,
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa are authorized the
overseas service ribbon. More...
For CG Retirees and Veterans who are eligible for this award, please follow the
guidelines under the Board of Corrections for Military Records (BCMR) procedure
with supporting documentation to CGHQ. Details can be found
here.
- Best Places for Military Retirement..
USAA and Military.com announces the “Best Places for Military Retirement” based on a
high number of variables important to military retirees.
More ...
- TRICARE Retired Reserve Launches.
For the first time, members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age
60, the so-called “gray area” retirees, can purchase TRICARE health
coverage for themselves and their eligible family members with the
Sept. 1, 2010 launch of TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR).
More ...
- Military Retirees Employment with a Foreign Country Government.
Click here for rules, procedures and information.
- The Coast Guard'd Retiree Branch is publishing the
The CG/NOAA Retirees' Newsletter TAPS online.
Changes to Retiree ID Renewal Rules.
Homeland Security issues new rules for retirees and family members seeking to renew or replace a military identification cards.
Click here for additional details.
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CRDP & CRSC. Do you have questions regarding Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments
(CRDP) and Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)?
The latest news on the CRDP Project
Click here
Retirees Entitled To Free Eye Glasses.
If you are retired military, and eligible for other medical services,
you are authorized to receive up to 3 pair of Standard Issue spectacles per
year.
Click here for additional details.
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