American Legion District 15 Legionnaire, Veterans Day 2022

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Many of you may rec ognize me as having served as the Com mander of the 15th District from 2018-2019. For those of you I have not yet met, allow me to introduce myself.

I am Ralph Wenzinger, Commander of the 15th District for 2022-2023. My eligibility for membership in the American Legion comes from my service in the world’s greatest air power, the United States Air Force, during the war in Viet Nam. I am a member of Bakersfield Post 26 where I cur rently serve as 2nd Vice Commander. I previously have been Post 26’s Sergeant-at-Arms and 1st Vice Commander. I am a member of Chapter 26 of the American Legion Riders and the Vice Director of the American Legion Riders for the Department of California.

Before I go on, I want to thank our Junior Past 15th District Commander, Bob Atchley, for his leadership and service the past year. Bob is to be commended for stepping up and taking a leadership role during a difficult time for the 15th District despite having limited experience at the district level. I know we all wish him well in his future endeavors with the American Legion.

In a few days, we will celebrate Veterans Day; the day set aside to honor and thank those who have served in the armed forces of our nation regardless of when, where or which branch. Hopefully, we will be able to make up for those parades and other celebrations Covid robbed us of over the past few years. Once again, we will be able to gather in American Legion Posts for the comradeship only those who have served can genuinely appreciate. Inevitably there will be toasts to all those we served with and those we did not, along with the good-natured kidding about our sister services. It is especially good to hear another community, Delano, will be having their first Veteran’s Day parade on November 5th. They join long standing parades in Porterville and Bakersfield. It is yet another testament to how blessed we are to live in the central valley where veterans, our military and first responders are appreciated

Greetings Legionnaires and Friends of the 15th District,

15TH

COMMANDER'S MESSAGE (Continued from Page 1)

and honored. Please consider attending one or more of these parades. Remember, they are being given in your honor by grateful communities.

As I did in 2018, I ask you take a moment to remember and give thanks during your celebrations to our future veterans; those who are currently serving here at home and around the world. Keep in mind the families who wait for the return of their soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen as did our families and those of every veteran of every generation who served before us. For they, too, have sacrificed in the name of the freedoms we enjoy and cherish. Let us especially not forget those veterans who are unable to attend celebrations due to age or infirmity.

To all my brother and sister veterans I wish you a happy and well-deserved Vet erans Day.

Ralph Wenzinger

15th District Commander 2022 – 2023

VA REFORMS

MUST NOT LIMIT OPTIONS FOR VETERANS

BY MIKE COFFMAN

AAmerica owes a debt of honor and gratitude to our veterans. They deserve the very best our coun try can offer them, but for too long they have been receiving far less than that. Among the linger ing problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs is a flawed disability benefits system that more often than not creates unnecessarily long delays in getting benefits to the veterans who have so pro foundly earned them. There is now an effort underway in Washington, D.C., which however well-intentioned will make that already broken system even more dysfunctional.

Problems with the VA are nothing new, as witnessed throughout my time on the Committee on Veterans Affairs in the U.S. Congress. From the scandal in 2014 at a facility in Phoenix that falsified records in order to conceal egregious wait times to the myriad of problems encountered with the new VA hospital in Aurora which came in $7 billion over budget, I have worked to bring accountability to the VA when such outrages are brought to light.

Today, one of the worst issues plaguing the VA is the tremendous backlog of disability claims. Of the roughly 590,000 pending VA disability claims, more than 170,000 are older than 125 days. In other words, well over a third of claims have been languishing for more than 4 months. The problem is only expected to grow.

Navigating the VA benefits system is already an extraordinarily complex undertaking. Veterans can handle the process themselves or enlist the help of several outside actors ranging from veterans service organiza tions to VA accredited legal help to private consultants. However, the program itself can at times be compli cated and have a backwards incentive system.

Going it alone is a daunting process, for which most vets have neither the time nor experience to pursue effectively. VSOs, meanwhile, have experienced double-digit declines in membership over the past two decades and are mostly made up of volunteers who usually lack the experience, manpower, and resources to help with disability claims. The financial incentives are such that VA accredited lawyers only get involved once a claim has been denied, so are of little value in the initial stages, and they are paid regardless of the final outcome.

That leaves private consultants who are paid on a contingency basis — that is, only if they deliver a benefit to a veteran. They are often the best and sometimes the only option for veterans to sift through the red tape of disability claims. But there have been some efforts in Congress to effectively eliminate that option — in cluding a 2019 bill, S. 2407, which would outlaw non-VA-accredited consultants. While that bill has not been reintroduced, there are discussions taking place on the Hill to add its language to S. 2141, the Preventing Crimes against Veterans Act. This would needlessly broaden the scope of a bill that ought to remain focused on criminalizing those who would defraud veterans out of their payments, rather than private consultants who are filling a gap and trying to help.

While these efforts are ostensibly about protecting veterans from predatory consultants and unscrupulous actors in the private space something I wholeheartedly support — there are far better ways to achieve that goal than by eliminating this vital resource for veterans. Simply being “private” or “for profit” does not make

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VA REFORMS

(Continued from Page 4)

an entity malicious by definition. Private options exist for a great number of public services and use the power of private enterprise to offer exceptional outcomes private tax preparation, package delivery, ambulance services, and public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects are just a few examples. This efficiency should also be made available to our veterans for the process ing of benefits claims, to relieve the backlog and provide benefits to those who need them as quickly as possible.

Some reforms and protections can be built into the system, but we need to put a little more thought into what those might be to ensure they do not cause greater harm. One common sense reform would be to expand the VA’s accreditation system to accommodate the business model of private consul tants, and thereby expand the choice of options for veterans seeking relief. If a bad actor in this space defrauds a veteran, then the full force of the law should descend upon that individual or firm. And if the law needs to be ad justed to provide for that, then so be it. But it is absolutely nonsensical to eliminate altogether an effective and necessary resource for our veterans in the name of rooting out a handful of bad consultants.

The VA system has many flaws, several of which have contributed to the un conscionable backlog of disability claims. Reforms are needed but must be done in a way that does not exacerbate the problem or limit veterans’ choic es. Our country owes them at least that much.

LEGION MOBILE APP

MORE SUPPORT FOR

HOMELESS VETERANS

VVeterans represent approxi mately 11% of the general homeless population. Some 3.7% of veterans become homeless in the first five years after ser vice. Isolation and lack of social support systems are major risk factors among United States veterans leading to one out of five veterans living alone with an increased risk of going homeless if proper social support is not in place af ter discharge. The (FY) 2021 Department of Veteran Affairs Community Homeless ness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG) report that consistent with 2020 data and with the previous 20 years of data, unmet needs of veterans are primarily services that VA cannot provide directly.

Project CHALENG cites eight of the 10 unmet needs continue to be housing for veterans who need to regis ter as sex offenders, and legal assistance in the areas of court fees/court fines, credit issues/debt collection, expunging criminal records, child support, family law, discharge upgrade appeals, and tax issues. It sites six of the 10 met needs continue to be medical services, mental health services, case management, food, TB testing, and substance abuse treatment.

Several studies have identified unemployment as one of the factors that greatly contribute to homelessness among veterans due to a combination of factors that may or may not include mental or physical problems and substance abuse.

The California delegation voted to renew its commitment to assisting homeless veterans and their families with continued support the efforts of the public and private sector agencies and organizations offer with resources necessary to aid homeless veterans and their families. This effort should seek and support any legislative or administrative proposal that will provide medical, rehabilitative and employment assistance to homeless veterans and their families. The delegation expressed strong support of the importance of col laboration among agencies and sectors to meet the needs of veterans and put an end to homelessness and at-risk homelessness among veterans.

BAKERSFIELD NATIONAL CEMETERY

VETERAN BURIALS

EEligible individuals are entitled to burial in any open VA national cemetery that includes opening/closing of the grave, a grave liner, perpetual care of the gravesite, and a government-furnished upright headstone or flat marker or niche cover all at no cost to the family.  Veterans are also eligible for a burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate.

For Veterans buried at private and other cemeteries, VA provides headstones, markers, or medallions to commemorate their service. Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by call ing VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.  To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

In 2019, NCA launched an individual Veteran profile page www.vlm.cem.va.gov that has an interactive feature that allows family, friends, and others to preserve their Veteran’s leg acy by posting tributes (comments), uploading images, share their Veteran’s military service timeline and achievements, biographical information, historical documents and more.

AT LEAST ONE PHOTO FOUND FOR EVERY VETERAN HONORED

BY STARS AND STRIPES

AA photo of every service member whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is now featured on a website dedicated to honoring them.

At least one photo has been found of each of the more than 58,000 service mem bers listed on the memorial, also known as The Wall, The Vietnam Veterans Me morial Fund announced in a news release. The photos can be viewed on the virtual Wall of Faces, which is dedicated to honoring and remembering these service members who died or were missing in action during the Vietnam War.

“When VVMF began this effort, the goal was to put a face with a name for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on The Wall. To en sure that visitors to The Wall understand that behind each name is a face — a person with a story of a family and friends who were forever changed by their loss,” VVMF President and CEO Jim Knotts said in the release. “Today, the Wall of Faces tells these stories through photos and remembrances left by both friends and family members.”

The search for the photos began in 2001, with a more concerted effort launched in 2009, the release said. Volunteers and family members of these veterans from across the country contributed to the effort.

VVMF, the nonprofit that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, is still seeking higher quality photos and remembrances of these Vietnam veterans, Knotts said in the release.

To view and search the Wall of Faces, visit vvmf.org/wall-of-faces. Visit vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090 for more information.

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The night can seem extremely long when you must wait until morning to talk with your health care provider. That's why Bristol Hospice promises care and support all the time. At Bristol Hospice, we are always available to quickly meet patient and family needs. For our Bristol program patients, our goal is always to be at your home within one hour from the time of the call. Hospice program admissions are scheduled based upon patient and family desires. Bristol is available to schedule and complete admissions within four hours from time of first cal l. Nights, weekends, and holidays when something unexpected happens, you will never be alone. Our clinical care team is always available with immediate access to your medical records, waiting to help.

Our Mission: Bristol Hospice is graciously committed to our mission that all patients and families entrusted to our care will be treated with the highest level of compassion, respect, and quality of care.

We Honor Veterans (WHV) Program We are committed to serving the Veteran community

Our Veterans served their country, and it is our privilege to serve them in return. As a We Honor Veterans partner, Bristol Hospice engages in ongoing education for our staff and volunteers so that they are equipped with the knowledge and resources to provide veteran centric care. This means that the hospice care team considers the Veteran’s uniq ue military experience as we develop the plan of care. We honor our Veteran patients’ wishes and preferences throughout their time with us. We acknowledge our Veteran patients’ service with honors ceremonies, life review projects, and special events. Whenever possible, Veteran volunteers visit Veteran patients to provide camaraderie and companionship Bristol Hospice Fresno/Visalia is a WHV Program Level 5 Partner.

Veterans Deserve Special Care

• Veterans often take great pride in their service, seeing it as a period when they did something meaningful to make a difference in the world. Understanding how Veterans view their military service directly impacts their end of life journey.

• Their unique experiences influence needs when it comes to service related conditions and trauma. Regardless of the situation, it is Bristol’s mission to ensure that all Veterans receive compassionate, quality care at the end of life.

Bristol Hospice Programs

Your Hospice Experienc e is Our Priority

• At Bristol Hospice, your care team considers your military history and preferences, starting at your admission, and integrate that information into the individualized plan that provides a holistic approach to care.

• We Honor Veterans Pro gram and our other signature specialty programs are designed to meet your specific needs.

• Above all, you are the most important part of your hospice care.

Our Bristol Hospice programs provide hospice services to meet the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families/caregivers. An interdisciplinary group of professionals and volunteers develops an individualized plan of care which includes, as appropriate, the following services: nursing, physicians, home health aides, counseling, spiritual support, therapy, dietary, volunteers, durable medical equipment, supplies, bereavement services, and Veteran specific care

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“Saluting

AAs the American Legion Family national conventions came to an end, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was starting. This September is a perfect opportunity for Legion Family members to spread the word about the Legion’s “Be the One” suicide prevention initiative.

On the final day of the Legion’s 2022 National Convention, newly elected National Commander Vincent J. Troiola said veteran sui cide prevention would be his No. 1 priority. “The American Le gion is asking you to ‘Be the One,’” he said. “And by you, I include every one of us, military and civilian alike. We all need to ‘Be the One’ to begin thinking, talking and acting to save just one life.”

HOW WILL YOU

BE THE ONE?

We want to know how you will ‘Be the One.’ In dividuals and American Legion posts, American Legion Auxiliary units, Sons of The American Legion squadrons and American Legion Riders chapters who are promoting the ‘Be the One’ message and implementing its goals are asked to share with us how you’re doing so. We’ve cre ated a new section on Legion town to share your suicide-prevention stories.

Some of the things Legionnaires or Le gion Family members have already done or planned:

• On Sept. 24 in Hoover, Ala., Ryan Winslow Post 911’s American Legion Riders have scheduled a motorcycle and Jeep ride in north Shelby County to help bring awareness to vet eran suicide. The ride is being called Opera tion S.A.V.E. (Suicide Awareness for Veterans Everywhere). A portion of the proceeds from the ride will go to Vet Force Multiplier, a sui cide prevention and emergency services portal created by the Krulak Marine Alliance of Ala bama. “Suicide is a significant issue for veter

ans,” ALR Chapter 911 Director Barry Nance said in a news release. “We want our brothers and sisters to know there is help.”

• On Sept. 25 in Yelm, Wash., American Legion 164 is hosting Suicide Stand Down 2022. The event will bring together the community and local mental health resources in the mission to combat veteran suicide.

• On its Face book page, SSG Michael W. Hosey Post 205 in Clay, Ala., posted a simple but ef fective message on its page, complete with a photo of the September American Legion Magazine: This month’s front cover on the Legion Magazine is titled “Be The One”! Sep tember is Suicide Prevention Month! I encour age everyone to complete at least one Buddy Check this month! A simple 5 min phone call can change the life of a individual! What im pact are you making in the community???

While this month is focused on suicide preven tion and awareness, the ‘Be the One’ initiative is ongoing. Please help us get the word out to your local communities about this critical issue.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

AMERICAN LEGION

BLUE ANGELS

NAMES FIRST FEMALE F/A-18 PILOT IN SQUADRON’S HISTORY

BY RACHEL NOSTRANT

TThe Blue Angels selected six new officers to join the team for the for the 2023 air show season, including Lt. Amanda Lee, pictured here. (Chief Petty Officer Paul Archer/Navy)

The famed Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, selected their first female F/A-18E/F demo pilot this year following the completion of the Pen sacola Beach Air Show on July 9.

Navy Lt. Amanda Lee was named alongside five other officers as the newest mem bers of the 2023 Show Season for the Blue Angels.

Lee, a native of Mounds View, Minnesota, will join the ranks of countless other women who have served in other capacities with the Blue Angels for the last 55 years, the Navy said in a press release. She will serve the Blue Angels alongside

BLUE ANGELS

three other women currently on the team serving as a flight surgeon, public af fairs officer and event coordinator.

Lee, who is currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 106, also has another notable first attached to her resume. She participated in the first all-female fly over in 2019 as part of the funeral service for retired Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron.

“When I come into the ready room right now, I’m a pilot first, a person second, and my gender really isn’t an issue,” Lee said in a Navy press release at the time. “It’s people like Capt. Mariner that have paved that way for us, so it’s really a huge honor. I’m super humbled to be a part of this flyover in her honor.”

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, selected six new officers to join the team for the for the 2023 air show season. (Chief Petty Officer Paul Archer/ U.S. Navy)

Navy and Marine jet pilots with an aircraft carrier qualification and a minimum of 1,250 tactical jet flight-hours are eligible to fly jets Number 2 through 7, while Number 8 is reserved for a naval flight officer or naval aviator who has finished their first tour.

Marine pilots selected to fly the C-130J Hercules aircraft, affectionately called “Fat Albert,” must be an aircraft commander with at least 1,200 flight hours. There are currently 17 officers serving with the Blue Angels, according to the team’s website.

The new Angels will report to the squadron in September and, after the comple tion of the 2022 show season, will complete an intensive five-month training pro gram at NAS Pensacola and Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, in preparation for next year’s show season.

“We had an overwhelming number of applicants from all over the globe this year,” commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels, Capt. Brian Kes selring said. “We look forward to training our fantastic new team members, pass ing on the torch, and watching the incredible things this team will accomplish in 2023.”

Also selected in addition to Lee were Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilot; Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught, events coordinator; Lt. Cmdr. Greg Jones, maintenance officer; Lt. Philippe Warren, flight surgeon; and Marine Corps Capt. Samuel Petko, C-130 Demonstration Pilot.

“The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professional ism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach while inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country,” the Navy said in the press release.

BOYS NATION 2022

ON CAPITOL HILL

BY ANDY PROFFET

AA year after senators from American Legion Boys Nation and American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation had to meet virtually with their U.S. senators due to pandemic restrictions, the high school seniors were once again in person on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

The annual visit to the offices of the U.S. Senate allows the delegates from Boys Nation and Girls Nation to meet with their senators and their staff to discuss legislation and policy both real world and in the young people’s programs.

“Meeting with the senator was a great experience,” said Holden Fershee of Nebraska after a meeting with Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. “It was great to talk to her and hear what other people from Nebraska have to say about being in Washington, D.C., and working with other people and making legislation.”

His fellow Nebraskan, Vikram Menon, said the meeting “was truly awesome.”

“I feel like the fact that senators are able to take time out of their day to meet with high school students like us truly demonstrates how caring they are, how much they believe in the future of American democracy,” Menon said. A busy day on Capitol Hill meant some Boys Nation senators met with staff members rather than senators them selves. That didn’t bother Georgia’s Jason Eappen and Luke Pullin, who met with one of Democratic Sen. Jon Os soff’s legislative aides.

“It was a truly great meeting, because the staff member really understands Sen. Ossoff’s policies and all the ins and outs, and getting to hear Sen. Ossoff’s stance on all the issues is really inspiring to hear,” Eappen said.

“I already knew most of the senator’s stances on policies, I was more focused really on the job of legislative assistant honestly, and how you get to that job,” said Pullin. “Washington, D.C., is one of my favorite cities in the country, I’d love to live here and work here someday, especially helping out with the legislative body.”

While many of the Boys Nation and Girls Nation senators were making their way to appointments in the Senate offices, others — whose appointments were to meet at the Capitol itself — found themselves witnessing a press conference in which representatives of The American Legion and other veterans service organizations criticized the Senate vote which delayed passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act.

The annual visit to Capitol Hill also gave alumni of the programs the opportunity to see what the next generation is accomplishing.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, spoke with the Boys Nation senators from his state about his experience at Boys Nation in 1985. And Max Hurst, an aide to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., credited his experience at Illinois Boys State for helping lead him to Washington.

“I think the Boys and Girls State programs are so essential because they give young folks real-world, hands-on practice in democracy and learning civics at a young age, and get folks started in the political process and the civ ics process,” Hurst said. “No matter where you go in your career or life, you still hold that Boys and Girls State and Nation experience with you, and use those leadership skills and civics knowledge in your personal life and your communities for the rest of your life.”

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TThe GI Bill is one of the best benefits of being a military member. The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and dependent GI Bill programs help service members, veterans, and families reach their education goals. The articles in this section provide a wealth of information de signed to help you make the most of those educa tional benefits.

GI Bill Programs

There are several programs with the GI Bill. These programs can help you or your dependents pay for college tuition, job training, and other approved train ing. Find out which GI Bill program fits your needs.

USE THE GI BILL

TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is available to take care of any thing education-related. This program will cover your full tuition, school fees, housing, and your books and supplies. Another great part of this benefit is that it can be transferred to family members.

Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill for active duty helps service members and veterans with education and training costs with a monthly benefit payment.

Reserve and Guard Montgomery GI Bill

The MGIB-SR (Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve)

is available for Military Reserve and National Guard service members.

Veterans Readiness and Employment

The GI Bills VR&E Program helps disabled veterans with counseling services, training, education and job placement assistance.

GI Bill Programs for Dependents

GI Bill programs for dependents are available for sur vivors of service members who died in the line of duty or dependents of disabled veterans.

• Dependent GI Bill - The Dependent GI Bill provides education and training benefits to eligible depen dents.

• Fry Scholarship - The Fry Scholarship will pay full tu ition to state colleges and universities for surviving spouses and eligible children of deceased service members.

How to Apply for GI Bill Benefits

1. Apply to a school. Applying for your GI Bill benefits is an easy, straightforward process. Here we’ll give you the necessary steps to apply for the GI Bill and get you moving toward your degree or job train ing.

2. Apply with the VA. Apply to a school that is ap proved for VA benefits. Find schools, employers and testing organizations with the VA School Com parison Tool. Apply for the GI Bill with the VA.

BOYS

CALIFORNIA

David Mendoza of South Gate, Calif. was elected the Governor of 2022 American Legion California Boys State. Mendoza was sworn in by John Perez, the 68th speaker of the California State Assembly, and Sons of The American Legion National Com mander Michael Fox attended the inauguration.

For active duty, you may need approval from your chain-of-command or Educa tion Service Officer (ESO) when applying for the GI Bill. For veterans, you may be required to provide a copy of your DD 214 Discharge Paperwork.

3. Certificate of Eligibility. If the VA determines you are eligible for the GI Bill they will send your “Certificate of Eligibility”. This certificate should be taken to your school that will then enroll you and send your enrollment information to the VA. You can find your Certificate of Eligibility on the benefits website or have it mailed to you directly.

4. Attend Classes. Start attending classes and use your GI Bill benefits.

What Can the GI Bill Be Used For?

Is the GI Bill just for college? Not anymore. Your GI Bill can be used for many different types of education. The VA has developed programs that will help pay for college and other types of training.

Types of Training Available With the GI Bill

• College Degree Programs - GI Bill benefits are available for courses at Four Year Universities, Community Colleges and for Advanced Degree Programs

• Vocational and Technical Training - If college isn’t your thing, the GI Bill can be used for technical or vocational training. The VA refers to this as non-collegedegree training.

• Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training - Looking to get right to work? The VA will pay you GI Bill benefits while receiving On-the-Job training or during an Apprenticeship training program.

• Licensing & Certification Reimbursement - Get reimbursed for licensing and certification tests as well as approved preparatory courses.

• National Testing Programs - Your GI Bill can be used to pay for nationally ap proved tests. The VA will reimburse the cost of the test.

• Flight Training - If you have a private pilot’s license your GI Bill benefits can be used to pay for further flight training.

• Correspondence Training

• Work-study Programs - Looking to learn from home? The GI Bill can help pay for coursework completed at home. If you’re a full-time or ¾-time student you can get paid with a VA work-study allowance.

• Tuition Assistance Top-Up - Need to make up the difference between the cost of your education and Military Tuition Assistance? The GI Bill Tuition As sistance Top-Up can be used to cover that cost.

• Tutorial Assistance - If your courses aren’t going as planned, the GI Bill can help pay for tutoring to get you through a difficult course.

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties”

GRANT

FREE MEDICAL TRIPS FOR CHILDREN

BY CAMERAN RICHARDSON

MMercy Medical Angels of Virginia Beach, Va., was founded in 1972 by four men who provided free transpor tation by airplane to patients for their medical care needs. The organization has since expanded to provide commercial flights, bus and train tickets, gas cards, private pilot flights and transportation for veterans.

“During this last fiscal year of July 2021 through June 2022, Mercy Medical An gels provided a record number of 35,426 free trips on the ground with gas cards, bus and train tickets, and in the air with flights by volunteer pilots and commercial airlines. This is a 28 percent increase over the previous year and demonstrates that the need for assistance continues to increase,” said Gabriella Kubinyi, vet eran outreach specialist for Mercy Medical Angels, to members of The American Legion Americanism Commission on Aug. 27 during the organization’s 103rd Na tional Convention in Milwaukee. “We are able to do this work because of gen erous organizations like The American Legion and the (American Legion) Child Welfare Foundation.”

Mercy Medical Angels applied for and received a $25,000 American Legion CWF grant last fall to assist low-income children and families who need specialized medical care outside of their communities, or who are required to make multiple trips per week for local treatment. Kubinyi shared that with 11 million children in America living in reduced circumstances, “Mercy Medical Angels is led by the guiding principle that access to the best healthcare is a necessary part of an equitably functioning society. The organization looks to provide these charitable transportation services to as many financially in-need children and families as pos sible through its programs and strives to administer compassionate care for those requesting assistance. Without help (from outside organizations), these children may have no other access to healthcare facilities that offer evaluation, diagnosis and/or treatment of life-threatening conditions.”

Kubinyi said that the Child Welfare Foundation grant allowed Mercy Medical An gels to provide 7,235 free trips for children and a caregiver – 5,154 of the trips were for cancer treatment and 494 were for the child of a veteran. “These trips ended with a public benefit in the amount of $858,494.”

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LEGION GRANT

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The grant also allowed Mercy Medical Angels to promote free transportation assistance for children and a caregiver on its social media pages using boosted posts and ads. The ads were viewed 356,149 times, displayed 707,046 times on screens across the country and received 6,931 clicks.

“Thanks to the funding from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, a significant increase in the number of people who now know about our services and can direct those who are in need of transportation for medical care will now be informed about how we can help, and you all made that possible!”

Before closing, Kubinyi shared a story of World War II veteran and Legionnaire John Billings of Virginia who flew 462 flights in his time as a volunteer with Mercy Medical Angels.

Mercy Medical Angels has a program called Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic that is com prised of volunteer pilots who fly patients to the care they need. The volunteer pilots provide their planes, time and money. Billings completed his final flight as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic at the age of 98 years old. A few months later on March 4, 2022, he died. “His last flight was taking a veteran to get care for his post-traumatic stress,” Kubinyi said. “While John Billings’ service is impressive, it’s not unique. He is like millions of veterans who gave of them selves to make our world a better place.”

Billings deployed to Italy in August 1944. He completed 14 combat missions fly ing the B-24 before being assigned to the 885th Heavy Special Bombardment Squadron. “This was no regular bombing unit,” Kubinyi said. “They specialized in top secret, low altitude missions at night in support of the office of strategic services (OSS) and the special operations executive (SOE), both precursors to the Central Intelligence Agency. Their missions included parachuting OSS an SOE agents and supplies behind enemy lines. He completed 39 missions during the war. You all may even be aware of one of the missions he was involved in – Op eration Greenup. It was the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's film ‘Inglorious Bustards.’”

Billings earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and was awarded the Congressio nal Gold Medal for his critical role in OSS missions.

“Millions of veterans have been called to continue their service after active duty,” Kubinyi said looking out to the hundreds of veterans in the room. “There is one amazing tie that binds those who serve in the military – a commitment to service, and not service to oneself, but service to our country and our communities. It’s this commitment to service that you all are a part of with your service here at The American Legion.”

“Saluting

ABOUT THE LEGION RIDERS

AAmerican Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hun dreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veteran’s homes, severely wounded service members and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, es tablished to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.

For the latest in Riders apparel and gear, including patches, go to Legion Rider Merchandise - Emblem Sales.

History

In Garden City, Mich., in 1993, Chuck "Tramp" Dare and Bill "Polka" Kaledas, commander of American Legion Post 396, shared an idea to start a motorcycle enthusiasts association within the organization. The two longtime riders wanted an environment where Legion family members could come together to share a common love for motorcycles.

Dare and Kaledas wrote a letter to Michigan Department Adjutant Hubert Hess, sharing their idea. Hess replied that he liked the concept and wanted to pursue it. Later, he gave Kaledas and Dare instructions for managing the program at the post level. He also explained how they could be approved to use the American Legion emblem, and how to gain Membership's support and recognition. At a regular meeting, Post 396 members passed a reso lution for a new program to be known as the "American Legion Riders."

Joined by 19 other founding members from their post, Dare and Kaledas were flooded with requests for infor mation about their organization. They agreed to establish a central source for the Riders to ensure that chapters formed not as motorcycle clubs or gangs, but as Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SAL members joining to ride as Legion family.

Legion Riders today

Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protest ers. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted mas sive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded service members across the nation.

V.E.T.S.

A THEME AND A VISION

BY VINCENT J. “JIM” TROIOLA, NATIONAL COMMANDER

TThe sleeve of The American Legion 2022-2023 member ship shirt includes a familiar word: V.E.T.S.

It isn’t just a description of who we are. When used as an acronym, it is my theme for the year and a recipe for operating a successful American Legion post.

Through this concept, those who served (Veterans), will train (Education) Legionnaires about our advocacy, programs and re markable history. We will work together (Teamwork) to grow and accomplish great things, as we mentor (Sponsor) the next genera tion of Legionnaires.

Programs that enjoy the greatest success are rarely the result of one person’s efforts. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act was not passed because of any one of us. It was passed because thousands of Legion naires contacted their representatives and senators before key votes.

An informed Legionnaire is a more effective Legionnaire. By working as a knowledgeable team and preparing our successors to improve on our accomplishments and innovate for future achievements, we can bequeath an even stronger American Legion than we inherited.

This vision only works with a strong membership base. I will proudly send any post that achieves a 90 percent re tention rate this year a pin, which includes my V.E.T.S. theme. Those that achieve 95 percent will receive a V.E.T.S. coin. Membership-Excellence pins will go to posts that recruit five members from expired rosters.

I will also be signing national commander’s license plates for posts that achieve the “excellence” designation. Finally, departments will receive numbered V.E.T.S. coins to be given to Legionnaires of their choice who have gone above and beyond for membership.

Our membership demographics are shifting. This is a welcome development. The American Legion has always believed that a veteran is a veteran, but at the same time we cannot ignore the fact that one size does not fit all. Diversity means that tastes differ when it comes to entertainment, food and activities. The needs and priorities of a 20-year-old female veteran might be very different than what is important to her 75-year-old male counterpart. As far as this national commander is concerned, you are all to be equally valued.

Veterans Strengthening America, Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola National Commander

OPERATION HOME FRONT

BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

DDavid Graham and I discussed the importance of honoring the Operation Home front mission of providing school supplies to military families, especially families registered to receive the dona tions. David suggested donations be offered to NAS Lemoore and Edwards Air Force Base who is registered to receive the supplies.

In keeping with previous practices, ALA members Brenda Preston and Shirley Park coordinated and supervised the distribution of approximately 1,000 school supplies last week to local teachers and CAPK. I’m certain the teachers were overjoyed with these donations.

The total supplies accounted for were 1,608 or approximately $2,185 in merchandise donated by our commu nity for military families

Special recognition goes to ALA Unit 26 members Amy Watkins, Taylor Watkins, Brenda Preston, and Shirley Park, the staff at Dollar Tree, and our community for working together to collect more than 1,600 school sup plies for military families.

In the spirit of Service Not Self,

Sherry Core President, Unit 26, District 15 Auxiliary, Dept. of California

PACT ACT

LEGIONNAIRES

TThe American Legion’s National Legislative Division serves as the principal advocate of service mem bers, veterans and their families on Capitol Hill where they are responsible for promoting the organiza tion’s positions and priorities to Congress. Doing so, they provide members of Congress and their pro fessional staff with valuable information and expertise, which has defined The American Legion as an institutional authority in the veteran community.

On the National Legislative Division’s Legislative Center page, Legionnaires are able to access legislative testi mony that has been delivered to Congress and the organization’s legislative agenda. Additionally, there are useful resources including the Legislative Action Center, congressional contact report forms and an advocacy toolkit.

"Grassroots advocacy by Legionnaires to pass legislation that supports the military and veteran community is at the core of what we do as an organization,” said American Legion Legislative Director Lawrence Montreuil. “I'd encourage all members to visit our legislative advocacy center and sign up for advocacy alerts as well as our week ly legislative newsletters so they can keep abreast of legislation that impacts our veterans and service members."

In the lead up to the vote on the historic PACT Act, Legionnaires used these grassroots resources to send more than 34,000 messages to members of Congress, urging them to pass the legislation. The PACT Act was signed into law on Aug. 10.

PACT ACT CLEARS

FINAL HURDLE TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

BY MACKENZIE WOLF

Dillard pointed out that the Legion’s grassroots advocacy helped ensure the bill’s approval.

“It would not have passed without the tireless efforts of our American Legion Family and friends who contacted lawmakers and encouraged them to do right by America’s veterans. We look forward to President Biden signing the PACT Act expeditiously.”

The bill was previously passed in both the House and Senate before it received technical corrections and went to a procedural vote in the Senate on July 27. The 55-42 vote failed to meet the 60 votes necessary to advance the legislation when 25 senators who previously voted in favor of the bill flipped their votes citing new found concerns with the legislation.

The PACT Act addresses the full spectrum of issues affecting toxic-exposed veter ans’ access to VA benefits and care, while also reforming VA’s presumptive deci sion-making process.

TThe U.S. Senate issued its final vote on the historic Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, ensuring millions of veterans exposed to noxious fumes emanating from burn pits will have access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits.

The American Legion-supported legislation passed by a vote of 86-11.

“Tonight, the U.S. Senate passed historic legislation that will make a difference in the lives of millions of veterans,” American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard said. “After some unusual delays for a bill that is largely identical to what passed on June 16, a bipartisan majority of senators voted in favor of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. This act will save lives and of fer health care and benefits for those exposed to the poisons of war while serving our country.”

The sweeping legislation provides a comprehensive framework to improve the presumptive process for burn pit veterans by streamlining access to health-care benefits for those who served in areas of known toxic exposure — regardless of disability status — and provides health care for as many as 3.5 million veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits.

Toxic smoke and fumes from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan included medical and human waste, jet fuel, chemicals, metal, munitions and unexploded ordnance, petroleum and lubricant products, plastics, Styrofoam and more.

The bill is named after Army National Guard Sgt. Heath Robinson. After deploying to Kosovo and Iraq as a combat medic with the Ohio National Guard, Robinson was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder and stage 4 lung cancer. He died in May 2020, leaving behind his wife and daughter, Brielle. The legislation is ex pected to be signed into law by President Biden in the coming days.

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties”

IT IS A SYSTEM WORTH SAVING

But that changed on July 11 when a week-long visit was held in Columbia, S.C. The event kicked off with a town hall meeting at American Legion Post 130 in Cayce, just outside Columbia. About 35 veterans, Co lumbia VA Medical Center staff and others engaged in a cordial conversation, identifying positive aspects of care and issues that need addressing.

Similar site visits are planned later this year, including the next one in Puerto Rico in September, followed by Sacramento, Calif., in October and the Bronx, N.Y., in December.

The success of the Columbia visit is a strong indicator that SWS is back and ready to carry on its rich tradition of improving health care for veterans. Perhaps Ralph Bozella, chairman of The American Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission, said it best at the town hall.

WWe have so many life-enhancing programs; it’s sometimes challenging to keep up with all of them. That’s especially true for ones that are sidelined, even temporarily, through no fault of their own.

Case in point: Our System worth saving program, which until last week had been on pause for more than two years due to safety concerns with the pandemic.

Since 2003, The American Legion has conducted hundreds of these on-site visits to assess the care vet

erans are receiving at their VA medical centers, work with VA staff on solutions to issues that arise and help identify best practices that can be shared across VA.

In those nearly two decades, we’ve improved com munications between veterans and medical staff, helped improve the quality of care and spearheaded numerous other enhancements.

It should be noted that during the pandemic, our Vet erans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission members and staff worked hard to continue these improve ments. They just were not able to do so on site.

“We’re going to talk to each other, we’re going to identify the problems and we’re going to work togeth er to fix the problems,” he said. “It has to be us that make the change, and its constant work. That’s who we are as The American Legion. It’s in our DNA. We’re here to help veterans.”

And that is because we are … Veterans Strengthening America.

Paul E. Dillard National Commander The American Legion

TThe VA administers the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) national network. Veterans currently reach the VCL by calling the 10-digit Lifeline phone number, 800-273-8255, and then pressing 1 to be Connected to re sponders trained to understand the unique needs and challenges of veterans.

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, signed into law in 2020, autho rized 988 as The new three-digit number for the Lifeline. All telephone ser vice providers in the U.S. must activate 988 no later than July 16, 2022. Once a Veteran’s telephone service provider makes 988 available, Veterans will be able to reach the VCL by dialing 988 and then dialing 1. Dial 988 then Press 1.

Kern & Tulare

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties”

BACK TO THE FUTURE

FOR NATO

BY ALAN W. DOWD

NNATO has unveiled a new Strategic Concept – a kind of mission state ment for the 30-member alliance (soon to be 32-member alliance). The 2022 Strategic Concept is the first overhaul of NATO’s mission state ment in a dozen years. Tellingly, the document has much more in com mon with NATO’s posture during its first four decades than that of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Yesterday NATO has relied on Strategic Concepts to guide alliance operations and deployments – and signal alliance adversaries – since it’s founding in 1949. Strategic Concepts have evolved as times and threats change, but all are premised on deter ring war. As Lord Hastings Ismay, NATO’s first secretary-general, explained, “The paramount, the permanent, the all-absorbing business of NATO is to avoid war.”

NATO’s first Strategic Concept (1949) focused on developing “a maximum of strength through collective defense planning,” bringing together forces capable of “preventing war” and ensuring “the effective application of the military and in dustrial strength of the treaty nations in a common defense.” Toward that end, it steered the alliance toward fielding capabilities to “counter … enemy offensives against North Atlantic Treaty powers by all means available,” to “secure and control sea and air lines of communication,” and to “unite the strength of the North Atlan tic Treaty nations in order to promote the preservation of peace.”

NATO’s second Strategic Concept (1952) aimed “to convince the USSR that war does not pay … to oppose, by all measures short of war, any peacetime attempts by the USSR or her satellites to increase their threat” against NATO members, “to achieve and maintain technical superiority … to provide mutual assistance” across the alliance, to accelerate the “standardization of equipment and coordination of production,” and to promote the “interchange of planning, intelligence and techni cal information.”

The third Strategic Concept (1957) called on each NATO member to “develop its military strength to the maximum extent … in harmony with the primary importance of protecting the NATO area, provide for its own defense and, where applicable, its defense commitments elsewhere.” The document added, “In order to preserve peace and security in the NATO area, it is essential that … hostile Soviet influence in non-NATO regions is countered.”

NATO issued its fourth Strategic Concept in 1966, calling for deterrence “by con fronting any possible, threatened or actual aggression, ranging from covert opera tions to all-out nuclear war.” Warsaw Pact members, NATO declared, “must not be given any reason to think that they could gain their objectives by the threat or use of military force against any part of the North Atlantic Treaty area.” The

(Continued on Page 31)

document also trumpeted the concept of “forward defense” and warned of “major aggression, possibly supported by tactical nuclear and chemical weapons,” as well as “limited aggression … against an individual NATO country.”

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and retreat of the Soviet Empire, the 1991 Strategic Concept hailed a “radically improved … security environment” – and understand ably so. The document pointed to the regained sover eignty of the USSR's former vassals in Eastern Europe, the independence of the Baltic’s, the withdrawal of So viet forces from Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and the reunification of Germany. “General war in Europe has become highly unlikely,” the document cheered. “The threat of a simultaneous, full-scale attack on all of NA TO's European fronts has effectively been removed.” NATO’s commitment to deterrence and its all-for-one Article V obligations remained, but there was a dra matic shift away from “the concept of forward defense towards a reduced forward presence.

The 1999 Strategic Concept committed the alliance to stability in the Balkans, “peace support operations,” “cooperation and dialogue … with Russia,” “extend ing stability” into Eastern Europe, pursuing “common interest, reciprocity and transparency” with Russia, and building “a lasting and inclusive peace in the Euro-At lantic area based on the principles of democracy and cooperative security.”

Even in the 2010 Strategic Concept – drafted after Russia’s invasion of NATO aspirant Georgia – NATO leaders clung to hopes of “a true strategic partner ship between NATO and Russia” and “practical coop eration with Russia.” The document declared that the “threat of a conventional attack against NATO territory is low.” And it made no mention of the Arctic, the In do-Pacific, China or the threat posed by the emerging China-Russia entente.

Today that brings us to the 2022 Strategic Concept. What’s most striking and revealing is how little it has in

common with the 1991, 1999 and 2010 documents, how much it echoes Cold War-era Strategic Concepts, and how much the world has changed – or more ac curately, changed back.

Noting that the Russian Federation’s war of aggres sion against Ukraine “has shattered peace and gravely altered our security environment,” the new Strategic Concept explains that NATO faces an era of “strate gic competition” and “pervasive instability.” The doc ument labels Putin’s Russia a “direct threat to allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlan tic.” It confirms what some of us have warned for the better part of two decades – that “we cannot consider the Russian Federation to be our partner.” And like the 1966 document, the text warns that NATO “can not discount the possibility of an attack.”

Echoing the 1949 Strategic Concept, the new Strate gic Concept commits the allies to “enhance the col lective readiness, responsiveness, deploy ability, inte gration and interoperability of our forces.”

The new Strategic Concept vows to “deter and de fend forward with robust in-place, multi-domain, com bat-ready forces, enhanced command and control arrangements, prepositioned ammunition and equip ment, and improved capacity and infrastructure to rapidly reinforce any ally.” Here, the alliance borrows from the 1952 Strategic Concept’s commitment to en hance the quality and quantity of weapons systems NATO-wide, as well as the 1966 document’s commit ment to “forward defense.”

To enhance NATO’s deterrent posture, the new Stra tegic Concept directs allies to “increase the alignment of national and NATO defense plans … strengthen and modernize the NATO force structure … (and) enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deploy ability, integration and interoperability of our forces.” NATO’s leaders warn, “No one should doubt our strength and resolve to defend every inch of allied territory.” In this, the alliance is repeating the 1966

Strategic Concept’s warning against Moscow gam bling with “the threat or use of military force against any part of the North Atlantic Treaty area.”

The new Strategic Concept recognizes that the threats to NATO are not confined to Europe – and that the Kremlin is not the sole source of threats.

“Cyberspace is contested at all times,” the 2022 strat egy declares. The document warns that malign actors “seek to degrade our critical infrastructure, interfere with our government services, extract intelligence, steal intellectual property and impede our military ac tivities.”

The document adds that hostile regimes “are invest ing in technologies that could restrict our access and freedom to operate in space, degrade our space ca pabilities, target our civilian and military infrastructure, impair our defense, and harm our security.”

The Strategic Concept labels Russia’s actions in the Arctic “a strategic challenge” and raises alarms over Russia’s “capability to disrupt allied reinforcements and freedom of navigation across the North Atlantic.”

Half a world away, the PRC is identified – for the first time ever in a NATO Strategic Concept – as a threat.

The PRC’s “ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values,” the Strategic Con cept declares. Like the 1957 document’s linkage of security in the NATO footprint with threats from nonNATO regions, the 2022 Strategic Concept calls on NATO allies to contribute to Indo-Pacific security, to “stand up for our shared values and the rules-based international order, including freedom of navigation,” and to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation with new and existing partners in the Indo-Pacific to tackle cross-regional challenges.”

The document calls out Beijing’s “malicious hybrid and cyber operations … confrontational rhetoric and disinformation” against NATO members. It condemns

“Saluting

AVOIDING SCAMMERS

WHO CLAIM TO BE IRS AGENTS

IIn July, the In ternal Revenue Service (IRS) pub lished Fact Sheet 2022-33. This publication is designed to assist taxpayers in know ing whether an individual who contacts them is from the IRS or is a fraudster.

The IRS is concerned be cause there are continuing phone, text, email and inperson scams taking place. The agency emphasizes that it normally sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer and generally does not initiate contact through phone, text or email.

With a growing number of fraudsters and scammers seeking to locate victims, it is important for individuals to be able to separate legitimate IRS staff from im posters. All taxpayers should understand basic ways to protect themselves from fraudulent text messages, emails, phone contacts or in-person visits.

Text Messages: The IRS does not send text messages to individuals with short ened links. The scammers will frequently send a text message that includes a bogus link. If you receive an unexpected text, you should not click on links or open attachments. If you do receive a suspicious text message, you should send a screen shot of it as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov.

Email Scams: The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information with an initial contact by email. The standard IRS contact will be through several letters by regular mail. The suspicious email should also be forwarded to phishing@irs. gov. There is a "Report Phishing and Online Scams" page on IRS.gov with specific instructions.

Individuals Who Owe Tax: If you owe tax to the IRS, you can expect to receive sev eral letters prior to a phone call. The IRS may follow up the letters with a phone

call if you have an overdue tax bill, a delinquent tax return or have failed to make an unemployment tax deposit. The IRS emphasizes it will not demand immediate payment with a debit card or gift card, will not threaten you with arrest by the lo cal police, will not demand tax payments without giving you an opportunity to ap peal the claim, and will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. These strategies all indicate you are talking with a scammer.

IRS Agent In-Person Visits: Generally, IRS officers only make visits after you have received several notices by mail. An IRS revenue agent may make a visit for the purpose of education, investigation and appropriate enforcement steps. IRS au ditors may also mail an initial appointment letter, and generally will call and con firm the date prior to a scheduled audit appointment. If you have an in-person visit with an IRS representative, you should always ask for their credentials and HSPD-12 card. This is a standard government form of identification.

Resolving Tax Issues: On IRS.gov, there are several helpful sections that may assist taxpayers in creating payment plans. You can pay taxes through the Online Ac count with IRS Direct Pay, or with your debit or credit card. There are individuals who may qualify for a payment plan or an Offer in Compromise. The IRS again emphasizes it will not demand immediate payment, will not ask for credit or debit card numbers, will not threaten to have you arrested by local police and will al ways offer an opportunity to appeal. An IRS appeals officer may review your case prior to any further action.

Fraudsters and scammers continue to become more sophisticated. Many of them build a relationship with the victim through multiple emails or phone calls prior to taking action to complete a fraud. Individuals should be careful if they are in the midst of multiple contacts with a fraudster or scammer who claims to be from the IRS.

Money you save protecting it from scammers can be used for the future. The American Legion’s Planned Giving program is a way of establishing your legacy of support for the organization while providing for your current financial needs. Learn more about the process, and the variety of charitable programs you can benefit, at legion.org/plannedgiving.

“Saluting Kern &

BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR NATO (Continued from Page 31)

Beijing’s efforts “to subvert the rules-based international order” and declares that “the deepening strategic partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut the rules-based international order run counter to our values and interests.”

Actions NATO is backing up its words with actions.

Alliance leaders are massively expanding the NATO Response Force from 40,000 troops to 300,000.

Similarly, NATO is creating a new quick-response cyber defense unit. The Strategic Concept puts NATO’s adversaries on notice that a “single or cumulative set of mali cious cyber activities … could reach the level of armed attack and could lead the North Atlantic Council to invoke Article V.”

NATO is fielding four new battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slova kia. These battle groups are in addition to existing battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which were formed after Russia’s 2014 assault on Ukraine.

As the White House details, the United States is standing up a permanent V Corps Headquarters Forward Command in Poland; basing a Brigade Combat Team in Romania; deploying armored, aviation, air-defense and special-operations forces across the Baltic’s; stationing additional warships in Spain; and basing two F-35 squadrons in Britain. With 102,000 troops now in the European theater, U.S. troop strength in NATO Europe has increased 30% since late 2021.

These back-to-the-future policies represent a complete reversal of Washington’s shortsighted decisions between 2011 and 2013 to withdraw all of America’s heavy armor from Europe, deactivate the Navy’s North Atlantic-focused 2nd Fleet and shutter the Army’s Germany-based V Corps.

The United States is not alone in bolstering NATO’s deterrent capabilities along the eastern flank. Britain, France and Denmark have sent troops to Estonia. Canada, Czech Republic, Albania, Iceland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Montenegro, Slovenia and Slovakia have sent troops to Latvia. Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Iceland, Netherlands and Luxembourg have sent troops to Lithuania. Britain, Romania and Croatia have sent troops to Poland. Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Luxem bourg and Slovenia have sent troops to Slovakia. France, Italy, Belgium, Poland and Luxembourg have sent troops to Romania. Dutch and Spanish warplanes have de ployed to Bulgaria.

Germany is nearly doubling defense spending. Poland’s defense budget will jump to 3% of GDP by next year. Latvia is increasing defense spending by 13% this year. The Netherlands, Norway and Romania are increasing defense spending significantly. Finally, Finland and Sweden are adding their formidable military capabilities, tech nological prowess and optimal geographic placement to the alliance – significantly enhancing NATO’s strategic depth and deterrent posture in the Baltic’s and the Arctic.

“We put ourselves, by our own will and by necessity, into defensive alliances with countries all around the globe,” President Kennedy once declared. With Pearl Har bor, Normandy, Okinawa and Iwo Jima still fresh in their memory, his generation understood that alliances like NATO defend American interests and deter greatpower war.

New generations of Americans – and Europeans – are relearning this enduring truth.

HIRING OUR HEROES

AAdam Rocke and Mark Toal have worked hundreds of career fairs. And yet, their passion for connecting military personnel, veterans and their spouses with employers that are not only “veteran-friendly” but “veteran-ready” shows no sign of fatigue, despite the twists in the hiring economy. They always keep in mind why they are doing this, and for whom.

“When I look around, after 34 years in the Army, I realize that these are the folks who served to the left and right of me in combat,” says Rocke, a senior director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program, which conducted a job fair Thursday in Milwaukee as part of the 103rd American Legion National Convention. “They raised their right hand and said, ‘Hey, send me.’ They deserve these opportunities. That’s where the passion comes.”

Toal, strategic outreach director in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Em ployment and Training Service says many of the same companies return over and over to Hiring Our Heroes fairs because they understand the art and science of converting a military occupational specialty into a rewarding civilian career. “I be lieve employers are here because they recognize that hiring a veteran is not only the right thing to do, it’s a good business decision,” says Toal, who spent 28 years in the Marine Corps. “They recognize the talent a veteran will bring to their orga nization. That’s why they are here.”

“They wouldn’t be here if they were not a veteran-friendly, veteran-ready compa ny,” adds Rocke, a Paid Up for Life Member of American Legion Post 176 in Spring

(Continued on Page 35)

HIRING OUR HEROES (Continued from Page 34)

field, Va. “They came with opportunities. There are thousands of opportunities in this room, and there are about 100 job seekers here.” He encouraged participants to visit every employer because the right fit may not be the first one assumed. “There are no wrong doors here.”

Employers who regularly participate in Hiring Our Heroes events typically put the candidate first, regardless if it’s for a job with their particular company or another. “The employers that we bring are like-minded employers that have the same val ues that we had in the military,” Rocke says. “Most of these folks who are hiring are veterans themselves and understand what the transition is like and want to help. They are not here for pity, though. They are here to give you a job because you earned the job.”

But, he explained, “if there’s not a fit for one of these companies, they know the other companies that come here, and they are not afraid to walk you across the floor to the other company to make that introduction. What they want is what’s best for the service member, the veteran and the military spouse. Yes, at the end of the day, they do want to hire talent. But the most important thing to them is the mission of putting the veteran talent to work in the right place for a meaningful career.”

That is what active-duty Marine Corps officer Ivan Lawing was hoping he would get from the career fair. Imminent retirement from the Marines means a whole new world awaits, one in which the former communications officer will have to translate his military training and experience into the civilian marketplace. “That’s the chal lenge,” he said of the shift. “It’s overwhelming.”

American Legion/Hiring Our Heroes career fairs aim to put jobhunters at ease be cause the interactions are usually veteran-to-veteran. “The talent pool – the level of talent that they are able to find from military veterans – is why they keep coming back,” Lawing says of the employers he met. “As a jobseeker, it’s easier to talk to them because they seem to be more experienced with the communications, the dialog, the narrative on both sides. And that creates a bridge to the civilian job market and the military that otherwise wouldn’t be there.”

At a time of relatively low unemployment nationwide – and high hiring demand in multiple career paths – the key objective for military-affiliated candidates is making the right decision. “There is a war on talent,” Rocke says. “There are more jobs than there are people to fill those jobs … probably 2.5 open positions for every body looking for a job, so there is no reason someone shouldn’t find a job if they have the right skills, education, credentialing and skill sets for that job.”

One career field clearly represented was veterans support. The Department of Vet erans Affairs, which has long faced a serious shortage of nurses, is also now ex pected to need to hire more employees to process and adjudicate disability claims applications since the PACT Act was signed in August, expanding toxic-exposure care and benefits to more than 3.5 million additional veterans.

Coast Guard veteran Alicia Prindle staffed a table for the Veterans Health Admin istration. A VA employee for the last three years, she says she loves her job as a

“Saluting

PHOTOS FROM

DISTRICT MEETING

veteran helping others who served. “It is very fulfilling because I get to work toward that mission every day, to support our veterans.”

While the employment impact of the PACT Act remains to be seen, she says, “We’re always looking for nurses. We’re looking for medical support assistants. We’re looking for housekeeping aides. We’re looking for police officers. We’re looking for admin support. A lot of things.”

American Legion Department of Wisconsin Deputy Veterans Service Officer Matt Seidl, an Army veteran of the fighting in Iraq between 2004 and 2008, says he had planned to make a career in the service. “I thought I was going to be a lifer,” he says. “I got blown up nine times, got injured, got out … and didn’t know what the heck to do. I stumbled into this field and love helping fellow veterans get the benefits that they deserve. If you can’t be it, you can at least help the ones you did serve with. That means a lot to me.”

Skilled trades and apprenticeships were also well-represented at the career fair, an area of high opportunity in the current economy. “I really believe that ap prenticeship is a proven way to get good-paying careers … family-sustaining jobs,” Toal says. “Right now, for an apprenticeship graduate, the average salary is $77,000.”

The “earn-while-you-learn model,” he adds, “leads into good-paying jobs and careers … whether it’s an I.T. credential, whether it’s as a mechanic, whether it’s a commercial driver’s license, or whether it’s an iron worker in the traditional blue-

collar, white-collar or in the new-collar trades in the I.T. world.”

Fifty-nine-year-old Marine veteran Reginald Jones of Milwaukee had two goals in coming to the event. “One, for the camaraderie and two, I need to make some career changes. I’ve had a few injuries, resulting from a fall on the ice last winter. Things are changing.”

A longtime longshoreman with the Port of Milwaukee, he is looking for a job not so seasonal and less physically demanding. “I really enjoy logistics – getting ma terial from here to there,” he explains. “The Marine Corps gave me exceptional training to do what I am doing now.”

As for the Marine officer soon to retire: “I’m just trying to get my name out there and see if anybody will give me a chance.”

The American Legion, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Department of La bor are doing all they can to find “veteran-ready” employers who can help can didates not only find jobs, but the right jobs for them, whether it’s in business management, health care, logistics, or gummy Gold Bears.

“We all appreciate what the Education and Employment Commission does and what the nation’s largest veteran’s service organization does for our veterans and their families,” Toal says. “And I know that the American people certainly recognize and appreciate it.”

“Saluting Kern

LIVING WILLS AND ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

AAs you approach end-of-life decisions, several steps should be taken to make sure you receive the right type and level of care. To assist you in these decisions, most states now permit either an advance directive or a living will. Some seriously ill people also have a doctor sign a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). These documents are designed to assist your family and doctors in making decisions according to your preferences.

Senior Medical Planning There are three important background areas you should learn about before entering into senior medical care. These are the medical oath and principles of your care providers, the rules created by Congress to ensure your medical information is protected, and the decisions by your state on the specific document you use to convey your wishes.

Doctors will frequently follow a set of principles that were originally called the Hippocratic Oath. The first oath was written by Hippocrates, a Greek doctor who is considered the father of modern medicine. A modern version of the Hippo cratic Oath typically states, "To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients." Following this principle, your doctor will attempt to restore you to good health.

Because of modern improvements in medicine, it is possible to prolong your life through the use of ventilators, intravenous feeding and other devices. While you certainly want your doctors and nurses to provide very good care, you may also need to offer some guidance on how extensively your family and doctors should use modern technology to prolong your life.

A second major area for you to understand is called HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed by Congress in 1996. It is designed to provide protection for you, and to keep your health information private.

Under HIPAA rules, you have the right to see your health records, but you must give written permission before your records are released to other individuals. The information provided by doctors or nurses about your care, medications or other personal information is protected. However, you will want to be certain that your designated health-care proxy (the person who will assist in making health-care decisions) has the right to review these records. You should sign a HIPAA release form in order to enable your advisers to give proper recommendations to your doctors and nurses.

Finally, you must understand the specific documents of your state. Some states use an advance directive in which you choose a combination of a durable power of attorney for health care and a living will. Other states have separate docu ments. It is very important that you use the appropriate document tailored for the laws of your state.

The Advance Directive Your first key adviser is the person who will make your

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LIVING WILLS AND ADVANCE DIRECTIVES (Continued from Page 38)

medical decisions if you are incapacitated. This individual is frequently called the health-care proxy. They are your agent and hold your durable power of attorney for health care. Normally, you will select primary and secondary people as your healthcare proxy agents.

You will want to list the people, their addresses and phone numbers so they can be easily contacted. Your secondary health-care proxy will assume the primary role if the first person is unable or unwilling to serve.

Part of your advance directive will also explain the level of authority you have given. Your health-care proxy usually does not have the authority to make decisions un less, in the view of your doctor, you are no longer able to make decisions yourself. However, many forms allow you to sign and empower that person immediately. The authority of your health-care proxy may also extend after you pass away so that they can make appropriate decisions at that time.

Your health-care proxy may be called upon to make significant decisions for your care. For example, it may be necessary to decide whether or not to use morphine or other types of pain medication. If the decision is to make use of morphine, then a second decision will be made on the use of a low or a high dose. With a lower dose of morphine or other types of pain medication, you may have greater clarity of mind but may be less comfortable. If you receive higher doses of medication, you may not be as clear-headed, even though you are at a higher comfort level. These decisions can only be made based on your condition at a given time, but they do directly impact the quality of your life in that circumstance.

A health-care proxy may also be called upon to make very significant decisions about the hospital, nursing home or other care facility, and the level of treatment. For example, some seniors have suffered broken hips or limbs at a time when their demise was near. A health-care proxy will need to make decisions about the ap propriate level of care or treatment under those circumstances.

A second section of an advance directive allows you to give counsel on the level of measures and technology that will be used to prolong your life. If you have an incurable or irreversible condition that will result in your death within a relatively short time, there are medical devices that can significantly prolong your life.

These are sometimes referred to as "heroic measures." If you desire all reason able measures to be taken, you can generally request that care. If you do so, your life may be extended to the greatest extent possible under "generally accepted health-care standards."

Your health-care guidelines expressed in your advance directive will discuss your preferred level of nutrition and hydration. If you prefer to receive nutrition and hy dration through intravenous methods, you may specifically request those options. It is helpful for medical providers to have some level of direction for your pain man agement. If you prefer a higher level of pain management even though that gives you less clarity of thought, you may so indicate.

A third, fairly typical section of the advance directive covers donation of organs and designation of your primary doctor. If you would like to donate specific or gans or designate specific purposes for the use of your body, you may identify the particular organs or discuss purposes. Common purposes include transplantation, therapy, research and education.

LIVING WILLS AND ADVANCE DIRECTIVES (Continued from Page 39)

Advance directives and living wills may, under state law, be witnessed in a manner similar to the witnessing of your will. Some states require two witnesses or a notary to witness your advance directive. Check with your state law to make certain you have complied with those requirements. A helpful website with state law require ments is caringinfo.org. It is maintained by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and seeks to improve care at the end of life.

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) A Physician Order for LifeSustaining Treatment is a medical order signed by your doctor or a medical staff person as authorized under your state law. While the name and provisions may be different in some states, the POLST option is generally available nationwide. If you have a serious illness or may pass away within one year, you may want to ask your doctor to sign this medical order.

The POLST typically covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), medical inter ventions and nutrition. You may choose to have CPR or select "Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)." Your medical interventions may include full treatment to prolong your life, selective treatment that avoids burdensome procedures, or comfort-focused treatment. Nutrition can be maintained long-term with feeding tubes, for a trial period, or you may select no artificial means of nutrition.

All of these decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor. Both your doctor and you or your health-care proxy must sign the POLST. Your POLST may reflect your values, religious beliefs and goals for care.

Even if you have a POLST signed by your health-care provider, you still need an advance directive. The advance directive appoints your health-care proxy (prima ry and secondary) and covers many medical circumstances not covered by the POLST. Everyone should sign an advance directive, while those who are seriously ill may benefit from a POLST.

Action Steps After completing your living will or advance directive, you will sign and typically have witnesses for your original document. Prepare several copies of your advance directive. You will want to give a copy to your health-care agent, your family, clergy, your doctors and other advisers who may be involved in assist ing with your medical decisions.

You may revoke the living will or advance directive at any time. It generally is best to revoke the entire document and complete a new document. If you attempt to amend different parts of the advance directive, there is a risk that you may sign provisions that conflict or are inconsistent. If you are in need of urgent care or treatment, you do not want any conflicting provisions in your living will or advance directive.

Your living will or advance directive is a very important part of your personal plan ning. It is designed to help you receive the best possible care at the end of your life and still comply to the greatest extent with your personal health-care prefer ences.

While you’re considering future health-care options, perhaps consider future fi nancial options too. The American Legion’s Planned Giving program is a way of establishing your legacy of support for the organization while providing for your current financial needs. Learn more about the process, and the variety of chari table programs you can benefit, at legion.org/plannedgiving

“Saluting

VA INSPECTOR GENERAL

HIGHLIGHTS AGENCY FAILURES OVER BURN PIT CLAIMS

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proximity

The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday released two reports showing serious department failures in processing and examining claims connected to burn pits.

Burn pits are outdoor waste disposal grounds, usually dug into the earth, in which its operators dump waste and burn it. The U.S. military commonly uses burn pits at its installations abroad. Use of such facilities may expose personnel to airborne hazards and toxins from burning waste, as well as the flames themselves. Roughly 3.5 million U.S. veterans since 1990 have served in areas that put them in proxim ity to burn pits, according to the OIG.

The first report dealt with the Veterans Health Administration and its registry exam process for evaluating burn pit-related claims, which the inspector general deemed unsatisfactory.

It "found many veterans did not complete the 140-item questionnaire, which is not clear and veteran-centric," per an official summary of the report. "Veterans also did not always realize they were responsible for scheduling their own ex ams."

The watchdog recommended "revising the questionnaire to be more veterancentric, identifying whether veterans with unscheduled exams are still interested in one, and implementing processes and metrics to ensure exams are complet ed." It also recommended the authoring of procedural guidance relevant to burn pits.

The second report dealt with the Veterans Benefits Administration and its com pensation grants to servicemen who develop health afflictions connected to burn pits.

VBA processes appear to have performed marginally better, but the OIG still recommended a significant overhaul. "Though VBA staff nearly always made the correct decision in granting compensation for conditions identified as burn pitrelated, the OIG found most denials were premature," the report summary reads. It recommended "correcting four errors involving improperly granted conditions, and reviewing denied cases, correcting errors they identify, and certifying that corrections were made." It further advised the VBA to update its procedures manual and training procedures related to burn pit claims.

The issue of burn pits has attracted national attention as the nation struggles to help its injured veterans from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. With overwhelm ing bipartisan support, the Senate in June passed the Honoring Our PACT Act to aid veterans who developed afflictions from burn pit exposure.

DISTRICT 15 PHOTOS

LEGION

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN LEGION AND OUR VETERANS

ONE YEAR LATER

US TO AWARD COMMENDATIONS TO MILITARY UNITS INVOLVED IN AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

All military units involved in the withdrawal and evacuation missions from Afghanistan last year will be awarded the Meritorious Unit Com mendation or its equivalent, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday.

A

Austin is also directing all military branches to perform an “expedited review” of all units staged at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the height of evacu ation efforts from Aug. 15-30, 2021, “to identify those units or individuals that meet the high standards of the Presidential Unit Citation or appropriate individual awards,” according to the Pentagon.

The announcement came one year after the evacuation mission from Kabul ended Aug. 30, 2021. The U.S. and its allies flew about 124,000 Afghans and Americans out of the country but left behind thousands of Afghans and American civilians who wanted to escape the Taliban which seized power Aug. 15, 2021.

Thirteen U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport believed carried out by an Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State, or ISIS, four days before the mission was completed.

“No other military could have protected so many lives under such challenging circumstances in such a short amount of time — not just because of our airlift or our logistics capabilities, but most of all because of the immense compas sion, skill, and dedication of American service members,” the Pentagon said in its statement.

Units involved in the resettlement of Afghan allies in the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome will also receive the Meritorious Unit Commendations, according to the statement.

“Since World War II, the nation has recognized the extraordinary heroism of mili tary units in action against an armed enemy with the Presidential Unit Citation,” Austin said. “President [Joe Biden] directed these actions after consultation with me and with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

Austin said the awards represent “the gratitude and love of our nation” for ser vice members’ actions during the withdrawal.

“No words can properly honor the deeds we recognize with these awards,” Aus tin said. “I hope these awards serve as a reminder to each and every service mem ber who wears them of the lives they helped save and the thanks of the nation and Department of Defense they serve so well.”

RECEIVES A CHECK

HOUSE DEFUNDS VA HOSPITAL

CLOSURE COMMISSION IN BUDGET PLAN

HHouse lawmakers approved plans for a $300-billion plus Veterans Af fairs budget with language barring any spending on the controversial Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, the latest blow to ef forts to shutter aging veterans hospitals across the country.

In a bipartisan 238-189 vote, lawmakers approved language that would shift $5 million in funding for the review plans to homeless veterans support programs instead.

The move comes a month after key Senate leaders — including Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont. — said they planned to block the effort by refusing to confirm the nine nominees presented by the White House for the commission.

Officials in both chambers said they were unhappy with the recommendations for medical facility realignment presented by VA leaders earlier this year, which called for 35 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in 21 different states to be closed or completely reconstructed as part of a nearly $2 trillion infrastructure overhaul.

Senators vow to block VA’s hospital closure commission

Senators said the AIR Commission process has been flawed and unnecessary, despite nearly five years of effort.

“The recommendations advanced so far as part of the VA’s Asset and Infrastruc ture Review process will lead to the closure or downsizing of nearly one third of this country’s VA medical facilities and community-based outpatient clinics,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., chairman of the House Rules Committee and sponsor of the amendment, in a floor speech on Wednesday.

“I believe that is unacceptable and frankly a rotten way to treat veterans who have put their lives on the line for this country. This entire process is a backdoor way to cut services for veterans.”

VA officials have said they have nearly 1,000 non-vacant but underused facilities

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HOUSE DEFUNDS VA HOSPITAL (Continued from Page 48)

spread across the country, creating a significant drain on department resources. Closing many of them would require an act of Congress.

That was supposed to be the job of the AIR Commission, approved by law makers in 2018 to mimic the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure process.

Following the VA Secretary’s recommendations for facility changes, the ninemember commission was scheduled to spend a year analyzing the moves and meeting with local officials to offer its own recommendations to the White House.

The language included in the House bill approved Wednesday won’t become law until after lengthy budget negotiations with senators in coming months, but it serves as another indicator that the commission won’t be able to meet its spring 2023 timeline for that White House report.

In passing the amendment removing the commission’s funding, 43 Republicans joined with 195 Democrats. Only 27 Democrats joined with 164 Republicans to oppose the plan.

Dozens of VA medical centers slated for closure, total rebuilds under new infrastructure plan

The plan still must be reviewed by an independent commission and approved by Congress before changes start to go into effect.

Several conservative leaders have decried the end of the AIR effort in recent weeks, saying it leaves VA with an outdated and bloated infrastructure.

“This process is vital for the future of modern, state-of-the-art VA care,” House Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Mike Bost, R-Ill., said in a state ment late last month. Does an immense disservice to veterans and VA staff who will feel its repercussions for years to come.”

In a press conference, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said that efforts to im prove the department’s infrastructure will continue despite the commission set backs.

“We will continue to update assessments,” he said. “That will then inform our internal infrastructure modernization plans, and we will continue that work on our own accord.”

The VA budget plan — the largest in department history — was approved by a largely party-line 220-207 vote as part of a more than $400 billion package that also included planned fiscal 2023 spending for the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Agriculture.

Senate leaders have not yet said when they plan to hold a vote on their drafts of the VA appropriations plans for next fiscal year.

“Saluting

BY ALAN W. DOWD

In the wake of Vladimir Putin’s beastly assault on Ukraine, multiple NATO nations have announced immediate plans to increase defense spending. This reawakening is long overdue. In this post-post-Cold War era, there’s no room in the free world for free-riders.

Rearming What Winston Churchill said of Josef Stalin and his commissars remains true of Putin and his henchmen: “There is nothing they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness, especially military weakness.”

Before hurling his army into Ukraine, Putin not only sensed weakness in NATO but saw it in a range of policies: evaporating defense budgets, lack of cohesion and commitment in Afghanistan, doubts about NATO sown by NATO leaders, the chaotic pullout from Kabul, the feckless response to his invasion of Georgia (2008) and annexation of Crimea (2014), flatfooted confusion over his misinforma tion campaigns and cyber attacks, a shortsighted dependency on his regime for energy supplies, the straitjacket self-restraint in NATO capitals.

Yet what Putin has seen in the months since he launched his catastrophic and crimi nal invasion of Ukraine is something he never anticipated.

For individuals and nations alike, danger on the doorstep has a way of rearrang ing priorities and refocusing the mind. That's what has happened among NATO's European leaders.

In a stunning 180-degree turn just 72 hours after Putin’s attack on Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his government would increase defense spending to 2% of GDP – something NATO has been begging Berlin to do since 2006. That amounts to a near-doubling of Germany’s defense budget — by next year. Scholz also unveiled a massive $112.7 billion modernization and rearmament fund and announced plans to replace Germany's aging fighter-bomber fleet with F-35s. And since energy security is inextricably tied to national security, it’s worth noting that he unveiled detailed plans to create a strategic LNG reserve and build new LNG terminals.

“The world,” Scholz explained as Putin began his siege to Ukraine, “will no longer be the same as the world before.”

Berlin’s extraordinary about-face was an early indication that other NATO nations would begin to lift their defense budgets – and finally see Putin for what he is, not what they hoped him to be.

Defense spending was inching upward in Europe even before Putin’s war, but Ger many’s transformation that fateful last week of February heralds a far more dra matic and rapid return to deterrence across the 30-member alliance.

Poland – thrust to the frontlines of Cold War 2.0 by Putin’s invasion – announced that its defense budget will jump to 3% of GDP next year. Before the invasion, Poland had planned to invest 2.5% of GDP into defense. That’s a 20% spike in just one year. Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland’s defense minister, says Warsaw is committed to fielding “one of the strongest armies in NATO."

Just days after the invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that his government would increase defense spending, calling it “the price for peace, freedom and democracy.” To his credit, Macron has increased defense spending every year since 2017.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi unveiled plans to “invest more in defense than we have ever done before” and to lift Italy's defense budget to the NATO standard of 2% of GDP.

Immediately after Putin launched his war, Latvia approved measures pushing its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP (up from 2.2%). That represents a one-year in crease of 13%. Lithuania is increasing defense spending. And Estonia’s defense minister says the country will increase defense spending to accelerate equipment acquisitions.

Even before Russia’s February invasion, the Netherlands had increased defense spending. The Dutch government is working on an even bigger defense budget now, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte declaring, “The Netherlands will spend a lot of extra money on defense.”

Norway, which shares land and maritime borders with Russia, is making immedi ate emergency investments to- increase the number and tempo of naval deploy ments, increase the number of combat exercises, increase ammunition and fuel stocks, enhance its "ability to receive allied reinforcements," and "strengthen the armed forces' ability to prevent and stop digital threats." Romania is increasing defense spending by 23.7% for fiscal 2023.

Thanks to major investments in defense announced in 2020, Britain is already rid ing its largest wave of defense spending since the Cold War’s end.

Sweden — not yet a NATO member -- has unveiled a plan to rapidly increase defense spending from 1.3% of GDP to 2% of GDP.

As of this moment 10 members of the alliance meet NATO’s standard 2%-of-GDP standard. But NATO is headed in the right direction. In 2016, just five members met that standard. And several allies are pouring significant sums into the com mon defense. Belgium’s defense budget is 10.9% larger than a year ago, Croa tia’s is up 62.5% and the Greek defense budget is 49.6% larger. Italy’s is up 6%, Spain’s 7.7%, Britain’s 7.5% and France’s 5%.

At their extraordinary emergency summit in late March, NATO's political leaders began to outline where and how some of these new resources will be used. In ad dition to NATO's existing multinational battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, the alliance is standing up four more in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

"On land, we will have substantially more forces in the eastern part of the alli ance, at higher readiness, with more prepositioned equipment and supplies," explains NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "In the air, we will deploy more jets and strengthen our integrated air and missile defense. At sea, we will have carrier strike groups, submarines and significant numbers of combat ships on a persistent basis."

Rebalancing and rethinking this is necessary, first and foremost, to enhance NA TO’s deterrent strength in the face of a revisionist regime in Moscow bent on reconstituting the Russian Empire. But it’s also necessary to bring the burden of transatlantic security back into some balance – and thus address frustration among U.S. policymakers and taxpayers over perceptions that Europe is “freeriding.”

“Saluting

NO MORE FREE-RIDERS (Continued from Page 51)

After decades of naïve neglect on the part of many European members of NATO, the United States ac counts for 72% of NATO military spending. At the height of the Cold War, the burden was closer to a 50-50 split. Led by Germany, Europe’s reawakening will help restore some balance and spread out the burdens of transatlantic security.

Of course, the United States also needs to invest more in defense. At first blush, the Pentagon’s $768 bil lion budget looks like a lot of money. That figure, after all, represents more than the entire GDP of countries such as Belgium, Ireland and Chile. But looks can be deceiving. The fiscal 2022 defense budget represents just 3.2% of U.S. GDP. America’s Cold War average was twice that. In 1968, for example, the United States allocated 9% of GDP to defense. In 1984, the United States allocated 5.9% of GDP to defense.

Given that we are in what Henry Kissinger calls the “foothills of a Cold War,” given what Putin and Xi Jin ping are doing, given what they openly plan to do, given the metastasizing security challenges elsewhere in the world, it only makes sense to shift toward Cold War levels of defense spending. Just glance at your news feed:

· Putin is digesting chunks of Ukraine, demanding NATO pull back from Central Europe, rebuilding the Russian Empire piecemeal, hacking and attacking the U.S. power grid, opening military bases in the Arctic Circle, propping up regimes that gas and starve their own people, using chemical weapons to assassinate his enemies, and even threatening preemptive use of nuclear weapons to somehow de-escalate a conflict.

· Xi is engaged in one of history’s largest peacetime military buildups, has constructed and militarized il legal islands in the South China Sea, has absorbed Hong Kong in violation of international treaties, and is tightening his vise around Taiwan.

· Iran continues its drive to build a nuclear bomb, continues to foment revolution in neighboring countries, continues to attack commercial and military vessels in international waters, and continues to directly target Americans.

· The Taliban has retaken Afghanistan – not a comforting thought given what happened the last time the Taliban ruled that forever-broken country. Al-Qaida has a presence in 21 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

· Add to this list North Korea, with its growing nuclear arsenal, spasms of missile tests and unpredictable leadership; a raging “wildfire of terrorism” across Africa, which is scarred by the re-emergence of ISIS; and Hezbollah’s 130,000 rockets.

The invasion of Ukraine is just an exclamation point to all of this, which explains why key congressional leaders are eyeing a larger defense budget. “It’s going to have to be bigger than we thought,” according to Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine fundamentally altered what our national security posture and what our defense posture needs to be. It made it more complicated and it made it more expensive.”

How much more expensive? A week before Putin launched his war on Ukraine, some policymakers were considering fiscal 2023 defense spending above $800 billion, according to a Reuters report. That figure now seems likely to be the baseline for defense spending, rather than the ceiling.

From Warsaw to Washington, the goal in this alliance-wide rearmament effort is not to start a NATO-Russia war, but quite the opposite: to deter an attack against NATO and prevent what Churchill called “tempta tions to a trial of strength.”

“Saluting

SENATOR INTRODUCES AMERICAN LEGION-SUPPORTED BILL

TO MODERNIZE VA MEDICAL CENTERS, OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE

BY SARA SAMORA

SSenator Jon Tester proposed legislation designed to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs' medical centers and other infrastruc ture after he and 11 other senators last month blocked a nearly $2 tril lion VA plan to close, consolidate and upgrade agency facilities across the country.

The bill, dubbed the “Build, Utilize, Invest, Learn, and Deliver [or BUILD] for Vet erans Act of 2022,” would require the VA to develop plans and workforce hiring strategies to complete new facility projects, examine infrastructure budgeting, and provide Congress with its plans and performance data for enhanced accountability. “When it comes to delivering new hospitals, clinics, cemeteries, benefits offices, and other facilities for veterans and the employees that serve them, we’ve got to set VA up for success,” said Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Af fairs Committee. “The BUILD for Veterans Act pushes VA to modernize and man age its current and future infrastructure needs through common-sense provisions that will save taxpayer dollars in the process.”

Additionally, the bill would also require the VA to provide plans and performance data to Congress, implement a schedule to eliminate or repurpose unused and vacant buildings and examine infrastructure budgeting strategies. Moreover, it will require the VA to provide yearly budget requirements for 10 years.

In June, Tester and 11 other senators opposed the VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review, saying the recommendations would not expand or strengthen the agency’s infrastructure and put veterans in rural and urban areas at a disadvantage.

The VA was required to establish the Asset and Infrastructure Review as part of the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated outside Networks Act of 2018, or MISSION Act. The review was designed to analyze the health care needs of veterans as well as the department’s infrastructure. That same year, Con gress approved the creation of an Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission to work on the "modernization or realignment" of VA properties.

Tester’s new bill draws from the infrastructure portion of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of

2022, or PACT Act, which he and Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, the ranking Repub lican on the Senate VA Committee, introduced in May.

The PACT Act seeks to provide an easy path to health care and benefits for vet erans who served near open-air burn pits, which were used throughout the 1990s and the post-9/11 wars to burn garbage, jet fuel and other materials. The bill would establish 31 new VA health care facilities in 19 states.

Veterans diagnosed with cancer, respiratory issues and lung disease at young ages have blamed exposure to the toxic fumes from these pits, but the VA contended for years that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support their claims.

The bill also would improve the VA’s workforce and claims processing to speed up efforts to meet the needs of veterans. Additionally, the bill would expand health care eligibility to post-9/11 combat veterans and add 23 conditions related to burn pits and other toxic exposures to the VA’s list of service presumptions. It will also expand the list of presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure to include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll, strengthen federal research on toxic exposure, and improve the VA’s resources and training.

The PACT Act could reach a vote in the Senate this week.

Various veteran service organizations announced their support for the BUILD for Veterans Act, including Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veter ans of America, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“Ensuring VA has state-of-the-art facilities to support the medical and mental health care needs of veterans is a top priority of the American Legion,” said Paul Dillard, national commander of The American Legion, in a prepared statement about the BUILD Act. “Investing in and revitalizing the aging VA infrastructure is vital to the overall success of the VA health care system. We must ensure that VA is properly resourced and structured to manage the infrastructure of the largest integrated health care network in the nation.”

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties”

Today we thank and honor all our veterans who put this great country before themselves. May we never forget their selfless sacrifice in defense of our freedoms.”