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TIPS & CLIPSNews From TRICAREThinking About Urgent Care? The Nurse AdviceLine Can HelpWhen an urgent health problem arises, it is hard to knowwhether you should try totough it out or seek medicalJoanne Elliottcare. Luckily, TRICARE benNational Treasurereficiaries can call the NurseAdvice Line (NAL) to get advice on their health carequestions. Not all health problems require a visit with amedical specialist but a Registered Nurse at the NAL canhelp you make the decision on whether you should seekcare at an urgent care center.While going to an urgent care clinic for a high fever or asprained ankle may seem like the easiest option, if you callthe NAL first you can save time and money. The NAL ismade up of a team of registered nurses (RNs), who cananswer your healthcare questions. There is always a live person on the line to answer your concerns. When you call,the nurse will ask several medical questions based on yoursymptoms. These questions were developed by physiciansto help the RNs get the most accurate assessment of yourmedical problem. If you are not calling for yourself, pleasemake sure that the family member in question is present soyou can assess their condition as the nurse asks questions.If the person is over age 13, the nurse may ask to speakto them directly. Feel free to stay on another line or use aspeakerphone option if that makes you more comfortable.If self-care is recommended, the nurse may provide youwith advice on home treatments and remedies. However,if you or your family member needs an urgent careappointment, the NAL will help you with next steps. Ifyou are on TRICARE Prime and enrolled to an MTF orclinic, the NAL will try to schedule a same or next-dayappointment for you. If you are a TRICARE Prime beneficiary enrolled to an MTF and the NAL is unable toget you an appointment in your MTF when you need it,the NAL will follow-up with your MTF to ensure yoururgent care referral is submitted. If you are a Prime beneficiary and receive care through the civilian network, andthe NAL determines you need urgent care, just follow-upwith a call to your civilian PCMs office the next businessday to let them know. Please keep in mind that if you geturgent care from another provider without a referral fromyour PCM, or if the NAL did not recommend you seekurgent care, you will be using the point-of-service option.The NAL will advise beneficiaries on all other TRICAREplans to seek care within the network.The NAL is a new and easy option for beneficiaries toget information on their medical problems quickly andat any time. To access the NAL dial 1-800-TRICARE(874-2273) and select option 1. Get more informationabout the Nurse Advice Line on the TRICARE website,www.tricare.mil.Agent Orange Exposed Ships Update 02 Dec 2014 Updated ListVA maintains a list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard shipsassociated with military service in Vietnam and possibleexposure to Agent Orange based on military records. Thisevolving list helps Veterans who served aboard ships, including “Blue Water Veterans,” find out if they may qualify forpresumption of herbicide exposure. Veterans must meetVA’s criteria for service in Vietnam, which includes aboardboats on the inland waterways or brief visits ashore, to bepresumed to have been exposed to herbicides. Veterans6The Mariner 2015 Winter Edition Volume 57 Issue 4who qualify for presumption of herbicide exposure are notrequired to show they were exposed to Agent Orange orother herbicides when seeking VA compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure.Find your ship Ships or boats that were part of theMobile Riverine Force, Inshore Fire Support (ISF)Division 93 or had one of the following designationsoperated on the inland waterways of Vietnam. Veterans

whose military records confirm they were aboard theseships qualify for presumption of herbicide exposure.During your Vietnam tour, did your ship or boat haveone of the following designations?AGP (Assault Group Patrol/Patrol Craft Tender)LCM (Landing Craft, Mechanized)LCU (Landing Craft, Utility)LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel)LST (Landing Ship, Tank)PBR (Patrol Boat, River)PCF (Patrol Craft,Fast or Swift Boat)PG (Patrol Gunboat)STABS (Strike Assault Boats)WAK (Cargo Vessel)WHEC (High Endurance Cutter)WLB (Buoy Tender)WPB (Patrol Boat)YFU (Harbor Utility Craft)If your vessel is not included in the Mobile RiverineForce, ISF Division 93 or above designations, check VA’salphabetized ship list at ge/shiplist/list.asp. Information onthe list is available at list/index.asp Refer to http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures to learn about military exposures and VA benefits. Need help determining qualifying service? VA will help determine qualifying service inVietnam after you file a claim for compensation benefits.To contact VA: Call 1-800-827-1000 or 1-800-829-4833(TDD for hearing impaired) Go to your nearest VA benefits office. [Source: VVA Web Weekly Dec. 05, 2014 ]100NERA’s NAVY Reserve 100 YearsCommemorative CoinThe US Navy Reserve has been ready to answer our nation’s call for100 years. The mission of the Navy Reserve is to deliver operationalcapability and strategic depth to the Navy, Marine Corps, and JointForces. On March 3, 2015 the US Navy Reserve will celebrate itscentennial anniversary and NERA wanted to commemorate thisspecial occasion with these coins.If you would like to purchase a coin for 10.00 ( 2.00 shipping),see below. (Discounts for orders of 10 or more).Choose one of these payment options:1Send a check to NERA, 6703 Farragut Ave, Falls Church, VA22042 (Write Coin in memo)2Pay by Credit Card by calling NERA at (800)-776-9020.3Pay online through Paypal. Go to www.nera.org. Click theDonate button on the right side of the homepage. Type Coinin the message field. “Add Special Instructions to the Seller.”The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association7

LEGISLATIVE UPDATESCredit: Architect of the CapitolLEGISLATIVE UPDATESWinter Mariner 2015By Michael P. Hughes, OSC, USNR (ret.), Deputy Executive DirectorFY 2015 FundingCongress again perfectedthe art of brinkmanshipby narrowly avertinga federal governmentshutdown and finallypassing the budget andfunding for governmentagencies and departments. On Dec. 14, 2014, Congresssent the President a 1.1 trillion budget to run federal programs in FY 2015 through Sept. 30, 2015. Department ofDefense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)are included in this Omnibus act. A few of the key provisions of interest to NERA and our members are:Department of DefensennChanges the fiscal year calculation for early retirement for reserves based on active duty activationsto two consecutive fiscal years. Note: The provisiononly applies to Reserves activated after September30, 2014. (Progress, but not the end of the battle.)Caps military pay raise for FY 2015 at 1%, as proposed by President. This is below the 1.7 % in lawfor most other federal beneficiaries. Retirees will getthe 1.7%.nAllows reduced pharmacy co-pay increases below theDoD /Presidential budget request. NERA objects toany increase.nReduces the subsidies for commissaries, but farbelow the DoD/Presidential budget request.nSeveral provisions to address sexual assault inthe military.nExtends Reserve special pay and allowances toDec. 31, 2015.Veterans AffairsnGives two-year funding for Veterans Benefits mandatory accounts, including disability, pension, survivorand GI Bill programs. Veterans Health programshave had two-year funding since 2013. This helpsprotect these programs from government shutdownsdue to budget inaction politics.nSeveral program requirements were added for dealingwith mental health and suicide prevention programsfor veterans. New requirements were added to bettertreat and track these types of medical problems.Congress is now in recess until January 3, 2015 as of thiswriting.Congress has failed to fully address many DoD issues ormade interim provisions with a stated purpose of waitingfor the report of the President’s Military Compensationand Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC).NERA has met with and made suggestions to the MCRMCcommittee and their staff. The MCRMC report is due onFeb, 1, 2015 and we will follow it closely and continue tovoice our support for our members of the sea services andtheir benefits and compensation.The MCRMC report is due on Feb, 1, 2015 and we will followit closely and continue to voice our support for our membersof the sea services and their benefits and compensation.8The Mariner 2015 Winter Edition Volume 57 Issue 4

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGEDear Fellow Shipmates,By Stephen Sandy, Executive DirectorStephen SandyNERAExecutive Director“Youth iswhen youare allowedto stay uplate on NewYear’s Eve.Middle ageis whenyou areforced to.”—BillVaughanIt is 2015! I am always surprised how fast ayear flies. 2014 has come and gone, and itwas a good year for NERA. We had a reallywonderful conference in San Antonio that hasreally energized us. NERA membership cardshave been mailed and in Washington, NERAhas helped retain benefits at this time of constant budget tightening. Looking forward,2015 is the year of the Navy Reserve. We arevery excited about celebrating the centennialanniversary of the Navy Reserve. On March 3,1915, the Naval Appropriations Act of 1916established a United States Naval Reserve.“There is hereby established a United StatesNaval Reserve, which shall consist of citizensof the United States who have been or maybe entitled to be honorably discharged fromthe Navy after not less than one four-yearterm of enlistment or after a term of enlistment during minority. The naval reserve shallbe organized under the Bureau of Navigationand shall be governed by the Articles for theGovernment of the Navy and by the NavalRegulations and instructions.”For 100 years, the Navy Reserve has becomean essential element of America’s Navy. Wehave participated in every major conflictfrom World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.The Navy Reserve has proudly upheld its mission by “providing strategic depth and deliveroperational capabilities to the Navy andMarine Corps team and Joint forces, in timesof peace or war.” As of this writing there are49,592 Selected Reserve, 10,107 Full TimeSupport, 47,857 Individual Ready Reserveand 123 Navy Operational Support Centers.Citizen-sailors have been ready then, readynow, and ready always for a century.NERA is proud to be part of this naval historyand we are our proud of our naval heritage.This fall, our annual meeting will be held inNorfolk, VA. Norfolk is the US’s largest andoldest naval station. Considering this is theNavy Reserve’s centennial year, Norfolk is theperfect location for NERA’s annual meeting.The historical setting will provide the perfectlocation to elect and induct our new officersand vote on changes to the NERA bi-laws.Penny and Jerry Padour, are just two peoplerunning the whole conference. ConsideringNERA does not have an active Norfolk chapter, I would like to call the local chapters ofVirginia, Maryland, DC and North Carolinato step up and help the Padours run thismeeting. Please contact Penny Padour at nerajoewasson@outlook.com if you can help.Happy New Year and I look forward to seeingyou at centennial celebrations. Visit http://navyreservecentennial.com/ for informationabout ceremonies near you. Don’t forget toregister for the fall conference at nera.organd tell your family members about NERAscholarships (visit nera.org for applicationinformation.)—Steve“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors,and let each New Year find you, a better person.”—Benjamin FranklinThe Naval Enlisted Reserve Association9

NERA EXECUTIVE COUNSELORGreetings NERA!I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Aswe begin this New Year, I want to thank allof you who have contacted me with yourkind words of support and suggestions onhow NERA should move forward. It keepsme feeling positive knowing we have enthusiastic and committed members who careabout the work we are doing.Debbie FallonNERAExecutive CounselorRemember,the key toa successfulchapter ismaintainingcontact withmembers,identifyingchaptergoals, andsupportingthe NERAmission.We can never stop moving forward and thereis still a lot of work to be done. As NationalExecutive Counselor, I have been lookingclosely at the status of different chaptersacross the country. They have various scenarios they are dealing with and I am offeringsome solutions and/or policy definitions.For example: chapters who need additionalmembers to meet the minimum 25 member requirement can contact me to see whatmembers-at-large (MALs) are in their geographical area to increase membership.Another situation I reviewed involvedchapters that are currently inactive or notreporting required annual election results,putting them at risk of being disbanded.It is important that all chapters hold theirelections and submit their Chapter OfficerReport to headquarters no later thanFebruary 15th. If you need a copy of thereport, please call me at (603) 858-4144 ore-mail me at NC@nera.org.And then finally, there are those chapters who have been dormant for quite awhile and would like to re-affiliate but arenot sure how. The first step is to contactNERA National and ask for a copy of theChapter Handbook and review the guidelines. Regular conversations between NECofficers and members has even promptedsome chapters to start holding meetingsagain.Remember, the key to a successful chapter is maintaining contact with members,identifying chapter goals, and supportingthe NERA mission to promote and maintain national security by ensuring a strongand well trained Naval, Coast Guard andMarine Corps Reserve, and protectingthe benefits and privileges Sea ServiceReservists have earned through their military service.Now is a good time for chapters to contacttheir local NOSC’s about providing a letter of recommendation from your chapterto any E4-E6 FTS or Active ComponentSailors nominees assigned to a Navy ReserveCenter activity, providing direct supportfor the Naval Enlisted Reserve AssociationService to the Reservist Award. If they are notaware of this prestigious honor, explain tothem the recipient of this award will receivea Navy and Marine Corps AchievementMedal from COMNAVRESFORCOMand an engraved plaque from NERA.Nominations are usually due by 31 July2015. Please assure them that NERA is hereto help with every step along the way!If you have any other questions, concerns orsuggestions, please let me know.Sincerely,Deborah FallonDeborah “Debbie” Fallon, YNC (ret)National Executive CounselorFor more information about NERA Chapters contactDebbie Fallon at 603-858-4144 or NC@nera.org.10The Mariner 2015 Winter Edition Volume 57 Issue 4

COASTIE CORNERStation Washington Reservists Answeredthe Challenge and are Ready to Answerthe CallBy PA2 Matt Masaschi, 5th District Public AffairsIn 2012 Sector Baltimore Reserve Command MasterChief Petty Officer William G. Gillis challenged each ofthe Senior Enlisted Reserve Advisors (SERAs) throughout the sector to come up with a strategic plan for eachunit’s members to attain their individual competenciesand qualifications.Less than two years later, Station Washington reservistshave surpassed Gillis’ challenge after drafting and executing a detailed training plan to meet the call. Currentlymore than 80% of the station’s 19 reservists have obtainedboth law enforcement and boatcrew qualifications.Chief Petty Officer James Krise, Station Washington’sSERA, in conjunction with a team of lead and deputypetty officers, spent time focusing on outlining an achievable training plan for their members to meet and maintaintheir deployment and ready status.“Our guys are qualified and ready to go,” said Krise, twoyears after being inspired by Gillis to take the necessarysteps toward unit success. Krise and his team were compelled to stop and think about their plans moving forwardto meet the objective in front of them. They started towrite things down and brainstorm about how things hadbeen going at the station and where they wanted things togo in the future. Krise was navigating through relativelyuncharted territory since he had only reported to StationWashington as their SERA few weeks before acceptingGillis’ challenge.“When you put a plan down on paper and begin writing about it you really start to think through the wholeprocess,” said Krise confidently. “You see where problemslie and where you need to make changes and improvements. We have been following through with that planever since.” Every six to nine months Krise and his teamcollect themselves to take stock in where they stand andwhat upcoming factors may impact the team. They revisitCoast Guard Station Washington reserve crewmembers aboard a29-foot Response Boat – Small II patrol the waterways around theWashington Monument (above) and the Lincoln Memorial (below)in Washington, D.C., July 20, 2014. Station Washington reservist’strain year-round to maintain their boatcrew qualifications andboarding team member qualifications. U.S. Coast Guard Photo byPetty Officer 2nd Class Matthew S. Masaschi.continued on page 16The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association11

100 Years of the Navy Reserve (1915–2015)On March 3, 1915, the Naval Appropriations Act of 1916 establisheda United States Naval Reserve. Reserve Sailors have been in everyin every major conflict from World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.Ready then, ready now and ready has been the mantra of the Navy Reserves.19151925March 3, 1915 Establishmentof the United States Navy ReserveThe Naval Appropriations Act of1916, dated March 3, 1915, established a United States Naval Reserve."There is hereby established a UnitedStates Naval Reserve, which shallconsist of citizens of the United Stateswho have been or may be entitled tobe honorably discharged from theNavy after not less than one four-yearterm of enlistment or after a termof enlistment during minority. Thenaval reserve shall be organized underthe Bureau of Navigation and shallbe governed by the Articles for theGovernment of the Navy and by theNaval Regulations and instructions."1219351916 Enlisted blue cap with U.S.Naval Reserve Force ribbon wornby Reserve Sailors.1916 U.S. Naval Reserve Buttonworn by officers, chief petty officers,and enlisted.1918 Dress Blue JumperElectrician Third Class Dress BlueJumperThe Mariner 2015 Winter Edition Volume 57 Issue 419451926 Naval Reserve OfficerTraining units are first established atsix colleges: Harvard, Yale, GeorgiaInstitute of Technology, University ofWashington, University of California,and Northwestern University. Morethan 1000 students enroll.Did you know 84% of the Navythat served in World War II wascomprised of Naval Reserve Sailors?3,000,000 Naval Reserve Sailorswere demobilized within a year afterVictory over Japan Day (V-J day).Naval Reserve Sailors fromMinnesota on USS Ward posing fora picture after sinking a Japanesemini-submarine near Pearl Harborearly on December 7.

http://navyreservecentennial.com/historyNERA is proud to be part of this centennial celebration. This Centennial Commemoration allows us tofocus our attention on the importance of the Navy Reserves throughout history and today. Below is anabbreviated history of the Navy Reserves courtesy of the Navy Reserve website. For the complete timeline,please visit http://navyreservecentennial.com/history/19551941 The Seabees were createdafter the beginning of WWII as aconstruction battalion. The Seabeeswere organized into 151 regularconstruction battalions, 39 special construction battalions, 164construction battalion detachments,136 construction battalion maintenance units, 5 pontoon assemblydetachments, 54 regiments, 12brigades, and under various designations, 5 naval construction forces.1945 Seabees Shoulder Patch.John L. Sullivan, Secretary ofthe Navy, 1947-1949 said "Ten1965out of eleven Sailors in the Navyduring World War II were NavalReservists. They made possiblethe rapid expansion of our navalservice into the largest the worldhas ever known — some threeand a third million. They had tolearn their job the hard way, witha maximum amount of training ina minimum period of time. Todaythe Naval Reserve, profiting by itswartime experiences, is even betterprepared to

USAA Presenting NERA with the Scholarship Check page 24. 11 12 18 Naval Enlisted Reserve . 24 2014/2015 USAA/NERA College Scholarship Program 26 Snowball Express 30 TAPS 31 NERA Benefactors Cover: (Left to right) Robert Warren, USAA Military Affinity Affairs; Steve Sandy, . of the first items will be our scholarships, as USAA will have .