From: bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 12/17/92
Date: 18 Dec 1992 08:36:17 -0600
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

951.  Airline refunds
952.  C-130 attack report
953.  Health survey
954.  Pennsylvania Guard openings
955.  January promotions
956.  SGLI QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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NOTE TO EDITORS:  Do not use AFNS story No. 950, Acquisition questionnaire.
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951.  Airline refunds
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Major U.S. airlines have agreed to waive the
restrictions on non-refundable tickets purchased for holiday travel by
servicemembers in Operation Restore Hope.
     Airlines that have waived the restriction include American, Continental,
Delta, Northwest, TWA, United and USAir.
     Some airlines are also providing full refunds or re-ticketing for a later
date, said officials of the Military Traffic Management Command.
     For refunds, people must present travel orders or official documentation
from a commander indicating the change in travel plans is required as a result
of the action in Somalia.
     Terms and conditions of the refund and itinerary change policies vary
from airline to airline.  People should check with either their leisure travel
office or the airline involved to confirm eligibility requirements and
applicability of the airline's waiver policy, officials said.  (Courtesy AMC
News Service)


952.  C-130 attack report
by TSgt. David P. Masko
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- Communications difficulties and other problems involving
flight clearance are some of the reasons why an unarmed C-130 was attacked
April 24 when flying off the coast of Peru.
     The government of Peru immediately regretted the incident and expressed
its condolences to the family of the missing crew member, the Pentagon said
Dec. 14.
     In that incident, one of the plane's 14 crewmen was killed when he was
blown through an observation window after the C-130 cargo aircraft was shot at
by two Soviet-built SU-22 fighters assigned to the Peruvian air force.  The
body of the airman was never recovered and, after a U.S. - Peruvian search, he
was declared dead.
     In addition, four other Air Force crew members were injured by shrapnel.
After the attack, the plane managed to land safely at the Peruvian El Pato air
base.
     The C-130 was flying a counterdrug operation in international airspace,
about 60 miles off the coast of Peru, when the incident occurred.
     At the time of the incident, the Air Force suspended all C-130 missions
in Peru, and ordered all of its C-130s in the region to have American flags
painted on their vertical stabilizer.
     Air Combat Command C-5 and C-141 cargo aircraft already have American
flags painted on their tails for U.S. identification purposes.
     Another Air Force plane was threatened by Peru for invading its airspace
June 8, but escaped incident after altering its flight plan.  The trouble
occurred when a KC-135 tanker, on a routine flight from Panama to Argentina,
was 100 nautical miles off Peru's coast when Peruvian officials radioed orders
to leave its air space, the Pentagon said in June.
     A U.S. Southern Command investigation was conducted to determine the
causes and problems leading up to the April incident, and a cooperative review
was completed by the United States and Peru to ensure that a similar incident
does not recur, the Pentagon said.
     The investigations into the C-130 incident show that several factors
contributed in some degree to the incident, including:
     -- Overflight clearance.  The Air Force pilots and other U.S. authorities
understood they had authorization of the government of Peru for the Air Force
C-130 counterdrug operations.  The Peruvian authorities said during the
cooperative review that, although a flight was initially approved by Peruvian
authorities two days before the flight, the clearance was nullified when U.S.
authorities did not confirm the flight within 24 hours of its scheduled time.
However, U.S. authorities understood that notice of the flight was required
not later than 24 hours before the flight, and such notice was given.
     -- Communications problems:  Although the U.S. crew attempted to
communicate on international distress frequencies, the C-130 and the Peruvian
fighters did not communicate by radio.  The C-130 crew members did not
transmit on Peruvian frequencies; they used international distress
frequencies.
     -- The sovereignty issue:  According to Peru, its territorial sovereignty
law recognizes 12 nautical miles.  However, the Pentagon said aircraft
operating in international airspace are not subject to jurisdiction or control
of the coastal state.
     -- Language difficulties:  Following the first attempt to intercept and
thereafter, U.S. authorities contacted the jointly manned radar sites in Peru
in an attempt to request that Peruvian authorities terminate the intercept.
But because of the absence of fully bilingual personnel on duty at the time,
from either side, U.S. and Peruvian attempts were not effective.
     The United States and Peruvian cooperative review resulted in
recommendations for revising operating and coordinating procedures to assure
the safety of future joint counterdrug air operations.
     In addition, the Pentagon said the incident is still under U.S. review to
determine if any further action is necessary.


953.  Health survey
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Health-care surveys are being sent to 42,000
active-duty people and retirees worldwide in an attempt to evaluate access to
military medical facilities, the Pentagon said.
     The questionnaire asks beneficiaries for their opinions about their
health care benefits and their recent medical and dental history.
     The purpose of the survey is to measure the use of inpatient and
outpatient medical care services, and beneficiaries' attitudes and knowledge
regarding the military medical care system's policies, benefits and costs,
Pentagon officials said.
     "As the Department of Defense reduces the size of its military force, the
quality of health care benefits for military members, retirees and their
families is a top priority," said Christopher Jehn, assistant secretary of
defense for force management and personnel, in a letter to survey
participants.
     "We are undertaking a special survey to learn how beneficiaries view the
quality and availability of their health and dental care," Jehn said.
     A report analyzing the survey results is scheduled to be completed and
available in December 1993.


954.  Pennsylvania Guard openings
     WILLOW GROVE, Pa (AFNS) -- The 111th Fighter Group and the 270th
Engineering Installation Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard has
part-time openings for people separating from active duty.
     More information is available by calling the unit at DSN 991-1515.


955.  January promotions
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- January promotions increments have been announced by
the Air Force with new insignia going to 49 colonels, 113 lieutenant colonels,
159 majors, 40 chief master sergeants, 150 senior master sergeants, 549 master
sergeants, 640 technical sergeants and 1,174 staff sergeants.
     Officer promotion increments are:
Grade                             Through              Remaining
Colonel
April 1991 board
 Nurse                                 24                      8
September 1991 board
 Line                       All remaining
 Chaplain                   All remaining
 Legal                                 14                      6
 Biomedical science corps   All remaining
July 1992 board
 Line                                   0                    640
 Chaplain                               0                     11
 Medical service corps                  8                      1
 Biomedical science corps               0                     16
Lieutenant colonel
April 1991 board
 Chaplain                              16                     13
December 1991 board
 Line                                1024                    467
 Legal                                 25                      7
 Medical service corps                 26                      9
July 1992 board
 Nurse                                  6                    106
 Biomedical science corps               4                     49
Major
July 1991 board
 Line                                2777                    533
 Chaplain                              23                     13
 Nurse                                117                     19
July 1992 board
 Legal                                 26                     24
 Medical service corps                  5                     57
 Biomedical service corps              47                     33
     Enlisted promotion increments are:
Grade                             Through              Remaining
Chief master sergeant                  40                    406
Senior master sergeant               1231                    270
Master sergeant                      3259                   3027
Technical sergeant                   5157                   3616
Staff sergeant                       5875                   7681


956.  SGLI QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The Veterans Benefit Act of 1992 recently
signed into law has changed the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance, Veterans
Group Life Insurance, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation programs.
     Because the changes go into effect so rapidly and because the programs
are somewhat complex, many Air Force members may have questions.
     The Air Force Military Personnel Center recently released answers to some
of the most-asked questions to help people better understand the program:
     Q.  What are the basic changes to the programs?
     A.  In a nutshell, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation will go from a
grade-based rate to a flat rate beginning Jan. 1.  For those in the ranks
above technical sergeant, this means a significant loss in monthly payments
that will go to spouses and children.
     To help compensate for this loss in estate benefits, the Servicemen's
Group Life Insurance maximum coverage has been raised to $200,000 as of Dec.
1.  The coverage is not automatic, and everyone in the Air Force must declare
his or her choices for the amount of life insurance coverage.
     Also, the Veterans Group Life Insurance coverage has been increased to a
maximum of $200,000.  Under the old law, VGLI provided five-year nonrenewable
insurance protection.  The new law changes VGLI to a five-year renewable term
insurance with an option to convert to a permanent policy with one of the
insurance underwriters or to renew VGLI coverage at the end of each five-year
period.  Current age-based premiums will remain unchanged.  VGLI premium rates
are available in local military personnel flights.
     Q.  I've never heard of the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
program.  What is DIC, and how does it apply to me?
     A.  The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program applies to every
servicemember.  The program is administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and it authorizes monthly payments to surviving spouses and certain
other dependents of service personnel or veterans who die from
service-connected causes.  Basically this means that your primary next of kin
will receive monthly payments if you die while on active duty, whether you
have other insurance or not.
     Q.  How much are the DIC payments to my spouse?
     A.  Beginning Jan. 1, monthly payments to your spouse will be $750.  DIC
payments used to be based on your grade.  For instance, the spouse of an E-3
would receive $634 a month, and the spouse of an O-3 would receive $888 a
month.  The new flat-rate of $750 means that people in the grade of E-7 and
above will receive substantially less than under the previous program.
     Q.  If we have children will my spouse's DIC payments be higher?
     A.  Yes, spouses with children receive higher DIC payments.
Child-additive payments are $100 per child per month.  In fiscal 1994 the
payments will increase to $150 per child per month; and in fiscal 1995 and
subsequent years, the payment will be $200 per child per month.
     Q.  If I die, do payments to my dependents begin automatically?
     A.  When an active-duty member or a retiree dies a casualty assistance
representative from the nearest Air Force installation assists the next of kin
in applying for the proceeds.
     Q.  I'm not married and I don't have any children.  Who receives my DIC
payments?
     A.  DIC may be paid to parents -- the VA will make the determination.
The monthly rates of DIC for parents depend upon the annual income of the
parents and whether there is only one parent, two parents not living together
or two parents together or remarried with a spouse.  The annual income limit
for two parents together or remarried with a spouse is $11,313; the income
limit for one parent or two parents not together is $8,414 annually.
     Q.  If I'm a single parent, would my children receive DIC payments if I
were to die while on active duty?  In what amounts?
     A.  Yes.  As long as your death is considered by the VA to be service
connected your children younger than 18 (as well as certain helpless children
and those 18 to 23 attending a VA-approved school) are eligible.  The nearest
VA office can provide the current amounts to be paid.
     Q.  What is Veterans Group Life Insurance and who is eligible to apply
for it?
     A.  SGLI may be converted to VGLI.  It is a level term insurance policy
which all retiring and separating members may apply for.  SGLI is free for 120
days after retirement or separation.  During that period members may convert
the amount of SGLI they had in force to VGLI.
     Q.  Is the new $200,000 SGLI coverage automatic?
     A.  No.  In contrast to the last insurance increase, this change is not
automatic.  You must fill out a new form that indicates the amount of coverage
you prefer.
     Q.  How much is this new SGLI going to cost me?
     A.  SGLI premium levels will remain at 80 cents a month per $10,000
coverage.  Coverage is available in $10,000 increments to a maximum of
$200,000.  The maximum premium would be $16 per month for the full $200,000
coverage.
     Q.  I'm not married and I don't have any children.  What is the advantage
of increasing my SGLI coverage?
     A.  None, other than benefiting whomever you deem your beneficiary.  At a
cost of $8 a month for $100,000 of insurance, it's inexpensive coverage.
     Q.  How long do I have to make up my mind?
     A.  Servicemembers should complete new paperwork as soon as possible.
Those who want additional coverage to compensate for decreased DIC payments
should sign up for increased SGLI before the DIC program changes Jan. 1.
     The conversion period for the new program ends March 31,1993.
Applications for increased SGLI coverage dated after March 31 will require a
statement of health.
     Q.  I already have the old $100,000 SGLI coverage and I don't want to
change that.  Will I continue to be covered if I do nothing, or must I fill
out a new form?
     A.  In order to implement the new program, the Department of Veterans
Affairs is requiring every servicemember to complete a new form to declare his
or her intent.  This even applies to people who do not want to change their
current amount of coverage.
     The new form must be completed by March 31.  Members will have only one
opportunity during this conversion period to elect increased coverage without
providing proof of good health.  Once the initial election is made, members
who elect to increase coverage will be required to provide a statement of
health before the increased amount of insurance is approved.
     Any application for insurance after March 31 will require a statement of
health, regardless of the desired amount of coverage.
     Q.  What does "By Law" mean as it pertains to beneficiaries of my SGLI
policy?
     A.  The proceeds will be paid in order following these five steps:
	(1) Proceeds go to the widow or widower, but if there are none then
the proceeds are payable to;
	(2) a child or children in equal shares with the share of any deceased
child being distributed among the descendants of that child, but if there are
no children then the proceeds are payable to;
	(3) the deceased's parent(s) in equal shares, but if there are no
parents then the proceeds go to;
	(4) a duly appointed executor or administrator of the insured's
estate, but if there is none then the proceeds go to
	(5) other next of kin.
     Q.  I heard I'll have to provide a statement of health if I want to
change my SGLI coverage after March 31.  Does that mean I would have to get a
physical?
     A.  VA Form 29-8285 must be completed after March 31 on anyone requesting
a higher amount of coverage if they fail to do so during the enrollment
period.  A physical or doctor's statement must accompany the form when
applying for coverage.
     Q.  If I later decide to change SGLI beneficiaries rather than the amount
of coverage, do I still need to provide a statement of health?
     A.  No.  The names of beneficiaries may be changed at any time.
     Q.  I heard a rumor that I could borrow money against my SGLI policy.  Is
that true?
     A.  No, you may not borrow money against your SGLI policy.
     Q.  Are SGLI, VGLI and DIC payments made for deaths due to any cause, or
is a suicide exempt?
     A.  SGLI and VGLI proceeds are paid provided there was no willful
wrongdoing by the member, i.e., committing a felony and being killed in the
act.  Of course, if the primary beneficiary killed the member then the
proceeds would go to his estate or to contingent beneficiaries.  SGLI and VGLI
proceeds are payable even if the member commits suicide.  DIC is paid only if
the member died from a service-connected or -related injury or illness.
     Q.  Is there any literature available (booklets or pamphlets) I can read
that spells out the pros and cons of the new program?
     A.  Local military personnel flights are your best source of more
information about these changes.

-- 
         
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   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
   \ Bergman /
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