USCGCPOA.ORG                                                              November 2017  

In This Issue


Member Benefits:


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Government Vacation Rewards



The Best prices on tactical, outdoor gear, athletic gear, eyewear and more.



Partner with Bellevue University and receive a $1,000 Military Tuition Waiver.

See more including degree list.




Use Discount Code Y653390 when
 making your reservation.
 


Use Discount Code Z802846 when
 making your reservation.



Our Sponsors:

USAA 
 

Our Partners:








Resources:


  Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, this tool will help you make the most of them.



  
 
  Say goodbye to reply-all emails and paper sign up sheets. Coordinate events and people in minutes with online sign ups.

  
  
   


 

 2018 CPOA NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS

  
  TO ALL CPOA MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING - 
 
  The CPOA is looking for seven dedicated Chiefs to serve on the National Board of Directors for a three-year term from 2018-2021.   Our Association needs new ideas & people willing to work to make those ideas a reality
 
  Per Section V of the CPOA Operations Manual, the nominating period for all Board of Director positions will open on 1 October & close on 22 November 2017 (the day before Thanksgiving), and all nominations must be received at the National Office by that date.   Nominations should contain a statement citing your reasons for seeking National o ffice , and brief bio is also helpful in providing your fellow Chiefs with a little info about your background.

Available Positions:

President 
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
3 Regional Advisors

 
  Job descriptions for the Officer & Regional Advisor positions can be found in Section II of the CPOA Operations Manual.
 
Nominations should be sent to the National Office via one of the following ways:
Email:   [email protected]
 
Fax:   (703) 941-0397
 
Regular Mail to:
Executive Director
Attn: 2018 Elections
CPOA National Office
5520-G Hempstead Way
Springfield, VA   22151
 
 The Executive Director will provide verbal or written confirmation to all members submitting nominations to verify that their nomination has been accepted.   If you do not receive confirmation, please call the National Office at (703) 941-0395 to verify receipt of your nomination .
 
  The voting period is 1 January - 14 March 2018 , ( either on-line or via paper ballot ) and all CPOA members are encouraged to vote.   Instructions for both voting methods will be available in the January 2018 edition of The Chief.    The Installation of Officers  will be conducted next August during the CPOA's 50th Convention in St. Petersburg, Florida.
 
 If you want to serve your fellow Chiefs and help our Association move forward, please consider submitting your nomination for National Office or encourage a fellow Chief to run.   St rong leadership on the Board will help to ensure the continued success of CPOA. 
 
Yours in Service,
 
Kim Lorigan
CPOA Nat'l President






 Final Push for the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial!
  
CALLING ALL CPOA CHIEFS!
 
   Dear Chiefs - the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Foundation (CGEMF) has announced that they are just $50,000 away from reaching their goal of $450,000.   After years of fundraising, the vision of building a memorial dedicated to Coast Guard men & women who have made the ultimate sacrifice is finally in sight.   The CGEMF hopes to break ground for the Memorial in the Spring of 2018 and we Chiefs can make it happen.
 
   To that end, I challenge every Chief in the CPOA to donate just $10 to the CGEMF by 30 November 2017 .   It may not seem like much but if we all contribute, we can push this initiative over the top.
 
  To donate via PayPal or credit card, visit the Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial website at http://www.cgemf.org/donate.
 
For those wishing to donate via check or money order, you can make your check out to CG Enlisted Memorial Foundation and mail it to:
Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial Foundation Inc.
PO Box 476
Cape May, NJ 08204
 
Your donation is tax deductible & the excess funds will be placed in a trust to fund future maintenance.
 
So, come on, Chiefs - LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
 
Yours in Service -  
 
Kim Lorigan
CPOA Nat'l President




 Upcoming Changes 
to TRICARE
  
  Starting January 1, 2018, there may be changes to your TRICARE benefits.  The following will remain the same:
  • TRICARE will continue to offer several different health plans.
  • All plans meet or exceed the requirements for minimal essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
  • Plan availability depends on who you are and where you live.
Is your plan affected by the changes? 





Membership Booklets 
Now Available

    The National Office has developed a membership booklet to help Chapters in their recruiting effort.  If you're interested in receiving a dozen or more, please e-mail us and we'll get them to you asap.



   
 

VA Releases Plans for Sweeping Health Care Overhaul
VA logo

  WASHINGTON - Veterans Affairs officials on Monday presented Congress with their formal plan to ease rules concerning veterans seeking medical appointments outside the VA system at government expense, potentially sending tens of thousands of new veterans into the private sector for care.
   The proposal once again raises questions about the long-term goals of the VA medical system and potential privatization of veterans care, issues that have already caused infighting among some veterans groups and Capitol Hill lawmakers.

  The new plan, which VA leaders spent most of the summer drafting, would do away with rules limiting outside care for veterans who face a 30-day wait for appointments or a 40-mile travel to VA facilities. That requirement was the basis of the Choice program formed by Congress in 2014, meant to speed access for veterans frustrated with limited VA health options.

  Instead, the new Veterans Coordinated Access & Rewarding Experiences (Vets CARE) Act would allow medical appointments to any veteran who is seeking specialty care not provided by VA or who faces a wait longer than "a clinically acceptable period."






 

13 Things You Didn't Know the G.I. Bill Could Pay For

   Contrary to popular belief, attending a college or university is not the aspiration of every single American. And, of course, the military community is no different. Some vets would rather pursue a different path, and carve out a niche all their own - whether that be "hanging a shingle" and their own small business, or honing a profession that most don't have the gall, or daring, to do.

  The  G.I. Bill accounts for this, and can cover the tuition (in addition to other expenses) for a number of non-college degree programs. And not just for vets either - for qualified dependents and active-duty service members as well.







 

CG Retiree Annual Holiday Party (National Capital Region)
From the Council:
   W e are holding our annual holiday party on Sunday, December 10th.   Although the event says "Retiree" we also invite all other components of the USCG (active, reserve, auxiliary, & civilian).

                                  View their flyer here...





Book of the Month
   
   Well-crafted, this lively and engaging history will rejuvenate one's pride in the American military with its little-known details of the Coast Guard's involvement in Vietnam.






Find Your Boot Camp Friends
   Interested to find old friends you went to Boot Camp with? If so, Together We Served has made it even easier.

   They have extended their unique "Also There" feature to find more members who were in Boot Camp at the same time as you. Even if they could not remember their training company or platoon, we can match you based on location and start month.
 
   All you need to do is enter whatever boot camp details you can recall and we will find other members who trained alongside you!
 
To obtain your Free Full Membership, please go to this special link only for CPOA/CGEA members. 
 
 Family of deceased Coast Guard members who wish to join CGTWS to create a Remembrance Profile for their loved one should email [email protected] .
 
  For more information on TogetherWeServed.com, please view their short informational video at: www.youtube.com/twsmilitarywebsites

  
 

Recently Retired?

 

  If you've recently retired and were using an allotment to pay your dues, there's a good chance you are no longer an active member. Please read these procedures for starting, changing, and stopping an allotment in Direct Access II/Retired Global Pay Self-Service.  
           
       
       
         

  

   Or just call the U. S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center 
 
1(800)772-8724
to talk to a pay technician 
  
Not receiving your magazine? 
  
  At most CG units, personal mail will not be delivered to the member...If you've been using a Coast Guard address to receive The Chief , please send us an  email  to ensure we get it changed and that you continue to get your magazine.  

  

 

 
Admin Notes: 
 

                   

  • Although our e-newsletter conforms to Coast Guard directives, we request that newsletter recipients provide their home email address to alleviate any concerns. Please click the "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the bottom of this newsletter to make the change.     
  • If, for some reason, you are no longer receiving The Chief, send an email to: [email protected] 
  • Coast Guard National Retiree Website can be found here.