Enlisted Association  National Guard of Kansas

Early Retirement and TRICARE for Guard and Reserve Members

S. 337 (Graham/Clinton) and HR 558 (Latham)

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Congressman Tom Latham (R-IA) have introduced the above referenced bills that would promote recruitment, readiness, and retention by offering TRICARE eligibility to all members of the National Guard/Reserves for a modest monthly premium and by reducing the age at which a National Guard or Reserve member can receive retirement benefits based on his or her years of service.

Both bills contain the following provisions:

Retirement
The legislation would reduce the retirement age for National Guard/Reservists by one year for every two years served over twenty years. The minimum age to begin receiving retirement benefits would be age 53 with 34 years of service.

Healthcare
The legislation would continue to build upon the TRICARE enhancements that have been enacted in the past two years by offering TRICARE eligibility to all members of the National Guard/Reserves, regardless of their status, for a monthly premium. The Department of Defense will be responsible for 72% of the cost of the benefit and the service member will be responsible for the remainder.

RECOMMENDATION

Call, write, fax or email your Representatives to voice your opinion. Attached is sample letter for your convenience. It may be used, however if you want rewrite, it in your own words, just address and sign it.. Add your Representative's name after "The Honorable. "After "Dear," put his/her name again. Then sign the bottom. Print your name and return address under your signature. 

Sample Letter

Museum of the Kansas National Guard Needs Volunteers

Your museum needs your help! Immediate needs are hosts for June 15, 16, 17, 24, and 27. Other needs are cataloging and archiving; updating your unit display; general maintenance; record keeping, and miscellaneous other duties. The need for volunteer hosts is continual and you can call in for dates you can volunteer.

Federal Technicians and AGR personnel may be authorized time away from work to participate in such approved activities. Participation will be in uniform or in a context that clearly portrays an association with the Kansas National Guard. Volunteer time will be coded as official hours of duty; however, there will be no compensation for travel, nor can there be compensatory time earned for duty beyond the normal duty hours. In addition, coordination and approval must be made with the immediate supervisor before a technician volunteers for any approved activities. Participation may be limited when mission requirements dictate.

Retirees, M-Day, Traditional, and Full time personnel please contact COL (Ret) Paul Idol at the museum, 785-862-1020 for details and to volunteer.

The HRO Labor Relations Specialist is the point of contact for Federal Technicians and AGR for use of duty time for Community Service Activities and can be reached at 785-274-1162/720-8162.

Download TAG Policy for Use of Duty time for Community Services Activities

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