AFSA International President visits Malmstrom

Published Feb. 23, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs office

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The Air Force Sergeants Association's International President, Jeffrey Ledoux, visited Malmstrom's 1156 chapter for a luncheon at the base dining facility Feb. 9.

During the luncheon, Mr. Ledoux talked about the importance of AFSA, and the several legislative issues that he and many others fight for in Congress to make sure military members and retirees retain certain entitled benefits.

There are five major legislative issues that they are working on, he said. With TRICARE, AFSA is trying to prevent it from being bumped into the Health Care plan and currently there are four provisions out there that are trying to increase TRICARE fees. AFSA is also trying to raise more money for Child Development Centers, and using the Year of the Air Force Family theme as a push to help increase those funds.

AFSA is working on the Retiree Retirement Plan to change the retirement from age 60 to 55 for Guard and Reserve members, Mr. Ledoux said. There are currently 350 co-sponsors in the House and they are sending letters to Representatives to get their support. With education, it has been a yearly battle, but AFSA continues to fight to keep tuition covered at 100 percent instead of the push for 75 percent.

The last issue is a concurrent receipt for those who retire and collect disability payments, he said. Currently, retirees must be classified at least 50 percent disabled to collect a disability payment, but unfortunately some retirement pay gets taken away if they do receive that payment. AFSA is working to get everyone pay for their disabilities, regardless of the percentage, and make the payment they receive not affect or take away from their regular retiree pay.

"The AFSA numbers for membership can never be strong enough," he said. "We currently have 117,000 members, but we need to maintain as well as build bigger committees in order to keep our sponsors. Those numbers strengthen our voice, and the way that we remain effective on the 'Hill.'"

AFSA's representation on Capitol Hill advocates maintaining many other benefits and rights that are provided to military members, such as quality of life, military pay increases and allowances.

The Malmstrom chapter presently has a registered 650 members.

"The AFSA council here is active and thriving," said Senior Master Sgt. Tom Johnson, Chapter 1156 President. "We assist the community with highway clean-ups and assisting the Boy and Girl Scouts, we work with the Airmen Leadership School, First-Term Airman Center and Civil Air Patrol, as well as participate in fundraising for Airman assistance efforts like Operation Warmheart. "

Aside from being able to be proactive and help the community, there are several other benefits to being an AFSA member including insurance and scholarships.

Insurance benefits include accidental death and dismemberment, cancer expense, dental, long-term care, short-term recovery, term life, TRICARE supplement and youth life insurance. AFSA also offers home and auto insurance.

AFSA and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force join together annually to conduct a scholarship program to financially assist the undergraduate studies of eligible, dependent children of the Air Force active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command enlisted members and AFSA members in active, retired or veteran status.

To date, the AFSA scholarship programs have granted $1.5 million to dependents of the Air Force enlisted. Dependent youth who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and a minimum combined SAT score of 1650 or minimum combined ACT score of 24 are encouraged to submit an application. More criteria and application package information is available on the AFSA Web site. AFSA promotes enlisted concerns to enhance their quality of life, assures the preservation of entitlements earned through service and sacrifice, and maintains a vigilant presence on Capitol Hill. AFSA is a partner in enlisted members' careers and their lives.

For more information about how to join or the organization visit www.afsahq.org.