FRAs Mission and Programs 12/12

FRA Is A non-profit professional military association representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard enlisted personnel Named after the Navys program for personnel transferring to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve after 20 or more YOS A recognized leader in the military/veterans community Focused on the needs of our members and taking concerns to Capitol Hill Working on pay, health care, benefits, family readiness and quality of life programs administered by DoD (Title 10) and the VA (Title 38)

What Congress Gives, Congress Can Take Away FRA shipmates were the first enlisted service members of any service to testify before Congress. There is NO LAW on the books to protect the pay and benefits youve earned. Your benefits can be reduced or repealed during any legislative cycle. Its important to have advocates representing your needs and the needs and concerns of your family!

FRA Works to Improve Treatment for Wounded Warriors Active, Reserve, and retired pay and benefits Veterans benefits Health care access & funding Education programs Family readiness Reform of USFSPA Other quality of life programs

FRA-Led Initiatives: Landmark Pay Study resulted in targeted Senior Enlisted pay hikes in 2001 through 2005 and significantly influenced higher-than-ECI basic pay increases Military office within the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (2010) Reform of Absentee Voting Processes (2009) Enactment of Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits for VEAP-era personnel (2008) who previously had no education benefits Active duty protection from predatory lenders (2007) Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP) for USCG Boarding Teams (2004) Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal REDUX (1999) The Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) (1972) Establishment of CHAMPUS (1966)

Current Legislation: FRA is tracking a broad range of legislation on issues that include: Prohibiting drastic Retiree Health Care Fee Increases ECI level Active Duty Pay Raises Lower Reserve Retirement Age Retroactive to 9/11/01 Concurrent Receipt Improvements MGIB Improvements Updating BAH Standards Wounded Warrior and Caregiver Assistance Retention of Last Months Retiree Pay by Surviving Spouse Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA) Reform Eliminating disability rating claims backlog at VA

Navy Sailors of the Year and Recruiters of the Year USMC Drill Instructors and Recruiters of the Year USCG Enlisted Persons of the Year and Recruiters of the Year Navy and Marine Corps JROTC Programs at Branch Level FRA Education Foundation Scholarships FRA Recognition Programs

Challenges FRA Faces Keeping pay, health care, and benefits adequately funded Fewer and fewer members of Congress and staff personnel have military experience Lack of awareness about the power of grassroots support Sustaining a strong membership base

What You Can Do! VOTE Subscribe to NewsBytes, FRAs weekly electronic update on pay and benefits ( with subscribe in the subject Visit the Action Center at Take online surveys at Call FRA-1924 and request a copy of FRAs Communicate with your Elected Officials (or Follow FRA on Facebook ( and FRA Membership will help you – Stay informed – Participate in the legislative process – Qualify for additional FRA Scholarships

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