Vets

[Eagle Man]

The lastest in uniform changes is that the greens will be phased out, and dress blues will be the daily Class A uniform as well as the dress uniform. Not many like it.

[skypilot]

What's the saying about going 'full circle'. Wasn't the old cav uniform blues?

[deadeye]

Skypilot: Being a vet of 4 years, I find this that needs to be done. Here is something you should contact your congressman on. We need a little higher mileage rate paid to vets when visiting Medical Facilities or hospitals. They now have the rate so low that we can't afford to go to the doctors anymore with the price of gas around $3.00 a gal. First they give you a rate and then they take .07 or .08 cents off of that for their handling charge. I think we should cut the chase and give us a raise that is somewhere close to todays prices, instead of .20 some cents a mile.....

[ken]

Thanks for the history lesson about the Army. Depending on where I was stationed, I had to have another uniform. Ft Bragg(dress blues), Ft Shafter Hi (dress whites)and DC dress greens and blues). i came from the USAF(56-66) and transfered and commisoned(66-80) in the Army (retired) in 1980. Never had the BDUs as the flight suite was my uniform most of the time along with the change to the Jungle Fatigues during my first tour in RVN. But being an army brat, I saw a lot of army browns at Ft Riley.

[skypilot]

Deadeye: Now you need to edu-ma-cate me: What mileage rate increase? I have yet to be reimbursed one cent for any of the trips to VA or Army Hospitals; Fitzsimmons for Desert Storm Phase II to my annual review with the VA Doc in Topeka or Wichita VA Med Ctrs. I just keep track of mileage in case I ever get enough bills to claim on income tax.

Ken: Be glad you got out then -- in the last few years I've seen our aviators here at Ft Riley go from the 'green' flight suits to the BDU (what my daughter used to call the rotten pickle) flight suit, to desert cami and now the new pixilated computer patterned flight suit. As flight issue the aviators get them for free but they have to have the matching 'non-flying' day uniforms and that comes out of their pockets.

[deadeye]

Skypilot and other vets:----- This is info you may have known or did not know. If you visit a VA medical facility for appointments and you live more than 50 miles from the facility, you can fill out a travel expense form or they will fill it out for you on their computer at some facilities. When this happens, take the form to the payroll window and they will pay you cash. If you are not paid cash by a payroll clerk, they keep the form and in about 2 to 3 weeks you will get a check in the mail. I also have to show them my ID card which is issued at the VA with your picture on it. I live about 62 miles from a clinic that I go to for blood test and the grand total is $14 or $16.00. If I go to the hospital for an appointment, which is about 140 miles, I get $29.00. But they have already taken $7.00 I think it is off the top for their services. I should have gotten $36.00. This only applies if you drive your own vehicle. You can't take the bus and get paid. You also have to have all of the appointments for the day completed before collecting mileage.... Be sure and always ask for the TRAVEL EXPENSE report. If they don't have it, ask where you can get it...JB

[skypilot]

Once again -- This is a great resource -- learn something every day!!! Thanks !!!