Retiree Activity Office Bulletin, December 2007

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  • By Staff Reports
  • Retiree Activity Office
RETIREE ACTVITIES OFFICE 
RAF MILDENHALL/LAKENHEATH, SUFFOLK

UNITED KINGDOM RETIREE BULLETIN
________________________________________
For U.S. military retirees and their families in Great Britain and Ireland.

VOLUME 8 - WEB ISSUE 1,   Dec. 3, 2007 

Retiree Bulletin - A New Beginning: Greetings readers, if you're looking at this that means you've found our corner on the RAF Mildenhall public website...thanks! The transition to a strictly online newsletter hasn't been without some concerns for many of you so again thank you for hanging in there. We'll endeavor to post articles of interest as well as a regular on line newsletter as we settle into this process.

AF Afterburner: The Afterburner is now available on AFPC website at http://www.ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil you may find the latest Afterburner and search through the archives for past issues. The Afterburner, via regular mail, will be sent when and if funding becomes available, at that time it will be posted to those people on file with DFAS. If you have moved please insure that DFAS has been notified, to inform them of your new address, retirees should write to DFAS, US Military Retirement Pay, PO Box 7130, London Ky.40742-7130, include your SSN and sign the request. SBP/RSFPP annuitants should write to DFAS, US Military Annuitant Pay, PO Box 7131, London, KY 40742-7131

Retiree Appreciation Day 2008: The 2008 RAD will be held on RAF Mildenhall on Friday, 16 May. Details are still being worked out but festivities will kick off with an Ice Breaker at the Galaxy Club Thursday evening, 15 May and continue on Friday with additional activities and a free lunch back at the Club. Mildenhall's May Fayre Bazaar will also be happening this weekend so be sure and visit that event while you're there. We're planning to mail a post card, funding permitted, to everyone on the DFAS retired pay roster that resides in the UK and Ireland closer to the event. For meal planning it's absolutely essential we have a head count so no one goes hungry so RSVPs are a must. As usual, please address any RAD questions to our volunteer staff at the RAO by calling 01638-542039, M- F, 10 - 1400 hrs (closed American and British Holidays).

2008 Retiree COLA: 2008 Retiree COLA is 2.3% effective 1 December. The increase will be reflected in your 1 Jan 08 retirement payments.

Retiree Coupon Update: The DECA Executive Director, Mr Page (Senior Executive Service Civilian) visited the UK in September. He met with the 100 ARW Commander and she presented him with a talking paper on the Limited Privilege Program and sought his help to move forward with our cashier based UK Duty collection suggestion. The Commissary's inability to collect cash duty payments (vice our current coupons) is the "single" issue preventing us from moving forward with this effort. If the Commissary can get on board, in future you'd show your "White Card", duty would be added to the total purchase price of your goods (Just like sales tax is added on in the States), you'd sign the log and walk out...no more counting coupons. Rest assured if you have coupons a grandfather period would be in place to allow you to use them before the new program was fully implemented. Full information about the Retiree Limited Privilege Program (the coupon program) is on the Website.

Military Honors: When a retiree passes away and their family desire Military Honors at their funeral, no matter where you reside in the United Kingdom, contact the RAF Lakenheath Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) at 01638-523070 or RAF Mildenhall CAR at 01638-544168, or the Retiree Activities Office (at RAF Mildenhall 01638-542039). The RAO is manned by volunteers so if no one is available to answer your call, leave a contact number and someone will get back to you. A letter is available with these instructions and also a check list that may help. To get a copy of one or both please contact the RAO.
Courtesy Jack Kramer, Deputy RAO Director

RETIREE ASSOCIATION HAPPENINGS:

Western UK Retiree Association: For the next Western UK Retirees Association meeting dates contact the RAF Croughton RAO on 01280-708182

Retiree Association/Mickey Flynn Chapter: All the meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month at the RAF Lakenheath Officers Club. Social hour at 6:00 p.m., dinner 7:00 p.m. for dinner and the meeting starts at 8:00 p.m. For further information on the meetings contact Jack Kramer on 01842-753274.

Bentwaters/Woodbridge Association: Meets at 7:30 p.m. at Lehmann House, Wickham Market. Meetings are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month. For more information contact Wylie Moore, Coldfair Close, Saxmunham, Suffolk IP17 1UN , phone 01728-830281.

Additional RAO Contact Information: Address changes are no longer needed as we've discontinued the hard copy mailed newsletter. However if you need to correspond with the RAO office you can do that by writing to them at:

100th ARW/CVR Attn: UKRB
c/o 727 AMSS/TRO/RAO
RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 8NG (or APO AE 09459 if using MPS)

Until next time, have a very Happy Holiday season!

//SIGNED//
TIMOTHY W. LITHERLAND CMSgt, USAF, (Ret)
Editor

* The Articles in this Retiree Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the position of nor provide an endorsement by the Dept of Defense, USAF or the 100 ARW/RAF Mildenhall or 48 FW/RAF Lakenheath Commanders.