MR. CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBER LAMBORN, and MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony for the record to the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. 

The Retired Enlisted Association is a Veterans’ Service Organization founded 46 years ago to represent the needs and points of view of enlisted men and women who have dedicated their careers to serving in all the branches of the United States Armed Services: Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves, as well as the members who are doing so today.

The Retired Enlisted Association enthusiastically supports the passage of H.R. 3787, the Honor America’s Guard and Reserve Retirees Act, and whatever amendments may be offered by Congressman Walz of Minnesota.

 As currently defined in law, members of the reserve components who have completed 20 or more years of service are military retirees and eligible upon reaching age 60 for all of the benefits of active duty military retirees.  However, they are not considered to be “veterans” if they have not served the number of consecutive days on federal active duty (defined as active duty other than active duty for training) required by law.

According to the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors handbook, 2009 edition, published by the Department of Veterans Affairs, “Reservists who served on active duty establish veteran status and may be eligible for the full-range of VA benefits, depending on the length of active military service and a discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. In addition, reservists not activated may qualify for some VA benefits” [emphasis added].

It adds further that “National Guard members can establish eligibility for VA benefits if activated for federal service during a period of war or domestic emergency. However, activation for other than federal service does not qualify Guard members for all VA benefits” [emphasis added]. 

Over time, Congress has authorized certain veterans benefits for these retirees, indicating their ‘quasi-veteran’ status.  For purposes of this discussion, these individuals will be referred to as “non-veteran retirees.”

VA benefits for non-veteran retirees who have not served on federal active duty for the consecutive number of days required by law include:  

• VA disability compensation and VA health care for a non-veteran retiree who is injured and/or disabled while performing inactive duty for training regardless of length of service. 
• VA home loan eligibility in exchange for six or more years of honorable service in the Selected Reserve
• VA burial and memorial benefits for the non-veteran retiree entitled to reserve retired pay at the time of death
• Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

These are substantial and appreciated benefits and this legislation contemplates adding no new benefits if veterans status is granted.

To qualify for a reserve retirement at age 60, a Guard or Reserve member must accrue the equivalent of 20 years of “points” based on the performance of military duty at a minimum of 50 points per year.  The minimum of 1000 qualifying retirement points roughly equates to 2.74 years of military duty based on the performance of drill duty (inactive duty training), annual training, and professional development in military science.  (20 yrs. X 50 points = 1000 point minimum divided by 365 = 2.74 years military duty).  Moreover, as volunteers, reservists are liable for activation throughout their careers and required to maintain their readiness for such eventualities.

It is not well known that members of the Reserve Components who are sent for duty on the southern border of the United States are sent in other than active duty orders.  So no matter how long those individuals may be on duty, their time does not count as active duty time and therefore does not count toward gaining veterans status.

In addition, for many years members of the air Reserve Components, including the Naval Air Reserve, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve have flown missions to many destinations around the world, doing what the active duty components would otherwise have to do.  Again, many, if not most of these missions are flown in other than active duty status, once again depriving these individuals of time that could count for veterans status.

In short, an individual may serve a career in the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces and become a military retiree, with all of the earned benefits that come with that status, and yet not be a “veteran” as defined by law.  Frankly, this makes no sense in today’s world, if it ever did.

When one looks at the uniform of someone serving in the United States military, several things are very noticeable.  Among these are the ribbons and medals worn on the uniform, the branch of service, and on some, the unit patch.  As the Army says on its website, “Soldiers wear a wide assortment of insignia, ribbons, medals, badges, tabs and patches. To the uninitiated, the variety can be bewildering. Yet, each device represents a Soldier’s accomplishment—or that of his or her unit—and is a great source of pride and accomplishment” [emphasis added].   The same can be said of all the other branches of service.

Within the U.S . Armed Forces, things without monetary value are meaningful and are a source of great pride and honor.  Clearly, one of those things is the distinction of being called a “veteran.”  And yet that honor is denied to some who serve honorably and with distinction for twenty years or more in the Reserve components.  It is time to change that.

The Congressional Budget Office has said there is no cost involved in making this change because there are no new benefits that will be granted to the personnel involved.  The fact is, this is strictly an issue of honor.

It should be noted that the Guard-Reserve, Veterans, and Retiree Committees of The Military Coalition have each put this initiative on their top ten priorities list for 2010, and it is endorsed by both The Military Coalition and the National Military Veterans Alliance.

Finally, the nation’s operational reserve policy requires the routine activation of Guard and Reserve servicemembers for 12 months every fifth or sixth year.  Going forward, there will be a negligible number of career reservists who would not qualify as active duty veterans.

Summary

For the vast majority of non-veteran retirees, this issue is about honor not benefits.  They seek public and statutory recognition as “veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States.”  They volunteered to serve, served honorably, and were prepared to serve on active duty if called.  The absence of statutory recognition is a vestige of the Cold War, when the nation relied upon conscription for its manpower.  A small cohort of today’s volunteers should not be penalized for decisions beyond their control concerning federal activation.  

This is a chance for the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the Congress to honor the service of those individuals at virtually no cost to taxpayers.  We sincerely hope Congress will do the right thing and pass the Honor America’s Guard and Reserve Retirees Act.