Newsletter

AUSA

Utah Chapter Newsletter

February 2024


Warmest Greetings from your AUSA Utah Chapter

I am very pleased to report some great statistics for AUSA National as well as Utah Chapter. The Association of the United States Army now exceeds 1,000,000 members. With that kind of clout, there are people in Congress who have to listen when AUSA speaks up for our Soldiers, families, veterans and DA civilian members.

Our Utah Chapter contributes to that number—we now have over 11,000 individual members statewide as well as an even dozen Community partners.

We are now past the new year and heading into Spring. The chapter Executive Committee and Board of Advisors are already starting to plan for our annual Memorial Day service at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery. This will be on Monday, 27 May, 2024. More information will be forthcoming.

This and other events can only be planned and executed with our volunteers. We are still looking for people who want to help us in our continuing support for Utah Soldiers, families and veterans—Active, Guard, and Reserve. Please contact me if you are interested in helping us. mike.menser@icloud.com or 706-718-9751.

Finally, I have included a list upcoming events and information that might be of interest to you. I especially want Utah Chapter, AUSA members to be aware of our scholarship program that is still looking for applicants…see page 3.

Thank you all for your membership supporting Soldiers, families, veterans and our local communities.

M.W. "Mike" Menser

President

AUSA Utah Chapter

706-718-9751


Chapter Statistics


11,407 Active memberships


11 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

 - Action Targets

 - Adobe-Utah

 - Artis, LLC

 - Fathom Realty

 - Polymule

 - Major Brent Taylor Foundation

 - Mountain America Credit Union

 - Spotter Global

 - Sarcos Technology & Robotics

 - Monterey Technologies, Inc.

 - Moog, Inc.


16 NATIONAL PARTNERS*

 - Accenture Federal Services

 - AT&T Global Business

 - Public Sector Solutions

 - Collins Aerospace

 - Curtis-Wright

 - Fortem Technologies

 - Glock, Inc.

 - IMSAR, LLC

 - Intercontinental Hotels Group

 - Live View Technologies

 - Moog, Inc.

 - Northrop Grumman Defense Systems

 - Revision Military Ltd

 - Rocky Brands, Inc.

 - Sprung Structures, Inc.

 - USAA

 - Western Governors University


* National Partners are organizations are that have a physical presence in Utah


With our new logo, our mission is twofold: honor the extraordinary history of the U.S. Army and chart a course for our association's future. That idea is a critical part of our new look, where a brave and enduring Soldier from the Greatest Generation helps up a promising future Soldier who will carry forward the torch of freedom. AUSA invites you to welcome our new logo, which captures the enduring spirit of the U.S. Army and signifies our unwavering commitment to Soldiers and their families, veterans, Department of the Army civilians and the entire Army community. We stand united to provide steadfast support to the Army and its mission to defend our nation.


Utah Chapter Scholarship - 2024


1. What is it?

 - Partial tuition for one semester to any state college or university in Utah

2. Who is eligible?

 - Spouse and/or child of any Association of the United States Army member

or

 - JROTC Cadets; ROTC Cadets not on scholarship

3. How to apply:

 - Go online to AUSAutahchapter.org, fill out application and email it to:

dajohnson26@comcast.net

or mail it to

CSM (Ret). Don R. Johnson,

1484 Cajun Bay

Taylorsville, Utah 84123


4. When will I be notified?

 - All awardees will be notified within two months of semester start. The scholarship may be used any time during the next school semester. Extensions to the time frame listed will be dealt with on an individual basis. Request for extension may be made by contacting the Utah Chapter AUSA in writing.

5. Do I need to be accepted to a college/university to receive the scholarship?

 - No. However, the sooner you are accepted, the sooner you will be able to take advantage of the scholarship and meet the time frame deadline.

6. Things I need to do in order to use the scholarship:

 - Apply to any state college or university in Utah.

 - Complete any pre-testing that is required such as ACT or SAT tests.

 - As soon as you have been accepted, go online to AUSAutahchapter.org, fill out college commitment form and email it to dajohnson26@comcast.net or mail it to the address listed in paragraph 3.

All financial awards will go directly to the college or university.

If the award is not used it will be returned to the Utah Chapter AUSA


Honoring Women Veterans event set for March 15th at Utah State Capitol

Join us for a special evening in the Utah State Capitol Rotunda on March 15th, starting at 6:00 PM, to honor the courage and achievements of Utah's women veterans at the "Honoring Women Veterans of Utah – Sisters in Service" event. The evening will feature a program celebrating these remarkable women, followed by a social hour with hors d'oeuvres and the chance for veterans and their families to connect and share experiences. We are privileged to have General Mari K. Eder, a retired U.S. Army Major General, as our keynote speaker, bringing her valuable insights and leadership experiences. This event is more than just a celebration; it's a significant acknowledgment of the sacrifices and victories of our Sisters in Service, and we warmly invite you to join us in this meaningful tribute to these women for a memorable evening. Attendance is free. Additionally, we are excited to feature a unique showcase at the event, spotlighting the experiences of women veterans. We invite women veterans who are willing to share their stories and service experiences to be a part of this special feature.

Register:  https://forms.gle/mbk2avdZQpnfRAB97

Utah VSOs Ready to Assist: Navigating Veterans' Claims with Support

At the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, the dedicated Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) play an important role in guiding veterans through the often-complex process of filing and managing their claims. These professionals are committed to serving those who have served our nation, offering advice and support in navigating the benefits system. Whether it's healthcare, education, disability compensation, or any other service-related claim, the VSOs are equipped with the knowledge and resources to ensure veterans receive the benefits they are entitled to. We strongly encourage all veterans in need of assistance with their claims to reach out to our VSOs. Their service to you is a testament to your service to our country, and they stand ready to help you every step of the way. Remember, you are not alone in this journey, and the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is here to support you.

Find a VSO in your area: https://veterans.utah.gov/regional-offices/?mc_cid=0cf9acde73&mc_eid=96c8fb1cad

Other links of Interest to Utah Soldiers, veterans, and families:

Association of the United States Army (AUSA) - www.ausa.org

TRICARE - www.mytricare.com

Official Army Homepage - www.army.mil

Veteran's Administration - www.va.gov

Veterans of Foreign Wars - VFW.org

American Legion - www.legion.org

Vietnam Veterans of America - https://vva.org/

Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs - https://veterans.utah.gov/

Utah Army National Guard - https://ut.ng.mil/

Salt Lake Chamber Military Affairs Committee - https://slchamber.com/events-programs/military-affairs-committee/

Utah Veteran Business Resource Center - https://utahvbrc.org/

Utah Veteran & Military Employment Coalition/Utah Dept of Workforce Services - https://jobs.utah.gov/veteran/index.html


Notable Events

 - 2024 Global Force Symposium, 26-28 March - Huntsville, AL

 - 2024 LANPAC Symposium, 14-16 May - Honolulu

 - Utah Chapter Annual MEMORIAL DAY service, 27 May - Fort Douglas

 - EANGUS Annual Conference, 18-21 August - Detroit, MI

 - AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition, 14-16 October - Washington, D.C.


How TRICARE Covers Ambulance Services

In some emergencies, an ambulance could be the difference between life and death. Fortunately, your TRICARE plan covers ambulance services in these situations.

"TRICARE covers ambulance services when medically necessary, based on the condition of the beneficiary receiving the service," said Elan Green, chief of TRICARE Health Plan's Medical Benefit and Reimbursement Section at the Defense Health Agency. "It's good to know how TRICARE covers these services before you have an emergency. This can help you avoid surprise costs."

If you have TRICARE For Life, you must follow Medicare's rules for ambulance services. For other plans, read on to learn how TRICARE covers ambulance services.

Outpatient and inpatient ambulance services

Your location plays a role in the type of ambulance service you receive. Outpatient ambulance service happens when an ambulance takes you from your home, an accident scene, or another location to a hospital. Inpatient ambulance service happens when an ambulance takes you from one hospital to a hospital more capable of providing the care you need.

These services have out-of-pocket costs based on:

 - Your TRICARE plan

 - Your beneficiary group

 - Whether you go to a network hospital or a non-network hospital

 - Whether the ambulance service is inpatient or outpatient

Treat-and-release service is when an ambulance treats you for an emergency but doesn't take you to a hospital.

TRICARE covers treat-and-release when:

 - The services you receive are medically necessary.

 - You don't need to go to a hospital.

 - You refuse transport after being treated.

Limitations

TRICARE doesn't cover ambulance services that aren't medically necessary. Remember, if you have a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

Covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Also covers ground ambulance transportation when traveling in any other vehicle could endanger your health, and you need medically necessary services from a:Hospital

Medicare may pay for emergency ambulance transportation in an airplane or helicopter if you need immediate and rapid transport that ground transportation can't provide. In some cases, Medicare may pay for limited, medically necessary, non-emergency ambulance transportation if you have a written order from your doctor stating that the transportation is medically necessary. For example, someone with End-Stage Renal Disease may need medically necessary ambulance transport to a kidney dialysis facility.

Your costs in Original Medicare. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20%.

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn't cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider