Retired Activities: Marine Corps Community Services, Serving Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort

TRICARE to Require Electronic Payments
TRICARE Prime beneficiaries who pay enrollment fees will need to pay their premiums by electronic means. Electronic payments will be required of retired servicemembers, family members of retirees, survivors and eligible former spouses who are TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. These changes mean that enrollees must pay by allotment from the sponsor's military retired pay, electronic funds transfer from their financial institution, or recurring credit card payment.

Retirement Planning
Veterans have a great deal of control over whether or not their retirement will be comfortable. Millions of Americans are preparing for retirement by saving in tax-favored retirement accounts — principally Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored 401(k) plans. But savers must be aware of common practices that can derail even the best-laid retirement plans.
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Retiree Proforming Job Salary Negotiations
What you ask for during a salary negotiation doesn't just influence how much you earn -- it also tells your future employer whether you're good at negotiating, which is a skill you can put to work for the employer once you're hired. To win your best salary, continue talking until you get everything you want, whether that's a higher base, an early salary review or company-paid childcare. There's always a risk involved with any questions you raise when the offer is made, but it's better to ask questions then, because if [the company is] uncompromising, that's not a healthy situation. If they have no tolerance for questions, you need to know that up front. Think of a salary negotiation as your chance to shine. The person on the other side of the desk is evaluating you. This is going to show you're astute in dealing with the outside world. When you get the offer, don't let your guard down -- you're still on the firing line. Feel confident, because they've come to you with an offer. To make sure you get all you deserve recommend asking the following 10 questions. As you ask them, keep in mind that in addition to gathering necessary information, you're showing your new boss that you're a good negotiator.
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Health Screening
As you age, being aware of issues related to health becomes more important. Several illnesses appear more frequently with increasing age. For example, illnesses like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, high blood cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and some types of cancer. Screening is done to find a condition (or risk factor) in a person who has no signs or symptoms of that condition. The goal of screening is to identify conditions early. Treatment works better during an early stage of a condition. Guidance for screening varies, depending on age, gender, past medical history, family history and other factors. Talk with your health care team about the screening tests that are recommended for you.
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Volunteers Needed
Did you know there are over 10,000 military retirees located in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties? If you are interested in helping to keep our military retiree community abreast of the many changes that are occurring, please consider volunteering. We could use your help and talents. The Retired Activities Office is located at Building 703 (Next to IPAC), Room 120, MCAS Beaufort and serves all three military installations. Information and training will be provided. Please contact Vonda Jones at 843-228-6222 or by E-mail:Click Here

Arlington National Cemetery Information
An enlisted service member killed in battle and posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism is rendered lesser honors at Arlington National Cemetery than an officer who dies in a car crash the day after being commissioned. That statement took officials at several veterans’ organizations by surprise. But it is true: Burial honors at Arlington, the nation’s most storied military cemetery and home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, are accorded strictly by rank, not by the circumstances of death. “That is the custom that has been prescribed,” said Jack Metzler, the superintendent at Arlington for the past 17 years. Most enlisted troops receive “standard honors” — military pallbearers, a firing party led by a noncommissioned officer, a bugler and, on request, a chaplain. All others receive variations on “full honors,” which also include a horse-drawn caisson, a band and, if requested, escort troops. The only enlisted troops who may receive full honors are those in the highest enlisted grade, E-9. Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of rank, also rate the caisson in addition to standard honors. The two types of funerals are dramatically different. The issue has been raised that Honors rendered should be rendered fairly, based on actions, not rank and the present custom is due for a change.
Read more at: www.arlingtoncemetery.org

Retired Activities
Vonda Jones/Volunteer Director (1stSgt Retired USMC)
Tel: 843-228-6222, DSN: 335-6222 and Fax DSN: 335-6105
E-mail:Click Here

Marine Corps Community Services is focused on providing the Retiree community with the valued goods and service that they have earned with their many years of dedicated service. MCCS has established Retiree Affairs Programs that offer information about issues of interest to retirees and serves as a focal point for the group.

When military resources cannot provide assistance, the Retiree Affairs Officer (RAO) has a responsibility to help meet a retiree’s or family member’s needs through other available programs and services. The RAO will work to protect your privacy, promote your well-being, and be an advocate for you.

The RAO is staffed and operated by volunteer retired military that assist other retired members, their families and survivors to receive entitled services and benefits. The local RAO Volunteer Director will be happy to assist you. Through the MCCS monthly newsletter The Happenings, the www.mccs-sc.com web site, seminars and appreciation days the RAO supports quality of life issues throughout the retirement years to their fellow service members.

Retiree Pay and Tax Information

Pay and benefits:

Tax Information:

Federal and State Tax info, publications and forms

VA Benefits:

Medical & Dental Benefit Information:
Request military personnel and/or health records. Depending upon the service branch and the year the veteran is discharged, deceased, or retired the military record could be located at different locations. Go to the National Archives (www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/location/) and select location of service branch.

I. D. and Privilege Cards:

Upon retirement, you were issued a DD Form 2 (Retired) to replace your active duty ID card. If your retired card is lost or damaged, you can get a replacement card from the nearest Realtime Automated Personnel Identification system (RAPIDS) site. If you are not shown in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the issuing activity can request verification of your entitlement by contacting the Retiree Activities Section (MMSR-6) at (800) 336-4649.

All of your eligible family members should have had their ID cards reissued upon retirement. You can apply for renewal or replacement of the DD Form 1173 for your family members at any RAPIDS site (see below). The primary means of verifying eligibility is made through DEERS. If the family member is not listed in DEERS, you must provide sufficient documentation to show entitlement. Read more information at manpower.usmc.mil, go to careers, then to Retired Marines.

Travel Privileges:

Please visit military travel benefits web site for eligibility, space available flights, schedules, required documents, and many convenient and inexpensive lodging facilities.

Veteran Retirement Homes:

Please visit Armed Forces Retirement Homes web site.

In the Event of a Military Retiree's Death:

Stopping retirement pay is critical to avoid indebtedness. Notify DFAS 1-800-321-1080 (if receiving normal retired pay). Have readily available: Social Security number of deceased annuitant, Annuitant’s date of death, Name, address and telephone number of next-of-kin or contact person, Specify who will send a copy of the death certificate. Notify Department of Veterans Affairs 1-800-827-1000 (if receiving disability pay from VA).
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election. Designated annuitants will receive notification from DFAS if the deceased retire Marine elected the SBP. If you are uncertain of whether an election was made, call DFAS at 1-800-321-1080. In order to better understand the SBP read more at the Marine Corps Manpower web site.
Update your military Identification card. As the survivor of a deceased Marine, your ID card must be updated to reflect the change in status due to the Marine’s death. Also, this will ensure you do not fall out of the DEERS system for Tricare benefits. See Identification & Privilege card section above.
Notify the Social Security Administration. Call 1-800-772-1213 to apply for the $225.00 death benefit (if applicable).
Click Here to download Military Funeral Honors Guide.
For help regarding Military Funerals go to USMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs Casualty for assistance. Someone will be available 24 hours a day 1-800-847-1597.
Survivor Benefit Plan

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