.png@webp)
.jpg@webp)
Chapter Reports and News
VIRGINIA PENINSULA CHAPTER (VA10)
Leadership
President: 1LT Glenn Marshall, USA (Ret)
Secretary: COL Karen Coccio, USA (Ret)
VCOC Representative: COL Ron Corson, USA (Ret)
Address PO Box 6463City, State, Zip Williamsburg, VA 23188-5224Meeting Time: 4th ThursdayMeeting Place Rotation: Ft Eustis, Langley AFB, Williamsburg
WEBSITE: https://www.vipmoaa.org
About UsThe MOAA 5-Star Level Of Excellence Award winning Virginia Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (VIPMOAA) encompasses Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Yorktown Coast Guard Station and the surrounding towns and counties. Most members live in Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News and Hampton. Historic Jamestown Fort and Fort Monroe are also located in VIPMOAA's area.VIPMOAA has over 270 member/families who enjoy a variety of gatherings and events. This website contains considerable information about our activities, legislative advocacy, support for JROTC/ROTC programs, supporting honor flights, and 4 other beneficiaries of our support. Please view our Donations. VIPMOAA is a private, not for profit, 501(c) (19) organization. MOAA and its Affiliated Chapters and councils are non-partisan. We adher to MOAA's Guidance on Political Partisan activity. All board members are un-paid volunteers. VIPMOAA is an active member of the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) MOAA. VIPMOAA was first chartered by MOAA in 1970 (after beginning as an officer's social group at Fort Eustis in 1968).
.jpeg@webp)
Our Mission Statement:
To be a champion of local and national legislation that benefits our military community. To perpetuate the traditions of the American Military by providing camaraderie among our members, providing support for veterans, and by mentoring young men and women in the community to become America’s future military leaders. To be a trusted counselor for our surviving spouses.
Purposes of VIPMOAA:
Uphold the Constitution of the United States.Support a sufficient military force for the nation.Inform chapter members and family about military issues and benefits..Promote a spirit of comradery among members.Serve as regional point of contact.Reinforce locally the legislative goals and objectives of MOAA and the VCOC.Provide factual personal affairs & survivor assistance to members and family.
To be a champion of local and national legislation that benefits our military community. To perpetuate the traditions of the American Military by providing camaraderie among our members, providing support for veterans, and by mentoring young men and women in the community to become America’s future military leaders. To be a trusted counselor for our surviving spouses.
Purposes of VIPMOAA:
Uphold the Constitution of the United States.Support a sufficient military force for the nation.Inform chapter members and family about military issues and benefits..Promote a spirit of comradery among members.Serve as regional point of contact.Reinforce locally the legislative goals and objectives of MOAA and the VCOC.Provide factual personal affairs & survivor assistance to members and family.
Reports
2021 thru 2025
Virginia Peninsula Chapter Legislative Affairs
August 2023
COL Tom Shubert, USAF (Ret)
I had the opportunity in mid-July to attend the third quarter meeting of the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC), held at the former residence of General George C. Marshall (Dodona Manor) in Leesburg, Virginia. If you have never visited the Manor, you owe it to yourself to take the time, when you are up in northern Virginia, to pay a visit. (https://www.georgecmarshall.org/)
During the meeting, Virginia State Senator Jeremy McPike (29th District) was recognized by VCOC as our “State Legislator of the Year.” He thanked VCOC for this recognition and emphasized his on-going support for our three key legislative initiatives: constitutional amendment to provide property tax relief for spouses of military members who die from non-combat related causes (e.g., training accident) on active duty; remove the age 55 restriction for military members’ retirement pay tax relief; and include NOAA and Public Health Service retired officers as well in the tax relief benefit.
Also in attendance was a representative of MOAA’s National Staff, who provided an interesting and concerning statistic. He informed the VCOC attendees that less than 15% of MOAA Chapter Members use MOAA’s Legislative Action Center to contact Members of Congress on issues of critical importance in order to support legislation that benefits the uniformed services community and, equally important, to engage to stop legislation that will negatively impact that same community. While there are certainly many MOAA Members who engage with their legislators via other means (phone calls, personal visits, etc.) besides using the Action Center, using the Center allows MOAA to gather important data to engage on legislation more effectively. Also, the Action Center is a very convenient and easy to use tool to make your concerns known to Congress.
One issue highlighted during the meeting was to ask Chapter members to engage with their Congressional Members on, using the Action Center, H.R.3232 – “Respect for Grieving Military Families Act.” Under DoD’s current policy, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) recoups the final month of retirement benefits upon the passing of any retired servicemember. This can put surviving family members in a stressful financial position; many survivors are unaware DFAS can recoup benefits – by pulling funds out of a joint checking account, for example – without their consent. If passed into law, this Act will prevent DFAS from immediately recouping any overpayment of benefits and instead gives survivors the opportunity to repay the benefits over a 12-month period. It would also allow the Secretary of Defense to forgive the repayment.
When I returned from Leesburg, I used the Action Center to engage with my Congressional Members on H.R 3232 – it was easy and effective. It formatted and addressed the below email to the Members, and also allowed me to edit and “personalize” the letter if I so desired:
When I returned from Leesburg, I used the Action Center to engage with my Congressional Members on H.R 3232 – it was easy and effective. It formatted and addressed the below email to the Members, and also allowed me to edit and “personalize” the letter if I so desired:
I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor H.R. 3232/S. 1588, the Respect for Grieving Military Families Act, which prevents the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) from immediately recouping the final month of retirement benefits upon the passing of a retired servicemember. This legislation will provide surviving family members the opportunity to repay any overpayment of benefits over a 12-month period and also would allow the Secretary of Defense to forgive the repayment.
Please co-sponsor H.R. 3232/S. 1588, the Respect for Grieving Military Families Act. I urge you to work with your colleagues to pass the bill as standalone legislation or as a part of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
A few days later, I received emails from Both Senator Warner’s and Congressman Wittman’s offices acknowledging my correspondence. So, please add your voice to this effort concerning H.R. 3232, as well as a host of other issues, by contacting your legislators today using the MOAA Legislative Action Center (https://moaa.quorum.us/).
Please co-sponsor H.R. 3232/S. 1588, the Respect for Grieving Military Families Act. I urge you to work with your colleagues to pass the bill as standalone legislation or as a part of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
A few days later, I received emails from Both Senator Warner’s and Congressman Wittman’s offices acknowledging my correspondence. So, please add your voice to this effort concerning H.R. 3232, as well as a host of other issues, by contacting your legislators today using the MOAA Legislative Action Center (https://moaa.quorum.us/).