AFSA vice chair visits Travis

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Sixty-five percent. That is the maximum amount of a service member's retirement that can be taken from them by an ex-spouse.

It doesn't matter if the marriage lasted an hour or a decade. It's theirs to take at will because of old legislature that places the military member at fault no matter what the circumstances.

This is just one of a plethora of military-related issues that retired Chief Master Sgt. James Lokovic, Air Force Sergeants Association International Legislative Committee vice chairman, addressed during his visit last week to Travis.

"It's the (Department of Defense's) job to cut the low-hanging fruit like closing stateside commissaries or eliminating federal subsidies," he said. "They have to make our war-fighting capabilities their No. 1 priority, but we focus on the quality of life programs for you."

A service member's pay, allowances, education benefits, family care, health care, retirement and Veterans Affairs issues are the only things with which AFSA is concerned, Lokovic said.

"We are paying no higher percentage in DOD budget for personnel programs than we were 30 years ago," he said. "But these quality-of-life programs land at the bottom of the list when the budget is looked at. That's why the AFSA is always fighting for those benefits, testifying before Congress, lobbying, going up and speaking on issues that affect everyone in the service."

Only 19.6 percent of the members currently in congress have served in the military. Because of the low percentage of prior-military members, AFSA acts as the voice of the uniform. It cannot do it alone however.

"Every service member has a powerful tool to communicate with Congress and tell them how they feel about things," Lokovic said. "We put sample letters on our website. These elected officials are your employees. Tell them what you expect."

In one of the most recent events, tuition assistance was canceled for military members. Every chapter in AFSA got together and put out sample letters for members to fill out and send to Congress. Seven days later, tuition assistance was reinstated after legislation was introduced and signed into law.

Some of the current quality-of-life targets the AFSA is working on include protecting commissaries and base exchanges, protecting military compensation and retirement and ensuring the current Post 9/11 G.I. Bill remains relevant. It also is working to reform or repeal the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, which is the above-mentioned military-unique divorce law that can jeopardize a service member's retirement.

Lokovic urges everyone who dons the uniform to get engaged and communicate with their public elected officials.

"These are your benefits. This is your career. Be a strong, positive participant in their control," he said.

For more information, visit www.HQAFSA.org or email Staff@HQAFSA.org or call 800-638-0594. To contact Lokovic, email JLokovic@gmail.com or call 435-590-6106.