Page 19 - Desert Oracle July 2019

National Guard servicemembers who may not single pay system based on national standards
be ROA members and encourage them to join for General Schedule employees. Civil Service
ROA and help with our legislative efforts! Wage Grade salaries are based on geographic
location. Both have high cost of living
geographic differential pay.

Should military pay and allowances be
converted to a single pay system?
1. Yes, national standard pay system.
2. Yes, national standard and/or geographic
location pay system.
3. Yes, geographic location pay system.
4. No, stay with the current military and
allowances pay system.

Photo by Merriam-Webster

Thank you to everyone who responded to ROA’s first “Talk to ROA.” The results are
in (below) and they show that the military Exchange store is a benefit used and
appreciated by ROA members.

How often do you use the military exchange?

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Legislation

Blue Water Navy Passes into Law
On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, the president
signed into law H.R. 299, the “Blue Water Navy
Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019,” which includes
Blue Water Navy veterans under the
presumption of service for Agent Orange.

Recognition of health issues related to exposure
to Agent Orange became legislation with the
Agent Orange Act of 1991. However, a
Department of Veterans Affairs ruling in 1994
excluded “Blue Water Navy” (vessels operating
off the coast of South Vietnam but often very
close to the coast) according to ROA Law
Review 16010.

Capt. Morgan Little, USN (Ret.), a tireless
advocate for recognition of sailors off the coast