Space-A and Returning Reservists
One Lady's Opinion
- by Ann Caddell Crawford, Publisher, Military Living Publications
Having been a part of the military family for over 51 years, and the Publisher of Military Living for 38 years, I am keenly aware of bennies for the military and their families. Granted, there have been thousands of morale-boosting changes over the years. Many of them have been very expensive.
Here's my idea on boosting Guard and Reserve and their military family members (dependents) MORALE - because it is something that would not cost very many $$$s to implement.
I am concerned that these members are called on to serve our country over and over again; many have died in battle. I'm told that some have lost their small businesses, farms, medical and dental practices and more.
BACKGROUND - I know that Guard and Reserve members with the special Guard/Reserve ID cards can only fly Space-A in the US and its possessions.
Their families do not have the Space-A Air Travel benefit except when the member is on active duty or is retired at age 60 and receiving retired military pay.
That's where my idea comes in. I'd like to hear you build it up or shoot it down according to your knowledge of what I propose.
When Guard and Reserve members return from duty in the Southwestern Asia area or from active duty positions around the world, there is a window of a couple of months or more when they COULD FLY SPACE-A with their eligible family members. They could take some well-deserved R&R here in the United States or take their eligible family members with them and fly Space-A overseas.
MOST GUARD AND RESERVE PERSONNEL CANNOT ENJOY THIS PRIVILEGE - Why is this not happening? There is no bad boogeyman in this....it is a simple logistics matter.
When these warriors (or others who serve when called to active duty), serve in an active duty status, they and their eligible family members ARE eligible for the Space-A air travel privilege. IN THE USA IT IS ENTIRELY FREE.
It is also FREE on military aircraft overseas except for those rare instances when contract aircraft are utilized and the traveler must pay any processing fees for exit or entry to/from the USA. These are government taxes that are included in a commercial airline ticket.
But what spouse or dependents can go anywhere when their sponsor is in Iraq or Afghanistan or some other forsaken place that rarely hits the headlines?
Family members cannot fly without being accompanied by their sponsor - except in very unique cases. These include Environmental and Morale Leave (EML) for those on an accompanied tour in some countries overseas.
Alas, even though I am told that Guard and Reserve members have a couple of months or more to get their affairs in order while still on active duty after returning from their tour of duty, most of their units take away their active duty ID cards and immediately issue them the Guard or Reserve card which has limited benefits!
WHEN THAT HAPPENS DURING THIS SHORT PERIOD AFTER GUARD OR RESERVE MEMBERS RETURN TO THEIR HOME OF RECORD - THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED ID CARDS NECESSARY TO TAKE THEIR FAMILY ANYWHERE Space-A on a U.S. military aircraft.
So sad ...not even to see their families in other states, or take their spouses who hailed from other countries back to see their native home again - 000 - nada.
This was not possible at all for Guard and Reserve members and their families until active and retired military members were given the extended use of Space-A air travel in the USA WITH "dependents." This is still in an extended test at this time and has not yet been included in the official regulation according to my sources. The "test" has been extended indefinitely.
The doors to fun, love of family and relaxation, are CLOSED to returning Guard and Reserve members because of their ID's being retrieved before the time they HAD to be retrieved.
Tell me why this cannot be changed. I say that these folks have suffered a great deal. They should have the privilege of flying Space-A until such time as the regulations require their active duty ID's to be turned in. IF I am wrong, tell me!! Ann Crawford
What do you think?? Write me AnnCaddellCrawford@gmail.com
This is a very doable and good idea in my opinion. I'm asking around to see if they can incorporate a later collection of the active duty card into procedures.
It seems silly that this benefit is missed because of what on the face of it seems merely an administrative convenience.
Thank you again!
Mike Mitchell (Comment this)
tours. Being married to a military man is just like serving time in the military. Unfortunately, many guys die in retirement leaving widows, and sometimes children, who are deprived of the benefits we should be entitled to.
Because my spouse died in retirement is no reason why I should not be allowed to fly Space-A. I sure don't have the money to pay for civilian flights anymore!
Don't the rest of you widows agree with me??? (Comment this)
I think you are exactly right. These days the Guard and Reserves are a major part of our national defense, and life for them is more uncertain than for active personnel. They are told to live their lives as civilians, drill once a month, go off for 2 weeks in summer, and then suddenly their lives are interrupted by a call to active duty, and long overseas tours. At least the active folks don't leave their jobs when they leave their families to go overseas. We are now depending more on our reserve components, so I agree that they should be given a longer period to carry the green I.D., as they adjust back home.
I would like to extend comment, and dogmatic opinion to also include widows, 100% DAVs and anyone who has lost a limb, eye or hearing in military service.
As a retiree, I am category VI, the lowest category for Space A Air Travel, but would count it an honor to become a category VII, to give my seat for some of these folks who gave more than I did.
May God bless our military folks, and may congress treat them right.
Bob Carpenter (Comment this)
Please contact your state legislators, send them ann's letter or link to the blog. and ask for at least a sense of the senate/house resolution on this issue. Our federal legislators need to be bombarded with calls and letters too.
Does anyone have any contacts with the national media. Does someone you know have same? Let's get the word out.
Nothing will happen unless there is a big noise made.
Bush has pushed our reserves to the wall and a free flight somewhere after deployment will go a long way toward saving a marriage. And you all know how many of those you've seen go south due to the demands of the military life.
M Hooper
widow of USN (ret.) E-9 (Comment this)
We still have military aircraft, but what about reliability. The C-5, a 35 year old design, is notorious for its down time. The C-130, a 50 year old designed prop, is slow. How many today would like to go cross country in a 1957 car? I have been on my way home on a C-5 when, an hour out, it had to return to Europe for repairs. The duty passengers told me that they had already been with the plane 5 days for repairs, trying to return from their 3 day mission. I have no idea when they got home. (Comment this)
One of the main issues that I would like to push on as I'm pressed for time is 100% DAV being able to travel Space A. There is a specific reason why this is not done. We do not have the means nor the manning to help get DAV on and off planes and there are definite problems depending on how much help they need or if they have to travel with any medical equipment that could pose safety concerns. The issue is that we have an already undermanned active duty force that is stretched to the limit (thank you force shaping) and although I understand Vets, Spouses, Retirees, Widowers, etc wanting to have the same rights as AD- you don't understand the things that would have to go into it. There are a lot of issues here that look black and white on paper but get very grey in reality.
I know- working the passenger terminal at an Active Duty base is my job.
For the former reservist who said it isn't as hard for Active Duty to deploy because we don't have jobs to leave- that's bull. Yes we don't have civilian jobs to leave but we sometimes get just as much notice as you and when we leave we often leave our shops in a lurch as they are at least one person down. We also have to leave our families, our home and deploy to Iraq. Please do not put down our sacrifice. Just because you don't know what it's like from the active duty side doesn't mean that we have it so much better than you did. Believe me we just had three reservists work in our shop who thought they were coming for a two week vacation and by the end were telling us I don't know how you guys do it EVERY day. I'm not saying we have it harder, each side has it's own challenges so please don't make it like we have it easy, until you are here you just don't know. You chose to get out because it was what was best for your family, I applaud your service but it's not the fault of Active Duty or the Air Force that it couldn't be handled. It's not a suprise about deployments or demands on your time, when you sign up you know what you are in for. I'm Active Duty married to Active Duty believe me I know the drawbacks to being here and being married to someone who is in. They are hard challenges to face and some families can't handle it and there is nothing wrong with that.
(Comment this)