MINUTES for 08-28-2018 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 28, 2018 Page 7 Deputy Director Messina mentioned the committee could write a petition to the VA because the VA makes that policy. It's not something we can have a separate policy in our County for than the rest of the nation. Minoru Hanato asked does that go the same for the whole nation. Roddy Sueoka explained yes, because the National Guard Veterans don't get enough points, when you total up the number of active duty days, they don't have enough. George Sheridan answered, points shouldn't have a play into that. If you're a Veteran, you're a Veteran. Emile Wery replied, if you're in the National Guard and you were active in '68, everyone that was activated in '68, is a Veteran, because you have that active time. But if you join the National Guard and you never get activated, you retire at 20 years and wait till age 60, you don't get all those other entitlements. It has to be more than six months, so if you only do basic training and AIT, you come back to the unit and you stay in the unit you have not accrued enough active duty time to warrant those benefits. That's how it's always been. Roddy Sueoka further explained because of the one week and a month, if you total it, it isn't fair to an active duty guy because an active duty guy, in one year the amount of days that he serves, whereas the National Guard guys they a barely get to the 180 days of active duty which is six months for active duty. Chair Doolittle confirmed if your unit is activated, you automatically qualify for benefits, you must be active for six months. George Sheridan agreed. Minoru Hanato described when he was drafted, he served for two years and he got Title X from the Department of National Defense. If you are only joining the National Guard you get on orders called Title 32, if you serve 181 days you went to basic training, AIT or Military Service School then you get Title X, then you qualify to be buried in a Veterans Cemetery. If you complete your 20 years' service, you get a letter saying you're entitled to retire with pay when you become 60 years old and if you want you can be buried in a Veterans Cemetery. Some members when he was with National Guard, because of downsizing, they only served 18 years but the office gave them 20 years' service in writing. Deputy Director Messina asked what Minoru Hanato's second item was. Minoru Hanato introduced Mr. Dale Ross, President for the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.