AFSA Chapter 959, Minot Air Force Base

06/05/2026

🇺🇸 AFSA Legislative & Military Update 🇺🇸

🩺 TRICARE Travel Benefit
TRICARE Prime beneficiaries may qualify for reimbursement of travel expenses when referred for specialty care that is not available within their local network, helping reduce the financial burden of receiving necessary medical treatment.

💙 Benefits Increase for Catastrophically Disabled Veterans
The House has passed the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, which would increase benefits by approximately $10,000 annually for veterans receiving the highest levels of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) while also expanding support for surviving spouses and families receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

✈️ Honoring the Flying Tigers
An A-10 assigned to Moody Air Force Base has been painted in a special scheme honoring the legendary WWII Flying Tigers, preserving the heritage and legacy of those who paved the way for today’s Air Force.

📢 AFSA Legislative Priorities

✔️ Pay Our Troops Act
Ensures service members continue receiving their pay during any future government shutdown, protecting military families from financial uncertainty.

✔️ Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act
Makes it easier for veterans, especially those in rural areas, to receive healthcare through telemedicine, reducing travel and improving access to treatment.

✔️ CHIP IN Act
Expands public-private partnerships to help build and modernize VA healthcare facilities faster while reducing costs to taxpayers.

✔️ Protect Our Veterans’ Disability and Retired Pay Benefits
Safeguards the disability compensation and retirement benefits that veterans have earned through their service and sacrifice.

✔️ Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act
Creates a five-year pilot program focused on improving treatment and care for veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

✔️ Major Richard Star Act
Would allow combat-injured veterans who were medically retired with less than 20 years of service to receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.

✔️ Retired Pay Restoration Act
Expands concurrent receipt by allowing military retirees with service-connected disabilities to collect both their earned retired pay and VA disability compensation without offset.

AFSA continues to advocate for policies that strengthen the quality of life, healthcare, and economic security of Airmen, Guardians, veterans, retirees, and their families.

One Voice for the Enlisted Force.

06/03/2026

🎉 Volunteers Needed for Freedom Fest! 🎉

The School Liaison Office is looking for volunteers to help in the Fun Zone during Freedom Fest on June 26th!

This is a great opportunity to support our military families and help make the event a success for the kids and community.

🗓️ Event Date: June 26
⏰ Volunteer deadline: End of day, June 4

If you’re interested in volunteering, or know someone who might be, please send me a message here on Facebook. I’ll pass along names and provide additional details as they become available next week.

Thanks for helping support our Minot AFB community! 🇺🇸

06/02/2026

🇺🇸 AFSA Military & Legislative Update | 2 June 2026 🇺🇸

✈️ Air Force Modernizes Basic Military Training

The Air Force is transforming Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland with a redesigned campus that will train approximately 35,000 recruits annually. The new facility includes modern classrooms, upgraded dormitories, and aircraft displays featuring an F-16 and C-130 to better connect trainees to the Air Force mission from day one.

🚀 Space Force Awards $4.16 Billion Contract

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to develop a space-based system capable of tracking airborne threats, including advanced missiles and hypersonic weapons. The effort is aimed at improving missile warning, tracking, and targeting capabilities worldwide.

🔒 Troops and Families Targeted by Foreign Adversaries

Pentagon officials report that some service members and military families have received threats, harassment, and disinformation from foreign actors. Defense leaders are emphasizing the importance of digital security awareness and protecting personal information online.

🇺🇸 AFSA Honors Our Fallen Heroes

AFSA proudly participated in the National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery. AFSA leadership joined in wreath-laying ceremonies, while members represented the association during the Parade of Colors, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

📢 AFSA Legislative Priorities

✔️ Pay Our Troops Act
✔️ Protect Veteran Access to Telemedicine
✔️ CHIP IN Act
✔️ Major Richard Star Act
✔️ Retired Pay Restoration Act
✔️ Veterans TBI Treatment Act
✔️ Protect Veteran Disability & Retired Pay Benefits

One Voice for the Enlisted Force.

06/02/2026

A few more days!!

AFSA Division 3 is seeking to better understand the needs of the childcare community so we can improve quality of life for our members and their families. Your responses will help us submit data-driven proposals to Congress and strengthen our advocacy efforts on childcare. Please take a few moments....

06/02/2026

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. PTSD can only develop after you go through or see a life-threatening event. It's normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, and most people start to feel better after a few weeks. If symptoms last longer than a month and are causing problems in your life, it could be PTSD. Learn about PTSD symptoms and treatments to help you recover.

It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event (also called "trauma"). At first, it may be hard to do daily activities you are used to doing. Going to work or school, even spending time with people you care about, can feel difficult right after a traumatic event. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later, or they may come and go over time.

If it's been longer than a month and thoughts and feelings from the trauma are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD.

To get help and learn more, visit: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp

06/01/2026

📢 Starting today, early voting is officially underway! 🗳️

Let your voice be heard in local elections by stopping by the Ward County Administration Building this week between 10AM and 6PM to cast your ballot. If you're looking to learn more about the Mayoral or City Council candidates, you can still watch our April forums on our page or the City of Minot YouTube channel here: https://tinyurl.com/5fccyeww

See you at the polls!

06/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DFekqgcnf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Early voting begins TODAY (June 1) in Stutsman and Ward Counties. Go to vote.nd.gov/myvotinginfo and enter your address to see polling location information, including dates/times when you can vote. .

01/29/2026

|Legislative Update|

The government is open—for now—through Jan 30. But service members and families are still dealing with the stress and trauma of the previous shutdown.

AFSA urges Congress to pass full-year appropriations now (and on time every year) so pay, benefits, and support services are never bargaining chips.

Why now: Full-year funding = uninterrupted pay & benefits, timely TRICARE claims, stable PCS/training, childcare & housing progress, and improved quality of life.

It takes 30 seconds to send your message!
Click here to email your lawmakers: https://www.hqafsa.org/takeaction.html