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| Retired Activities |
Marine Corps Community Services is focused on providing the Retiree community with the valued goods and service that they have earned with their many years of dedicated service. MCCS has established Retiree Affairs Programs that offer information about issues of interest to retirees and serves as a focal point for the group.
When military resources cannot provide assistance, the Retiree Affairs Officer (RAO) has a responsibility to help meet a retiree’s or family member’s needs through other available programs and services. The RAO will work to protect your privacy, promote your well-being, and be an advocate for you.
The RAO is staffed and operated by volunteer retired military that assist other retired members, their families and survivors to receive entitled services and benefits. Through the MCCS monthly newsletter “The Happenings”, the www.mccssc.com web site, seminars and appreciation days the RAO supports quality of life issues throughout the retirement years to their fellow service members.
The local RAO Volunteer Director is Arthur E. Foster 1stSgt retired USMC. He will be happy to assist you and can be reached at 843/228-6222 and email address is arthur.e.foster@usmc.mil |
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I. D. and Privilege Cards
Upon retirement, you were issued a DD Form 2 (Retired) to replace your active duty ID card. If your retired card is lost or damaged, you can get a replacement card from the nearest Realtime Automated Personnel Identification system (RAPIDS) site. If you are not shown in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the issuing activity can request verification of your entitlement by contacting the Retiree Activities Section (MMSR-6) at (800) 336-4649.
All of your eligible family members should have had their ID cards reissued upon retirement. You can apply for renewal or replacement of the DD Form 1173 for your family members at any RAPIDS site (see below). The primary means of verifying eligibility is made through DEERS. If the family member is not listed in DEERS, you must provide sufficient documentation to show entitlement.
(Read more information at manpower.usmc.mil, go to careers> Retired Marines>
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In the Event of a Military Retiree's Death
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Stopping retirement pay is critical to avoid indebtedness. Notify DFAS 1-800-321-1080 (if receiving normal retired pay). Have readily available: Social Security number of deceased annuitant, Annuitant’s date of death, Name, address and telephone number of next-of-kin or contact person, Specify who will send a copy of the death certificate. Notify Department of Veterans Affairs 1-800-827-1000 (if receiving disability pay from VA).
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Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election. Designated annuitants will receive notification from DFAS if the deceased retire Marine elected the SBP. If you are uncertain of whether an election was made, call DFAS at 1-800-321-1080. In order to better understand the SBP read more at the Marine Corps Manpower web site.>
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Update your military Identification card. As the survivor of a deceased Marine, your ID card must be updated to reflect the change in status due to the Marine’s death. Also, this will ensure you do not fall out of the DEERS system for Tricare benefits. See Identification & Privilege card section above.
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Notify the Social Security Administration. Call 1-800-772-1213 to apply for the $225.00 death benefit (if applicable).
- Click Here to download Military Funeral Honors Guide.
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| Retiree News |
May 22
Retiree's Golf Boot Camp
April - October, every 4th Thursday at the Legends at Parris Island Driving Range.
Camp Instructors:Andy Hinson, PGA Professionals & Tom Weslake, Assistant Professional.  details  |
Retiree Appreciation Day Wrap Up
‘Fightertown’ gave the retirees an outstanding reception. The base paper, “The Jet Stream,” made our visit its front page news. Lunch at the Officers’ Club was great and afterwards the Public Affairs Office arranged for three events. First was an up close static display of Marine Fighter Squadron 251 F-18 planes and the Marines who just returned from real-world deployment. Next we went on to view the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting exhibition. The last event was a demonstration of the Provost Marshal’s Office’s military working dogs (everyone loved the dogs). We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. The next Retiree Appreciation will be held on Parris Island and the Retiree Seminar will be conducted at the end of November 2008. Be sure not to miss the up coming events. Watch for details! |
Arlington National Cemetery Update
An enlisted service member killed in battle and posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism is rendered lesser honors at Arlington National Cemetery than an officer who dies in a car crash the day after being commissioned. That statement took officials at several veterans’ organizations by surprise. But it is true: Burial honors at Arlington, the nation’s most storied military cemetery and home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, are accorded strictly by rank, not by the circumstances of death. “That is the custom that has been prescribed,” said Jack Metzler, the superintendent at Arlington for the past 17 years. Most enlisted troops receive “standard honors” — military pallbearers, a firing party led by a noncommissioned officer, a bugler and, on request, a chaplain. All others receive variations on “full honors,” which also include a horse-drawn caisson, a band and, if requested, escort troops. The only enlisted troops who may receive full honors are those in the highest enlisted grade, E-9. Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of rank, also rate the caisson in addition to standard honors. The two types of funerals are dramatically different. The issue has been raised that Honors rendered should be rendered fairly, based on actions, not rank and the present custom is due for a change.
Read more about this: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ |
Missouri Retiree Tax Exemption
Military retirees in Missouri might have a state tax cut coming, if lawmakers go along with a proposal by Gov. Matt Blunt. The governor proposed to eliminate the state income tax on military pensions for tens of thousands of veterans in Missouri. Veteran's officials said the tax cut was one of their priorities. Of the 41 states that have an income tax, 12 do not tax military pensions, including neighboring Illinois.
Read more about this: http://www.mo.gov/
Ohio State Tax Exemption
Recently passed Ohio legislation exempts military retirement pay from Ohio personal income tax and exempts estates of armed forces members who died while serving in combat zones from probate fees. The legislation also extends the 20% credit available to certain military persons on civil service examinations to any member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces who has completed more than 180 days of active duty service pursuant to an order of the President or an act of Congress.
Read more about this: http://www.ohio.gov/ |
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Contact Information
Arthur E. Foster/Volunteer Director
(1stSgt Retired USMC)
843/228-6222
DSN 335-6222
Fax DSN 335-6105
Email: arthur.e.foster@usmc.mil |
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