CMSgt Edwin B. Brown


13th EANGUS President

State Association:  NGB
Term:  2004 – 2006

Organizational Achievements

Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill in October 2004 that would enhance Montgomery GI Bill education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members. H.R. 5239, the Guard and Reserve Education and Training Act of 2004, contains provisions that would increase the monthly benefit payment to $400 a month, allow more time to use the benefit and allow those with 20 years of service to transfer benefits to family members. Chairman Smith received the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Eagle Award in July from EANGUS for his work on legislation to expand and enhance veterans’ health care and benefits programs; allow the VA to modernize job training programs; allow certain members of the Selected Reserve to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery; and provide for an increase in benefits and survivor payments.

Organizational Challenges

Telecommunications companies want to be able to charge new and expensive fees on enhanced prepaid calling cards. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is being pushed to pass new regulations that would increase the cost of calling card minutes by as much as 20 percent. Our military men and women use calling cards to keep in contact with their families. They depend on this affordable means of communication with home. EANGUS sent letters to the FCC Chairman and Commissioners and asked that they defeat the proposed new regulations that would impose new charges and fees on enhanced prepaid calling cards.

Legislative Accomplishments

Led Congress to permanently provide National Guard and Reserve servicemembers access to TRICARE 90 days prior to mobilization and 180 days after separation. Successfully opposed 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations to eliminate 29 Air National Guard flying units. Fought for the creation of TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), the first time every traditional Guardsman and Reservist were made eligible for low-cost health coverage subsidized by the federal government. In 2004, the Air Force announced initiatives for the Future Total Force plan that put all three components into units together for specific missions. This presented organizational challenges, and EANGUS carried the concerns of the National Guard forward to DOD to ensure that this new plan was carried out equitably. Enlistment bonuses were set to expire December 31, 2004, and won increased GI Bill Education Benefits for the National Guard, bringing their benefit more in line with the benefit available to active duty service members.