AFSA Chapter 1320, Travis AFB, CA

09/02/2026

🇺🇸 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE | Reserve Component Fairness Act

For service members considering a transition from Active Duty to the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, a newly proposed piece of legislation could have a significant impact on when they are able to begin receiving Reserve retirement pay.

The Reserve Component Fairness Act, introduced by Congressman Abe Hamadeh, seeks to address a gap in the current Reserve retirement system.

Under current law, qualifying members of the Ready Reserve may reduce the age at which they begin receiving retirement pay based on certain periods of qualifying active service. However, that qualifying service generally must have been performed while the individual was already serving as a member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard.

That can create an important distinction for prior-Active-Duty members.

A service member could spend years on Regular Active Duty, transition into the Guard or Reserve, complete the requirements for a Reserve retirement, and receive little or no reduced-retirement-age credit for qualifying active service performed before entering the Reserve Component.

📌 WHAT WOULD THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION DO?

The Reserve Component Fairness Act would allow certain qualifying active-duty service performed after January 28, 2008, and before joining the Ready Reserve to count toward reducing the age at which a member can begin receiving Reserve retired pay.

For every 90 aggregate days of qualifying service, eligible members may potentially reduce their retirement-pay eligibility age by three months, subject to existing statutory limitations.

For some prior-Active-Duty members, that could potentially mean receiving Reserve retirement pay months—or even years—earlier.

⚠️ IMPORTANT TO KNOW

This legislation would not eliminate the requirement to earn a qualifying Reserve retirement. Members would still need to complete the required qualifying years of service and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Additionally, not every day of Active Duty automatically qualifies for reduced-retirement-age credit.

Another important distinction: receiving Reserve retired pay earlier does not automatically mean earlier TRICARE eligibility. Under current rules, retiree health care eligibility generally remains tied to age 60.

💡 WHY THIS MATTERS

Many Airmen and Guardians transition between Active Duty, the Guard, and Reserve throughout their careers. Retirement laws should accurately recognize qualifying service regardless of when that service occurred during a member's career.

This proposal could be especially important for:

➡️ Prior-Active-Duty members currently serving in the Guard or Reserve
➡️ Active-Duty members considering transitioning to the Reserve Component
➡️ Members planning for a non-regular military retirement
➡️ Supervisors and leaders helping Airmen and Guardians make long-term career decisions

One of AFSA's most important responsibilities is ensuring our members understand legislation that may affect their pay, benefits, retirement, and quality of life.

📣 BOTTOM LINE: The Reserve Component Fairness Act seeks to ensure qualifying Active-Duty service performed before joining the Reserve Component is not overlooked when determining reduced retirement-pay eligibility.

This is currently proposed legislation—not a change to benefits today. We will continue monitoring developments as it moves through the legislative process.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hamadeh.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=983

Stay informed. Know your benefits. Advocate for those who serve. 🇺🇸

Congressman Abe Hamadeh is introducing the Reserve Component Fairness Act, legislation to correct an inequity in military retirement rules

09/01/2026

💰 ARE YOU LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE? | BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE

There is a military benefit that could potentially add hundreds of dollars per month to the paycheck of qualifying service members—and many military families may not realize it exists.

The Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) is a taxable monthly allowance designed to provide additional financial support to military families whose household income falls below established federal guidelines.

One of the biggest changes: eligibility has expanded.

✅ The current income threshold is 200% of the federal poverty guideline, based on household size and duty location.

Who may qualify?

Generally, a service member must:

🔹 Be serving on active duty, including qualifying activated Guard and Reserve members
🔹 Have completed initial entry training
🔹 Have at least one dependent registered in DEERS
🔹 Have qualifying gross household income below the applicable 200% federal poverty guideline

The amount isn't a flat payment. BNA is calculated based on the difference between the family's qualifying household income and the applicable income threshold, meaning the monthly payment will vary from family to family.

📌 You do NOT necessarily have to wait for someone to tell you that you're eligible.

The military services screen members who may qualify, but service members who believe they meet the requirements can also apply through their respective service's process. Installation financial counselors and Military & Family Support Centers can also help members understand the program and application requirements.

⚠️ There is one important consideration.

BNA is taxable income, and receiving it could potentially affect eligibility for other income-based assistance programs such as SNAP or WIC. Before applying, members who currently receive other assistance should consider speaking with a personal financial manager or counselor to understand how the programs may interact.

Why should we care?

When BNA was first implemented, only 77 service members received the benefit during its first year. Eligibility requirements have expanded significantly since then, but a benefit only helps our Airmen, Guardians, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen if they know it exists.

This is exactly why organizations like AFSA continue to advocate, educate, and share information affecting the quality of life of our military members and their families.

📲 Share this information.

You may not qualify—but the Airman sitting next to you, the junior enlisted member in your shop, or a military family you know might.

Sometimes taking care of our people starts with simply making sure they know what's available to them.

🔗 Read the full Military.com article:

https://www.military.com/basic-needs-allowance-can-add-hundreds-to-a-military-paycheck-but-few-apply

Eligibility has expanded considerably. Here's who qualifies and how the application works.

08/29/2026

This past Wednesday our very own Chief Dombroski prepared a delicious meal 🥘 for the families visiting The Fisher House! The Fisher House represents more than a meal but AFSA Chapter 1320’s commitment to the community. Save some for the rest of the chapter next time!

08/29/2026

Yesterday our Chapter 1320 Airmen took time out of their day to prepare a meal for our firefighters! 🚒 These selfless acts continue to increase the bonds in the community and we’re proud to have Airmen like this apart of our chapter ‼️

08/24/2026

📢 New DoD Family Planning Benefit Coming Soon

Beginning September 14, 2026, the Department of Defense will launch a three-year pilot program allowing certain eligible active-duty service members to receive reimbursement for freezing and storing s***m or eggs before qualifying deployments or extended geographic separations.

This new program could provide eligible members with reimbursement of up to:
⭐️$500 per year for s***m preservation
⭐️$10,000 per year for egg preservation
Eligibility may include service members preparing for qualifying hazardous-duty assignments or those who will be geographically separated from a spouse, domestic partner, or dating partner for 180 days or more because of military orders.

Covered expenses may include retrieval procedures, medications, required testing, freezing, shipping, and storage. It is important to note that this is a reimbursement program and not a TRICARE benefit, and IVF, embryo creation, and other fertility treatments are not covered under this specific pilot.

Why does this matter?
Military service can place unique demands on family planning. Deployments, extended separations, hazardous-duty assignments, and operational requirements can all affect when service members have the opportunity to start or expand their families.

Programs like this provide additional options for service members to protect their future family-planning choices while continuing to meet the demands of military service.

Why are we sharing this?
At Chapter 1320, we believe advocacy also means making sure our military community knows about the benefits and resources available to them.

You may never personally need this program—but your Airman, Wingman, supervisor, coworker, friend, or family member might.

Please help us spread the word and share this information with anyone who may be preparing for a deployment or extended military separation.

🔗 Link to article: https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2026/08/12/dod-to-launch-pilot-for-some-service-members-to-freeze-s***m-eggs/

08/21/2026

Congratulations to TSgt Branham! On winning NCO of the Year for 2025‼️We finally were able to give her the award, better late than never!

Congratulations to our new Membership Trustee Sra Miazga🥳! Chapter 1320 is excited to see you excel in this new role and bring in people to support AFSA’s mission!

Today’s meeting was full of insightful legislative updates and discussion! We we will continue to fight the good fight for all those who’ve served and are currently serving this nation 🇺🇸 see you all next month!

08/20/2026

Dorm Residents‼️ ACE will be hosting an end of summer season bash tomorrow! It will be in The Peak parking lot at 1400. For the mid shift folk there will be a pizza party inside the peak from 1730-1900 we hope to see you all there!

08/18/2026

Hello everybody! Friendly reminder that our monthly meeting is coming up this Thursday, August 20th 1500 at the Delta Breeze Cigar Lounge! We hope to see you there!

08/13/2026

We're at the PEAK!!! It's pizza night! Wth salad and cookies. Come visit!

08/12/2026

Message from our Division 6 President:

Good morning AFSA Leaders!

Please push this far and wide – this membership special campaign ends today!

Thank you all for your sustained energy and passion. Your efforts and dedication continue to power the Association through our nation’s 250th birthday, and drive people’s desire to join our beloved Association!

The 250th member for life special is on-going – but today is the last day! Of note, this special offers a 38% percent discount from the standard member for life prices.

On-site at the PEDS, the membership booth has additional applications, and we are rocking and rolling. Virtually, you can earn credit for your recruiting and retention efforts, just document your membership ID on the application!

But members do not have to be present. Below is the link for the digital application:

https://www.hqafsa.org/250.html

Completed virtual applications MUST be emailed to [email protected].

Let’s get to our next goal of 250 new members for life with emphasis on extending our AFSA family for a louder voice on the Hill!


Yours in AFSA,


Cole S. Bappe

Chair, International Membership Committee

AFSA Board of Directors

President, Air Force Sergeants Association Division 6

Website: https://www.hqafsa.org/

"WE ARE AFSA!”

Special 250 member for life membership for the first 65 people to celebrate AFSA's 65th Anniversary!