Retiree Appreciation Day provides valuable info

A Retiree Appreciation Day is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Ramstein Officers’ Club. Coffee, juice and pastries will be served from 8 to 9 a.m., followed by formal briefings and guest speakers from 9 to 11:45.

The event is sponsored by both the Army and Air Force communities and held annually for all military retirees and their families.

“Retiree Appreciation Day is designed to give them a little thank you,” said Luis de Andrade, president of the KMC Retiree Counsel. “It’s also a way to provide retirees with the most current information on issues that are near to their heart, such as TRICARE and Veterans Affairs. Those are big ones. We’re all here to reach out to them and ensure they are aware of the latest updates and benefits available.”

De Andrade retired from the Air Force in 1997 and now works as a Department of the Army civilian. He recommends retirees also bring their spouses with them to ensure they are able to properly handle all of their personal affairs after their death.

Representatives from legal, TRICARE, pharmacy, IAC and identification card offices, customs, mortuary affairs, casualty assistance and the U.S. Army Europe retiree council are scheduled to provide briefings.

Information tables will be set up from the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz retirement services affairs office,  Air Force retiree affairs office,  86th Medical Group, Army Community Service, Army Substance Abuse Program, VA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Red Cross, Defense Commissary Agency, USO, Service Credit Union, education center and the KMC Retiree Council.

Retirees should bring their retirement ID cards to the event. In addition to the retiree appreciation day, Pulaski and Ramstein dental clinics will open to retirees from 8 a.m. to 3 pm. (Pulaski) and 8 a.m. to noon (Ramstein) Oct. 26 for exams, oral cancer screenings, cleanings, and X-rays. Retirees can make appointments at Pulaski by calling 0631-3406-4443 and Ramstein at 06371-47-2210. Retirees living outside of the KMC are also welcome to attend.

For more information on the Retiree Appreciation Day, call the retiree affairs office at 06371-47-5486 or email 86aw.rao@us.af.mil.