Retiree News

Congratulations to BG Kenneth Hara. He will become the G3 operations officer at U.S. Eight
Army in Korea. It is a dual hat position similar to those held by other Hawaii National Guard
officers in recent years. He remains the Deputy Adjutant General and the Commander of the
Hawaii Army National Guard.

More in the Star Advertiser article http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/02/23/hawaiinews/guard-commander-takes-on-overseas-duties/

Commissary issues. Retiree News recently posted two articles about the Defense Commissary
Agency (DeCA).

In the “About DeCA” on their website, the commissary is presented as “a worldwide chain of
commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families. Authorized
patrons purchase items that are variably priced plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the
costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones.”

The DeCA has been under increasing Congressional scrutiny. The Congress wants to reduce
subsidies and make commissaries more self-sufficient. In response commissary store brands are
becoming a larger portion of the store inventory.

Freedom’s Choice is the commissary store brand name for food items and HomeBase for
nonfood items such as paper products and other household items. DeCA’s store brand
inventory also includes TopCare products such as first aid supplies, vitamins, over-the-counter
medications and beauty care.

With increasing competition from Costco, Sam’s Club and other commercial businesses, DeCA is
faced with some major challenges. During last year’s Congressional session, there was even talk
about combining all commissary and exchange operations (like currently at Fort Shafter).
Several Congress members “tested the water” with a “food allowance” in exchange to doing
away with commissaries.

Definitely more to come on commissaries….

Janine’s retirement. Special Happy Retirement and Congratulations to MSgt Janine Obando.
Janine joined the Hawaii Air National Guard in late 1980s. She later left Hawaii with her active
duty husband. She became a member of several Guard units during his follow-on assignments.
After his retirement, they settled in Florida where she became a member of the Florida ANG.
During her tenure there, she received a national award for her work in the social actions area.
She retired earlier this month in a ceremony hosted be the Commander of the Florida ANG. A
great individual.

More photographs needed. Special thanks to the Retiree News followers who sent in
photographs for posting. Since the new year, you have seen an increase in the number of
“Check Six” postings with old photographs. These photographs are great because they show
airmen, equipment and locations in earlier times. They do bring back memories of times past
when we were all younger.

If you have any old photographs of Guardmembers, could you scan them to JPEGs and email
them to me –[email protected]. Your action will be appreciated.

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