If you should happen to hear the sound of teeth grinding as you read this article, please rest assured if they are not yours, they are mine.

Some of you may recall my article for Military.Com, "Economic Chaos and the Military," in which I said, "Since 1946, every financial crisis has resulted in a severe degradation of the United States Military Forces—most notably during the Carter Administration.  Military readiness, weapons systems acquisition, maintenance, troop levels, training requirements, infrastructure and combat efficiency all deteriorate."

I now add to the above list a real and present danger of losing much of our military health care benefits and entitlements because they are currently under attack by our own government.

No sooner has a Democratic president taken charge than the Congressional Budget Office and Congress rushes forward with proposals to hammer the American military—again.

If the Military Coalition and Colonel (Retired) Bud Day thought it was tough winning a Republican Congress over for the few hard won victories to lower veteran's health care, raise disability payments a little closer to where they should be and to bring TRICARE and TRICARE for Life benefits to active duty and retirees, they had better buckle up.

Now that the Wicked Witch and Warlock of the West have an almost bullet proof Congress under their control they are already planning to ratchet up criminal investigations against the last Bush Administration, raise everyone's taxes, and reduce federal spending for military entitlements.

The Congressional Budget Office has floated a proposal, "Budget Options: Volume 1, Health Care," in which over 100 proposals to reduce civilian and military medical care, or charge more for services.  Here's a quick peek at some of the stuff that will soon be considered by Congress. 

If you are active duty—Yes, active duty—you could be charged a 10 percent health care allowance and have to pay a fee (not yet determined) for you and your dependents to use military hospitals and clinics.

TRICARE For Life could be changed to where you have to pay for the first $525 of Medicare-eligible military benefits and then half of the next $4,725 out of your pocket.  This same proposal would also charge those who currently use military hospitals and clinics.

A Proposal to raise TRICARE fees for military retirees below the age of 65 would be more than double the current rates.  Annual fees for TRICARE Prime would be $550 for singles and $1,100 for families.  TRICARE Standard deductibles would increase to $350 for singles and $700 for families plus an annual fee of $50 for singles and $100 for families.  Then, there would be more fees for those who use military facilities.

VA health care eligibility for nondisabled vets (above a certain income level) would be terminated.

Now, as you know you must be enrolled in MEDICARE Part B to qualify for TRICARE For Life.  Sounds easy, right?  Only problem is that the free medical care most of us who fought, or served in WWII through Vietnam for was never free.  For example, my family pays $2,313.60 per year for our free medical care, taken directly out of our Social Security checks.

In addition to that, retirees rated at 40 percent disability and below are paying their own VA disability pay taken directly out of their retired pay.  This is an ongoing battle that is unlikely to be fixed without extreme pressure on the Congress.

Every active, inactive, guard, reserve or one term veteran should make their feelings known to their Congressional Representative concerning these atrocities before cuts are made to our vital military medical entitlements and legislated out of existence—again.  If you need to find them, every member of Congress has a web site, or e-mail address listed on the MOAA web site (http://www.moaa.org/).

We should also remember that President Obama has vowed to maintain the benefits, entitlements and opportunities that apply to the American military forces.  These benefits must embrace the total force, active, reserve, guard and veterans.  We may very well need his help in fending off the CBO and the Office of Management and Budget attack on military benefits before the current financial disaster is resolved.

If you wear, or have worn your countries military uniform and if you believe for one second that you will not be impacted by these current proposals, then just sit in your rocker and wait a few months while they strip away some of the most critical military entitlements you will ever have—your future medical care.