Photo By Chad Menegay | Military retirees listen to guest speaker Maria G. Bentinck, Director of Army...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. — U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee and the Fort Lee Retiree Council hosted the installation’s annual Retiree Appreciation Day Sept. 27 led by the Retirement Services Office and Directorate of Human Resources at the Soldier Support Center.
Fort Lee personnel provided services like ID cards, wellness checks and flu shots exclusively to retired service members.
“Each installation [has] a day designated for you and your families because we appreciate your service,” said guest speaker Maria G. Bentinck, Director of Army Retirement Services, to an audience of about 70 retirees. “They recognize the importance of the service that each and every one of you did for your families and for the Army and for our country.”
Vendors lined the halls and filled rooms with informational table displays, interacting with retirees and providing information on numerous programs and resources available to retirees, including higher education, insurance and healthcare. A retirement service representative and a legal representative also offered information and services.
Bentinck discussed retiree benefits, entitlements, recent changes and opportunities for retirees to stay connected to their service.
“You're no longer training and fighting our nation's wars, however, the Army and your other services still need you to stay connected,” Bentinck said. “You can become a JROTC [Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps] instructor, work with military service organizations or veteran service organizations, and there is retiree recall. There are sometimes opportunities for us to voluntarily recall in our respective services.”
Bentinck encouraged retirees to hire veterans, to inspire youth to serve by sharing their military service stories and to volunteer at installations in their communities.
“You all have special skills that you were trained for while you served; some of those skills you can still use on the installation,” Bentinck said.
Fort Lee Garrison Commander Col. Rich Bendelewski introduced members of the Retiree Council, which is focused on meeting the needs of the retiree population here and offering opportunities.
“I've met with the council, and we talked about a group of individuals that are motivated to represent the retiree population around this installation, a number of events that they have planned and the vision they have for opportunities for our retirement population to volunteer,” Bendelewski said. “I'm excited about the energy that the council is bringing, so use them as a source. Use them as a voice.”
About 13,000 retirees reside within a 40-mile radius of Fort Lee according to the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office.
Kenner Army Health Clinic staff were available during the event to provide information, blood pressure screenings and flu vaccinations.
Other speakers who discussed retiree benefits and resources included: Defense Commissary Agency Eastern Region Area Director Ronald Yoder, Kenner Army Health Clinic Commander Lt. Col. Joanna Bailey, a TRICARE East representative, a Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation representative and a Retiree Council representative.
These guest speakers provided current information on retiree-specific interests like updates to financial, commissary and healthcare benefits.
Bendelewski invited these retirees to continue visiting the installation and using its services.
Installation services are essential to populations both on and off the installation and include: hospital, health clinic, pharmacy, veterinary, shopping, grocery, religious, hunting, events, bowling, restaurants, ID cards center, administration assistance and golf.
Retirees were encouraged to attend upcoming installation events in the coming months such as: Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving meal and Grand Illumination.
This event not only celebrates retirees’ military service and encourages interaction between active and retired service members, it also provides a vehicle for keeping them connected and allowing their voices to be heard.
The event was open to all military retirees, their spouses and military retiree surviving spouses.
To learn more about services offered to military retirees and volunteer opportunities, visit the newly established Fort Lee Retiree Council LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/fort-lee-retiree-council/
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 15:09 |
| Story ID: | 549599 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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