This is the quite remarkable and true story of Squadron Leader Derek J. Sharp AFC BSc Dip Comp JP RAF and his incredible adventures. Nothing perhaps was more astonishing than his survival after meeting a Mallard duck at 500 mph and his subsequent fight back to become a pilot in command once again. That he survived to age 30 was amazing, that he continued unashamedly on to a ripe old age was nothing short of a miracle. Conceivably he followed the advice written on a fridge magnet in his kitchen `Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly'. Those who knew him would say not a chance! This fascinating book follows the adventures of Sharp from spotty schoolboy to highly respect aviator. He flew everything from fighters to heavy transport, wise old navigators and Her Majesty The Queen. He joined a flying club called the Royal Air Force and unexpectedly found himself at war. That mirrored his namesake, Pilot Officer Derek Sharp who lost his life in a Lancaster in WW2. He lived in a time long before Political Correctness, the Breathalyser and motorcar safety checks. He achieved all that he set out to do, and more. That would undoubtedly be his epitaph.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 included a provision "to assess the panoply of benefits and programs available government-wide to separating servicemembers intended to provide the skills and education necessary for such members to achieve meaningful and fulfilling employment in their civilian lives." Chapter 1 describes the comprehensive inventory of federal programs providing assistance to servicemembers, veterans, and their families -- including information from the administering agencies on who is eligible to receive services, the programs' objectives, and the available services. Chapter 2 provides a general discussion of legislative provisions and proposals relating to the military benefits for former spouses. Chapter 3 contains information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. Military medical care is a congressionally authorised entitlement that has expanded in size and scope since the late 19th century. Chapter 4 answers selected frequently asked questions about military health care. Chapter 5 discusses the standards and procedures governing the disposition of medical malpractice claims that servicemembers and non-servicemembers assert against the United States, as well as pertinent considerations for Congress. DOD has taken steps to modernise its Military Health System to ensure that it operates efficiently. Chapter 6 assessed the extent to which the services use validated dental clinic staffing models that also incorporate cross-service staffing standards, and have recruited and retained military dentists and measured the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention programs. The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in 1972, provides cash benefits to a surviving spouse or other eligible recipient(s) of a retiree or deceased member of the uniformed services. Chapter 7 describes the categories of beneficiaries eligible for survivor benefits under the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), the formulas used in computing the income level (including the integration of SBP benefits with other federal benefits), and the costs of SBP participation incurred by the retiree and/or the beneficiary. Chapters 8 and 9 provide information on the military retirement system.

Nearly 40,000 providers hold privileges in VHA's 170 VA Medical Centers (VAMCs). VAMCs must identify and review any concerns that arise about the clinical care their providers deliver. Chapter 1 examines, among other things, selected VAMCs' reviews of providers' clinical care after concerns are raised and VHA's oversight of these reviews, and VAMCs' reporting of providers to the NPDB and SLBs and VHA's oversight of reporting. Chapter 2 summarizes the implementation and oversight of VHA processes for reviewing and reporting providers after quality and safety concerns have been raised at selected VA medical centers. Veterans suffer a disproportionately higher rate of suicide than the civilian population. Chapter 3 focuses on the extent to which VHA conducts activities for its suicide prevention media outreach campaign, and evaluates the effectiveness of its campaign. The Faster Care for Veterans Act of 2016 called for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a pilot program under which veterans can use an Internet website or mobile application to schedule and confirm appointments at the department's medical facilities. Chapter 4 examines the extent to which VHA (conducts activities for its suicide prevention media outreach campaign, and evaluates the effectiveness of its campaign. VAMCs use reusable medical equipment (RME) which must be reprocessedathat is, cleaned, disinfected, or sterilizedabetween uses. Improper reprocessing of RME can negatively affect patient care. To help ensure the safety of veterans, VHA policy establishes requirements VAMCs must follow when reprocessing RME and requires a number of related oversight efforts. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss VHA's oversight of VAMCs' adherence to RME policies and challenges VAMCs face in operating their Sterile Processing Services programs, and any efforts by VHA to address these challenges. VHA has designated patient advocates at each VAMC to receive and document feedback from veterans or their representatives, including requests for information, compliments, and complaints. Chapter 7 examines the extent to which VHA has provided guidance on the governance of the program; provided guidance on staffing the program; assessed the training needs of patient advocates and monitored training completion; and monitored patient advocacy program data-entry practices and reviewed program data. Community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) are an important part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care delivery system. These clinics are geographically separate from VA medical centers (VAMC) and provide outpatient services, including primary care and mental health care. Chapter 8 reviews VHA's use of contracts to carry out core functions. Selected Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) medical centers (VAMC) use generally similar approaches for managing their pharmacy inventories. Chapter 9 describes approaches selected VAMCs use to manage their pharmacy inventories and assesses the extent to which VA oversees VAMCs' efforts to manage their pharmacy inventories. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has made progress improving opioid safety through its Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI). Chapter 10 examines the extent to which VHA has met OSI goals established in 2014 and (2) the extent to which VHA providers adhere to key opioid risk mitigation strategies.