SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER
“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony
The bottom line-Your vote is your voice. Use it now!
As an overseas voter, you have the right to receive your ballot by email. You must request your ballot this year and ask that it be emailed to you. VoteFromAbroad.org.
We the People
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
Greetings!
We need everyone’s help to GET OUT THE VOTE! Please sign up for the DAG Phonebanking Team! Will every DAG member vote in the November 3rd elections? Should we even ask that question? It is a right we have as U.S. citizens and we should always use it! These elections are crucial to preserving Democracy! Have you requested your absentee ballot? Return it immediately!
Texas voters: Has your voter registration been suspended? There’s still time to fix it!
Have you ever encountered difficulty, especially as a DoD civilian retiree, getting copies of your employment records and even just a statement that identifies your federal employment record including the dates and where you worked? Hopefully this site will fix that problem! Let us know what happens when you contact them! Of course, a simple official retiree identification card (without any privileges attached) as was previous standard issue would be great for this purpose.
OPM Launches Site for Accessing Employee Records After Separation
Looking for something to do? Here are some important dates to note on your calendar!
September 11- 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial March at 6:45 a.m., Ramstein Air Base-Woodlawn Golf Course
September 19-Absentee Ballots will be emailed but since that is a Saturday, they might be sent a day earlier.
September 22-The Federal Benefits Unit is coming back to provide another Day With the FBU from 1000-1400 at the 86AW RAO offices on Kapaun Air Station. Email Erik Thomsen at [email protected] or call 01621085359.
November 3 -The general elections will be held. Have you requested your absentee ballot? Encourage every American you know to request their ballots too. www.votefromabroad.org Request that your ballot be emailed to you. As soon as yours arrives, fill it out and return it immediately! If there is an electronic return option, please use it because we can no longer depend on the regular USPS mail service, especially since mail may no longer be postmarked the day it is sent!
All U.S. voters, including those overseas, will decide all 435 House seats, 33 Senate seats, and 36 governors, as well as thousands of state and local officials. We need your vote to positively change what is going on in our government! Will New USPS Rule Impact Your Ballot In November? What To Know As Rule Blocked Again
–One of the Supreme Court’s worst ideas could save the midterms from Trump
Democrats Abroad members and families are now eligible to join the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU), which serves members in the U.S. and abroad. DA members can join with a non U.S. address and most importantly with a non U.S. phone number! September 10 webinar–Credit Union for Americans Abroad, 9am & 7pm CET
Please help Get Out The Vote! VMF Voter Registration Virtual Event
Robert Scott and Terese Sarno
DAG VMF Caucus Co-Chairs DA Germany
Contact us at [email protected]
Ready to join our caucus? Be part of the conversation and make your voice heard!
TAKE ACTION! Updated call to action to stop the SAVE Act. The SAVE America Act will reappear this week attached H.Res.1490! CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS to vote NO on this act that will directly infringe upon overseas voters' right to vote! Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: +1 (202) 224-3121.
FBU coming back to provide another Day With the FBU.
On Sept 22 from 1000-1400 at the 86AW RAO offices on Kapaun Air Station.
Email Erik Thomsen at [email protected] or call 01621085359.
Focus: To help people who need Social Security cards, people on benefits who need to update their accounts (bank, address, etc), people who have already applied for benefits and need to provide documentation.
For people who have not yet filed an application, new claims will not be taken during these sessions. Those individuals can call the toll-free international call center at 1-855-522-6936 (7am - 5pm Eastern Time), or they can mail a request. Due to recent policy updates at SSA, they can no longer accept emailed requests to file for benefits, and written requests must meet certain requirements.
All Social Security Administration beneficiaries and applicants living in Germany must direct all questions regarding Social Security to the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. The most efficient method of reaching the FBU Frankfurt is by using the Frankfurt FBU Navigator.
If you are interested in applying for Social Security Benefits you will need to either apply online at www.ssa.gov/apply , call SSA’s toll-free international call center at 1-855-522-6936 (7am – 5pm Eastern Time), or mail a signed statement with your name, social security number, mailing address, phone number, type of benefit you want to apply for, and when you want your benefits to start. If you are filing for benefits on someone else’s account, they need their name and social security number as well. Note: Emailed requests to apply for benefits are no longer acceptable on their own.
Additional information about receiving benefits overseas can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/
Ramstein 9-11 Memorial March
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
STARS & STRIPES UPDATE
Fired Stars and Stripes staffers file lawsuit against Pentagon, Hegseth
The Pentagon’s firing of three employees at Stars & Stripes has received international coverage.The terminated employees have filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and two public affairs officials. The lawsuit asks the court to halt their terminations as unlawful.
Stars and Stripes journalists facing firing get 1-week reprieve A judge mulled the argument that firing the military newspaper’s staffers would violate the First Amendment.
"The main takeaway for me is that the Postal Service has designed a system to disenfranchise millions of Americans."--Senator Richard Blumenthal
Upcoming State Primary Elections for Federal Office
September 1ˢᵗ: Massachusetts
September 8ᵗʰ: New Hampshire
September 9ᵗʰ: Rhode Island
September 15ᵗʰ: Delaware
RETIREE APPRECIATION DAYS 2026
Contact the base VAO offices in your area to volunteer, as private citizens, to register voters.
• USAG Bavaria - 3 September 2026
• USAG Rheinland-Pfalz - 10 September 2026
• USAG Italy (Vicenza) - 15 September 2026
• USAG BENELUX (Brunssum) - 18 September 2026
• USAG BENELUX (SHAPE) - 19 September 2026
• USAG Ansbach - 23 September 2026
• USAREUR-AF hosted by USAG Wiesbaden - 3 October 2026
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Retiree Services: USAG WIESBADEN
U.S Army Garrison Wiesbaden Retiree and Survivor Book
(N.B. These forms can be used by everyone.)
FInd It Guide Germany Retirement Services
VA Benefits and Services Guide
Know Before You Go-VA Benefits and Services Workbook
Air Force launched a new Space-A website months ago…
Space-A Travel Registration Just Changed: Here’s the New Process
Traveling overseas?
Here’s how TRICARE travels with you
Getting care while traveling overseas
Here are some important tips to keep in mind:
The process for getting care when traveling depends on your TRICARE plan and the type of care you need.
If you get care overseas, you may need to pay for the full cost of this care up front. Save all receipts so you can file a claim for reimbursement.
Emergency care
If you need emergency care, go to the closest emergency facility. If you don’t know where one is located or aren’t sure what to do, you can call the TRICARE Overseas Program contractor, International SOS, for 24/7 assistance.
Are you using a TRICARE Prime option? If you get care at an emergency facility, call the International SOS Medical Assistance number before you leave. (The number you call is based on which overseas area you’re in.) If you’re admitted, International SOS will coordinate with the facility for payment and determine if you should be transferred to another facility. International SOS will also coordinate emergency transport, if needed.
Urgent care
TRICARE Prime Options: Try to get urgent care from a military hospital or clinic, when possible. If this isn’t possible, call International SOS for pre-authorization. Without pre-authorization, you may have to pay the provider up front and file a claim for reimbursement.
All other TRICARE plans: You can get care from any TRICARE-authorized provider. You’ll pay less out of pocket if you see a network provider. To find a TRICARE overseas network provider, use the International SOS TRICARE Overseas Provider Search Tool. You can also call International SOS.
For health advice: You can call the Global Nurse Advice Line. Nurses are available 24/7. They can help you decide if you need immediate care or if your condition can wait until you return home.
The Dangers of Data Centers
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
National Service Dog Month, Union Appreciation Month
September 2 – V-J Day (Victory over Japan)
September 7 – Labor Day Thank the labor unions, workers and labor leaders for ensuring a 40-hour workweek, sick leave, and vacation time.
September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day 2025
September 10 – SDFCU-Credit Union for Americans Abroad webinar, 9am & 7pm CET September 11 – Memorial March at 6:45 a.m. at Ramstein Air Base
September 11 – Patriot Day
September 14-15 – AFSA POW/MIA Remembrance Week Opening Ceremony & Run/Walk - Please rsvp and sign up for the run/walk NLT 7 September using the following link: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/Nrm4jE9mcP
Time: Beginning at 1200 pm on 14 September, Ending at 1200 pm on 15 September
Location: Southside Fitness Track
September 14 & 17 –Defense POW/MIA (DPAA) Exhibit, Time: 1000 - 1700, Ramstein Main Exchange Food Court
September 15 – National Voter Registration Day Register to vote to combat terrorism
September 17 – Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
September 17-23 – Constitution Week “It is every American’s right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.”— Thomas Jefferson
September 18 – National POW/MIA Recognition Day
September 18 – POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony, 1600 RSVP NLT 14 September using the following link: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/YsT4uBsqzC, Location: Red River Rats Memorial–For any questions, please contact the event POCs:
MSgt Adrick Coleman – [email protected]; 480-4565
TSgt Kendrell Hamilton – [email protected]; 480-3416
September 18 – Air Force (USAF) Birthday
September 18 – Air National Guard Birthday
September 22 – Day with the FBU, 1000-1400 at the 86AW RAO offices on Kapaun Air Station. Email Erik Thomsen at [email protected] or call 01621085359.
September 24 – Gold Star Mother’s Day and Family Day
September 26 – DA Germany OKTOBERFEST, [email protected].
September 28 to October 4 – Absentee Voters Week
September 29 – VFW Day
Upcoming DA Activities
SUPPORT DA GERMANY’s GOTV EFFORTS
Your monetary donations to Democrats Abroad Germany stay in Germany and are used exclusively to organize and get out the vote among U.S. citizens.
Request your absentee ballot for 2026. Help us increase overseas voter participation!
Are you joining DA Germany at OKTOBERFEST on September 26th? There is still time to reserve! Contact the planning team at [email protected].