by Freddy Groves
Let’s hear it for whistleblowers, especially when big money is involved, and most especially when some of that money should have gone into the pockets of veterans.
Specifically, starting in 2001, non-VA medical providers and veterans had 90 days to file for reimbursement for veterans who had sought emergency care. Then in 2022 the Cleland-Dole Act added the requirement that
non-VA providers submit payment requests within 180 days for providing nonemergency care. However, there was no mention of veterans having that same 180-day time limit to file for reimbursement, or any time limit at all.
The VA continued, however, to apply the original 90-day payment limit.
Enter the VA Office of Inspector General because of the whistleblower. When asked, the VA identified 78,000 claims — to the tune of $373 million — that had been denied because they didn’t meet the 90-day limit. And no, they hadn’t reviewed those 78,000 denied claims. Apparently there was confusion due to the fact that the law was written to give non-VA providers that 180 days, but not veterans.
Further confusion (or so it was said) arose because it wasn’t clear whether the 90-day filing period should begin on the date of discharge, the date of a veteran’s death during emergency treatment or the date it became clear that a third-party payer would not cover the claim. The VA sought clarification from the policy department … and promptly dropped the ball, not pursuing answers.
The VA began processing those claims, leaving it to the individual claims processors to decide whether they would use the 90- or 180-day limitation.
If you need to get emergency care at a non-VA medical facility, there are some rules you need to know so it will be paid for. You can read the
info at www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities so you’ll know what you should do in an emergency. For example, going to urgent care doesn’t count. And someone needs to tell the VA within 72 hours that you’ve had a medical emergency. You can notify the VA at 844-724-7842.

By Jill Stephenson
My son was killed in 2009 while actively serving as an Army Ranger. Because of this
I connected with rangers of all eras from all over the country. One of those rangers was
a gentleman from the greater Tulsa area. He let me know about Chris Horton, who was killed in 2011. He told me that he and Chris were friends and had participated in shooting competitions together. He told me because I had connected with many other families of the fallen and he thought I might reach out to his widow, Jane. Although I have only lived in the area for one year, I have known of Chris since shortly after he died. When I started writing these stories, I knew Chris’ story was one I wanted to share.

Chris was a graduate of the Missouri Military Academy. He was captain of the rifle team and 2nd Platoon Leader during his senior year. He enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 2008 after being recruited by the Army Marksmanship Unit. During his time with the ONG he trained to be an infantryman, was SWAT certified, sniper qualified and graduated at the top of his class. Chris proved his expertise by earning numerous awards in 2008-9. He was professionally sponsored as a shooter by the US Shooting Academy in Owasso. He volunteered as a police officer, worked on many political campaigns and was patriotic and passionate about freedom.
Horton deployed for the first time in the summer of 2011. In a letter he wrote while in Afghanistan he said, “The path to becoming a sniper is by no means easy, and if you complete your training, it is a very hard and lonely job. It isn’t what you see in the movies or video games. It is a very difficult but rewarding career. There is no other job in the military like it.”
Sadly, Chris was killed only three months into that deployment. In a 2015 interview with his widow Jane, she said she never thought he would be killed because he was the best
of the best. Chris didn’t think he would be either. I asked her how you get to a place
of acceptance knowing someone who was so strong and so prepared doesn’t come home? She answered, ”I don’t think you do. Life is short therefore we should live in the moment and be grateful for every day we have. Many people, like Chris, didn’t get that opportunity.”
In 2022, a two-day Chris D. Horton Memorial Sniper Competition was started in Jackson, Nebraska by Garrett Grover, who was in the same sniper section as Chris when he was killed. Grover said the event honors Horton, sharpens competitors’ skills and strengthens bonds in the sniper community. Developing that camaraderie is especially important in a career that Horton had described as very isolating.
Grover stated, “The way you think about it going back to ancient times, what warriors are, what warriors do, and the warrior mindset; that was Chris.”
Becoming a widow at such a young
age changed the trajectory of Jane’s life. While her heart was set on growing old and having children with Chris, not long after died, she left Oklahoma and moved to Washington, D.C. She is an active supporter and advocate for veterans and Gold Star Families. She discovered there were issues related to the processes families had to deal with and no one
was working on them. She wanted to help other families, which included the thirteen (at the time) other ONG families that
had experienced a loss. Since 2011, Jane has worked with eight Secretaries of War, including the current one, as his Senior Advisor. She also serves as a member
of the Gold Star Counsel, which was implemented by the current SOW, Pete Hegseth.
Incidentally, SPC Christopher Horton and my son CPL Benjamin Kopp are laid to rest steps apart in the infamous Section 60 at Arlington. I had the privilege of attending a dinner with Jane over Memorial weekend in 2017 at the DC home of the Afghanistan Ambassador to the US. That is a story for another time, however
it remains one of the most honoring and memorable events I have experienced since my son died.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1320 designates four sections of highway 169 to be named after fallen soldiers from the area. In his honor,
U.S. 169 from 106th Street N. to 116th Street N. is named “Specialist Christopher D. Horton Memorial Highway.” May he rest in peace knowing he is not forgotten.

Across Oklahoma, dedicated JROTC cadets enter high school classrooms with a profound desire to wear the uniform and serve their country. However, a major hurdle often stands in their way: meeting the military’s qualifying Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. For many capable students, a lack of targeted test preparation closes the door on enlistment before they even graduate.

ASVAB Edge Academy-a veteran-owned organization led by 12-year U.S. Air Force and Army veteran Winnie Robinson-was founded to solve this exact problem. Our mission is clear: to increase enlistment eligibility for 11th and 12th-grade JROTC cadets through structured, data-driven ASVAB test preparation.

Proven Impact at Frederick Douglass High School

Earlier this year, ASVAB Edge Academy partnered with Oklahoma City Public Schools to launch a pilot ASVAB Test Prep Bootcamp at Frederick Douglass High School, running from December 3, 2025, to January 9, 2026.The results speak for themselves. Out of 30 enthusiastic participants, the three-week curriculum delivered a powerful impact, successfully moving 5 cadets from testing below thresholds to fully ready for enlistment.
As Principal Kevin Jones noted of the initiative, “Our pilot ASVAB Test Prep Bootcamp was successful through strategic partnership with ASVAB Edge Academy.” Furthermore, 100% of student feedback confirmed that the program’s pacing was “just right,” with specific focus placed on strengthening foundational math and verbal skills. This initiative directly aligns with forward-thinking frameworks like the OKCPS Future Driven 2030 strategic plan, which ensures graduates are fully prepared for enlistment, employment, or enrollment.

A Statewide Call to Action for Leaders
The success at Frederick Douglass High School is just the beginning. Veteran JROTC instructors across Oklahoma-including districts in Tulsa and Lawton-have expressed an urgent, growing need to scale this support so more cadets can achieve their dreams of service.
Achieving statewide impact requires collaboration. We are actively calling on state superintendents, school board members, government officials, and corporate partners who believe in this mission to step forward. If you want to know how to bring the proven OK LEADS ASVAB Prep Program to your school district and unlock new opportunities for your students, we want to hear from you.
Together, we can ensure that every young adult in Oklahoma who wants to serve our nation is given the academic tools to succeed.
To learn more about bringing a bootcamp to your district or to partner with ASVAB Edge Academy, visit www.asvabedgeacademy.org or contact our strategic team at 405-206-3377.
• Story and photos submittd by Quincy Benton | Strategic Advisor