Veteran's Pages - 2010
DISCLAIMER
JUST A SHORT NOTE TO STATE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION IS TO PASS PRECIOUS INFORMATION ON TO THOSE OF
NEED. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS,
HOWEVER, I DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU
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These pages are dedicated to those who have served and are serving now. We continuously keep you in our
prayers and say "Thank You!" for our freedom. Ann
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Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will find it easier to access quality health
care and qualify for disability compensation under a final rule published in the Federal Register. The new rule
expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures,
which will speed up the application process. VA is adding Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease and
expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military
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The third National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will
be held September 19 - 25, 2010 in San Diego, CA. The event will teach recently-injured Veterans adaptive
kayaking, sailing, track and field, cycling and surfing. Participation is open to Veterans who are eligible for VA
medical care and have orthopedic amputations, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological trauma, certain
neurological conditions, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries or other injuries.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.
gov/community_life/sports_&_leisure_activities/sports_&_recreation
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Helps individuals with disabilities find jobs. Also offers a Wounded Warrior Workforce Program to support Veterans
with disabilities as they transition from the military into civilian careers.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/state/california/employment.
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Program Description
Veterans Medical Care Benefits provide outpatient medical services, hospital care, medicines, and supplies to
eligible veterans. To receive health care, veterans generally must be enrolled in the VA health system. They may
apply for enrollment at any time. Veterans do not have to be enrolled in the VA health system if they have service-
connected disabilities of 50 percent or more, want care for a disability that the military determined was incurred or
aggravated in the line of duty, or want care for a service-connected disability only. Veterans with service-connected
disabilities living or traveling overseas must register with the Foreign Medical Program regardless of the degree of
disability.
General Program Requirements
This article addresses basic eligibility for veterans’ health care. The majority of other VA health care services listed
in Govbenefits.gov are dependent on basic eligibility as shown in this entry.
Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in one of the seven
uniformed services. These services are:
•The Army
•The Navy
•The Air Force
•The Marine Corps
•The Coast Guard
•The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service
•The Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order ordinarily
qualify for VA health care benefits. Merchant Marines who served during World War II and former cadets of the
military Service Academies may be eligible as well.
Some other groups (http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/Others.asp) may be eligible for some health benefits.
You must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If your separation papers indicate your
service was other than honorable, VA must study your service records to see if you qualify.
There’s no special requirement regarding the length of your military service if you entered before the 1980s. If you
first entered active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, or as an officer after October 16, 1981, then
you probably have to meet a minimum active duty requirement:
•For reservists and Guard members who were called to federal active duty by an executive order, the usual
requirement is that you served the full length of time you were ordered to serve.
•For all others, the usual requirement is 24 months of continuous service.
•There are a number of exceptions to these rules.
Returning service members, (http://www.oefoif.va.gov/) including Reservists and National Guard members who
served on active duty in a theater of combat operations, have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services,
and nursing home care for five years following discharge from active duty.
Because of budget requirements, VA cannot offer health care to every veteran who meets these basic requirements.
The law contains a complex system of priorities, mostly based on disability, income, and age.
To get started in determining your eligibility for VA health care benefits, go to: http://www.va.
gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Health Benefits Service Center:
1-877-222-8387
You can find us on the Web at:
http://www1.va.gov/health/
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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Program Description
Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs care for a wide range of problems. A veteran’s needs
might be in any of the following areas—
•Medical
•Psychiatric
•Vocational
•Educational
•Social
Treatment and rehabilitation are provided by a team of professionals in an environment where veterans support
each other as they focus on developing greater independence.
General Program Requirements
Domiciliary Care is not part of the Medical Benefits Package.
But, to begin with, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system (or qualify based on one of the exceptions in
the law) and thus be eligible for the Medical Benefits Package.
To see the basic Medical Benefits Package entry, go to the “Search” box at the top right area of this page and type
in the entry below. Be sure to include the quotation marks.
“Basic Medical Benefits for Veterans”
Further, Domiciliary Care has some eligibility rules of its own. You must meet one of these criteria:
•Your annual income must not exceed the maximum annual Improved Disability VA Pension Rate
OR
•VA must determine that you have no adequate means of support
You can find the special eligibility rules for Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment (Domiciliary Care) in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Here are the references: Title 38, CFR 17.46, 17.47, and 17.48. They’re
available on the Web at either of these sites:
Government Printing Office (Standard Site) http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/38cfr17_06.html.
Government Printing Office (Continuously Updated Site) http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?
c=ecfr&sid=9dcfd440fc9f4d91d9bc92c8bfa15677&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr17_main_02.tpl.
In addition, we must find that you’re capable of handling the activities of daily living by yourself and that you’re willing
to participate in your own treatment. Here are the issues we must consider in determining whether domiciliary care is
right for you:
1.Are you interested in working with us to identify goals for improving your quality of life? This would require
participating in a program that works on physical and emotional health issues and looks at how you’ve been
functioning in your family and community.
2.Do you need help in learning how to get along more independently in your community?
3.Do you need treatment for medical, mental health, or substance abuse problems?
4.Are you willing to join with a whole group of veterans and VA staff that works together to help members heal
physically and emotionally, and gain as much independence as possible?
5.Are you able to accomplish the ordinary activities of daily living, including personal care, with no help or very little
help? This might include the ability to use a wheelchair or other assistive devices.
6.Are you able to live in a “community” of veterans without posing a risk to yourself or to others?
Even if we decide that our program is not a good “fit” for you, we may be able to help you find some other
arrangement that does work.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
For more information please visit:
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/SpecialBenefits.asp#Dom...
You can find the locations of the domiciliaries at this site:
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that its National Resource Directory (NRD) Web site recently
received a comprehensive system upgrade to provide users with easier access. This Web site compiles federal,
state, local and non-profit resources for Wounded Warriors, Veterans, family members and caregivers in a single,
searchable site. The site's new "bookmark and share" feature allows visitors to alert others to the resources they find
most helpful through social bookmarking, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools. Visitors can also
subscribe to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or e-mail updates about new information that has been added to the
site. The NRD is a collaborative effort among the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor (DOL).
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.
gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
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Program Description
Readjustment counseling is a wide range of services provided to combat veterans in the effort to make a satisfying
transition from military to civilian life. Services include:
•Individual counseling
•Group counseling
•Marital and family counseling (as it relates to the veteran’s military service)
•Medical referrals
•Assistance in applying for VA benefits
•Employment counseling
•Guidance and referral
•Alcohol/drug assessments
•Information and referral to community resources.
Family members of combat veterans can also receive readjustment counseling services if the veteran is receiving
them.
Readjustment counseling is provided at community-based Vet Centers nationwide. In some cases, the Vet Centers
can furnish services through other providers closer to a veteran’s home.
Bereavement Services
Bereavement counseling is assistance and support to people with emotional and psychological stress after the death
of a loved one. It includes a broad range of transition services, including outreach, counseling, and referral services
to family members.
Counseling can sometimes be made available in the family's home or anywhere the family feels most comfortable.
General Program Requirements
Readjustment Counseling for Veterans and Families
Readjustment counseling services at the Vet Centers are not part of the Medical Benefits Package.
You don’t have to apply for health care to get these services.
To qualify for readjustment services in one of VA’s 200 community-based Vet Centers, you must have served in a
war zone. Here are the qualifying periods and combat theaters:
•WORLD WAR II - Three eligible categories
◦European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign-Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Nov. 8, 1945)
◦Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Mar. 2, 1946) or
◦American Campaign Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Mar. 2, 1946)
•AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINES – In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, Dec. 7, 1941 to Aug.
15, 1945
•KOREAN WAR - June 27. 1950, to - July 27, 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service Medal)
•VIETNAM WAR - Feb. 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975
•LEBANON - Aug. 25, 1982, to Feb. 26, 1984
•GRENADA - Oct. 23, 1983 to Nov. 21, 1983
•PANAMA - Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990
•PERSIAN GULF - Aug. 2, 1990, to - a date yet to be determined
•SOMALIA - Sept. 17, 1992 to - a date yet to be determined
•OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR, OPERATION JOINT GUARD, AND OPERATION JOINT FORGE in the former
Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces
above those areas).
•GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM - Veterans who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism on
or after September 11, 2001, and before a date yet to be determined
Campaigns include:
◦Operation "Enduring Freedom"
◦Operation "Iraqi Freedom"
Family members may also receive services if the veteran is receiving them.
Bereavement Services
Family members (including parents) qualify for bereavement services if a loved one died in the line of duty in active
service The death need not be combat-related.
Service may have been in peacetime or wartime.
Family members of persons who died while in reserve or National Guard training also qualify.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Vet Center staff are available toll free during normal business hours at:
Eastern:
1-800-905-4675
and
Pacific:
1-866-496-8838
Bereavement Services
You can call at:
202-273-9116
or email us at:
vet.center@va.gov
We'll help you contact the nearest Vet Center.
Readjustment counseling
More information is available at:
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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Program Description
With this program, you can refinance your current loan, whether it’s a VA-guaranteed mortgage or not.
Usually, the new loan is limited to 90% of the appraised value of the house. There are a few exceptions.
General Program Requirements
Persons who may qualify for these refinancing loans include:
•Veterans (including Reserve and National Guard members who were called to active duty)
•Active duty service members
•Current Reserve and Guard members (usually after 6 years of reserve service)
•Certain surviving spouses
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Length-of-service requirements apply in most cases.
Veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
You will need a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can get one from VA or from a lender using the Automated
Certificate of Eligibility (ACE) program.
If you need to obtain your COE, contact a lender about obtaining your COE or download VA Form 26-1880,
complete it and mail it (with proof of service) to our Winston-Salem Eligibility Center at:
VA Loan Eligibility Center
PO Box 20729
Winston-Salem, NC 27120
You can download the form at:
http://www.va.gov/vaforms/
For overnight delivery:
VA Loan Eligibility Center
215 N. Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27155
Toll free number: 1-888-244-6711
E-mail: nceligib@vba.va.gov
Loan Terms
Market Interest Rate, VA funding fee, and no pre-payment penalties. Maximum loan term cannot exceed 30 years.
Monthly payment frequency.
You should talk with a lender to learn more about dollar limits. VA’s guaranty is limited.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
Contact a lender to discuss qualifying for a VA loan. The lender will make sure you meet basic program
requirements, including the following:
•You must have enough income to meet your monthly mortgage payments, maintain the home, take care of other
debts and obligations, and still have enough money left over to cover day-to-day expenses (food, gas, etc.).
•The loan must be for the home you will live in.
•You must also have a good credit history.
You may also want to use the VA Home Loan website at http://homeloans.va.gov as a reference point on how to use
the program or find answers to other questions you may have about the program.
Please note that if you are interested in obtaining an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loan, the loans are being
offered as a traditional 1 year ARM and also as hybrids with 3, 5, 7 and 10 year fixed rates, where available.
NOTE: If you plan to stay in your home for longer than the fixed rate period, an ARM may not be in your best interest.
It is a good idea to use a mortgage calculator to determine what the best loan, term and interest rate are for you and
your family.
Program Contact Information
For more information on this program, please visit:
http://www.homeloans.va.gov
Please contact a Regional Loan Center to discuss purchase and refinancing issues:
http://www.homeloans.va.gov/RLCWEB.htm
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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Program Description
There is a one-time payment by VA of not greater than $11,000 toward the purchase of an automobile or other
transportation. VA also pays for adaptive equipment, or for repair, replacement, and reinstallation of automobile
equipment required because of disability. These payments may be made multiple times during the veteran's life.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must have one of the following disabilities that are the result of injury
or disease incurred or aggravated during active service:
•permanent loss of use of at least one foot or hand, or
•serious, permanent vision impairment in both eyes.
If you have ankylosis (stiff or immobile joint) of at least one knee or hip due to a service-connected disability, you
may qualify for adaptive equipment, without the automobile grant.
You can qualify for this benefit even if you’re still on active duty. If you’re a veteran, your discharge must have been
given under other than dishonorable conditions.
There is no requirement as to length of service.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration are considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, call 1-800-827-1000 and request the form "Application for Automobile or Other
Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment” (VA Form 21-4502) be mailed to you. Fill out the form and return it to VA, as
indicated on the form, and you will be notified regarding you eligibility status.
Program Contact Information
For more information, visit:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/#BM2
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) National Technical Assistance Center is hosting a series of
conference calls on Job Development in Tough Times, Substance Abuse and Employment of Homeless Veterans
and Green Jobs. These conference calls will be divided by region. To find out what region your state is in please visit
the HVRP region's page.
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.
gov/employment/jobs_&_career_planning/veterans_&_military.
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The benefits section of Disability.gov has been updated with several new fact sheets for Veterans including
Automobile & Special Adaptive Equipment Grants, Benefits for Filipino Veterans and Disability Compensation for
Sexual or Personal Trauma.
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
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Program Description
VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of eligible veterans’ burial and funeral costs. When the cause of
death is not service-related, VA may be able to pay two modest allowances:
•One for burial and funeral expense, and
•One for the cemetery plot.
When the cause of death is service-related, the reimbursement comes in the form of a single, larger payment for
burial and funeral expenses. In some service-connected death cases, VA can pay a reimbursement for
transportation costs.
General Program Requirements
The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
VA can pay a reimbursement only if the expenses for the funeral/burial have not been reimbursed by another
government agency or some other source.
Generally, at least one of following additional eligibility criteria must also be met. Reimbursement is possible if the
veteran:
•Died because of a service-related disability, OR
•Was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
•Was entitled to receive VA compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retired pay, OR
•Died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home, OR
•Had a claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior
to the date of death, OR
•Died while traveling, under proper authorization and at VA expense, to or from a specified place for the purpose of
examination, treatment, or care.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration are considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, call 1-800-827-1000 and request that form Application for Burial Benefits (VA Form 21-
530) be mailed to you. Once you've received the form, fill it out and send it back to VA as directed on the form.
Program Contact Information
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/burials/Burialeg_0508.doc
If you have questions about this benefit or would like to speak with a benefit specialist, you can call VA at this toll-
free number:
1-800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
1-800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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The DEA program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain
veterans.
General Program Requirements
You must be a son, daughter, or spouse of a:
•Veteran who is permanently and totally disabled as the result of, or dies of, a service-connected disability. The
disability must arise out of or be aggravated by active service.
•Veteran with a permanent and total service-connected disability who dies from any cause.
•Service member who died on active duty in the line of duty.
•Service member who is missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or
interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
Reservists and National Guard members who are activated for Federal service OR who die/become disabled while
on training status are considered veterans.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns, you can contact us in the following ways:
Our Web site (click on "Ask A Question") at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Call:
1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)
Or:
1-800-827-1000
For the hearing impaired, please call:
1-800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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Spina Bifida patients who are natural children of Vietnam and Korea veterans may be eligible for a monthly monetary
allowance.
The allowance is paid at three different levels, depending on how severe the disability is.
Please note: If you want to apply for either of the other Spina Bifida benefits (health care assistance or vocational
training), you must start by applying for the monthly allowance.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be the biological child of a male or female veteran who served in
Vietnam or on the Korean demilitarized zone during specific time periods.
Your birth father or mother must have:
•Served in Vietnam during the period from January 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975, or
•Served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) during the period from September 1, 1967, through August
31, 1971 and have been exposed to herbicides.
VA has no requirements regarding the character of the parent’s discharge or the length of his or her service.
You must be diagnosed with a form of Spina Bifida other than Spina Bifida Occulta.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To find out if you're eligible for this benefit, you must first complete the form, "Benefits for Certain Children with
Disabilities born of Vietnam Veterans" (VA Form 21-0304). Forms can be found at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
Alternatively, VA can send you the form if you call 1-800-827-1000.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions about this benefit or would like to speak with a VA benefit specialist, you can call VA toll-free at:
1-800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
1-800-829-4833
For more information, visit:
http://www1.va.gov/opa/IS1/11.asp
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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To expedite the delivery of benefits to many injured Service Members who receive disability compensation from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department announced the expansion of a program with the Department of
Defense (DoD) to streamline the application process for people retiring or exiting the military due to disabilities. The
Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot began in November 2007 and is expanding to an additional six military
installations, bringing the total number to 27 military facilities where a single physical examination serves as the basis
for determining whether military personnel are fit enough to stay on active duty and to determine their eligibility for
VA disability compensation.
You are subscribed to Veterans' Benefits for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated, and can be
read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
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Program Description
Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) provides veterans and service members with the resources and
services to succeed in the 21st century workforce. VETS programs aim to maximize their employment opportunities,
protect their employment rights and meet labor-market demands with qualified veterans. There are seven VETS
programs summarized below.
REALifeLines helps wounded and injured service members and veterans access valuable online resources, in
addition to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance to help them transition into the civilian
workforce.
The Veterans’ Preference Advisor helps veterans determine if they are entitled to preferences in appointment to
Federal jobs, the benefits associated with the preferences, and enumerates the steps necessary to file a complaint
due to the failure of a Federal agency to provide those benefits.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisors help veterans submit online
claims if they believe they experience discrimination in employment, regardless of whether their uniformed service
was in the past, present or future.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans
into meaningful employment within the labor force. HVRP also seeks to stimulate the development of effective service
delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
The Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP) provides career information for active duty service members,
National Guard, Reserves, and spouses of service members separating or retiring from the military.
O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is a comprehensive database of occupational skills, knowledge, and
abilities that can help you align your military experience, education, and training curricula with current civilian
workplace needs.
VeteransLink connects veterans with Veteran Employment Specialists at Career One-Stop Centers to improve their
chances for post-military employment opportunities.
General Program Requirements
VETS programs are available to veterans and service members. Individual programs may have additional
requirements.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
REALifeLines: Contact your REALifeLines representative at 202-693-4724 or 703-908-6296. Or visit the
REALifeLines website at www.dol.gov/elaws/realifelines.htm.
Veterans’ Preference Advisor: Visit the Veterans’ Preference Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm.
USERRA Advisor: Visit the USERRA Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP): Contact the VETS’ office nearest you, which is listed in the
phone book under United States Government, U.S. Department of Labor. Or refer to the list of regional and state
offices at www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP): Visit the TAP website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/main.htm.
O*NET: Visit O*NET at www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/oina.cfm.
VeteransLink: Visit the VeteransLink website at www.veteranslink.com.
Program Contact Information
Visit VETS’ HireVetsFirst website at http://hirevetsfirst.dol.gov/ for program information and other resources.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/
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Santa Monica College Opens New Veterans Center
Posted on October 08, 2009 by higgins
Santa Monica College (SMC) has opened a new Veterans Center dedicated to assisting the estimated 300 to 350
student veterans at the college. This semester, SMC opened the Veterans Center in a small complex of former
faculty offices that college officials say will help them better serve this special population, which includes many
veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The center is located in Room 135 of the Liberal Arts Building and is
open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.
“Veterans trust other veterans,” says Linda Sinclair, coordinator of the Veterans Center. “Some veterans just want a
place to decompress or feel comfortable.”
The new facility has a small staff that includes a part-time counselor, part-time secretary and part-time student
assistant, who is also a veteran. The center has a free textbook-lending library, a meeting room and a computer-
tutoring room.
It also features an office where representatives from other SMC departments or outside agencies — such as
Financial Aid, Disabled Students and the Veterans Administration — can come to provide assistance and guidance
to the students.
Sinclair says her plans include establishing an emergency loan fund, scholarship fund, a community advisory group
and having a brown bag lunch series on veterans’ topics.
The center is intended to help the student veterans deal with various complex issues, such as post-traumatic stress
syndrome or other psychological problems, substance abuse, financial difficulties, and adjusting to civilian and
campus life.
“We’re lucky to have these veterans home and lucky that SMC is a welcoming place for them,” Sinclair said. “But it’s
important that we do all in our power to help these men and women get the education they need so they can write a
fulfilling and successful new chapter in their lives.
*****************************************
House Extends Homebuyer’s Tax Credit for Deployed Troops
Legislation that would extend the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit by one year for military and key civilian personnel
deployed abroad this year sailed through the House on Thursday. The bill, passed by 416-0, would give members
of the armed forces, Foreign Service and intelligence agencies who were posted abroad for at least 90 days another
year to use an $8,000 first-time homebuyer’s tax credit that is currently set to expire Nov. 30.
The bill also would bar the IRS from recapturing the credit from qualifying individuals who must sell a residence after
Dec. 31, 2008, because of government orders for extended duty. The law currently requires the buyer to live in the
home for 36 consecutive months.
“As we rotate personnel home from Iraq and contemplate increasing force levels in Afghanistan, Congress can ease
the transition for those in uniform by ensuring existing home ownership tax incentives are flexible for their
circumstances,” said Dave Camp of Michigan, the top GOP member on the House Ways and Means Committee.
“This bill does that.”
Camp said he hoped the Senate would quickly approve the legislation so President Obama can sign it into law.
The tax credit was included in the economic stimulus law; an effort is under way by its supporters in Congress to
extend it for everyone. But it is not at all certain that drive will succeed.
Meanwhile, members are hoping to protect deployed troops and others as best they can. Ways and Means member
Earl Blumenauer , D-Ore., said, “Those serving our government should not have to choose between their job and
their home.”
*********************************************
saw your email that was sent out to agencies in Mercer
County---I'm hoping we might be able to exchange website links and
information.
I am the founder and Executive Director of the Community Justice Center, a
new, Trenton-based legal services non-profit servicing the low-income and
homeless disabled and returning disabled veterans, primarily within Mercer
and Burlington Counties.
Our website, www.nj-communityjusticecenter.org, has plenty of information
about the organization, and about my personal story specifically--included
on there is a 30 minute interview I did on Mercer County's Channel 25.
Thank you for your time, and please feel free to forward this to anyone
you think may be interested in supporting us, or might need our services!
Thanks,
Melissa Gertz
Melissa A. Gertz, Esq.
Executive Director
Community Justice Center
310 W. State Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08618
Ph: 609.218.5120
Fax: 609.218.5126
********************************************
Program Description
The Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly check paid to eligible survivors.
General Program Requirements
To qualify for this benefit program, you must be the child, spouse, or parent of a veteran who died while serving in
active military duty or as a result of a service-connected disability.
If death was after service, the veteran's discharge from service must have been given under other than dishonorable
conditions.
There is no requirement as to length of service.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Payments to parents of deceased veterans depend upon their income.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at this address:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/, then click on the "Dependents and Survivors' Benefits" link.
Spouses and children should apply for DIC by completing an “Application for Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child” (VA Form 21-534).
Parents should apply for DIC by completing an “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent
(s)” (VA Form 21-535).
VA can send you a form if you call 800-827-1000.
You can download the form at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
If you have questions about this benefit or you need an application, you can call VA at this toll-free number:
800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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The purpose of this meeting is to review information about service-related disabilities, provide an ongoing
assessment of the effectiveness of the rating schedule and give advice on the most appropriate means of
responding to the needs of veterans relating to disability compensation. The meeting will be held on September 21-
22, 2009 in Washington, DC. Time will be reserved during the afternoon of September 22nd for public comments.
You are subscribed to Veterans' Benefits for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated, and can be
read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans
*************************************************************************
VA - Burial Benefits - Veteran & Dependent burial in VA National Cemeteries
The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that
commemorate their service to our Nation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 125 national cemeteries in 39
states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites. To visit the web page for the closest
National Cemetery in your state just visit the Web site ( http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/listcem.asp) and select your
state.
Burial benefits include a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the
grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at
no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or
inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
Burial benefits available for eligible spouses and dependents include burial with the veteran, perpetual care of the
interment site. The spouse or dependent’s name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s
headstone at no cost to the family.
General Program Requirements
Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies while on active duty or any veteran who was
discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be eligible for burial in a National Cemetery.
Certain National Guard and reserve members may also qualify.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Length-of-service requirements apply in some cases.
Spouses and certain eligible dependents may also be buried in national cemeteries.
Pre-arrangement for burial at a National Cemetery is not allowed.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
Telephone: 202-273-7210
To confirm your eligibility for burial benefits at a national cemetery you may call your VA regional office at:
1-800-827-1000
A Veterans Benefits Counselor will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have.
Requests for burial in a VA national cemetery cannot be made via the Internet. Funeral homes that are assisting
families during their time of need can contact the national cemetery and make arrangements for burial and/or
inurnment. Direct contact with a veteran's family during the difficult days surrounding a veteran's death is usually not
necessary until the family arrives at the cemetery for the burial service.
The telephone number for the closest national cemetery can be found in the blue pages of your local phone book,
Federal Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemeteries. There may be more than one in your
state so carefully review the numbers before calling.
If you would like a more information abut burial benefit eligibility, you may visit the National Cemetery Administration
web at:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/eligible.asp
Managing Agency
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
http://www.cem.va.gov
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that combat Veterans will receive readjustment
counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) will establish new Vet Centers in 2010. Find a Vet Center near you.
You are subscribed to Veterans Health Information for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated,
and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.gov/health/specific_populations/veterans_&_military
**************************************************************
VA Helps Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
Posted on July 22, 2009 by gm
Veterans Affairs Helps Veteran Small-Business Owners
WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 Veterans who own small businesses and seek to do more contracting with the
federal government recently heard Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki extol the importance of small
businesses and reaffirm the commitment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help veterans start or expand
their companies.
“If Veterans tell us their definition of success, we’ll put our capabilities behind them,” Shinseki said July 21 at the
government-sponsored National Veteran Small Business Conference in Las Vegas.
Speaking at the largest annual conference to help Veteran-owned and service-disabled Veteran-owned firms do
business with the federal government, Shinseki encouraged potential suppliers to seek VA’s business, telling them
his Department leads the government in prime-contract dollars spent with businesses owned by service-disabled
Veterans and other Veterans.
He said last year VA spent more than $2 billion with Veteran-owned small businesses – 15 percent of its
procurement dollars, up 5 percent from the previous year. Of that amount, $1.6 billion – or 12 percent of VA’s
purchasing -- was spent with service-disabled Veteran-owned businesses.
Even though VA has exceeded government-wide goals for supporting Veteran-owned small businesses, Shinseki
said VA should raise its support for them even higher. VA will set goals to increase Veteran subcontractors’ work for
VA, as well.
To help Veterans win bids and perform the work successfully, he said VA is launching contractor certification training
to explain the complexities of federal contracting. The VA secretary said he has urged other presidential Cabinet
departments to increase contract opportunities for Veterans.
Shinseki suggested Veterans get state and local governments to partner with Veteran-owned businesses. He said
the nation’s defenders earned the right to participate in all taxpayer-funded contracts.
Finally, he urged Veteran entrepreneurs to find ways to assist men and women returning from service in Iraq and
Afghanistan to find meaningful work. Shinseki said, “We’ll do our part at VA, but we can’t do it all.”
VA has a special unit, the Center for Veterans Enterprise, which offers a variety of services to Veterans wanting to
start or expand a business. These include one-on-one coaching, referrals for business training, listing in an online
database for potential clients and verification of the Veteran status of those registrants.
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Program Description
Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) provides veterans and service members with the resources and
services to succeed in the 21st century workforce. VETS programs aim to maximize their employment opportunities,
protect their employment rights and meet labor-market demands with qualified veterans. There are seven VETS
programs summarized below.
REALifeLines helps wounded and injured service members and veterans access valuable online resources, in
addition to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance to help them transition into the civilian
workforce.
The Veterans’ Preference Advisor helps veterans determine if they are entitled to preferences in appointment to
Federal jobs, the benefits associated with the preferences, and enumerates the steps necessary to file a complaint
due to the failure of a Federal agency to provide those benefits.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisors help veterans submit online
claims if they believe they experience discrimination in employment, regardless of whether their uniformed service
was in the past, present or future.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans
into meaningful employment within the labor force. HVRP also seeks to stimulate the development of effective service
delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
The Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP) provides career information for active duty service members,
National Guard, Reserves, and spouses of service members separating or retiring from the military.
O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is a comprehensive database of occupational skills, knowledge, and
abilities that can help you align your military experience, education, and training curricula with current civilian
workplace needs.
VeteransLink connects veterans with Veteran Employment Specialists at Career One-Stop Centers to improve their
chances for post-military employment opportunities.
General Program Requirements
VETS programs are available to veterans and service members. Individual programs may have additional
requirements.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
REALifeLines: Contact your REALifeLines representative at 202-693-4724 or 703-908-6296. Or visit the
REALifeLines website at www.dol.gov/elaws/realifelines.htm.
Veterans’ Preference Advisor: Visit the Veterans’ Preference Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm.
USERRA Advisor: Visit the USERRA Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP): Contact the VETS’ office nearest you, which is listed in the
phone book under United States Government, U.S. Department of Labor. Or refer to the list of regional and state
offices at www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP): Visit the TAP website at www.hirevetsfirst.gov/e-
tap/LMS/about/about.cfm.
O*NET: Visit O*NET at www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/oina.cfm.
VeteransLink: Visit the VeteransLink website at www.veteranslink.com.
Program Contact Information
Visit VETS’ HireVetsFirst website at www.hirevetsfirst.gov for program information and other resources.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/
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$2 million veterans shelter close to opening in East St. Louis
Posted on June 01, 2009 by assteditor
After six-year wait, Eagles Nest is ready for June 26 start
BY MIKE FITZGERALD - News-Democrt
EAST ST. LOUIS -- After a six-year delay, work on a $2 million federally funded homeless veterans shelter is set to
finish up next month, with a ribbon-cutting set for June 26, and the first residents expected to move in some time in
late summer or fall.
The nonprofit Eagles Nest of St. Clair County, which is sponsoring the Joseph Center, expects to have "people in
and operating" by late August or September, spokesman Frank Hackmann said.
"And it'll be a while after that that we will be up toward the higher capacity levels," Hackmann said.
Kurt Daesch, the executive director of the St. Clair County Veterans Assistance Commission, and longtime skeptic of
the project, said that after a recent tour of the facility at 5020 State St., he is convinced the project can succeed after
all.
"I think it's finally going to work out," Daesch said.
And once the center opens its doors, Daesch said he is confident it will find the money to keep going.
"They have some fairly big players that are going to line up," he said. "There were certain aspects that I wasn't
comfortable with, and they answered the questions I had on those aspects."
At the time it was scheduled to open in early 2003, the Joseph Center -- named for president and founder Martha
Watts' late husband -- was to provide a home for up to two years to clients who would receive life skills and job
training along with drug and alcohol counseling. The start-up cost was estimated at $500,000.
But Eagles Nest later revised the cost estimate to $1.5 million, causing a money crunch. Progress has also been
disrupted by contractor disputes and extensive interior work that needed to be redone, including the demolition of
walls inside the structure because the rooms they formed were slightly too small.
Over the last six years, Eagles Nest has provided, and retracted, a series of opening dates for the shelter.
In a Dec. 9 letter to Ray Willis, director of the HUD regional office in Chicago, Martha Watts -- Eagles Nest's
president -- wrote that the project contractor has estimated project construction "can be completed by April 2009,"
while "our revised opening date will be in June 2009."
But unexpected delays that occurred late last year, including the theft of air conditioning units and fundraising
problems, pushed that deadline further back.
Rebecca Boykin, a spokeswoman for The Illinois Housing Development Authority in Springfield, which has provided
the project with a $870,000 low-interest loan, said her agency's on-site inspector visited April 28 and reported that
progress was going well.
"It seems like work is moving along," Boykin said. "We are anticipating everything could be wrapped up as early as
next month in June."
Don Johnson, an East St. Louis home builder, took over as project manager in January 2008 after the last project
manager quit in a funding dispute.
Johnson said only a few "punch list" items, such as caulking, mirror installations and the acquisition of furniture,
remain before work at the former Army Reserve center is completed.
"We're kind of doing the finishing touches right now," Johnson said. "The floors are done, the walls are painted, we
just have to drop the ceiling tile in place, which is a day's work."
In 2001, the Joseph Center's original startup cost was going to be about $500,000, including $300,000 from U.S.
departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs.
Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 239-2533.
***********************************************************
New NY State Program Recruits Military Vets as Substance Abuse Counselors
Posted on February 25, 2009 by GM
FIRST-TIME SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FROM OUTREACH TRAINING INSTITUTE
New Help for U.S. Military Veterans
Veterans seeking training as drug and alcoholism counselors will now have a unique opportunity from Outreach
Training Institute (OTI), a division of Outreach Project, one of New York State's leading alcohol and substance abuse
treatment agencies, which helps teenagers and adults with addiction issues.
Veterans Program
Through special funding, any honorably discharged U.S. military service veteran within the past nine years can
receive a full scholarship for OTI's Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program for
licensing by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.
With classroom sites in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Richmond Hill, Queens and Brentwood, Long Island, the program
offers a 350-hour/11-month curriculum with classes held on weekdays, evenings and Saturdays.
Joe Johnson, who served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, is a graduate of OTI's CASAC program. He is now a
New York State Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor.
"This is the first time we've been able to offer such a program to veterans and the first program of its kind in New
York State," said Mark Armiento, director of OTI and a vice president of Outreach Project.
"Because so many veterans have been affected by alcoholism and substance abuse, we feel the additional training
of counselors with a record of military service will be of extraordinary help to those of their fellow vets who suffer from
addiction issues."
The OTI CASAC program includes internship placement and employment services for all its students. More than
1,500 OTI graduates have gone on to counseling and supervisory positions in the treatment and addiction field.
Outreach Project is a 501(c) organization dedicated to helping those (especially youth, women and women with
children) struggling to break free from addiction, providing a variety of programming options to help them turn their
lives around and become productive members of society.
With facilities in Queens, Brooklyn and in Suffolk County, Outreach offers outpatient and residential programming for
youth, intensive daytime treatment for women and women with children and adult outpatient treatment services (with
programming in Spanish at our Richmond Hill office and in Polish at our Greenpoint clinic).
For further information about OTI's veterans scholarships, or if you or someone you know needs help with a drug or
alcohol problem, please call David Greenberg at Outreach Project at (718) 847-9233, ext. 108. You can visit
Outreach Project at www.opiny.org
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Know Your Employment Rights Under USERRA
Posted on February 24, 2009 by rinckey
By Greg T. Rinckey, Esq.
Over the past few years, it’s been proven time and time again that even large, national corporations can run into
problems when it comes to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). With all
their human resources knowledge and legal prowess, it seems impossible that national brands could be so careless
with their employees’ rights. However, as we’ve seen with both Wal-Mart and American Airlines, these companies are
just as likely to violate the employment rights of their servicemember employees.
With even Ivy-league corporate legal departments failing to provide our nation’s servicemembers with their lawful
employment rights, I find it imperative that members of the armed forces take it upon themselves to have a basic
understanding of the rights afforded to them through their service.
For those who are not familiar, USERRA the most important legal protection available to servicemembers when it
comes to their employment and reemployment rights. USERRA is the federal statute that prohibits discrimination
against anyone for serving in the armed forces or for taking military leave from a civilian job. This includes
discrimination in hiring, promotion, reemployment, or any other benefit of employment. USERRA also prohibits
retaliation against anyone who seeks to enforce their rights under USERRA or assists another in enforcing those
rights.
Simply put, when you return from military duty and ask to be reemployed, your employer has to take you back if all
deadlines under USERRA are met and you have taken less than five years total military leave.
USERRA provides protection over the following:
Reemployment Rights
In addition to prohibiting discrimination, USERRA also requires companies to rehire or reemploy military personnel on
return from military leave or duty. In order to qualify for rehire under USERRA, the employee must give advance
notice to the company before military leave unless it is impossible or unreasonable to do so, or he is prevented by
military necessity from doing so.
Seniority and Benefits
A person returning to work after military leave under USERRA is entitled to the same seniority and position as though
he or she never left employment. In other words, seniority accrues even while the employee is in military service.
This is often referred to as the “escalator principle” of USERRA. These provisions extend beyond just seniority to
pay and benefits as well. For example, if a similarly situated employee receives a pay raise or promotion during a
servicemember’s absence, the servicemember will likely be entitled to the same pay raise and promotion upon his or
her return. Further, medical and pension benefits must continue to be provided to the servicemember while on
military leave.
For Cause Termination
Normally, employment is at will. This means that an employee can quit or be fired at any time for any reason other
than an illegal one. However, this is not the case under USERRA. Depending on the length of time an employee was
absent due to military leave covered under USERRA, the employee is protected from termination without cause for a
certain period of time after returning to work. Depending on the specifics of the situation, this protection can even be
extended to layoffs.
There is no statute of limitations on filing a lawsuit under USERRA – meaning that no matter how long ago you
believe your rights were violated, you still have the option to take legal action against your employer. However, timely
filing can provide you with more options when it comes to the award of damages beyond recovering lost benefits or
wages, such as reinstatement into your position.
As a member of the armed forces, it’s crucial you understand when your rights are being violated and learn how to
speak up. Through familiarizing yourself with your rights, you won’t be relying on your human resource
representative to take care of your needs when called to serve. Even those employed by the big companies aren’t
safe anymore. And with more and more soldiers rising for duty everyday, your own awareness of USERRA has never
been more crucial.
This is just a brief overview of your rights under USERRA. If you have questions about any of the rights afforded to
you through your military service, I invite you to send me an email at grinckey@tullylegal.com.
Greg T. Rinckey, Esq. is the managing partner of the law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC. With offices in Albany, NY and
Washington, DC, the firm is dedicated to providing superior legal representation to military personnel, veterans, and
federal employees throughout the nation in a wide range of legal matters relating to military law and federal
employment law. For more information, email Greg at grinckey@tullylegal.com.
******************************************************************
Successful Loan Modification
by John P. Allen
Many Military Veterans have adjustable subprime mortgages and are now desperately seeking solutions to their
increased payments. I take phone calls all day long from Veterans that say stuff like “I am Scared” “What a Mess I
Got Myself Into” and “What an Expensive Lesson I Just Learned – Never Again.”
The great help the lenders claim to be offering the troubled borrower does not appear to be what the borrower is
actually getting. When borrowers attempt to modify their loans they are met with resistance from poorly informed
“loan modification departments.” While help from the government seems promising, nothing tangible has been
passed yet in the congress that provides relief and there's not much on the horizon yet.
There are now hundreds of thousands of Veterans with home loans whose monthly payments are about to rise over
the next eighteen months?
If you have found yourself facing a mortgage payment you cannot afford, and are contemplating asking your lender
for a loan modification, you must know the economic reality. Lenders and their investors are only concerned with
profitability. That is, they base their decisions solely on monetary return. They want to see that modifying the loan will
be more profitable than foreclosing on the subject property. The lenders want to know you can make the modified
monthly payment without fail.
Because the majority of borrowers who are faced with unaffordable payments are victims of teaser rates becoming
expired, the modified payment will be higher than the teaser rate. This means that if the borrower could barely afford
the teaser payment, there is little chance of paying a higher amount, no matter how small the increase. For
borrowers with the ability to slash their living expenses, do without an extra automobile or cell phone, and come up
with extra money for the mortgage payment, the lender may be willing to accept less than the full increase in
payment. The borrowers with the ability to pay close to what the lender requires are the ones most likely to get a
loan modification.
All economic indicators project that for many subprime borrowers with adjustable rate mortgages, default will
eventually occur. Capitalistic wisdom should dictate that financial institutions will cut their losses now and not want to
be taken down in the spiral as real estate values plummet over the months to come. The lenders knew that the
subprime loans were made to high risk borrowers, but they took the risk. Now that they are faced with defaults on
their investments, they may be willing to lose some profit to avoid further loss.
So for those Veterans who are pursuing a negotiation for loan modification with their lender, here are my
suggestions:
1. LEARN YOUR LENDER POLICIES
Become knowledgeable and familiar with your lender’s loan modification policies. For rate modifications, know if the
lender will accept an application before the rate becomes adjustable or increases. Some lenders require a borrower
to be delinquent for at least three months before they even accept an application for loan modification. Lenders
often have different policies for borrowers who can no longer pay due to job loss or health issues.
2. GET YOUR LENDERS LOAN MODIFICATION PACKAGE BEFORE YOU START NEGOTIATING
Before calling and giving all your information, ask for a written loan modification package from your lender. If they are
willing to send you an application, you will see what information they need and what their policies are. You will then
have time to reflect on your answers and not be pressured into answering over the telephone. Additionally, when
lenders have their own unique forms, any applications which are not submitted on those forms will fall to the bottom
of the pile and face delay in processing.
3. KEEP YOUR COOL
Keep in mind that you are dealing with a department staffed with people who are swamped with calls from irate
borrowers, each with the same sad story. These employees become callous to the plights of the borrowers.
Furthermore, their employer, the lender, changes the policies and procedures almost daily. In addition, the
employees are worried that they will lose their jobs when the lender makes additional job cuts. They may be calling
their own mortgage company’s loan modification department next week. You are stressed, and so is the person on
the other end of the telephone.
4. DOCUMENT EVERY COMMUNICATION MADE
Keep a log of every telephone call or letter made, and every telephone call or letter received. Include emails and
faxes in your log. Make certain that your log contains dates, times, names, and titles. This information may be
necessary to document what has been promised by the lender.
5. CREATE AN ACCURATE AND DETAILED EXPENSE REPORT
Lenders base their decisions on your monthly budget which includes your income and expenses. They are not
interested in your hardship story, only in learning whether the hardship is over. They are interested in knowing
exactly how you are going to make your monthly payments. They want to see a sensible, realistic, and reasonable
monthly budget. For example:
a. If you are applying for a rate modification, your lender will want to see that you have a negative residual income.
This shows that you cannot afford a rate increase. You will also need to that you have discharged all possible
expenses that are considered “excess” or “luxury living.” You must provide evidence that you have done all you can
to lower your monthly expenses. They do not want to see expenses for multiple cell phones, premium cable
television, designer clothes, or extravagant dining and entertainment expenses. They want to see that your car
payment matches a frugal lifestyle, meaning you do not drive a new Hummer.
b. A string applicant will have a monthly budget with a residual income about 25% greater than the monthly mortgage
payment. This means that if your mortgage payment is $2,000 per month, you have an income of $2,500. These
numbers must be verified by your bank statement or other documentation.
c. If you lose your source of income due to unemployment or medical reasons, the lender will want to know whether
such loss is permanent or temporary. If temporary, the lender will need to be assured that your income will return in
the near future. A permanent loss of income will result in denial of your loan modification.
6. HAVE A GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT
I saved this point for last, because most borrowers do not understand its importance, and I want to make sure that it
gets attention. Imagine being the lender and a borrower who has missed several months of payments calls you. That
borrower tells you that he has not been able to make any payments because the adjustable rate kicked in and the
payment was too high. This borrower filled out all the application forms and has begged for a loan modification. The
borrower has explained that he can pay a certain amount, but not the whole amount. You immediately think to
yourself, “Well then, why has this borrower not made any payment at all?” More to the point, you wonder what this
borrower has done with the money he would have used to make the mortgage payments had the rate not increased.
Can you see the problem here? This borrower better have the mortgage payments in his savings account and be
ready to tender that amount to the lender as a good faith deposit. Failure to do so will likely result in a denial of the
loan modification.
In summary, lenders will modify loans only if the borrower can convince them that it is in the lender’s best financial
interest to do so. That is what they want to see. They want to be assured that, no matter what, you want to keep your
home and will do everything you can to make your payments.
John P. Allen is General Manager of the Veterans Today Network. He frequently counsels Veterans on financial
matters including but not limited to VA Home Loans, Credit Issues, and Loan Modifications. He can be reached via
email at valoans@veteranstoday.com If you would like professional loan modification services or have further
questions about Loan Modification, Visit Loan Modification Services for Veterans.
*********************************************************************
Back in June 2008, Mark Thompson of Time wrote an article about what motivated the Pentagon to even consider
granting the Purple Heart for troops diagnosed with PTSD. Although DOD has for now rejected the idea based on
negative feedback from a few old fashion Veterans Service Organizations, the most resistant being the Military Order
of the Purple Heart (an American Legion clone) and of course the Americanism (translated Nationalists) Legion itself.
In the spirit of keeping this idea, among others, alive as a means to attacking the STIGMA toward mental illness in
our society that’s based more so on IGNORANCE than fact or medical/psychological evidence; I’m posted this article
plus feedback from the Mental Health community that has to address these issues far beyond the U.S. Armed
Forces. The number of such professional within all branches of military service are miniscule compared to the overall
career field in American society.
Only forces that can drive or pressure both Congress, if necessary, and the Pentagon as a professional group with
vested interest and that is the entire outside medical and psychological community combined with our troops and
military families of the current generation. As evident from a few, not all but a few, nationalistic VSOs, [reporters are
starting to call them Traditionalist as in backward thinking], Iraq and Afghanistan Vets and families cannot count on
the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) or American Legion to look out for our interests went it comes to the
hidden wounds of war, nor do they take serious PTSD anymore than these kind of organizations took Agent Orange
or Gulf War Illness serious.
Question is, and it comes not from me but the professionals who deal with mental illness and the stigma that
traditionalists place in their way, exactly what medical degrees, experience, or psychological expertise does the
American Legion or especially the Military Order of the Purple Heart have that give them the arrogance to influence
such decisions? How many members of the American Legion or Military Order of the Purple Heart are Board Certified
Psychiatrists let alone Psychologists? That said, how many members of these VSO with a 19th century mental illness
(excuse me mentality) give a hoot about PTSD. These organizations have a traditon (no pun intended) of opposing
the existence of every and any illness or disease that keeps young men and women off the battlefield. History
speaks for itself, the American Legion, VFW, and MOPH were the tip of the spear in denying the existence of PTSD ,
and Agent Orange ala Vietnam, plus Guld War Illness ala our generation of late 20th century warriors. The VFW
spokesmen even takes a slap at Gulf War Illness comparing it to PTSD as unworthy side effects of WAR. Shame on
them, all of them.
It is this vulnerability combined with younger troops and military families standing up alongside the vastly superior
Medical and Psychological profession outside the Armed Forces and the few who place patient ethics above
promotional goals that can place this decision into a debate based on factual evidence NOT ignorance and most
traditonalism is based on IGNORANCE. However, just granting a medal or ribbon for PTSD only takes a baby step
towards dealing with the issue of stigma associated with mental illness in our society period. No pun intended but it
would be just as much a band aid as the purple hearts worn at the Republican National Convention during 2004 as
the Military Order of the Purple Heart remained silent.
(If anyone can provide me a link to any official statement by the MOPH condemning the mockery of the Purple Heart
at the 2004 Republican National Convention, please clarify this for me. I’m fairly good at Google searches and even
checked out the MPOH magazine archive for a documented reaction and found none.)
Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Mark Thompson of the Times wrote that the “Pentagon has diagnosed roughly 40,000 troops with post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) since 2003, and tens of thousands of others are dealing with it on their own or ultimately will
be diagnosed. With the war taking such a heavy psychological toll, as noted in Thompson’s earlier article, America's
Medicated Army, some inside the military [meaning they are not yet older VETERANS of previous wars per se] were
and still continue asking if men and women who become mentally injured in the service of their country deserve the
Purple Heart. To some traditionalists, [Nationalists] the idea is absurd on its face, but it is not a theoretical debate —
the Pentagon did consider a change in policy that would make PTSD, in a term only the military could invent, a
"qualifying wound" for the medal.”
The so-called traditionalists of the American Legion and its clone the Military Order of the Purple Heart with a mission
to spread Americanism [Nationalism] have won the first round, because it is up to those inside the military TODAY to
challenge old fashion ideas that belong in the 19th and early 20th century with the American Legion and MOPH.
Thompson goes on to note that the, “Army classifies PTSD as an illness, not an injury, which means it doesn't qualify
for the honor.” So technically speaking the Army has traditionally (no pun intended) taken the position of
traditionalists Veterans Groups. Then, how come the idea of granting the Purple Heart even saw the light of day in
the 21st century? This is a very important question for younger Veterans and Military Families need to ask
themselves. Why? How many of us youngsters are seriously considering ever joining the American Legion or MOPH,
maybe a few, very few, of us.
Well, readers, the idea did not come from a VETERAN; at least he wasn’t one when he promoted the idea. The idea
in fact did not even come from many of the various PTSD support groups and forward thinking Veterans groups that
DO take PTSD serious. It cames from someone within the military who was more qualified than any Board Member or
Commander of the American Legion or MPOH.
It was an Army psychologist, John Fortunato, at Fort Bliss, Texas, who argued way back in early May 2008 that
PTSD affects soldiers by physically damaging their brains, making the condition no different than conventional
wounds. Soldiers with PTSD often have suffered as much "as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with
shrapnel wound," he said. Their ineligibility for a Purple Heart "says this is the wound that isn't worthy, and it is."
Advocates of the change like Fortunato believe it would [contribute to lessening the STIGMA associated with PTSD
both in the military and out] help encourage soldiers with symptoms of PTSD, many of whom are afraid [due to the
STIGMA that the Pentagon and our society admits exists] of being blacklisted and having their chances for promotion
limited, fail to seek out the help they need. [In the long run, this is what leads to the growing number of suicides our
military is experiencing during the War on Terror. Thus, just like any other wound directly or indirectly related to
combat, PTSD is a killer and that cannot be debated except by those VSOs that do not take PTSD serious.]
As explained to me by a Navy Psychiatrist back during the relative Peacetime of the late 1990 after I returned from
the Gulf War passionately in denial about having PTSD, is that PTSD and certain other major or minor depressive
illnesses, including bi-polar, are caused by chemical changes in our brains, an imbalance if you will. In fact, this
military physician (not a PhD, but an MD) went to a black board and drew me a picture of exactly how this imbalance
works and what it does to our though processes. That’s why PTSD and so on is treated with medications. If there
were no medical and psychological basis to PTSD, then there should be no reason to medicate patients. However,
that is what I was taught as a patient, I’m no expert. This is why it is paramount that those who are within the Armed
Forces itself must put aside traditionalists ideas based on ignorance and do what your profession calls for, because
not all of you are going to become Colonels, Generals, or Admirals within the military medical community where the
emphasis is on what it takes to get promoted not ethical patient care. If this were not the case the Walter Reed
Fiasco would never have gone public.]
Though tabled for NOW, the suggestion DID garnered high-level Pentagon attention. The Mind you despite claims to
the contrary, even from me, the DOD does not base all of its decisions on feedback or ignorant input from VSOs.
They base their decision on how much it’s going to cost and how many ground troops are they going to lose at a
time when more troops are needed for Afghanistan. The image or worth of a medal or ribbon is going to be the
lowest common denominator to that decision. If awarding a medal or ribbon will cost nothing plus benefit morale of all
troops that is the direction Pentagon uniformed leadership will go with the idea. However, DOD is not lead by
uniformed service members, each Admiral and General reports to a civilian that’s the way of our military for now.
Although he backed off more so for political reasons and heat he would get from traditional, old fashion, VSOPs the
fact remains that Defense Secretary Robert Gates felt "It's an interesting idea," recently noted. "I think it is clearly
something that needs to be looked at." The Defense Department's awards advisory group, which previously ruled
and again recently ruled that PTSD doesn't merit a Purple Heart. That’s NOW, and the War on Terror is far from
over. Robert Gates is a Republican appointee kept on for lord only knows why by the Obama Administration, if he a
traditionalists himself felt it was an idea worth looking at once he was briefed, just think what a future 21st century
thinking SECDEF might do who happens to not be a traditionalist by an innovative THINKER.
Shame on the Traditional Veterans Groups who ARE NOT 21st century THINKERS
Thompson doesn’t have to note, but he does that the so-called, “traditional veterans' groups don't want the rules
loosened.”We vehemently disagree" that PTSD is a physical wound that warrants a Purple Heart, says Joseph
Palagyi, the national adjutant of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, who earned the medal [during the mid-20th
century] in Vietnam on June 2, 1968. "We feel that the purity of the medal must be maintained." The American
Legion agrees. "Unless PTSD crosses the line and is shown to be an injury—with a direct relationship to the enemy—
we support the current policy," says Phil Riley of the Legion. Michael Wysong, the director of national security issues
for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, likens PTSD to the Gulf War syndrome that afflicted troops following that 1991
war. "Not to diminish the illness or effects of PTSD," he says, "but it is the VFW's belief that awarding the Purple
Heart for PTSD is not consistent with the original purpose and would denigrate the medal."
The Army surgeon general didn't venture into this minefield when TIME offered him the opportunity. “They haven't
asked my opinion about it," Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker said May 27, 2008 of the Pentagon panel reviewing
the question. When pressed on the question—shouldn't the Army's top doc have an opinion on whether or not PTSD
warrants a Purple Heart?— he punted. "Whether or not a medal should be awarded is not in my purview," he said.
"The senior operational commander in the Army needs to decide that." It's evidence of the sensitivity of the issue
that even the army's senior doctor suggests a second opinion.”
Conclusion: (1) The Defense Department's awards advisory group was persuaded by a SECDEF to take a look at
this twice now, so it is not going away as long as there is a War on Terror and the accountability and credibility of
traditional VSOs remains questionable as qualified to make decisions on what medical and psychological wounds
warrant recognition. Many of these traditionalists rate extremely low on charity watch dog organizations for failure to
maintain proper management practices in fund raising. The MOPH and American Legion needs to focus more on
proper and efficient management practices and less on lobbying the Pentagon on matters that concern 21st century
troops and families NOT 19th and 20th century minded Veterans. (2) Media reports mention advocates of the
change like Dr. Fortunato, however fails to mention who these other advocates are or exactly how prevalent the
views of Dr. Fortunato are within the Armed Forces medical and psychiatric community. If it was a minor opinion by a
minority of professionals, then why did Robert Gates or the DOD awards board give it any consideration at all?
Depending on how many medical professionals both inside and outside the Pentagon agree with Dr. Fortunato, let
me assure you the DOD will be looking at this again and hopefully not from a position based on IGNORANCE biased
by traditionalism. (3) The duck and cover silence and distancing of the Army surgeon general was the most
disgraceful, because it publicly shows that our Armed Forces definitely is not picking the best and brightest of the
medical profession to lead those efforts during a time of WAR.
Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker said it dumber than I ever could have, and this is what outside Medical
Professionals are laughing at. On May 27, 2008. The General should have, could have said I wasn’t’ asked my
opinion and left it at that. That response would have been DUMB enough, however say that, "Whether or not a
medal should be awarded is not in my purview," he said. "The senior operational commander in the Army needs to
decide that."
It is evident that medical leadership in our Armed Forces is subordinate (and I mean that in a negative way) to
operational command and that includes issues of professional competence and expertise. Meaning that in order to
get promoted, military medical personnel must compromise their own professional expertise and opinions for a
second opinion from their bosses who happen to not be qualified, and who’s focus is on getting and keeping as
many ground forces in combat as possible if they have PTSD or not.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1812757,00.html
Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
*************************************************************
Program Description
The Veterans' Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income
who are no longer able to work.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be permanently and totally disabled or have reached the age of
65. Income limits apply.
You must have served on active duty at least 90 days with at least one day of wartime service.
Generally, if you enlisted after September 7, 1980, you must have served at least 24 months or the full period for
which you were called or ordered to active duty.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. In most cases, these veterans need not have served 24 months. There are some
exceptions.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Generally, in order to receive VA benefits and services the veteran/servicemember's character of discharge or
service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general).
However, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other types of dishonorable discharges may qualify for
VA benefits depending on a determination made by VA.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To complete an application, use VA Form 21-526, “Veteran’s Application for Compensation or Pension.” You can
complete the application online at:
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at: http://www.
vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm#9
For more information, visit
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/index.asp
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
************************************************************
Program Description
VA may authorize a non-VA health care facility to provide necessary medical care services when such services are
not routinely available at a VA health care facility, or VA determines that such services can be obtained outside the
VA more economically or more appropriately due to geographic inaccessibility. Non-VA care must be authorized by
VA in advance.
General Program Requirements
Contract Care in non-VA facilities is a part of the Medical Benefits Package. You must be enrolled in the VA health
care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.Click here ( ) to see the basic Medical Benefits
Package entry.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To inquire about authorized hospital care and medical services in non-VA health care facilities, call your nearest VA
health care facility. Contact information for VA health care facilities in your state can be obtained through the VA
Facilities Directory:
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
You may also contact the Health Benefits Service Center at the following toll-free telephone number:
877-222-8387
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
**************************************************************
Program Description
To qualify for the prescription benefit provided by VA Pharmacy Service, you must be enrolled in and receiving
health care from the VA health care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
Only prescriptions written by a VA health care provider or a VA-authorized provider can be provided by VA to eligible
veteran patients. Your VA provider will review any prescriptions from a private health care provider during a medical
visit to determine if they can be rewritten by a VA healthcare provider and dispensed from a VA pharmacy.
VA Pharmacy Service provides prescription drugs and medical supplies from VA pharmacies to eligible veterans.
The prescriptions may be received at a VA pharmacy or mailed to your home address.
General Program Requirements
The prescription drug benefit is part of VA’s Medical Benefits Package. You must be enrolled in the VA health care
system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
For information on-line for the VA’s Medical Benefits Package, please go to http://www.va.
gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/StandardBenefits.asp.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
For more information about this program and how to apply, visit:
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/
Or call the Health Benefits Service Center at this toll-free number:
1-877-222-8387
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
***********************************************************
Program Description
The Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program provides medical, social, vocational, and
rehabilitation therapies to eligible alcohol and drug dependent veterans. The programs offer various forms of
treatment including detoxification, rehabilitation, and psychiatric care. Treatment programs are located in VA medical
centers and clinics.
General Program Requirements
Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation is a part of the Medical Benefits Package, You must be enrolled in the VA health
care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
To see the basic Medical Benefits Package entry, go to the “Search” box at the top left area of this page and type in
the entry below. Be sure to include the quotation marks.
“Basic Medical Benefits for Veterans”
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
You may also call the Health Benefits Service Center at this toll-free number:
877-222-8387
For more information about the Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program, contact your
nearest VA medical facility. You can look up your local facility at the following site:
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
***********************************************************
EARNWorks Veteran Initiatives
Veteran Speakers Network (VSN)
EARN’s Veteran Speakers Network (VSN) helps businesses understand how to navigate the various resources
available for hiring, retaining, managing and promoting veterans with disabilities. The VSN accomplishes this by
speaking at events, conferences and other national speaking engagements.
I am interested in having a member of the VSN speak at my event.
I am interested in finding out more about or joining the VSN.
Why employers should hire veterans with service-connected disabilities
Veterans with service-connected disabilities offer technical and leadership skills to support employers’ employment,
business and diversity goals. EARN’s Veteran Initiatives can better position your company to attract and hire these
highly sought after talented and experienced individuals.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities have received in-depth training in their fields, as well as invaluable “on
the job” experience. In addition, they possess transferable skill sets that can be applied to myriad industries such as
information technology, telecommunications, management, office work, plumbing, construction, carpentry, truck
driving, food preparation, health care and more.
HireVetsFirst, an initiative of the Department of Labor, has identified the top 10 reasons employers should take into
account when they consider hiring veterans:
Top 10 Reasons Why Employers Should Hire Disabled Veterans
Accelerated Learning Curve – Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition, they
can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real world situations. This background
can enhance your organization’s productivity.
Leadership – The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation and
inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results, even in the most trying
circumstances. They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.
Teamwork – Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues. Military
duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all
sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.
Diversity and Inclusion in Action – Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse
race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion and economic status as well as mental, physical and
attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity to cooperate with many different types of individuals.
Efficient performance under pressure – Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources.
They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They
know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.
Respect for procedures – Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They can
grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher
supervisory levels. They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.
Technology and globalization – Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of
international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and
technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.
Integrity – Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can take advantage of
a track record of integrity, often including security clearances. This integrity translates into qualities of sincerity and
trustworthiness.
Conscious of health and safety standards – Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety
protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that is
cognizant of maintaining personal health and fitness. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness
translate into protection of employees, property and materials.
Triumph over adversity – In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have
frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations
demanding endurance, stamina and flexibility. They may have overcome personal disabilities through strength and
determination.
For more information on how EARN’s Veteran Initiatives can support your understanding of the benefits of hiring
veterans with service-connected disabilities, please contact an EARN Employment Specialist at: earn@earnworks.
com or toll-free at 1-866-327-6669 (M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM, EST).
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We are a proud supporter of Veteran's Today! Please visit their website at:
Links:
> http://www.veteranstodaynetwork.com/linkexchange.htm
******************************************************************************
Veterans Outreach Programs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to recruiting and
employing qualified veterans, and we actively recruit eligible veterans for
suitable jobs. We value the experience, commitment and work ethic that
veterans bring to the job, as well as their significant skills and abilities.
CBP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Currently, veterans make up a significant portion of two of our Mission
Critical Occupations – Border Patrol Agent (BPA) and Customs and Border
Protection Officer (CBPO) – and nearly 25% of our entire workforce.
We are proud to provide opportunities to those who wish to serve their
country a second time.
Let Us help you…
We want to help you understand and use veterans' preference and other
hiring flexibilities that are available to you. Below you will find links to
general information about veterans’ employment with the Federal
Government, as well as three appointing authorities: the 30% or more
disabled veteran appointing authority; the Veterans Recruitment
Appointment (VRA) appointing authority, and the Veterans Employment
Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA).
Contact
If you have any additional questions about employment that you feel have
not been sufficiently addressed on this Web site, please send your
questions to cbpvets@dhs.gov.
Please do not send us your resume, DD214s, and/or any other similar
document(s) at the above email.
************************************************************
DISCLAIMER
JUST A SHORT NOTE TO STATE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION IS TO PASS PRECIOUS INFORMATION ON TO THOSE OF
NEED. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS,
HOWEVER, I DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU
*********************************************************************
These pages are dedicated to those who have served and are serving now. We continuously keep you in our
prayers and say "Thank You!" for our freedom. Ann
*********************************************************************
Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will find it easier to access quality health
care and qualify for disability compensation under a final rule published in the Federal Register. The new rule
expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures,
which will speed up the application process. VA is adding Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease and
expanding chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military
*********************************************************************
The third National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will
be held September 19 - 25, 2010 in San Diego, CA. The event will teach recently-injured Veterans adaptive
kayaking, sailing, track and field, cycling and surfing. Participation is open to Veterans who are eligible for VA
medical care and have orthopedic amputations, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological trauma, certain
neurological conditions, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries or other injuries.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.
gov/community_life/sports_&_leisure_activities/sports_&_recreation
******************************************************************
Helps individuals with disabilities find jobs. Also offers a Wounded Warrior Workforce Program to support Veterans
with disabilities as they transition from the military into civilian careers.
For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/state/california/employment.
********************************************
Program Description
Veterans Medical Care Benefits provide outpatient medical services, hospital care, medicines, and supplies to
eligible veterans. To receive health care, veterans generally must be enrolled in the VA health system. They may
apply for enrollment at any time. Veterans do not have to be enrolled in the VA health system if they have service-
connected disabilities of 50 percent or more, want care for a disability that the military determined was incurred or
aggravated in the line of duty, or want care for a service-connected disability only. Veterans with service-connected
disabilities living or traveling overseas must register with the Foreign Medical Program regardless of the degree of
disability.
General Program Requirements
This article addresses basic eligibility for veterans’ health care. The majority of other VA health care services listed
in Govbenefits.gov are dependent on basic eligibility as shown in this entry.
Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in one of the seven
uniformed services. These services are:
•The Army
•The Navy
•The Air Force
•The Marine Corps
•The Coast Guard
•The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service
•The Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order ordinarily
qualify for VA health care benefits. Merchant Marines who served during World War II and former cadets of the
military Service Academies may be eligible as well.
Some other groups (http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/Others.asp) may be eligible for some health benefits.
You must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If your separation papers indicate your
service was other than honorable, VA must study your service records to see if you qualify.
There’s no special requirement regarding the length of your military service if you entered before the 1980s. If you
first entered active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, or as an officer after October 16, 1981, then
you probably have to meet a minimum active duty requirement:
•For reservists and Guard members who were called to federal active duty by an executive order, the usual
requirement is that you served the full length of time you were ordered to serve.
•For all others, the usual requirement is 24 months of continuous service.
•There are a number of exceptions to these rules.
Returning service members, (http://www.oefoif.va.gov/) including Reservists and National Guard members who
served on active duty in a theater of combat operations, have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services,
and nursing home care for five years following discharge from active duty.
Because of budget requirements, VA cannot offer health care to every veteran who meets these basic requirements.
The law contains a complex system of priorities, mostly based on disability, income, and age.
To get started in determining your eligibility for VA health care benefits, go to: http://www.va.
gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Health Benefits Service Center:
1-877-222-8387
You can find us on the Web at:
http://www1.va.gov/health/
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
***********************************************************
Program Description
Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs care for a wide range of problems. A veteran’s needs
might be in any of the following areas—
•Medical
•Psychiatric
•Vocational
•Educational
•Social
Treatment and rehabilitation are provided by a team of professionals in an environment where veterans support
each other as they focus on developing greater independence.
General Program Requirements
Domiciliary Care is not part of the Medical Benefits Package.
But, to begin with, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system (or qualify based on one of the exceptions in
the law) and thus be eligible for the Medical Benefits Package.
To see the basic Medical Benefits Package entry, go to the “Search” box at the top right area of this page and type
in the entry below. Be sure to include the quotation marks.
“Basic Medical Benefits for Veterans”
Further, Domiciliary Care has some eligibility rules of its own. You must meet one of these criteria:
•Your annual income must not exceed the maximum annual Improved Disability VA Pension Rate
OR
•VA must determine that you have no adequate means of support
You can find the special eligibility rules for Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment (Domiciliary Care) in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Here are the references: Title 38, CFR 17.46, 17.47, and 17.48. They’re
available on the Web at either of these sites:
Government Printing Office (Standard Site) http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/38cfr17_06.html.
Government Printing Office (Continuously Updated Site) http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?
c=ecfr&sid=9dcfd440fc9f4d91d9bc92c8bfa15677&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title38/38cfr17_main_02.tpl.
In addition, we must find that you’re capable of handling the activities of daily living by yourself and that you’re willing
to participate in your own treatment. Here are the issues we must consider in determining whether domiciliary care is
right for you:
1.Are you interested in working with us to identify goals for improving your quality of life? This would require
participating in a program that works on physical and emotional health issues and looks at how you’ve been
functioning in your family and community.
2.Do you need help in learning how to get along more independently in your community?
3.Do you need treatment for medical, mental health, or substance abuse problems?
4.Are you willing to join with a whole group of veterans and VA staff that works together to help members heal
physically and emotionally, and gain as much independence as possible?
5.Are you able to accomplish the ordinary activities of daily living, including personal care, with no help or very little
help? This might include the ability to use a wheelchair or other assistive devices.
6.Are you able to live in a “community” of veterans without posing a risk to yourself or to others?
Even if we decide that our program is not a good “fit” for you, we may be able to help you find some other
arrangement that does work.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
For more information please visit:
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/SpecialBenefits.asp#Dom...
You can find the locations of the domiciliaries at this site:
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
******************************************************************************
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that its National Resource Directory (NRD) Web site recently
received a comprehensive system upgrade to provide users with easier access. This Web site compiles federal,
state, local and non-profit resources for Wounded Warriors, Veterans, family members and caregivers in a single,
searchable site. The site's new "bookmark and share" feature allows visitors to alert others to the resources they find
most helpful through social bookmarking, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools. Visitors can also
subscribe to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or e-mail updates about new information that has been added to the
site. The NRD is a collaborative effort among the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor (DOL).
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.
gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
*************************************************************************
Program Description
Readjustment counseling is a wide range of services provided to combat veterans in the effort to make a satisfying
transition from military to civilian life. Services include:
•Individual counseling
•Group counseling
•Marital and family counseling (as it relates to the veteran’s military service)
•Medical referrals
•Assistance in applying for VA benefits
•Employment counseling
•Guidance and referral
•Alcohol/drug assessments
•Information and referral to community resources.
Family members of combat veterans can also receive readjustment counseling services if the veteran is receiving
them.
Readjustment counseling is provided at community-based Vet Centers nationwide. In some cases, the Vet Centers
can furnish services through other providers closer to a veteran’s home.
Bereavement Services
Bereavement counseling is assistance and support to people with emotional and psychological stress after the death
of a loved one. It includes a broad range of transition services, including outreach, counseling, and referral services
to family members.
Counseling can sometimes be made available in the family's home or anywhere the family feels most comfortable.
General Program Requirements
Readjustment Counseling for Veterans and Families
Readjustment counseling services at the Vet Centers are not part of the Medical Benefits Package.
You don’t have to apply for health care to get these services.
To qualify for readjustment services in one of VA’s 200 community-based Vet Centers, you must have served in a
war zone. Here are the qualifying periods and combat theaters:
•WORLD WAR II - Three eligible categories
◦European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign-Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Nov. 8, 1945)
◦Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Mar. 2, 1946) or
◦American Campaign Medal (Dec. 7, 1941, to Mar. 2, 1946)
•AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINES – In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, Dec. 7, 1941 to Aug.
15, 1945
•KOREAN WAR - June 27. 1950, to - July 27, 1954 (eligible for the Korean Service Medal)
•VIETNAM WAR - Feb. 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975
•LEBANON - Aug. 25, 1982, to Feb. 26, 1984
•GRENADA - Oct. 23, 1983 to Nov. 21, 1983
•PANAMA - Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990
•PERSIAN GULF - Aug. 2, 1990, to - a date yet to be determined
•SOMALIA - Sept. 17, 1992 to - a date yet to be determined
•OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR, OPERATION JOINT GUARD, AND OPERATION JOINT FORGE in the former
Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces
above those areas).
•GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM - Veterans who serve or have served in military expeditions to combat terrorism on
or after September 11, 2001, and before a date yet to be determined
Campaigns include:
◦Operation "Enduring Freedom"
◦Operation "Iraqi Freedom"
Family members may also receive services if the veteran is receiving them.
Bereavement Services
Family members (including parents) qualify for bereavement services if a loved one died in the line of duty in active
service The death need not be combat-related.
Service may have been in peacetime or wartime.
Family members of persons who died while in reserve or National Guard training also qualify.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Vet Center staff are available toll free during normal business hours at:
Eastern:
1-800-905-4675
and
Pacific:
1-866-496-8838
Bereavement Services
You can call at:
202-273-9116
or email us at:
vet.center@va.gov
We'll help you contact the nearest Vet Center.
Readjustment counseling
More information is available at:
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
**********************************************************************************
Program Description
With this program, you can refinance your current loan, whether it’s a VA-guaranteed mortgage or not.
Usually, the new loan is limited to 90% of the appraised value of the house. There are a few exceptions.
General Program Requirements
Persons who may qualify for these refinancing loans include:
•Veterans (including Reserve and National Guard members who were called to active duty)
•Active duty service members
•Current Reserve and Guard members (usually after 6 years of reserve service)
•Certain surviving spouses
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Length-of-service requirements apply in most cases.
Veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
You will need a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You can get one from VA or from a lender using the Automated
Certificate of Eligibility (ACE) program.
If you need to obtain your COE, contact a lender about obtaining your COE or download VA Form 26-1880,
complete it and mail it (with proof of service) to our Winston-Salem Eligibility Center at:
VA Loan Eligibility Center
PO Box 20729
Winston-Salem, NC 27120
You can download the form at:
http://www.va.gov/vaforms/
For overnight delivery:
VA Loan Eligibility Center
215 N. Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27155
Toll free number: 1-888-244-6711
E-mail: nceligib@vba.va.gov
Loan Terms
Market Interest Rate, VA funding fee, and no pre-payment penalties. Maximum loan term cannot exceed 30 years.
Monthly payment frequency.
You should talk with a lender to learn more about dollar limits. VA’s guaranty is limited.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
Contact a lender to discuss qualifying for a VA loan. The lender will make sure you meet basic program
requirements, including the following:
•You must have enough income to meet your monthly mortgage payments, maintain the home, take care of other
debts and obligations, and still have enough money left over to cover day-to-day expenses (food, gas, etc.).
•The loan must be for the home you will live in.
•You must also have a good credit history.
You may also want to use the VA Home Loan website at http://homeloans.va.gov as a reference point on how to use
the program or find answers to other questions you may have about the program.
Please note that if you are interested in obtaining an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loan, the loans are being
offered as a traditional 1 year ARM and also as hybrids with 3, 5, 7 and 10 year fixed rates, where available.
NOTE: If you plan to stay in your home for longer than the fixed rate period, an ARM may not be in your best interest.
It is a good idea to use a mortgage calculator to determine what the best loan, term and interest rate are for you and
your family.
Program Contact Information
For more information on this program, please visit:
http://www.homeloans.va.gov
Please contact a Regional Loan Center to discuss purchase and refinancing issues:
http://www.homeloans.va.gov/RLCWEB.htm
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
*****************************************************************
Program Description
There is a one-time payment by VA of not greater than $11,000 toward the purchase of an automobile or other
transportation. VA also pays for adaptive equipment, or for repair, replacement, and reinstallation of automobile
equipment required because of disability. These payments may be made multiple times during the veteran's life.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must have one of the following disabilities that are the result of injury
or disease incurred or aggravated during active service:
•permanent loss of use of at least one foot or hand, or
•serious, permanent vision impairment in both eyes.
If you have ankylosis (stiff or immobile joint) of at least one knee or hip due to a service-connected disability, you
may qualify for adaptive equipment, without the automobile grant.
You can qualify for this benefit even if you’re still on active duty. If you’re a veteran, your discharge must have been
given under other than dishonorable conditions.
There is no requirement as to length of service.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration are considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, call 1-800-827-1000 and request the form "Application for Automobile or Other
Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment” (VA Form 21-4502) be mailed to you. Fill out the form and return it to VA, as
indicated on the form, and you will be notified regarding you eligibility status.
Program Contact Information
For more information, visit:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/#BM2
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
***********************************************************************
The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) National Technical Assistance Center is hosting a series of
conference calls on Job Development in Tough Times, Substance Abuse and Employment of Homeless Veterans
and Green Jobs. These conference calls will be divided by region. To find out what region your state is in please visit
the HVRP region's page.
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.
gov/employment/jobs_&_career_planning/veterans_&_military.
***********************************************************
The benefits section of Disability.gov has been updated with several new fact sheets for Veterans including
Automobile & Special Adaptive Equipment Grants, Benefits for Filipino Veterans and Disability Compensation for
Sexual or Personal Trauma.
This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
*******************************************************************
Program Description
VA burial allowances are partial reimbursements of eligible veterans’ burial and funeral costs. When the cause of
death is not service-related, VA may be able to pay two modest allowances:
•One for burial and funeral expense, and
•One for the cemetery plot.
When the cause of death is service-related, the reimbursement comes in the form of a single, larger payment for
burial and funeral expenses. In some service-connected death cases, VA can pay a reimbursement for
transportation costs.
General Program Requirements
The veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
VA can pay a reimbursement only if the expenses for the funeral/burial have not been reimbursed by another
government agency or some other source.
Generally, at least one of following additional eligibility criteria must also be met. Reimbursement is possible if the
veteran:
•Died because of a service-related disability, OR
•Was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death, OR
•Was entitled to receive VA compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retired pay, OR
•Died in a VA hospital or while in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home, OR
•Had a claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior
to the date of death, OR
•Died while traveling, under proper authorization and at VA expense, to or from a specified place for the purpose of
examination, treatment, or care.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration are considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, call 1-800-827-1000 and request that form Application for Burial Benefits (VA Form 21-
530) be mailed to you. Once you've received the form, fill it out and send it back to VA as directed on the form.
Program Contact Information
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/burials/Burialeg_0508.doc
If you have questions about this benefit or would like to speak with a benefit specialist, you can call VA at this toll-
free number:
1-800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
1-800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
************************************************************
The DEA program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain
veterans.
General Program Requirements
You must be a son, daughter, or spouse of a:
•Veteran who is permanently and totally disabled as the result of, or dies of, a service-connected disability. The
disability must arise out of or be aggravated by active service.
•Veteran with a permanent and total service-connected disability who dies from any cause.
•Service member who died on active duty in the line of duty.
•Service member who is missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or forcibly detained or
interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
Reservists and National Guard members who are activated for Federal service OR who die/become disabled while
on training status are considered veterans.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns, you can contact us in the following ways:
Our Web site (click on "Ask A Question") at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Call:
1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)
Or:
1-800-827-1000
For the hearing impaired, please call:
1-800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
****************************************************************
Spina Bifida patients who are natural children of Vietnam and Korea veterans may be eligible for a monthly monetary
allowance.
The allowance is paid at three different levels, depending on how severe the disability is.
Please note: If you want to apply for either of the other Spina Bifida benefits (health care assistance or vocational
training), you must start by applying for the monthly allowance.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be the biological child of a male or female veteran who served in
Vietnam or on the Korean demilitarized zone during specific time periods.
Your birth father or mother must have:
•Served in Vietnam during the period from January 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975, or
•Served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) during the period from September 1, 1967, through August
31, 1971 and have been exposed to herbicides.
VA has no requirements regarding the character of the parent’s discharge or the length of his or her service.
You must be diagnosed with a form of Spina Bifida other than Spina Bifida Occulta.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To find out if you're eligible for this benefit, you must first complete the form, "Benefits for Certain Children with
Disabilities born of Vietnam Veterans" (VA Form 21-0304). Forms can be found at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
Alternatively, VA can send you the form if you call 1-800-827-1000.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions about this benefit or would like to speak with a VA benefit specialist, you can call VA toll-free at:
1-800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
1-800-829-4833
For more information, visit:
http://www1.va.gov/opa/IS1/11.asp
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
****************************************************************
To expedite the delivery of benefits to many injured Service Members who receive disability compensation from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department announced the expansion of a program with the Department of
Defense (DoD) to streamline the application process for people retiring or exiting the military due to disabilities. The
Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot began in November 2007 and is expanding to an additional six military
installations, bringing the total number to 27 military facilities where a single physical examination serves as the basis
for determining whether military personnel are fit enough to stay on active duty and to determine their eligibility for
VA disability compensation.
You are subscribed to Veterans' Benefits for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated, and can be
read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans_&_military.
*******************************************************
Program Description
Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) provides veterans and service members with the resources and
services to succeed in the 21st century workforce. VETS programs aim to maximize their employment opportunities,
protect their employment rights and meet labor-market demands with qualified veterans. There are seven VETS
programs summarized below.
REALifeLines helps wounded and injured service members and veterans access valuable online resources, in
addition to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance to help them transition into the civilian
workforce.
The Veterans’ Preference Advisor helps veterans determine if they are entitled to preferences in appointment to
Federal jobs, the benefits associated with the preferences, and enumerates the steps necessary to file a complaint
due to the failure of a Federal agency to provide those benefits.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisors help veterans submit online
claims if they believe they experience discrimination in employment, regardless of whether their uniformed service
was in the past, present or future.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans
into meaningful employment within the labor force. HVRP also seeks to stimulate the development of effective service
delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
The Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP) provides career information for active duty service members,
National Guard, Reserves, and spouses of service members separating or retiring from the military.
O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is a comprehensive database of occupational skills, knowledge, and
abilities that can help you align your military experience, education, and training curricula with current civilian
workplace needs.
VeteransLink connects veterans with Veteran Employment Specialists at Career One-Stop Centers to improve their
chances for post-military employment opportunities.
General Program Requirements
VETS programs are available to veterans and service members. Individual programs may have additional
requirements.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
REALifeLines: Contact your REALifeLines representative at 202-693-4724 or 703-908-6296. Or visit the
REALifeLines website at www.dol.gov/elaws/realifelines.htm.
Veterans’ Preference Advisor: Visit the Veterans’ Preference Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm.
USERRA Advisor: Visit the USERRA Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP): Contact the VETS’ office nearest you, which is listed in the
phone book under United States Government, U.S. Department of Labor. Or refer to the list of regional and state
offices at www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP): Visit the TAP website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/main.htm.
O*NET: Visit O*NET at www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/oina.cfm.
VeteransLink: Visit the VeteransLink website at www.veteranslink.com.
Program Contact Information
Visit VETS’ HireVetsFirst website at http://hirevetsfirst.dol.gov/ for program information and other resources.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/
**************************************************************
Santa Monica College Opens New Veterans Center
Posted on October 08, 2009 by higgins
Santa Monica College (SMC) has opened a new Veterans Center dedicated to assisting the estimated 300 to 350
student veterans at the college. This semester, SMC opened the Veterans Center in a small complex of former
faculty offices that college officials say will help them better serve this special population, which includes many
veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The center is located in Room 135 of the Liberal Arts Building and is
open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.
“Veterans trust other veterans,” says Linda Sinclair, coordinator of the Veterans Center. “Some veterans just want a
place to decompress or feel comfortable.”
The new facility has a small staff that includes a part-time counselor, part-time secretary and part-time student
assistant, who is also a veteran. The center has a free textbook-lending library, a meeting room and a computer-
tutoring room.
It also features an office where representatives from other SMC departments or outside agencies — such as
Financial Aid, Disabled Students and the Veterans Administration — can come to provide assistance and guidance
to the students.
Sinclair says her plans include establishing an emergency loan fund, scholarship fund, a community advisory group
and having a brown bag lunch series on veterans’ topics.
The center is intended to help the student veterans deal with various complex issues, such as post-traumatic stress
syndrome or other psychological problems, substance abuse, financial difficulties, and adjusting to civilian and
campus life.
“We’re lucky to have these veterans home and lucky that SMC is a welcoming place for them,” Sinclair said. “But it’s
important that we do all in our power to help these men and women get the education they need so they can write a
fulfilling and successful new chapter in their lives.
*****************************************
House Extends Homebuyer’s Tax Credit for Deployed Troops
Legislation that would extend the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit by one year for military and key civilian personnel
deployed abroad this year sailed through the House on Thursday. The bill, passed by 416-0, would give members
of the armed forces, Foreign Service and intelligence agencies who were posted abroad for at least 90 days another
year to use an $8,000 first-time homebuyer’s tax credit that is currently set to expire Nov. 30.
The bill also would bar the IRS from recapturing the credit from qualifying individuals who must sell a residence after
Dec. 31, 2008, because of government orders for extended duty. The law currently requires the buyer to live in the
home for 36 consecutive months.
“As we rotate personnel home from Iraq and contemplate increasing force levels in Afghanistan, Congress can ease
the transition for those in uniform by ensuring existing home ownership tax incentives are flexible for their
circumstances,” said Dave Camp of Michigan, the top GOP member on the House Ways and Means Committee.
“This bill does that.”
Camp said he hoped the Senate would quickly approve the legislation so President Obama can sign it into law.
The tax credit was included in the economic stimulus law; an effort is under way by its supporters in Congress to
extend it for everyone. But it is not at all certain that drive will succeed.
Meanwhile, members are hoping to protect deployed troops and others as best they can. Ways and Means member
Earl Blumenauer , D-Ore., said, “Those serving our government should not have to choose between their job and
their home.”
*********************************************
saw your email that was sent out to agencies in Mercer
County---I'm hoping we might be able to exchange website links and
information.
I am the founder and Executive Director of the Community Justice Center, a
new, Trenton-based legal services non-profit servicing the low-income and
homeless disabled and returning disabled veterans, primarily within Mercer
and Burlington Counties.
Our website, www.nj-communityjusticecenter.org, has plenty of information
about the organization, and about my personal story specifically--included
on there is a 30 minute interview I did on Mercer County's Channel 25.
Thank you for your time, and please feel free to forward this to anyone
you think may be interested in supporting us, or might need our services!
Thanks,
Melissa Gertz
Melissa A. Gertz, Esq.
Executive Director
Community Justice Center
310 W. State Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08618
Ph: 609.218.5120
Fax: 609.218.5126
********************************************
Program Description
The Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly check paid to eligible survivors.
General Program Requirements
To qualify for this benefit program, you must be the child, spouse, or parent of a veteran who died while serving in
active military duty or as a result of a service-connected disability.
If death was after service, the veteran's discharge from service must have been given under other than dishonorable
conditions.
There is no requirement as to length of service.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Payments to parents of deceased veterans depend upon their income.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at this address:
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/, then click on the "Dependents and Survivors' Benefits" link.
Spouses and children should apply for DIC by completing an “Application for Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child” (VA Form 21-534).
Parents should apply for DIC by completing an “Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent
(s)” (VA Form 21-535).
VA can send you a form if you call 800-827-1000.
You can download the form at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
If you have questions about this benefit or you need an application, you can call VA at this toll-free number:
800-827-1000
People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number:
800-829-4833
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
**************************************************************
The purpose of this meeting is to review information about service-related disabilities, provide an ongoing
assessment of the effectiveness of the rating schedule and give advice on the most appropriate means of
responding to the needs of veterans relating to disability compensation. The meeting will be held on September 21-
22, 2009 in Washington, DC. Time will be reserved during the afternoon of September 22nd for public comments.
You are subscribed to Veterans' Benefits for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated, and can be
read by visiting this link:
http://www.disability.gov/benefits/other_benefits_programs/veterans
*************************************************************************
VA - Burial Benefits - Veteran & Dependent burial in VA National Cemeteries
The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that
commemorate their service to our Nation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 125 national cemeteries in 39
states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites. To visit the web page for the closest
National Cemetery in your state just visit the Web site ( http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/listcem.asp) and select your
state.
Burial benefits include a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the
grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at
no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or
inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.
Burial benefits available for eligible spouses and dependents include burial with the veteran, perpetual care of the
interment site. The spouse or dependent’s name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s
headstone at no cost to the family.
General Program Requirements
Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies while on active duty or any veteran who was
discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be eligible for burial in a National Cemetery.
Certain National Guard and reserve members may also qualify.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Length-of-service requirements apply in some cases.
Spouses and certain eligible dependents may also be buried in national cemeteries.
Pre-arrangement for burial at a National Cemetery is not allowed.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
Telephone: 202-273-7210
To confirm your eligibility for burial benefits at a national cemetery you may call your VA regional office at:
1-800-827-1000
A Veterans Benefits Counselor will be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have.
Requests for burial in a VA national cemetery cannot be made via the Internet. Funeral homes that are assisting
families during their time of need can contact the national cemetery and make arrangements for burial and/or
inurnment. Direct contact with a veteran's family during the difficult days surrounding a veteran's death is usually not
necessary until the family arrives at the cemetery for the burial service.
The telephone number for the closest national cemetery can be found in the blue pages of your local phone book,
Federal Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemeteries. There may be more than one in your
state so carefully review the numbers before calling.
If you would like a more information abut burial benefit eligibility, you may visit the National Cemetery Administration
web at:
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/eligible.asp
Managing Agency
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
http://www.cem.va.gov
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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that combat Veterans will receive readjustment
counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) will establish new Vet Centers in 2010. Find a Vet Center near you.
You are subscribed to Veterans Health Information for Disability.gov. This information has recently been updated,
and can be read by visiting this link: http://www.disability.gov/health/specific_populations/veterans_&_military
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VA Helps Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
Posted on July 22, 2009 by gm
Veterans Affairs Helps Veteran Small-Business Owners
WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 Veterans who own small businesses and seek to do more contracting with the
federal government recently heard Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki extol the importance of small
businesses and reaffirm the commitment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help veterans start or expand
their companies.
“If Veterans tell us their definition of success, we’ll put our capabilities behind them,” Shinseki said July 21 at the
government-sponsored National Veteran Small Business Conference in Las Vegas.
Speaking at the largest annual conference to help Veteran-owned and service-disabled Veteran-owned firms do
business with the federal government, Shinseki encouraged potential suppliers to seek VA’s business, telling them
his Department leads the government in prime-contract dollars spent with businesses owned by service-disabled
Veterans and other Veterans.
He said last year VA spent more than $2 billion with Veteran-owned small businesses – 15 percent of its
procurement dollars, up 5 percent from the previous year. Of that amount, $1.6 billion – or 12 percent of VA’s
purchasing -- was spent with service-disabled Veteran-owned businesses.
Even though VA has exceeded government-wide goals for supporting Veteran-owned small businesses, Shinseki
said VA should raise its support for them even higher. VA will set goals to increase Veteran subcontractors’ work for
VA, as well.
To help Veterans win bids and perform the work successfully, he said VA is launching contractor certification training
to explain the complexities of federal contracting. The VA secretary said he has urged other presidential Cabinet
departments to increase contract opportunities for Veterans.
Shinseki suggested Veterans get state and local governments to partner with Veteran-owned businesses. He said
the nation’s defenders earned the right to participate in all taxpayer-funded contracts.
Finally, he urged Veteran entrepreneurs to find ways to assist men and women returning from service in Iraq and
Afghanistan to find meaningful work. Shinseki said, “We’ll do our part at VA, but we can’t do it all.”
VA has a special unit, the Center for Veterans Enterprise, which offers a variety of services to Veterans wanting to
start or expand a business. These include one-on-one coaching, referrals for business training, listing in an online
database for potential clients and verification of the Veteran status of those registrants.
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Program Description
Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) provides veterans and service members with the resources and
services to succeed in the 21st century workforce. VETS programs aim to maximize their employment opportunities,
protect their employment rights and meet labor-market demands with qualified veterans. There are seven VETS
programs summarized below.
REALifeLines helps wounded and injured service members and veterans access valuable online resources, in
addition to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance to help them transition into the civilian
workforce.
The Veterans’ Preference Advisor helps veterans determine if they are entitled to preferences in appointment to
Federal jobs, the benefits associated with the preferences, and enumerates the steps necessary to file a complaint
due to the failure of a Federal agency to provide those benefits.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisors help veterans submit online
claims if they believe they experience discrimination in employment, regardless of whether their uniformed service
was in the past, present or future.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans
into meaningful employment within the labor force. HVRP also seeks to stimulate the development of effective service
delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
The Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP) provides career information for active duty service members,
National Guard, Reserves, and spouses of service members separating or retiring from the military.
O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is a comprehensive database of occupational skills, knowledge, and
abilities that can help you align your military experience, education, and training curricula with current civilian
workplace needs.
VeteransLink connects veterans with Veteran Employment Specialists at Career One-Stop Centers to improve their
chances for post-military employment opportunities.
General Program Requirements
VETS programs are available to veterans and service members. Individual programs may have additional
requirements.
Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
REALifeLines: Contact your REALifeLines representative at 202-693-4724 or 703-908-6296. Or visit the
REALifeLines website at www.dol.gov/elaws/realifelines.htm.
Veterans’ Preference Advisor: Visit the Veterans’ Preference Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm.
USERRA Advisor: Visit the USERRA Advisor website at www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm.
Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP): Contact the VETS’ office nearest you, which is listed in the
phone book under United States Government, U.S. Department of Labor. Or refer to the list of regional and state
offices at www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
Transition Assistance Program for Veterans (TAP): Visit the TAP website at www.hirevetsfirst.gov/e-
tap/LMS/about/about.cfm.
O*NET: Visit O*NET at www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/oina.cfm.
VeteransLink: Visit the VeteransLink website at www.veteranslink.com.
Program Contact Information
Visit VETS’ HireVetsFirst website at www.hirevetsfirst.gov for program information and other resources.
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/
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$2 million veterans shelter close to opening in East St. Louis
Posted on June 01, 2009 by assteditor
After six-year wait, Eagles Nest is ready for June 26 start
BY MIKE FITZGERALD - News-Democrt
EAST ST. LOUIS -- After a six-year delay, work on a $2 million federally funded homeless veterans shelter is set to
finish up next month, with a ribbon-cutting set for June 26, and the first residents expected to move in some time in
late summer or fall.
The nonprofit Eagles Nest of St. Clair County, which is sponsoring the Joseph Center, expects to have "people in
and operating" by late August or September, spokesman Frank Hackmann said.
"And it'll be a while after that that we will be up toward the higher capacity levels," Hackmann said.
Kurt Daesch, the executive director of the St. Clair County Veterans Assistance Commission, and longtime skeptic of
the project, said that after a recent tour of the facility at 5020 State St., he is convinced the project can succeed after
all.
"I think it's finally going to work out," Daesch said.
And once the center opens its doors, Daesch said he is confident it will find the money to keep going.
"They have some fairly big players that are going to line up," he said. "There were certain aspects that I wasn't
comfortable with, and they answered the questions I had on those aspects."
At the time it was scheduled to open in early 2003, the Joseph Center -- named for president and founder Martha
Watts' late husband -- was to provide a home for up to two years to clients who would receive life skills and job
training along with drug and alcohol counseling. The start-up cost was estimated at $500,000.
But Eagles Nest later revised the cost estimate to $1.5 million, causing a money crunch. Progress has also been
disrupted by contractor disputes and extensive interior work that needed to be redone, including the demolition of
walls inside the structure because the rooms they formed were slightly too small.
Over the last six years, Eagles Nest has provided, and retracted, a series of opening dates for the shelter.
In a Dec. 9 letter to Ray Willis, director of the HUD regional office in Chicago, Martha Watts -- Eagles Nest's
president -- wrote that the project contractor has estimated project construction "can be completed by April 2009,"
while "our revised opening date will be in June 2009."
But unexpected delays that occurred late last year, including the theft of air conditioning units and fundraising
problems, pushed that deadline further back.
Rebecca Boykin, a spokeswoman for The Illinois Housing Development Authority in Springfield, which has provided
the project with a $870,000 low-interest loan, said her agency's on-site inspector visited April 28 and reported that
progress was going well.
"It seems like work is moving along," Boykin said. "We are anticipating everything could be wrapped up as early as
next month in June."
Don Johnson, an East St. Louis home builder, took over as project manager in January 2008 after the last project
manager quit in a funding dispute.
Johnson said only a few "punch list" items, such as caulking, mirror installations and the acquisition of furniture,
remain before work at the former Army Reserve center is completed.
"We're kind of doing the finishing touches right now," Johnson said. "The floors are done, the walls are painted, we
just have to drop the ceiling tile in place, which is a day's work."
In 2001, the Joseph Center's original startup cost was going to be about $500,000, including $300,000 from U.S.
departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs.
Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 239-2533.
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New NY State Program Recruits Military Vets as Substance Abuse Counselors
Posted on February 25, 2009 by GM
FIRST-TIME SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FROM OUTREACH TRAINING INSTITUTE
New Help for U.S. Military Veterans
Veterans seeking training as drug and alcoholism counselors will now have a unique opportunity from Outreach
Training Institute (OTI), a division of Outreach Project, one of New York State's leading alcohol and substance abuse
treatment agencies, which helps teenagers and adults with addiction issues.
Veterans Program
Through special funding, any honorably discharged U.S. military service veteran within the past nine years can
receive a full scholarship for OTI's Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program for
licensing by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.
With classroom sites in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Richmond Hill, Queens and Brentwood, Long Island, the program
offers a 350-hour/11-month curriculum with classes held on weekdays, evenings and Saturdays.
Joe Johnson, who served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, is a graduate of OTI's CASAC program. He is now a
New York State Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor.
"This is the first time we've been able to offer such a program to veterans and the first program of its kind in New
York State," said Mark Armiento, director of OTI and a vice president of Outreach Project.
"Because so many veterans have been affected by alcoholism and substance abuse, we feel the additional training
of counselors with a record of military service will be of extraordinary help to those of their fellow vets who suffer from
addiction issues."
The OTI CASAC program includes internship placement and employment services for all its students. More than
1,500 OTI graduates have gone on to counseling and supervisory positions in the treatment and addiction field.
Outreach Project is a 501(c) organization dedicated to helping those (especially youth, women and women with
children) struggling to break free from addiction, providing a variety of programming options to help them turn their
lives around and become productive members of society.
With facilities in Queens, Brooklyn and in Suffolk County, Outreach offers outpatient and residential programming for
youth, intensive daytime treatment for women and women with children and adult outpatient treatment services (with
programming in Spanish at our Richmond Hill office and in Polish at our Greenpoint clinic).
For further information about OTI's veterans scholarships, or if you or someone you know needs help with a drug or
alcohol problem, please call David Greenberg at Outreach Project at (718) 847-9233, ext. 108. You can visit
Outreach Project at www.opiny.org
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Know Your Employment Rights Under USERRA
Posted on February 24, 2009 by rinckey
By Greg T. Rinckey, Esq.
Over the past few years, it’s been proven time and time again that even large, national corporations can run into
problems when it comes to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). With all
their human resources knowledge and legal prowess, it seems impossible that national brands could be so careless
with their employees’ rights. However, as we’ve seen with both Wal-Mart and American Airlines, these companies are
just as likely to violate the employment rights of their servicemember employees.
With even Ivy-league corporate legal departments failing to provide our nation’s servicemembers with their lawful
employment rights, I find it imperative that members of the armed forces take it upon themselves to have a basic
understanding of the rights afforded to them through their service.
For those who are not familiar, USERRA the most important legal protection available to servicemembers when it
comes to their employment and reemployment rights. USERRA is the federal statute that prohibits discrimination
against anyone for serving in the armed forces or for taking military leave from a civilian job. This includes
discrimination in hiring, promotion, reemployment, or any other benefit of employment. USERRA also prohibits
retaliation against anyone who seeks to enforce their rights under USERRA or assists another in enforcing those
rights.
Simply put, when you return from military duty and ask to be reemployed, your employer has to take you back if all
deadlines under USERRA are met and you have taken less than five years total military leave.
USERRA provides protection over the following:
Reemployment Rights
In addition to prohibiting discrimination, USERRA also requires companies to rehire or reemploy military personnel on
return from military leave or duty. In order to qualify for rehire under USERRA, the employee must give advance
notice to the company before military leave unless it is impossible or unreasonable to do so, or he is prevented by
military necessity from doing so.
Seniority and Benefits
A person returning to work after military leave under USERRA is entitled to the same seniority and position as though
he or she never left employment. In other words, seniority accrues even while the employee is in military service.
This is often referred to as the “escalator principle” of USERRA. These provisions extend beyond just seniority to
pay and benefits as well. For example, if a similarly situated employee receives a pay raise or promotion during a
servicemember’s absence, the servicemember will likely be entitled to the same pay raise and promotion upon his or
her return. Further, medical and pension benefits must continue to be provided to the servicemember while on
military leave.
For Cause Termination
Normally, employment is at will. This means that an employee can quit or be fired at any time for any reason other
than an illegal one. However, this is not the case under USERRA. Depending on the length of time an employee was
absent due to military leave covered under USERRA, the employee is protected from termination without cause for a
certain period of time after returning to work. Depending on the specifics of the situation, this protection can even be
extended to layoffs.
There is no statute of limitations on filing a lawsuit under USERRA – meaning that no matter how long ago you
believe your rights were violated, you still have the option to take legal action against your employer. However, timely
filing can provide you with more options when it comes to the award of damages beyond recovering lost benefits or
wages, such as reinstatement into your position.
As a member of the armed forces, it’s crucial you understand when your rights are being violated and learn how to
speak up. Through familiarizing yourself with your rights, you won’t be relying on your human resource
representative to take care of your needs when called to serve. Even those employed by the big companies aren’t
safe anymore. And with more and more soldiers rising for duty everyday, your own awareness of USERRA has never
been more crucial.
This is just a brief overview of your rights under USERRA. If you have questions about any of the rights afforded to
you through your military service, I invite you to send me an email at grinckey@tullylegal.com.
Greg T. Rinckey, Esq. is the managing partner of the law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC. With offices in Albany, NY and
Washington, DC, the firm is dedicated to providing superior legal representation to military personnel, veterans, and
federal employees throughout the nation in a wide range of legal matters relating to military law and federal
employment law. For more information, email Greg at grinckey@tullylegal.com.
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Successful Loan Modification
by John P. Allen
Many Military Veterans have adjustable subprime mortgages and are now desperately seeking solutions to their
increased payments. I take phone calls all day long from Veterans that say stuff like “I am Scared” “What a Mess I
Got Myself Into” and “What an Expensive Lesson I Just Learned – Never Again.”
The great help the lenders claim to be offering the troubled borrower does not appear to be what the borrower is
actually getting. When borrowers attempt to modify their loans they are met with resistance from poorly informed
“loan modification departments.” While help from the government seems promising, nothing tangible has been
passed yet in the congress that provides relief and there's not much on the horizon yet.
There are now hundreds of thousands of Veterans with home loans whose monthly payments are about to rise over
the next eighteen months?
If you have found yourself facing a mortgage payment you cannot afford, and are contemplating asking your lender
for a loan modification, you must know the economic reality. Lenders and their investors are only concerned with
profitability. That is, they base their decisions solely on monetary return. They want to see that modifying the loan will
be more profitable than foreclosing on the subject property. The lenders want to know you can make the modified
monthly payment without fail.
Because the majority of borrowers who are faced with unaffordable payments are victims of teaser rates becoming
expired, the modified payment will be higher than the teaser rate. This means that if the borrower could barely afford
the teaser payment, there is little chance of paying a higher amount, no matter how small the increase. For
borrowers with the ability to slash their living expenses, do without an extra automobile or cell phone, and come up
with extra money for the mortgage payment, the lender may be willing to accept less than the full increase in
payment. The borrowers with the ability to pay close to what the lender requires are the ones most likely to get a
loan modification.
All economic indicators project that for many subprime borrowers with adjustable rate mortgages, default will
eventually occur. Capitalistic wisdom should dictate that financial institutions will cut their losses now and not want to
be taken down in the spiral as real estate values plummet over the months to come. The lenders knew that the
subprime loans were made to high risk borrowers, but they took the risk. Now that they are faced with defaults on
their investments, they may be willing to lose some profit to avoid further loss.
So for those Veterans who are pursuing a negotiation for loan modification with their lender, here are my
suggestions:
1. LEARN YOUR LENDER POLICIES
Become knowledgeable and familiar with your lender’s loan modification policies. For rate modifications, know if the
lender will accept an application before the rate becomes adjustable or increases. Some lenders require a borrower
to be delinquent for at least three months before they even accept an application for loan modification. Lenders
often have different policies for borrowers who can no longer pay due to job loss or health issues.
2. GET YOUR LENDERS LOAN MODIFICATION PACKAGE BEFORE YOU START NEGOTIATING
Before calling and giving all your information, ask for a written loan modification package from your lender. If they are
willing to send you an application, you will see what information they need and what their policies are. You will then
have time to reflect on your answers and not be pressured into answering over the telephone. Additionally, when
lenders have their own unique forms, any applications which are not submitted on those forms will fall to the bottom
of the pile and face delay in processing.
3. KEEP YOUR COOL
Keep in mind that you are dealing with a department staffed with people who are swamped with calls from irate
borrowers, each with the same sad story. These employees become callous to the plights of the borrowers.
Furthermore, their employer, the lender, changes the policies and procedures almost daily. In addition, the
employees are worried that they will lose their jobs when the lender makes additional job cuts. They may be calling
their own mortgage company’s loan modification department next week. You are stressed, and so is the person on
the other end of the telephone.
4. DOCUMENT EVERY COMMUNICATION MADE
Keep a log of every telephone call or letter made, and every telephone call or letter received. Include emails and
faxes in your log. Make certain that your log contains dates, times, names, and titles. This information may be
necessary to document what has been promised by the lender.
5. CREATE AN ACCURATE AND DETAILED EXPENSE REPORT
Lenders base their decisions on your monthly budget which includes your income and expenses. They are not
interested in your hardship story, only in learning whether the hardship is over. They are interested in knowing
exactly how you are going to make your monthly payments. They want to see a sensible, realistic, and reasonable
monthly budget. For example:
a. If you are applying for a rate modification, your lender will want to see that you have a negative residual income.
This shows that you cannot afford a rate increase. You will also need to that you have discharged all possible
expenses that are considered “excess” or “luxury living.” You must provide evidence that you have done all you can
to lower your monthly expenses. They do not want to see expenses for multiple cell phones, premium cable
television, designer clothes, or extravagant dining and entertainment expenses. They want to see that your car
payment matches a frugal lifestyle, meaning you do not drive a new Hummer.
b. A string applicant will have a monthly budget with a residual income about 25% greater than the monthly mortgage
payment. This means that if your mortgage payment is $2,000 per month, you have an income of $2,500. These
numbers must be verified by your bank statement or other documentation.
c. If you lose your source of income due to unemployment or medical reasons, the lender will want to know whether
such loss is permanent or temporary. If temporary, the lender will need to be assured that your income will return in
the near future. A permanent loss of income will result in denial of your loan modification.
6. HAVE A GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT
I saved this point for last, because most borrowers do not understand its importance, and I want to make sure that it
gets attention. Imagine being the lender and a borrower who has missed several months of payments calls you. That
borrower tells you that he has not been able to make any payments because the adjustable rate kicked in and the
payment was too high. This borrower filled out all the application forms and has begged for a loan modification. The
borrower has explained that he can pay a certain amount, but not the whole amount. You immediately think to
yourself, “Well then, why has this borrower not made any payment at all?” More to the point, you wonder what this
borrower has done with the money he would have used to make the mortgage payments had the rate not increased.
Can you see the problem here? This borrower better have the mortgage payments in his savings account and be
ready to tender that amount to the lender as a good faith deposit. Failure to do so will likely result in a denial of the
loan modification.
In summary, lenders will modify loans only if the borrower can convince them that it is in the lender’s best financial
interest to do so. That is what they want to see. They want to be assured that, no matter what, you want to keep your
home and will do everything you can to make your payments.
John P. Allen is General Manager of the Veterans Today Network. He frequently counsels Veterans on financial
matters including but not limited to VA Home Loans, Credit Issues, and Loan Modifications. He can be reached via
email at valoans@veteranstoday.com If you would like professional loan modification services or have further
questions about Loan Modification, Visit Loan Modification Services for Veterans.
*********************************************************************
Back in June 2008, Mark Thompson of Time wrote an article about what motivated the Pentagon to even consider
granting the Purple Heart for troops diagnosed with PTSD. Although DOD has for now rejected the idea based on
negative feedback from a few old fashion Veterans Service Organizations, the most resistant being the Military Order
of the Purple Heart (an American Legion clone) and of course the Americanism (translated Nationalists) Legion itself.
In the spirit of keeping this idea, among others, alive as a means to attacking the STIGMA toward mental illness in
our society that’s based more so on IGNORANCE than fact or medical/psychological evidence; I’m posted this article
plus feedback from the Mental Health community that has to address these issues far beyond the U.S. Armed
Forces. The number of such professional within all branches of military service are miniscule compared to the overall
career field in American society.
Only forces that can drive or pressure both Congress, if necessary, and the Pentagon as a professional group with
vested interest and that is the entire outside medical and psychological community combined with our troops and
military families of the current generation. As evident from a few, not all but a few, nationalistic VSOs, [reporters are
starting to call them Traditionalist as in backward thinking], Iraq and Afghanistan Vets and families cannot count on
the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) or American Legion to look out for our interests went it comes to the
hidden wounds of war, nor do they take serious PTSD anymore than these kind of organizations took Agent Orange
or Gulf War Illness serious.
Question is, and it comes not from me but the professionals who deal with mental illness and the stigma that
traditionalists place in their way, exactly what medical degrees, experience, or psychological expertise does the
American Legion or especially the Military Order of the Purple Heart have that give them the arrogance to influence
such decisions? How many members of the American Legion or Military Order of the Purple Heart are Board Certified
Psychiatrists let alone Psychologists? That said, how many members of these VSO with a 19th century mental illness
(excuse me mentality) give a hoot about PTSD. These organizations have a traditon (no pun intended) of opposing
the existence of every and any illness or disease that keeps young men and women off the battlefield. History
speaks for itself, the American Legion, VFW, and MOPH were the tip of the spear in denying the existence of PTSD ,
and Agent Orange ala Vietnam, plus Guld War Illness ala our generation of late 20th century warriors. The VFW
spokesmen even takes a slap at Gulf War Illness comparing it to PTSD as unworthy side effects of WAR. Shame on
them, all of them.
It is this vulnerability combined with younger troops and military families standing up alongside the vastly superior
Medical and Psychological profession outside the Armed Forces and the few who place patient ethics above
promotional goals that can place this decision into a debate based on factual evidence NOT ignorance and most
traditonalism is based on IGNORANCE. However, just granting a medal or ribbon for PTSD only takes a baby step
towards dealing with the issue of stigma associated with mental illness in our society period. No pun intended but it
would be just as much a band aid as the purple hearts worn at the Republican National Convention during 2004 as
the Military Order of the Purple Heart remained silent.
(If anyone can provide me a link to any official statement by the MOPH condemning the mockery of the Purple Heart
at the 2004 Republican National Convention, please clarify this for me. I’m fairly good at Google searches and even
checked out the MPOH magazine archive for a documented reaction and found none.)
Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Mark Thompson of the Times wrote that the “Pentagon has diagnosed roughly 40,000 troops with post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) since 2003, and tens of thousands of others are dealing with it on their own or ultimately will
be diagnosed. With the war taking such a heavy psychological toll, as noted in Thompson’s earlier article, America's
Medicated Army, some inside the military [meaning they are not yet older VETERANS of previous wars per se] were
and still continue asking if men and women who become mentally injured in the service of their country deserve the
Purple Heart. To some traditionalists, [Nationalists] the idea is absurd on its face, but it is not a theoretical debate —
the Pentagon did consider a change in policy that would make PTSD, in a term only the military could invent, a
"qualifying wound" for the medal.”
The so-called traditionalists of the American Legion and its clone the Military Order of the Purple Heart with a mission
to spread Americanism [Nationalism] have won the first round, because it is up to those inside the military TODAY to
challenge old fashion ideas that belong in the 19th and early 20th century with the American Legion and MOPH.
Thompson goes on to note that the, “Army classifies PTSD as an illness, not an injury, which means it doesn't qualify
for the honor.” So technically speaking the Army has traditionally (no pun intended) taken the position of
traditionalists Veterans Groups. Then, how come the idea of granting the Purple Heart even saw the light of day in
the 21st century? This is a very important question for younger Veterans and Military Families need to ask
themselves. Why? How many of us youngsters are seriously considering ever joining the American Legion or MOPH,
maybe a few, very few, of us.
Well, readers, the idea did not come from a VETERAN; at least he wasn’t one when he promoted the idea. The idea
in fact did not even come from many of the various PTSD support groups and forward thinking Veterans groups that
DO take PTSD serious. It cames from someone within the military who was more qualified than any Board Member or
Commander of the American Legion or MPOH.
It was an Army psychologist, John Fortunato, at Fort Bliss, Texas, who argued way back in early May 2008 that
PTSD affects soldiers by physically damaging their brains, making the condition no different than conventional
wounds. Soldiers with PTSD often have suffered as much "as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with
shrapnel wound," he said. Their ineligibility for a Purple Heart "says this is the wound that isn't worthy, and it is."
Advocates of the change like Fortunato believe it would [contribute to lessening the STIGMA associated with PTSD
both in the military and out] help encourage soldiers with symptoms of PTSD, many of whom are afraid [due to the
STIGMA that the Pentagon and our society admits exists] of being blacklisted and having their chances for promotion
limited, fail to seek out the help they need. [In the long run, this is what leads to the growing number of suicides our
military is experiencing during the War on Terror. Thus, just like any other wound directly or indirectly related to
combat, PTSD is a killer and that cannot be debated except by those VSOs that do not take PTSD serious.]
As explained to me by a Navy Psychiatrist back during the relative Peacetime of the late 1990 after I returned from
the Gulf War passionately in denial about having PTSD, is that PTSD and certain other major or minor depressive
illnesses, including bi-polar, are caused by chemical changes in our brains, an imbalance if you will. In fact, this
military physician (not a PhD, but an MD) went to a black board and drew me a picture of exactly how this imbalance
works and what it does to our though processes. That’s why PTSD and so on is treated with medications. If there
were no medical and psychological basis to PTSD, then there should be no reason to medicate patients. However,
that is what I was taught as a patient, I’m no expert. This is why it is paramount that those who are within the Armed
Forces itself must put aside traditionalists ideas based on ignorance and do what your profession calls for, because
not all of you are going to become Colonels, Generals, or Admirals within the military medical community where the
emphasis is on what it takes to get promoted not ethical patient care. If this were not the case the Walter Reed
Fiasco would never have gone public.]
Though tabled for NOW, the suggestion DID garnered high-level Pentagon attention. The Mind you despite claims to
the contrary, even from me, the DOD does not base all of its decisions on feedback or ignorant input from VSOs.
They base their decision on how much it’s going to cost and how many ground troops are they going to lose at a
time when more troops are needed for Afghanistan. The image or worth of a medal or ribbon is going to be the
lowest common denominator to that decision. If awarding a medal or ribbon will cost nothing plus benefit morale of all
troops that is the direction Pentagon uniformed leadership will go with the idea. However, DOD is not lead by
uniformed service members, each Admiral and General reports to a civilian that’s the way of our military for now.
Although he backed off more so for political reasons and heat he would get from traditional, old fashion, VSOPs the
fact remains that Defense Secretary Robert Gates felt "It's an interesting idea," recently noted. "I think it is clearly
something that needs to be looked at." The Defense Department's awards advisory group, which previously ruled
and again recently ruled that PTSD doesn't merit a Purple Heart. That’s NOW, and the War on Terror is far from
over. Robert Gates is a Republican appointee kept on for lord only knows why by the Obama Administration, if he a
traditionalists himself felt it was an idea worth looking at once he was briefed, just think what a future 21st century
thinking SECDEF might do who happens to not be a traditionalist by an innovative THINKER.
Shame on the Traditional Veterans Groups who ARE NOT 21st century THINKERS
Thompson doesn’t have to note, but he does that the so-called, “traditional veterans' groups don't want the rules
loosened.”We vehemently disagree" that PTSD is a physical wound that warrants a Purple Heart, says Joseph
Palagyi, the national adjutant of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, who earned the medal [during the mid-20th
century] in Vietnam on June 2, 1968. "We feel that the purity of the medal must be maintained." The American
Legion agrees. "Unless PTSD crosses the line and is shown to be an injury—with a direct relationship to the enemy—
we support the current policy," says Phil Riley of the Legion. Michael Wysong, the director of national security issues
for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, likens PTSD to the Gulf War syndrome that afflicted troops following that 1991
war. "Not to diminish the illness or effects of PTSD," he says, "but it is the VFW's belief that awarding the Purple
Heart for PTSD is not consistent with the original purpose and would denigrate the medal."
The Army surgeon general didn't venture into this minefield when TIME offered him the opportunity. “They haven't
asked my opinion about it," Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker said May 27, 2008 of the Pentagon panel reviewing
the question. When pressed on the question—shouldn't the Army's top doc have an opinion on whether or not PTSD
warrants a Purple Heart?— he punted. "Whether or not a medal should be awarded is not in my purview," he said.
"The senior operational commander in the Army needs to decide that." It's evidence of the sensitivity of the issue
that even the army's senior doctor suggests a second opinion.”
Conclusion: (1) The Defense Department's awards advisory group was persuaded by a SECDEF to take a look at
this twice now, so it is not going away as long as there is a War on Terror and the accountability and credibility of
traditional VSOs remains questionable as qualified to make decisions on what medical and psychological wounds
warrant recognition. Many of these traditionalists rate extremely low on charity watch dog organizations for failure to
maintain proper management practices in fund raising. The MOPH and American Legion needs to focus more on
proper and efficient management practices and less on lobbying the Pentagon on matters that concern 21st century
troops and families NOT 19th and 20th century minded Veterans. (2) Media reports mention advocates of the
change like Dr. Fortunato, however fails to mention who these other advocates are or exactly how prevalent the
views of Dr. Fortunato are within the Armed Forces medical and psychiatric community. If it was a minor opinion by a
minority of professionals, then why did Robert Gates or the DOD awards board give it any consideration at all?
Depending on how many medical professionals both inside and outside the Pentagon agree with Dr. Fortunato, let
me assure you the DOD will be looking at this again and hopefully not from a position based on IGNORANCE biased
by traditionalism. (3) The duck and cover silence and distancing of the Army surgeon general was the most
disgraceful, because it publicly shows that our Armed Forces definitely is not picking the best and brightest of the
medical profession to lead those efforts during a time of WAR.
Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker said it dumber than I ever could have, and this is what outside Medical
Professionals are laughing at. On May 27, 2008. The General should have, could have said I wasn’t’ asked my
opinion and left it at that. That response would have been DUMB enough, however say that, "Whether or not a
medal should be awarded is not in my purview," he said. "The senior operational commander in the Army needs to
decide that."
It is evident that medical leadership in our Armed Forces is subordinate (and I mean that in a negative way) to
operational command and that includes issues of professional competence and expertise. Meaning that in order to
get promoted, military medical personnel must compromise their own professional expertise and opinions for a
second opinion from their bosses who happen to not be qualified, and who’s focus is on getting and keeping as
many ground forces in combat as possible if they have PTSD or not.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1812757,00.html
Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
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Program Description
The Veterans' Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income
who are no longer able to work.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be permanently and totally disabled or have reached the age of
65. Income limits apply.
You must have served on active duty at least 90 days with at least one day of wartime service.
Generally, if you enlisted after September 7, 1980, you must have served at least 24 months or the full period for
which you were called or ordered to active duty.
National Guard and Reserve members who were activated for federal military service and later separated are
considered to be veterans. In most cases, these veterans need not have served 24 months. There are some
exceptions.
Commissioned Officers of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are
considered to be active duty members and veterans, once discharged.
Generally, in order to receive VA benefits and services the veteran/servicemember's character of discharge or
service must be under other than dishonorable conditions (e.g., honorable, under honorable conditions, general).
However, individuals receiving undesirable, bad conduct, and other types of dishonorable discharges may qualify for
VA benefits depending on a determination made by VA.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To complete an application, use VA Form 21-526, “Veteran’s Application for Compensation or Pension.” You can
complete the application online at:
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/
Additional information on this program may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at: http://www.
vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm#9
For more information, visit
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/index.asp
Managing Agency
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
http://www.vba.va.gov
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Program Description
VA may authorize a non-VA health care facility to provide necessary medical care services when such services are
not routinely available at a VA health care facility, or VA determines that such services can be obtained outside the
VA more economically or more appropriately due to geographic inaccessibility. Non-VA care must be authorized by
VA in advance.
General Program Requirements
Contract Care in non-VA facilities is a part of the Medical Benefits Package. You must be enrolled in the VA health
care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.Click here ( ) to see the basic Medical Benefits
Package entry.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To inquire about authorized hospital care and medical services in non-VA health care facilities, call your nearest VA
health care facility. Contact information for VA health care facilities in your state can be obtained through the VA
Facilities Directory:
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
You may also contact the Health Benefits Service Center at the following toll-free telephone number:
877-222-8387
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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Program Description
To qualify for the prescription benefit provided by VA Pharmacy Service, you must be enrolled in and receiving
health care from the VA health care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
Only prescriptions written by a VA health care provider or a VA-authorized provider can be provided by VA to eligible
veteran patients. Your VA provider will review any prescriptions from a private health care provider during a medical
visit to determine if they can be rewritten by a VA healthcare provider and dispensed from a VA pharmacy.
VA Pharmacy Service provides prescription drugs and medical supplies from VA pharmacies to eligible veterans.
The prescriptions may be received at a VA pharmacy or mailed to your home address.
General Program Requirements
The prescription drug benefit is part of VA’s Medical Benefits Package. You must be enrolled in the VA health care
system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
For information on-line for the VA’s Medical Benefits Package, please go to http://www.va.
gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/StandardBenefits.asp.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
For more information about this program and how to apply, visit:
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/
Or call the Health Benefits Service Center at this toll-free number:
1-877-222-8387
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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Program Description
The Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program provides medical, social, vocational, and
rehabilitation therapies to eligible alcohol and drug dependent veterans. The programs offer various forms of
treatment including detoxification, rehabilitation, and psychiatric care. Treatment programs are located in VA medical
centers and clinics.
General Program Requirements
Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation is a part of the Medical Benefits Package, You must be enrolled in the VA health
care system or be eligible based on one of the exceptions in the law.
To see the basic Medical Benefits Package entry, go to the “Search” box at the top left area of this page and type in
the entry below. Be sure to include the quotation marks.
“Basic Medical Benefits for Veterans”
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
You may also call the Health Benefits Service Center at this toll-free number:
877-222-8387
For more information about the Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program, contact your
nearest VA medical facility. You can look up your local facility at the following site:
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
Managing Agency
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
http://www1.va.gov/health
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EARNWorks Veteran Initiatives
Veteran Speakers Network (VSN)
EARN’s Veteran Speakers Network (VSN) helps businesses understand how to navigate the various resources
available for hiring, retaining, managing and promoting veterans with disabilities. The VSN accomplishes this by
speaking at events, conferences and other national speaking engagements.
I am interested in having a member of the VSN speak at my event.
I am interested in finding out more about or joining the VSN.
Why employers should hire veterans with service-connected disabilities
Veterans with service-connected disabilities offer technical and leadership skills to support employers’ employment,
business and diversity goals. EARN’s Veteran Initiatives can better position your company to attract and hire these
highly sought after talented and experienced individuals.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities have received in-depth training in their fields, as well as invaluable “on
the job” experience. In addition, they possess transferable skill sets that can be applied to myriad industries such as
information technology, telecommunications, management, office work, plumbing, construction, carpentry, truck
driving, food preparation, health care and more.
HireVetsFirst, an initiative of the Department of Labor, has identified the top 10 reasons employers should take into
account when they consider hiring veterans:
Top 10 Reasons Why Employers Should Hire Disabled Veterans
Accelerated Learning Curve – Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition, they
can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real world situations. This background
can enhance your organization’s productivity.
Leadership – The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation and
inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results, even in the most trying
circumstances. They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.
Teamwork – Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues. Military
duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all
sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.
Diversity and Inclusion in Action – Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse
race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion and economic status as well as mental, physical and
attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity to cooperate with many different types of individuals.
Efficient performance under pressure – Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources.
They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They
know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.
Respect for procedures – Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They can
grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher
supervisory levels. They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.
Technology and globalization – Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of
international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and
technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.
Integrity – Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can take advantage of
a track record of integrity, often including security clearances. This integrity translates into qualities of sincerity and
trustworthiness.
Conscious of health and safety standards – Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety
protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that is
cognizant of maintaining personal health and fitness. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness
translate into protection of employees, property and materials.
Triumph over adversity – In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have
frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations
demanding endurance, stamina and flexibility. They may have overcome personal disabilities through strength and
determination.
For more information on how EARN’s Veteran Initiatives can support your understanding of the benefits of hiring
veterans with service-connected disabilities, please contact an EARN Employment Specialist at: earn@earnworks.
com or toll-free at 1-866-327-6669 (M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM, EST).
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We are a proud supporter of Veteran's Today! Please visit their website at:
Links:
> http://www.veteranstodaynetwork.com/linkexchange.htm
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Veterans Outreach Programs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to recruiting and
employing qualified veterans, and we actively recruit eligible veterans for
suitable jobs. We value the experience, commitment and work ethic that
veterans bring to the job, as well as their significant skills and abilities.
CBP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Currently, veterans make up a significant portion of two of our Mission
Critical Occupations – Border Patrol Agent (BPA) and Customs and Border
Protection Officer (CBPO) – and nearly 25% of our entire workforce.
We are proud to provide opportunities to those who wish to serve their
country a second time.
Let Us help you…
We want to help you understand and use veterans' preference and other
hiring flexibilities that are available to you. Below you will find links to
general information about veterans’ employment with the Federal
Government, as well as three appointing authorities: the 30% or more
disabled veteran appointing authority; the Veterans Recruitment
Appointment (VRA) appointing authority, and the Veterans Employment
Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA).
Contact
If you have any additional questions about employment that you feel have
not been sufficiently addressed on this Web site, please send your
questions to cbpvets@dhs.gov.
Please do not send us your resume, DD214s, and/or any other similar
document(s) at the above email.
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