Veterans Report - Week of December 31, 2012

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Veterans Report - Week of December 31, 2012

New Book on Agent Orange
A new book chronicles the history of using Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Western Michigan University history professor Ed Martini also deals with the aftermath of the herbicide in his book (http://www.umass.edu/umpress/title/agent-orange) Agent Orange: History, Science and the Politics of Uncertainty. Martini says American scientists started paying closer attention to the effects of dioxin as the war escalated. He says the Nixon administration eventually ended the use of Agent Orange over the objections of military commanders. Martini says despite extensive research, much remains unknown about Agent Orange. For more information on the book, visit the (http://www.umass.edu/umpress/title/agent-orange) University of Massachusetts Press website.
For more on military-related books, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty Center.


DoD Ending Paper Checks
Stars and Stripes reports that the Department of Defense (DoD) will no longer issue paper paychecks as of March 1, 2013. On that date, electronic funds transfer for military pay will become mandatory for all servicemembers, retirees and DOD civilians. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is encouraging personnel to set up a direct deposit checking or savings account ahead of the March 1 deadline, About 99 percent of DFAS customers already receive their pay by direct deposit. For more information, visit the (http://www.dfas.mil/MANDATORYEFT.html) Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website.
For more on military pay benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay) Military.com Benefits Center.


Report Looks at VA Hospital Stays
A new study of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers has found that reducing hospital length of stay does not raise readmission or mortality rates. The VA system cut its risk-adjusted mean hospital stay by 1.46 days across all medical diagnoses over a 14-year period. However, while hospital length of stay decreased, so did readmission rates and both 30- and 90-day mortality rates. The report is available in the (http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1485308) December 18, 2012 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
For complete guides on veteran benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Green Beret Training: "Ain't Nothing But a Thing"
"We sat four to a side in the back of a panel van with no windows, two rows facing each other. Each man tried not to look into the face of the man sitting across from him, tried not to betray fear, tried not to look overly confident, tried not to look like he was trying. By October 1993, we had been together most of four exhausting months -- we had formed relationships that sustained through the hard times. We had exchanged glances before a night jump." (http://www.military.com/special-operati ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


GM: Veteran Hiring Programs
GM is grateful for our nation's support through the years, and we're dedicated to designing, building and selling the world's best vehicles. General Motors is the largest commercial provider of military vehicles in history and we remain dedicated to supporting America's heroes. In addition to our signature national programs, we encourage our employees to support the military on a local basis and in ways meaningful to them. In many instances, our employees have a family member, relative, friend in the military. (http://www.military.com/general-motors/ ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


Company Chief Puts Country Over Self
GM's Military History: GM is grateful for our nation's support through the years, and we're dedicated to designing, building and selling the world's best vehicles. General Motors is the largest commercial provider of military vehicles in history and we remain dedicated to supporting America's heroes. In addition to our signature national programs, we encourage our employees to support the military on a local basis and in ways meaningful to them. In many instances, our employees have a family member, relative, friend in the military. (http://www.military.com/general-motors/ ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


Legion Reports on Indiana VA Med Center
The American Legion's System Worth Saving (SWS) Task Force has issued its report on conditions at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Fort Wayne, Ind. On Oct. 22, the Fort Wayne campus temporarily closed its acute-care and intensive-care services after a series of problems in critical areas of health care. The Legion's SWS Task Force made a site visit to the Fort Wayne hospital after several veterans contacted the Legion worried about their health care and wondered when important quality-of-care services would be restored. The report is available on the (http://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/sit ... _wayne.pdf) American Legion website. The SWS Task Force plans to conduct a follow-up visit to the Fort Wayne facility in six months to determine what corrective actions and improvements have been made.
For complete guides on veteran benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Tuskegee Airmen Instructor to be Honored
A Medal of Honor winner and the chief instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen are among four people being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio. The late Charles Alfred Anderson developed a civilian pilot training program at Tuskegee and was chief instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen. For more information, visit the National Aviation Hall of Fame website at (http://www.nationalaviation.org/) www.nationalaviation.org.
For more on the Tuskegee Airmen, see this (http://www.military.com/Content/MoreCon ... H_Tuskegee) Military.com History Special.


Get a List of 2013 Military Benefits
The Military.com Benefit Calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect you with your benefit information based on your military service and status. Get a list of Federal Benefits, State Benefits, National Guard State Benefits, Special Military Discounts and more. (http://benefits.military.com/reg/Vetera ... RC=mrvr.nl) Find Your Benefits Now.


Car Repair Tips: Basic Safety Rules
Repairing your vehicle by yourself can save you money, and make you better equipped to handle emergencies and breakdowns on the road -- but is it safe? If you make a mistake while making repairs, in most cases all you'll get is silence (which can be disconcerting, but not lethal). This isn't to say that working on a vehicle is free from danger. Before you do any work, be sure to observe the following safety rules in this (http://www.military.com/off-duty/autos/ ... afety.html) Military.com Auto Center article.


VA Eliminates Verification Report
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it is cutting red tape for veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR). VA will implement a new process for confirming eligibility for benefits, and staff that had been responsible for processing the old form will instead focus on eliminating the compensation claims backlog. All beneficiaries currently receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses. More information about VA pension benefits is available at the VA Pension Benefits webpage at (http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension) www.benefits.va.gov/pension and about other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of Defense--VA web portal eBenefits at (http://www.ebenefits.va.gov) www.ebenefits.va.gov.
For complete guides on veteran benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


VA Offers Anti-smoking Programs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has two, different programs to help veterans lose weight and keep smoking. (http://www.move.va.gov/) MOVE! is a weight loss program designed to keep veterans well-informed on measures they can take to stay healthy. The VA also offers anti-smoking initiatives, including: (1) individual counseling programs; (2) evidence-based programs that use documented information as a catalyst for change; (3) tobacco use screening during primary care visits to help veterans stay on track; and (4) health care providers who can write prescriptions for nicotine patches, gum and other nicotine replacement therapies. For more information, visit VA's MOVE! Webpage at (http://www.move.va.gov/) www.move.va.gov and VA's Tobacco and Health webpage at (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/index.asp) www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/index.asp.
For complete guides on veteran benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Navy Announces Rating Changes
The Navy has announced the realignment of approximately 2,000 Sailors from the Engineman (EN) rating to the Machinist's Mate (MM) rating and disestablishment of the Full Time Support (FTS) EN rating. Current EN Sailors who have experience in diesel propulsion will remain an EN and those who have an auxiliary background will be converted to MM. For E1-E9 active-duty and E6-E9 Reserve Sailors, official conversion from EN or MM rated Sailors will be effective May 1, and E1-E5 Reserve conversions will be effective Oct. 1, 2013. For more information, contact EN DETAILER: ENC(SW/AW) Deane Morin at (901) 882-3613/DSN 882; MM DETAILER: MMCS(SW/AW) Lawrence Fraley at (901) 874-3607/DSN 882; or DC/EM/EN FTS DETAILER: DCC(SW) Russell Marquis at (901) 874-2767/DSN 882.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Homeless Vet Number Drops in LA
A new report shows that the number of homeless Veterans in Los Angeles, Calif. has decreased by 22 percent, the largest drop in any major city surveyed. The drop represents a continued downward trend over the past several years. For more information, visit the (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... count.html) Los Angeles Times website.
For complete guides on veteran benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Security Clearance Wanted By Top American Companies
Top companies and government contractors actively hire and pay top salaries to Veterans with Security Clearance. Your skills and experience are in high demand. (http://content.military.com/newsletters ... rvr1224.nl) Visit Military.com to view job openings, get industry tips and more to make 2013 your best year yet.


Are You Eligible for a VA Home Loan in 2013?
In order to obtain a VA home loan, you must first fill out VA Form 26-1880, the request for your Certificate of Eligibility. This certificate is issued only through the Veterans Administration, and is the first step towards applying for your loan. Veterans, active duty, guard or reserve, and military spouses potentially qualify for this certificate. Keep in mind that the Certificate of Eligibility, while necessary, only allows an eligible individual to apply for a home loan; it does not guarantee a loan approval. Eligibility for the Certificate is based on an individual's (or a spouse's) military service. (http://www.military.com/money/content/v ... RC=mrvr.nl) Get specifics on Military.com.
(https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... RC=mrvr.nl) Next Step: Find Lenders ready to help you use your VA Home Loan.


Trucking Companies Recruit Veterans
Despite the fact that millions of Americans are looking for work, ninety percent of trucking companies say they can't find enough drivers. Long hours and many nights spent away from home make the driver's seat difficult to fill, so trucking companies are targeting a group they believe has the skill-set to handle a tough job--veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Like other large trucking companies, Schneider National has ramped-up its efforts to recruit veterans since 2001. Close to 15 percent of the company's approximately 13,000 drivers are veterans, and the wants more. To learn more about career opportunities available at Schneider National or to apply, visit (http://www.schneiderjobs.com/) www.schneiderjobs.com or call 1-800-44-PRIDE (1-800-447-7433).
For more on military transition and civilian job listings nationwide, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.