Veterans Report - Week of February 09, 2015

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Veterans Report - Week of February 09, 2015

Group Calls for Accurate Vet Portrayals
A group dedicated to the entertainment industry's realistic representation of veterans has announced a new seal of approval for portrayals of military men and women in films and television shows. Called "6 Certified," the program is launching with the support of First Lady Michelle Obama. The campaign seeks to shift perception of veterans in pop culture. Studios, producers and other content creators will be eligible for the certification badge if the work contains "a representative and balanced depiction of veterans" and fulfills at least one of six pledges. For more information, visit the Got Your 6 website at (http://www.gotyour6.org/6-certified/) www.gotyour6.org/6-certified/.
For more on military-related entertainment news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


New Transfer Credit Law in Ohio
A new Ohio law encourages veterans to get their college degree by offering college credit for training received during their time in the military. The bill creates the Military Transfer Assurance Guide to provide a baseline of standards, procedures and tools for granting college credit for military experience for any public college and university, providing more consistent services across the state system. Higher education institutions must provide these college credits for free. Also, priority registration will be granted to veterans to make sure they receive the necessary classes to earn a degree. For more information, call the (http://veteransaffairs.Ohio.gov/) Ohio Department of Veterans Services at 614-644-0898 or contact your county service officer.
For more on military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education section.


2016 VA Budget Proposal
The President has proposed a $168.8 billion budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fiscal year 2016. The budget includes $73.5 billion in discretionary funding, largely for healthcare, and $95.3 billion for mandatory benefit programs such as disability compensation and pensions. In the coming months, the Administration will submit legislation to allow the Department to reallocate a portion of unused funding from the Veterans Choice Program to support essential investments in the VA system. Highlights from the President's 2016 budget request for VA are available on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website at (http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2675) www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2675.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


VA Offers Prescription Tracker
Veterans can now track online the status of most of their prescriptions from the VA Mail Order Pharmacy. Later this month, the tracking feature will include images of the medication that dispensed. Over the next year, a secure messaging alert will be added so that Veterans know when a medication was placed in the mail. More than 57,000 veterans are currently using the service through (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html) My HealtheVet. The number is expected to grow as VA starts to educate veterans about the new feature.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


2016 Navy Budget Proposal
The Department of the Navy (DoN) recently released its proposed $161 billion budget for fiscal year 2016. This budget is part of the proposed $534 billion defense budget. To view the proposed FY16 DoN budget documents, visit the Fiscal Year 2016 DoN Budget Materials webpage at (http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/PB/BOOKS.htm) www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/PB/BOOKS.htm. For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2016 budget proposal, visit the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request website at (http://www.budget.mil) www.budget.mil and download the "Overview - FY 2016 Budget."
For more Navy news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


$200k Life Insurance Protection Only $14 a Month
Family Protection for less. Get $200,000 Coverage from just $14 a Month. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rvr0209.nl) Could your family survive if something happened to you?


Registration Open for Washington DC Job Fair
The American Legion's Veterans Employment & Education Division will host a series of events Feb. 19-20 at the Washington Hilton to help veterans, service members and spouses find meaningful careers in the civilian workforce. The events will take place in conjunction with the Legion's annual Washington Conference. On Thursday, Feb. 19, The American Legion will be hosting its Employment and Empowerment Summit from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This full day of workshops and educational sessions will include opportunities for one-on-one career coaching and resume review, corporate panels and benefits discussions. Additionally, programs tailored towards women veterans and spouses will be offered. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/se ... -fair.html) this Military.com article.


Theft Causes OCONUS Mail Delays
Service members and civilians in Europe, and embassy personnel in Thailand who never got that holiday card or present they were expecting might want to monitor their post offices and be ready to track down their mail if it does not show up by mid-February. Some military priority mail parcels and first class letters destined for Germany, England and other recipients in Europe, as well as the 96546 ZIP code in Thailand, may have been delayed due to the theft of a United States Postal Service-contracted tractor-trailer Jan. 2. The container was subsequently recovered Jan. 5. Customers who believe they may have been affected should allow 45 days for delivery from the date the item was postmarked before filing a claim with the USPS. Claims may be filed by mail, at any post office, by telephone at 1-800-ASK-USPS, or (https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm) online.
For more on shipping packages overseas, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/shippi ... guide.html) this Military.com guide.


Hiring Our Heroes in Minnesota
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Hiring Our Heroes job fair on Feb. 12 at the Xcel Energy Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. An employment workshop is planned beginning at 9:30 a.m., and one-on-one mentoring sessions throughout the day will focus on resume building, resume writing, and interviewing techniques. Potential employers or military job seekers can register or get more information at the Hiring Our Heroes website at (http://hiringourheroes.org) hiringourheroes.org.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Tactical Fitness: Developing Strong Core Muscles
Former Navy SEAL and Military.com fitness guru Stew Smith has some suggestions for improving core fitness. You can mix in core exercises throughout your workout; it's never a bad idea to mix extra core work into your week. But, don't just focus on abdominal exercises like sit-ups. Think about hip mobility, shoulder girdle movements, and lower and upper back exercises and stretches. For more details and some suggested workouts, visit the (http://www.military.com/military-fitnes ... re-muscles) Military.com Fitness Center.


TRICARE Increases Rx Copays
New copayments for prescription drugs covered by TRICARE went into effect February 1, 2015. Most pharmacy copays will increase by $3. Drugs from military pharmacies and generic drugs from TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery still cost beneficiaries $0. Copays at non-network retail pharmacies will also change, based on the changes to retail copays. For more details, visit the TRICARE pharmacy costs webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycosts) www.tricare.mil/pharmacycosts. These changes overrule previous rules that connected TRICARE pharmacy copays to the retiree cost of living adjustment (COLA).
For more on TRICARE, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE section.


Dell Hiring Vets
Dell is actively recruiting the next generation of innovators and invites you to bring your drive for problem-solving to a world of enabling affordable and accessible technology to millions of users globally. (http://www.military.com/veteran-employe ... =vr0209.nl) Learn more.


WWII Museum: Campaigns of Courage
From faltering first battles in North Africa to the bloody struggle at Germany's doorstep, the immersive galleries in Road to Berlin recreate actual battle settings and villages--complete with crumbling walls, bomb-torn rooftops, icy pathways, and a chillingly realistic soundscape. The result is a richly layered, multimedia journey that recreates the citizen soldier's experience with striking immediacy and impact: Visitors walking in the shadow of Normandy's brutally dense hedgerows can imagine the challenges that followed D-Day; attending a mission briefing with the Bomber Boys brings visitors inside America's all-important Air War strategy; seeing personal artifacts--cigarette boxes, photographs--scattered over real Normandy sand offers a touching perspective on the human cost of the war.
(http://www.nationalww2museum.org/campaigns-of-courage/) Learn more about Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters.


Sound Off on Pay and TRICARE Proposals
The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission offered (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... endations/) sweeping reforms to military pay and benefits. Let the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) know what you think about some of the more controversial proposals. (http://www.moaa.org/MRmcrmcsurvey) Take MOAA's brief survey.


VA Homeless Support in West LA
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald and attorneys representing homeless veterans in Los Angeles announced an agreement that dedicates the West Los Angeles VA campus to serving veterans in need, and commits the department to design a plan to help end homelessness among veterans in Los Angeles County. Secretary McDonald and plaintiffs' representatives will develop by February 13, 2015 a written plan to help end veteran homeless in Greater Los Angeles. The plan will focus on serving veterans, particularly homeless veterans, women veterans, aging veterans and veterans that are severely disabled. Secretary McDonald will appoint a Special Assistant to oversee the plan's implementation. Los Angeles has the nation's largest population of homeless and veterans with disabilities.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Vet Business Workshop in DC
The American Legion is conducting a two-day Veterans Small Business Workshop in conjunction with the annual Washington Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 24-25. The workshop is free and specifically designed for servicemembers, veterans and spouses who own their own businesses or are thinking about starting one. After completing this free course, participants will have the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, avoid common pitfalls and maximize their earning potential. Servicemembers, veterans, spouses and any small businesses looking to partner with veteran-owned small businesses are welcome to this event and can register by simply e-mailing the names of the attendees and the business name to Doris Grooms at (mailto:dgrooms@legion.org) dgrooms@legion.org.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


2016 AF Budget Proposal
The Air Force presented its fiscal year 2016 President's Budget request following the Defense Department and sister services budget briefings. The Air Force fiscal year 2016 budget continues readiness recovery, and reduces the short-term capacity risk assumed in the fiscal year 2015 budget while placing significant investments in the nuclear enterprise, space, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and command and control capabilities. The Air Force requested a topline budget of $122.2 billion in Air Force controlled funding that supports a total force end strength of 492,000 personnel. For more information, watch the video on the (http://www.c-span.org/video/?324123-5/u ... et-request) C-Span website and read the Overview of the U.S. Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2016 (http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/ ... w_Book.pdf) Budget Request.
For more Air Force news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


2015 VA Loan Benefit Ready to Use
Now is the time to use your VA Loan. Rates are near historic lows and you don't have to pay PMI or have a large down payment. Plus you can get financing up to $417,000. (https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... rvr0209.nl) Use your VA Loan Benefit today.
(http://www.military.com/money/va-loans?ESRC=mrvr0209.nl) Want more information about this great benefit?


GI Bill Likely To Change
The recent (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015 ... icare.html) Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) report once again highlights the fact that the current, amazingly generous Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits aren't guaranteed to remain so glorious. Historically, educational benefits have shrunk during times of military downsizing, and we are in the middle of a serious downsize. Plus, I've said since day one that the current Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are more than our country can afford to sustain. If you have earned the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and you think you have a plan to maximize the benefit to your family, then you might want to consider having a plan B. You might also need a plan C and a plan D. For more details, see this (http://paycheck-chronicles.military.com ... ly-change/) Paycheck Chronicles post.


Suicide Intervention Training
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is for everyone 16 or older -- regardless of prior experience -- who wants to be able to provide suicide first aid. The ASIST model teaches effective intervention skills while helping to build suicide prevention networks in the community. During the two-day interactive session, participants learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over 1,000,000 people have taken the workshop, and studies have proven that the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings for those at risk. To get involved: (1) attend an ASIST workshop in your area, (2) organize or sponsor an ASIST workshop, or (3) learn how to become an ASIST trainer and provide workshops to others. For more information, visit the (https://www.livingworks.net/programs/asist/) ASIST website.
For more mental health and wellness guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Military Officers Wanted: Join MOAA Now
Join MOAA as a Basic member -- you'll not only lend your voice to a greater cause, but you'll also gain access to (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/ou ... rvr0209.nl) extensive benefits tailored to the needs and lifestyles of military officers.


Army Reserve Is Hiring
The Army Reserve needs 5,000 more soldiers to meet this year's end-strength objective. While Soldiers with valuable skill sets -- engineers, doctors, lawyers and so on -- are sought after, there are other skills needed by the Reserve. Soldiers should see their career counselors or an Army Reserve representative at least a year before separation to determine if they are a good fit. Even if Soldiers do not have high-demand skills, there could be opportunities to retrain for a different military occupational specialty while still on active duty. For more information, visit the Army Reserves webpage at (http://www.army.mil/news/reserves/) www.army.mil/news/reserves/ and the Army Reserves newspage at (http://www.usar.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx) www.usar.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx.
For more guides on joining the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces) Military.com Join the Military section.


Veteran Careers in Manufacturing
As the U.S. manufacturing resurgence grows, veterans will play a critical role in strengthening the core of the manufacturing and technical service industries, which are poised to hire 230,000 workers over the next five years. Vet2Tech is a non-profit organization helping military veterans find employment in manufacturing and technical service careers. With the help of Military.com, Vet2Tech was able to train and employ numerous veterans this year. The goal for 2015 is to find great career opportunities for more than 150 veterans. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... uring.html) this article.


4 Dangers of Increasing Your Credit Card Limit
It can be quite flattering when your credit card company sends you a notification in the mail saying you are eligible for a credit line increase. Obviously, the company thinks you're doing a great job managing your credit card -- or, at the very least, you're paying the minimum balance. However, before you get too flattered by your credit card company's approval of a higher spending limit, figure out if it's the right decision for your finances. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/money/personal- ... limit.html) this Military.com article.


New Vet Biz Program in Iowa
A new program, Home Base Iowa, allows Iowa businesses and military people to come together for employment opportunities. The program helps veterans find jobs, explore career paths, and make a smooth transition to civilian life in Iowa. The program's website features job postings, links to job fairs, and up-to-date information about educational opportunities, National Guard recruiting, job training, and much more. For more information, visit the Home Base Iowa website at (http://www.homebaseiowa.org/) www.homebaseiowa.org or call 855-9HB-IOWA (855-942-4692).
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Commission Closes Floral Fund Program
On April 2, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is closing its Floral Fund Program and will no longer process new floral orders. After April 2, friends and family members still will be able to have flowers placed within ABMC cemeteries but must place those orders directly with one of the florists. A list of florists who provide international delivery is available on the American Legion website at (http://www.legion.org/honor/225842/monu ... er-program) www.legion.org/honor/225842/monument-co ... er-program. For all orders placed prior to April 2, the last day for placement of arrangements will be June 1.


Commission Ideas Draw Bipartisan Praise on Capitol Hill
There is rising confidence across the Senate and House armed services committees that 2015 will be the year Congress passes legislation to modernize military compensation, with an alternative to traditional 20-year retirement and perhaps replacing the triple-option TRICARE health program. After decades of rejecting military compensation studies, whether from teams of Pentagon analysts or independent blue ribbon panels, Congress this year appears to be embracing the clever weave of proposals prepared by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. For more details, see this post on the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... itol-hill/) Military Advantage Blog.


House Hearing on Transition Assistance
Dr. Susan Kelly, Director Transition to Veterans Program Office, recently testified before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs regarding the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The new TAP will help more than 1 million servicemembers transition from active duty in the next four years. The foundation of the redesigned TAP is a set of career-readiness standards that are verified for all transitioning servicemembers no later than 90 days prior to their separation from the military. If civilian career readiness standards are not met, servicemembers receive further training or are referred to inter-agency partners who ensure they receive post-separation assistance. A list of those testifying at the hearing is available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website at (http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/a-rev ... gram-tap-1) veterans.house.gov/hearing/a-review-of-the-transition-assistance-program-tap-1.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Remembering Our Fallen
The State of California has a new exhibit. "Remembering Our Fallen" is a war memorial created to remember our country's fallen from The War on Terror since the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001. The exhibit includes military and personal photos of servicemembers from California who died from wounds suffered in a war zone. The exhibit contains laminated panels of military portraits stretching nearly the length of a football field. The traveling display will be at Santa Monica College near Los Angeles from Feb. 9 through 21 and in the community center in the San Diego suburb of Alpine from Feb. 23 through March 7. For more information, visit the Remembering Our Fallen website at (http://www.rememberingourfallen.org/) www.rememberingourfallen.org.