Veterans Report - Week of February 16, 2015

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Veterans Report - Week of February 16, 2015

American Legion Hosts Workshops, Career 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, servicemembers and spouses find meaningful careers in the civilian workforce. On Thursday, Feb. 19, The American Legion will be hosting its Employment and Empowerment Summit from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. With workshops and educational sessions that include one-on-one career coaching, resume review, corporate panels and benefits discussions. On Friday, Feb. 20, the Legion and Easter Seals will host a Resume Writing Workshop. A Hiring Our Heroes Career Fair will also be held that afternoon from 1-4 p.m. All of the events are free, and pre-registration is not required. For more information and to register, visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website at (http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/even ... iring-fair) www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/ameri ... iring-fair.
For more on upcoming veteran job fairs around the country, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... fairs.html) Job Fair calendar.


VA Redesigns Website
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently redesigned the eBenefits website. The new website has a fresh new look with simplified menus, clearer instructions and more. Visit the new (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage) eBenefits website.
For more on veteran benefits programs, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


VA Choice Card
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Card Program is a new, temporary benefit that will begin to cover non-VA care for eligible veterans already enrolled in VA health care. Veterans are eligible for Choice Card benefits if any of the following conditions apply: (1) they were told by their local VA medical facility that they need to wait more than 30 days from their preferred appointment date or the date medically determined by their physician; (2) their current residence is more than 40 miles to the closest VA health care facility; or (3) they face significant travel hardships to get to the nearest VA health care facility. For more information on the Choice Card Program, call 866-606-8198 or contact your county veterans service officer.
For more veteran benefits news and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Recap of Military Pay Commission Report
The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission recently released a comprehensive report reviewing military compensation and retirement benefits. The commission compiled input and suggestions from more than 150,000 servicemembers and veterans nationwide over a two year period, guiding their decisions to suggest 15 reform recommendations. President Barack Obama said he will review the commission's proposals and gather feedback on the recommendations from senior and military leadership. The final report is available on the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission website at (http://www.mcrmc.gov/index.php/reports) www.mcrmc.gov/index.php/reports.
For more veteran benefits news and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Free Tax Preparation for Veterans
Here are links to free tax preparation services for veterans: (1) IRS' (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax ... Volunteers) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax ... Volunteers) Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs are available to taxpayers that earned less than $53,000 in 2014. To locate the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool at (http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/) irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/ or call 800-906-9887. MyFreeTaxes at (http://www.myfreetaxes.com/) www.myfreetaxes.com, operates the only free online tax preparation and filing assistance platform available in all 50 states and Washington D.C. for veterans who earned $60,000 or less in 2014. For more information, read the VA VAntage Point Blog at (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/16726/f ... -families/) www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/16726/free-tax ... -families/.
For more tax season tips and preparation assistance, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/taxes) Military.com Tax Center.


$400,000 Family Protection Only $29 a Month
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SCRA Ruling Means Millions to Troops
The Justice Department has announced that under its settlements with five of the nation's largest mortgage servicers, 952 servicemembers and their co-borrowers are eligible to receive more than $123 million for non-judicial foreclosures that violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Borrowers should use the following contact information for questions about SCRA payments under the National Mortgage Settlement: (1) Bank of America borrowers should call Rust Consulting, Inc., the settlement administrator, toll-free at 1-855-793-1370; (2) Citi borrowers should call Citi toll-free at 1-888-326-1166; (3) GMAC Mortgage borrowers should call Rust Consulting Inc. Toll-free at 1-866-708-0915; (4) JP Morgan Chase borrowers should call Chase toll-free at 1-877-469-0110; and (5) Wells Fargo borrowers should call the Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Military Customer Service Center toll free at 1-877-839-2359. Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their SCRA rights have been violated should contact an Armed Forces Legal Assistance office.
For more on SCRA, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... tters/scra) Military.com SCRA page.


Senator Defends Military Retirement Changes
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), new chairman of the Senate armed services' subcommittee on military personnel, has signaled he will defend retirement reforms proposed for a new generation of service members by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... s-critics/) Read the full Military Update article.


American Legion Debuts Newsletter
The American Legion recently debuted its new Honor and Remembrance electronic newsletter, dedicated to honoring and remembering those who served. The free, monthly e-newsletter features news stories, personal memories, videos and photo galleries that pay tribute to servicemembers who protected our freedoms from World War I through the current war era. Stories are taken from staff members and voluntary submissions from readers. To subscribe to the Honor and Remembrance e-newsletter, visit the American Legion website at (http://www.legion.org/newsletters) www.legion.org/newsletters. To share a story about your family's military legacy, your service, a post or community memorial, or other item related to honor and remembrance, visit the Legiontown website at (http://www.legiontown.org/) www.legiontown.org.
To see Military.com newsletter offerings and sign up for free subscriptions, visit the (http://www.military.com/LeadForms/NewsL ... sletter=15) Military.com Newsletter Center.


Tactical Fitness: Getting Army Special Forces Fit
In this week's fitness Q&A with fitness expert Stew Smith, an Army recruit recovering from an injury asks for the best approach to getting healthy and getting fitter. In an injured state, you have to treat yourself like a beginner. Throw any workouts you were doing prior to the accident out the window and start over with a beginner program. This may be too easy for you at first, but the goal is not to jump right into smoke sessions after rehabbing an injury. The goal is to rebuild the foundation that you lost. That goes for running, lifting, even pushups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. For more details, including some workout plans, visit the (http://www.military.com/military-fitnes ... ial-forces) Military.com Fitness Center.


Your VA Loan Benefit: $0 Down, No PMI & Up to $417k Financing
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 ... rvr0216.nl) Use your VA Loan Benefit today.
(http://www.military.com/money/va-loans?ESRC=mrvr0216.nl) Want more information about this great benefit?


Budget Vs. Commission -- The Bottom Line
The nearly simultaneous release of the MCRMC report and the President's FY 2016 budget have caused some confusion throughout the uniformed services community, so let MOAA try to clear things up.
Read the rest of the article at Military Officers Association of America (MOAA): (http://www.moaa.org/MRfeb2015bottomline/) www.moaa.org/MRfeb2015bottomline/


Vets Urged to Show Up for Med Exams
The Veterans Evaluation Services (VES) at (http://www.vesservices.com/) www.vesservices.com provides medical disability examinations for compensation and pension purposes. However, many veterans who receive appointment letters from VES are not showing up for examinations because they are not sure of the legitimacy of the letter. Veterans who are contacted by VES need to report to the exams; not doing so can affect a VA claim. VES cannot provide transportation to the exams, and does not perform exams for incarcerated, pregnant, and Gulf War (undiagnosed illness) veterans. The normal turnaround time is 21 days or less for VBA exams, 26 days for VHA exams, 35 days for Integrated Disability Evaluation System cases and 45 days or longer for exams conducted overseas.
For more on veteran benefits programs, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Special Monthly Compensation
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) program may provide benefits in addition to, or instead of, disability compensation if there is loss (or loss of use of ) a limb, sight, speech, hearing, mobility, sexual organ or functioning, or for certain other disabilities. There may be eligibility for SMC if the veteran is unable to leave the house or bed without help or is in need of regular help from another person in performing the basic tasks of everyday life, such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring. Because VA's Special Monthly Compensation program is one of the most confusing and intricate programs that the VA offers, it is important that you seek assistance from an accredited veterans service officer.
For more veteran benefits news and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


AFRC May Add Back 2,100 Positions
The Air Force Reserve Command has announced the possible restoration of 2,100 manpower positions to the Air Force Reserve. One of the best ways for current participating Reserve members to have a voice on what they would like to do is to complete their Reserve Development Plan (R-DP). To complete an R-DP, visit (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/login/redirect/home) myPers. Click on the vPC dashboard link, then find the "Action Requests" tab and click on R-DP. To view the DT schedule for 2015, visit myPers and type "DT schedule 2015" in the search box. Individual Ready Reserve members and active-duty members considering the Air Force Reserve should speak with an in-service recruiter for more details on Reserve assignments. For more information, contact the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.
For more Air Force related news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Iwo Jima 70th Anniversary
The original mold of the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima flag-raising memorial, is on display in Harlingen, Texas where flag-raiser and Marine Cpl. Harlon Block lived. This month, the city will host a parade and pay tribute to Block and the other flag-raisers for the 70th anniversary of the event. Iwo Jima Museum and Gift Shop in Harlingen features a special display honoring Block and the flag-raisers. It also has a collection of weapons, military memorabilia and a documentary film. For more information, visit the Marine Military Academy website at (http://www.mma-tx.org/about-us/iwo-jima-monument/) www.mma-tx.org/about-us/iwo-jima-monument/. For historical information about Iwo Jima, visit (http://www.iwojima.com/) IwoJima.com.


Legacy Run Registration Open
Online registration for the 2015 American Legion Legacy Run now is available on the (https://www.legion.org/riders/registration) American Legion website. The run will leave Indianapolis Aug. 23 and arrive in Baltimore, Md., Aug. 26 for The American Legion National Convention. Registration fees are $50 for riders and $25 for passengers. The Legacy Run raises funds for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. Online registration will continue through August. For more information, visit the American Legion Legacy Run webpage at (http://www.legion.org/riders/legacyrun) www.legion.org/riders/legacyrun.
For military-grade fitness programs, workouts, and advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/military-fitness) Military.com Fitness Center.


VA to Host Entrepreneur Event
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will host an "Opportunity Showcase" on Feb. 25 at The American Legion's Washington Conference for attendees of the Legion's Small Business Workshop. The event, hosted at the Washington Hilton, will welcome industry experts and successful veteran entrepreneurs from the public and private sectors to discuss best practices in working with VA and bidding for contracts from VA. Attendees will also receive free one-on-one guidance on the workshop topics. Lunch and networking sessions will also be provided. To register, email the names of the attendees and the business name to Doris Grooms at (mailto:dgrooms@legion.org) dgrooms@legion.org or visit the American Legion website at (http://www.legion.org/washingtonconference/events) www.legion.org/washingtonconference/events.
For more on upcoming veteran job fairs around the country, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... fairs.html) Job Fair calendar.


Online Prescription Tracker
Veterans can now track the status of most of their prescriptions online when the prescription is mailed from the VA Mail Order Pharmacy. More than 57,000 veterans are currently using the service through (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html) My HealtheVet, an online feature that allows veterans to partner with their health care team. The number is expected to grow as VA starts to educate veterans about the new feature. Later this month, the tracking feature will include images of the medication that is being dispensed. Over the next year, a secure messaging alert will be added so that veterans know when a medication was placed in the mail.
For more on veteran health care, visit (http://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care) Military.com's Veteran Health Care Overview.