Veterans Report - Week of December 23, 2013

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Veterans Report - Week of December 23, 2013

Free Korean War History Book
To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, the Wisconsin Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs are partnering to distribute a special book to honor those veterans who served in that conflict. "Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth" is available for free to Korean War Veterans or family members as a gift of gratitude from the Korean government. Request your copy of the book on the (http://dma.wi.gov/dma/dma/bookRequest.asp) Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs website or call 608-242-3239. The book is available one per veteran or family. Due to high demand, the book is backordered. So, please be patient.


Town Hall Meeting on VA Healthcare
The American Legion will host a local town hall meeting for veterans that will focus on the past, present and future of healthcare at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Roseburg, Ore. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 at American Legion Post 16 on 406 SE Oak Street in Roseburg. Those who have served in the U.S. military, especially veterans enrolled in the VA health-care system, are welcome to attend. The town hall meeting and hospital visit are conducted by members of the Legion's SWS Task Force, which travel to about 15 VA medical centers per year. For more information on the town hall meeting, contact Jacob Gadd at (mailto:jgadd@legion.org) jgadd@legion.org.
For more on military health benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Operation Raptor: K-9 Tour
Operation Raptor is a nationwide tour including six Ford Raptors airbrushed with a military theme. Five of them represent each of the five U.S. Military Special Forces Units; the sixth celebrates the 100th anniversary of K-9s in military service. These Special Forces Raptors will tour the U.S. from 2014 through 2015, featuring Special Forces Veterans injured in combat who serve as "tour guides," explaining their service and the obstacles they face as disabled Veterans. For more information, read VA's (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/11791/m ... niversary/) VAntage Point Blog and visit the (http://operationraptor.com/) Operation Raptor website.
For more on pets and the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty/pet-corner) Military.com Pet Corner.


Glossary of Military Terms and Slang
Leave your favorite military term in the comments of this glossary and we will include it! (http://www.military.com/join-armed-forc ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read more.


VA Encouraging Online Access
The Department of Veterans Affairs is urging all veterans and servicemembers to join the millions already accessing VA health care information and service online. VA is marking this milestone by spreading the word about the benefits of My HealtheVet Personal Health Record, such as VA prescription refill, VA notes, VA Blue Ribbon and secure messaging with VA health care providers. Throughout December, coordinators at all 151 VA medical centers will organize community events and host enrollment and education health fairs to help veterans sign up for and learn to use My HealtheVet online. VA encourages veterans and servicemembers to enroll or upgrade at (https://www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html# ... 2unyK.dpuf) My HealtheVet.
To keep up on military benefits news and updates, visit Military.com's (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage Blog.


Dental Insurance Anyone?
Over 8 million enrolled veterans can now purchase an affordable dental plan, including veterans with no dental coverage or those eligible for VA dental care who want to purchase additional coverage. For more information, read the article on the (http://www.va.gov/health/NewsFeatures/2 ... Anyone.asp) Veterans Health Administration webpage.
For more on military health benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Senator Kay Hagan on Defense Budget, Benefits, and Pay
Military.com had an exclusive interview with Senator Kay Hagan this week, covering hot topics such as military pay and benefits. To listen to the interview, (http://podcasts.military.com/2013/12/se ... d-pay.html) visit this podcast.
(http://podcasts.military.com/2013/12/se ... d-pay.html)


Pearl Harbor Day on Social Media
Emerging media met World War II history as Twitter, Google+, YouTube and other new media became part of the Pearl Harbor Day commemoration in Hawaii, Dec. 7. A live stream event was the highlight of this year's ceremony, which allowed people to watch the LIVE event from anywhere via the Internet on YouTube at (http://www.youtube.com/veteransunited) www.youtube.com/veteransunited . Navy Region Hawaii @NavRegHawaii hosted a Live Tweet using the hashtag #2013PearlHarborDay. @NavRegHawaii Twitter was flooded with retweets, favorites and additional followers. Also, @NavRegHawaii Twitter flooded with retweets, favorites and additional followers. To view photos of the ceremony, visit Navy Region Hawaii Flickr at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/navyregionhawaii) www.flickr.com/photos/navyregionhawaii.


VA to Expand TBI Benefits
Some Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are diagnosed with any of five other ailments will have an easier path to receive additional disability pay under new regulations developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The new regulation, which takes effect in January, 2014, impacts some Veterans living with TBI who also have Parkinson's disease, certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures or certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. Veterans who have questions or who wish to file new disability claims may use the eBenefits website at (http://www.eBenefits.va.gov) www.eBenefits.va.gov. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/2013/1 ... efits.html) this Military.com article. Information about VA and DoD programs for brain injury and related research is available at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center website at (http://dvbic.dcoe.mil/) http://dvbic.dcoe.mil/ . Information about VA's programs for Gulf War Veterans is available at VA's (http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposure ... osures.asp) Gulf War Exposures webpage.


Updated for 2014: VA Loan Limits
The VA loan guaranty program does not impose a maximum amount that an eligible veteran may borrow using a VA loan but limits the maximum guaranty amount to $417,000 for 2014. However, if you live in one the following counties listed in (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans/ ... nties.html) this chart, you will see a higher loan limit for your VA loan. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans/ ... nties.html) this Military.com article.


Military Contractors Coming Home Ill, Too
Military contractors who are on the front lines may not be fighting, but they are experiencing the horrors of war just as much as soldiers. According to a recent (http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR420.html) study, military contractors are coming back home with almost the same rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as soldiers. The online survey for the study questioned a total of 660 anonymous contractors who had been deployed to conflict areas between 2011 and 2013. It found that 25 percent of them could be clinically diagnosed with PTSD. Another 18 percent met the criteria for depression, while 50 percent reported alcohol abuse. An abstract of the study is available on the (http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR420.html) Rand Corporation website.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


6 Money Rules You Can Break
For most people, following basic money rules makes sense, but are there situations when following tried-and-true advice doesn't work? Our professionals weigh in on when to consider the exceptions. For more, and for more savings and credit tips, see (http://www.military.com/money/personal- ... break.html) this Military.com article.


American Commercial Lines Committed to Hiring Veterans
Start your civilian career with American Commercial Lines. As a global diversified technology and industrial leader they can provide endless opportunity and a career path that lets you choose where you want to be. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


VA Makes Progress on Claims Backlog
A senior Veterans Affairs Department official recently outlined progress made by the Veterans Benefits Administration in reducing the backlog of veterans' disability compensation and pension claims by 36 percent since March, attributing the success to the combined impact of transformation initiatives and increased employee productivity. Allison A. Hickey, the undersecretary of veterans affairs for benefits, detailed the elements of the Veterans Benefits Administration's, or VBA, transformation plan in testimony at a recent hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Testimony and a video of the Dec. 11 hearing are available on the (http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings ... n-progress) U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs website.
To keep up on military benefits news and updates, visit Military.com's (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage Blog.


Websites for Holiday Travel
As the Christmas and New Year's holidays approach, here are some travel resources at (http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Thank ... ravel_Tips) USA.gov to help you keep up with traffic conditions and airport delays and get through the airport security line faster. If you plan to drive to your destination, you might also benefit from (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml) gas mileage tips and information on local gasoline prices at FuelEconomy.gov.
For more travel discounts, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.


COLA Cut Creates Outrage
On Wednesday, the Senate passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (BBA) by a vote of 64-36. The two year budget deal includes a provision that reduces working age retirees' annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) by one percent until they reach the age of 62 -- and fails to grandfather existing retirees and currently serving members who plan to serve a 20-plus year career. Because of the fast-track nature of the bill, many members of Congress were caught off-guard by the overall financial impact retirees would face. Read the rest of the article at (http://www.moaa.org/MRBudgetDealCOLA/) Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).


CCME to Host Golf Tournament
The Council of College and Military Educators will host a Golf tournament on Monday , Feb. 10, in conjunction with their annual Council of College and Military Educators' (CCME) 2014 Professional Development Symposium. The event is being held to honor the fallen soldiers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) " (http://savannahherosoar.org/about_160th.html) Night Stalkers" of Hunter Army Airfield. All proceeds raised will go to the Night Stalker Hero Memorial Fund of Savannah Foundation, Inc. The tournament kicks off at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Tickets can be purchased as an individual, or with the Lil Big ticket package. To learn more about the golf tournament, or to sponsor a hole, please visit (http://ccmeonline.org/) ccmeonline.org.
For more military-related entertainment news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


Mental Health Services Funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that it plans to issue a $50 million funding opportunity announcement to help Community Health Centers establish or expand behavioral health services for people living with mental illness, and drug and alcohol problems. Community Health Centers will be able to use these new funds, made available through the Affordable Care Act, for efforts such as hiring new mental health and substance use disorder professionals, adding mental health and substance use disorder services, and employing team-based models of care. For more information, visit the (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fa ... t-services) White House website. The Obama Administration has also launched (http://www.mentalhealth.gov/) www.mentalhealth.gov a new website featuring easy-to-understand information about basic signs of mental health problems, how to talk about mental health, and how to find help.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


$300k Financial Security: Less than $1 a Day
Protect your family's financial future. Get (http://www.military.com/insurance/asmba?ESRC=vr1223.nl) $300k life insurance coverage from less than $1 a day.


Fed Auctions Bad for Vet Businesses?
In a congressional testimony on Dec. 11, American Legion Legislative Director Lou Celli characterized a commonly employed government buying process as unfair and even harmful to veteran-owned small businesses. Celli appeared at a joint hearing of two U.S. House subcommittees examining the practice of utilizing "reverse auctions" in federal agency acquisitions. For more details, read (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... egion.html) this Military.com article.


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