Veterans Report - Week of January 13, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of January 13, 2014

Retirement Cut: Tell Us What You Think
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 funds the government for two years, but includes a provision that impacts working age retirees and fails to grandfather currently serving members who are planning a career in uniform. Specifically it cuts retirement pay by reducing the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for uniformed service retirees by one percentage point a year until age 62.
Take the Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) short (http://www.moaa.org/MRSurveyRetirementCut) survey and tell us how you feel about this COLA-cutting provision.


Tips for Keeping Your Resolutions
Some New Year's resolutions are popular every year like lose weight, volunteer, quit smoking, and get a better education or job. We have information to help you achieve your goals in 2014. (http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New-Y ... ions.shtml) Get tips for keeping your New Year's resolutions.


Whitetail Magazine Free for Vets
Western Whitetail Magazine, the leading authority for Western White-tailed deer hunting, is proud to offer all military members (past and present) a free subscription to their digital magazine. WTM covers whitetail deer hunting from Mexico to Canada and from the far Midwest to the Pacific Northwest. The free subscription offer is WTM's way of saying thank you for your service, which ensures the freedom all hunters enjoy. To subscribe, visit the (http://eepurl.com/H2hb9) White Tail Magazine website for more details.
For more military-related book news and reviews, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty Center.


Prudential Committed to Hiring Veterans
Start your civilian career with Prudential. As a financial solutions 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 ... =vr0113.nl) Read More.


Fully-Developed Claims Make a Difference
Watch this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVc7-VBe2ac) video from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Veterans to learn how to get a fully-developed claim decided in ninety days or less.
To keep up on military benefits news and updates, visit Military.com's (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage Blog.


Get $400,000 Coverage: from Only $29 a Month
Your family's future is important. Protect your family for less. (http://www.military.com/insurance/asmba?ESRC=vr0113.nl) Get $400k life insurance coverage from less than $1 a day.


Getting VA Claims to the Right Place
The Department of Veterans Affairs is transforming to better serve our nation's veterans. By funneling veterans' claims through the new Intake Processing Centers (IPC) at VA, VA is looking to make sure the right claims get to the right lane at the right time, improving accuracy and moving claims faster. To learn more, watch the (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2_Syh8nQ8A) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) video.
To keep up on military benefits news and updates, visit Military.com's (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage Blog.


Putting Your Military Experience to Work
Outline and content are important in resumes. Organize yours so that it is easy to read. Use specific content to demonstrate how you accomplished the mission. Make sure your resume answers these questions: (1) are you the most senior member of your team, (2) do people turn to you for the more challenging issues, (3) is your productivity level higher than your peers, (4) is your level of accuracy and the quality of your work at the highest level, and (5) have you demonstrated the ability to meet aggressive deadlines? For more tips, read (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... -work.html) this Military.com article.


Hire Our Heroes Offers Seminar
Current and transitioning veterans can register for a one-day employment workshop to help them transition to the civilian workforce and find a new career. The workshop will be held Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Boulder Crest Retreat, 18370 Bluemont Village Lane, Bluemont,VA 20135, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To register for the workshop, visit (http://bit.ly/1hkB1C1) this site. This workshop is limited in size to 24 participants in order to give each of our veterans the attention they deserve. Additional workshops are planned throughout 2014. For more information, visit the (http://hireourheroes.org/ai1ec_event/hi ... IWpge.dpbs) Hire Our Heroes, Veterans Career Path Seminar webpage.
For complete listings of veteran job fairs around the country, see the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... fairs.html) Military.com Upcoming Job Fairs page.


Online Resources Help Improve Travel
Here are some websites with helpful travel information: (1) check weather forecasts at (http://www.weather.gov/) www.weather.gov/, (2) flight delay information at (http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp) www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp, (3) packing tips at (http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information ... ine-faster) http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information ... ine-faster, (4) download the My TSA mobile app at (http://apps.usa.gov/tsa-app.shtml) apps.usa.gov/tsa-app.shtml, (5) passport information at (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html) travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html, (6) download the Smart Traveler app at (http://apps.usa.gov/smart-traveler.shtml) apps.usa.gov/smart-traveler.shtml, (7) resolve problems with air travel at (http://www.usa.gov/topics/travel/air/re ... lems.shtml) www.usa.gov/topics/travel/air/resolve-problems.shtml, (8) National Traffic and Road Closure Information at (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm) www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm, (9) gas mileage tips at (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml) www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml, (10) gas prices near you at (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprice ... ndex.shtml) www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/index.shtml, (10) scenic byways at (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/) www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/, and (11) train schedules, routes, and stations at (http://www.amtrak.com/home) www.amtrak.com/home.
For travel discounts for servicemembers, military families, and veterans, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.


Veteran Job Survey Wants Your Input
VetAdvisor(R) and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) have launched a nationwide (http://retainingvets.org/) Veterans Job Retention Survey. The Veterans Job Retention Survey focuses on determining the reasons why veterans leave their initial post-military jobs. Because this data has not been previously captured, the survey will provide insight into how organizations can best structure their veteran-centric employee programs. All interested veterans and service members are encouraged to participate in the survey. For more details and to participate, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... nched.html) this Military.com article.


Veteran Finds Gaps in VA Services
An Air Force veteran recently wrote that he found the Department of Veterans Affairs services overseas to be good, but gaps remain. The veteran and civilian Federal employee describes his experiences using VA services while stationed overseas on (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/11562/v ... ps-remain/) VA's VAntage Point Blog.
To keep up on military benefits news and updates, visit Military.com's (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage Blog.


B-1B Accident Report Released
A displaced fold-down baffle in the left overwing fairing of a B-1B Lancer led to a fuel leak and a series of detonations that disabled the aircraft prior to it crashing Aug. 19, 2013, near Broadus, Montana, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Dec. 30, 2013. According to the results of the investigation, at some time prior to pilot's initiation of the wing sweep, the left fold down baffle became detached at one or more points, preventing it from folding as the wing swept aft. For more information, read the (http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Di ... ancer.aspx) B-1B Lancer fact sheet and contact the Air Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007 or e-mail (mailto:accpa.operations@us.af.mil) accpa.operations@us.af.mil.
For more military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Vet2Tech Scholarship Challenge
Vet2Tech has teamed up with Ignitor Labs to help five career driven veterans kick-off the New Year with a new job by paying for 100% of all tuition fees to Ignitor Labs CFESA: Basic Technician Training program ($1,495 value.) (http://vet2tech.org/techu247-announces- ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


Career Resources
As a way to help expand your professional opportunities, check out job-related education and training information on (http://www.careeronestop.org/EducationT ... ining.aspx) CareerOneStop. You will find resources on certifications, apprenticeships, financial aid, and more. You can also find military education benefit and program information at the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education Center.


USTechVets.org Aims to Foster Veteran Employment
Veterans looking for a job in the technology sector can now turn to (http://ustechvets.org/) USTechVets.org, an online community designed to connect the one million service members who are transitioning back to civilian life to the tech companies that might hire them. In addition to job listings, the site features a military skills translator that helps veterans classify their military skills in terms that private sector employers will recognize. Employers will get free access to Monster's database of more than 800,000 veteran resumes. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... hvets.html) this Military.com article.


Military Spouses: Keep Your Life Insurance
Are you a military spouse? Do you have spousal coverage under Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance? Your coverage will end 120 days after any of the following events: (1) the date your servicemember spouse separates from service, (2) the date of divorce from your servicemember spouse, (3) the date of death of your servicemember spouse, (4) the date your servicemember spouse elects to end spousal FSGLI coverage, and (5) the date your servicemember spouse elects to end his/her own SGLI coverage. During the 120 days after one of the above events, you have the option of continuing your coverage without having to show proof of good health by converting it to an individual policy with a private insurance company. For more information, read VA's (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/11513/m ... protection) VAntage Point Blog.
Need affordable coverage for your military family? (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rsp0113.nl) Get quality coverage for less.
For more insurance coverage tips and options, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/insurance ... nfo0113.nl) Military.com Insurance section.


Save With Credit by Exam
Save yourself both time and money by taking DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) and (CLEP) College Level Examination Program tests to help reduce the number of classes you may need for your degree program. You can earn college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on introductory-level college subject examinations. Just remember the first time you take a test, it is fully funded; if you fail the test, you will have to pay for any retesting on that subject. For more information, read (http://www.military.com/education/getti ... -exam.html) the article on the Military.com website.


Predator Drone Accident Report
An MQ-1B Predator turbocharger failure and wind gusts led to the crash of the aircraft at Jalalabad Air Base, Afghanistan, June 27, 2013, according to an Air Combat Command Abbreviated Accident Investigation Board report released January 6, 2014. The remotely piloted aircraft was deployed from the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. When the accident occurred, the Launch and Recovery Element crew from the 62d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was flying a classified surveillance mission out of Jalalabad Air Base, Afghanistan. The aircraft and one air-to-ground AGM-114 Hellfire missile were destroyed on impact. For more information, read the (http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Di ... dator.aspx) MQ-1B Predator Fact Sheet and contact Air Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007 or e-mail (mailto:accpa.operations@us.af.mil) accpa.operations@us.af.mil.
For more military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Military Educational Opportunities
One of the largest monetary benefits of serving your country in the military is assistance with already-accumulated student loans and financial coverage for new educational endeavors. The amount of help you are eligible for varies widely, based on the type and length of service you have completed, or are in the midst of completing. (http://www.military.com/education/money ... rvice.html) This Military.com article offers a list of all of the educational opportunities offered through service in the United States military.


Imminent Danger Pay Areas Decreasing
The Department of Defense has announced changes in imminent danger pay (IDP) that will go into effect June 1, 2014. The imminent threat of physical harm to U.S. military personnel due to civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions is significantly reduced in many countries, resulting in the discontinuation of imminent danger pay in those areas. A list of the areas that will no longer be designated as imminent danger areas for IDP purposes is available (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... r-pay.aspx) online. The IDP benefit provides troops in imminent danger areas about $7.50 per day up to the maximum monthly rate of $225.
For more military pay information, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay) Military.com Pay section.