Veterans Report - Week of March 31, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of March 31, 2014

Johnson Controls Committed to Hiring Veterans
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VA for Vets Continues Hiring Efforts
As of February 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs employs more than 110,000 veterans. VA continues to rank second only to the Department of Defense in the number of Veterans in the workplace. The Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO) within the Office of Human Resources and Administration leads VA's efforts to recruit, retain and reintegrate veterans into VA through its VA for Vets program. For additional information on the VA for Vets program, visit the (http://vaforvets.va.gov) VA for Vets website.


Navy to Halt On-Base Tobacco Sales
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus may soon announce that Navy and Marine Corps base exchanges, including ship stores, will end tobacco sales by September. Proponents say it would end the hypocrisy of selling tobacco conveniently and at deep discounts while encouraging service members and families to stay healthy and fit. However, many are concerned that the end of tobacco sales could impact the exchange system as they have relied heavily on sale of tobacco products for profits. Most commissaries also sell cigarettes but on consignment from the exchanges. In fiscal 2012, tobacco sales in military stores totaled $711.4 million, generating profits of $125.7 million.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... cco-sales/) Learn more about the proposed end to on-base tobacco sales.


Brain Injury Book List
BrainLine compiled this list of books about brain injury to help people who have been recently diagnosed, their loved ones, and others who want to learn more about TBI. Most are memoirs, some are non-fiction, and some offer tips and strategies on living with brain injury. The list of books is available at the Brainline.org website at BrainLine compiled this list of books about brain injury to help people who have been recently diagnosed, their loved ones, and others who want to learn more about TBI. Most are memoirs, some are non-fiction, and some offer tips and strategies on living with brain injury.
For more on TBI, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... rview.html) this Military.com section.


Getting Help for PTSD
Explore how to (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment ... rapist.asp) find a PTSD therapist on the (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment ... rapist.asp) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The website includes a section specific to veterans. Also, you can (1) contact your doctor to ask for a recommendation, (2) call your insurance company to find out which providers they cover, (3) check the yellow pages in your local phone book, and (4) also see (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp) Where to Get Help for PTSD on the (http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp) VA website.
For more resources on PTSD, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... rview.html) Military.com PTSD section.


Report Looks at Student Veterans
Recently released results of the Million Records Project, sponsored by the Student Veterans of America, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), show that student veterans have a completion rate similar to traditional college students. Of those users analyzed, 51.7 percent had received a postsecondary degree or certificate, and their completion rate surpassed the rate of other nontraditional students. The report found that although many take longer than traditional students to graduate, most student veterans complete their initial studies and often earn additional higher level degrees as well. For more information, visit the (http://www.studentveterans.org/what-we- ... oject.html) Student Veterans of America Million Records Project webpage.
For more on tuition assistance and military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education section.


Proposed AAFES and DeCA Merger
According to this week's Military Update, the plan to cope with DoD budget cuts includes slashing taxpayer support of commissaries, from $1.4 billion a year down to $400 million by fiscal 2017. In an effort to save commissaries and protect exchanges, the chief executive officer of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), has proposed to merge commissary operations with exchanges and use resulting efficiencies to stabilize grocery prices and keep patrons.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... re-crisis/) Read this week's Military Update to learn more about the details of the proposed merger.


Equipment Guides: Weapons, Vehicles, and More
Find past and present aircraft, weapons, electronics, and more with the (http://www.military.com/equipment/?ESRC=mrvr0331.nl) Military.com Equipment Guide.


Social Security Expedites Claims Process
Social Security claims from veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation rating of 100 percent permanent and total have a new process that will treat their applications as high priority and issue expedited decisions. To receive the expedited service, veterans must tell Social Security they have a VA disability compensation rating of 100 percent permanent and total and must show proof of their disability rating with their VA notification letter. The VA rating only expedites Social Security disability claims processing and does not guarantee an approval for Social Security disability benefits. These veterans still must meet the strict eligibility requirements for a disability allowance.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Tax Assistance for Veterans
Tax season began Jan. 31, and being a Veteran or an active-duty Servicemember means you have options for assistance. Read about some of those options in the Department of Veterans Affairs' VAntage (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/12123/f ... ax-season/) Point Blog.
For other tax preparation options and discounts for veterans, see (http://www.military.com/discounts/free- ... itary.html) this Military.com article.


Fighting for an All-Volunteer Force
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Personnel Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 26 in support of the key personnel components of the All-Volunteer Force.
(http://www.moaa.org/MRAllVolunteer/) Click here to read the rest of this article.


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Veteran Files Lawsuit
A Vietnam veteran who volunteered at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh hospital and contracted Legionnaires' disease, filed a lawsuit last week in Federal court. Edward Stockley and his wife, Paula, are suing the government for negligence and loss of consortium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease occurred at facilities in the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System from February 2011 to November 2012. The CDC traced the problem to bacteria-contaminated water at the Oakland and O'Hara campuses. The outbreak killed at least six veterans. Another veteran filed a Federal suit in February.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Veterans and Painkillers
The American Legion reports that physicians are prescribing too many opioid painkillers to young veterans, leading to addictions and accidental overdoses. There has been a 270-percent increase in VA prescriptions for four key opiates since 9/11, according to an analysis by the Center for Investigative Reporting. VA patients are twice as likely to die from accidental drug overdoses as civilians, according to a VA study published in the journal Medical Care in 2011. Yet a separate VA study has found. opioid painkillers provide "only modest medical benefits in treating chronic non-cancer pain." For more information, read the article from the (http://www.legion.org/magazine/220428/edge) American Legion Magazine.


Finding a Vet Job: Establish Your Identity
In this week's Military Benefits Podcast, we go over some key tips about establishing your identity and finding civilian job satisfaction with jobs expert Lida Citro? who is donating her time, expertise and effort to help returning war veterans learn how to compete in a civilian career. She is also the writer of Your Next Mission: A personal branding guide for military-to-civilian transition. (http://podcasts.military.com/2014/03/th ... -tips.html) For more, listen to the podcast.


'Atomic Troops' Eligible for Benefits
Since 1990, the Department of Justice has operated a compensation program for eligible veterans who took part as servicemembers in any above-ground atomic testing from 1945 to 1962. Under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program, o-site participants in the testing can receive one-time payments of $75,000, while miners/ore transporters can get $100,000 apiece. Veterans are eligible for RECA benefits if they were exposed to radiation and subsequently contracted illnesses covered by the program, including lymphomas (other than Hodgkin's Disease) and several varieties of cancer. If an eligible veteran is deceased, the spouse, parents, children and/or grandchildren may be eligible for benefits. For more information, visit the (http://www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca.html) DOJ RECA webpage. Download an (http://www.justice.gov/civil/docs_forms ... rticip.pdf) Onsite Participant Claim Form.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


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PTSD Education Available Online
The National Center for PTSD, US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Red Sox Foundation of Massachusetts General Hospital have produced an online training series for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the general public and health care professionals. The series was created to help doctors, nurses, psychologists and family members of those returning from war identify key features of the disorder and teach them how to address mental health issues in the proper way. The free series is available on the (http://mghcme.org/page/from_the_war_zon ... home_front) Massachusetts General Hospital website.
For more resources on PTSD, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... rview.html) Military.com PTSD section.


Video: Medal of Honor Interviews
A day before a recent White House ceremony at which 24 Army veterans are to be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama, Stars and Stripes talked with one of the three living recipients-to-be and several relatives and friends of those who are to be honored posthumously. The videos are available on the (http://www.stripes.com/news/us/videos-i ... y-1.273252) Stars and Stripes website.
For more military-related videos that cover everything from the latest headlines to the lighter side of being in the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/video) Military.com Video Center.


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AF Examines Sequestration
The Air Force's highest ranking uniformed Airman recently released another edition of 'Airman to Airman' -- a video series designed to highlight important topics to the force. In his latest message, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III discusses the impact sequestration has on the Air Force and why certain choices are being made to achieve the required savings. The Airman to Airman video is available on the (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... oices.aspx) U.S. Air Force website. For more videos in the series, visit the (http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/AirForceSenio ... /CSAF.aspx) Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF's) webpage.