Tidbits

LVMAC Tidbit: Veterans Trust Fund Awards for 2019 Announced

On 28 February 2019, Governor Tom Wolf announced that $800,000 of grant money from the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) will be awarded to 29 Pennsylvania organizations that support veterans’ programs throughout the commonwealth, contingent upon completion of a grant agreement.  The trust’s funds are meant to be exclusively used for military veterans, and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs administers it.  Since 2013, a total of $3,632,860 has been awarded. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: An Often Overlooked Benefit — VA Eyecare

It is often forgotten — despite eye care being, amazingly, the Veteran Health Administration’s third busiest program — that if you are enrolled in VA healthcare, you are eligible for diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic eye care services, regardless of your priority group.  You may also be eligible to receive eyeglasses and medically necessary contact lenses, if the ophthalmologist/ optometrist determines the need. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: VR&E Program Now Offers “Tele-Counseling” to Improve Its Service

On 30 November, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E) announced its ability to provide “Tele-counseling” to those disabled veterans desiring it.

The VA’s Tele-counseling, or virtual communication system, allows the use of any device with a webcam and microphone to communicate with one of its 1,000-plus Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC).  This capability reduces travel costs and time for both veterans and VRCs, thereby potentially improving a veteran’s access to necessary VR&E services.  “VR&E’s Tele-counseling service is another example of how VA continually modernizes in support of Veterans’ needs … [It provides] personalized, interactive face-to-face services regardless of location”, according to the Secretary of the VA, Robert Wilkie.
(more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: TRICARE Open Season Extended

Verbatim from the TRICARE.mil website

Missed TRICARE Open Season?  There’s Still Time to Act!

12/11/2018

If you missed TRICARE Open Season, you still have time to enroll. For this year only, you can enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plan through Dec. 31, 2018 for coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2019. You may also change your type of enrollment, like switching from individual to family coverage. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: The Latest on the Veterans Suicide Issue

The following is an excerpt from the minutes of the monthly VISN-4 veterans service organizations’ conference call in November.  It addresses the issue of suicides among veterans:

In September, VA released national and state-level findings from its most recent analysis of Veteran suicide data, from 2005 to 2016. The analysis is part of VA’s ongoing examination of non-Veteran and Veteran death records that is being used to evaluate and improve VA’s Suicide Prevention Program. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: Commercial Truck Drivers Are a Critical Profession Needed in the Lehigh Valley

On 20 November, LVB.com (a media product of Lehigh Valley Business) reported, “The trucking industry has a shortage of drivers, and many military veterans get out of the service and struggle to find the right job to be their second career.”  The article stated Mack Trucks is donating one of its locally manufactured Anthem Trucks to the American Trucking Association to help recruit and hire veterans into the trucking industry.

The “Education and Talent Supply Report” recently released by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation suggests (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit: The Army Goes Green Again

Heraclitus said the only constant is change.  The Army, like the Navy, continues to prove its constant is a uniform change.  Therefore, on Veterans Day, the Army officially announced a replacement (“pinks and greens”) to its current service uniform (Class A’s) inspired by its World War II uniform — “pinks Read more…

By LVMAC, ago