Photo, Army Times, 1969
As part of the continuing saga, we update you once again …
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) met last Tuesday (18 September) with the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie, to persuade him to cease his and his department’s re-doubled efforts to scuttle H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Act, now in the Senate for consideration. (more…)
On 31 August, the Department of Defense (DoD) amended its policy on transferring G.I. Bill benefits to dependents for Active Duty recipients of the Purple Heart. This policy change now allows these recipients to transfer this educational benefit without incurring an additional four years of service. (more…)
H.R. 299, The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017 [2018], introduced by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) edged one step closer to passage on 25 June with a 382-0 House vote. If enacted, the Act would restore eligibility for VA healthcare and disability compensation for (more…)
Since it is operated by our Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and not the Department of Education, you may have never thought to look for an educational program for your children on their website. Therefore, for those of you rated with a 100% permanent disability from the military or the VA — or your spouse died in a war, you might want to know about this program. Every dollar helps to give your children a better life. We took this from their Transition Assistance News article of May 2018, verbatim: (more…)
There are 28 million small businesses in the United States according to the Small Business Administration, an amazing 99.7 percent of all the employers. Small businesses employ over 56 million people in this country, about 57 percent of all the employment in the private sector. Think about that. They certainly are an important component to ensuring a thriving economy. Throughout our history, small businesses have helped to secure the “American Dream.” Importantly, they rely heavily on workers for their success, not on some “robotic arm.”
In that vein of thinking, Pennsylvania is gradually getting around to the addressing the issues of generating veterans businesses in the Commonwealth. (more…)
Were you or a family member stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987? You may have been exposed to chemicals in the drinking water. In this video, the Secretary of the VA describes the health care benefits available. (more…)
At the 21 February 2018 Council meeting — and among a gamut of topics including its Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for separating servicemembers, grants for homelessness efforts, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) — Mr. David Cummiskey, Assistant Director in Pennsylvania for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), introduced the Veterans.gov website. Although we are convinced personalized, pro-active point-of-service can not be overlooked or replaced, this website is a welcomed addition for beginning the transition to civilian employment or, for older veterans, re-employment. It needs more marketing. (more…)
We believe we are duty-bound to inform you that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Persian Gulf Conflict Bonus application period ends on 31 August 2018. Did you serve on active duty between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1991 in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations? This bonus has been available Read more…
According to a 12 February post on the VA’s VAntage Point blogsite, the VA Veteran ID card (VIC) is available for registration once again. Previously the VA ID card was on hold due to a “high volume of traffic” according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (more…)
You may not be aware of the fact that the VA maintains an “Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry” to allow eligible veterans and service members to document their exposures and report health concerns through an online questionnaire. Like its cousin, the Agent Orange Registry, it is often the first step towards VA long-term healthcare; and also in recognizing service related illnesses and diseases, to include making some presumptive. (more…)