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- Kevin E LakeI am an Iraq war vet who struggles with PTSD and an author. I stepped away from my normal genre (paranormal) to write, what thus far has been the hardest thing I've ever written in my career, in attempts to raise awareness of the incessant issue of suicide among our soldiers and vets. This is from the heart and my own experiences, and I hope it can help just one person struggling if not many. Please read it and share it with your friends. http://www.amazon.com/Off-Switch-ebook/dp/B009Q3MSK2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350522385&sr=8-1&keywords=off+switch+kevin+lake5 hours ago
- James Meyershere is a recommendation, pull your heads out of your asses. i havent been paid for my education or my workstudy benefits in 2 months. get your shit together you are fucking over the people your only job is to help6 hours ago
- Billy HenryI have filed for agent orange just over a year ago and have heard nothing from them. is there any suggestion on how to contact the VA to get info . I dont think the Va rep here is much help and the numbers I call have really long waiting time as I have been on the phone waiting for nearly 40 mins.10 hours ago
- Ezra GouldThis is ridiculous. I keep trying to change my direct deposit with "you people" and no one will even pick up the phone. If THAT isn't a metaphor for how the VA treats you after you give them your youth, innocence, and several internal parts of my frigging body then I don't know what is. Ive called every single day (at different times when you are supposed to be around) for two weeks now. You should be ashamed of yourselves, then you should change your message to say we are never open and if you want the money you earned and were promised, tough shit. You force me to take direct deposit (which I signed up for online) and now I can't change the information (online or over the phone). Is this the plan to balance the budget? Sheist people out of the money they depend on? Way to go VA, just like the doctors appt that left sitting in an unconditioned room for 3 hours waiting for a doc. None ever came. I had to leave. So, screw you and I am not leaving without my money. You are Incompetent and embarrassing.11 hours ago
- Do you have questions about getting a VA Home Loan, modifying an existing loan, or obtaining a Special Adaptive Housing Grant? We’ll have the experts in the room for a Twitter town hall on VA Home Loans this Thursday, October 18th, at 3:30p.m EDT. Ask your questions using the hashtag “#askVBA”.
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- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsGovernment Organization · Hospital
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- James A. Haley Veterans' HospitalGovernment Organization
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- Welcome home, Col. Wendell Keller and Capt. Virgil K. Meroney III. -Richard Allen Smith
- The unemployment rate for Veterans has been falling for the last several months, but the issue of Veteran unemployment can't be solved by government alone. Read about how private companies are developing transition guides and education programs to help put Vets back to work. -Richard Allen Smith
- Yesterday, Air Force Veteran Joe Kittinger led the support crew that helped Austrian veteran Felix Baumgartner break Kittinger's own record for highest and fastest freefall parachute jump. When Vets team up together, even of different eras and nations, there is no limit to what we can accomplish! -Richard Allen Smith
http://www.stripes.com/1.193102 - VA offers grants for Specially Adapted Housing to Veterans with certain disabilities. For more information on SAH grants, check out this fact sheet. -Richard Allen Smith
- Do you have questions about getting a VA Home Loan, modifying an existing loan, or obtaining a Special Adaptive Housing Grant? We’ll have the experts in the room for a Twitter town hall on VA Home Loans next Thursday, October 18th, at 3:30p.m EDT. Ask your questions using the hashtag “#askVBA”.
- VA’s home loan guaranty program helps Veterans, Servicemembers and their families purchase homes, often with no down payment reqired. VA’s foreclosure rate and serious delinquency rate is consistently the lowest of all measured loan types. For more information on VA home loans visit http://benefits.va.gov/homeloans –Richard Allen Smith
- Today, the greatest sea power on earth turns 237 years young. Happy Birthday Navy!- Richard Allen Smith
- Our tribute post this week is dedicated to Army Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley. CSM Plumley passed this past Wednesday, and was a Veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His service with the 1st Battalion, 7th Ca...valry Regiment during the Battle of Ia Drang was portrayed in the 2002 film We Were Soldiers. During his service, CSM Plumley was awarded 32 medals including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters. CSM Plumley was a living legend within the military and will be missed.See More
- Former Army Sergeant Josh Hooker lost his left leg below the knee to an IED blast in Iraq. But that hasn’t stopped Josh from being an integral part of the coaching staff for the Francis Parker High School football team in San Diego. Read more about Josh’s inspiring story below. For more information on VA Adaptive Sports, visit http://va.gov/adaptivesports/ -Richard Allen Smith
- If you have been approved for VRAP education benefits, you may be eligible for an advcance payment of a portion of your ponthly benefits. Click the link below for more information. –Richard Allen Smith
- If you’re unable to find or hold down a job because of your service connected disabilities, you may be eligible for Individual Unemployability (IU). IU allows VA to pay compensation at the 100% rate, even though you’re rated at less than 1...00% disabled. You must provide medical evidence that shows your service connected disability prevents you from working. To get all the facts on this benefit and the application form, check out the link below. - Jennifer RudisillSee More
- Newark, New Jersey’s 41st fire recruit class graduated yestarday, and 28 of the 31 graduates were Veterans. Firefighting is one of the high demand occupations eligible for VRAP education benefits. You can find out more and apply for VRAP at va.gov/vow/education.htm -Richard Allen Smith
- Dozens of injured Veteran cyclists departed Cincinatti for Nashville this morning as part of the Ride2Recovery Bluegrass Challenge. The ride will raise funds to support Spinning Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at Military and VA locations around the country to help injured Vets overcome the obstacles they face. Read more below. –Richard Allen Smith
- The Veterans Job Bank provides Veterans with a central source for identifying Veteran-committed employment opportunities and assists America’s employers in identifying qualified Veterans. A key part of the White House’s ongoing commitment t...o improve access to employment opportunities for transitioning Service Members and Veterans, it facilitates access to hundreds of thousands of private-sector job openings specifically targeted at Veterans. –Richard Allen SmithSee More
- One way to make transitioning back into civilian life a little easier is to find support from others who understand what you’re going through. A great place to connect with other Veterans is your local Vet Center. You can also access help with counseling services for yourself, as well as marital and family counseling if needed. Visit your local Vet Center and see all they have to offer, you’ll be glad you did.
- Are you new to VA and not sure where to get the information you need? A good place to start is our “New to VA” Web page. It provides a brief overview of VA’s structure, benefits, helpful links and phone numbers.
- Some Veterans may have experienced personal assault or sexual trauma while serving in the military. These kinds of experiences can sometimes affect Veterans’ mental and physical health, even many years later. Veterans can apply for disability compensation for any current difficulties that are related to their service, including difficulties related to personal assault or military sexual trauma (MST).
- Our tribute post today is dedicated to Army Sergeant Felipe Pereira. Sergeant Pereira was assigned to A Company, 1-502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and deployed to Kandahar Province Afghanistan when a motorcycle-borne IED e...xploded in the middle of his squad on November 1st 2010. Two of Sergeant Pereira's squad-mates were killed instantly and Sergeant Pereira received shrapnel wounds to his spleen, liver and left lung. With his lung collapsed, Sergeant Periera commandeered and all terrain vehicle and provided cover fire for the evacuation of his wounded comrades, all while being exposed to enemy fire himself. Sergeant Periera received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.See More
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released new employment numbers that show the unemployment rate for Veterans has fallen to 6.7%. This is well below the 11.3% rate from September of 2011. Read more at the link below. –Richard Allen Smith
- VRAP is funding job training in high demand career fields for certain Veterans between the ages of 35 and 60. To learn if you are eligible and apply, visit http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm. -Richard Allen Smith
- The Aid and Attendance pension is a special monthly benefit payable to a Veteran, spouse, surviving spouse or parent that is helpless or nearly helpless and require the regular aid and attendance from another person. To qualify for the Aid ...and Attendance program, a veteran must meet eligibility requirements in three areas: wartime service, medical need, and financial need. The surviving spouse of a veteran may also qualify for this improved pension. -Richard Allen SmithSee More
- Our new Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs spent the day at the Chicago VA regional office. Curious about what is going on behind the scenes? Read the story below. –Richard Allen Smith
- Our employees are working overtime to get education claims processed as soon as possible. Currently, we are experiencing a high volume of education claims due to the start of the fall semester. Check with your school to see when your claim ...was submitted to VA. It is taking VA 32 days from the date we receive the claims from school certifying officials to process original Post 9/11 GI Bill claims and 17 days for supplemental claims.See More
- eBenefits is looking for your input. Join our volunteer panel to test new designs and provide feedback about eBenefits.va.gov.
Email us at ebensuggest.vbaaus@va.gov with the subject line “feedback”. - VA Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey is leading by example as part of VA Goes Red for Women.
- September 29, 2012 is the 47th anniversary of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Program, which is operated by VA.
Begun in 1965, it initially provided $10,000 of life insurance to active duty Servicemembers. Since then it has been e...xpanded and now provides $400,000 of low cost life insurance to active duty and reserve members, and also provides life insurance for military spouses, children and Veterans, as well as up to $100,000 of Traumatic Injury Protection to all Servicemembers. In all, over 6 million individuals are insured for nearly $1.3 trillion.See More - The Idaho Vandals will travel to Chapel Hill, NC, this weekend to take on the Tar Heels. The Vandals count former Army Paratrooper Corey Sandberg as a member of the scout team that helps them prepare each week.
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