Websites to help Military Personnel and their families
There
are so many ways we can support our men and women in service. Some take very
little time and expense. Why not look to see how you can help uplift their
spirits and show your support to our troops.
Click below
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HELPING TROOPS CALL HOME
After four years, the Army & Air
Force Exchange Service's (AAFES) "Help Our Troops Call Home" provided
more than 270,000 phone cards to deployed troops to help them maintain
contact with their families back home.
The Military Exchange Global Prepaid
Phone cards purchased through the "Help Our Troops Call Home" program
can be sent to individual service members through charitable partners
such as the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House
Foundation, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Soldier & Family
Assistance Center, and USO.
For more information, visit
the
AAFES website
or call 1-800-527-2345.
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Counseling Centers for
Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates more
than 230 community-based counseling centers located in all fifty states, the
District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
These "Vet Centers" provide re-adjustment
counseling and outreach services to veterans who served in any combat zone.
They also provide services to their family members for military-related
issues. For more information about Vet Center services or to find the Vet
Center nearest you,
click here.
Learn more about your veteran benefits
on Military.com.
******
Free
Home Care for Veterans
Homewatch
CareGivers, the largest franchise provider of in-home care, is offering up to
20 hours of free in-home care to disabled U.S. military veterans of any
conflict through its "We Care for Veterans" program.
Service members can sign up for "We Care for
Veterans" by visiting the
Homewatch
CareGivers website or calling toll-free
1-800-777-9770. The program is available to one veteran per location and is
issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
******
The Care Package Project™
Click below
Free Chiropractic Care
The International Chiropractic Association (ICA)
announced a program of service targeting U.S. military service members
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan where participating doctors are offering
one full year of care to the veteran at no charge. ICA has posted an initial
roster of participating doctors of chiropractic on the
ICA website and will
update this resource directory as additional doctors join the volunteer ranks.
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3 Tips for Surviving an
Economic Downturn
An economic downturn is a phase of the business cycle
which basically marks the end of a period of growth and the economy as a
whole is in decline, including decreased levels of consumer purchases which
subsequently, reduced levels of production by businesses.
For a small business owner these are challenging
times, the recent down turn has energy prices at record highs, food prices
have sky rocketed, and the financial markets are suffering from the
sub-prime meltdown.
Full Story.
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Counseling Centers for
Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates more
than 230 community-based counseling centers located in all fifty states, the
District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
These "Vet Centers" provide re-adjustment
counseling and outreach services to veterans who served in any combat zone.
They also provide services to their family members for military-related
issues. For more information about Vet Center services or to find the Vet
Center nearest you,
click here.
Learn more about your veteran benefits
on Military.com.
Talking with Children About Traumatic Events
Many parents are wondering how to talk
with their children about traumatic local and world events. The
American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
offers advice to parents on how to talk to children about various types of
violence including events reported through the media on its
Dealing With Violence Webpage
In addition, Military One Source has
resources and information for families coping after a tragedy, as well as a
24/7 hotline at 1-800-342-9647. More information is available at
Military One Website
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Free
Home Care for Veterans
Homewatch
CareGivers, the largest franchise provider of in-home care, is offering up to
20 hours of free in-home care to disabled U.S. military veterans of any
conflict through its "We Care for Veterans" program.
Service members can sign up for "We Care for
Veterans" by visiting the
Homewatch
CareGivers website or calling toll-free
1-800-777-9770. The program is available to one veteran per location and is
issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Support Our Wounded Warriors!
Help After Deployment
Afterdeployment.org --provides information and
resources for service members returning from deployment, as well as for
their families.
The updated website at
afterdeployment.org
provides change strategies and educational materials that address the
following issues:
combat stress and triggers, conflict at work, re-connecting with family
and friends, depression, anger, sleep problems, substance abuse, stress
management, kids and deployment, spiritual guidance, living with physical
injuries, and health and wellness.
If you need behavioral health help, visit
afterdeployment.org.
For info on how TRICARE can help behavioral health, visit
TRICARE's website.
|
VA Concentrating on Traumatic Brain Injury
At the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the latest innovations for treating
traumatic brain injury (TBI) in combat veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan includes mandatory TBI training for all VA health care
professionals, screening all recent combat vets for TBI and creating an outside
panel of experts to review VA's TBI services. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can
be caused without any visible injuries when explosives jar the brain inside the
skull.
Symptoms can range from headaches, irritability, and sleep disorders to memory
problems and depression. All combat veterans have access to free health care
from VA for two years after their separation from service. For more information
on traumatic brain injury, visit
Medical Disorders
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What wonderful way to say
thanks to our troops,
Click on picture
Please
pray for our men and women who are fighting for our security and peace.
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Purple Heart Family Support™
Donate
a Magazine Subscription
to a Soldier
Send a little piece of home to an overseas soldier for just $10. Send to
someone you know, or let us match your donation to a deserving service member.
Fund Assists Injured
Veterans
The Independence Fund focuses on helping severely
injured veterans by providing the kinds of assistance they do not otherwise
get. For example, the Independence Fund provides assistance such as iBot
wheelchairs and sports equipment that has been modified so disabled veterans
can take part in athletic pursuits or leisure sports.
The fund also provides two different types of therapies
to injured troops. Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
veterans can apply for funding through the Independence Fund's website where a
downloadable document also is available. For more information, visit the
Independence Fund
website.
The Adopt-a-Soldier
Platoon
The Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon in Fair Lawn, N.J. improves
the morale of troops through sending care packages filled with treats, as well
as special projects that positively impact the military in war zones. For more
information, visit the
Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon
website.
Find ways to support and honor U.S. military service members and veterans who
protect our security and freedom.
Visit the
Support our Troops
webpage.
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VA Offers New Online
Service
The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a new online service,
My HealtheVet,
which is a gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access
to trusted health information, links to federal and VA benefits and resources,
the Personal Health Journal and online VA prescription refill service. In the
future, MHV registrants will be able to view appointments, co-pay balances and
key portions of their VA medical records online.
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Operation PAL™
Team Marine Parents™
****************
From the Military to a
Classroom
There are many teachers who used to be in the
military. The federally funded Troops to Teachers program, which has been
around since 1994, has produced almost 11,000 teachers. The program offers a
$5,000 stipend to former military members who study to become teachers.
Troops to Teachers requires participants to have
served six years in the military. After six or more years in the service,
veterans have leadership skills that easily translate to the classroom.
Learn more on Military.com.
FIND VETERAN-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS NOW
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Celebrating
America's Freedoms
Celebrating
America's Freedoms is a collection of stories about some of America's most
beloved customs and national symbols.
Topics
include the history of "Taps," the Pledge of Allegiance, gun salutes, the
correct method for displaying and folding the American flag and many more.
Educators, students and others should find this collection informative and
helpful when researching or planning activities for national observances
such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Flag Day.
To access the collection, Click Here
|
Vietnam
Wall Goes Digital
A
digital image of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial enables users to locate each
veteran's name in the exact location it appears on the memorial in D.C. From
there, information on that person is displayed and any visitor to the website
can upload photos of veterans and leave comments and stories free of charge.
While
all the records used to make the database are accessible at a National Archives
research room in College Park, Md., the site
allows people easier access to these Vietnam records. Veterans can be searched
through 54 different categories, including name, age, birthday, hometown, home
state, start of tour date and rank.
Read
the full article at
Military.com
|
 Spiritual
Devotional Hotline
The
National
Naval
Medical
Center's Pastoral Care Department implemented a
new spiritual information phone line to provide 24-hour access to an
inspirational message.
"Dial for a Devotion" is designed to
encourage, inspire and comfort those who may need a spiritual boost, says
Lt. Deann Coleman, a staff chaplain in Bethesda's Pastoral Care Department.
The phone lines are open 24-hours a day
seven days a week for anyone who feels they need an encouraging word.
The "Dial for a Devotion" telephone number is
(301) 295-4055.
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4 Ways
to Fund Your Education
The
military encourages service members to use all programs available, whether they
are from federal, military-related, or private sources. There are many out
there, and you'll likely find more than one to suit your educational needs. Here
are a few places to get you started.
Tuition Assistance (TA): A financial assistance program providing
active-duty personnel 100 percent funding of tuition costs.
The
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB):
Provides up to 36 months of education benefits during active duty and is payable
for 10 years following your last release from service.
Federal Student Aid: Federal loans, grants, and tuition programs are
available to meet a variety of financial needs and education levels. Work-study
programs are also available.
Military Scholarships: There are over $300 million worth of scholarships
for service members, veterans and their families.
Search for military-friendly schools today to find schools that give you
credit for military training and experience.
*******
Strength for Service provides the daily devotional book "Strength for
Service" for military personnel. More than 1 million copies of this book
were first distributed during World War II and the Korean conflict before it
went out of print.
Fifty years later, a young boy named
Evan
Hunsberger was inspired by his grandfather's worn
copy and began working to republish the book as his Eagle Scout project.
Since "Strength for Service's"
release in 2002, the book has been distributed to 250,000 people of all
denominations including troops deploying to the
Middle East and caring for the wounded.
For
more information, click above to visit the
Strength for Service website.
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Navy
Features New Webpage
The
Navy Installations Command's Fleet and Family Support Program - launched an
online collection of resources and tools useful to Navy families interested in
adopting a child. A link to the webpage is located on the
Website
The webpage serves Navy families as a
comprehensive guide through the adoption process and contains numerous links to
resources specific to military families
|
 Protecting
Your Social Security Number
Experts offer the following tips to protect your Social Security number (SSN)
and protect yourself from identity theft:
-
Do not carry your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate in
your purse or wallet.
-
Cancel
any credit cards you do not use.
-
Do
not share your SSN when it is not necessary.
-
Remove
your name from the marketing lists of the three primary credit bureaus by
calling
(888) 5OPT-OUT.
-
Request a copy of your Social Security Personal
Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement at least every three years to make
sure the information in your file is correct.
-
Be
aware of what is on your credit report -- obtain your report once or twice
a year to be sure it is correct.
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Instant Messaging for Airmen
Friends and family members can now keep in touch with Airmen anywhere in the
world through an instant messaging program available through the
Air Force Portal
Every Airman is permitted up to five guest users through the Friends and Family
Instant Messaging service.
To register a guest, follow these steps: (1) log into the Air Force Portal; (2)
in the upper right hand corner, click on the My Profile tab; (3) then click on
the Manage FFIM tab; (4) click on Add an Account; (5) fill out the required
information (name, e-mail address) and read the user policy; and (6) click on
Register.
For more information visit the
Deployment Center
Legal Assistance Helps
Airmen
From completing
powers of attorney to reviewing legal documents, the Air Force legal assistance
program is there to help. Many Airmen are not aware that the legal office staff
offers consultation services in family law matters such as divorce, child
custody and support, adoption and more.
They also can assist
with financial issues ranging from bankruptcy and consumer fraud to tax
assistance and identity theft. They can also assist with the Service members
Civil Relief Act, a little-known tool that is designed to protect service
members from certain legal actions while they serve on active duty.
For more information
about legal services, contact a local base legal office or visit the
Military.com
Legal Matters webpage.
Information
about Legal Services, click here
4 Tips to Getting Military
Scholarships
1)
Do your homework. Take advantage of the free online scholarship search at
Military.com. The scholarship finder lists over 1,000 scholarships from a
variety of sources.
2) Don't limit yourself. You qualify for non-military related scholarships
too. Visit your local library to find scholarship directories that list
awards based on age, state of residence, cultural background, and field of
study.
3) Search in your military community. Many service aid organizations and
associations, like the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, offer scholarships,
grants, and low interest loans to help cover education expenses.
4) It is never too soon to start your scholarship search. Many scholarship
application deadlines are as early as one year in advance.
If you haven't started school yet, take the first step and find the right
school that matches your education needs and goals. You can request free
information from military-friendly schools that offer online courses,
flexible schedules and start times and VA approved programs.
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Celebrating America's Freedoms
Celebrating
America's Freedoms is a collection of stories about some of America's most
beloved customs and national symbols.
Topics
include the history of "Taps," the Pledge of Allegiance, gun salutes, the
correct method for displaying and folding the American flag and many more.
Educators, students and others should find this collection informative and
helpful when researching or planning activities for national observances such as
Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Flag Day.
To access the collection, Click Here
Gold Star Family Support™
Operation Freedom Ballot™
New
Navy Program Educates Recruits
"Accelerate to Excellence" is a new program that allows enlistees to enroll
in community college while in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and get paid a
monthly stipend by the Navy.
The enlistees are expected to eventually earn an associate degree prior to
reporting to their first permanent duty station. The initial pilot program
is being focused on recruiting from
Texas and
Florida. An added element of the program is the
potential for top performers to be considered for application into officer
commissioning programs. The pilot program is planned to run for three years.
Remember: Not applying for scholarships is like turning down free money. Get
started on your search for scholarships today.
visit the
Military.com Scholarship Finder
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VA
Opening 38 New Clinics
The
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to open 38 new community-based clinics
in 22 states. The new facilities, called community-based outpatient clinics, or
CBOCs, will become operational by October 2008.
Local
VA officials will keep communities and their veterans informed of milestones in
the creation of the new CBOCs. With 153 hospitals and about 700 community-based
clinics, VA operates the largest integrated health care system in the country.
VA's
health care budget of more than $34 billion this year will provide health care
to about 5.5 million people during nearly 800,000 hospitalizations and 60
million outpatient visits.
Click here to learn more about
Veteran's Health Care Benefits
Power Wheelchairs for the Military
Click On Health
works with Medicare and your secondary insurance providers to get you a new
Power Wheelchair at little or not cost. They will take care of all the
details and work directly with your doctor to find the wheelchair that's
best for you. You won't be bothered with confusing insurance paperwork and
they offer free home delivery.
Information on Power Wheelchairs
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VA Focuses on
Suicide Prevention
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to hire
suicide prevention counselors at each of its 153 medical centers. The new
suicide prevention counselors will join the 9,000 mental health
professionals already employed by VA.
The Department spends nearly $3 billion a year for mental health
services. About 1 million VA patients have a mental health diagnosis.
Mental health services are provided at each of VA's 153 medical centers
and more than 700 community-based outpatient clinics. To find more
information and resources for PTSD,
CLICK
HERE
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Click above for Blinded Veterans Association
Website
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Give Back to Those Who Give it All
The Military Channel and Military.com have joined forces to
create "Reconnect America," a nationwide program that makes it easy for you
to show your support for the men and women of our Armed Forces. Together, we
can join forces to say "thanks" in ways that matter most. You'll find
non-profit organizations doing great work for our troops.
Click
Here for Website
********************
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Learn more about
Veteran's Health Care by visiting
Military
Veterans Health Care Benefits
**************
Databases List Missing Service members
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) now has an
electronic database listing the names of service members still unaccounted
for from World War II that is available for family members and researchers.
The
database lists nearly 78,000 names and was compiled by researchers from DPMO
and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. This WWII database, along with
databases listing the missing from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and
Gulf War, are available on DPMO's website.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account
for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website or call (703) 699-1169.
CLICK
HERE
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New
Program Trains Disabled Veterans
Veterans with disabilities will have access to on-the-job training to become air
traffic controllers or technicians installing and repairing air traffic
equipment thanks to a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program called
"A Hero to the Nation - A Hero to the Skies." The joint effort between the FAA
and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will enable veterans to take
advantage of VA vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Veterans
will be trained at the FAA's Academy in Oklahoma City, OK. Veterans with
disabilities interested in the program must apply through the VA's Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) offices located in each state. Information
on the VR&E program can be found at
Veterans Website
Mental Health Program Expands
The Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (MHSAP) now provides a
pre-recorded, interactive telephone self-assessment for those military
families and service members who do not have access to the Internet.
The toll-free number is (877) 877-3647. At the end of every assessment
service members are provided with individualized results and information
about further resources. Further enhancements to MHSAP this year also
include a pilot Spanish language version of the program and programs to
address youth depression and suicide.
For more
information, visit the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program's website at
Military Mental Health Website
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Click above logo to help
support Our Troops
*************
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Armed Forces Vacation
Club
The Armed Forces Vacation Club offers DoD and Coast
Guard personnel the opportunity to book a seven-night luxury vacation, on
a space available basis, for just $329.00.
Log on to the
Resorts website. Click
on Search and select the city, state or country where you want to travel.
Select a first and second choice resort and dates of travel.
The AFVC reservation center can be reached
at 1-800-724-9988.
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Operation Troop Aid provides deployed service members with a link to home and
the gratitude of the American public through care packages and letters it sends.
The group's primary mission of sending service members things they need is
coupled with raising awareness about supporting the men and women defending the
country.
The group accepts donations of cash or care package items, and also works with
the entertainment industry to generate donations. "My dream is to turn
(Operation Troop Aid) into the premier care package provider to deployed U.S. troops," says
Mark
Woods, the group's president.
For more information
Visit
Operation Troop Aid Website
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Commission Urges
Overhaul of Veterans Care
The
President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors has
recommended "fundamental changes" including overhauling the veterans disability
system for the first time in more than 50 years.
Led
by former senator Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna
Shalala, the commission issued a package of six broad recommendations intended
to transform the military healthcare system and veterans' assistance.
Click here for their Website
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Program
Encourages Troops to Save
"Military Saves" (www.militarysaves.org) is an ongoing, DoD-wide program
that encourages service members to become better money managers by paying off or
avoiding credit card debt and starting savings accounts. The program also
sponsors money management seminars titled, "Moneywise in the Military," held at
military installations across the country.
Each seminar features the insights of money management expert Kelvin Boston,
host of the PBS television series, "Moneywise," as well as other sessions that
discuss the proper use of credit, savings and investment strategies, home
ownership and other topics.
To learn more about personal finances,
visit the Military
Finance Center
Casualty Call Center Helps Families Heal
It has been a year since the Army's Human Resources Command launched the
Families
First
Casualty
Call
Center to offer additional assistance to
families of fallen Soldiers who were lost in combat or by accident. The
toll-free, one-on-one telephone support program has helped more than 3,000
immediate and extended families by providing ongoing support services and
links to other resources to help alleviate the pain of losing their Soldier.
Families who have lost their Soldiers are
encouraged to call
an FFCCC support coordinator, toll-free at (866) 272-5841
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New Handbook Helps Soldiers
Survive in
Iraq
A new handbook on how Soldiers can survive their first 100 days in
Iraq is now available. "Soldier Handbook:
Surviving
Iraq," was developed due to the increased
casualty rate during the first 100 days of a unit's deployment in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. The handbook educates Soldiers on how not to become
complacent to potential dangers and to be mindful of resourceful enemies who
closely observe
U.S. tactics to adapt their attack strategies.
The handbook will be made available in paper format this month.
Please click here for details on handbook
VA Launches Substance Abuse Services
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson has committed to placing 30
counselors in communities around the country to provide substance abuse
counseling directly to homeless veterans. Communities receiving new counselors
are: Albuquerque, N.M.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Cincinnati;
Cleveland; Columbia, S.C.; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Gainesville, Fla.;
Indianapolis; Iowa City, Iowa; Las Vegas; Little Rock, Ark.; Long Beach, Calif.;
Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Milwaukee; Montrose, N.Y.;. Philadelphia;
Portland, Ore.; Salisbury, N.C.; San Francisco; St. Louis; Syracuse, New York;
and West Haven, Conn.
Click here for information
Identify Your Veteran Benefits
Many veterans don't find out about their benefits until it is too late. The
Military.com benefits calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect
you with your benefits information based on your service and status. Get
started now, identify your Federal, State and service-specific benefits.
click here for benefits
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New Medical and Dental Re-enlistment Bonus
Stars
and Stripes reports that the Navy is offering extra money to retain doctors and
dentists. Medical officers can receive up to $50,000 to continue with the Navy
for four years.
Eligible medical officers must be below the grade of O-7, have at least eight
years of experience on active duty and in medical training, and have a current,
valid and unrestricted medical license. For fiscal 2007, the Navy is offering
more money for physicians in certain wartime specialties.
For fiscal 2007, bonuses for dentists in advanced clinical practice went up from
$15,000 to $25,000 for four years. For more information, visit the
Navy Medicine
Website
To learn more about the ways in which you can support
our troops,
click on Eagle.
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VA Boosts Services and Research in
Spinal Cord Injury
MILWAUKEE – During a ground-breaking ceremony today for a world-class
facility for spinal cord injuries, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim
Nicholson committed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand
programs and open new facilities for seriously disabled veterans with spinal
cord injuries.
"VA’s health care facilities provide world-class health care for America’s
veterans,” said Nicholson. “Especially for our most seriously disabled
veterans, VA is committed to continuing its role as a world leader in
treatment and research.”
Click above for
Information
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Social Security and Military Service
If
you served in the military from 1940 through 1956, including attendance at a
service academy, Social Security may credit you with $160 a month in earnings
for military service from September 16, 1940, through December 31, 1956, if (1)
you were honorably discharged after 90 or more days of service, or you were
released because of a disability or injury received in the line of duty; or (2)
you are applying for survivors benefits based on a veteran's work and the
veteran died while on active duty. When you apply for Social Security benefits,
you will be asked for your DD Form 214 or information about your reserve or
National Guard service.
For more information, visit the
Military Service and Social Security Website
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Group Helps Deployed GIs' Children
More than 115,000 kids have at least one parent deployed in the war on
terrorism, and that does not include those children affected by routine
deployments, according to an organization that supports military children.
Salute Our Services supports service members in every branch of service and
their families with financial grants.
The goal of the grants is to keep children of deployed service members
engaged in the activities they enjoy. Salute Our Services also hosts event
around the country for the children as well as sending them letters of
thanks. The organization has offered its services to the children of
deployed service members in 45 states during the past five years.
For more
information,
visit the
Salute Our Services Website
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Program Assists Disabled GIs
The
Computer and Electronic Accommodation Program, known as CAP pays for assistive
technology for people with disabilities, Federal managers, supervisors, IT
professionals, and wounded service members. CAP is currently going to the
hospitals showing wounded service members assistive technology, telling them
about new opportunities for employment and introducing them to new ways to new
careers.
For
information about the Workforce Recruitment Program, visit the CAP website
(CLICK
HERE).
Since 2005, CAP filled more than 3,000 requests for accommodations
within the DoD and more than 2,000 in other federal agencies.
|
Click on pictures for details
Spanish-American War
The Civil War
WWI
WWII
Korean War Veterans Memorial Page
Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Page
Desert
Storm Memorial
Desert Shield/Desert Storm Timeline
Operation Enduring
Freedom
|
Help our military
servicemen and women better adapt back to home life including coping with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
CLICK HERE
**********
Military Honors
for Veterans' Funerals
The National
Guard's Honor Guard Program is available in many states to any person who
served in either peace-time or war-time on active duty. It is also eligible
to anyone who served in the National Guard or Reserve, completed at least
one enlistment and received an Honorable discharge.
There is no cost
to the family members of the veteran. The family need only to notify their
funeral director they desire to have military funeral honors rendered at the
interment. To make the arrangements, the funeral director will need the
veteran's DD214, Form NGB22, or a Certificate of Honorable Discharge, which
can be requested from
Military Records at National Archives
There are three
different types of the Funeral Honors Programs as described on the Website
of the
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/
To learn more about memorial benefits, visit the
Burial and Memorial Benefits Webpage
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AF
Spouses Overseas Get Degree Funding
The
Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) for overseas families is part of the
Air Force Aid Society, which provides funding for Airmen and families for
education, emergency leave, child care for PCS, scholarship programs and more.
Under STAP, spouses are allotted up to 50 percent of tuition or a maximum of
$300 per term if they attend one of the universities or colleges that are
contracted with the program.
To learn more about
this program,
click here
Click on any picture above for
"Fallen Heroes
Memorial"
VA
Announces Homeless Grants
Homeless veterans in 37 states will get more assistance thanks to the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) selection of 92 community organizations to receive
funds for transitional housing this year. The grants are part of VA’s continuing
efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans. VA has the largest integrated
network of homeless assistance programs in the country.
For more information on VA's Homeless Programs,
please click here
A list of recipients is available
by clicking here
Organization
Provides Reconstructive Surgery
Iraq Star,
a nonprofit organization based in California, is helping troops wounded in
Iraq by offering free cosmetic surgery from some of the Los Angeles area's
top plastic surgeons.
The
surgeons specialize in treating shrapnel scars, burns and other
disfiguring injuries sustained in combat. The organization's founder,
Maggie Lockridge, is a former Air Force nurse who now specializes in
cosmetic surgery and aftercare.
For more
information visit their website,
click here
|
To learn more about your
GI
Bill benefits.
Click Here
to visit the
Military
Education Center
Inter Service Family Assistance Committee
The Army's Inter Service Family Assistance Committee (ISFAC) provides
assistance to families of service members (active and reserve components)
from the closest military structure source, regardless of affiliation to
military service branch or geographical location.
ISFAC is collaboration between the DoD (Department of Defense) and
United States
Coast Guard (USCG) installations, Active, Reservist, National Guard; and
respective Family Service Centers (FAC) in time of mobilization,
deployment, and/or disaster relief.
|
AF
Spouses Overseas Get Degree Funding
The
Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) for overseas families is part of the
Air Force Aid Society, which provides funding for Airmen and families for
education, emergency leave, child care for PCS, scholarship programs and more.
Under STAP, spouses are allotted up to 50 percent of tuition or a maximum of
$300 per term if they attend one of the universities or colleges that are
contracted with the program.
To learn more about
this program,
click here
|
 Wounded
Warrior Program Leads Recovery
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) has assisted Soldiers who have been
severely injured while supporting the Global War on Terror since
April 2004. Their injuries range from loss of
limbs and sight to extreme burns and brain injuries.
The AW2 supports Soldiers and their
families through a three-phased process. Phase one is notification and
evacuation; phase two is the medical care and board evaluation; and phase
three involves helping Soldiers reintegrate into the Army or transition to
civilian employment.
The AW2 stays with Soldiers for five years
from the date they restart their Army careers, until they transition to the
civilian community or retire.
For more
information call (800) 237-1336
|
New
System Gives Marines Career Edge
The Automated Career Retention System (ACRS) is a new system that works through
Marine Online accounts to provide feedback to unit career retention specialists
and research options before ever stepping into their office. ACRS is currently
being implemented by units around the Marine Corps.
Through ACRS, which is under MOL's "Resources" tab, Marines can easily see the
progress of their interviews with their respective CRS and have multiple options
such as preparing for their next interview with research of possible career
options, select their personal career needs, reviewing interview history or be
notified of upcoming or past interviews.
Click on Eagle above for
Military Information
|
PACKAGES FOR A SOLDIER
Click on picture to
see how you can send a package to a soldier. What a wonderful way to uplift
their spirits, give them hope and a smile from home. Read their heartfelt
words of appreciation and thanks.
|
Veterans
with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses, and eligible dependent
children may be buried in a national cemetery. Other burial benefits include a
burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, and a government headstone or
marker - even if they are not buried in a national cemetery.
Information
on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the
Internet
at VA Burial Benefits
or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1 800-827-1000. VA
operates 123 national cemeteries in 39 states and
Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites.
**************
Foundation Supports Families
The 9-11 Help
America Foundation's mission is to recognize and
support the families of fallen and wounded warriors. For the past six years,
the foundation focused on providing monthly financial support to wounded
service members and families of the fallen. That support comes in the form
of $200 a month for an 18-month period. Visits with the troops and their
families are regular occurrences, as are outings that bring families
together.
For
more information click here
|
Society Seeks Volunteers
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) at Marine Corps Base Quantico is in
need of volunteers to help with the many services offered to active and retired
Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
The
Quantico office is currently seeking volunteers
for two main positions: receptionists and case workers. For more information on
becoming a volunteer, contact NMCRS at (703) 784-9754.
More than 3,000 trained Volunteers,
both ashore and aboard ships, accomplish the major portion of the
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society's work.
Click below for
Website
*********
Click above to send a
gift to our Military
Combat Recovery™
*****
"Expecting
a Call From Home"
"Help Our Troops Call
Home" delivers an instant morale boost with phone
cards that offer up to two hours of talk time for calls placed from any of AAFES'
69 call centers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kuwait.
Anyone can send a Military
Exchange Global Prepaid Phone card
by clicking on
picture of soldier above
or calling 1-800-527-2345. From there, the phone cards are sent to individual
Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors or Marines (designated by the purchaser) or
distributed to "any service member" through the American Red Cross, Air Force
Aid Society, Fisher House or USO.
*****
|
Canines Assist Disabled
Service members
A new organization called Lifeline Canines is specializing in helping
wheelchair-bound clients by use of highly trained dogs. The organization
works with golden and Labrador retrievers. The dogs are trained in basic
obedience, specialized commands pertaining to those with disabilities and
socialization and work in public places.
Specialized
commands include retrieving the telephone, opening and closing doors,
unzipping jackets, turning lights on and off and fulfilling emotional needs.
The organization wishes to work with wounded Marines and Sailors as much as
possible. For more information, visit the organization's website at
Lifeline Canines
or call 910-326-1926.
|
Click on Navy Wife for more information on
Navy Family Support
Click on USA logo for
Career Center
****
New Online Military Records Request
The
National
Personnel
Records
Center is working to make it easier for veterans
with computers and Internet access to get copies of documents from their
military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former
military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to
request documents, including Discharge Documents DD 214.
Because the requester will be asked to
supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that
normally occur will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to
provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's
mailroom processing time. Former military personnel and their dependents can get
more information at the
National Archives website
Please click here for information
****
|
Wounded Warrior Program Leads Soldiers, Families
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), which has assisted Soldiers who've
been severely injured while supporting the Global War on Terror since April 2004. Their injuries range from loss of
limbs and sight to extreme burns and brain injuries.
The AW2 supports Soldiers and their
families through a three-phased process. Phase one is notification and
evacuation; phase two is the medical care and board evaluation; and phase
three involves helping Soldiers reintegrate into the Army or transition to
civilian employment. For more information, call (800) 237-1336
or visit the
Army's Website
|
Connect With the Troops
Teachers and students from across the Untied States are sending in hand-made
scrapbook pages with special messages for military men and women serving
overseas as part of the Connect With The Troops Project. Over 20,000 pages have
been sent in so far.
All of the pages will be scanned and digitized and will be archived at the
Library of Congress as part of its Veteran's History Project. For more
information contributing to what is being billed as the World's Largest and
Greatest Scrapbook,
visit the
Connect With The Troops Website.
Oper
tion
Troop Aid
provides deployed service members with a link to home and the gratitude of the
American public through care packages and letters it sends. The group's primary
mission of sending service members things they need is coupled with raising
awareness about supporting the men and women defending the country.
The group accepts donations of cash or care package items, and also works with
the entertainment industry to generate donations. "My dream is to turn
(Opertion
Troop Aid)
into the premier care package provider to deployed U.S. troops," says
Mark
Woods, the group's president.
For more information
Visit
Opertion
Troop Aid Website
To check out programs and
events that support our troops, visit
Support
the Troops
AND
Subscriptions for Soldiers
Service members have benefits, resources, and employment opportunities to help
ease their transition from the military to civilian life. The Career Center can
be found at
http://www.military.com/support
|
America needs 2.4 million new teachers over the next 10 years.
Continue your service by becoming a teacher and making a difference in a
child's life.
Passport to Teaching certification, offered by the American Board for
Certification of Teacher Excellence, is ideal for transitioning military
personnel, recent retirees, and military spouses who want to pursue a
teaching career.
Click on Books for additional information
|
Army
Chaplaincy Program Helps Couples
The Army Chaplaincy
has expanded its Strong Bonds Program to include single Soldiers, families with
children, and those undergoing the "rigors" of deployment and redeployment. In
addition, this holistic relationship training program will now be offered to the
Reserves and the National Guard. This chaplain-led program is conducted in
several group sessions and culminates in an off-site retreat where Army families
can focus on skill building and enjoy time away from daily responsibilities.
Soldiers must get permission from their commanders to attend the program. For
more information, visit
http://www.strongbonds.org
The Veterans' Medical Package Benefit
The
Department of Veteran's Affairs is required by law to provide eligible veterans
needed hospital care and outpatient care services. VA defines "needed" as care
or service that will promote, preserve, and restore health. The Veterans'
Medical Benefits Package emphasizes preventive and primary care, offering a full
range of outpatient and inpatient services. Visit the Military.com Veterans'
Medical Benefits Section to learn more about this valuable benefit.
Click Below for info
on
Medical Package
*****
Angels Support Wounded Troops
An Internet community of support for troops overseas called Soldiers'
Angels works to support wounded soldiers with
backpacks filled with needed items, making personal visits and phone calls. One
project, "Project Valour-IT," provides wounded troops with laptops to use from
their homes and hospital beds.
More than 80,000 "angels" are registered
all over the world, not including the many schools, churches and other
organizations that participate as communities.
For more information, visit
http://www.soldiersangels.org/
AND
http://www.soldiersangels.org/valour/
******
Troops Write Wartime Observations
About 100 authors, including current and former servicemen and women as well
as family members, have written the book "Operation Homecoming: Iraq,
Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their
Families," which contains nearly 100 stories of personal truths observed on
battlefields and at home during the global war on terror.
The Random House-published book is the product of more that two years of
work. Some of the authors are currently participating in a 30-day book tour
at
U.S. cities and military bases.
For more information on the book,
including educational resources,
Visit the Operation Homecoming Website
*****
DVDs
Wanted for Troops
"AMVETS, Operation DVD" is an appeal to patriotic Americans to donate their new
and used DVDs, which will then be shipped to our fighting men and women
overseas.
DVDs
will be distributed to Troops in audiences of USO tours and ultimately "Children
Titles" will be provided to Boys & Girls Clubs located on military bases around
the world. For more information on donating,
Visit
the AMVETS Operation DVD Website
"AMVETS, Operation DVD" is an official program of AMVETS, a nationally chartered
veterans organization in existence for over sixty years.
*****
|
Bugles Across America
Bugles Across
America is a non-profit group of horn players
nationwide who volunteer their time to play "Taps" at veterans' funerals.
They also play at other military events, including Veterans Day and Memorial
Day observances. For more information,
Click Here
|
*****
Soldiers
Deliver the Good News Directly
In
an effort to tell the positive stories of the daily accomplishments of our
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan directly from the perspective of the American
soldier, The American Legion today launched its
"Letters to America
from the Front"
initiative, in the believe that the American public needs to hear the positive
things our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen are doing for
our country and for the Afghanistan and Iraqi people.
Letters can be
viewed at The American Legion Website by clicking on
"Letters to America from the Front."
Logo above.
*****
Click
below
Panel to Approve Services for
Returning Veterans
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson has announced the formation of a
formal, 17-person committee that will advise him on ways to improve VA
programs serving veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF) and their families.
The
new advisory panel will report directly to Secretary Nicholson and will be
called the Advisory Committee on OIF/OEF Veterans and Families. People
seeking more information about the committee should contact VA's Tiffany
Glover by e-mail at
Tiffany.glover@va.gov
|
Click on musical notes
for
The Armed Forces Medley.
.gif)
Military Severely Injured Center
The Military Severely Injured Center (MSI Center) is a program dedicated to
providing seamless, centralized support -- for as long as it may take -- to
make sure that injured service members and their families achieve the
highest level of functioning and quality of life.
If you are a severely injured service member or the family member of a
severely injured service member, the MSI Joint Center can help you cut red
tape; understand what benefits are available to you; identify resources; and
obtain counseling, information, and support. Injured service members and
their families can get assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at
1-888-774-1361 for this free service.
The MSI
Center also provides educational materials that
can help you understand and tackle issues related to concerns that injured
service members often have, from helping children and spouses with the
challenges they face, to concerns about making homes and vehicles
accessible, to building new relationships.
In addition the
MSI
Center offers a
Career
Center
that supplements their services related to career planning, including
employment and benefits information for both injured service members and
their spouses.
|
Getting
Ready to Retire from the Army
If
you plan on retiring soon, visit the Army Retirement Services website. You'll
find a section dedicated to pre retirement information, including the
Pre-retirement Counseling Guide and the Pre-retirement Briefing as well as a
section devoted to the Survivor Benefit Plan, which is the only way that part of
retired pay can be continued after the retiree's death.
The
site also includes a list of all Army Retirement Services Officers worldwide
with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and their website links.
Click below for more
information
Army Retirement Offices
Service
Military Benefits
*****
Planning Military Funerals
Military members on
active duty or in the Selected Reserve and former military members who served on
active duty and received an honorable discharge qualify for military honors at
their funeral. For a complete listing of those eligible for military honors.
Click here to visit the
Military Funeral Honors Website
Families are
entitled to a flag folding, flag presentation, and the playing of Taps. However,
in today's military, there are few bugle players. You might request one from
your local high school band or church music group.
To learn more about military burial benefits,
Military Benefits and Memorial Website
*****
Click above for memorable
video by Lizzie Palmer
a 15 year old girl.
*****
Click on Flag
for
"What is a Vet?"
*****
"Though I walk in the
midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against
the wrath of my enemies, and Thy right hand will save me."
~ Psalm 138:7~
Please pray for protection
for
our men and women in the Armed Forces:
Scott, Kyle, Jeff, Dan, Lon
P.,
Travis J., Nathan, Enrique, John,
Kenneth M., Tom G., Daryl J.,
Gabe C., Gerome L.,
Nick & John H.,
Billy S., Chad, Joe G., Foard W.,
Alex B., John R., Frank G., Debra R.,
Kristina M.,
Shannan S., Matthew A.,
Shaun M.
(If you have a loved one in
the service and you would like to add their name to our prayer list please send
us the first name and first initial of their last name only)
To email
us click here:
Jim and Connie
Prayer Requests
Our Military Military Websites
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