Veterans Weekly Report

Print & Post: Week of November 05, 2012

Hurricane May Impact VA Operations
The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy may impact Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operations, leading to closures, cancellations, or rescheduling along the East Coast. If you live in an area affected by storm damage and have pending VA appointments, be sure to (http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1) contact your VA facility to ask about their operational schedule. Some appointments may be rescheduled or canceled, and some facilities may be closed entirely until it’s safe to resume normal duties. You can find the contact information for your local VA facility on the (http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1) VA website. You can also follow your local VA facilities on (http://www.va.gov/opa/socialmedia.asp) Facebook and Twitter through links at VA’s (http://www.va.gov/opa/socialmedia.asp) Social Media Directory for updates on closures and appointment cancellations.For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

South Dakota Veterans Sought for Study
University of South Dakota psychology professors Jeffrey Simons and Raluca Gaher will soon be conducting a study to examine the association between traumatic stress and health outcomes among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simons and Gaher are seeking 250 veterans for the 18-month study who have served in operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. The participants must be able to safely participate in the study and be able to travel to Sioux Falls and Vermillion, S.D. Participants do not have to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. With the help of smart phones, participants will answer questions daily in real time about their feelings, social relationships, behaviors, activity levels and PTSD symptoms. For more information, contact (https://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/clinical-psychology/raluca-gaher.cfm) Professor Raluca Gaher or (https://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/clinical-psychology/Jeffrey-Simons.cfm) Professor Jeffrey Simons at 605-677-5353.

For more links to military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Spouse and Family Center.

General Dynamics Seeking Veteran Talent
Your Next Mission Starts Here: General Dynamics scours the country in search for the best veteran talent to help us deliver innovative technology solutions for our nation’s highest-priority defense and homeland security initiatives. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employer/gdit/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Learn how your skills can translate into a civilian career in mission-critical programs.

Vet Assisted Living in Florida
The Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home, a 148-bed housing facility for honorably discharged veterans in Lake City, Fla., provides a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and incidental medical care to eligible veterans, who must be able to feed and dress themselves, and be in need of assisted living care. Residents must have at least one year of residency in the state of Florida and be in need of assisted living facility care, not hospital or nursing home care. Private rooms run about $2,100 a month and semi-private rooms about $1,650. Rates are based on a sliding fee scale according to the veteran’s income. For information about the veterans domiciliary, call 386-758-0600.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fairs
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is holding job fairs for veterans throughout the month of November in 400 communities through its Hiring Our Heroes Program. Earlier this month, the US Chamber of Commerce held its 300th (http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes href=) Hiring Our Heroes job fair, leading to 10,400 jobs for veterans and spouses. A listing of the locations and dates of the Hiring Our Heroes job fairs being held across the country is available on the Hiring Our Heroes webpage at (http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events) www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events. Each event should have a link to more information on the time and location, as well as registration information.

For job fair listings across the nation and civilian job guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.

2012 Veterans Day Discounts and Freebies
Each year businesses honor Veterans and Servicemembers by offering Veterans Day discounts on goods, services, and dining. Military.com has put together a list of 2012 veteran and military discounts, Buy One Get One (BOGO) offerings, and even some of the offerings include honest-to-goodness free meals. (http://www.military.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-military-discounts.html) Learn more about the 2012 Veterans Day Discounts and Freebies.

$400k Coverage: As Low as $26 a Month
Is VGLI too much for your family? Find low cost alternatives designed with your military family in mind. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid=ret&ESRC=vr1105.nl) Get $400k protection starting at less than $1 a day.

Veterans Crisis Line
() The Veterans Crisis Line has saved thousands of lives with dedicated counselors taking calls from Veterans in mental health crises. Take a look at what goes on behind the scenes by viewing the video on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4WZs8Fa9s&feature=youtu.be) YouTube and visiting the (http://veteranscrisisline.net/) Veterans Crisis Line website. If you are a veteran in immediate crisis, or know a veteran who is, call the Veterans Crisis Line toll-free 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255, press 1.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

VA and Women Veterans
The number of female Veterans using VA health care has doubled in the last decade, making women a significantly larger portion of the veterans VA serves every day. Many VA employees are women Veterans as well. As you celebrate all Veterans for their service to our country this Veterans Day, remember to recognize the women veterans around you for their contributions. The VA Women’s Health Services office and the National Women Veterans Communications Workgroup have created a poster, digital/Web art, social media messages, and a Facebook image to “share,” which celebrate the contributions of women veterans. Visit the Women’s Health SharePoint to download these resources for your use on this Veterans Day and beyond.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

Determining VA Eligibility
Determining your VA eligibility status is easier than you think. For more information, read the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/8304/a-few-resources-to-determine-va-eligibility/) VAntage Point Blog.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

From Building Buicks to Bombers
Three hundred and forty-three thousand automobiles left the General Motor’s super-assembly plant in Linden, N.J., between 1937 and 1941. Throughout these years of peace, Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles flowed in an endless procession from this factory into dealers’ showrooms from Maine to Virginia — then production stopped. (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/from-building-buicks-to-bombers.html?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Read Full Article.

Veterans Day Resources
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has resources for Veterans Day on its (http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/) Veterans Day–November 11 webpage. The (http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/) 2012 Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide is available there in both a PDF file and a Word version. The website also contains suggested activities for Veterans Day and relevant information for students ? such as the history of Veterans Day, the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and information about scholarships. The 2012 Veterans Day poster is also available on the website to download in various formats. Information is also available on the website on the Veterans Day National Ceremony, which is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery.

For more on Veterans Day history and tributes, visit the (http://www.military.com/veterans-day) Military.com Veterans Day page.

3 VA Loan Tips
Tip: Get Pre-Approved. Before you start the hunt for a house, the best thing you can do is to get pre-approved for your VA loan amount. Hint: Check Your Credit. Did you know that over 70 percent of all credit reports in the United States contain errors? Hint: Consider the Advantages of Having a VA Guaranteed Loan. A VA mortgage loan can be guaranteed with no money down, in some cases up to $417,000. There is also no private mortgage insurance requirement. (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans/home-purchase/veterans-administration-home-loan-tips.html?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Read the full story on Military.com.

(https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoanNew/Step1.jsp?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Next Step: Search for lenders ready to help you buy or refinance with a VA loan.

Get Help at Your Local VA Vet Center
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vet Centers offer Veterans and their families an alternative to bustling VA hospitals. The 300 centers located across the country, offer counseling, substance abuse and employment assessment, and resources. For more information, visit VA’s Vet Center webpage at (http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/) www.vetcenter.va.gov/.

For complete guides to all veterans benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.

Veterans Day: Discounts and Freebies
Each year businesses honor veterans and servicemembers, as well as their families, with Veterans Day discounts on goods, services, and dining. Military.com has listed out the (http://www.military.com/veterans-day/veterans-day-military-discounts.html?ESRC=mrvr.nl) 2012 veteran and military discounts, including Buy One Get One (BOGO) offerings, and this year’s offerings even include some honest-to-goodness free meals.

View all military (http://www.military.com/discounts/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) deals and discounts.

Get top deals and information on how to save big by signing up for (http://www.military.com/LeadForms/NewsLetterSignup?ESRC=mrvr.nl) the Military Deals and Discounts Newsletter.

 

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