| BULLETIN BOARD Chance Bazzano, DSO/CSO Service Officer Jim Stephens, CSO Service Officer |
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS STONEWALL JACKSON CHAPTER #9 WINCHESTER VIRGINIA 2010 As your DSO/CSO Service Officer for our Chapter, I would like to extend to all Veterans and Members our willingness to assist you with any military related needs, questions or concerns, but not limited to them exclusively.. There are countless Veterans who have served their country honorably who are not receiving their ENTITLEMENTS they have earned wearing the uniforms of this country. It is with the utmost concern that we make our Chapter of the DAV a viable resource for your needs . We have all experienced the difficulties in understanding the many rules and regulations governing your ENTITLEMENTS to receive the ongoing help you may need. This includes Service Connected Claims, Non-Service Connected Claims and all issues concerns and questions for CHAMPVA, TRI-CARE, special handicapped home needs, your children's educational entitlements and many others . We, at the DAV Chapter #9, sincerely extend our gratitude for your service, and in keeping with the tradition and total commitment of upholding Veterans rights invite you to call or email us at any time, so we may promptly and effectively assist you. Please be welcomed to visit our web site at www.dav9.org . You will find a mail box at the bottom front page to email us. In trust God Bless America Chance Bazzano, DSO/CSO-Service Officer DAV-Chapter # 9 Stonewall Jackson Winchester Va |
| Disabled American Veterans, Stonewall Jackson, Chapter 9, Winchester, Virginia |
| November 19, 2009 Forwarded on behalf of the American Association of School Administrators; contact information below. For Immediate Release Contact: Amy Vogt - 703-875-0723 avogt@aasa.org AASA TOOLKIT HELPS SCHOOL LEADERS SUPPORT MILITARY CHILDREN ARLINGTON, Va. - Some two million U.S. military children have had one or both parents deployed since 2001. Understanding the challenges facing military families -- and the resources available to assist military children -- is essential to meeting their unique educational needs. The American Association of School Administrators has released a toolkit on Supporting the Military Child to help school leaders meet the needs of children whose parents are deployed or in transition. This free, online resource is available on the AASA website at www.aasa.org/MilitaryChild.aspx "Children of military families often face multiple stressors, including frequent moves and extended periods of separation from loved ones, said AASA President Mark Bielang, Superintendent in Paw Paw, Mich. Shool leaders play an important part in helping these students maintain a sense of stability and stay on track to achieve their educational goals. The toolkit includes: Top 15 things school leaders can do to support military children. Key facts about the military child. Facts about Impact Aid, the federal funding available to help school districts handle the cost of educating children from military families Facts about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, legislation signed by 26 states that aims to ease school-to-school transfers for military children. The toolkit also includes two videos: A video-taped discussion among school administrators on how schools can support military kids, featuring an assistant superintendent, a principal, a counselor and a parent liaison from Fort Belvoir Elementary School in Fairfax County, Va. A video statement of support from Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The AASA Toolkit on Supporting the Military Child will assist the many schools with children in their communities who have family members who have been deployed, said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech AASA is thankful to the Veteran’s Support Foundation for making this project possible. AASA developed the toolkit with a grant from the Veterans Support Foundation. In addition, Randy Collins, AASA past president and superintendent in Waterford, Conn.; Linda Spoonster Schwartz, commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans' Affairs; and the Department of Defense Education Activity lent their support to the development of the toolkit. About AASA The American Association of School Administrators, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. For more information, visit www. aasa.org. Follow AASA on twitter at www.twitter.com/AASAHQ. Become a fan of the AASA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AASApage. ### |
To all recently and past discharged Veterans. NOTICE 2010 It is of Vital importance that you make Absolutely sure Prior to Discharge that everything on your DD-214 is correct . No matter what . If you need assistance in making corrections on your issued DD-214, please email me through our website with your return phone number and I will call you back ASAP.... For all Active Duty Personnel It is also very important that you pay attention to your on-going Military Jacket to insure that all entries are properly and totally correct . Always follow proper protocol and Chain of Command . It is not an un-common occurance in combat situations that not all data is able to be recorded, so it is wise to be respectfully prudent. That data will most assuredly be of great importance to you at a later date in life. Chance Bazzano DSO/CSO ### |
| Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008 (Introduced in House) HR 6562 IH 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6562 To amend title 38, United States Code, relating to presumptions of exposure for veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 22, 2008 Mr. FILNER (for himself, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. HALL of New York, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, and Mr. LATHAM) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, relating to presumptions of exposure for veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Agent Orange Equity Act of 2008'. SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF EXPOSURE FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE VICINITY OF VIETNAM. Effective on and after September 25, 1985, subsections (a) and (f) of section 1116 of title 38, United States Code, are each amended by inserting after `Republic of Vietnam' each place it appears the following: `including the inland waterways of such Republic, the waters offshore of such Republic, and the airspace above such Republic'. |
Your GI Bill rate has officially increased to $47,556. This is money you do not have to pay back. Use it today to pay for a college degree or certificate. The GI Bill expires 10 years after Separation. Move your career forward and get your degree paid for. Take the first step and find Military-Friendly Schools. |
ATTENTION ALL VETERANS AND FAMILIES OF VETERANS #### IT IS ABSOLUTLY ESSENTIAL THAT YOU NEVER SEND IN "ORIGINAL" DOCUMENTS -- ALWAYS SEND A COPY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP YOUR "ORIGINAL" MILITARY AND MILITARY MEDICAL RECORDS ON FILE AT HOME AND UP TO DATE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER CURRENTLY ON ACTIVE DUTY, INFORM THEM THAT EVERY INCIDENT THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN " MUST BE " DOCUMENTED, ESPECIALLY ANY AND ALL INJURIES . ALSO THEY SHOULD PERIODICALLY REVIEW THEIR CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY RECORD FOR ACCURATENESS . IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT ALL RECORDS MUST BE IN PERFECT ORDER PRIOR TO DISCHARGE. ### |
| VA News Releases VA Announces $36 Million in Grants for Homeless Programs WASHINGTON (Sept. 23, 2008) - Homeless veterans in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will get more assistance, thanks to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grants providing $36.7 million to community groups to create 1,526 beds for homeless veterans this year. "These grants provide a helping hand to veterans who have served our nation in uniform," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "Our partnerships with community-based organizations provide safe, temporary housing while these veterans return to productive lives." VA has identified public and community non-profit groups eligible to receive payments for housing and supportive services to homeless veterans, including 49 grants for vans that will transport homeless veterans to health care and training programs. 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. In many cities and rural areas, VA social workers and other clinicians working with community and faith-based partners conduct extensive outreach programs, clinical assessments, medical treatments, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and employment assistance. VA's Grant and Per Diem program helped reduce the number of veterans who are homeless on a typical night last year by 21 percent to about 154,000 veterans. VA also provides health care to about 100,000 homeless veterans, compensation and assistance in obtaining foreclosed homes and excess federal property, including clothes, footwear, blankets and other items. More information about VA's homeless programs is available on the Internet at http://www.va.gov/homeless. ### |
| VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA & VETERANS OF MODERN WARFARE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robin Crawford P: 202.974.5025 / C: 202.378.8385 crawfordr@ruderfinn.com HISTORIC LAWSUIT CHALLENGES UNACCEPTABLE DELAYS IN DELIVERING BENEFITS TO AMERICA'S VETERANS BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA & VETERANS OF MODERN WARFARE FIGHT FOR FASTER BENEFIT DECISIONS AND INTERIM BENEFITS "LIFELINE" Washington, DC (November 10, 2008) - Today, two groups representing thousands of American veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW), announced that they have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to end the unconscionable delays experienced by veterans when applying for disability benefits. VVA and VMW seek immediate action to prevent further irreparable harm to our nation's veterans. The lawsuit demands that the VA provide an initial decision on every veteran's claim for disability benefits within 90 days and resolve appeals within 180 days. Additionally, the veterans groups ask that the Court grant further relief in the form of interim benefits awards in the event that the VA exceeds these minimum standards of constitutionally-guaranteed due process. These interim benefits will provide veterans with a lifeline of support when it is most needed to facilitate reintegration into their lives back home. "The failure to expedite veterans' compensation claims creates, at best, the impression that the nation does not respect its veterans," said John Rowan, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America. "America's veterans deserve more, and the VA's failure to fulfill its responsibilities brings dishonor to our nation and can only make the call of military service more challenging." The VA acknowledges that it takes an average of at least six months to reach an initial decision on an average benefits claim; the actual delay is closer to a year. Appeals of these initial decisions, which are reversed more than 50 percent of the time, take, on average, more than four years, with some stretching 10 years or more. In contrast, private healthcare plans - which process more than 30 billion claims a year- process claims and related appeals in less than three months. "As a matter of both policy and practice, the VA subjects veterans to long delays before receiving any of the benefits to which they are entitled," said Donald Overton, Executive Director, Veterans of Modern Warfare. "Our hope is that this lawsuit will compel the VA to process veterans' benefits claims more quickly and honor our nation's commitment to those that have defended and served." "All veterans will benefit significantly from the legal action of VVA and VMW," said Robert Cattanach, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney. "The intervention of VVA and VMW is necessary because under federal law individual veterans are not allowed to access the judicial system. Dorsey & Whitney is committed to helping America's veterans quickly secure the benefits they have earned from the VA." There are approximately 25 million veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces alive today. More than 7 million of those veterans are enrolled in the VA's healthcare system, and approximately 3.4 million veterans receive benefits. More than 600,000 VA benefits claims are backlogged - this number will only increase as the 1.7 million troops that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to return home. "A soldier's transition to civilian life is challenging. The VA's failure to diagnose PTSD promptly and accurately, and the corresponding delay in the award of benefits, plainly results in veterans being denied this critical lifeline," said Dr. Charles R. Figley, PTSD expert and author, of Tulane University. "VVA and VMW's lawsuit will help to reduce this additional and, in many cases, unmanageable stress for veterans." According to the VA, the suicide rate among individuals in the VA's care may be as high as 7.5 times the national average. Delays in awarding benefits to America's veterans increases the suffering of individuals already struggling with an inability to cope, as the seemingly endless wait for the VA to make a final decision on a claim magnifies the alienation and anxiety that they experience. For example, the inability to provide basic subsistence s upport significantly impacts a veteran's ability to maintain economic stability, seek and gain employment, provide and sustain a home, or care for a family. As a consequence, there is a substantial increase in the number of broken families, cases of homelessness and depression caused by the failure to provide disability benefits on a timely basis. Vietnam Veterans of America Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans families, as well as to the needs of other veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another." Visit the VVA online at http://www.vva.org/. Veterans of Modern Warfare Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) is a veterans service organization dedicated to serving our nation's most recent war veterans. Our purpose is to support veterans and their families by providing education and information about the benefits America's veterans have earned, assistance in obtaining benefits, advocacy in issues important to our generation, and camaraderie through locally based, national chapters. Visit the VMW online at http://vmwusa.org . Dorsey & Whitney LLP Clients have relied on Dorsey & Whitney (www.dorsey.com ) since 1912 to protect their interests. With 650 lawyers in 18 locations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia, Dorsey provides a comprehensive approach to its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful Fortune 500 companies. Dorsey and its individual lawyers have a long history of public service. The firm dedicates substantial resources, on a pro bono basis, to serve the unmet legal needs of disadvantaged individuals and of organizations who cannot afford to pay for legal services. #### |
U. S. Army Human Resources Command 200 Stovall Street Alexandria, VA 22332 December 2, 2008 TSGLI Expands Benefits for Traumatically Injured Service Members Washington, DC - More Service Members may now qualify for Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI), because of newly expanded benefits that are a result of a review conducted by The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The purpose of the review was to ascertain whether additional injuries/losses should be covered, whether the program was operating effectively, and whether other improvements could be made that would allow more Service Members to benefit from TSGLI. Through the review's findings, the TSGLI Schedule of Losses was simplified, making it more usable for each branch of service and allowing for easier interpretation by the general public. Existing TSGLI qualifying loss definitions on the schedule, such as those for sight, burns and amputations were expanded and additional qualifying losses including uniplegia, limb salvage, facial reconstruction, and a 15-day hospital stay were added as well. "The TSGLI benefit expansion helps us further the mission and spirit of the program - help traumatically injured Service Members at their greatest time of need," says COL John F. Sackett, Chief of the Army's TSGLI Branch. "As stated by our prior Vice Chief of Staff, we need to 'do what is right for the Soldier'. With these changes we can offer assistance to even more men and women who have so bravely served our country." members who qualify the general public and more usable for each benefit Service Members that have already submitted a claim in the past do not need to resubmit. The VA and TSGLI offices for each service will conduct a reachback of previously denied claims to see if they qualify for payment under the new guidance. Notifications will be sent to the Service Member if an additional award is due. TSGLI is a Congressionally-mandated program that applies to members of all branches of Service and all components-Active, Guard, or Reserve, who incur a traumatic, physical injury based on an external force of violence. TSGLI provides tax-free payments between $25,000 and $100,000 per traumatic event, which can be used to help with unseen expenses or provide a financial start on life after recovery. The TSGLI program began on December 1, 2005, as a non-option selection attached to Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI). All Service Members from that point forward who elected SGLI benefits pay $1 towards this coverage each month. In addition, Service Members who incurred a qualifying traumatic injury from 7 October 2001 through 30 November 2005 while on orders outside the United States in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), or serving in a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) area are covered by TSGLI, regardless of whether they elected SGLI coverage or not. For more information about TSGLI, including a complete list of the new schedule of losses, eligibility requirements, and claim submission instructions, Service Members should contact their branch of service using the contact information below: ARMY Army Human Resources Command Attn: TSGLI 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332 Phone: 1-800-237-1336 Website: www.tsgli.army.mil NAVY Navy Personnel Command Attn: PERS-62 5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055 Phone: 800-368-3202 Website: www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/CasualtyAssistance/TSGLI MARINE CORPS HQ, Marine Corps Attn: WWR-TSGLI 3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134 Phone: 877-216-0825 Website: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/pls/portal/url/page/m_ra_home/wwr/ wwr_a_command_element/wwr_d_regimental_staff/3_s3/wwr_tsgli AIR FORCE AFPC/DPWC 550 C Street West Randolph AFB, TX 78150 Phone: 1-800-433-0048 Website: www.ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil COAST GUARD COMDT (CG-1222) 2100 2nd Street SW Washington, DC 20593 Phone: 202-475-5391 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2009 Contact: Anne Atkins (804) 371-0441 900 East Main Street , Richmond, VA 23219, www.virginiaforveterans.com Virginia veteran completes Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities RICHMOND—For more than seven years, Thad Jones, a disabled veteran, attended seminars and workshops on starting a business. But, it wasn’t until he completed the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) at Syracuse University that he felt ready to move forward with launching his own enterprise. EBV helps disabled veterans, like Jones, develop the skills needed to take their ideas or existing business to the next level. Just like the Bootcamp Jones went through when he first joined the Army, EBV is demanding, rigorous, and mentally challenging. “Attending EBV has put me on a solid foundation and I am now able to go forward with opening my own business, Seniors Mobile Tax Service,” said Jones. “I have heard so much about the business plan as the most important facet for starting a business. Until I attended EBV, it was all foreign. Now, I understand the nuts and bolts involved in starting a business,” he added. After completing a nine-page application and competing against hundreds of other disabled veterans, Jones was accepted to the program and received several text books. During phase 1 of the program, Jones read the books and responded to his professors’ inquiries via Syracuse University’s online blackboard. During phase 2 of the program, Jones spent nine days attending classes on campus. After successfully graduating from the program, Jones will now complete a one-year mentorship with Sycracuse University Whitman School of Management. There is no cost to veterans for program tuition, text books, and materials; and, even transportation to Syracuse University, lodging, and all meals were provided at no cost to the veterans. “The EBV program is a fast-growing event searching for disabled veterans with an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Jones. “The application process wasn’t easy, but to get accepted is an honor. EBV is the key for ensuring that a veteran will have the necessary tools prior to starting his or her own business.” Jones looks forward to formally launching his tax service in January 2010. His goal is to provide residence tax preparation service to senior citizens at an affordable price. In addition to focusing on his business, Jones serves as a member of the Virginia Board of Veterans Services and regularly volunteers as a bill payer with Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging. For more information about EBV, visit http://www.whitman.syr.edu. # # # |
| VETERANS RESOURCES NETWORK http://38uscode.com http://www.valaw.org VA Extends "Agent Orange" Benefits to more Veterans Parkinson's Disease, Two Other Illnesses Recognized WASHINGTON (Oct. 13, 2009) - Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with three [3] specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange. The illnesses affected by the recent decision are B CELL LEUKEMIAS, such as Hairy Cell Leukemia; Parkinson's Disease; and Ischemic Heart Disease. Used in Vietnam to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy, Agent Orange left a legacy of suffering and disability that continues to the present. Between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange. In practical terms, Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness don't have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits. The Secretary's decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will," Shinseki added. "Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence." Other illnesses previously recognized under VA's "presumption" rule as being caused by exposure to herbicides during the Vietnam War are: * Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/peripheral_neuropathy.asp> * AL Amyloidosis <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/al_amyloidosis.asp> * Chloracne <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/chloracne.asp> * Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/chronic_leukemia.asp> * Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/diabetes.asp> * Hodgkin's Disease <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/hodgkins.asp> * Multiple Myeloma <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions//multiple_myeloma.asp> * Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/nh_lymphoma.asp> * Porphyria Cutanea Tarda <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/porphyria.asp> * Prostate Cancer <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/prostate_cancer.asp> * Respiratory Cancers <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/respiratory_cancers.asp> , and * Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma) <http://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/agent orange/conditions/st_sarcoma.asp> ### |
November 17, 2009 New and redesigned websites offer resources for veterans VA.Gov Launches First Step of Web Site Redesign On Veterans Day, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rolled out the first phase of a large- scale Web renovation to better serve America’s Veterans. This first and most visible step of the renovation consists of changing the Web site’s look, making it easier for Veterans and their families to navigate and to find the information they are looking for. VA’s long-term goals in redesigning the site are to make it easier and more inviting for Veterans through incorporating Web best practices, focusing on topics and tasks rather than office function, improving the navigational structure to ensure consistency, and making it more visually appealing. The new website design will cover more than 500 VA Web sites and about 80,000 pages. Department of Homeland Security launches website to aid veterans in finding employment opportunities A new website, available at www.dhs.gov/veterans, features information for veterans about how to find employment opportunities at DHS, ways to get involved in community-based efforts like Citizen Corps, and special veteran programs such as Operation Warfighter and Wounded Warrior, which provide employment opportunities for severely wounded or recovering service members to assist their transition back to the military or civilian workforce. The website also features DHS procurement opportunities for veteran and service disabled veteran business owners and information about DHS policies and news impacting the veteran community. Virginia Department of Veterans Services launches redesigned site The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (www.VirginiaforVeterans.com) recently launched its redesigned site. Redesign features include improved navigation and a more attractive layout. The agency plans to increase site content in the future. ### |
| DOD Releases 2010 Housing Rates The Department of Defense today released the 2010 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. Military members will receive an average housing allowance increase of 2.5 percent when the new rates take effect, Jan. 1, 2010. For members with dependents, average increases in the BAH are approximately $37 per month. A typical junior enlisted member with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $25 per month higher than last year, while a senior non-commissioned officer with dependents will receive about $42 more than last year. Three components are included in the BAH computation: median current market rent; average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer); and average renter's insurance. Total housing costs are calculated for six housing profiles (based on dwelling type and number of bedrooms) in each military housing area. BAH rates are then calculated for each pay grade, both with and without dependents. An estimated $19 billion will be paid to nearly 1 million service members in 2010. An integral part of the BAH program is the provision of individual rate protection to all members. No matter what happens to measured housing costs, an individual member in a given location will not see his/her BAH rate decrease. This assures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area's housing costs decrease. The continued improvement in housing allowances represents the Department's commitment to the preservation of a compensation and benefit structure that provides members with a suitable and secure standard of living to sustain a trained, experienced, and ready force in the future. For more information on BAH, Copy and paste this Link into your browser : http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/ Once you arrive at the site Do a Search for "Housing Rates" A pdf file will open up for you to save to your computer. ### |
January 22, 2010 VA ISSUES LIST OF SHIPS THAT QUALIFY FOR PRESUMPTIVE AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE "If a Veteran's service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed ...................... then exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further development." by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org Information on Vietnam Naval Operations Compensation and Pension (C&P) Service has initiated a program to collect data on Vietnam naval operations for the purpose of providing regional offices with information to assist with development in Haas related disability claims based on herbicide exposure from Navy Veterans. To date, we have received verification from various sources showing that a number of offshore “blue water” naval vessels conducted operations on the inland “brown water” rivers and delta areas of Vietnam. We have also identified certain vessel types that operated primarily or exclusively on the inland waterways. The ships and dates of inland waterway service are listed below. If a Veteran’s service aboard one of these ships can be confirmed through military records during the time frames specified, then exposure to herbicide agents can be presumed without further development. All vessels of Inshore Fire Support [IFS] Division 93 during their entire Vietnam tour USS Carronade (IFS 1) USS Clarion River (LSMR 409) [Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket] USS Francis River (LSMR 525) USS White River (LSMR 536) All vessels with the designation LST [Landing Ship, Tank] during their entire tour WWII ships converted to transport supplies on rivers and serve as barracks for brown water Mobile Riverine Forces] All vessels with the designation LCVP [Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel] during their entire tour All vessels with the designation PCF [Patrol Craft, Fast] during their entire tour [Also called Swift Boats, operating for enemy interdiction on close coastal waters] All vessels with the designation PBR [Patrol Boat, River] during their entire tour [Also called River Patrol Boats as part of the Mobile Riverine Forces operating on inland waterways and featured in the Vietnam film [“Apocalypse Now”] USS Ingersoll (DD-652) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, October 24-25, 1965] USS Mansfield (DD-728) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River August 8-19, 1967 and December 21-24, 1968] USS Richard E. Kraus (DD-849) [Destroyer]Operated on coastal inlet north of Da Nang, June 2-5, 1966, protecting Marines holding a bridge] USS Basilone (DD-824) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, May 24-25, 1966] USS Hamner (DD-718) [Destroyer] [Operated on Song Lon Tao and Long Song Tao Rivers, August 15-September 1, 1966] USS Conway (DD-507) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, early August 1966] USS Fiske (DD-842) [Destroyer] [Operated on Mekong River, June 16-21, 1966] USS Black (DD-666) [Destroyer] [Operated on Saigon River, July 13-19, 1966] USS Providence (CLG-6) [Cruiser, Light, Guided Missile] [Operated on Saigon River 3 days during January 1964] USS Mahan (DLG-11) [Guided Missile Frigate] [Operated on Saigon River October 24-28, 1964] USS Okanogan (APA-220) [Attack Transport] [Operated on Saigon River July 22-23, 29-30, 1968 and August 5-6, 1968] USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) [Combat Stores Ship] [Unloaded supplies on Saigon River and Cam Rahn Bay, April 22-25, 1968] ### |
| PRESS RELEASE ! Update - Flu Due to increased H1N1 Flu activity in the area, the Martinsburg VA Medical Center announces the following measures to help safeguard patients, family and staff: · If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, please stay home and call your medical provider; · If you come to the Medical Center, you must be free of fever and flu-like cold symptoms; · Visitors are limited to immediate family members or caregivers; · All visitors to the Medical Center must be 13 years of age or older above the first floor; and · Everyone must follow posted respiratory guidelines for the protection of our patients, staff and visitors. A healthy and informed staff is critical to our ability to care for our Veterans, especially with the outbreak of the flu. Additionally, we encourage you to ask your medical provider about getting vaccinated for both the season flu and H1N1. Lastly, please visit the Martinsburg VAMC Flu Web Site on the Internet for more information at: http://www.martinsburg.med.va.gov/H1N1.html [Copy and paste this address into your browser] Thank you for your assistance. Ann R. Brown, FACHE Medical Center Director ### |