14 June 2004
Below
is the complete version of this week's Veterans Report.
Print it, circulate it, and make sure your colleagues
and friends keep up with the latest veterans benefits
updates.
ACTION
ALERT: Veterans Earn and Learn Act Should the GI Bill be
used for On-the-Job training as well as traditional
schools? Thousands of servicemembers who sign up for the
Montgomery GI Bill program later find that traditional
classroom training does not fit their career goals;
instead they would rather move directly into the job
market. The Veterans Earn and Learn Act could enhance
deserved opportunities for them to take advantage of
their GI Bill education benefits when participating in
on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs.
For
more information on H.R. 1716, see http://vote.military.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=5911756.
What
are your thoughts? Disagree? Agree? Your voice matters.
Share your view on this critical debate. Send an email
to your congressman now through
our system!
To
read past letters to leaders concerning issues in the
military, see:
http://capwiz.com/military/issuesaction/letterlist/?issue=11&x=13&y=19.
To
read more action alerts, see http://vote.military.com/military/home/
Deal
of the Week:
Discount
Offers for SeaWorld Adventure Parks Specially priced
tickets, Passports and dining certificates with valid
military I.D. Tickets must be purchased in advance from
your local base ticket office or by contacting Commander
Navy Region Southwest Military Ticket Program. See
Discount.
Army
Gets New Combat Uniform
The
Army will be fielding a new combat uniform designed by
NCOs and tested by Stryker Brigade Soldiers in Iraq
since October. On the Army's 229th birthday, senior
leadership introduced the Army Combat Uniform during a
Pentagon cake-cutting ceremony. Soldiers were on
display, suited-up in the wrinkle-free uniform with a
digitized camouflage pattern. Three different versions
of the ACU have been developed, and more than 10,000
uniforms have been produced and dragged through the sand
in Iraq and at Army training centers. Even more are on
American production lines to be issued by April 2005 to
Soldiers in deploying units. Fielding to the total Army
should be complete by December 2007, said officials from
the Program Executive Office, known as PEO
Soldier.
For
more information, see http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=6042.
To
find the latest news and special features concerning the
Army, visit our Army Community Center:
http://www.military.com/NewContent/1,13190,army,00.html
Avoiding
the Diploma Mills
Veterans
looking for the "right school" to meet their
education goals are encouraged to read an article
regarding Diploma Mills, featured on Militarycom. Many
veterans are interested in using their GI Bill to
finance their education while pursuing a civilian
career. However, some un-reputable, unaccredited
"colleges" (often referred to a "diploma
mills") claim to offer easy "no hassle"
college degrees with no Transcript or Student Evaluation
Processes. These diploma mills love to prey on military
service members and veterans.
If
you are considering pursuing education, learn more on
how to avoid these Diploma Mills.
http://www.military.com/Education/Content/0,13302,Education_Diploma,00.html
National
Veterans Wheelchair Games Come to St. Louis
More
than 500 disabled veterans will compete in the largest
annual wheelchair sports event in the world, the 24th
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, June 15-19 in St.
Louis. The Wheelchair Games, presented by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of
America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans
who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal
cord injuries, certain neurological conditions,
amputations or other mobility impairments. At the games,
veterans will compete in track and field, swimming,
basketball, weightlifting, softball, air guns,
quad-rugby, 9-ball, bowling, table tennis, archery,
handcycling, a motorized rally, wheelchair slalom and
power soccer. The 24th National Veterans Wheelchair
Games begin June 15.
For
more information, see http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=819
VA
Benefits Eligibility for Reserve and National Guard
Personnel According to the Department of Veterans
Affairs (http://www.vba.va.gov),
the primary factor in determining basic eligibility to
VA benefits is "veteran status," which is
established by active military, naval, or air service
and a discharge or release from active service under
conditions other than dishonorable. Reservists who
served on active duty establish veteran status and may
therefore be eligible for VA benefits, depending on the
length of active military service and the character of
discharge or release. In addition, reservists who are
never called to active duty may qualify for some VA
benefits. National Guard members can establish
eligibility for VA benefits only if the President
activated them for Federal duty.
For
more information regarding Reserve and National Guard,
visit our Resource Center at
http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,resourcespage,00.html
VA
to Provide Reimbursement for Veterans Seeking National
Board Certification
The
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
has announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) will reimburse eligible veterans up to $2,000 for
National Board Certification fees, for each first time
or retake assessment. National Board Certification is
the highest credential in the teaching profession. The
effective date of the approval is April 1, 2003, so
candidates who received National Board Certification
scores last November are eligible to apply. To receive
this benefit, veterans must be eligible for the VA's
Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty, the Veterans
Educational Assistance Program, or Dependents' Education
Assistance programs.
For
more information, see http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,vanbpts_061404.00.html.
For
additional information, including the application for VA
benefits, please visit www.gibill.va.gov
or call 1-888-GI-BILL-1.
To
become a candidate for National Board Certification,
please visit:
http://www.nbpts.org/candidates/become.cfm
or call 1-800-22TEACH.
|