Print & Post: Week of January 11, 2010
California's Operation Welcome Home
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign. The initiative will set aside $20 million in one-time special funds to hire 325 combat veterans who will personally connect with newly discharged servicemembers in need of job assistance. Schwarzenegger also envisions recruiting 1,000 volunteers as part of a new, ongoing CalVet Corps to expand outreach for housing, health care and other services for veterans. For more information on California veterans' benefits, visit the (http://www.cdva.ca.gov/) California Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Determining VA Loan Eligibility
In order to be considered for the VA home loan program, a borrower must meet military service requirements. The eligibility requirements vary depending on when the military service was completed, but can be summarized by 90 days of active duty during wartime, 181 days of continuous active duty during peacetime, or 6 years of service for Reservist/National Guard. (http://www.military.com/finance/homebuying/determining-va-loan-eligibility.html) Get more information on eligibility here.
Deal of the Week: Military Shopping
Military.com connects you to big discounts and great military products in our Shopping Section such as customized gear, rank insignia, knives, tactical gear and more. (http://www.military.com/Deals/Home/0,13401,,00.htm) Find Discounts.
New VA Clinic in Salt Lake City
The George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah has just broken ground on the new outpatient mental health clinic. The Center provides comprehensive mental health treatment in a variety of specialties including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, mental health intensive case management, military sexual trauma, as well as general mental health treatments such as psycho-therapy and medication management. The new facility will be a 32,000 square foot building with three floors and 95 consultation rooms. The first appointment in the new building should be some time in January 2011. Veteran's Benefits Directory - To learn more about your state's benefits, visit the Military.com (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory) State Veteran's Benefits Directory.
VFW Publication Contest
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is currently accepting submissions from the organization's departments, districts, and posts for the VFW's 2010 National Publications Contest. One copy of each winning Post and District publication, as well as only one issue of the Department newspaper, must be mailed by Department adjutants, quartermasters or Department editors, to Kelly Von Lunen in the Publications Department at the VFW National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111 by April 5, 2010. Issues published between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009, are eligible.
Featured Job: Healthcare
Within the state of Ohio there are many medical and healthcare opportunities for veterans. (http://ohiomeansjobs.indeed.com/jobs/Healthcare-Jobs-in-Ohio?ESRC=vr.nl) Get Started.
disABLEDperson Scholarship Competition
disABLEDperson, Inc. announced the Spring 2010 scholarship competition for college students with disabilities. The competition for the $1,000 scholarship award began on January 11, 2010 and is set to end on March 1, 2010. To qualify, a student must be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled full-time in a two-or-four year accredited college or university in the U.S. Upon winning, the student will prove disability through their Disability Student Services department. Disability is defined as: "A disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that interferes with or prevents normal achievement in a particular area, something that hinders or incapacitates." Be sure to submit your entry before the March 1, 2010 deadline. The winner will be announced on our web portal (http://www.disabledperson.com/) www.disABLEDperson.com on March 15, 2010. To learn more about the essay and application requirements visit the (http://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/2) disABLEDperson website
Federal Tax Law Changes for 2009 - 2017
Many of the tax breaks in recent tax-relief bills were designed to be phased in over a number of years, or are indexed to inflation. To help you determine how these tax laws affect your long-term plans, this article explains the changes scheduled to come into effect through 2017. Pick a year from the tax table to learn what tax changes affect that year's returns. We include changes for 2009 because they affect tax returns you'll be working on in the spring of 2010. (http://www.military.com/finance/taxes/tt/summary-of-fed-tax-law-changes-2009.html) See the full article on Military.com.
VA Selects Civil War Memorial Locale
The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected the Frazier International History Museum in Louisville, Ky. as the new home of the Bloedner Monument, the nation's oldest Civil War memorial. The Bloedner Monument was removed from Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville in December, 2008 and taken to a temporary facility where it was professionally conserved by Conservation Solutions Inc. to arrest further damage. A new monument, with a sign explaining the significance of the original Bloedner Monument and indicating its location, will be placed at Cave Hill National Cemetery in 2010. For more information on the Museum, visit the (http://www.fraziermuseum.org/) Frazier International History Museum website.
Find Your GI Bill Tuition and Fee Rate
Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay your tuition and fees directly to the school. This payment rate is capped at the tuition and fees rate for the most expensive in-state public college undergraduate tuition and fees for the state of enrollment -- the school's state not yours. Follow these (http://www.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/find-your-new-gi-bill-tuition-and-fee-rate) 4 steps and view a State By State breakdown to determine how much of your tuition fees will be covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Legion Begins Baseball Registration
Online registration has begun for the 2010 American Legion Baseball season. This is the first time that coaches have the ability to register their team via the Internet. Coaches no longer have to collect, complete and mail registration forms, insurance forms and payments to various locations for processing. Fans can also search the (http://www.legion.org/baseball) American Legion Baseball Website for game schedules and player profiles. The 2010 season marks the 85th anniversary of the program. Click (http://www.legion.org/baseball/application) here to register for the 2010 American Legion Baseball season.
Some to Lose Stop-Loss Pay
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign. The initiative will set aside $20 million in one-time special funds to hire 325 combat veterans who will personally connect with newly discharged servicemembers in need of job assistance. Schwarzenegger also envisions recruiting 1,000 volunteers as part of a new, ongoing CalVet Corps to expand outreach for housing, health care and other services for veterans. For more information on California veterans' benefits, visit the (http://www.cdva.ca.gov/) California Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Determining VA Loan Eligibility
In order to be considered for the VA home loan program, a borrower must meet military service requirements. The eligibility requirements vary depending on when the military service was completed, but can be summarized by 90 days of active duty during wartime, 181 days of continuous active duty during peacetime, or 6 years of service for Reservist/National Guard. (http://www.military.com/finance/homebuying/determining-va-loan-eligibility.html) Get more information on eligibility here.
Deal of the Week: Military Shopping
Military.com connects you to big discounts and great military products in our Shopping Section such as customized gear, rank insignia, knives, tactical gear and more. (http://www.military.com/Deals/Home/0,13401,,00.htm) Find Discounts.
New VA Clinic in Salt Lake City
The George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah has just broken ground on the new outpatient mental health clinic. The Center provides comprehensive mental health treatment in a variety of specialties including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, mental health intensive case management, military sexual trauma, as well as general mental health treatments such as psycho-therapy and medication management. The new facility will be a 32,000 square foot building with three floors and 95 consultation rooms. The first appointment in the new building should be some time in January 2011. Veteran's Benefits Directory - To learn more about your state's benefits, visit the Military.com (http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory) State Veteran's Benefits Directory.
VFW Publication Contest
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is currently accepting submissions from the organization's departments, districts, and posts for the VFW's 2010 National Publications Contest. One copy of each winning Post and District publication, as well as only one issue of the Department newspaper, must be mailed by Department adjutants, quartermasters or Department editors, to Kelly Von Lunen in the Publications Department at the VFW National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111 by April 5, 2010. Issues published between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009, are eligible.
Featured Job: Healthcare
Within the state of Ohio there are many medical and healthcare opportunities for veterans. (http://ohiomeansjobs.indeed.com/jobs/Healthcare-Jobs-in-Ohio?ESRC=vr.nl) Get Started.
disABLEDperson Scholarship Competition
disABLEDperson, Inc. announced the Spring 2010 scholarship competition for college students with disabilities. The competition for the $1,000 scholarship award began on January 11, 2010 and is set to end on March 1, 2010. To qualify, a student must be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled full-time in a two-or-four year accredited college or university in the U.S. Upon winning, the student will prove disability through their Disability Student Services department. Disability is defined as: "A disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that interferes with or prevents normal achievement in a particular area, something that hinders or incapacitates." Be sure to submit your entry before the March 1, 2010 deadline. The winner will be announced on our web portal (http://www.disabledperson.com/) www.disABLEDperson.com on March 15, 2010. To learn more about the essay and application requirements visit the (http://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/2) disABLEDperson website
Federal Tax Law Changes for 2009 - 2017
Many of the tax breaks in recent tax-relief bills were designed to be phased in over a number of years, or are indexed to inflation. To help you determine how these tax laws affect your long-term plans, this article explains the changes scheduled to come into effect through 2017. Pick a year from the tax table to learn what tax changes affect that year's returns. We include changes for 2009 because they affect tax returns you'll be working on in the spring of 2010. (http://www.military.com/finance/taxes/tt/summary-of-fed-tax-law-changes-2009.html) See the full article on Military.com.
VA Selects Civil War Memorial Locale
The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected the Frazier International History Museum in Louisville, Ky. as the new home of the Bloedner Monument, the nation's oldest Civil War memorial. The Bloedner Monument was removed from Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville in December, 2008 and taken to a temporary facility where it was professionally conserved by Conservation Solutions Inc. to arrest further damage. A new monument, with a sign explaining the significance of the original Bloedner Monument and indicating its location, will be placed at Cave Hill National Cemetery in 2010. For more information on the Museum, visit the (http://www.fraziermuseum.org/) Frazier International History Museum website.
Find Your GI Bill Tuition and Fee Rate
Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay your tuition and fees directly to the school. This payment rate is capped at the tuition and fees rate for the most expensive in-state public college undergraduate tuition and fees for the state of enrollment -- the school's state not yours. Follow these (http://www.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/find-your-new-gi-bill-tuition-and-fee-rate) 4 steps and view a State By State breakdown to determine how much of your tuition fees will be covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Need to find a military friendly school? Military.com has hundreds of schools that offer college credit for service and may offer tuition discounts and grants to servicemembers. (http://edu.military.com/gibill/?ESRC=vr.nl) Search schools now.
If you only qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, you can get the (http://edu.military.com/gibill/?ESRC=vr.nl) GI Bill User Guide to make using your benefits even easier.
GI Bill Calculator - There are big differences between GI Bill programs, find out which program best fits your situation with Military.com's (http://www.military.com/gi-bill-calculator/) GI Bill Calculator.Legion Begins Baseball Registration
Online registration has begun for the 2010 American Legion Baseball season. This is the first time that coaches have the ability to register their team via the Internet. Coaches no longer have to collect, complete and mail registration forms, insurance forms and payments to various locations for processing. Fans can also search the (http://www.legion.org/baseball) American Legion Baseball Website for game schedules and player profiles. The 2010 season marks the 85th anniversary of the program. Click (http://www.legion.org/baseball/application) here to register for the 2010 American Legion Baseball season.
Some to Lose Stop-Loss Pay
The fiscal 2010 defense budget extends payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called "Stop Loss" program. However, those who received a bonus for voluntarily re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive stop-loss pay. Servicemembers affected by the new policy who already received stop-loss payments will not be required to repay them. However, all outstanding applications from affected servicemembers will be returned, along with an explanation of the change in law that makes them no longer eligible to receive the payments. While the services work to phase out the policy, officials have authorized a special pay of $500 a month of anyone retained on active duty due to stop loss. (http://www.military.com/news/article/some-losing-stop-loss-payments.html) Read the full article.
Pay Calculator -- Find out how much you'd make with a promotion or at your next duty station. Calculate pay by rank, location or duty with the (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/calculator) Military Pay Calculator.
