Military Life

Operation Education for Veterans Helps Returning Soldiers Move On

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:09:00 GMT

Operation Education scholarships through the University of Idaho are reserved for military veterans with disabilities who were wounded in action since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. These could be veterans of any combat occurring after Sept. 11, including Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The slogan is, "You've served us; now let us serve you - with a college degree." Spouses also are eligible for the nation's first scholarship program of this type.

Scholarships are full ride, which means they include tuition, fees, books, tutoring, mentorship, on-campus housing, transportation and child care. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with disabilities will especially appreciate the university's adaptive equipment. This is to be offered at the university's main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to assist the war veterans and their families as they re-enter civilian life. There are also plans to offer internships and assistance in job placement by joining forces with corporations.

"The students of the University of Idaho are honored and eager to welcome United States military veterans into our community," says Humberto Cerrillo III, student government president on the main campus in Moscow, Idaho. "The Operation Education scholarship offers an educational and student life experience that cannot be found just anywhere. New friends, unique experiences and a beautiful campus will make it easy to call the University of Idaho home. We look forward to seeing you here."

University of Idaho student Tom Prewitt is an Army corporal who was part of the first unit to enter the Afghanistan war zone in January 2002, four months after Sept. 11. His wounds have caused permanent disability in his knees, three torn ligaments in his left ankle and a weak right ankle.

"I heard that the scholarship was established for disabled vets from Iraq and Afghanistan to pursue their education and not feel that their disability hinders them," says Prewitt, who is married and has a young son. "Money was tight for a while, so it was a relief to get it. I deal with pain every day of my life."

There are many more unique stories from Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffering, just as Prewitt likely is. Knowing that there are education benefits, such as the ones offered at University of Idaho, may provide some of them with greater peace of mind and the reassurance that there is still hope for them.

For more information on Operation Education scholarships, veterans may contact John Sawyer at the University of Idaho, (208) 885-7979 or johns@uidaho.edu, or visit the Web site, where Iraq veterans with disabilities can listen to an introductory video and find out more information about the education benefits offered.

Those who would like to become donors to the Operation Education scholarship fund can call the university at (208) 885-7069 or toll-free (866) 671-7041. For veterans, service members and dependents looking for scholarships, military.com outlines over $300 million worth, including an extensive assortment of other benefits and resources available to veterans of wars, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sources:
Iraq War Veterans, "Education"

University of Idaho, "Operation Education"

University of Idaho, "Give to Idaho"

Military.com

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Fisher House Program Houses Veterans with Disabilities

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:34:00 GMT

A unique private-public program has saved military families more than $10 million when their service members needed specialized medical care.

The Fisher House Program, founded in 1990, helps the families of American men and women in uniform who need medical treatment or suffer from disabilities to overcome the hardships of military service. The program goes far beyond the assistance available to families from the Department of Defense and from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The program's goal is to be a "home away from home" for the families of patients being treated at major military and VA medical centers. The actual houses provide temporary accommodations for military families and are located near medical facilities in the District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. A house is also located in Germany. The program runs a total of 38 homes on 18 military installations and nine VA medical centers.

Each house was provided to the U.S. Government as a gift. The homes are between 5,000 to 16,000 square feet in size, with eight to 21 family suites. Each Fisher House has been professionally decorated and accommodates between 16 and 42 family members. Residents have common access to a kitchen, laundry area, dining room, living room, library and children's toys.

More than 11,000 military families have taken advantage of this program, with an average stay of 16 days, while their loved ones receive medical treatment and rehabilitation services for disabilities. For a service member with an injury or disability resulting from combat, the average family stay is between 45 and 60 days. Most houses have remained at least 90 percent occupied.

No family pays to stay at a Fisher House. All room fees for guest families at Army, Navy and Air Force houses are paid by the Fisher House Foundation. The homes operated by the VA charge no room fees. While each house is run by a full-time, salaried manager, but most depend on volunteers to keep them running and to expand the program. The more than 120,000 military families who have taken advantage of the Fisher House Program have received more than 2.5 million days of free lodging. The program also provides them with food and transportation.

In addition to opening new houses, the Fisher House Foundation maintains its existing homes and helps individual military families in need when their service members are injured or are left with disabilities. The families and any friends of the member with a disability receive up-to-the-minute reports by accessing the service member's customized web page. Directions for creating the web page are provided courtesy of Caring Bridge. Patients may also set up a guest book for viewers to sign and a photo page.

The Fisher House Program also administers a scholarship program for military children and one for military spouses. It sponsors a Hero Miles program for the Department of Defense. This program relies on donated frequent flier miles and has provided more than 14,000 tickets worth $18 million for injured Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom service members and their families.

Fisher House also co-sponsors Newman's Own Award, a project to recognize voluntary and non-profit organizations that support American military families. The winning organization receives $15,000 to execute its plan.

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Rebuilding Bodies at The Intrepid Rehabilitation Center

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:34:00 GMT

Intrepid. The word means fearless. Throughout history there have been many people, ships, and even automobiles to which the word has been applied. Among those are the nearly 14,000 service men and women injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Three years ago, an institution called The Intrepid National Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center (210-916-6100) was added to the list. Its mission: to serve the needs of soldiers of today and tomorrow. In January 2007, its doors opened at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

Forty million dollars were allocated for the creation of a rehabilitation hospital specializing in the needs of amputees. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit organization begun by the late philanthropist Zachary Fisher funded the facility. Fisher never served in the armed forces; he created the fund out of his vision of support for their efforts. The fund is named after the USS Intrepid, the aircraft carrier/museum that Fisher helped keep afloat. It donated the facility to the Department of Defense.

Both current service members and veterans who need extensive medical or rehabilitative care are treated at the 60,000 square-foot facility. It is state of the art, and plans to stay that way. Pools and exercise equipment, standard fare for rehabilitation of the severely injured, are just the beginning of available resources. A gamut of medical and technological professionals sees to the physical, mental, and emotional needs of patients.

Patients receive treatments including high-tech prosthetics, computerized and video monitoring, biomechanical/gait studies, and advanced physical training. Some of the best minds in the country staff the research laboratories. One of these is Dr. John Fergason, a world-renowned prosthetist from the University of Washington.

For Dr. Fergason and other staff members, providing new treatments and technologies to improve the lives of prosthetics wearers is of utmost importance. That's why tools such as the Uneven Terrain Modeler were created at the Center. The Modeler is a virtual reality simulator that puts patients with new prosthetics into various situations where their prosthetics can be tested, and adjusted, on the fly.

We all know that the men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces undergo both physical and mental injuries that few outsiders can understand. When they are injured, they also experience emotional angst. Some of that is due to a separation from those they love. Ken Fisher, head of the Fisher House Foundation, understood that when he decided to build a pair of 21-room housing units alongside the Center, so families could stay together when emotional support is needed most.

Fisher is no stranger to the families of service members in need. His organization has been supplying cost-free living space to military families at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities since 1990. Every year some 10,000 families stay together, thanks to his efforts.

Each year The Center for the Intrepid serves 300 to 400 new patients, every one of them working to recover from life-altering injuries. With newly injured soldiers coming out of battlefields such as Iraq and Afghanistan every day, the Center's waiting list is constantly growing longer.

National Military Family Association, Inc

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:26:00 GMT

The National Military Family Association, Inc. (NMFA), which bills itself as "The Voice for Military Families," actually began nearly 40 years ago as a small group of military wives and widows. Now headquartered in Alexandria, Va., the group was organized in 1969 as the Military Wives Association. The original members gathered to work toward achieving financial security for the survivors of deceased personnel and retirees of the uniformed services.

The organization they created was dubbed the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). However, in 1984, they changed its name to better reflect the broader involvement it had in family issues. Today, NMFA is considered a primary advocate for military resources affecting the quality of life for service members and their families. Members have access to medical and dental benefits, education for dependents, retiree and survivor benefits, relocation assistance and spouse employment resources. The NMFA has taken the lead in efforts to implement many increased benefits for the military in recent years. They've succeeded in getting enhancements to retirement pay, expansion of the overseas Women's Infants and Children (WIC) program and funding for schools for children of the military.

The association has also won improved survivor benefits associated with active-duty deaths, TRICARE for Life for certain members, greater Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves and higher military pay and housing allowances. The NMFA is considered an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Tax-deductible dues and donations foot the tab for its operations. In addition to business and corporate memberships, the association offers three types of individual memberships starting at $20 per year for a family. NMFA's newest initiative is OperationPurple. The pilot program launched this summer and is specifically designed to meet the needs of disabled veterans and their families.

The program consists of a retreat held from August 18-22, 2008 near scenic Lake Martin in Alabama. The week will feature activities such as high ropes courses, swimming, archery, horseback riding and seminars in communications and parenting. Individuals eligible to register their families must be active-duty service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard. Also eligible are members of the Commissioned Corps for the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration if they were wounded or experienced illness, depression or emotional trauma linked to their service in the global War on Terror. Some veterans of the National Guard can also participate.

Other featured programs include:

Military Spouse Fellowship for the Accredited Financial Counselor Program. This initiative provides up to 200 spouses of military members with the training necessary to enter the financial counseling field. The application deadline is July 15, 2008.
NMFA Family Award. The association recognizes a military family that exemplifies the best of the military family lifestyle. The winning family each month receives $500. The Family of the Year receives $1,000 plus a trip to Washington, DC.
Government and You E-News. Members and other interested parties can sign up for free weekly e-mail news about issues important to the military such as assistance when returning from deployment and resources for veterans with a disability.
Spouse Book Reviews. The site contains book reviews written by military spouses on topics about military families. Currently featured: A Year of Absence by Jessica Redmond.
Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program. Awards range from $500 to $1,000 each year and can be used for tuition, fees or room and board for a post-secondary program.
Very Important Patriot Award. The NMFA each year recognizes exceptional volunteers throughout the world whose service improves the quality of life in their respective military or neighboring communities. The top five individuals nominated receive a cash price and trip for two to Washington, D.C., where they are honored at an awards dinner.

The organization provides a wealth of information for veterans with a disability or family members. Members have access to information on spousal support for post-traumatic stress disorder recovery. The Website includes many details regarding TRIARE and a special-needs parent toolkit. Other resources advise how to become your own health care advocate and provide information on the Southeast Regional Autism Center.

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Operation Enduring Care

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:40:00 GMT

We know it as the USO, which stands for United Service Organizations. Created prior to World War II, the USO has served as an intermediary between American citizens and members of the military services. It is known for providing special comfort, morale and recreational services to members of the military. Currently, the organization has programs and services available at more than 130 locations across the globe. One of its special programs is Operation Enduring Care.

This project deals with service members and their families in crisis situations as well as those recuperating from physical injuries and veteran depression. It was also created to help meet the needs of the medical personnel charged with taking care of America's wounded. Operation Enduring Care was launched in 2006 as an umbrella of six outreach programs: USO Day Rooms, Operation USO Comfort, Operation Connect with Care, Operation USO Outing, the USO Emergency Fund and USO Grant Funding.

The program offers many military resources for both veterans with a disability and their families. It provides lounge areas at hospitals and other medical facilities and duffle bags packed with clothing and toiletries for troops returning from the battlefield. It makes available DVD players, movies, CDs, video games and other entertainment products military personnel can check out on a daily basis. Operation Enduring Freedom also offers day trips to local concerts and sporting events of interest. Emergency financial assistance available to military members and their families includes transportation, hotel and travel accommodations and help in other emergency circumstances.

This program has resources available worldwide, from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. According to the USO, service members and their families visited USO centers more than 5.3 million times in 2007. They found free Internet and e-mail access, as well as libraries and reading rooms. The staff provided housing assistance, family crisis counseling, support groups, game rooms and nursery facilities.

Although most Americans associate the USO with bringing volunteer celebrities to entertain the trips and lift morale, Operation Enduring Care provides a wealth of services to veterans with a disability and their families. The program also provides support for funeral escorts, mortuary personnel and honor guards who care for the fallen troops who served their country. Donations can be earmarked as made in honor of an individual.

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Homes for Our Troops

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Service to our country is extremely important. It is wonderful that Homes for Our Troops gives back to the men and women that have provided such a great service to our country. The Homes for Our Troops charity provides military resources to men and women that have come home with disabilities or major injuries.

The organization uses resources to create brand new homes for these veterans or to modify a current house for easier handicap accessibility. The veterans with disabilities who are served do not pay for any of the services provided for them and their families by Homes for Our Troops.

Approved by the American Institute of Philanthropy
According to the American Institute of Philanthropy, the Homes for Our Troops organization is in a top-rated category for charities. The American Institute of Philanthropy is essentially a watchdog for charitable groups and organizations. It is very difficult to reach their top-rated category. You can feel confident that Homes for Our Troops is a very reputable and worthy organization.

New Homes for Veterans without Cost
Homes for Our Troops provides brand new homes for veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. In some instance, where the cost of land is expensive, the organization will purchase a home and modify it to meet the veteran's needs.

There is no cost to veterans for these handicap-accessible homes. Never will the veteran or their family be faced with mortgage charges, closing costs or monthly home payments. The Homes for Our Troops organization provides this military resource completely from their funds and is a nonprofit organization.

Founder of Homes for Our Troops
According to the Homes for Our Troops website, John Gonsalves is the founder of the organization. He began the non-profit group in 2004 after viewing a news report on television about a service member coming home from Iraq.

Gonsalves had a contractor job and wanted to give his experience in the building industry to help service people returning home. He searched for an organization to volunteer with, only to find out that none existed. Instead of giving up hope, Gonsalves created and built Homes for Our Troops.

Privacy is Important to Homes for Our Troops Organization
Homes for Our Troops is extremely good about keeping information private. The information about the veteran that will be using their service is never disclosed to others. Information about applicants or members that receive services or apply for services is never shared with any other organizations.

Offering Support for Homes for Our Troops
If you would like to help with Homes for Our Troops you can visit their Get Involved page on their website. You can raise awareness through writing a letter to inform your community, business or affiliation about Homes for Our Troops.

There are also fundraising ideas, street team flyering outings, golf events and more for increasing awareness and providing support for Homes for Our Troops.

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PGA Programs Utilize Golf as Recreational Therapy For Vets

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:18:00 GMT

As military veterans return from conflict, they often find that their various injuries make it difficult to engage in the sports they previously enjoyed. Recently, the PGA has teamed up with a number of philanthropic organizations to utilize golf as a tool for rehabilitation, recreation, fundraising, and fun for returning veterans.

The Give Program
One such partnership is the GIVE (Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere) program. A collaborative effort between the Iowa PGA, the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City, and the Riverside Casino & Golf resort, the program is designed to improve the mental, social, physical, and emotional well being of veterans through golf.

The program was conceived by former veteran Louis King. Attendees receive training in all facets of the game, from dress code to driving, in addition to free rounds of golf, their own set of clubs, and shot analysis from PGA professionals. A pro-am fundraiser held in August of 2007 raised approximately 65,000 dollars for the foundation, and GIVE graduated its first class of golfers in January of 2008.

Response from participants has been positive; with many veterans stating that getting onto the links has helped them combat the mental, physical, and emotional effects of war. "This program has brought me closer to my wife," says Joe Corso, a 63-year-old former Sergeant with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "The professionals I've met are not just going through motions. They look you in the eye; they care about you. I've started building a little more trust; I feel born again," he added.

PGA professionals volunteering as instructors also feel strongly about effects of the foundation. "We're not here because we're getting paid," said former Iowa PGA President Ken Schall of Des Moines. "We're here because of the veterans, and what they've done for us."

The PGA of America/DSUSA Military Golf Program
A partnership between Disabled Sports USA, the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, America Supports You, and the PGA, this program provides golf instruction for severely wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

A total of seven weeks of instruction, the program is held at various locations across the country and consists of two hours of instruction per week. Instruction covers everything from fundamentals to rules, and also touches on the use of adaptive equipment and using golf as rehabilitation. At the end of each seven-week session, a three-hole golf scramble tournament is held for participants.

Patriot Golf Day
Held between August 29th and September 1st, the Patriot Golf Day debuted last year at over 3,200 golfing facilities worldwide. The fundraiser, conceived by PGA professional and F-16 pilot Dan Rooney, raised more than $1.1 million for the families of veterans who have been injured or perished in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The money was raised by golfers at public facilities who added an extra dollar to their greens fee, and private facilities asking for donations.

For more information on the GIVE program, visit http://www.playgolfamerica.com/

Veterans Receive Wounded Warrior Scholarships from Colorado Technical University

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:59:00 GMT

On March 8, 2008, 25 military veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were awarded full Wounded Warrior Scholarships from Colorado Technical University (CTU Online). The recipients were picked for the scholarship by a committee of educators and military officers.

Of the 25 recipients, 19 intend to enroll in associate’s degree programs, five will pursue bachelor’s degrees, and one will enter a master’s program. Full tuition costs, course fees, and a laptop computer are included for each scholarship winner. The funding comes from a variety of sources. CTU Online and the Helping Our Heroes Foundation will cover tuition costs, while Pearson Learning Solutions will underwrite any education material costs. Apple computers has agreed to provide a MacBook computer to each student.

“Soldiers who have pledged to serve and protect their country are now faced with yet another challenging set of circumstances, and it is our hope that the education they receive from CTU will provide them with new skills to reach their goals,” said Dr. Wallace Pond, CTU Online Chancellor.

Colorado Technical University was founded in 1965 and offers degree programs in a variety of fields of study. It’s virtual campus offers classes that are 100% online. For more information about the university, visit www.ctuonline.edu .

VA Programs Help Families Move Through the Difficult Times After a Disability

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

A disability such as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, illness or amputation changes an individual’s life in an instant. The effect it can have on family members is often equally as traumatic. A disability not only changes the physical dynamic of a family but also reshapes the emotional and psychological status, as well. And if the injury was sustained in combat, the added dimension of possible combat-related stress can have lingering repercussions if not diagnosed and treated properly.

The Veterans Administration (VA) understands the difficulties that follow the onset of a disability and has developed a series of programs to rehabilitate, educate, and train families for their new life ahead. These programs include the physical, psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation required for a successful return to the community. VA has also implemented assistance and grant programs to help families in areas such as health care and post secondary education for children in the years following onset.

Certain VA programs begin during the acute stages of disability and are offered on an ongoing basis following discharge. In addition to offering acute medical care and comprehensive case management, many rehabilitation programs offer educational programs that provide informal classes for the individual, family and/or primary caregiver. Peer mentoring programs offer support from other veterans with similar disabilities who are living successfully in the community. Therapy programs such as adaptive driver training, recreation, day trips, community reintegration, independent living, and aquatic therapy are also available at many VA medical centers.

Eileen Craffey, MS, M.Ed, is an aquatic therapist at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, who has worked with newly injured veterans as well as outpatients since 1984. She believes the VA’s unique therapy programs such as aquatic therapy are beneficial to an entire family. “I have seen how a sport such as swimming brings veterans and their families together. There is a social aspect of this type of therapy where spouses, children, and friends grow and learn together. It is a part of the normalization process that relieves the pains of the injury and teaches families that they can still experience lifetime activities together even years after a trauma,” Craffey explained.

The VA also offers other programs for veterans and their families at the time of discharge. Psychosocial support assistance exists in the form of individual, couple, family therapy, and caregiver support groups. Sex education assists with sex therapy and fertility counseling. And social workers assist in identifying needed community resources and providing emotional support to patients, families, and caregivers. Post discharge services assist with referrals to community agencies such as vocational rehabilitation, visiting nurses, and short and long-term accessible housing options.

Depending on the veteran’s disability, other benefits are available following discharge. A disability pension should be established and may change if the veteran marries. Housing grants and home loan guarantees may be available to qualified veterans. In certain cases, Commissary and Exchange privileges exist for veterans and family members. Lifetime medical coverage may extend to spouses and children through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA (CHAMPVA) or Department of Defense programs such as TRICARE. Life insurance policies, such as Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), may extend to the family and offer security in the event of death. Burial and memorial benefits, as well as a death pension, are also available.

VA also provides educational assistance to qualifying dependents of veterans. A monthly stipend is paid for full-time post secondary school attendance with lesser amounts for part-time training. Children must generally be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive educational benefits, though extensions may be granted.

No one ever plans on having a disability. But like so many other things in life, nothing is ever certain. The VA offers numerous opportunities for individuals and families to live full and complete lives following the onset of disability. It’s up to you to take advantage of these programs. Work with your VA counselors to learn what is available to you and your family!

VA Care is Here!: An Overview of the VA Health Care System

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:45:00 GMT

One of the strategic goals of the Veterans Administration (VA) is to ensure a smooth transition for veterans from active military service to civilian life. An important component of this transition is the transfer of health care. VA’s health care mission covers the continuum of care providing both inpatient and outpatient care. They provide a wide range of services including pharmacy, prosthetics, and mental health as well as long-term care in both institutional, non-institutional settings, and other health care settings such as CHAMPVA and Readjustment Counseling.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) network is one of the most extensive in the nation and operates as a “hub and spoke” system. VHA delivers care through 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) that manage 153 medical centers, 731 community-based outpatient clinics, 135 nursing homes, 209 readjustment counseling centers (Vet Centers), and 47 domiciliaries. In 2007, VHA provided health care services to approximately 5.5 unique patients.

For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, a veteran must complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office. Once enrolled, veterans can receive health care at VA facilities anywhere in the country.

During enrollment, each veteran is assigned to a priority group. VA uses priority groups to balance demand for VA health care enrollment with resources. Veterans who are 50 percent or more disabled from service-connected conditions, unemployable due to service-connected conditions, or are receiving care for a service-connected disability receive priority in scheduling of hospital or outpatient medical appointments.

Some veterans must make co-pays to receive VA health care. Veterans with income above the means test threshold and below a certain VA geographically based income threshold, as well as non service-connected veterans and non-compensable, zero percent service-connected veterans with certain gross annual household incomes will be charged deductibles. Co-pays do not apply to publicly announced VA health fairs and certain outpatient visits for preventive screenings, immunizations, smoking cessation counseling, laboratory, flat-film radiology, and electrocardiograms.

In the event that a veteran is unable to be seen at a VA health care facility, or approval is given for care at a private facility, VA is required to bill private health insurance providers or pay for medical care, supplies and prescriptions. All veterans applying for VA medical care are required to provide information on their health care coverage, including coverage provided under policies of their spouses.

Veterans receiving VA care for any condition are eligible for a variety of aids and services. Approved prosthetic appliances include home respiratory therapy, artificial limbs, orthopedic braces and therapeutic shoes, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, and other durable medical equipment. VA will also provide hearing aids and eyeglasses to qualified veterans based on service-connection or former POW status. Blind veterans may be eligible for services at a VA medical center or for admission to a VA blind rehabilitation center. A full spectrum of diagnostic, surgical, restorative, and preventive dental services are available to veterans who meet certain criteria, while special services such as PTSD and substance abuse treatment are available as well.

Most major VA health care facilities operate a full-service outpatient pharmacy. VA provides free outpatient pharmacy services to veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria, including service-connection, former POW status, income levels, and certain conditions. Other veterans are charged a co-pay of $8 for each 30-day or less supply of medicine (certain groups have a maximum annual co-pay limit).

It is also important to know that VA may reimburse or pay for medical care provided to enrolled veterans by non-VA facilities only in cases of medical emergencies where VA or other federal facilities were not readily available. In these cases, to initiate a claim, the veteran must contact the VA facility closest to where the emergency service was provided.

To learn more about eligibility for VA health care and benefits, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or visit www.va.gov. Information is also available through the VA guide entitled Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, available at www.va.gov or at most VA facilities.

VA Equipment Grants Help Veterans with Disabilities Stay Active

Fri, 02 May 2008 16:07:00 GMT

Army veteran Orlando Gill is an athlete. It’s safe to say that if Gill is not on the slopes snowboarding or skiing, he’s golfing, kayaking, climbing or cycling. You might even find him in SCUBA gear. As a program assistant with the Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project, Orlando Gill introduces other veterans to the benefits of sports on a regular basis. You might say being active is a way of life for Gill.

Orlando Gill’s life took a difficult turn when, in October of 2004, he took a direct hit from a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) near Ramadi during his second tour of duty in Iraq. The explosion amputated one of his legs at the knee. He was introduced to sports during his rehabilitation at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and was excited to learn that he was eligible for sport-specific gear and equipment through the VA because of his designation as a disabled veteran.

“The VA got me a wheelchair and a leg and also bought me my first handcycle,” explains Orlando Gill. “They told me I would be eligible for additional equipment and legs to help me become active in sports again.” He adds, “They stressed that becoming active was a part of my rehabilitation and before I even left active duty, I knew what I’d be eligible to receive for the rest of my life. It really helps.”

Gill is not alone. Since the Iraq War began over four years ago, there have been more than 27,000 injuries, although that number may be as high as 53,000, says the Associated Press. An estimated 7,500 of the wounded have suffered serious head and spinal cord injuries and an additional 500 are amputees, with nearly a quarter having lost more than one limb.

The majority of these veterans are eligible for the same grants as Orlando Gill. Veterans who sustained injuries in the past are eligible for the same grants as those who are recently injured. To be eligible for sports grants through the VA, a veteran must be enrolled in the VA Healthcare network and be receiving routine care from a VA facility. Eligibility for grants is not dependent on a veteran’s service connected rating.

VHA Handbook 1173.06 details the wheelchair and special mobility aids that disabled veterans are entitled to receive. According to this document updated and released January 15, 2008, a veteran is eligible to receive an everyday (or commercial source) wheelchair as well as a spare wheelchair. These chairs may be manual, motorized, pushrim-activated, enhanced function, or scooters.

Additionally, a sport-model wheelchair (or sport-specific limb) may be furnished after approval by a VA Major Medical Committee or physician who specializes in rehabilitative medicine. This equipment might include a racing wheelchair, sit-ski, water ski, off-road wheelchair, basketball or quad rugby chair, C-leg, etc.

Realizing that certain veterans participate in more than one sport, the VA recently expanded coverage to authorize eligible veterans to receive an additional sports-specific piece of equipment (such as a handcycle or cycling leg) in addition to the sports model wheelchair or limb. These allotments must be approved on a case-by-case basis by a VA Major Medical Committee.

While the VA does not offer preventive maintenance on chairs and equipment it prescribes, it does offer maintenance and repair services through prosthetic services departments. Certain veterans may also be eligible for a “Prosthetic Services Card” which authorizes preapproved service on equipment by private vendors in the case of an emergency breakdown or when VA repair services are not immediately available. The card covers repairs up to $400.

For veterans who might want to try out a new sport and may not be ready to purchase new equipment, the VA has loaner equipment like handcycles, sit skis, basketball wheelchairs, and tennis wheelchairs available for use.

“I made the choice not to spend the rest of my life sitting on the couch and doing nothing in a wheelchair,” concludes Orlando Gill. “I’m glad I’ve got the resources out there to make it possible for me to play sports again. They are a valuable part of my life.”

To learn more about available grants, veterans should consult their local VA medical center or visit www.va.gov.

Photos courtesy of the Rex Foundation and DS/USA.

EEOC Addresses Employment of Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:53:00 GMT

In March 2008, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued two question-and-answer (Q&A) guides providing technical assistance for employers and veterans on workplace issues affecting veterans with service-connected disabilities. Both documents are available on the agency’s Web site at www.eeoc.gov.

“Injured veterans, like everyone else, deserve the freedom to compete in the workplace on a fair and level playing field,” said Commission Chair Naomi C. Earp. “Members of the military who have bravely sacrificed for America should never have to come home and face unlawful employment obstacles because of a service-related disability.”

The new guide for employers explains how protections for veterans with service-connected disabilities differ under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The document further describes how the ADA in particular applies to recruiting, hiring, and accommodating veterans with service-connected disabilities. The EEOC enforces Title I of the ADA, which prohibits employment discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector and state and local governments.

The U.S. Department of Labor enforces USERRA, which applies to the reemployment of veterans with and without service-connected disabilities.

The other new publication answers questions that veterans with service-connected disabilities may have about the protections they are entitled to when they seek to return to their former jobs or look to find their first, or new, civilian jobs. The document also explains changes or adjustments that veterans may need, because of their injuries, to apply for, or perform, a job, or to enjoy equal access to the workplace.

EEOC Legal Counsel Reed L. Russell said, “Thousands of veterans have returned home from serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding duty stations with service-connected disabilities. The EEOC wants to help our nation’s wounded warriors and employers alike understand their respective workplace rights and responsibilities under federal laws. These new guides will provide valuable assistance in this effort.”

Russell noted that each guide includes a list of resources on where to find more information on USERRA and the ADA; public and private organizations that can assist employers who want to recruit and hire veterans or can help veterans who are seeking employment; and organizations and agencies that can help identify specific reasonable accommodations for veterans with service-related disabilities.

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.

Former Marine to Help Congress Hire Wounded Vets

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:42:00 GMT

Former Marine Patricia Orsini has been named director of the House’s Wounded Warrior Program. The position was created to facilitate the hiring of 50 veterans to work for House leaders. Employment in the personal offices of members of Congress will continue to be controlled by each member, but Orsini will have hiring power for administrative jobs and support jobs that are under the authority of House leaders or the House Committee on Administration.

Orsini, who retired from the Marine Corps in 2002, is a 24 year veteran of service and former Master Gunnery Sergeant.

“[She] understands the needs of wounded warriors, and understands that many veterans want to continue to serve their country,” said Dan Beard, chief administrative officer for the House of Representatives.

Orsini’s first assignment will be to identify positions that those with disabilities are capable of filling. According to House officials, many of the jobs will begin as part-time work with the potential of becoming full time positions later.

Stars Ride Bikes to Support Wounded Veterans

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:18:00 GMT

A group of Hollywood celebs, bicycling legends and veteran advocates have joined forces with the Pentagon to organize the “Road 2 Recovery” bike series to raise funds for veterans with disabilities. The series kicked off March 4, with an informal fun ride at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. D.C. The first of two large fundraising rides will start on May 17 in Philadelphia and end eight days later in Charlotte, NC. According to organizers, the ride will conclude with participants completing a lap on the track of the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600.

One of the leading advocates of the benefit is Mike Vogel, the Chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Vogel is also a Hollywood movie star, who recently played a lead role in the 2007 hit horror film Cloverfield.

“The first day of production on Cloverfield, I got the news that a cousin had been killed in Iraq,” said Vogel. “I knew I had to do something to help.”

Vogel found a sympathetic partner in John Wordin, a former pro cyclist who was already working on a plan to assist the VA in improving its cycling facilities. Wordin believes that bicycling has numerous positive effects on veterans.

“Cycling is a very effective method of helping these men and women achieve a sense of normalcy and pride,” he says.

Famous riders participating in the events are Olympic silver medalist and world champion Mari Holden, Olympian Wayne Stetina, and former pro racer Saul Raisin. Raisin, who suffered a serious brain injury in a French race in 2006, knows firsthand about the effect of cycling on recovering.

“Cycling does something wonderful and healing to your brain. It gives you more stamina to heal and helps you get over the depression that occurs.” he said.

Future “Road 2 Recovery” events are already scheduled. A second ride is planned from September 28 to October 4 from San Francisco to West Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway. The U.S. Air Force is hosting the first Air Force Cycling Classic on May 4th in Arlington, VA. All proceeds will go towards VA cycling programs, with a focus on those with traumatic brain injuries.

Battle Waged over New Bill Offering Increased Education Benefits for Veterans

Thu, 01 May 2008 20:19:00 GMT

As of February 2008, Capitol Hill was in the midst of considering changes that could greatly assist veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In an overhaul of the GI Bill, education benefits would be increased to mirror the generous post-World War II Bill that not only enabled veterans to pay for education but was also credited with spurring broad economic growth in the U.S.

Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of the nonpartisan group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), said, “Momentum is finally building across America for the new GI Bill. This is something we can and must get done in Congress this year.” Jim Webb, Democratic Senator from Virginia, added, “I hope the Senate leadership and my Republican colleagues take note of the overwhelming support for this initiative and will put partisanship and politics aside to address this national problem.”

Currently, the most a veteran can receive is approximately $9,600 a year for four years. Those who served combat tours with the National Guard or Reserves are eligible for even less — typically just $440 per month, or $5,280 a year. By contrast, the average four-year public college costs more than $65,000, about $16,250 a year, for an in-state student. A private university costs on average about $133,000 for four years.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have relied heavily on the Reserve forces. The new bill would ensure that reservists who served at least two years of active duty would receive the same benefit as the active-duty troops.