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Things EVERY Vet Should Know

CJ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:49:43 +0000

ALL VETS SHOULD COPY THIS

Print this out and save it in your VA files. There may be a time for use in the future .

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Troops Get Free Sitters

CJ — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:25:42 +0000

I read this story in the Army Times and wanted to share it with our readers who may not be aware.

The Defense Department now is paying for an Internet service that helps military families find in-home child care, nannies, tutors, elder care providers, pet sitters and other services in their local communities.

Active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps members and their families, as well as National Guard and reserve members and their families, can receive a free membership to the service, which costs an average of $120 a year. Retirees are not eligible.

You must go to www.sittercity.com/dod to activate your free membership.

Those looking for the services can do it in two ways, through a sitter search or by posting a job. Those looking for child care, elder care providers, pet sitters and house cleaners can use specific search criteria, including geographic areas. The database will pull from more than 600,000 child care provider profiles nationwide. But there are more than 1 million care provider profiles across all five types of care — child, tutoring, senior, pet, and home, said Mary Schwartz, spokeswoman for Sittercity.

The program provides military families with instant access to caregiver profiles, including background checks, pictures, references, reviews, a four-step screening process, and a specialized matching technology to help select the right caregiver. They also are working to include military spouses who provide family child care in their homes, too.

Sittercity.com doesn’t employ the caregivers; it simply helps match them with families. The family hiring the caregiver negotiates the salary or fee with the caregiver.

The site will help increase options for families, including normal weekly and hourly care and care for those who work in excess of a normal duty day or live off-base in remote areas, said Melissa Anderson, head of Sittercity’s corporate division.

“We’re very honored and excited to be part of this program for military families,” Anderson said.

“Because of the mobile nature of military life, trusted community resources are often difficult to identify and locate. These online tools will help service and family members attain the best match between resource and need,” said Tommy Thomas, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, in a statement announcing the new service.

The site confirms eligibility through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

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Transitioning to Civilian Life

CJ — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:15:13 +0000

The following was submitted to me as an op-ed. It was written by Lt. Col. Paul Capicik (USAF ret.) of American Sentinel University. In the piece Lt. Col. Capicik, a 26-year military veteran, covers a variety of important topics to servicemembers transitioning to military life including how to prepare for a transition, training for a civilian career, and landing that first job.

How to Begin the Transition from Military to Civilian Jobs
One of the most important facets of any service member’s life is the transition out. Especially as it pertains to finding a job, the transition from a military to civilian career will require planning and preparation. So how do you begin this transition?

Identify What will Affect your Transition
• How well you have prepared yourself prior to leaving the service?
• What type of job do you want to pursue?
• What is your location flexibility?
• What is your family status?

Three Keys for Preparing Yourself for Transition
I speak regularly with service members who tell me that they want a job that’s different from those they’ve performed in the military. How do you prepare for a job you’ve never done before?

1) Start planning your career before leaving the service. Don’t wait until you are about to leave the service before you start planning for the type of career you want. Explore industries and job options early, then narrow down your options. Get the training you need in advance, whether that is a degree, a certification, internship experience – or all of the above.
2) Determine the skills you’ll need to distinguish yourself. While everyone in the military has a job to do, there is a significant shortage of jobs in the civilian world. What will set you apart in your job search? The answer is your military service, degree-specific training, applicable certifications, and work experience.
3) Start interviewing before you leave the service. Don’t wait until the last minute to research where the jobs are and what fields are hiring. The best of all worlds is to be hired and have the job waiting for you before you get out.
Personal Traits can Create Advantages

• Companies like to hire veterans. Many companies like to hire former service members because they know the military teaches teamwork, discipline, responsibility for starting and completing a project, and leadership. Identify personal examples of where you contributed to your mission or service in these areas.
• Ability to relocate is an advantage. If you are flexible in where you relocate, you could have another advantage. It can be a significant incentive for an employer to consider you when they know that the military will pay to move you to their location.
• Consider family interests. Don’t leave your spouse and family out of the planning process. When you consider potential jobs, take into account schools, health insurance, and lifestyle for them. The better you plan for their move, the more likely they will have a successful transition, too.
Transition Resources are Available
There are many resources available to help you think about and plan your transition. Here are a few good ones:
• Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/main.htm (Note DOL offers this program in conjunction with DoD and VA)
• Military.com: http://transitionstories.military.com/2009/07/11-things-i-figured-out-about-the-civilian-workforce.html
• Veteran Affairs: http://www.oefoif.va.gov/
• Military transition consultant: http://www.bradley-morris.com/MilitarytoCivilianTransition.html

Remember the three keys to transition success: Degrees. Certifications. Experience. American Sentinel can help you with the training you need for an accredited degree or I.T. certification. Your military and off-duty efforts can provide the experience.

I invite you to add your suggestions and experiences about transitioning and finding a new career.

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Tissue Alert: WWII vet and wife are finally at rest

Troy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:32:21 +0000

H/T to www.blackfive.net for the lead on this story. I was checking out some of the latest B5 blogs this morning when I came across this one. I am not an emotional person, but by the time I got to the end of this story I had tears in my eyes. So for those of you with tissues nearby, you may want to grab for them now.

This story is really something that will fill you with three noticeable emotions. At least it did me, as it made me sad, angry and proud all at pretty much the same time. You will feel sadness that human remains were treated this way and that they had no loved ones. It will make you angry that true hero from WWII and his mother in law and wife were thrown out with the trash, but I think it will also make you proud to see how these young people stepped up and did the right thing. It is good to see that the upcoming generation still has scruples and ethics. This is a story that needs to be told, so I hope you will help me spread the word. This story originally appeared in the St. Petersburg Times and online at www.tampabay.com

BUSHNELL — The two teenagers got to the cemetery first.
He wore his dark green dress uniform from the National Guard. She wore a long black dress.
They stood on the edge of the road, across from rows of matching military headstones, waiting for the funeral of the man they had never met.
Mike Colt, 19, and his girlfriend, Carol Sturgell, 18, had driven more than an hour from their Tampa homes on Wednesday to be at Florida National Cemetery.
They weren’t really sure why they had come. They just knew they had to be here.
“It’s kind of sad, huh?” asked Sturgell, scanning the sea of white gravestones.
Colt nodded. “Yeah, but it feels kind of important.”
At 12:20 p.m., a Tampa police car pulled up, then a white Lincoln Town Car. Another police cruiser followed. Two officers stepped out.
“Thank you for being here,” Colt said, shaking both of their hands.
“No, thank you,” said Officer Dan College. “If it weren’t for you guys, none of us would be here.”
• • •
Three weeks ago, on the last Saturday of November, the young couple was hanging out at Sturgell’s house when her brother rode up on his bike, all excited. He had found two fishing poles in this huge pile of trash. Come check it out, he said. So they did.
At the edge of the trash mound, sticking out from beneath a box, Sturgell spied a worn green folder.
She pulled it out, brushed off the dust. Across the top, bold letters said, “Department of Defense.” Inside, she found retirement papers from the U.S. Army; a citation for a Purple Heartissued in 1945; and a certificate for aBronze Star medal “for heroism in ground combat in the vicinity of Normandy, France … June 1944.” In the center of the certificate there was a name: Delbert E. Hahn.
Why would anyone throw that away? Sturgell asked.
And who is that guy? Colt wanted to know. Must be old, a World War II vet. Looks like he served at D-Day!
That night, they took the paperwork back to Sturgell’s house and searched Delbert E. Hahn on the computer. Nothing. They talked about who he might have been, the life he might have led.
The next morning, they went back to the trash heap and searched for more clues. They rummaged through boxes, overturned furniture, picked through piles of the past. Colt moved a ratty couch — and something fell out. A metal vase, or box, some kind of rectangular container about a foot tall. On the base was the name: Delbert E. Hahn.
“It’s him,” Colt told his girlfriend. “This must be him, in his urn.”
Sturgell screamed. She didn’t want to touch it. It was kind of freaky, she said, discovering the remains of some dead guy.
“He shouldn’t be here,” Colt said. “No one should be thrown away like that, just left in a parking lot.”
The dead man wasn’t alone. Under the couch, the couple found two more sets of remains: a cylinder-style container with Barbara Hahn printed on the bottom and another urn, which had no name.
• • •
Tampa Police Cpl. Edward Croissant had just reported for the night shift that Sunday when his officers showed him the urns. This kid and his girlfriend had found them and brought them to the station.
Then an officer told Croissant about the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star. And the Normandy invasion.
And Croissant became irate. He had served eight years in the Navy. He’s in the Coast Guard Reserve. “I had three uncles in World War II. That was the greatest generation. If it wasn’t for those men, we would have nothing,” he said.
“That man saw combat. And someone just dumped him there? He deserves a better ending.”
Police called the Department of Veterans Affairs and learned Hahn had died in 1983, at the age of 62 — and was a highly decorated war hero. The staff sergeant had served in the infantry and been honored with five Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.
Barbara Hahn, they learned, was the soldier’s wife.
So how did their remains end up in that mound of garbage? Where was the rest of their family, or friends, anyone who would want their ashes? And who was in that third urn?
• • •
Neighbors filled in some of the story: Barbara Hahn had been a widow forever, they told police. For years, her mother had lived with her. Her mother’s name was Barbara, too.
The elder Barbara had lived to be more than 100. They thought she died around 2000. That third urn, neighbors told police, must be her.
The younger Barbara, the soldier’s wife, got sick in 2003. A couple came to care for her, and she wound up willing them her mobile home. When she died, the couple moved in, took out a mortgage, then didn’t make payments.
The bank foreclosed on the trailer late last year.
In November, officials sent a maintenance company to clear it out. The workers must have just dumped everything behind the vacant building on Busch Boulevard, neighbors told police. Including the remains of three people.
• • •
Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, the two teenagers led the car line through Florida National Cemetery. Police followed, then the funeral director who had the urns. Outside a wooden gazebo, two rows of National Guardsmen stood at attention.
The funeral director handed the first soldier a flag, the next one the cylinder with Barbara Hahn’s remains, the third one the brass urn with Delbert Hahn.
(Barbara’s mother’s remains are still in the evidence room of the police station. Since she wasn’t a veteran or married to one, she wasn’t entitled to be buried in the military cemetery.)
“Let us open the gates of the Lord,” said a military chaplain, who led the procession of strangers into the gazebo. “Let us remember,” said the chaplain, “none of us lives only unto himself.”
The teenagers sat on the front bench. Three officials from Veterans Affairs sat behind them. They had spent weeks searching for the Hahns’ relatives, any distant kin or friend, someone who might want their ashes — or at least want to come to their burial.
They couldn’t find anyone. Even the couple whom Barbara Hahn had willed her home to didn’t show.
By the time the chaplain lifted his head from the Lord’s Prayer, a long line of men had wrapped around the gazebo. Wearing blue denim shirts and work boots, they clasped their caps in their hands and bowed their heads. Dozens of groundskeepers from the cemetery had left their Christmas party to come pay respects to the man who, in death, had been so disrespected.
A bugler played taps. The riflemen fired three shots. And 56 people watched the honor guard fold a flag over the urns of the man and woman they never knew.
News researcher John Martin contributed to this story.

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Renting Out a VA Loan Home

CJ — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:07:16 +0000

A little over two years ago, we bought a home when we got stationed in Huntsville. Through the VAMC, we purchased the house with our VA Loan benefit. When we moved to Huntsville, we anticipated staying there for 3-5 years. Unfortunately, we only lasted about two years before being driven out. With my MOS, there aren’t a lot of slots for my job and rank. The only option is to move since there isn’t anywhere else to go on most posts.

Anyway, since we left earlier than anticipated, we decided to sell the house. Thanks to this wonderful economy, we didn’t get the house sold before we left. We can probably last through January or February before we run out of money and need to look at other options to pay the mortgage on our empty house.

Naturally, the question arose about renting out the house until it sold. However, there are a lot of rules that apply to VA loans that don’t apply to conventional loans. Now that I’ve worked through the questions and answers about what we can and cannot do, I wanted to share some of these lessons learned.

Can I sell a VA loan home at a profit? The answer is yes and no. You cannot use a VA loan to simply buy a house and “flip it.” VA loans must be used towards the purchase of a primary residence. As long as you’ve lived in that home at least two years, there isn’t generally a problem with selling it, especially if you’re selling it due to PCS orders. In order to sell the home, you either need to pay off what is owed or the buyer must qualify to assume the VA loan. Check out the VA Mortgage Center website for information on how to qualify for a VA loan.

Can I rent a VA loan home? The answer is yes and no again. You cannot use a VA loan to purchase a rental home. As I mentioned before, VA loans may only be used to purchase a primary residence and not a second or third house to be used as an investment property. But, once you’ve lived in the home, if you don’t want to sell it there are no restrictions on renting it out.

The VA gets a little sticky, though, when you live in the home a very short time and then try to rent it out. For example, when we left our house in Georgia after a short two years, I got a very nasty letter in the mail from the VA when I changed my home insurance to renters insurance. They wanted to know why I was renting it out after just two years. Once I explained that I was on military PCS orders and didn’t want to sell the house, they changed their tone. It would have been much different had I simply purchased another home and then rented out my VA loan house, I think, after just two years. It looks fishy and the government thinks they’re being taken advantage of. (side note: isn’t it interesting that the government can take advantage of us day in and day out but get their gander up when you try to take advantage of them? Just a thought.)

I will say that with some mortgage companies, you may have to submit a letter requesting permission to rent out a VA loan house. Obviously, they also require that insurance is maintained on the house. I advise you to get with your mortgage company before making any rental decisions so it doesn’t bite you in the butt later.

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Free Military Careers in IT Webinar

Troy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:15:33 +0000

“Careers in IT” is a free webinar sponsored by American Sentinel University and hosted by Lt. Col. Paul Capicik, U.S. Air Force (Ret.). Lt. Col. Capicik will be presenting about careers in information technology specifically directed at members of the military. He’ll discuss a number of issues including possible career paths, career progression and advancement, what it takes to succeed in IT, and also respond to questions from the attendees.

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, December 15th, 1 pm CST. Those interested in registering should visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/647951273

About Lt. Col Paul Capicik: Lt. Col. Capicik spent over 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and another 12 years directing a wide variety of IT-related projects as the CIO of a private sector company. He wrote a series of articles for American Sentinel University detailing many of the topics he will discuss in the webinar. You can visit the University blog at http://www.americansentinel.edu/blog/ to read the article series if you’re interested.

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Did you know, Retirees and Vets allowed to Salute Flag?

Troy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:47:47 +0000

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USAA opens up eligibility

Troy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:41:36 +0000

I have written about the great benefits of a USAA membership on this site before. When it comes to insurance, etc. nobody can touch what they offer. When you see the Progressive, Geico, etc. insurance commercials, pay attention. You will never see them compare themselves to USAA, becuase they cannot compete with USAA.

Well USAA has now opened up their eligibility to more potential members. If you qualify, I strongly urge you to check them out.

USAA membership is now open to anyone who has honorably served in the U.S. military.

Starting with our first eligibility expansion in 1923, the USAA family has grown by embracing an ever-larger portion of America’s active duty, retired and separated military members. Each time, we have been careful to ensure that USAA has the financial strength, the staff and the technology to maintain our high standards for exemplary member service, competitive pricing and value. Opening our doors today to all veterans who have honorably served, regardless of dates or length of service, fulfills our mission and leaves no one behind.

If you know veterans who honorably served but haven’t become USAA members, please share this news with them by checking out www.usaa.com so that they may know the value of USAA and, by joining, their spouses and children can enjoy the benefits of membership as well.

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Skype and USO to Keep Military Families Connected This Holiday Season

Troy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:31:07 +0000

Troops to participate in virtual visits over Thanksgiving dinner for free with Skype

SAN JOSE – (Nov. 9, 2009) Skype today announced the Holiday Military Connection program, which will allow hundreds of American servicemen and women stationed overseas to have the unprecedented opportunity to join their families stateside for virtual visits this holiday season, thanks to a partnership between Skype and the USO.

The Holiday Military Connection program will connect troops in the Guam, Yokosuka, and Camp Hansen (Okinawa) USO centers with their families stateside, through live, face-to-face Skype video call conversations during Thanksgiving dinner. For the first time, deployed men and women will virtually share a holiday meal with the ones they love most, but from whom they are farthest.

In addition, the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program will enable the estimated 140,000 troops visiting the 18 Pacific Region USO centers to make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls home to loved ones all season long. Troops can also make unlimited[1] calls to family and friends’ cell phones and landlines free of charge through the donation of Skype’s Unlimited World subscription plans.

For some troops, many of whom will be returning from deployments on submarines or aircraft carriers, the live calls will mark the first time seeing their families in more than a year.

Skype’s partnership with the USO and the launch of the Holiday Military Connection program expand upon a successful trial program that started in May 2009, in which Skype donated calling plans to USO Pacific centers.

“The USO is focused on lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families; we are proud that Skype can play a pivotal role with the USO in helping connect military families and in turn make a season that is often challenging for them that much less difficult,” said Don Albert, VP and GM of Skype Americas. “Skype is committed to removing barriers and helping to foster meaningful connections that make a difference in people’s lives. Through the USO and Skype’s Holiday Military Connection program, we are doing just that for thousands of military families.”

As part of the Holiday Military Connection program, Skype is also giving away 2,000 holiday gift sets consisting of a headset, plus Skype calling credit or a Webcam to servicemen and women who visit a participating USO center during the week of Thanksgiving. The gift sets will allow troops to continue making memories with their families even after the holiday season is over.

“The USO is thrilled to partner with Skype on this amazing program. Staying in touch with friends and family is truly the best morale booster for troops who have been deployed. With Skype, we can help troops stay in touch all season long at no cost to them or their families,” said Tom Kolstad, USO Vice President for Pacific Operations. “We cannot wait to see the looks on the faces of the troops and their families when they share their meals face-to-face on Thanksgiving Day.”

Those interested in learning more about the program and how military families can connect with Skype can log onto the Holiday Military Connection program Website: www.skype.com/go/uso. Visitors to the site can also submit their own story of how they use Skype to stay connected.

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New Group To Combat Veterans Unemployment

CJ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:52:55 +0000

On Tuesday, November 10, at 8:30AM EST, the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE), a non-profit public benefit corporation whose mission is to help soldiers transition to civilian careers, will host a launch breakfast and press conference at the Newseum in Washington, DC. A major grant announcement and new partnership will also be unveiled.

Recent trends show that America’s veterans are facing a new adversary – unemployment. According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 500,000 unemployed veterans between the ages of 18 and 64 in the United States.

WHO:Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard CEO
CODE Advisory Council Members: MG Matthew P. Caulfield (USMC-Ret.), COL Roger Dimsdale (USA-Ret.), RADM Ronne Froman (USN-Ret.), CPT Gordon H. Mansfield (USA-Ret.), BG James A. “Spider” Marks (USA-Ret.), GEN Montgomery C. Meigs (USA-Ret.), SFC Steve Robinson (USA-Ret.), BG Harry A. Sieben, Jr. (USANG-Ret.), MG Craig Whelden (USA-Ret.), MCPO Maurice Wilson (USN-Ret.)
WHAT:Breakfast & Press Conference (Program to begin at 9:00 AM)
WHEN: Tuesday, November 10th at 8:30 AM EST
WHERE:The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001

**Breakfast will be provided

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