Sunday, December 31, 2023

Guard And Reserve Retirement

Article Title: Guard And Reserve Retirement

Article Excerpt: "National Guard and Reserve servicemembers who complete a minimum of 20 "qualifying" years of service (creditable retirement years) become eligible for retired pay at age 60. ...Visit the DoD's Retirement Pay Calculator Page to get an estimate of your monthly retirement pay at age 60."

Reference Source: www.military.com

Friday, December 29, 2023

VA.gov | 2024 Veterans disability compensation rates

Article Title: 2024 Veterans disability compensation rates

Article Excerpt: "...Review 2024 Veterans disability compensation rates...your monthly payment amount on your disability rating and details about your dependent family members. ..."

Reference Source: www.va.gov

Disabled Veteran COLA 2024 (3.2%) vs. Active Duty COLA 2024 (5.2%) | Disrespect of Disabled Veterans by Biden Admin

Article Title: 2024 Pay Raise: What You Need to Know

Article Excerpt: "...The 5.2% raise in basic pay for active-duty, Guard and reserve members in 2024 joins a 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) given to military retirees and to veterans who receive disability checks from the Department of Veterans Affairs. ..."

Reference Source: www.moaa.org

Three U.S. service members injured in Kataib Hezbollah terrorist attack

Article Title: Three U.S. service members injured in Kataib Hezbollah terrorist attack

Article Excerpt: "...injured during an attack by Kataib Hezbollah terrorists in Iraq on Christmas Day, including one U.S. servicemember who was critically wounded. ..."

Reference Source: www.foxnews.com

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

A special visa that allows former servicemen to live in the Philippines indefinitely

Article Title: I'm a US vet who decided to retire in the Philippines.

Article Excerpt: "I applied for the Special Resident Retiree's Visa Expanded Courtesy. This non-immigrant visa is specifically for people with prior service in the military. I found the application process cheap and easy — it cost me $1,400 to apply for the visa from the Philippine Retirement Authority. There were several requirements to get this visa — I had to..."

Reference Source: www.businessinsider.com

Army vet at center of burn pits fight wins $2.5 million verdict

Article Title: Army vet at center of burn pits fight wins $2.5 million verdict

Article Excerpt: "...He sued the Texas Department of Public Safety after supervisors there failed to make accommodations for his injuries, as required under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which protects reservists from job discrimination based on their military service. ..."

Reference Source: www.militarytimes.com

China Working on Bioweapons

Article Title: China Working on Bioweapons

Article Excerpt: "Gordon G. Chang, author of "The Coming Collapse of China," told Newsmax that Beijing is experimenting with what appears to be biological weapons targeting human brains. ..."

Reference Source: www.newsmax.com

Monday, December 25, 2023

Girl Scout built Little Free Library for veteran’s village

Article Title: Girl Scout built Little Free Library for veteran’s village

Article Excerpt: "Zelda Stebbins hopes the books help build community ...Girl Scouts stand for more than just cookies and the Veterans Community Project, VCP, extends beyond housing homeless veterans. “When I first learned about the Veterans Community Project, I knew this was an opportunity for me to give back not only to the community but also to veterans..."

Reference Source: www.longmontleader.com

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Concurrent Retired and Disability Pay (CRDP) | Can you receive CRDP and VA disability at the same time?

Article Title: Concurrent Retired and Disability Pay (CRDP)

Article Excerpt: "...This was prohibited until the CRDP program began on January 1, 2004. CRDP is a "phase in" of benefits that gradually restores a retiree's VA disability offset. This means that an eligible retiree's retired pay gradually ..."

Reference Source: myarmybenefits.us.army.mil

The Ultimate 50% VA Disability Benefits Guide: 2023 Edition

Article Title: The Ultimate 50% VA Disability Benefits Guide: 2023 Edition

Article Excerpt: "You’ve got a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent. Now what? This guide covers everything you need to know about your VA disability benefits, including what they are, how they work and when disabled veterans are eligible for them. ..."

Reference Source: www.hillandponton.com

5 Military Benefits That Vets Might Not Know They’ve Earned

Article Title: 5 Military Benefits That Vets Might Not Know They’ve Earned

Article Excerpt: "When veterans separate from the armed forces, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides numerous benefits to ensure that they have the support they need to succeed in their civilian life. However, for veterans managing the many unknowns of this transition, retaining the full extent of their earned military benefits can be difficult, and many veterans miss out ...The VA offers an extensive range of housing, automobile, education and other benefits for veterans that can be used to address specific issues without drawing from the veterans’ monthly VA compensation."

Reference Source: www.kiplinger.com

Anti-America, Anti-Israel Terrorist Vandalize Lincoln Memorial, Biden Admin Silent

Article Title: Lincoln Memorial temporarily closed after being vandalized

Article Excerpt: "...The Lincoln Memorial has been temporarily closed as cleanup crews have begun cleaning up red paint graffiti that said, “Free Gaza."..."

Reference Source: abcnews.go.com

Millions of Vets Got Health Care and Benefits Under the PACT Act. Thousands Left Out Want the Same Chance.

Article Title: Millions of Vets Got Health Care and Benefits Under the PACT Act. Thousands Left Out Want the Same Chance.

Article Excerpt: "...Julie Akey was just 46 when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that she describes as an "old man's disease," typically diagnosed in those 65 and older. The news shocked the former Army linguist. She had no family history of the relatively uncommon disease. ...The problem is not unique to Fort Ord. Across the country and around the world, environmental pollution at active and former U.S. military sites has created the specter of potential health threats for former service members and their families who worked and lived in places now known to have been contaminated."

Reference Source: www.military.com

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

'We The People' become 'We the Judges' in Colorado | Trump Blocked From Ballot in DimaRado [Colorado]

Article Title: ‘This is election interference’: Alabama Republicans sound off on Colorado judges removing Trump from ballot

Article Excerpt: "...The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision is stayed until Jan. 4 to give the U.S. Supreme Court a chance to settle the matter as Trump said he will appeal the ruling. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said he is optimistic the nation’s highest court will rule in the former president’s favor. “I’m confident the United States Supreme Court will reverse the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court,” he said, adding that “[s]tate courts should not be in the business of deciding who may or may not seek federal office. This ruling also realistically has no impact at all on the electoral college.”..."

Reference Source: www.al.com

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

US Forces Attacked 151 Times in Iraq, Syria During Biden Presidency

Article Title: US Forces Attacked 151 Times in Iraq, Syria During Biden Presidency

Article Excerpt: "...Pentagon — Iranian-backed proxies have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria at least 150 times since President Joe Biden took office, two U.S. defense officials tell VOA. ..."

Reference Source: www.voanews.com

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Elevated Levels of Carcinogens Found at 2nd Air Force Nuclear Missile Base

Article Title: Elevated Levels of Carcinogens Found at 2nd Air Force Nuclear Missile Base

Article Excerpt: "...Space Force officer who first raised the alarm of health and cancer concerns among missileers did so in a presentation early this year at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado..."

Reference Source: www.military.com

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Video | Guards Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

Article Title: Video | Guards Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier


Here's Why You Never Mess With A Guard Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

Reference Source: YouTube

VA mortgage loan pros and cons

Article Title: VA loan pros and cons

Article Excerpt: "...No down payment required, No mortgage insurance, Lower interest rates and fees..."

Reference Source: www.bankrate.com

Elderly veteran tourist attacked at New Orleans bus station

Article Title: Elderly veteran tourist attacked at New Orleans bus station

Article Excerpt: "A 73-year-old military veteran was just passing through New Orleans when he was brutally attacked in the bathroom of a bus station in New Orleans. ...The victim, Dale Ball, was on his way back home to Washington after visiting Alabama, where he had been assisting his daughter in making funeral arrangements for her deceased husband. ...Ball, a Marine veteran, suffered a fractured eye socket and a fractured jaw bone. “He’s still in severe concussion protocol... The family has set up a GoFundMe to help out with medical expenses."

Reference Source: www.fox8live.com

Survival Prep | Many adding Starlink satellite internet to homes as US border is invaded

Article Title: STARLINK | HIGH-SPEED INTERNET NO MATTER HOW REMOTE

Article Excerpt: "All Starlink subscription plans include unlimited high-speed data on land with no long-term contracts or commitments. Starlink is designed to endure the elements - it can melt snow and withstand sleet, heavy rain, and harsh winds. The Starlink Kit arrives with everything you need to get online in minutes. Try Starlink for 30 days and if not satisfied, get a full refund....Engage in activities that have historically not been possible with satellite internet. Made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth. ...Set up Starlink with just two steps. Instructions work in either order:

1 PLUG IT IN
2 POINT AT SKY

"

Reference Source: www.starlink.com

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Navy Fires Executive Officer of Pay and Personnel Support Center Amid Investigation

Article Title: Navy Fires Executive Officer of Pay and Personnel Support Center Amid Investigation

Article Excerpt: "...The Navy confirmed Friday that it removed the executive officer of a command responsible for ensuring sailors have accurate pay and allowances amid an ongoing investigation.

Cmdr. Brandon DeHaan, the executive officer of the Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center, or NPPSC, was relieved Sept. 1... DeHaan has been administratively reassigned to higher headquarters in Millington, Tennessee, Stevens said."

Reference Source: www.military.com

Local historian and WWII veteran Donald Bayles celebrates his 100th birthday

Article Title: Local historian and WWII veteran Donald Bayles celebrates his 100th birthday

Article Excerpt: "World War II veteran celebrated his 100th birthday. Last week, in honor of his milestone ...he was enlisted into the Army, serving as a sergeant with the 24th infantry division in the Philippines during World War II. On July 2, 1945, while fighting on the island of Mindanao, a mortar shell exploded near Mr. Bayles. Shrapnel pierced his right arm and side, perforated his diaphragm and collapsed one of his lungs. Doctors cut out a piece of one of his ribs and inserted a drain tube into his lung, where it remained for approximately two months. In spite of this injury and long road to recovery, Mr. Bayles said that of all the things he has done during his 100 years, he is most proud of his military service. After recovering in multiple hospitals overseas and in the states, Mr. Bayles was awarded a Purple Heart ..."

Reference Source: timesreview.com

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Army Veteran Battling Terminal Cancer Gets His Wish to Shoot a Tank One Last Time

Article Title: Army Veteran Battling Terminal Cancer Gets His Wish to Shoot a Tank One Last Time

Article Excerpt: "...Jay Tenison, a retired Armor Crew Member battling stage IV stomach cancer, visits the Maneuver Center of Excellence to fire his final shot from an Abrams Main Battle Tank. ...he fired his last shot at Fort Moore, Georgia. “It was everything I had hoped for, and went beyond my expectation,” he told Military.com. When asked how he did on the gunnery event, which included the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank engaging multiple targets, he said, “I killed everything.”"

Reference Source: www.military.com

10 Veterans Benefits You May Not Know About

Article Title: 10 Veterans Benefits You May Not Know About

Article Excerpt: "...programs exist to help veterans and their families with valuable benefits like financial assistance for medical care. Even within the health care and education programs there are little-known benefits to improve the lives of veterans and help ease the financial burden of medical care or other expenses. ..."

Reference Source: veteran.com

Where do our military recruits come from?

Article Title:

Article Excerpt: "...Differences exist at the regional level... In 2013, 44% of all military recruits came from the South region of the U.S. despite it having only 36% of the country's 18-24 year-old civilian population. ...The Northeast of the U.S. was the most underrepresented region of the country for recruitment in 2013: Despite having 18% of the 18-24 year-old civilian population only 14% of new enlistments came from this area. "

Reference Source: www.businessinsider.com

California vs. Veterans

Article Title: Veteran’s Hoovervilles v. Sanctuary Cities

Article Excerpt: "In California, we have long been compassionate with the predicament surrounding illegal immigrants. We have always welcomed those that have bypassed the “system”...

...As those of us who actually care about the integrity of this nation and its laws criticize this behavior, we often ask “why can’t we help Americans first? ...Well, how about our military veterans?

Even one homeless veteran is too many, but the problem is much worse than that, and it’s especially bad in California. ..."



Reference Source: irvinewatchdog.org

Remembering Pearl Harbor | Fly flags at half-staff Dec. 7

Article Title: Remembering Pearl Harbor | Fly flags at half-staff Dec. 7

Article Excerpt: "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Thursday, Dec. 7.

Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day.

To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. The flag should be raised to the peak again before it’s lowered for the day.

The USPS Administrative Support Manual has additional guidelines on U.S. flag display and maintenance. ..."

Reference Source: usps.com

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Total number of VA claims lost in online systems tops 120,000

Article Title: Total number of VA claims lost in online systems tops 120,000

Article Excerpt: "... Veterans Affairs leaders on Monday acknowledged that more than 120,000 veterans who attempted to use department online platforms to file for benefits in recent years were stonewalled by technical problems, a total nearly 35% larger than previously reported. Officials said they are still working to correct those errors and process those claims as quickly as possible. But House lawmakers raised concerns about the scope of the problems, some of which date back more than a decade. ...“VA.gov is the digital front door, and veterans need to have confidence and trust that their benefits and services are available, accurate, and secure,” he said. ...

Reference Source: www.navytimes.com

Thanks for your service but... VA will delay, not ‘expunge,’ debt repayment for pensioners

Article Title: VA will delay, not ‘expunge,’ debt repayment for pensioners

Article Excerpt: "...There are still many outstanding questions. When did the VA leaders first realize there were overpayments? When are the debts going to be erased?” asked Rosendale, who noted he has introduced legislation — the VA Watching Over Electronics Act — to improve automated monitoring of the VA benefits system. Kurt DelBene, assistant VA secretary for information and technology, and other VA officials who testified said the agency is still going through thousands of records to identify and assess all the overpayments. ..."

Reference Source: www.stripes.com

Concerns grow over military response to Iran proxy attacks: 'We are not taking this seriously'

Article Title: Concerns grow over military response to Iran proxy attacks: 'We are not taking this seriously'

Article Excerpt: "...A handful of former United States military leaders have argued in recent days that the Department of Defense has not adequately responded to a series of attacks against U.S. forces carried out by groups with Iran's backing. U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked dozens of times by Iranian proxies since the middle of October. Houthi rebels in Yemen are the most likely culprit in a series of attacks against commercial vessels in nearby waterways, with the most significant incident occurring just days ago. Retired Vice Adm. John Miller, the former commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, said, “We are not taking this seriously,” according to Politico, adding, “We’re not deterring anybody right now." He also said the attacks in Iraq and Syria “have gone largely unanswered.” Three commercial vessels were attacked four times Sunday in the southern Red Sea by forces that originated from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. ..."

Reference Source: www.washingtonexaminer.com

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Unable to Travel? Ride along with youtuber 'RVerTV' and travel the country

Article Title: Unable to Travel? Ride along with youtuber 'RVerTV' and travel the country

RVerTV
While searching for articles that might be of interest to retirees, we ran across RVerTV on youtube. This gentleman travels the country and keeps the camera on while doing so. The videos give great insight to places you might want to visit in your retirement travels. Additionally, economically or physically, you may not be able to travel, if that is the case, go to youtube and ride along for beautiful views of America.

Reference Source: RVerTV

Why this ex-collections agent wants to forgive US veterans’ medical debt

Article Title: Why this ex-collections agent wants to forgive US veterans’ medical debt

Article Excerpt: "...Now, Ashton said he hopes to convince the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to forgive the debts of veterans, much of which is accumulated from medical services and overpaid benefits. His new non-profit, End Veteran Debt (EVD), is expected to launch on Friday. ..."

Reference Source: www.theguardian.com

Monday, December 4, 2023

Eligibility requirements for VA home loan programs

Article Title: Eligibility requirements for VA home loan programs

Article Excerpt: "...Learn about VA home loan eligibility requirements for a VA direct or VA-backed loan. Find out how to request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to show your lender that you qualify based on your service history and duty status. Keep in mind that for a VA-backed home loan, you’ll also need to meet your lender’s credit and income loan requirements to receive financing. Can I get a Certificate of Eligibility for a VA direct or VA-backed home loan? You may be able to get a COE if you didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge and you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement based on when you served. ..."

Reference Source: va.gov

The PACT Act and your VA benefits

Article Title: The PACT Act and your VA benefits

Article Excerpt: "The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. ..."

Reference Source: www.va.gov

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Elderly Veterans | V.A. Benefits Available

Article Title: Elderly Veterans | V.A. Benefits Available

Article Excerpt: "Elderly Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, Veteran Readiness and Employment, and burial. See our Veterans page for an overview of the benefits available to all Veterans. ..."

Reference Source: www.benefits.va.gov