Veteran Assistance Phone and Web Contacts

mportant Phone Numbers and Websites for Veterans

VA Benefits 1-800-827-1000
Health Care 1-877-222-8387
Education 1-888-442-4551
Life Insurance 1-800-669-8477
Debt Management 1-800-827-0648
Mammography Hotline 1-888-492-7844
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-829-4833
CHAMPVA 1-800-733-8387
Headstones and Markers 1-800-697-6947
Special Health Issues: Gulf War, Agent Orange, Project 112/Shad
1-800-749-8387

Important Web Sites for Veterans

VA Home Page ..............................

......................... www.va.gov
VA Health Care ............................. www.va.gov/health_benefits/
Returning Veterans ................. www.seamlesstransition.va.gov/
Survivors .......................... www.vba.va.gov/survivors/index.htm
VA Facilities ................... www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp
VA Forms ................................................. www.va.gov/vaforms/
VA Benefit Payment Rates ........ www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/
Education Benefits ........................................ www.gibill.va.gov/
Home Loan Guaranty ......................... www.homeloans.va.gov/
Life Insurance ....................................... www.insurance.va.gov/
Voc Rehab ........................... www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm
Burial and Memorial Benefits ......................... www.cem.va.gov/
Veterans Employment and Training .............. www.dol.gov/vets/
Federal Jobs ......................................... www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Veterans Preference ............ www.opm.gov/veterans/index.asp
Records .............. www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/
Department of Defense ............................ www.defenselink.mil/


Stimulus Improves National Cemeteries
The Department of Veterans' Affairs recently used funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to refurbish some of the country's national cemeteries and memorials. Visit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/44636446@N04/sets/72157624522042899/) VA's Flickr page to view the improvements.

Career Roadmap for Sailors
Culminating three years of work by the staffs at Naval Education and Training Command learning centers, learning and development roadmaps are now available for every rating. LaDRs are required to be used during career development boards. Commanders are required to ensure distribution of LaDRs to every enlisted pay grade at all commands. This is can be accomplished through (https://wwwa.nko.navy.mil/portal/home/) Navy Knowledge Online. After accessing the NKO home page, a Sailor selects the "Career Management" tab and navigates along the blue side banner and selects the LaDR hyperlink.

Sailors Needed to Crew USS Constitution
The U.S. Navy is currently seeking applications from enlisted personnel for duty aboard the USS Constitution. Personnel with a projected rotation date of Oct., 2010 through June, 2011 are eligible. Applications can be sent via e-mail to (mailto:constitution.cc@navy.mil) constitution.cc@navy.mil, by fax to (617) 242-2308, or by mail to USS Constitution, Command Master Chief, Building 5, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 02129-1797. For more information, visit the (http://www.history.navy.mil/USSCONSTITUTION/) USS Constitution website or contact CMDCM(SW/SS/AW) David Twiford at (617) 242-2863.

New TRICARE Rules Available
The interim final rule for the TRICARE Retired Reserve program has been published. If a final rule is issued it would enable members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60 ("gray-area" retirees) to purchase TRICARE Standard coverage. The entire interim final rule can be found (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-19313.pdf) online. A 60-day comment period will allow for public input before the final rule is issued. Those interested may submit comments through the (http://www.regulations.gov) Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail to the Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.

AF Staff Sgt Promotions
Air Force officials recently selected 13,518 of 28,510 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 47.41 percent. The staff sergeant promotion list will be released publicly Aug. 19 at 8 a.m. CDT on the (http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil) Air Force Personnel Center's public website. Airmen also can access their score notices at the same time on the (http://w20.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AFPCSecureNet20/CheckPortal.aspx) Virtual Military Personnel Flight and (http://www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp) Air Force Portal. For more information, visit the (http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil) AFPC public website or contact the 24-hour Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102.

VA Use of Stimulus Funds
The Department of Veterans' Affairs recently committed the last of its $1.8 billion in Recovery Act funds. Projects at more than 1,200 sites across the country will increase access to health care and services to Veterans, while creating jobs. For more information, including a list of projects, visit the (http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1934) VA website.

Navy Seeks LDO Applicants
The U.S. Navy is seeking applications from E6 through E9 personnel for the year 2012 Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer Programs. For the most up-to-date application process, visit the PERS-803 website's (http://www.npc.navy.mil/BOARDS/ADMINISTRATIVE/LDOCWO.HTM) LDO/CWO Inservice Procurement Board webpage. Applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 1, 2010. First Class Petty Officers must submit their Nov. 15, 2010 evaluation. For general LDO/CWO career path and policy questions, contact CWO4 Mitch Allen at (901) 874-3044/DSN 882. For application or eligibility questions, contact CWO2 Clay Summers at (901) 874-3170/DSN 882.

Special Pay Deadline Approaches
Approximately 8,000 Sailors were impacted by revisions to the Special Duty Assignment Pay and the deadline for certification is Aug. 31. Those whose entitlements will be eliminated will receive half of their previous SDAP entitlement for 12 months, or until the Sailor completes their current tour, whichever comes first. For more information on SDAP, visit the (http://www.npc.navy.mil) Navy Personnel Command website, click on "Messages" and read NAVADMINs 230/10 and 234/10.

2010 disABLEDperson Scholarship
The Fall 2010 disABLEDperson Scholarship competition for college students with disabilities began on August 15, 2010 and will end on October 15, 2010. To compete for the $1500 award a disabled student must be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled fulltime in a 2 or 4 year accredited U.S. college or university. Entries must be submitted before the October 15, 2010 deadline. The winner will be announced on (http://www.disabledperson.com/) www.disABLEDperson.com on October 29, 2010. Further eligibility and competition details can be found at (http://www.disabledperson.com/) www.disABLEDperson.com.