Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Preparation is Key in Transitioning to Civilian Life
Preparation is Key in Transitioning to Civilian Life
by MarcusPenn on January 23, 2012
The transition from military service to life as a civilian can be very jarring and stressful. Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, can become the driving force in life. Here are some tips on how to ease the transition.
Attend transition classes
Each service branch sponsors many different classes to educate you on your benefits, train you on how to succeed in finding post-service employment, and moving from your duty station to your new home. Congress has mandated that every service member attend pre-separation counseling and each branch has different requirements for attending a Transition Assistance Program class so check with your leadership on what classes you’re required to attend. The best idea is to attend as many classes as possible regardless of what is required by your branch!
Begin your VA disability claim as soon as possible
You will quickly learn that VA disability offices are undermanned and always have a backlog of claims to process. Your wait for any disability payment will be greatly reduced if you’re proactive and respond to any requests for additional information quickly. Ensure you complete all physicals when scheduled to avoid further delays. Mostly importantly, be polite and patient.
Make copies of everything
Many say documentation beats conversation and that is especially true with military service. Everything you did is somehow documented. Make copies of your service record, medical records, dental records, and any other paperwork that is important. It isn’t uncommon for some things to be lost. Protect yourself and maintain physical and digital copies of everything. Make sure to keep your records safe, since some of the information in your records could be used to steal your identity.
Check and double check all paperwork
Ensure you look at and understand all paperwork, especially your DD-214. There are processes for getting corrections made to your service record, but it can be a long and difficult process. Take the time as you transition to make any changes needed so you aren’t rushing as your transition date approaches or having to communicate with your old duty station over the phone or email to correct mistakes.
Ask questions!
Asking questions is the most important part of the transition process. Do not leave the front gate wondering what the next step will be. A vast majority of people separating are doing so for the first time and don’t have past experience to draw upon. Your may think your question isn’t important, but this is your transition and you must have all information to make it as easy as possible.
Good luck on your transition and thank you for your service!
Photo thanks to WarriorForge under creative commons license on Flickr.
Read more: http://vabenefitblog.com/preparation-is-key-in-transitioning-to-civilian-life/#ixzz1kUzhew8c
by MarcusPenn on January 23, 2012
The transition from military service to life as a civilian can be very jarring and stressful. Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, can become the driving force in life. Here are some tips on how to ease the transition.
Attend transition classes
Each service branch sponsors many different classes to educate you on your benefits, train you on how to succeed in finding post-service employment, and moving from your duty station to your new home. Congress has mandated that every service member attend pre-separation counseling and each branch has different requirements for attending a Transition Assistance Program class so check with your leadership on what classes you’re required to attend. The best idea is to attend as many classes as possible regardless of what is required by your branch!
Begin your VA disability claim as soon as possible
You will quickly learn that VA disability offices are undermanned and always have a backlog of claims to process. Your wait for any disability payment will be greatly reduced if you’re proactive and respond to any requests for additional information quickly. Ensure you complete all physicals when scheduled to avoid further delays. Mostly importantly, be polite and patient.
Make copies of everything
Many say documentation beats conversation and that is especially true with military service. Everything you did is somehow documented. Make copies of your service record, medical records, dental records, and any other paperwork that is important. It isn’t uncommon for some things to be lost. Protect yourself and maintain physical and digital copies of everything. Make sure to keep your records safe, since some of the information in your records could be used to steal your identity.
Check and double check all paperwork
Ensure you look at and understand all paperwork, especially your DD-214. There are processes for getting corrections made to your service record, but it can be a long and difficult process. Take the time as you transition to make any changes needed so you aren’t rushing as your transition date approaches or having to communicate with your old duty station over the phone or email to correct mistakes.
Ask questions!
Asking questions is the most important part of the transition process. Do not leave the front gate wondering what the next step will be. A vast majority of people separating are doing so for the first time and don’t have past experience to draw upon. Your may think your question isn’t important, but this is your transition and you must have all information to make it as easy as possible.
Good luck on your transition and thank you for your service!
Photo thanks to WarriorForge under creative commons license on Flickr.
Read more: http://vabenefitblog.com/preparation-is-key-in-transitioning-to-civilian-life/#ixzz1kUzhew8c
Cycling Duo to Cross US to Raise Veterans Awareness
Cycling Duo to Cross U.S. to Raise Veteran Awareness
Posted by Levi Newman on January 25, 2012
If you were assembling a team to bike across the entire continental United States, the duo of Jeremy Staat and Wesley Barrientos might not be the typical choice.
Barrientos (not pictured) will be using a similar hand-crank bicycle.
But if you wanted to honor veterans, the idea behind “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride,” they’re the perfect fit.
Jeremy Staat is an ex-NFL and Arizona State defensive lineman who also happens be have been a teammate of Pat Tillman, former NFL player and fallen U.S. Army soldier.
Wesley Barrientos is a U.S. Army Iraq war veteran, and a double amputee. Barrientos served three tours of duty in Iraq, in 2005, ’06 and ’07, the last one resulting in the loss of his legs due to an improvised explosive device (IED). Barrientos will use a hand-cranked bicycle and wear an eight-pound Kevlar helmet to honor his comrades.
While this group doesn’t fit the mold of a conventional biking team, its primary goal is to remind everyone that this 4,000-plus mile ride is nothing compared to what service men and women have endured over the years.
The two men will embark on the 4,000-plus mile trek through 15 states, 62 towns and nine military bases. They call it “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride.”
This idea began on Memorial Day in 2011, when Staat was addressing a crowd of school kids. He had asked the children if they knew what a veteran was and received nothing but blank stares. It was then that he realized he needed to make a difference.
Staat cites Tillman as his inspiration to form the Jeremy Staat Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness and educate young people about veterans and the sacrifices they have made. He hopes the ride is just one more reminder to keep veterans on the minds of the civilian population.
Staat’s ultimate goal is to see a more efficient Veterans Affairs system. He believes that the support network veterans have when they return home, whether it’s help finding a job, getting proper health care or returning to society after experiencing unimaginable psychological and physical trauma, is the most important step in providing proper care. He is also attempting to raise funds through his foundation to build a private facility to provide specific care to veterans upon their return home.
Staat said the trip is already laid out, but that they would be willing to visit other towns along the planned route if it would help raise further awareness in that specific area.
The trip begins Feb. 19 at the Wall of Valor in Bakersfield, California. It is scheduled to end on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo thanks to Official U.S. Air Force under creative commons license on Flickr.
Posted by Levi Newman on January 25, 2012
If you were assembling a team to bike across the entire continental United States, the duo of Jeremy Staat and Wesley Barrientos might not be the typical choice.
Barrientos (not pictured) will be using a similar hand-crank bicycle.
But if you wanted to honor veterans, the idea behind “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride,” they’re the perfect fit.
Jeremy Staat is an ex-NFL and Arizona State defensive lineman who also happens be have been a teammate of Pat Tillman, former NFL player and fallen U.S. Army soldier.
Wesley Barrientos is a U.S. Army Iraq war veteran, and a double amputee. Barrientos served three tours of duty in Iraq, in 2005, ’06 and ’07, the last one resulting in the loss of his legs due to an improvised explosive device (IED). Barrientos will use a hand-cranked bicycle and wear an eight-pound Kevlar helmet to honor his comrades.
While this group doesn’t fit the mold of a conventional biking team, its primary goal is to remind everyone that this 4,000-plus mile ride is nothing compared to what service men and women have endured over the years.
The two men will embark on the 4,000-plus mile trek through 15 states, 62 towns and nine military bases. They call it “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride.”
This idea began on Memorial Day in 2011, when Staat was addressing a crowd of school kids. He had asked the children if they knew what a veteran was and received nothing but blank stares. It was then that he realized he needed to make a difference.
Staat cites Tillman as his inspiration to form the Jeremy Staat Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness and educate young people about veterans and the sacrifices they have made. He hopes the ride is just one more reminder to keep veterans on the minds of the civilian population.
Staat’s ultimate goal is to see a more efficient Veterans Affairs system. He believes that the support network veterans have when they return home, whether it’s help finding a job, getting proper health care or returning to society after experiencing unimaginable psychological and physical trauma, is the most important step in providing proper care. He is also attempting to raise funds through his foundation to build a private facility to provide specific care to veterans upon their return home.
Staat said the trip is already laid out, but that they would be willing to visit other towns along the planned route if it would help raise further awareness in that specific area.
The trip begins Feb. 19 at the Wall of Valor in Bakersfield, California. It is scheduled to end on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo thanks to Official U.S. Air Force under creative commons license on Flickr.
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Benefits /
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Posted by Levi Newman on December 29, 2011
Veterans have finally come home after nine long, hard-fought years in Iraq. Celebrations of their return, tearful family reunions and parties in their honor have all come to a close, but now is the time they need us more than ever.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has already begun to set in on the veteran, allowing haunting memories and dreams to leave scars you may never see. It’s no secret that PTSD is a major issue surrounding veterans today. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported treating more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Though the number of Iraq-era veterans treated for PTSD is only a fraction of those from the Vietnam era, their experiences are different based on a number of factors, including a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Often, those with PTSD or brain injuries suffer silently. Veterans avoid counseling because they have difficulties in admitting a mental disorder. Troops who are taught to be fearless might feel that they are viewed as weak if they admit to any health problems, especially one so closely related to emotions. This stigma is one we, as a national community, can help them overcome.
Without proper treatment their relationships can deteriorate, educational opportunities get pushed aside and everyday life becomes a struggle. Drugs or alcohol are often used to fill the emptiness that a veteran suffering from PTSD may hold inside, which can lead to them losing their family, job and even their life.
It is our job as veterans, friends and family members to help combat this terrible affliction. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about PTSD, because knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your friend or family member is going through. There are many programs out there to help veterans, so don’t let these resources go to waste.
Here are some ways you can help a veteran if you think they might suffer from PTSD:
1.Offer to go to doctor visits with them. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy to make sure they receive help, as well as being there for support.
2.Listen intently to what the veteran says and understand if he or she doesn’t feel like talking. Don’t push, but don’t always let things go unsaid either.
3.Plan activities like dinner, movie nights, bowling or other relaxing events. Physical activities can also alleviate stress so try walking or riding bikes. Exercise is important for health and helps clear the mind.
4.Encourage contact with family, friends and challenge them to meet new people. A strong support system can help a veteran get through difficult changes and stressful times.
Photo thanks to The U.S. Army under creative commons license on Flickr.
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Posted by Levi Newman on December 29, 2011
Veterans have finally come home after nine long, hard-fought years in Iraq. Celebrations of their return, tearful family reunions and parties in their honor have all come to a close, but now is the time they need us more than ever.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has already begun to set in on the veteran, allowing haunting memories and dreams to leave scars you may never see. It’s no secret that PTSD is a major issue surrounding veterans today. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported treating more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Though the number of Iraq-era veterans treated for PTSD is only a fraction of those from the Vietnam era, their experiences are different based on a number of factors, including a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Often, those with PTSD or brain injuries suffer silently. Veterans avoid counseling because they have difficulties in admitting a mental disorder. Troops who are taught to be fearless might feel that they are viewed as weak if they admit to any health problems, especially one so closely related to emotions. This stigma is one we, as a national community, can help them overcome.
Without proper treatment their relationships can deteriorate, educational opportunities get pushed aside and everyday life becomes a struggle. Drugs or alcohol are often used to fill the emptiness that a veteran suffering from PTSD may hold inside, which can lead to them losing their family, job and even their life.
It is our job as veterans, friends and family members to help combat this terrible affliction. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about PTSD, because knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your friend or family member is going through. There are many programs out there to help veterans, so don’t let these resources go to waste.
Here are some ways you can help a veteran if you think they might suffer from PTSD:
1.Offer to go to doctor visits with them. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy to make sure they receive help, as well as being there for support.
2.Listen intently to what the veteran says and understand if he or she doesn’t feel like talking. Don’t push, but don’t always let things go unsaid either.
3.Plan activities like dinner, movie nights, bowling or other relaxing events. Physical activities can also alleviate stress so try walking or riding bikes. Exercise is important for health and helps clear the mind.
4.Encourage contact with family, friends and challenge them to meet new people. A strong support system can help a veteran get through difficult changes and stressful times.
Photo thanks to The U.S. Army under creative commons license on Flickr.
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