For starters, no, I have not yet gotten the payment. Sorry if I got anyone overly excited.
As of October 30, 2009, 4200 Army Vets had applied for their retro-active stop-loss payments. (CLICK HERE to see the Stripes Central article). At first glance that seems pretty good for nine days (the application process was opened on October 20th), but it is a drop in the bucket when considering the estimated 136,000 Soldiers and their families that are eligible. That number is only for the Army. There are approximately 185,000 Veterans that may be eligible. For stop-loss payment links, CLICK HERE
We need to get the word to all OEF/OIF Veterans. If they they were not stop-lossed, they surely know someone who was. They only have until October 21, 2010 to apply for their compensation. Please use your e-mail, social networking sites, blogs, word-of-mouth, and whatever other means you can think of to let people know about this program. Thank you.
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Stop-Loss Payments
The US Army is reported to be accepting applications for retroactive"Stop-Loss" payments starting October 21. A while back, Congress passed a bill that entitled all stop-lossed service members $500 per month of extension past the ETS date. To find out more CLICK HERE. There is a website posted to apply but so far, I have been unable to access it.
Well, here's another photo collage doodle. The face is a mask I bought in Korea, and the skulls are a dollar store Halloween decoration.
Well, here's another photo collage doodle. The face is a mask I bought in Korea, and the skulls are a dollar store Halloween decoration.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Bike and More
Other Items
As you may know, the band O.A.R. has teamed up with the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) on a campaign to support returning Veterans. Please Click Here and check it out. You will be asked to pledge your support for the recent Veterans and Service Members. You could even win two concert tickets and backstage passes. Also check out the IAVA by CLICKING HERE.
Veterans’ Day is coming up. To me, it is time to really think about what we are doing to support the Troops and Veterans. How many of us have “Support the Troops” ribbons and bumper stickers? But what are we really doing? Think about it. Hopefully, I will be able to have some good ideas for you soon. Stay posted.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Don't worry about it? My VA Disability
A short time ago, I mentioned that I am having difficult with the VA. Simple put, some one in the bureaucracy miss place the form that initiated my claim. After being told on several occasions not to worry about it, I received a letter informing me that was about to loose my disability of 0%.
0%? No big deal right? Wrong. 0% gets my foot in the door. The VA will take care of me at a discounted price with 0%. Also, if I do not have a disability of 0%, I can not make an appeal for greater compensation. And my knees are bad. The VA orthopedic specialist told me that I should not do any lifting from a squatting position and I should avoid running. (My leg workouts consist of leg curls and extensions and easy stuff like that. I highly doubt that I could squat 200lbs now and if I did try, my knees would be killing me for a week or so afterwords). Sounds like more than 0% to me, but what do I know.
Well, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is coming to my rescue. It seems that things should be cleared up soon. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed).
I want to say some things to every Military Service Member, especially those getting ready to ETS (separate from the Military). First, put in your VA claim, even if you are perfectly healthy and not broken. Second, make a copy of your claim form (VA Form 21-526) and keep it in your files. If I had made a copy, I would not be having this problem. And to all of the Vets out there, when the people at the VA 1-800 number say. "Don't worry about it," WORRY about it, and contact the DAV or your other Recognized Service Organization.
0%? No big deal right? Wrong. 0% gets my foot in the door. The VA will take care of me at a discounted price with 0%. Also, if I do not have a disability of 0%, I can not make an appeal for greater compensation. And my knees are bad. The VA orthopedic specialist told me that I should not do any lifting from a squatting position and I should avoid running. (My leg workouts consist of leg curls and extensions and easy stuff like that. I highly doubt that I could squat 200lbs now and if I did try, my knees would be killing me for a week or so afterwords). Sounds like more than 0% to me, but what do I know.
Well, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) is coming to my rescue. It seems that things should be cleared up soon. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed).
I want to say some things to every Military Service Member, especially those getting ready to ETS (separate from the Military). First, put in your VA claim, even if you are perfectly healthy and not broken. Second, make a copy of your claim form (VA Form 21-526) and keep it in your files. If I had made a copy, I would not be having this problem. And to all of the Vets out there, when the people at the VA 1-800 number say. "Don't worry about it," WORRY about it, and contact the DAV or your other Recognized Service Organization.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I'm a menace to society?
NOTE: I originally posted this thought today on my family blog. Although it is not of much literary merit, I felt that it was more suited to this blog. Enjoy.
Well, I'm sure you have heard on the news that the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has put out a memo that says returning Vets, pro-life, anti-same-sex-marriage, and pro-gun people are a terrorist threat. Since I fall into all of these categories, DHS views my as a menace to society, right? No, not really. I doubt many people have actually read the whole ten page memo. The fact of the matter is that even fewer people should have read it. It is classified as Unclassified/For Official Use Only. It was not meant for the general population. Also, it reads as if it is a sanitized version of a document of a higher classification. If this is the case, it would explain the easy to misread first page or two.
I read the memo. Unless you are used to reading such government style writing, it is easy to read the first couple of pages and freak out. Right wingers are bad!!! I must interject at this point: conservatives, like I am, are not right wing extremists. Liberals like our President are not Left wingers. These two terms are thrown around far too much. Nazis are an example of Right wing extremists. Anarcho-communists are an example of Left wing extremists. The report is about extremists, not the average conservative. The point of the memo is that Neo-Nazi and similar minded groups may try to recruit people like that have the previously mentioned views. Read the whole memo if you do not believe me.
Apparently, there is also a similar Left Wing Extremist memo. Interestingly, there was no news report that people who drive Prius or sub-compact cars are likely Eco-terrorists. I'm glad that no such thing appeared in the news. I drive a CRX (and there is not much smaller on the American road), and I would be very confused as to whither I would be a Right or Left wing extremist. I guess I would be a double threat, or no threat at all. The fact is that I am not an extremist of any kind, and I doubt DHS really thinks I am one either.
-Phil
P.S DHS if you read this and feel I am a threat, feel free to do the 24 hour surveillance of me allowed by the Patriot Act. I must warn you though, it will be a very boring 24 hours.
Well, I'm sure you have heard on the news that the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has put out a memo that says returning Vets, pro-life, anti-same-sex-marriage, and pro-gun people are a terrorist threat. Since I fall into all of these categories, DHS views my as a menace to society, right? No, not really. I doubt many people have actually read the whole ten page memo. The fact of the matter is that even fewer people should have read it. It is classified as Unclassified/For Official Use Only. It was not meant for the general population. Also, it reads as if it is a sanitized version of a document of a higher classification. If this is the case, it would explain the easy to misread first page or two.
I read the memo. Unless you are used to reading such government style writing, it is easy to read the first couple of pages and freak out. Right wingers are bad!!! I must interject at this point: conservatives, like I am, are not right wing extremists. Liberals like our President are not Left wingers. These two terms are thrown around far too much. Nazis are an example of Right wing extremists. Anarcho-communists are an example of Left wing extremists. The report is about extremists, not the average conservative. The point of the memo is that Neo-Nazi and similar minded groups may try to recruit people like that have the previously mentioned views. Read the whole memo if you do not believe me.
Apparently, there is also a similar Left Wing Extremist memo. Interestingly, there was no news report that people who drive Prius or sub-compact cars are likely Eco-terrorists. I'm glad that no such thing appeared in the news. I drive a CRX (and there is not much smaller on the American road), and I would be very confused as to whither I would be a Right or Left wing extremist. I guess I would be a double threat, or no threat at all. The fact is that I am not an extremist of any kind, and I doubt DHS really thinks I am one either.
-Phil
P.S DHS if you read this and feel I am a threat, feel free to do the 24 hour surveillance of me allowed by the Patriot Act. I must warn you though, it will be a very boring 24 hours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
