Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA and Operation Hope Sign Cooperation Agreement WASHINGTON - Leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Operation Hope Inc. recently signed an agreement that will provide Veterans the needed tools in financial planning, both for individuals and small business owners.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Study: Gulf War Vets Have Higher Rate Of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) WASHINGTON, DC - In a large epidemiological study, researchers supported by both the VA and the Department of Defense have found preliminary evidence that Veterans who served in Desert Shield-Desert Storm are nearly twice as likely as their non-deployed counterparts to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: World War II POW Receives Medals LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, September 21, 2003 -- A prisoner of war during World War II received a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal 58 years after being rescued by U.S. Army Gen. George Patton.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Attention Retirees: Junior ROTC Seeks Teachers MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, September 19, 2003 -- The Air Force needs more military retirees to take on teaching roles in high-school classrooms as the service expands its Junior ROTC program.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Veterans Advantage Nationwide Drive to Reward the Troops Accelerates On September 11th 2003 in New York City's Grand Central Station, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued a challenge: Donate a million used cell phones to thank the troops.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Military Recruiting, Retention Picture Looks Good Despite predictions to the contrary, Americans are continuing to volunteer for the military, and those already in service are re- enlisting at a vigorous rate.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Officials Discuss Plans to Rebalance Guard, Reserve, Active Forces The days of the "weekend warrior" are gone, Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, said here today.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Veterans Affairs Proposes Health System Overhaul The Department of Veterans Affairs is asking an independent commission to review a plan devised to reshape the way the department handles Veterans’ health care.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: U.S. House Committee Kills Bush Plan to Increase Veterans' Fees The House Appropriations Committee voted Monday to kill a Bush administration plan that would have imposed new fees on some "lower-priority" Veterans who seek access to Veterans’ hospitals and clinics.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Senate Acknowledges Unjust Treatment of Former POWs WASHINGTON, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Senate action Thursday, July 17, to provide compensation to U.S. servicemen who were forced into slave labor by Japanese companies during World War II is a good first step in the appropriations process this year, according to Justice for Veterans, a national coalition of former POW slave laborers.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Rumsfeld, Myers Thank Employers of Guard and Reserve Members WASHINGTON, July 18, 2003 ­ Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked about 20 of the nation’s top business leaders today for their support of employees serving in the National Guard and reserves.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Stamp to honor Korean War Veterans WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A photograph of the Korean War Memorial shrouded in heavy snow, reminiscent of the bitter winter fighting in Korea, is about to become a U.S. postage stamp honoring the war’s Veterans.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Hometown Support for Operation Tribute to Freedom is "Extraordinary" WASHINGTON, July 2, 2003 - More than 1,000 hometowns across the nation will join the Defense Department this Fourth of July in recognizing hometown heroes and honoring the men and women who have served in the war on terrorism.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Recovers Millions from Health Insurers For Treating Non Service-Connected Veterans WASHINGTON – Empowered by Congress to seek reimbursement from third-party health insurers for the cost of medical care provided to unsured, non-service-connected Veterans, the VA now collects in excess of $100 million a month. In May, the VA received a record $123 million.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Improves Grave Marker Process WASHINGTON (June 5, 2003) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its application form to make requesting a VA grave marker easier. The new form, Application For Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA Form 40-1330), includes updated information about changes that expand eligibility for a government marker. The new form and instruction sheets also permit better communication between VA and Veterans’ families.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: 'A Day in the Life of the Armed Forces' Exhibit Opens at Women's Memorial An exhibit featuring photographs from the newly released book, "A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces," opened May 8 here at the Women’s Memorial.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Scholarship Fund Established for Surviving Spouses and Children of Iraqi Freedom Killed WASHINGTON, May 9, 2003 -- Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Air Force Gen. Richard Myers and his wife, Mary Jo, expressed gratitude today for a $1 million corporate donation for scholarships for spouses and children of U.S. and coalition personnel killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DoD Sets Up Office to Help Lure Job Applicants The Defense Department, which employs more than 700,000 civilians in more than 900 occupations, has set up a new office to help lure job applicants to the federal workforce.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Certain Veterans May Be Eligible for Copayment Refunds WASHINGTON (April 25, 2003) - Veterans insured by the Hartford Life Insurance Company or the USAA Life Insurance Company may be eligible for a refund of their VA copayments.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: TRICARE Complying With Stricter Rules on Healthcare WASHINGTON, April 25, 2003 ­ TRICARE, like all other healthcare providers nationwide, is working under stricter rules when it comes to protecting patients’ rights and the privacy of their health information.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Secretary Decries Myth of Budget Cut WASHINGTON (April 24, 2003) - The statement below was issued today by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi:

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Tough, Brave Troups Fight for Freedom America’s men and women in uniform are brave, tough and courageous, President Bush said today after visiting more than 70 wounded service members and their families at two military hospitals.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Itemized Billing Streamlines TRICARE Outpatient Care Payments The Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) converted to "itemized billing" a few months ago to streamline the process for billing uniformed services beneficiaries, third-party payers and persons not eligible for TRICARE for outpatient care received at military treatment facilities (MTFs). The new billing approach does not change access to care for TRICARE beneficiaries. It does, however, change the way those who have other health insurance (OHI) are billed for outpatient care received at a MTF.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Mail Policy for Troops Stressed To bolster force protection, the general public is urged NOT to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved one or personal friend.