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Top Articles of 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, the Veterans Association of America, would like to wish its members, partners and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for the industry, we would like to provide the readers of VAA Dispatch a look at the most accessed articles from the year. Our regular publication will resume Tuesday, Jan. 9.
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WTKR-TV
From Oct. 17: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is set to issue a hard-copy photo ID to any honorably discharged veteran who applies for one.
On July 20, 2015, then-President Barack Obama signed into law the Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015, which allows veterans to apply for an ID card directly from the VA.
The VA identification card will make it easier for veterans to show proof of service for discounts at private restaurants and businesses. There will be no fee to veterans.
The card is different from a Veteran Health Identification card or a DoD Uniformed Services or retiree ID Card.
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KPNX-TV
From Nov. 17: Military veterans can now apply for a Veteran Service Identification Card, making it easier for them to prove their service.
The hard-copy photo ID eliminates the need to carry around documents with sensitive information. Currently, veterans have to carry a DD-214 form to show proof of service, but it causes a security concern. "Our social security number is on there," veteran Johnny Ornelas said. "So some guys get a black marker and erase it."
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Four month average turn around with the VA’s Pension with Aid and Attendance
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Military Times
From May 30: President Donald Trump's "taxpayer focused" budget for fiscal 2018 includes smaller cost-of-living adjustments for veterans benefits payouts and eliminating those adjustments for some federal civilian retirees altogether. The controversial suggestions are likely to be met with opposition from outside advocates and some lawmakers.
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National Guard Association of the United States
From Feb. 28: A nearly three-year effort to give all honorably discharged veterans shopping privileges for online military exchanges has been approved. This change is estimated to affect 15 million veterans, according to the Defense Department.
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Military Times
From Oct. 30: President Donald Trump has just put his signature on a new law that will bring significant changes to education benefits for service members, veterans and their families. The legislation known as the "Forever GI Bill" garnered strong bipartisan support in Congress, passing unanimously in both the House and Senate.
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Military.com
From Oct. 24: Military retirees and those who receive disability checks and some other types of pay from the Department of Veterans Affairs will see a 2 percent pay raise in their monthly paychecks in 2018. It is the biggest cost of living (COLA) increase since 2012, equaling as much as $310 a month for those at the top of the retirement pay charts. The average military retirement check for an E-7 with 20 years of service will go up by $46 a month, while an O-5 with the same time in uniform will see an $88 monthly increase.
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Military.com
From June 20: The Department of Veterans Affairs shelved a proposal that would have cut the Individual Unemployability benefit for elderly and disabled veterans.
"To withdraw this benefit from people who rely on that money would be very difficult to do," VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin said at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.
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Military.com
From April 4: Rep. Paul Cook, R-Apple Valley, announced that the U.S. Senate has passed his bill, HR 244, the Hire Vets Act of 2017.
The bill already passed the House of Representatives in February. Cook had reintroduced this bipartisan bill earlier this year. It was introduced last Congress and passed the House with unanimous support, but was unable to pass the Senate before the end of the year. The bill now heads back to the House for final passage as the Senate made minor technical changes to it.
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AmeriForce
From Oct. 17: You may find yourself with a void after leaving the structured environment of a military career. Whether you are taking time to decide on what to do next, retiring for good, or have a scattered new schedule, it is likely you will be missing all or some of the way of life you were accustomed to. Veterans tend to seek out hobbies that align with the military culture. In some cases, those activities may even translate to a job. AmeriForce Media put together a list of some of the trending leisurely pursuits happening in today's military and veteran community.
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