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Veteran's Services and Benefits

 Transition Assistance Advisor

 

Mission

In May 2005, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Under Secretaries for Health and Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), solidifying a partnership between NGB and the VA. The hallmark of this partnership remains the continued access to all National Guard (NG) Veterans and their Families by the VA as part of its outreach program. Additionally, the partnership’s primary goal remains the education of all NG Veterans and their Families regarding their VA benefits and services and how to access them. To this end, the TAA serves as the state-wide point of contact and coordinator for the easy access to those benefits and services.

While NGB initially designed the TAA Program to serve NG members and their Families, the TAA also provides the same support and assistance to all members of the Armed Forces, both active and reserve, Veterans, Military Retirees, and their Families. This support includes assisting them in accessing VA healthcare facilities, obtaining services through the Military Health System (TRICARE), and in applying for other VA services and benefits, such as compensation and pension for disability, insurance, loan guarantee, vocational rehabilitation/employment, and education benefits. The TAA also engages with other Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) staff members and the Family Assistance Center in building a state coalition of support with the VA and community organizations, which benefit all service members, Veterans, Military Retirees, and their Families.

State Coalition Model

The state coalition is a model that ties together the resources of the Department of Defense, the VA, the NG, and state/local community resources in an effort to ensure that NG members and their Families receive all the support, benefits and services available to them. Unlike active duty service members who return to a specific military base with onsite support and services for themselves and their Families, members of the reserve components return to their communities and civilian employment. The state coalition provides a community based network of support at the local level, which includes VA, NG, and state/local community organizations, to assist all Service Members, Veterans, Military Retirees, and their Families.

Role of the Transition Assistance Advisor

The TAA matches the needs of Service Members, Veterans, Military Retirees, and their Families by:

  • Providing information and assistance in understanding and obtaining services and benefits from the VA and TRICARE to meet their specific needs.
  • Coordinating with appropriate VA, TRICARE, Veteran Service Organizations, and other federal, state and local community resources to provide critical information and assistance in obtaining services and benefits.
  • Participating in the mobilization and demobilization process to brief and advise regarding all available benefits and services.
  • Assisting and participating in the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
  • Researching and resolving issues associated with entitlements when they encounter problems.
  • Providing advice to the JFHQ, and coordinating with Family Support Specialists and Employer Support Groups, regarding benefits and services available through the VA, Department of Labor (Federal and State), and other service and benefit programs.
  • Highlighting best practices through a monthly electronic TAA report, quarterly newsletters, and monthly conference calls with the VA.

 

 NEWS TO USE

 

Disclaimer of Endorsement  

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise (e.g. fund raisers), does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, the State of Rhode Island or my employer, HPSC Inc. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, the State of Rhode Island, or my employer, HPSC Inc, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

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This website provides a wealth of VA information specific to the Guard and Reserve.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/GUARDRESERVE/index.asp 

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TODAY'S NEWS TO USE

To All Vietnam Veterans’ and their Families, and Veterans of all Conflicts,

On Monday, May 13, 2013 the R. I. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the R.I. House Veterans’ Advisory Council will be hosting a ceremony for Vietnam Veterans’ Day. The ceremony will be at 1:00 P.M. at the State House on the 2nd floor in the House Chambers. There will be parking in the lower lot off of Smith Street. So please join with us to commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of he start of he Vietnam War. Along with honoring all Vietnam Veterans’ on this day we will be recognizing the 1968 Rhode Island Army National Guard 107th Signal Company that was deployed to Vietnam from October 1968 to October 1969. So please join with VVA Chapter #273 Greater Providence, VVA Chapter #325 South County, VVA Chapter #818 Northern RI, VVA State Council President John Weiss and our friends from the RI Vietnam Veterans Action Center to thank and honor all Vietnam Veterans for their service and sacrifice. Any questions please call the R.I. House Veterans’ Affairs Office at 401-222-2933. Thank you!

Veteran Unemployment Decreases in February

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Veteran unemployment data for the month of February. The unemployment rate for all Veterans was 6.9 percent in February—a decrease from 7.6 percent in January and still below the national average of 7.7 percent. For post-9/11 Veterans, the rate dropped to 9.4 percent in February compared to 11.7 percent in January. In 2012, over 1 million Veterans were unemployed but today that number has dropped down to 772,000.

Read more at: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/8923/veteran-unemployment-decreases-in-february/

New Automation Process Cuts Post-9/11 GI Bill Claims Processing Times by More Than Half

As part of its ongoing transformation from paper-based to electronic claims processing, the Department of Veterans Affairs has continued to improve the automated payment of benefits for Veterans participating in the Post-9/11 GI Bill education program. As a result, VA is now providing benefit payments to currently enrolled students in an average of six days - cutting by more than half the processing time experienced during the spring enrollment period last year.

Read more at: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=2432

Army Announces Task Force Behavioral Health Findings

Read more at: http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15852

Christmas in a War Zone

This is the third essay in a 10-part Women’s History Month series entitled, Honoring Our Nation’s Women Veterans.

Read more at: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/8895/christmas-in-a-war-zone/

A Mother’s Sacrifice to Serve

This is the fourth essay in a 10-part Women’s History Month series entitled, Honoring Our Nation’s Women Veterans. Read more at:

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/8942/motherhood-in-the-military/

Do I Need a Social Worker or Do You Know Someone Who May?

There are social workers at all VA medical centers. How do you know if you need a social worker? Read about some of the ways VA social workers can help you or refer you to the right person for help.

http://www.va.gov/health/NewsFeatures/2013/March/Do-I-Need-a-Social-Worker.asp

 TAA Document Library

Edit
AAFES Customer Order Form (AAFES Form 6200-9).pdfAAFES Customer Order Form (AAFES Form 6200-9) 
RI DMV Remake Form (War Veteran Plate to Veteran Plate).pdfRI DMV Remake Form (War Veteran Plate to Veteran Plate) 
RI Persian Gulf War Information and Relief Commission.pdfRI Persian Gulf War Information and Relief Commission 
 
 

 Contact Us

SGM (RET) O'Connor, RI TAA

 

 

 

 

 

Transition Assistance Advisor
Chuck O’Connor
Sergeant Major, USA (Retired)
Contractor
Arrowpoint Corporation

Joint Force Headquarters 
Rhode Island National Guard
Command Readiness Center
645 New London Avenue 
Cranston, RI 02920-3097 
Office (401) 275-4198
Fax (401) 275-4306 
charles.b.oconnor@us.army.mil

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