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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NEW STUDENT LOAN RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS

U.S. Department of Education and Student Loan Servicers Collaborate to Provide Timely, Useful Information

America’s servicemen and servicewomen will now have more information about their federal education loans, special benefits available to them, and their repayment options with the release of a new brochure announced today.

“We know that our servicemen and women are faced with an abundance of challenges and transitions while deployed and upon returning to civilian life,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “With Memorial Day approaching, we want to redouble our efforts to ease their transition and provide them with educational opportunities, resources, and the ongoing support they have earned. This easy-to-read brochure is a small but important way to help – it outlines what service members need to know to manage their student loans and maximize their benefits.”

The brochure, entitled For Members of the U.S. Armed Services: What You Need to Know About Your Federal Student Loan Benefits, was developed by the Department and the four Title IV Student Loan Servicers: FedLoan Servicing, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Nelnet Education Loan Servicing and Sallie Mae Department of Education Loan Services.

The free brochure is divided into three parts: the first section describes the special benefits and repayment options available to service members; the second section offers helpful tips for active duty or deployed service members; and the third lists useful student loan resources. Some of the tips are:

• Establishing online access to student loan accounts to review and make payments online;

• Exploring repayment plans based on income, which could qualify borrowers for low or zero payment and possible loan forgiveness;

• Signing up for automatic payments to help keep loans current; and

• Consumers can access the brochure at http://StudentAid.gov/resources#military-loan-benefits

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