Military & Veteran News
Military & Veterans Life
Veterans Advantage Reviews Financial Protections against Scams
As our country begins to consider the process of slowly reopening after the COVID-19 crisis, we at Veterans Advantage know how important it is to continue to protect yourself and your family, to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.
Military & Veterans Life
VetFamily: “America,” a Journey for Military Brats
We all know the early 70’s hit “Horse With No Name” by the band America, but did you know the band’s trio grew up as military brats on a U.S. Air Force base in the U.K.? Nearly 50 years later, the band is again on tour this summer.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Announces Five DESI Awards for University-Industry Collaborations
The Department of Defense announced the selection of five university-industry teams for the Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI). DESI is a pilot program supporting university-industry research collaboration focused on accelerating the impact of basic research on defense capabilities.
Military & Veterans News
Secretary Wilkie meets with leaders at Washington DC VA Medical Center
Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie visited the Washington DC VA Medical Center (VAMC), where he met with facility and regional leaders and received updates on recent progress in Veterans’ care and plans for further improvements at the facility.
Military & Veterans News
Burn Pits Legislation Gains Momentum on Capitol Hill
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), America’s leading post-9/11 veterans empowerment organization, announced today significant, additional support for its Burn Pits Accountability Act (H.R. 5671/S. 3181) to improve the tracking and reporting of servicemembers’ exposure to burn pits and airborne toxins during their deployments, and the recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018. Burn Pits are among IAVA’s 2018 Big 6 Priorities for post 9/11 veterans.
Military & Veterans News
5 Ways Dogs Can Improve Lives
Whether playmates or protectors, the human-animal bond is often a powerful connection that goes beyond pure companionship. Dogs typically have many talents and personas – they can be man's best friend, a canine companion during a difficult time or even a service dog helping veterans and others through daily routines. No matter the relationship between dog and human, these animals can improve lives in numerous ways.
Military & Veterans News
Forever GI Bill Expands VA Educational Benefits
Effective Aug. 1, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented 15 more provisions of the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also referred to as the Forever GI Bill.
Military & Veterans News
House Passes 9 Bipartisan Veterans Bills
Washington, D.C. - Today, Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the House passed 9 bipartisan veterans bills:
Military & Veterans News
President Trump Selects Jake Leinenkugel to Lead VA Commission Focused on Veterans’ Mental Health Treatment
Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that President Donald J. Trump has selected former VA White House Senior Advisor Thomas “Jake” Leinenkugel to lead a key commission focused on the department’s mental health care programs.
Military & Veterans Life
Department of Defense Announces Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Team Members
The Department of Defense announced today the names of the 72 competitors who will compete on the United States team at the Invictus Games in Sydney, Oct. 20-27.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Releases 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates
The Department of Defense has released the 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing rates. Basic Allowance for Housing rates will increase an average of 12.1 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2023. An estimated $26.8 billion will be paid to approximately one million Service members. The significant increase in average BAH rates is reflective of the unique market conditions experienced across many locations nationwide over the past year. While average BAH rates increased substantially, different rental markets experience different market trends, and the 2023 BAH rates reflect those geographic market condition differences.
Military & Veterans News
VA will launch new life insurance program in January, making life insurance available to more Veterans than ever before
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will open enrollment for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance — the first new VA life insurance program for Veterans in more than 50 years — extending VALife access to millions of Veterans.
Military & Veterans News
FDA grants VA first ever compassionate use for 3D-printed hearing device
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received compassionate use approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February for a groundbreaking in-house developed medical device to help improve the quality of life of a Veteran with a rare hearing condition.
Military & Veterans News
Veterans’ GI Bill benefits to continue during COVID-19 pandemic
President Trump signed into law S. 3503, March 21, which will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue providing the same level of education benefits to students having to take courses online due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Military & Veterans News
DOD Implements Policy Change for Child Care Priorities
On June 1, 2020, the Department of Defense will implement a policy change to the current priorities for child care. As directed by Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper in a memo signed Feb. 21, 2020, the department will afford priority access to military families. Beginning June 1, the military services may begin to officially notify families who face being supplanted. Once a family is notified, they will then have 45 days to find alternative care.
Military & Veterans News
Remarks by President Trump During Troop Engagement | Bagram, Afghanistan
THE PRESIDENT: We’re going to be getting together. We’ll be saying a few words in a little while. But it’s an honor to be with you. We brought Senator Barrasso. As you know, he’s a great supporter of our military services. And nobody is like you. We spent two and a half trillion since I’ve been here. That’s a lot of money. But we rebuilt our military. It was depleted, as you know, and now it’s — I guess, the word “depletion” is about the last word we’d use, right?
Military & Veterans News
VA renews partnership with Y-USA to expand whole-health services to Veteran communities
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently renewed a nationwide partnership with Y-USA that focuses on whole health to enhance services available that promote the health and well-being of Veterans, their families and caregivers.
Military & Veterans News
VA appoints a new chief data officer
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the appointment of Kshemendra Paul, executive director for Data Governance and Analytics and the department’s Chief Data Officer.
Military & Veterans News
VA launches community-focused public health model to prevent Veteran suicide
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) and VA Midwest Health Care Network (Veterans Integrated Service Network [VISN] 23) have been working with academic researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) to spearhead a community-based program as one of many efforts aimed at lowering the rate of Veteran suicide.
Military & Veterans News
New text messaging feature available through VA’s Women Veterans Call Center
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) added a text messaging feature to the Women Veterans Call Center on April 23, providing another convenient way for women to seek information about VA benefits, health care and available resources.
Military & Veterans News
VA ensures Veterans have same-day access to emergency mental health care
As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to provide the best mental health care access possible, VA is reminding Veterans that it offers all Veterans same-day access to emergency mental health care at any VA health care facility across the country.
Military & Veterans News
VA increases contracting with Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie today announced an increase to the department’s goals for contracting with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB).
Military & Veterans News
VA, DAV to co-host National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic: Hundreds of disabled Veterans to take on life-changing adaptive sports challenge
WASHINGTON — Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic will take place March 31 to April 5 in Snowmass, Colorado.
Military & Veterans News
VA partners with The Independence Fund to help prevent Veteran suicide
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its partnership with The Independence Fund to provide wellness and mental health education to Veterans, caregivers and families.