Veterans Report - Week of December 15, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of December 15, 2014

Retirees: Eliminate Out of Pocket Costs with MBA TRICARE Supplement
Doctor and hospital bills are expensive even when you're covered by TRICARE. Help minimize or even eliminate out-of-pocket expenses with the (http://offers.military.com/v/tricare-mb ... 215mrvr.nl) MBA-sponsored TRICARE Insurance Supplement Plan.


VA Releases 2015 Compensation Rates
This year the Veterans Disability Compensation and Veterans Pension payments will increase by 1.7%. The increase is based on the 2014 rate of inflation (consumer price index). Take a look at the VA's rate tables to see what your 2015 Disability and Compensation payments will be at the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... rates.html) 2015 Disability Compensation Rates page.


Congress Restores Commissary Funding
House and Senate conferees negotiating a package to fund the Department of Defense through September 2015 have protected commissary operations by restoring 90 percent of a planned $100 million cut. Once again lawmakers thwarted a cost-saving initiative targeting military compensation and endorsed by the Joint Chiefs as a way to dampen personnel costs so more dollars can be spent on training, weapon buys and other readiness accounts being victimized by arbitrary "sequestration" cuts.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... es-rising/) Read the full Military Update article.


Time to Track Santa
The North American Aerospace Defense Command's 'NORAD Tracks Santa' website at (http://www.noradsanta.org) www.noradsanta.org is ready to track Santa's flight across the globe on Christmas Eve. Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps are also available in the Windows, Apple and Google Play stores. Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ by searching "@noradsanta". Starting at 12:01 a.m. MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa make preparations for his flight. NORAD's "Santa Cams" will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way over various locations. Then, at 4 a.m. MST (6 a.m. EST), trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa's whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to (mailto:noradtrackssanta@outlook.com) noradtrackssanta@outlook.com. Any time on Dec. 24, Windows Phone users can ask Cortana for Santa's location, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to find Santa.
For more military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Mount Soledad Cross May be Sold
The controversy surrounding the Mount Soledad Cross may be nearing a conclusion. A bill in Congress would authorize the Secretary of Defense to transfer a parcel of federal land in the La Jolla section of San Diego, to a private group. The parcel contains the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial whose dominant feature is a white cross that has been the focus of much litigation over a period of years. The bill would transfer the land containing the memorial to the Mount Soledad Memorial Association Inc., a private group that has been maintaining the facility. For more information about the memorial, visit the Mount Soledad Memorial Association website at (http://www.soledadmemorial.com/) www.soledadmemorial.com and the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sole ... ontroversy) Wikipedia website.
For discounts to military museums, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts/museums) Military.com Discount Center.


Vets on Ice
The third annual Vets On Ice fishing event will take place Jan. 31 on Evergreen Lake in Colorado this year. Vets On Ice was created to introduce military veterans to the Colorado outdoors through an ice fishing event put on by a collaboration of local pro-veteran, nonprofit groups. The event is free and open to all veterans and active duty military members. It includes a lunch. Anyone can volunteer at the event or donate. The event starts for participants Saturday, January 31st, 2015 at Evergreen Lake, Evergreen CO. The Golden VFW Honor Guard will begin the day with a presentation of the colors at 8 am. For more information, call Shawn Buckendahl at 720-300-1647 and follow Vets on Ice on Facebook.
For more on military-related entertainment news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


Top Army- Navy Rivalry Videos
The Army-Navy game is one of America's greatest college football rivalries. Of all the famous college rivalries, none generate the kind of elaborate spirit videos that now constitute a modern tradition. (http://undertheradar.military.com/2014/ ... it-videos/) Check out some of the best Army-Navy videos on Military.com's Under the Radar.


Hepatitis C in Veterans
The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs recently held a hearing on Hepatitis C in veterans. Testimonies and a video of the hearing are available on the (http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings ... n-veterans) U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs website.


WWI Coin Act Passes
The U.S. Congress has passed the World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, which President Obama is expected to sign into law. The Act directs the United States Mint to strike up to 350,000 silver dollars in 2018 to help celebrate the centennial signing of the armistice with Germany, which ended World War I. The new coins will be struck in 90% silver and be available from the U.S. Mint in calendar year 2018. Other great conflicts have been memorialized on United States commemorative coins, but not World War I. The text of the Act as passed in the U.S. House of Representatives is available on the (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2366) GovTrack.us website.


$1 Mil Coverage From Just $1.50 a Day
Protection for less. Get $1,000,000 Coverage from only $1.50 a Day. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rvr1215.nl) Could your family survive if something happened to you?


MilConnect for Personal TRICARE Info
TRICARE sponsors, spouses, and their dependent children 18 years and older have access to their personal information, health care enrollments, eligibility and other information through MilConnect. A new initiative gives separating servicemembers and their families more time to access this important information. The DS Logon of separating servicemembers does not expire and can still be used to access certain applications such as milConnect. Also, eligible family members 18 and over will be given an six additional months to sign up for a DS Logon for use in accessing MilConnect after their sponsor's separation. For information about transitioning from the military, visit the TRICARE Separating from Active Duty webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Separating) www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Separating. For information about creating an account or other secure services that can be completed online, visit the milConnect Information webpage at (http://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil.
For more on TRICARE, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE section.


An Inside Look at the DoD's 2015 Budget
Last week MOAA reported on the (http://www.moaa.org/main_article.aspx?id=15466) FY 2015 defense bill and the results were mixed. When you look closer, the results could be considered good, bad, and potentially ugly. Find out why by reading the (http://www.moaa.org/MRDecBottomLine/) Bottom Line: The Good, the bad and the Ugly the article at Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).


Software Training for Veterans
The nonprofit program NS2 Serves teaches veterans how to use the data management software from the SAP Corporation. SAP's software is used in banking, factory operations, and military intelligence. A certificate from the program gives veterans a credential they can use in looking for jobs. For more information on NS2's SAP Program, visit the SAP NS2 website at (http://www.sapns2.com/) www.sapns2.com or phone 877-9-SAPNS2 (877-972-7672) or e-mail (mailto:info@sapns2.com) info@sapns2.com.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


House Passes Suicide Prevention Bill
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America Veterans Act passed the House and was introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill calls for independent evaluations of all mental health-care and suicide-prevention programs in VA and the Defense Department, a student loan repayment program that would offer up to $120,000 per year to recruit psychiatrists who commit to working for VA, and a program that would take back unneeded prescription drugs from patients at VA facilities. A (https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-con ... -bill/5059) similar bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day, according to a (http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Suicide-Data ... -final.pdf) report released last year by VA.
For mental health guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Videos to Help Vets Start New Businesses
Aspiring veteran entrepreneurs have a valuable resource in a new, comprehensive 12-part video series which highlights essential best practices for veterans to start and grow a small business. The American Legion Entrepreneur Series, released by the Legion's Veterans Employment & Education Division and ADP, is available free (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b41aCjX ... e=youtu.be) online. Key topics in the series include generating start-up capital, navigating the crucial first year of business, winning contracts and utilizing value-added marketing.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Veterans, Johnson Controls is Hiring
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Their 162,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. (http://www.military.com/veteran-employe ... =vr1215.nl) Learn more.


Understanding VA Records Request Fees
Veteran and lawyer Ben Krause answers veterans' questions about issues with requesting records from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the fees VA charges for records servicing. VA has been trying to charge for things that are prohibited in its regulations. (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... mystified/) Read Ben's full article to learn more.


Waiting to Use Your $0 Down Benefit?
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Military 'Top Dog' Lucca Gets Her Own Book
Military.com has a slideshow featuring images from Maria Goodavage's new book Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca. The book tells the story of Lucca, a German Shepherd mix trained to sniff out IEDS, and her legendary exploits alongside handlers Marine Staff Sergeant Chris Willingham and Corporal Juan Rodriguez. Top Dog is a sequel to Goodavage's 2012 bestseller (http://undertheradar.military.com/2012/ ... -speramus/) Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America's Canine Heroes.
For the slideshow and more info, visit the (http://undertheradar.military.com/2014/ ... -own-book/) Under the Radar blog.


Senate Panel Probes Prices
The U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on exorbitant prices charged by drugmakers for new treatments for hepatitis C. Gilead, the leading manufacturer of the drugs, refused to testify at the hearing about the $84,000 it charges for a 12-week regimen of Sovaldi and the $94,500 price tag for a newer drug, Harvoni. Even with bulk-purchase discounts, the Department of Veterans Affairs spent $370 million in the past year on new treatments. Outlays are projected to soar by an additional $1.3 billion for the next two years. The treatment cost is especially significant to the VA because the disease affects veterans -- particularly Vietnam-era veterans -- at a rate higher than the general population. Approximately 174,000 veterans currently enrolled in VA have been diagnosed with hepatitis C.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.