Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Please disseminate widely.

VA Warning: “Veterans Affairs Services”

Organization Not Affiliated, Getting Vet IDs.

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
requested dissemination of the following :

An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit
and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans.
“This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way.

[The organization described itself at its web page at:
http://www.vaservices.or/g/us/index.html ]

VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close
resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we
coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly
mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement
by VA to provide any services. In addition, GC requests that if you have any
examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code,
such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation
of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr.
Daugherty at the address below.

Michael G. Daugherty,
Staff Attorney,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Office of General Counsel

Merry Christmas to our Band of Brothers and Sisters veteran Freedom Fighters around the world.

Merry Christmas to our Band of Readers and commenters who add the juice and occasional accuracy to the blogesphere.

Veteran Veritas will be on vacation until January 7th, 2013   God speed, Mike

Sorry about the delay in posting this. I comb hundreds of articles to determine what is most useful for local veterans. VVA is always the most helpful. Us Vietnam Veterans of America are late bloomers ya know!

Senator Webb Introduces NDAA Amendments to Help Student  Vets

On November 27, Vietnam veteran Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  regarding the bipartisan “Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act of 2012″ (S.2179).

Summary of Amendment #2957 (both of these provisions are in the larger bill S.2179):

• Requires that all programs receiving funding from Tuition Assistance and Post-9/11 GI Bill be “Title IV” eligible, which is already a requirement for schools receiving other types of federal funding. Title IV eligibility requires, among other things, accreditation by a Department of Education-approved accrediting agency; new schools to have an undergraduate withdrawal rate for all students of no more than 33%; and mandated reviews by the Department of Education if a school has high dropout or default rates, which could lead to sanctions or other penalties.
• Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a compliance review of an educational institution when certain quality measures are triggered.

Summary of Amendment #2958 (this is S. 2179; includes the two provisions in Amdt. #2957):

• Requires that all programs receiving funding from Tuition Assistance and Post-9/11 GI Bill be “Title IV” eligible, which is already a requirement for schools receiving other types of federal funding. Title IV eligibility requires, among other things, accreditation by a Department of Education-approved accrediting agency; new schools to have an undergraduate withdrawal rate for all students of no more than 33%; and mandated reviews by the Department of Education if a school has high dropout or default rates, which could lead to sanctions or other penalties.
• Expands the training responsibilities of the State Approving Agencies by requiring them to conduct outreach activities to veterans and members of the Armed Forces; to conduct audits of schools; and to report those findings to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to develop a centralized complaints process to report instances of misrepresentation, fraud, waste, and abuse, and other complaints against educational institutions.
• Requires that all schools with 20 or more students enrolled in VA and/or DOD educational assistance programs provide support services to veterans and military students.
• Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, to the extent practicable, to provide one-on-one, in-person educational counseling to veterans and members of the Armed Forces participating in programs of educational assistance at or before the individual enrolls.
• Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to conduct a compliance review of an educational institution whenever certain quality measures are triggered.

Ah yes, yet another clandestine plan to privatize the planet and promulgate crony capitalism. Sorry, but commissaries are about more than a head of lettuce. Does not seem that the cost of gas is factored in either. How little do you want to give the soldier that fights for those groceries?

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/12/military-budget-cutting-plan-shut-down-commissaries-120312w/

Report blasts suggestion to close commissaries

By Rick Maze – Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 3, 2012 16:23:24 EST

A budget-cutting plan to shut down commissaries and instead pay an annual allowance to active-duty families for the projected increase in their grocery bill has drawn a sharp rebuttal from a research group affiliated with the military resale industry.

The Military Resale and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center for Research, affiliated with the American Logistics Association, says in a report released Monday that the $400 allowance wouldn’t come close to making up for the higher grocery costs, especially for families.

“Patrons who consistently use their commissary, can save nearly $4,500 per year for an average family of four, over $2,800 for a couple, and more than $1,500 for a single service member,” the report says.

Getting rid of taxpayer-subsidized commissaries, with groceries available on base only at exchange stores, would save the government about $1.3 billion a year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which has suggested this cost-cutting measure for years.

CBO has recommended cushioning families from what could be a 7 percent increase in grocery prices by providing a grocery allowance that would reduce total government savings to about $1 billion a year.

The proposed allowance would average $400 a year, but could be targeted to specific pay grades as a retention benefit or “to benefit junior enlisted members with large families,” CBO says in its March 2011 version of a report called Reducing the Deficit: Spending and Revenue Options.

Military retirees and their families would not receive the annual grocery allowance under CBO’s assumptions.

Because closing commissaries and consolidating grocery sales with exchanges takes time, CBO estimates the immediate savings would be just $200 million the first year but would reach $2.8 billion over five years and $9.1 billion over 10 years.

CBO’s suggestion to close commissaries has been included in many deficit reduction proposals, most recently by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. In his plan for cutting Pentagon waste, Coburn said closing the 175 stateside commissaries while keeping overseas stores makes sense to him.

“By getting the Department of Defense out of the grocery business here in the United States, Congress could increase military pay across the board and allow military members to shop at the stores of their choice,” Coburn’s report says.

But the resale research report notes that commissary patrons “save 32 percent at commissaries and 24 percent at exchanges, according to independent surveys and market basket analysis. This equates to $4.584 billion per year in savings.”

“This is a direct compensation benefit to the Department of Defense in that it extends the household budgets of military, personnel, families and retirees. If the benefit ceased to exist, military total compensation would drop correspondingly unless pay would be increased to provide the funds needed to shop at more expensive alternative sources,” the resale research center report says.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/12/military-budget-cutting-plan-shut-down-commissaries-120312w/?org=403&org=403&lvl=100&ite=5313&lea=1592&ctr=0&par=1

Mayor Rothschild welcomes veterans to the Arizona Small Business Development Center’s 3rd Annual Veterans Conference, where veterans learn what’s available to help them start or grow their own businesses.

Contact:

Lisa Markkula, Communications Director
Office of the Mayor
o: (520) 791-4201

TUCSON, AZ – December 5, 2012

Who: Mayor Jonathan Rothschild
Representative from SBDC
Former participant/veteran success story

What: Mayor Rothschild will welcome U.S. military veterans to the 3rd Annual Veterans Conference, put on by the Arizona Small Business Development Center. The Conference provides veterans with information on what’s available to help them start or grow their own businesses – from technical assistance to procurement to financing.

“It’s especially important we make veterans aware of all that’s available to help them succeed in business,” said Mayor Rothschild. “We owe our veterans so much and this is just one small way to repay that debt.”

Where: Tucson Police Department Westside Police Service Center, 1310 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson, AZ

When: Thursday, December 6, 2012; Mayor’s remarks at 9:30 a.m.; press conference follows at 9:45 a.m.

Week of November 26, 2012

Well, at least it has gone viral with about 20 of my veteran pals!

I am not sure that anyone has quantified or set a benchmark for the definitive calculation for viral. Maybe after this little bit of flippancy, we will see what viral really means.

For sure, the small business community would endear themselves to the veteran community, as would American Express. With the massive number of us in the Boomer category, meaning the highest disposable income of all demographic groups, you know they are after us.

It was three years ago that Mayor Bloomberg and Kenneth Chenault the honcho at American Express launched this nifty idea of, ” Small Business Saturday.” I think it is working. I hear more and more folks adopting bragging rights about how they shop local. It is the latest tattoo. Even kind of chic, depending on your brand of local. Geezz, I always used to patronize local taverns!

There is clearly a celebratory aspect to this emerging movement. It has an uncanny similarity to the fondness for returning veterans. So lets just have a corporate merger here. All devised by little ole TucsonCitizen.com, with Daddy Gannett looking on.

On Small Business Saturday each business could donate $1 to the cause of Disabled Veterans. We could be all grown up like the MDA and Susan B Konen Fund. Just without the coercion and involuntary requests from all the convenience store employees. Ours would be a bit more magnanimous and sans corporate staff.

The  market researchers have indicated that this campaign to shop locally created approximately 103 million shoppers.  Can you dig it? 103 million Americans helping Disabled Veterans across America. Seems to me that American Express would get as much mileage out this marriage of causes as would one day of shopping.

Howabout just taking a combat veteran shopping on Saturday.? That makes two in the store. What do I know? I am just a street level marketer. Although, I did turn around 5 shopping centers in Tucson.

As a retired commercial property manager and landlord, I spent my adult life with local business men and women.  I think I have a feel for their community spirit.

The National Federation of Business has predicted that the consumers who are planning to shop from local merchants will be at 67%. In 2011 that percentage of all consumers was 44%.

I say, add the Veterans in  your community to the equation and we can push that to 75%.

So, lets go viral and set a new benchmark. In the process Americans will get to meet a few Veterans of War. It would look like an old Norman Rockwell painting.

Veteran Veritas  may have to copyright this scheme. I can see a new Hallmark card now!

When thinking of prayer, I am reminded of the advice of my  spiritual mentor, “keep your prayers simple,” she said. “Help me and Thank you.”   I have been helped by so many of my veteran pals I have lost count. Thank you. Thank you.

There are times I wish that Thanksgiving was like Chanukah, an 8 day festival of thankfulness. We could then allow the depth of the meaning of gratitude to be a true compass. On this day of  commemorating our appreciation of the gifts of family, total freedom of choice and our own talents, we could sally forth to make it part of our breakfast meal every day.

Possibly then E Pluribus Unum would return the lexicon of daily living.

Thank you American Veteran. Thank you!

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/11/military-senate-passes-cola-bill-111312w/

After delay, Senate passes veterans’ COLA

By Rick Maze – Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 13, 2012 15:49:40 EST

By voice vote and with no apologies for unnecessary hand-wringing, the Senate passed a bill that provides 4 million veterans and survivors a 1.7 percent cost-of-living increase effective Dec. 1.

The measure now goes to the White House for President Obama’s signature.

The bill providing the COLA, HR 4114, had been left at the side of the legislative road in September when Congress took a break for the elections because of a still unexplained objection to the measure, which simply provides the same increase in disability and survivor benefits that automatically would occur for Social Security recipients and military retirees.

When Congress failed to pass the COLA bill Sept. 22, there was pre-election squabbling over the risk that the bill might not pass in time for the increase to first appear in January paychecks, as is customary.

That talk was fueled by a statement from the Veterans Affairs Department that if Congress didn’t act by Nov. 13, VA might not have time to adjust its payroll mechanism. VA later revised the processing time, saying veterans would be paid as long as Congress acted by early December and as long as it was an across-the-board increase.

Congress has resisted making the veterans’ COLA automatic because passing the measure each year gives lawmakers a way to tout their support for veterans in their re-election campaigns.

A freshman lawmaker, Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J., House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s disability assistance panel, has proposed legislation to make veterans’ compensation automatically increase at the same time as Social Security, without the need for congressional involvement. His proposal passed the veterans’ committee this year but has not passed the full House and seems unlikely to become law before the current session of Congress ends.

The Few, The Proud, The Marines! Happy Birthday Jar-heads!

I declare that I will never tire of  saying this as long as I am breathing and able to eek out a one more… OOORAH!

There are only 176,000 of us on active duty, the smallest of all the Armed Forces.

The United States Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the Revolutionary War, formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on the 10th of November, 1775  at Tuns Tavern in Philadelphia, Pa.

One of the Marines more notable actions occurred during the First Barbary War, 1801-1805 against the Barbary Pirates. Some now say, the first terrorist attack. William Eaton and Lt. Presley O”Bannon led eight, imagine that, just eight Marines and approximately 500 mercenaries in an effort to seize Tripoli.  This  siege attempt  only reached Derna, yet the action has been memorialized in the lyrics of the Marine Corps hymn and the Mameluke Sword adorned by Marine officers.

The whole Tripoli aspect of military history being re-visited again is a bit uncanny.

The values and discipline we learned in the Marine Corps travel with me  like the calcium in my bones.

“Here’s health to you and to our Corps/ Which we are proud to serve/ In many a strife we’ve fought for life/ and never lost our nerve/ If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven’s scenes/They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.

Morgan McDermott Post 7- American Legion

330 W. Franklin Street

Tucson, AZ 85701-8208

Email- tucsonalvetparade@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE

______________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release 31 October, 2012

Contact: Felix Salaz, Parade Chairman (520)409-5974

AMERICAN LEGION POST 7 TO HOLD VETERANS DAY PARADE in DOWNTOWN TUCSON on NOVEMEBER 12^TH, 2012 FROM 10AM TIL 1PM.

For Decades the American Legion Post 7 has been dedicated to serving the Veteran Community of Tucson.

Tucson, Arizona American Legion Post 7 will hold a Veterans Day Parade this Veterans Day, Monday November 12th from 10am to 1pm. Sponsored by various American Legion Posts, Legion Riders, TPD, Access Tucson, AZ Rangers Cars4Vets Inc and others. Staffed completely by community volunteers, the Tucson non-profits aim to raise awareness of their proud service and dedication that enable their organization to continue carrying out and fulfilling the mission and goals of their causes.

Admission is free and so is the parking. Tucsonans can ogle over the 50+ vehicles on display, along with live performances from local marching bands. Wave and cheer to your favorite hero as they ride by on a display of talent. At the end of the parade, enjoy a meet and greet along with food and refreshments at the American Legion Post 7, 330 W. Franklin Str., between St. Mary’s and Congress off of I-10. Registration has begun and will end at 5pm 11 November, 2012.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation to the Veterans Day Parade and its’ supporting organizations, visit our website at www.po5295.wix.com/morganmcdermottpost7 .

Felix Salaz, Parade Chairman

“The politics of obfuscation have outpaced the politics of interrogation.” Eugene Williams

It is for this astute observation about the sociology of current political trends that I intentionally waited until the eve of this Presidential election to weigh in on the issues and policies that impact America’s veterans. Sorting and seeking the raw truth takes longer these days.

The nascent cottage industry of, “fact checkers,” have now replaced the purity and objectivity of old school journalism.  When the obfuscated truth and fictions of advocacy journalism impact the lives of our nations veterans one wonders if the soldiers oath to uphold the Constitution and protect us against enemies foreign and domestic is the only remaining bastion of integrity.

Demographics show that veterans are twice as likely to vote as the rest of the citizenry. It would follow that both candidate Romney and President Obama would make appeals to their votes.

With the most silent, yet longest running war in modern history in progress in Afghanistan, you would think their appeals to veterans would embody some beef.  In this wearisome election cycle, or social engineering project disguised as a campaign, we have seen appeals devolve into appearances, with stilted groups of veterans standing erect with flat affects behind their candidate, logos and all, mute, while the pablum of neutrality flows. No talk of war. No request for sacrifice or support. And certainly no talk of the actuarial projections of the astronomical costs of the benefits for the permanent disabilities for the survivors of war. The irony being that our medical technology and emergency medicine is so advanced, (much of the innovation coming from the U.S. Army), that our soldiers and Marines are surviving at nearly 4-5 times the ratio of previous wars. The living disability factor and its impact on the National budget is curiously a muted topic. I wonder why?  Is it because the total cost on both ends of war, could break the bank?  Remember this is what Afghanistan did to Russia.

The disability process and the future of the Veterans Administration is a core issue with American veterans.  Romney and McCain before him hinted at privatizing the VA. This will not float with the veteran population.

In past elections veterans have favored the Republicans. Yet the polls had no specificity of job description. The margin switches places when you only poll combat veterans who remain in a statistical minority. The ratio of support troops to combat troops hovers around 10:1. Historically combatants have leaned left.

Clinton and Gore were popular with many Vietnam Veterans for reasons of policy not ideology. They aggressively took on the lingering problems with Agent Orange, as has this VA Administration.  They promoted and promulgated legislation that struck and emotional and survival cord for many of the families of Vietnam Veterans.  Karl Rove had not yet mastered the wedge issue game. And, I am not so sure that retired four-star-general, Eric Shinseki, the highest ranking Secretary of VA in history, would play those games. He has also proclaimed by way of expanding the list of illnesses and populations that were exposed to Agent Orange to finish this issue and take care of every legitimate applicant. This research benefits every soldier with chemical exposure to this day. The legislation spills backward and forward in time. Veterans know this.

There are 2 million troops who have rotated home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and a million more to come. Their party loyalty is somewhat vacant with nearly 40% registering Independent. Few elect to affiliate with the mainline fraternal organizations like the VFW, American Legion, or Marine Corps League. The reasons for ghosting from the traditional organizations is glaringly obvious, evidenced by an observation from a young former Navy sniper, Jonathan Andrews, who stated, “why would I join those guys? I will walk in a VFW for a beer and have a Blue State guy on one side and a Red State guy on the other…hurting my ears! I can get this cacophony in Baghdad or Kabul!”

Jonathan’s next observation about the state of nation is more penetrating.

“So the Republicans and Democrats pick the candidates, but us Independents pick the winners!”

Even though Dante warned us that, “the hottest places in hell our reserved for the neutral,” it is no wonder that the candidates neuter themselves in all discussions of war. Neither one wants to be tagged as a Dove or a Hawk. The resultant zeitgeist is that we have never in history been so disconnected from the conduct of war.  On this issue, I declare both cowards.

While the topic is avoided, it is proper to acknowledge that this Administration did dust Bin Laden, continue the surge, and implement the use of Drones without much controversy.

The jury is out on Benghazi. There are way to many moving parts in the Middle East to pretend this is the NFL Channel. Ergo, the reason Condi Rice said to, “back off.”

The evacuation of Saigon did not work out so well either, did it?  In Vietnam we had daily acts of terror.  Be assured we were not always granted support.   This “need to know,” from the common citizen who never served is a bit ludicrous. General Petraeus knows his shit. Let him be. Sometimes the few are sacrificed for the many. It is war folks…wake up.  Imagine helicopters coming to the rescue….just like all the Facebook Generals suggest. Then imagine Black Hawk Down. Go play war on your computer.

Back to the veteran table and the issues and policies that could tip tomorrows election.

The core issues of homelessness, joblessness amongst veterans, post-traumatic-stress-disorder, the disability claim process and the GI Bill have the laser attention of this Veteran Administration. There has never been a VA Secretary as aggressive and so respected as General Shinseki. He has gained advance funding for the  VA in the last two budget cycles—unprecedented for the previous 26 years.  He increased the budget by 25%, and increased medical coverage for the National Guard and Reservists. By example GW Bush knocked them off the docket, and John McCain did not even show for the vote on the GI Bill.

Veterans are hyper-vigilant about these issues and they have a huge impact on election decisions that transcend the arranged duopoly of party politics.

The Defense Budget is a crap shoot when it comes to veterans. As an issue, this a bit more dependent upon the voters depth and fund of knowledge about the very subterranean planning process of the Pentagon. Remenber, it was Donald Rumsfeld who wanted to drastically cut the boots on the ground in favor of aviation and nuclear submarines. War is morphing itself as warp speed.  We are entering areas that not even Star Ship Enterprise ventured. Cyber-war is dead serious and it is not fought with guns.  Our power grids are vulnerable. Our VA Hospitals were on alert a few years back and most likely still are.

Do not let the pundits fool you or engage in red herring tactics when it comes to elections. For every soldier we cut back, they are replaced with a private contractor or mercenary. It is still your tax tab. The whole world of the proverbial, “shadow government,” has little to do with Presidential elections, but the armchair State Department mavens think it does. So, this issue is a near tie for both candidates, with a small edge going to POTUS, since he actually knows who runs the shadow government.

With the total veteran population at 23,067,000.  7,653, ooo from the Vietnam era. 5,507,000 from the Gulf War era. Korean conflict, 2,261,000. and World War ll at ,2,272,000 and peacetime veterans at 5,892.000. Female veterans representing 7.9% of all veterans at 1,824,00 and one-in-five males over 18 years of age being veterans, it can be said that this is one of the most diverse and amorphous body politics in America.

My prediction is that the combination of the Vietnam Veterans and women veterans who are somewhat concerned about Mitt Romney’s bellicosity without grounding, combined with the 40% Independent OEF/OIF veterans, will tip the election to the return of Obama.

Respect the process and our most amazing system of checks and balances. Read Article One of the Constitution, pray unceasingly, and know that America will always prevail with dignity.

Now if the actuaries were to project these costs out for the next 50 years, the length of time a young disabled soldier will live from this day forward, we may then get a grasp on the real cost of war.

 
Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables – Effective 12/1/11
Basic Rates – 10%-100% Combined Degree Only

Rates (No Dependents): 10% – 20%
Without Children
With Children
30% – 60% 30% – 60%
70% – 100% 70% – 100%
To find out how to use these rate tables CLICK HERE
________________________________

10% – 20% (No Dependents)
Percentage
Rate
10% $127
20% $251

30% – 60% Without Children
Dependent Status
30%
40%
50%
60%
Veteran Alone $389 $560 $797 $1009
Veteran with Spouse Only $435 $622 $874 $1102
Veteran with Spouse & One Parent $472 $671 $936 $1176
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $509 $720 $998 $1250
Veteran with One Parent $426 $609 $859 $1083
Veteran with Two Parents $463 $658 $921 $1157
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) $42 $56 $71 $84

70% – 100% Without Children
Dependent Status
70%
80%
90%
100%
Veteran Alone $1,272 $1,478 $1,661 $2,769
Veteran with Spouse Only $1,380 $1,602 $1,800 $2,924
Veteran with Spouse & One Parent $1,466 $1,701 $1,911 $3,048
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $1,552 $1,800 $2,022 $3,172
Veteran with One Parent $1,358 $1,577 $1,772 $2,893
Veteran with Two Parents $1,444 $1,676 $1,883 $3,017
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) $99 $112 $127 $141

30% – 60% With Children
Dependent Status
30%
40%
50%
60%
Veteran with Spouse & Child $469 $667 $931 $1169
Veteran with Child Only $420 $601 $849 $1071
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child $506 $716 $993 $1243
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child $543 $765 $1055 $1,317
Veteran with One Parent and Child $457 $650 $911 $1145
Veteran with Two Parents and Child $494 $699 $973 $1219
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 $23 $30 $38 $46
Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a) $74 $99 $124 $148
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) $42 $56 $71 $84

70% – 100% With Children
Dependent Status
70%
80%
90%
100%
Veteran with Spouse & Child $1,459 $1,692 $1,902 $3,037
Veteran with Child Only $1,344 $1,561 $1,754 $2,873
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child $1,545 $1,791 $2,013 $3,161
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child $1,631 $1,890 $2,124 $3,285
Veteran with One Parent and Child $1,430 $1,660 $1,865 $2,997
Veteran with Two Parents and Child $1,516 $1,759 $1,976 $3,121
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 $53 $61 $69 $77
Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a) $173 $198 $223 $248
Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) $99 $112 $127 $141

FOOTNOTES:
1. Rates for each school child are shown separately. They are not included with
any other compensation rates. All other entries on this chart reflecting a rate
for children show the rate payable for children under 18 or helpless. To find
the amount payable to a 70% disabled veteran with a spouse and four children,
one of whom is over 18 and attending school, take the 70% rate for a veteran
with a spouse and 3 children, $ 1,565, and add the rate for one school child,
$173. The total amount payable is $1,738.

2. Where the veteran has a spouse who is determined to require A/A, add the
figure shown as “additional for A/A spouse” to the amount shown for the proper
dependency code. For example, veteran has A/A spouse and 2 minor children and is
70% disabled. Add $99, additional for A/A spouse, to the rate for a 70% veteran
with dependency code 12, $1,512. The total amount payable is $ 1,611.

To find out how to use these rate tables CLICK HERE.
For prior rate tables on this topic choose
one:  12-1-2009  12-1-2008  12-1-2007  12-1-2006  12-1-2005  12-1-2004
12-1-2003  12-1-2002  12-1-2001  12-1-2000  12-1-1999.
If you do not have Microsoft Word software installed, you may download free
viewer and reader software to view the document cited below.
For additional historic rate charts on this topic CLICK HERE.

God Bless
Jose M. Garcia PNC
National Service Officer
Catholic War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
In God We Trust

The exponential increase in the rate of military and veteran suicides in the past year is not a  sideshow to our war on terrorism, it is a war of its own, a war against a terrorized psyche.

Approximately 7000 veterans and active duty military service members have cashed in their mortal lives in the past couple years. For each combatant killed in action 25 are dying by suicide.

“The dog barks and the caravan passes.”

In a new-found healthy and supportive environment of, “support the troops,” contrary to the Vietnam war where the suicides were off the charts, (111,000 est.), the dominant culture has not yet penetrated the impact of 4-5 tours of duty for these young warriors. Neither have the clinical mental health professionals. They may understand the symptoms,but few have discerned the full impact of multiple deployments.

“Understanding is the booby prize.” Werner Erhard

Tons of veterans have shared with me how well clinicians understand what many veterans of combat call the “checklist PTSD” therapy. They have a good fund of knowledge about the litany of symptoms, but often lack the bonding ability to lead them out of the nightmarish morass of somatic hell.  I do not fault them. They cannot be expected to go to the depths of existential pain that is the burden of many returning veterans. Only their comrades can go there.

A former Army combat platoon leader in Vietnam, Bill Black, observes, “this lack of bonding moves the veteran into isolation and knowing that no one is touching his/her environment, they just stop listening.”

Lydia Brewer, who assists in managing a website, (LivingWithPTSDwives.yuku.com), for the wives of veterans for the past 11 years, indicates , “they know the problems they have right up front, because of the screening process and all the outreach programs.”  She states, “that has a paradoxical component in that unlike you guys who had a healthy dose of repression and denial, but still maintained some hope for your future, these young soldiers are told upon mustering out that they are damaged goods  which may well interfere with some natural hope for the future.”

“One who reaps the wind, sows the storm.” With upwards of 50,000 troops rotating to polite society in the next two years, we have yet to see the eye of the storm, in all its manifestations of adaptive behavior and all too frequent career ending self destructive habits.

Again Bill Black asserts, “the national discussion of employment, the economy and abortion relegate veteran suicides to a side show.”  With fewer that 1% of the nation serving in the Armed Forces, the lowest since WWI this topic of suicide makes headlines and dies there for lack of resonation in the community.

These veterans are returning to a nation in angst and a house divided. A well trained soldier is skilled, not just in the art of warfare, but in the unseen talent of absorbing the dangers of their entire milieu, both physical and mental.  It is  a survival trait.

One may assert that the collective mental apparatus of one nation under God, has gone askew. Short of autocratic rule few see this pugilistic mindset that permeates the land coming into a state of equilibrium in the near future.

The soldier is but the new canary in the mine shaft–first to feel, first to manifest the symptoms of a democracy at risk. A sovereignty that has sold its soul to global and corporate interests, with us as the cops.  A Republic yes, but a divisive populace that mimics the very fragmented nation states that they were fighting to stabilize.

In many respects the polarity experienced from the day they kiss American soil, mirrors the chaos of the enemies turf. Separating these worlds is a daunting task for any sentient being. We owe them more mature governing, and much more truth.

Electing to serve your nation in the Armed Forces is not just a job, it is the adoption of an identity, a replacement of the self for a mission that embodies the assumed unified cause of your mother country. That unified mission, upon return to civilian or state side duty is vacant in our nations leaders. We are subsumed with greed and self serving motives, leaving the submerged identity of the sailor, soldier, Marine with few causes to adopt. So they isolate in an uncanny way just like the veterans of Vietnam.

They begin their daily lives to the cacophony of waring political parties and their assigns, knowing full well that this drama of fools and court jesters is playing to an Al Jezzera audience every day and assisting in the recruiting of more insurgents. We owe them more maturity.

The transitioning veteran is  queried incessantly by the red and blue state mavens, many wanting to use them for political gain. They isolate.

“We have met the enemy and the enemy is us.”  Military suicides beg for a national debate, the nature of which a repressed  populace in disconnect about the nature of war is ill prepared. I suggest we prepare before entering the next war, or we will have a social fabric so frayed that it will take decades to heal.

It is this writers belief that the death instinct is a primary inherent form of aggression that we are born with…a desire to unbind all connections and return to a null peaceful state where one can begin anew. The multiple tour veteran has little opportunity to renew–ergo, the internalized aggression. Ironically the canary is mirroring our nations aggression turned inward.

Why is this not worthy of a national debate?

“Boys with a normal viewpoint were taken from the fields and offices and factories and classrooms and put into the ranks. They were remolded; and they were made over; they were made to ‘about face’, to regard murder as the order of the day. They were put shoulder to shoulder, and through mass psychology and they were entirely changed. We used them for a couple of years and trained them to think nothing at all of killing or of being killed. Then suddenly we discharged them and told them to make another ‘about face. This time they had to do their own readjusting without mass psychology, without officers aid and advice, without nation wide propaganda. We didn’t need them any more so we scattered them without speeches or parades. Many, too many of these fine young boys are eventually destroyed, mentally, because they would not make that final, ‘about face’ alone.”   This was written by Smedley D. Butler, Major General United States Marine Corps. Two -time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He was referencing soldiers in World War l ! The, “war to end all wars.”

Ignoring this national epidemic is form of suicide.

This ongoing struggle for full reconciliation and justice by retired Major Carter, does indeed seem to have merit. Until informed to the contrary by readers and/or other officials, I will continue to put this forth to cyberspace for the test of truth.  Having been affected by Agent Orange myself, and knowing how long this battle has lingered for many, I am a bit sympathetic to the cause. Feel free dear readers to correct or refute Major Carter’s claims.

Today, an informed, expert opinion was published from yet another eminent scientist with an international reputation in Agent Orange issues. Dr. Dwernychuk firmly endorsed the opinions of Drs. Sinks, Berman, Goeppner and Stellman. These experts together have weighed in against the VA’s dismissal of C-123 aircrew exposure concerns, insisting that the airplanes left us exposed to dioxin. Along with the American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America, these scientists are our A Team as we approach the VA.

Strategy: our approach has many facets. First, we are trying to get the first of our veteran’s claims approved, and then use it to help justify subsequent applications and appeals. Second, we seek the leadership from American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America in arranging a sit-down with Secretary Shinseki to ask him to use his authority to do what’s right…designate C-123 veterans to be presumptively exposed to Agent Orange. Chipping in here will be the Third Estate…Tom Philpott and others. Finally, because and new legislation could only come about long after we’re pushing up daisies, we need our legislators, the public and other veterans to help us advance claims by precedent-establishing court rulings (that means a three-judge BVA decision rather than single judge.)

The VA opinion Dr. Wayne Dwernychuk discusses is my own (attached)! On September 25 my own application for Agent Orange exposure benefits was turned down by the VA’s director of Compensation Services, Mr. Tom Murphy himself. That gentleman has maintained since our struggle began that C-123 veterans will not receive Agent Orange benefits…and he’s showing how determined he and the VA are to prevent our access to medical care.

Our veterans’ effort will continue to present scientific experts who oppose the VA’s position, written by Dr. T. Irons who started working for the VA last year after receiving a PhD…putting a background in fish toxicology to good use helping the VA deny C-123 veterans our Agent Orange benefits.

Cheers!
Wes Carter, Chair, C-123 Veterans Association
Mission Statement:VA Recognition ofAgent Orange Exposure by C-123 Veterans
Email: rustysilverwings@gmail.com
Web:  C123KCANCER.BLOGSPOT.COM
wwww.c123cancer.org