The Veteran's Newsletter (10/31)

Author

Hagen McMenemy
October 31, 2024

Welcome to the Veteran’s Newsletter!

In today's edition:

  • VA sets record for veteran care and benefits, plan further expansion amid rising demand.

  • Despite VA’s expanded rideshare program for rural veterans, transportation challenges continues.

  • A beloved military dog is reunited with his former handler after retirement.

  • The VA outlines tips for staying safe from scams and hackers during the holiday season.

  • The VA is streamlining access to mental health residential programs for veterans.

  • The story of an Iraq War hero.

  • And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

In fiscal year 2024, the VA reached record-high medical care and disability benefits, delivering 127.5 million healthcare appointments and processing 2.5 million disability claims. The growth, partly driven by the PACT Act’s expansion of benefits for toxic exposure, saw a 37% rise in VA health enrollments over two years. Secretary Denis McDonough announced plans to expand further benefits, including adding cancers linked to toxic exposure at K2 and burn pit-related conditions like leukemia and multiple myeloma, leveraging the PACT Act to expedite approvals. Despite achievements, the VA faces a potential $12 billion funding shortfall for 2025, prompting upcoming discussions on a budget increase to meet veterans' needs.

Army veteran John Polk and other volunteers from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provide essential transportation to VA appointments for veterans in rural areas, where rideshare options like Uber are scarce. The VA recently expanded its VA-Uber Health Connect program nationwide after a successful pilot, aiming to reduce the 1.8 million missed appointments that cost the agency $4.4 billion annually. However, the program faces limitations in rural regions, leaving many veterans without transportation. 

Efforts like the proposed Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act aim to increase funding for transport services, but legislation progress has stalled. The DAV continues to bridge this gap, providing over 245,000 rides in 2023 alone and donating vans to VA facilities, while veterans in remote areas like Steve Johnson struggle to access timely transport for critical care.

After more than two years apart, retired military working dog Dasty, a 10-year-old Dutch Shepherd, has finally been reunited with his former handler, U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Fletcher, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During their service, Fletcher and Dasty formed a strong bond, including a deployment in Afghanistan where Dasty detected IEDs, boosting base morale and protecting troops. 

The pair later participated in Secret Service missions but were separated when Fletcher left the Army. With the help of American Humane, Dasty made his way to Wisconsin in October 2024, with the nonprofit covering his travel and lifelong veterinary care.

📜 VBA Updates

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, scammers are ready to exploit online shoppers. To stay safe, verify websites for secure “https” connections and reliable contact info—missing sections like “About Us” could indicate fraud. Email inbox filters aren’t foolproof, so approach all emails cautiously, avoiding unfamiliar links or attachments. 

Phone callers may sound friendly but can still be scammers; don’t share personal info unless you verify their identity. Likewise, be skeptical of ads on social media and independently research unfamiliar businesses. Ignore unexpected “order confirmation” texts and report them as junk. These quick precautions can help protect your information and ensure a safe shopping season.

Sponsored by Hill & Ponton, Veteran Benefits Attorneys

In service of our nation, you gave everything you had. You sacrificed your comfort, your peace, and sometimes even your well-being. If the VA denied your rightful benefits, give the team at Hill & Ponton a call today to see how they can help you on your benefits journey.

Use the VA Disability Calculator on the Hill & Ponton website today to calculate your monthly compensation.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

The VA is enhancing access to its mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs) with a focus on faster and more efficient admissions. These programs support Veterans with substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions. In fiscal year 2024, over 27,000 Veterans received treatment at RRTPs, and the VA can support even more.

To improve access, VA is implementing a new centralized screening process, piloted in a Midwestern region, to streamline bed placements and reduce wait times. Dr. Tamara Campbell, the VA's Office of Mental Health executive director, emphasized the need for consistency and coordination in screenings across regions to serve Veterans better. 

This centralized approach allows Veterans and providers to contact a single regional screening team, simplifying admissions and reducing the average wait time from screening to admission to 16 days. VA plans to expand centralized screening across all regions by the Summer of 2025, with early data showing reduced wait times and higher acceptance rates, which could further improve Veterans’ access to lifesaving care.

Veteran App of the Week

Developed by the VA, The Couples Coach app is designed to help partners strengthen their relationships through structured activities and guidance. Tailored for all couples, including those where one partner may be experiencing PTSD, the app provides tools and exercises to improve communication, manage conflict, and enhance emotional connection. Couples engage in "missions" and use exercises like “Using I Messages” and “Active Listening” to address relationship dynamics.

The app features five levels of relationship-building exercises and offers access to local resources, including a couples counseling locator for those needing additional support beyond the app. While it’s not a substitute for professional counseling, Couples Coach aims to be a helpful supplement for couples working on relationship challenges.

Military Deals of the Week

*We do not explicitly endorse any of these companies as we have not personally purchased from many of them. We are simply sharing online deals that we have found for your convenience.

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Ross McGinnis

Specialist Ross A. McGinnis was born in Meadville, PA, on June 14, 1987. At three, his family moved to Knox, PA, where he attended Clarion County public schools. McGinnis grew up with a love for sports, humor, and cars. He played basketball, soccer, and baseball, later pursuing automotive technology to become a mechanic in the Army. His desire to serve emerged early on, and at 17, he joined the U.S. Army through a delayed entry program.

After high school, McGinnis completed training at Fort Benning, GA, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. Known for his dedication and lighthearted personality, McGinnis earned a reputation among his comrades as a “joker” who could always lift spirits.

In Aug. 2006, McGinnis deployed to Iraq as an M2 .50-caliber machine gunner during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. On Dec. 4, while on patrol, an insurgent threw a grenade into his Humvee. 

Rather than escape through the gunner’s hatch, McGinnis chose to shield his fellow soldiers by covering the grenade with his body, absorbing the explosion, and saving all four crew members—Staff Sgt. Ian Newland, Sgt. Lyle Buehler, Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas, and Spc. Sean Lawson. McGinnis was killed instantly.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless act, making him one of the youngest recipients of this honor in the Iraq War. 

His other decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. McGinnis’s courage, acting “above and beyond the call of duty,” exemplifies the Army’s core values of duty, loyalty, and personal courage. His legacy continues to inspire as a profound example of dedication and sacrifice.

Businesses That Support Veterans

[Link & Name of business here]

[Add text here about the business - 1-2 paragraphs explaining what they do and how they help veterans]

Brand New DD214?

Military Times published a great guide to transitioning from the military to civilian life. It’s a good primer for those who are starting the transition, even if it was sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union. It’s still decent in our book.

Hill & Ponton’s resource for applying for VA benefits. This page walks you through the basic steps of applying, what forms you need to fill out, and what the process looks like.

If you read through the guide from Hill & Ponton and decide that you need assistance with filing a claim, the VA has a search tool to find a Veteran Service Organization in your area.

HireHeroesUSA is one of the many veteran job boards we found online. It seems to offer a good mix of job types available around the country.

Corporate Gray helps military veterans transition to civilian careers by organizing job fairs, providing a job board for veterans and employers, and offering career resources such as resume writing and interview preparation guides. They also publish "The Military-to-Civilian Transition Guide" and support employers in hiring veterans.

You might be sweating slightly if you’re looking to buy a house in this market. Luckily, the VA has a resource that can help you understand the VA home loan program and give you an advantage when putting in that offer.

Thank You For Your Service!

Not every service member may receive the Medal of Honor or garner widespread recognition, but that doesn't diminish the invaluable contributions each one has made to the sanctity and security of our great nation. 

The saying "freedom isn't free" holds profound truth–it resonates because every individual in the United States relies on the dedication of its military to safeguard the freedoms they enjoy. Each veteran has consciously defended these liberties, symbolizing a collective commitment to the nation's well-being. 

Whether you fought on the front lines or provided crucial support behind the scenes, thank you!

Weekly Satisfaction Poll

What did you think of this week's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Until Next Time!

Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we’ll cover more stories and policy updates and find tools & deals for the veteran community.

Thanks,

The Veterans Newsletter