Welcome to the Veterans’ Newsletter!

In today's edition:

• A unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favor of Marine veteran Simon Soto clears the way for thousands of medically retired Veterans to claim retroactive combat-related compensation.

• Changes to VA anti-discrimination bylaws spark backlash from lawmakers and advocates concerned about weakened protections and potential bias in care.

• Monthly premiums for SGLI, FSGLI, and VGLI life insurance plans will drop starting July 1, 2025, easing financial strain for Veterans, service members, and their families.

• Up to $16 million in grant funding is now available to community programs offering adaptive sports and therapy services to disabled Veterans; applications close July 2.

• And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door to Retroactive Combat Pay for Thousands of Veterans

Thousands of medically retired veterans may now be eligible for additional retroactive combat-related special compensation (CRSC) following a unanimous Supreme Court ruling favoring Marine Corps veteran Simon Soto. The decision ends the government’s previous enforcement of a six-year statute of limitations on retroactive CRSC payments for veterans with less than 20 years of service.

Soto, a 100% disabled Iraq War veteran, argued that the Navy incorrectly capped his back pay based on the Barring Act. The Court ruled that the 2008 statute governing CRSC supersedes the Barring Act’s six-year limit, allowing qualifying veterans to receive full retroactive payments regardless of when they filed. Legal advocates say the decision could benefit up to 9,000 veterans.

The ruling marks the conclusion of a years-long legal battle that began in 2017 and affirms that combat-disabled veterans are entitled to the full value of benefits Congress intended. Advocacy groups and attorneys praised the outcome, calling it a long-overdue correction that ensures veterans receive the compensation they earned through their service.

VA Denies Claims Bylaws Change Allows Discrimination by Health Providers

The VA faces backlash after revising its anti-discrimination bylaws for medical staff, replacing explicit protections—like age, politics, marital status, and disability—with a general reference to “legally protected status.” The Guardian reported the change could allow providers to deny care based on personal beliefs or political affiliation, prompting criticism from lawmakers and veterans’ groups. The VA insists that the shift aligns language with federal law and White House directives and will not impact who receives care.

VA officials, including Secretary Doug Collins, have called the report false and misleading. They emphasize that all eligible Veterans will continue to receive the care and benefits they’ve earned. A VA spokesperson said the change was made in consultation with the Joint Commission and maintains compliance with legal standards.

Critics—including Sen. Patty Murray and the American Medical Association—warn that the update undermines the VA’s previously broad nondiscrimination stance and bypasses staff governance norms. While The Guardian stands by its story, it is considering adding more context based on post-publication responses from the VA.

📜 VBA Updates

VA Announces Lower Life Insurance Premiums for Service Members, Spouses, and Veterans Starting July 2025

Beginning July 1, 2025, the VA will reduce monthly premiums for life insurance across several programs, making coverage more affordable for active-duty service members, spouses, and Veterans. The move reflects the VA’s continued commitment to improving financial security for those who serve.

For Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), the premium rate will drop from $0.06 to $0.05 per $1,000 of coverage, reducing the monthly maximum coverage cost to $26 (including Traumatic Injury Protection). For Family SGLI (FSGLI), spousal premium discounts will range from 11% to 22%, averaging about 13%, depending on age. Dependent child coverage remains free. No action is required—new rates will apply automatically.

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) premiums will also decrease across all age groups, with reductions ranging from 2% to 17% (an average of 11%). The Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance will notify VGLI policyholders, and no action is needed unless payment adjustments are required.

The VA encourages all insured individuals to review their coverage and beneficiary designations. More details on updated rates are available at VA Insurance Updates.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

VA Offers $16M in Grants to Support Adaptive Sports and Therapy for Disabled Veterans.

The VA is now accepting applications for its Adaptive Sports Grant Program, offering up to $16 million in funding to community organizations that support disabled Veterans and active duty service members through adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation. Applications are open through July 2, 2025, via Grants.gov.

The program funds a wide range of activities—from pickleball and skiing to equine-assisted therapy—and aims to improve physical and mental well-being while expanding access to underserved regions. In FY2024, the initiative reached over 15,500 participants through 91 organizations across the U.S. and territories. Eligible non-federal organizations with experience in adaptive sports or equine therapy are encouraged to apply under VA-SPORTS-25 or VA-EQUINE-25.

Veteran App of the Week

VetChange

VetChange is a free, confidential app built to support Veterans who want to take control of their drinking, especially those navigating stress, trauma, or the lingering effects of deployment. Whether you’re looking to cut back, quit entirely, or understand your habits better, VetChange offers fundamental tools and guidance to help you stay grounded and in charge.

Created specifically for Veterans, the app combines flexible self-assessments, coping strategies, and daily check-ins to help you track your progress and manage cravings. It’s ideal for those adjusting to civilian life or dealing with emotional stress, sleep issues, or triggers tied to alcohol. With step-by-step exercises rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, VetChange gives you practical, judgment-free support wherever and whenever you need it.

You can use VetChange completely on your own. No sign-up, no pressure. However, it also connects seamlessly with VA mental health resources if you want additional support. Whether you’re just starting to reflect on your drinking or actively working toward change, VetChange offers a Veteran-focused path forward. It’s available on iOS and Android and designed to meet you where you are; no lectures, just tools that work.

Veteran Community Highlight

VFW Post 2566 – Iron Rock Post

Founded in Folsom, California, VFW Post 6604 – Folsom Veterans Hall is a vibrant local chapter operating out of the historic Veterans Hall on Forrest Street. Open to Veterans from WWII through post-9/11 conflicts, it provides a welcoming space for fellowship, support, and service.

At its core, Post 6604 offers structured social and outreach programs to support Veterans’ well‑being. The commander hosts weekday office hours (10 AM–noon) with complimentary coffee, and the canteen is open afternoons and weekends. They host monthly business meetings, community events like Veteran Day parades, Buddy Poppy fundraisers, and support initiatives for PTSD awareness and veteran outreach.

Post 6604 also actively engages local youth through their Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship programs, celebrating student winners each year. They offer hall rental for private events, complete with a kitchen, bar, BBQ area, and lawn space, making the hall a community hub.

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.

• 50% Off: onX Fish

• 15% Off: Crocs

• 10% Off: Weber Grills

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Cornelius H. Charlton

Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton was born on July 24, 1929, in the small mining town of East Gulf, WV. He was raised in the Bronx, New York, after his family relocated during his childhood in search of greater opportunity. As a student, Charlton was known for his strong sense of discipline, leadership, and quiet determination. After graduating from James Monroe High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 at the age of 17, driven by a deep desire to serve his country despite the racial segregation still present in the military at the time.

Following basic training and early service, Charlton sought more active combat roles and was eventually assigned to Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division during the Korean War. The 24th Infantry was one of the last segregated units in the U.S. Army, and while the unit faced systemic bias and limited support, Charlton proved himself a natural leader. By 1951, he had earned the rank of sergeant and volunteered to lead a rifle squad in one of the war’s most challenging environments.

On June 2, 1951, near the town of Chipo-ri, Charlton’s platoon was ordered to capture Hill 543, a steep, fortified ridge controlled by well-entrenched enemy forces. When the platoon leader was seriously wounded early in the assault, Charlton took command without hesitation. Under intense fire from rifles, grenades, and machine guns, he led his men up the hillside and personally destroyed two enemy positions with grenades and rifle fire. During the fighting, Charlton was struck by shrapnel and wounded in the chest, but he refused medical attention and continued pushing forward, encouraging his men and pressing the attack.

As they neared the summit, he led a charge on a third enemy emplacement. Though weakened and bleeding, he advanced alone toward the bunker, but was mortally wounded by a grenade blast just before reaching it. His actions were instrumental in capturing the objective, and his fearless leadership in the face of overwhelming danger inspired his men and turned the tide of the engagement.

Charlton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on March 19, 1952. He was one of only two Black Americans to receive the Medal of Honor for valor in the Korean War and was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. At just 21 years old, he had demonstrated extraordinary courage, selflessness, and a level of leadership well beyond his years.

Charlton’s legacy has continued to grow in the decades since his death. In 2001, the US Army honored him by naming a large roll-on/roll-off cargo ship the USNS Charlton. His story stands as a powerful example of how Black service members fought not only the enemy abroad but prejudice at home and within their own ranks. Sergeant Cornelius Charlton’s bravery, sacrifice, and integrity endure as a lasting reminder of the unrecognized heroism that helped shape American history.

Businesses That Support Veterans

Woodworking with Warriors

Woodworking with Warriors is a nonprofit organization based in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, dedicated to supporting combat-wounded Veterans and active-duty service members through traditional hand-tool woodworking. Founded by Veterans and craftsmen, the organization offers free, immersive retreats in a peaceful rural workshop. These retreats introduce participants to joinery and safety techniques while fostering focus, mindfulness, and peer support.

Small-group woodworking sessions framed as therapeutic crafts are at the heart of the program. Veterans work alongside peers to build wood projects using traditional tools—an environment that encourages connection, patience, and the quiet resilience honing craft can bring. Everything is provided, from transportation and lodging to meals and materials, ensuring no cost barrier for participants.

Graduates frequently report reduced stress, stronger self-esteem, and renewed purpose, reflecting the healing power of skill-centered community building. By combining craftsmanship with compassion, Woodworking with Warriors offers a meaningful path toward recovery, one project at a time.

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!

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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