ARMED SERVICES CORNER
NEWS & EVENTS
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? HAVE TIME TO HELP? VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
The event on December 17th was a huge success with over 250 volunteers laying 2,800 wreaths on the graves of heroes! This was better than last year but still shy of the goal of 3,411 wreaths needed to have one for each grave. Now they need volunteers to remove those wreaths. Clean-up will take place on Saturday, January 28th at noon. You can park at the Cemetary; there will be no shuttle. If you have questions, call Becky at 928-533-1897. VA DESPERATELY NEEDS Ambassadors, Greenhouse, Wheelchair Assistants, etc. They had 300 volunteers prior to Covid but only 40 now. If you have time to help, call Volunteer Services at 928-776-6013.They can use Ambassadors at the information desk, Wheelchair Assistants, help in the ER room with lab work, Greenhouse, and many other opportunities. There is a process of getting fingerprinted and a background check, but they make it fast and easy, and the work is very rewarding. AMERICAN LEGION HONOR GUARD POST 6 PRESCOTT NEEDS MORE MEMBERS – Military Background not Required The American Legion Post 6 Honor Guard performs services to recognize Veterans at their burials. They have had several members who have aged out so they are actively seeking individuals, military or not, to become part of their team. They will train you! In the past 2 months, members have donated 550 hours of service to the VA for 61 veterans and 5 Color Guard events. If you want to become part of this prestigious group, contact Dan Tillman at 928-273-5146. ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Another volunteer opportunity is with the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). These volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve. Contact is Larry Jacobs, Regional Director at 602-380-3829. UPCOMING EVENTS:
Disposal of American Flags
If you have a damaged American flag that you need to dispose of properly, bring it to the monthly RWOP luncheons where we will have a drop box. Judi Williams, Hospitality and RWOP singer, will take them to the American Legion Post 6 or VFW Post 541 which handles that process. 
My Healthy Vet
This is a great tool for veterans to see their medical appointments, prescriptions, and medical records, order prescriptions, and even send messages to their medical team. They often get back to you the same day but will reply in 2 days at most. You can enroll at www.myhealth.va.gov/ and click the REGISTER button. For questions contact Destiny Sanchez, the My Healthy Vet Coordinator. She will be happy to assist you. You can call 928-445-4860 x6488 to make an appointment.. You can also do a video appointment. They need to see you first for visual authentication. Telehealth medicine is especially important in Northern Arizona where NAVAHCS covers an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island with 33, 000 veterans. There are Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) to help, but often a tele visit is easier for veterans and families. The VA wants to make it easier to have veterans to connect with their providers over smartphones, computers, or iPads. If you don't have any of these, you can utilize a computer at the public library, but also the VA will give veterans an iPad. The veteran just needs to provide internet access. On April 21st, there will be a new Veterans Health Resource Center (VHRC) where you can sit down with a local person to get help downloading apps to track your appointments, etc. You just need to bring your iPad or smartphone, and they will help you get set up. More information will be forthcoming as it is available. CLAIMS CLINIC FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AND NOW EVERY WEDNESDAY! If you want to file a claim or check on the status of a claim, the Claims Clinic is the perfect place to do that. Sherry Le Mountain holds one on the first Wednesday of every month . She is in Building 154 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mr. Castro from the Arizona Dept of Veteran Services is also holding a Claims Clinic every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Theatre, Building 15. FREE OUTDOOR RETREATS FOR PURPLE HEART VETERANS-The Warrior Bonfire Program The goal of the Warrior Bonfire Program is to support post-9/11 Purple Heart Veterans. They organize outdoor retreats to build friendships and camaraderie at events such as golfing, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. The Warrior Bonfire Program’s tagline is “pain shared is pain divided; joy shared is joy multiplied.” The Warrior Bonfire Program also organizes an initiative called Bonfire Leaders. That program consists of Purple Heart Veterans who have gone through the program and decided they want to give back in various ways. They are trained to be leaders for retreats, speakers, and mentors, and to serve as peer support for Veterans during stressful times. Veterans can register at https://warriorbonfireprogram.org. PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins) Act
Congress passed the Pact Act on August 10, 2022, that expands eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and extends this to veterans of the Viet Nam, Gulf War, and Post-9/11 eras and their survivors. The Act suggests that service members who had environmental exposures get tested. It could be things like hearing issues due to noise, burn pits, toxins like Agent Orange, etc. You can get more information about this Act by going to va.gov/PACT. The difference is that before this Act, the burden of proof was on the Veteran. This Act includes presumptive conditions like cancers that they presume are a result of your service if the condition occurred as a result of serving during certain times. Enrolled veterans will get a free initial toxic exposure screening, then a follow-up screening every 5 years. The screening is not intrusive, just a series of questions that takes 5 minutes. Nearly 1,800 veterans have been screened already. Of those veterans 41% were exposed; 12% didn’t know; and 47% had no exposure. To enroll, even if just for this coverage, go to VA.gov/healthcare/apply/application/introduction or call 877-222-8387, M-F, 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’ve been turned down before, apply again. The rules for eligibility change. The benefits are being paid out now and will be back-dated to August 2022, when the act was signed. The VA warns all Veterans about SCAMS. You do not need a third-party company to fill out the application for you. Often these companies will give you a blank form to sign and say they will fill it out and mail it, or they will have you sign a contract giving them a percentage of your benefits. If you need assistance, go to an accredited group by the VA such as DAV, VFW, or other local Veteran Service Organizations. This Act provides Veterans and their survivors with the benefits and care they have earned and deserve. 
Veterans of Foreign Wars – Post 541
If you’re a veteran who has been in combat or a battle zone, VFW Post 541 welcomes new members. Their mission is to be a voice for veterans, deployed military, and their families to secure rights and benefits. They meet the first Thursday of every month. The address is 202 N. Arizona Avenue in Prescott. For questions call 928-776-1125; email info@vfwpost541.org or visit vfw541.org. |
Issues:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For more info, please contact: Armed Services Chairwoman Deb Robbins phxlass@cox.net ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ RESOURCE FAIRS/STAND DOWNS
Wickenburg will have a Resource Fair and Stand Down on January 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be speakers, food, and information on how the VA can help you and your family. This is put on by Community Services. Fort Defiance - Navajo Reservation will have a Resource Fair and Stand Down on Wednesday, January 25th. 
Mesothelioma Hope offers free resources that are reviewed by certified oncologists and provide detailed information about mesothelioma and its impact on veterans. 1 out of 3 mesothelioma patients are veterans so our mission is to raise awareness about this cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
1 out of 3 Mesothelioma Patients is a Veteran. 
To get details on Events for Veterans, go to: https://www.va.gov/northern-arizona-health-care/events/
With this card you can get discounts in many places. Veterans Discounts
Papa Murphys - get 25% off your order! Location: 3298 N. Glassford Hill Rd. Ste 105 in Prescott Valley. Ben, the manager, has been doing this for years and welcomes veterans.
DRIVE-THROUGH FLU CLINIC – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
FREE CAREER GUIDANCE FOR VETERANS FROM FORTUNE 500 MENTORS
CORPORATE PARTNERS HELP VETS GET JOBS American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping military post-9/11 Veterans get civilian jobs. ACP provides quick career advice and networking, with an unlimited amount of business leaders in its free online question-and-answer community. ACP also has a weekly LinkedIn Live series that connects Veterans directly to partner companies and hiring managers every Wednesday. To get started visit ACP’s website and fill out a brief application where you can answer questions about your career goals, military experience, and mentoring preferences. LIFE INSURANCE FOR VETERANS VA Insurance Service is highlighting its mission to provide our Nation’s Veterans, service members, and military families with life insurance products and services. There are several life insurance programs available for service-connected Veterans and upcoming changes will expand the benefit to even more Veterans in honor of their service. Currently, Veterans with service-connected disabilities have Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI). New enrollment for this ended on December 31, 2022. On January 1, 2023, VA Life, began. For more information about these insurance programs visit https://www.va.gov/life-insurance. |
VFW’s Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship Applications for Fall Semester The VFW offers scholarships up to $5,000 and you can apply between January 1 and April 30. Scholarships will be awarded in August for the Fall Semester. There are qualifications such as: U.S. Citizen; Retired, Honorably Discharged, or Active Military or a member of the National Guard or Reserve; Have completed Basic and Advanced Training; E5 or below rank; Show the need for assistance. Go to vfw.org/assistance/student-veterans-support for details and to apply. CAREGIVER BENEFITS TO EXPAND TO ALL VETERANS
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022! Veterans of all eras were eligible for caregiver benefits on Oct. 1, 2022, an expansion that is expected to add thousands of families to the program in 2023. It is designed to support and compensate full-time caregivers providing at-home assistance to severely wounded veterans. The caregiver support line (855-260-3274) is ready and has double the number of staff on board in case anyone has any issues or concerns. For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefits/ to apply and complete VA form 10-10CG. |
MILLION VETERANS PROGRAM (MVP)
VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) is a research program working to improve the health and wellness of Veterans. They want to enroll one million Veterans in 2023 and want women to have more representation in their research. If more women join MVP, then MVP can strengthen its research findings for Women Veterans of all backgrounds. Women who have served in the military have additional factors that affect breast cancer, depression, PTSD (women are twice as likely to experience this as men), and military sexual trauma, to name a few. Visit https://www.research.va.gov/mvp/ for more information. The Center for Women Veterans (CWV) is sharing information about recently published research related to women Veterans on a monthly basis. Go to: https://va.gov/womenvet/reseach. Women Veterans, if you are receiving health care in a non-VA facility, it is important to let your provider know about your military service and how that can impact your health care needs. Let your non-VA healthcare teams know about this free, one-hour, accredited training course they may take to learn ways to provide women Veterans with the best care possible. Use this link to the training module: “Caring for Women Veterans” https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/non-va-clinicians.asp |
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Donations:
DAV accepts clothing, housewares, furniture etc. DAV has trucks to pick up large items.
US VETS accepts food donations for their food pantry (RWOP just donated $1,500 to them thanks to you). They also need NEW sheets and pillows for the transitional housing. Take items to the U.S. VETS Outreach Center at 1040 Whipple Street, front building
US VETS accepts food donations for their food pantry (RWOP just donated $1,500 to them thanks to you). They also need NEW sheets and pillows for the transitional housing. Take items to the U.S. VETS Outreach Center at 1040 Whipple Street, front building
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