Veterans Report

VA Increases the GI Bill Rates: $39,636
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that the GI Bill will soon be worth $39,636 - a total increase of nearly $1,000 over last year's rate. This total is based on the new monthly full-time student payment rate of $1,101 multiplied by the 36-month limit. More

Deal of the Week: Military Special Discounts
On the road a lot? Get car charger for only $5.99 when purchasing a Samsung Synch. Certain Restrictions apply. Shop AT&T 24/7. More

$417K Cap Eliminated on VA Home Loan
The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) recently announced that it has eliminated the $417,000 home loan limit on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage loans. More

Bill Would Eliminate Requirement to Pay Into GI Bill
Military support groups hailed plans to expand military education benefits, VA home loans and small business grants for veterans under legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill. More

Featured Job: Border Patrol Agents
The Border Patrol is recruiting men and women as Border Patrol Agents. Learn more and apply online at our website. More

Dixie Stampede Offers Free Admission
Throughout the month of September 2007, Dixie Stampede in Orlando, Fla. is offering free admission for active duty military, members of the National Guard & Reserve, retired military, and veterans with proof of Service. More

Georgia Group Keeps Troops Cooking
Care packages from one Georgia group are keeping troops in combat support hospitals cooking. Operation Stars and Stripes has sent mini-refrigerators, microwave ovens and hot plates to give troops some flexibility. More

Historians Document 9-11 Pentagon Attack
Nearly six years after a terrorist-controlled plane slammed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people aboard the plane and in the building, Defense Department historians have published a book on the incident and its aftermath. More

New Documentary on WWII Debuts
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) presents "The War," a Ken Burns film, beginning Sun, Sept. 23, 2007 on most PBS stations. The seven-part series documents World War II through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women. More

New Ration Heading to Warfighters
A new compact, eat-on-the-move assault ration called the First Strike Ration (FSR) is on its way to warfighters' hands. The First Strike Ration provides a lighter, smaller package with eat-on-the-go items. More

Operation Care Package Supports Troops
The United Service Organization's (USO) Operation Care Package delivers care packages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed around the world to show them they have not been forgotten and to provide a "touch of home". More

Pentagon Memorial Will Commemorate Sacrifice
When it is completed in about a year from now, the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C. will commemorate the sacrifice of not only the 184 victims who died at the Pentagon, but also those who perished at the other Sept. 11, 2001 attack sites in New York City and Pennsylvania. More

Sports Project Aids Injured Troops
The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, created in 2003, is a partnership between Disabled Sports USA and the Wounded Warrior Project. It offers more than 14 sports -- both winter and summer -- and 70 events yearly. More

Television Channel Features Wounded Warriors
The Home Box Office (HBO) television channel is presenting a new documentary, "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq," now through Oct. 8, 2007 on HBO On Demand and through a streaming video on the HBO website at www.hbo.com. More

Veterans of Foreign Wars Sponsor Scholarships
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition and the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest, garnering more than $3.4 million in scholarships and incentives. More

Blood Donation Policy Changed
The Defense Department is changing its military blood-donation regulations to allow for a wider spectrum of civilian donors. Current department rules only permit blood donations from servicemembers, Defense Department civilians, retirees and their family members. More

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing
The House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee recently held a hearing to examine employment opportunities for returning veterans. Veterans raised concerns over the lack of promotion of the veterans' preference program within federal agencies. More

Illinois Mortgage Program Extended
The State of Illinois recently extended its state-funded mortgage program for veterans. The program, called G-I Loan for Heroes, provides a combination of low-interest and no-interest mortgages along with closing costs to help Illinois veterans. More

Navy Seabees Hold Reunion
Veterans of the 62nd Navy Seabee Battalion gathered recently for their annual reunion in Farmington, Illi.. The World War II veterans were a Navy construction unit that did everything from building runways in Iwo Jima, to rebuilding Pearl Harbor after it was attacked. More

Habitat for Humanity to Build Homes for Vets
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is looking for qualified families for 27 homes to be built in San Juan Capistrano, California over the next few years. This neighborhood will provide for military veterans with combat-related disabilities, and their families, a wonderful area in which to raise their families. More

New State Cemetery for Texas
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded an $8 million grant to establish a state veterans' cemetery in Abilene, Texas. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, and interments are expected to begin in spring 2009. More

Soldier Statue to Tour in Idaho, Washington
Work has been completed on a bronze statue of a Soldier, and now a group of veterans plan to take the statue on a road trip to fairs and other events in northern Idaho and eastern Washington to raise the final $20,000 to pay for it. More

Veterans History Project Seeks Contributions
Veterans' war reflections are being taped and archived by the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. Since 2001, the project has collected nearly 33,000 audio and videotapes - mostly from World War II veterans. More

Unknowns Swirl Around Veterans' Disability Reform
The Dole-Shalala Commission has proposed a major overhaul of the duel disability compensation systems run by the departments of Defense and of Veterans Affairs for wounded warriors of Iraq and Afghanistan. More

Audit Slaps VA on Lost IT Gear
An audit of three medical centers operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and of the VA's headquarters found that a total of $6.4 million worth of IT equipment was recorded as missing or misplaced during the federal government's past two fiscal years. More

South Dakota Pays $500 Cash Bonus
The state of South Dakota is paying a one-time veterans bonus of up to $500 to active-duty or honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces who were legal residents immediately preceding joining the military. More

'Jeopardy!' Celebrates Air Force Anniversary
In honor of the Air Force's 60th anniversary this year, the Sept. 27, 2007 episode of "Jeopardy!" will feature special video clues taped during host Alex Trebek's USO tour to Japan. More

Blood Program Seeks Donors
The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) is asking all AB donors to give blood. AB blood is a critical component used to treat patients during times of urgency since the universal plasma group AB can be given to anyone in an emergency. More

Toys for Tots Makes Special Request
In response to recent events within the toy industry regarding unsafe toys manufactured in China, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is asking its loyal supporters to screen toys prior to purchase to ensure that only safe toys are donated. More