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Volume 1, Issue 1
June 06
National Guard & Department of Veterans Affairs Partnership
As deployed Airmen return from deployment, a problem is arising. Due to processing delays, some Airmen are los-ing their VA Dental Benefit. The VA Dental Benefit gives veterans 90 days to receive their free dental examination. As it takes an average of 60-90 days for Airmen to report in to their unit and have their DD Form 214s processed, many veterans face the threat of dis-qualification. Jeff Unger, Wisconsin SBA, addressed the potential loss of the VA dental benefit. There is discussion of remov-ing this threat by having an online DD Form 214 this July, and amending or eliminating the VA’s 90 day scheduling
requirement. As a temporary solution, Jeff requested that VA (VISN 12) and VBA Regional Office staff also consider op-tional forms of proof of qualify-ing service, such as: individual deployment orders, DD Form 1351-2 Travel Voucher, or Offi-cial Memorandum with Com-mander’s certification. A newly created document meets VA proof of qualifying service requirements. This docu-ment must be certified by the Unit Commander, and the Air-man will submit DD Form 214 upon its completion. This proce-dure, established by the VBA Regional Office, will ensure that our veterans receive their bene-fits promptly. Veterans can rest assured that where there are
problems, their State Benefits Advisors and the VA have solutions.
State Benefits Advisors Newsletter
Upcoming Events
• Next SBA Newsletter will focus on mental health.
• Annual SBA Conference: February 2007 in Phoenix, AZ.
• Monthly SBA Conference Calls: July 17 and August 21.
1-800-767-1750 Access Code: 28784
In This Issue
Coalition Corner 1
SBA: Solving Problems 1
Demob Process How-To 2
Solving Problems for Veterans
Though the work between the National Guard and the Department of Veterans Affairs has been ongoing for some time, most SBAs have been with the effort for a year or less. In this first edition of the SBA Newsletter, it is important to recognize all that you have accomplished and say thank you. In just a year, you have built a network of support for Service members and have begun forging the relationships that will ensure continued support for years to come. The key to sustained success is the strength of your state coalitions. It is not enough to build relationships; you must institutionalize a framework that will out-last personnel changes, ops tempos, and changes in priorities. The day will come when our Service members no longer deploy at the current rate, but their needs will continue long into the future, and the network must be built so that it will be there when they need it.
Alex
From the Editors:
P a g e 2 o f 2
Stations include:
a. VISN Region VA Medical – Inform Soldiers of VA benefits and fill out 10 EZ forms.
b. Vet Center – Inform Soldiers about services and locations.
c. VA Benefits – Personnel may be available and assigned at the Demobilization station.
d. TRICARE – TRICARE rep or SBA provide addi-tional information and answer questions on TRS and TAMP.
e. State Department of Labor – Provide advice on employment and unemployment rights and benefits and job search facilities.
f. State Department of Veterans Administration – Advise Soldiers of the benefits earned from the State, i.e., scholarship opportunities; free driver’s licenses; free hunting licenses; free admission to state parks, etc. They can also offer their services as advocates and form processors for VA claims.
g. Human Resource Station – For rehire of State technicians.
h. Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) – Provide advice to any Soldier who may have a prob-lem with returning to his previous job, and other employment services.
i. Recruiting Station – For Warrant Officers and 1st Lieutenant Commissions through college and ROTC.
During April and May, Georgia in-processed and briefed approximately 3400 troops. The following format was very successful for Bill Deegan and we appreciate him letting us know about it. It can serve as a model for us to begin our organizational efforts for our process to handle large numbers of troops upon demobilization. A large scale demobilization can be broken down into two major phases. The first phase is primarily controlled by the CONUSA (1st Army), and the second phase is con-trolled by the State ARNG of the BCT HQ. For SBA purposes, as part of the ARNG team, a good model fol-lows: Use four separate buildings for processing Guardsmen from Title 10 to M-DAY and Title 32 status, each requir-ing sign-offs upon completion:
1. Finance Building – Handle pay, travel vouchers and all financial records.
2. Administrative Building – Obtain new ID cards, DEERS updates and other administrative functions for transition from T10 to T32.
3. Family Readiness Building – Staffed by Family Readiness personnel and volunteers. A JAG Officer can provide legal counseling. Refreshments can be available and staff can conduct personal interviews with the Soldiers.
4. Benefits Building – The SBA and J-1/G-1 are re-sponsible for planning this and coordinating with other benefits groups to be present and participate in informing each Soldier of benefits and entitlements.
S t a t e B e n e f i t s A d v i s o r s N e w s l e t t e r
Submissions for the next SBA Newsletter are due by October 1, 2006.
Editorial Staff:
VA - M. Mathewson-Chapman: ([email protected]) and intern – C. Rosales
NG - A. Baird: ([email protected]) and J. Labash: ([email protected])
SBA - K. Gehring, Maryland: ([email protected])
