The Department of Veterans Affairs
Find out about health and education benefits, employment assistance, home loans, life insurance, pensions, and memorial services for veterans. Plus special information for minorities and women in the military, and services for homeless and disabled vets.
web: www.va.gov
VA benefits: 800-827-1000
Education: 888-442-4551
Health Care: 877-222-8387
Make the Connection
Make the Connection, a public awareness campaign by the VA, is aimed at helping veterans overcome and seek treatment for mental health conditions. The campaign provides extensive resources for veterans suffering from conditions and experiences facing veterans transitioning back into civilian life, including:
–VA approved treatment and support resources
–Hundreds of video testimonials from Veterans who overcame various conditions and addictions – such as transitioning from service, PTSD, and alcohol abuse
–Information on how to recognize those conditions and seek treatment
web: www.maketheconnection.net
National Veterans Foundation
Call their national hotline for veterans seeking resource referral, benefits information, or emotional support.
web: www.nvf.org
phone: 1-888-777-4443
National Gulf War Resource Center
The National Gulf War Resource Center is an international coalition of advocates and organizations providing a resource for information, support, and referrals for all those concerned with the complexities of Persian Gulf War issues, especially Gulf War illnesses and those held prisoner or missing in action.
web: www.ngwrc.org
phone: 1-866-531-7183
VA Watchdog.Org
A comprehensive website that provides updated news as well as information about VA benefits, health resources, and political action.
web: www.vawatchdog.org
NGWRC’s Self Help Guide
Great information for those suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, or anyone attempting to file a claim with the VA or Social Security.
web: www.gulfweb.org/bigdoc/selfhelp.cfm
phone: 202-628-2700 ext. 162
Vet Centers
Vet Centers are small community organizations managed by the VA and dedicated to providing counseling for combat veterans from combat veterans.
web: www.vetcenter.va.gov
phone: 800-905-4675
Equal Justice Works
A non-profit that matches law students and lawyers with veterans who need help with VA benefit claims, barriers to housing and employment, disabilities benefits, homelessness, and lack of access to medical care.
web: www.equaljusticeworks.org
After Deployment
A resource for learning more about all the issues returning military service men and women face.
web: www.afterdeployment.org
The USO
The USO provides a number of programs for the veteran and their family.
web: www.uso.org
Air Force Aid Society
The official charity of the U.S. Air Force.
web: www.afas.org
phone: 1-800-769-8951
Army Emergency Relief
AER is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the Army Chief of Staff. AER’s sole mission is to help soldiers and their dependents.
web: www.aerhq.org
phone: 1-866-878-6378
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
“We Look after Our Own”: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is a non-profit organization providing financial assistance to the Coast Guard community.
web: www.cgmahq.org
phone: 1-800-881-2462
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need. The Society provides interest-free loans and grants, needs-based scholarships, budget counseling, and visiting nurse services, and also operates food lockers and thrift shops.
web: www.nmcrs.org
Veterans Service Organization Directory
Check the VA directory for a complete listing of veterans organizations chartered by Congress and/or recognized by the VA for claim representation.
on-line directory: www.va.gov/vso/
The American Legion
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, wartime veterans’ organization. A community-service organization, The American Legion now numbers nearly 3 million members in nearly 15,000 posts worldwide. Among the resources offered are military family support and service assistance resources.
Veterans Affairs and Rehab: 202-861-2700
web: www.legion.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars has a rich tradition in enhancing the lives of millions through its community service programs and special projects. From providing free phone cards to our nation’s active-duty military personnel to raising money for the World War II Memorial, the VFW is there, “Honoring the dead by helping the living.”
web: www.vfw.org
phone: 816-756-3390
Vietnam Veterans of America
Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. is the only national Vietnam veteran’s organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families.
web: www.vva.org
phone: 1-800-882-1316
AMVETS
Offers free counseling and claims assistance for honorably discharged veterans and dependents. For almost 60 years, AMVETS has provided service and support to America’s veterans and their communities.
web: www.amvets.org
phone: 1-877-726-8387
Blinded Veterans Association
Through service programs, groups, and benefits, BVA promotes the welfare of blinded veterans.
web: www.bva.org
phone: 1-800-669-7079
Disabled American Veterans
Formed in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, the million-member DAV is the official voice of America’s service-connected disabled veterans — a strong, insistent voice that represents all of America’s 2.1 million disabled veterans, their families, and survivors. Its nationwide network of services — free of charge to all veterans and members of their families — is totally supported by membership dues and contributions from the American public. Not a government agency, the DAV’s national organization receives no government funds.
web: www.dav.org
phone: 877-I Am A Vet (877-426-2838)
Paralyzed Veterans of America
The PVA Veterans Benefits Department (VBD) provides assistance and representation before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without charge, to veterans with spinal cord injury and their eligible dependents. They help clients apply for health care, as well as other benefits to which they may be entitled.
web: www.pva.org
phone: 1-800-555-9140
Veterans and Families
Veterans and Families is a national non-profit community service and support organization, founded and directed by veterans, parents, grandparents, family members, employers, mental health professionals, academics, and community leaders.
web: www.veteransandfamilies.org
phone: 916-422-5005
Minstrel Boy
Brian Hart of Bedford, Massachusetts is the blogger of this page. He dedicates it to his late son, PFC John Hart. Here is an excerpt of his blog: “November 2003 at Arlington National Cemetery when PFC John Hart was buried after being killed in an ambush of his unarmored Humvee in northern Iraq. We discussed the armor issue and how to resolve it, and we’ve been working together ever since to get the troops what they need as quickly as possible.”
web: minstrelboy.blogspot.com
American Military History
This website states that the history of military activity in the U.S. is closely tied to the development of the country as a whole, and it is impossible to understand the nation without knowing about its military engagements. The past century has seen some of the biggest conflicts in human history, and the most incredible advancements in the technology of war as well, and the U.S. has changed profoundly because of this. A big part of our mission here at MilitaryOnlineColleges.org is to provide information to those who have served in the military and are moving into a different phase of their lives by pursuing higher education. However, we know it is important never to forget the lessons of our military past, or the service members who have participated in America’s significant military history. This list is not a ranking of these sites, merely an index of some of the most informative sites and articles covering many aspects of the American Military during the 20th century and early parts of the 21st.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Provides mental health support, advice on job-seeking and the GI Bill.
web: www.iava.org
Team Rubicon
Sending veterans into disaster areas where their skills are needed.
web: www.teamrubiconusa.org
Jasons Box
Jason’s Box was created to extend our hand in gratitude to men and women for their service in all our military branches. We provide physical support and emotional encouragement by sending deployed troops items they miss from home. And when they come home, we will be there to support their transition from military to civilian life.
Warrior Gateway
The Warrior Gateway program has been designed to promote easier reintegration into home communities. It establishes a single online access point that serves as a resource for the military community to locate service organizations quickly that satisfy their needs, to identify academic programs in which they are interested, and to easily find employers seeking their valuable skills. Support organizations, resources, jobs, and higher education resources are all searchable by ZIP code.
web: http://www.warriorgateway.org/
Guard Ready App
The new Guard Ready mobile app is now available to Army National Guardsmen and their families and includes new functionality and community resources.
With the new Guard Ready mobile app, you can take these important resources with you wherever you go.
The new Guard Ready app has the following features:
– Battle Buddy reminders
– A geolocated resource directory
– A “Fearless Five” feature for quick access to help in any situation
– Quick access to crisis assistance
– Calendar of events based on location
– Relaxation methods
Stand for the Troops
STAND FOR THE TROOPS provides results-oriented treatment for American Veterans affected by TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The foundation has established a strategic coalition of resources to facilitate emotional, behavioral and cognitive wellness for Veterans and their families.
web: http://sftt.org/news/stand-for-the-troops/
Veteran Expeditions
Free Entertainment for Veterans and their families.
web:http://vetexpeditions.com/about/calendar/
Volunteers of America
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program aims to improve the housing stability of very low-income veteran families by providing intensive case management and assisting participants to obtain VA benefits and other public benefits including:
-Vocational and rehabilitation counseling
-Employment and training services
-Educational Assistance
-Personal financial planning service
-Transportation services
-Income support services
-Legal service referral
-Housing counseling services
-care management
-Health care referral
-Other supportive services, including third party payments to landlords, utility companies, moving companies,and eligible child care providers
Web: http://www.voa.org/
Courage On All Fronts
* Our most urgent needs are for personal letters for our troops, veterans, and new recruits.
* Hand Made items for our troops. Parachord bracelets, beanies, scarves
* Financial Donations so we can send over care packages. It cost $15 to ship overseas.
*By spreading the word that our organization is here to help.
*By shopping on Amazon Smile and selecting Courage on All Fronts as your charity of choice.
*Become a volunteer and help at events in Stuart, Fl and surrounding areas.
SIDRAN Institute
We help people understand, manage, and treat trauma and dissociation
Web:http://www.sidran.org/
Air Force Aid Society
Air Force Aid Society emergency assistance is available to Airmen and their eligible family members to meet immediate needs in an emergency situation. The Society provides
Web:http://www.afas.org/EA
Ride 2 Recovery
Ride 2 Recovery, a groundbreaking Veterans program started in 2008, saves lives by restoring hope and purpose.
• Providing a way FOR life
• Vets helping Vets
• It’s not a handout, It’s hard work
• Serving over 10,000 Veterans
• Founded on Cycling based programs
• Expert Staff
• We Care
Phone: 888-888-7091
Army OneSource
Army OneSource is a single web portal providing important, credible and up-to-date information in one location for Army Soldiers and Family Members to access at any time of day, regardless of component or geographical location.
phone:877-811-2769
web:http://www.myarmyonesource.com/default.aspx
Beyond The Yellow Ribbon
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a comprehensive program that creates awareness for the purpose of connecting Servicemembers and their families with community support, training, services and resources.
web:http://www.btyr.org/
Medicare Plan Resource
A mission to help aging adults and veterans get the most out of Medicare. It explains how Medicare works in conjunction with the VA military healthcare benefits. This new resource helps veterans better understand how Medicare works with VA and TRICARE. It tells how to enroll and strategies on how to maximize benefits,
web:https://www.medicareplans.com/va-military-and-medicare-benefits-resource/