Armed Services Corner

☆

☆☆Support for Troops & Veterans☆☆

Deb Robbins , Armed Services Chairwoman - phxlass@cox.net

Armed Services

Corner

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? HAVE TIME TO HELP? VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS ARE NEEDED!

Thanks to All our RWOP Members who Give so Generously of their Time and Money! If you’re looking to do more, here’s what is needed.

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.

DONATIONS NEEDED:

U.S. VETS – PRESCOTT takes money and food donations for their food pantry as well as new twin sheets and pillows for the homeless vets that they house and help.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

VETERANS DAY PARADE – November 11 @ 11:00 am

RWOP will be participating in the Veterans Day parade! If you wish to walk with RWOP's Entry, please contact Elsie Tyree at 928-778-0235 or tyree200@msn.com

This year’s theme is “Vietnam Veterans – Honoring Those Who Served and the 58,479 that Never Made It Home – Remember and Respect”. It will be a deep and meaningful tribute. Cadets from Embry-Riddle will do a 24-hour Guard Vigil by the Flagpole—Westside Courthouse Plaza from 10:00 a.m. on November 10 to 10:00 a.m. on November 11. On November 11 at 10:00 a.m., the Cadets will then walk to the main stage area at Cortez and Union St. for a Flag folding ceremony and present that flag to a Vietnam Veteran. There will be seating for Veterans across from the main stage. At 10:30 a.m. is the Opening Ceremonies and the parade starts at 11:00 a.m. If you want to enter the parade, which is free and open to everyone, the deadline is Friday, October 21. You can either call Michelle at the Recreation Services Dept, at 928-777-1552 or go to Prescott-az.gov, Recreation Services Dept., Special Events for the application. If you want to walk in the parade with the VA, they will have an entry. Call Mary Dillinger to sign up. 928-717-7587.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA – DECEMBER 17 AT NOON

Wreaths Across America gives you an opportunity to join a grateful nation in saying “thank you” to our veterans. This is a way to honor an American hero at the Prescott National Cemetery, which is one of more than 2,800 locations nationwide on Wreaths Across America Day. It’s a day that’s been set aside to lay wreaths at the places where we can remember, honor, teach and pay tribute to our veterans for their sacrifices. To do that, your support is needed through volunteering and/or donating. The wreaths are sponsored and the hope is that each hero gets one. Each wreath costs $15; you can sponsor as many as you like here: donate.wreathsacrossamerica.org. After you select how many you would like to sponsor, there is a place to enter Prescott National Cemetery. If you want to volunteer, call Becky at 928-533-1897 or RJ from the National Cemetery at 928-445-4860 x7569. Volunteers lay wreaths on each marker of a fallen hero. That volunteer will say the Veteran’s name to ensure that the legacy of duty, service, and sacrifice of that veteran is never forgotten. RWOP donates to this cause every year.

This touching ceremony will be held at the Prescott National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17 at noon. There is no parking at the cemetery so you can park at the VA. The VA will run a shuttle to the cemetery and back starting at 10:00 a.m. The last shuttle to the cemetery will leave at 11:45 a.m. After the ceremony, shuttles will return you to the VA.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL FOR VETERANS – OCTOBER 19 AT 5:00 p.m.

The town hall is held every 3 months to provide information and give Veterans an opportunity to ask questions. It’s an automated system that calls you (about 10,000 vets) and you’re automatically connected. If you want to call in, contact Mary Dillinger at 928-717-7587 to get more information.

To get details on other Events for Veterans, go to https://www.va.gov/northern-arizona-health-care/events/

DRIVE-THROUGH FLU CLINIC – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

The drive-through flu clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is free to all enrolled Veterans. The VA has also contracted with CVS and Walgreens to get your free flu shots if that’s more convenient.

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, so November 2 and December 7 are the remaining clinics this year with her. She is in Building 154 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on those dates.

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.

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 ends on December 31, 2022. On January 1, 2023, a more expanded insurance program, VA Life, will begin. For more information about these insurance programs visit https://www.va.gov/life-insurance.

CAREGIVER BENEFITS TO EXPAND TO ALL VETERANS

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022!

Veterans of all eras are eligible for caregiver benefits starting Oct. 1, 2022, an expansion that is expected to add thousands of families to the program in the next year. 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

VFW’s Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship Applications for Spring Semester

The VFW offers scholarships up to $5,000 and you can apply between August 1 and November 15. Scholarships will be awarded in January for the Spring 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.

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.

Sea World San Diego Waves of Honor - Get a complimentary admission ticket for you and up to 3 dependents once a year to Sea World! For Active Duty Military, the offer is good until 12/31/22. You must be registered with ID.me.

If you need a Veteran ID Card, go to: https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/. With this card you can get discounts in many places.

Nurse’s Life Line – 877-252-4866 If you’re feeling ill and not sure if you need to go to the ER or doctor and want to talk with someone, they are available 24/7.

Crisis Line is always available for any vet who needs help by calling 800-273-8255 and press 1 if you’re a vet, or you can have a confidential chat by texting 838255.