There are many ways you can get involved and help fellow Veterans through VA’s Voluntary Service Program. VAVS volunteers have the opportunity to work at hospitals, outpatient clinics, readjustment counseling centers, VA regional offices, and cemeteries.

Some volunteers also provide in-home companionship to homebound Veterans. For example, the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System recruits volunteers to provide a much needed break for primary caregivers. Check out how Caregiver Support Volunteers Karissa Trimpe, Barbara Carling and Richard Hambacher make a difference in the lives of the Veterans and caregivers they help.

Students can also volunteer through the Student Volunteer Program and gain valuable experience and training. Student volunteers can explore their health care career options and gain experience in a health care environment while learning new skills and making new friends. There are also scholarship opportunities for student volunteers through VAVS and veterans service organizations, such as the James H. Parke Memorial Youth Scholarship Award.

Becoming a VAVS volunteer is simple. Click here to fill out a volunteer form and a local VAVS representative will contact you to provide further information and set up an appointment for an interview. Or you can contact your local VA facility and let them know your interest in the volunteer program. Learn more about the program here, and join the VAVS family to make a difference in the lives of our Veterans.

The VA home loan guaranty program is one of VA’s most utilized benefits. VA guaranteed more than 530,000 home loans last year, helping those Veterans and Service members across the country – from Guam in the Pacific to Puerto Rico in the Atlantic – find a place to call home. In 2012, VA guaranteed its 20 millionth home loan and 2013 is on track to be the biggest year in the history of the program dating back to 1944.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when using your VA Home Loan benefit:

Work with your Realtor

Most American families purchase only a few homes in their lifetimes. Your Realtor is an expert on finding and purchasing a home in your local area. VA has worked closely with realtors since the home loan program started in 1944. Use them as a resource to help you navigate the entire process, including accessing your VA home loan benefit.

What does the VA home loan guaranty benefit include?

Most VA Home Loans are handled entirely by private lenders. VA establishes minimum guidelines in order for Lenders to offer the program. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, which allows lenders to provide VA Home Loans to as many Veterans as possible with some of the most attractive terms in the industry. These terms include:

• A little or no down payment as long as the sales price doesn’t exceed the appraised value. In 2012, 89 percent of all VA loans had no down payment.
• No private mortgage insurance premium requirement. This saved Veterans who obtained VA loans last year $19 Billion over the life of their loan.
• VA rules limit the amount and type of charges that a Veteran will pay for closing costs. In addition, there are no prepayment penalties.
• VA maintains minimum property requirements that protect Veterans to help ensure the dwelling is safe, sound, and sanitary. An example of this requirement would be “no exposed wiring” in the home.

Where do I start?

1) Determine your eligibility in the program by getting your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), VA’s validation to the mortgage lender that you are eligible to receive the VA Home Loan benefit. You can yet yours one of three ways:

• eBenefits.va.gov – Veterans registered on eBenefits may log on and request their COE online, 24/7.
• Mortgage Lender – with this option, a lender requests a borrower’s COE from the VA directly using our Automated Certificate of Eligibility system.
• Eligibility Center – Veterans may mail applications for a COE to the Atlanta Eligibility Center or call toll-free at 1-888-768-2132.

2) Check out our Home Loans website to learn more.
3) Connect with a local realtor to help you navigate the home buying process from start to finish
4) Speak with several lenders to find one that offers a loan product that best meets your needs

We are here to help

You are not alone. A third of VA’s Home Loan program staff assist Veterans who have a VA-guaranteed loan and are experiencing financial hardship. These employees are based in offices across the country and serve as liaisons between Veteran borrowers and their mortgage servicers. If you need help – call 1-877-827-3702 and we will assign an individual loan technician to help you understand your current situation and work with your loan provider to explore potential options that may allow you to keep your home.

Adapting a home for your use

For certain severely disabled Veterans, VA offers grant funds to ensure independent living through modification, purchase, or home construction. Specially Adapted Housing grants can be used for renovations including: ramps, walkways, bathrooms, kitchens, handrails, grab bars and sliding doors.

For more information on VA’s home loan benefit, watch the recent Google+ Hangout with Mike Frueh, director of VA’s home loan program.

Samantha O’Neil is a communications specialist with the Veterans Benefits Administration.

VRAP is a joint program between VA and Department of Labor. However, the successful outreach of VRAP was a much larger community endeavor. Many individuals who represent our stakeholders, community partners, and Veterans Service Organizations helped us reach out to this deserving population. We thank them for helping us and supporting our outreach efforts. We could not have achieved this without them.

Our challenge now is ensuring that Veterans who have received notification of approval, a COE, start their training as soon as feasible. According to the law that established VRAP, the program expires March 31, 2014, so it’s important that training is initiated and completed by that date.

Please help us get that word out. We do not want any of the 99,000 slots to go unused. The program is only two years long. Unless the program is extended by Congress, we can only accept applications until September 30, 2013, and the last payment can be made through March 31, 2014. The urgency should be conveyed: Apply, use the benefit as soon as feasible, or notify us to cancel the Certificate of Eligibility so that another Vet can potentially use the benefit.

Curtis Coy is VA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Opportunity and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Veteran.

If you thought Veterans were only accustomed to taking orders and not giving them, you might find this surprising: nearly 14 percent of the 26 million small businesses in the United States are operated by Veterans. And later this fall, VA will inject this community with tools and resources to help them succeed.

Today, VA announced the National Veterans Small Business Conference is setting up shop at the St. Louis America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri August 6-8. For three days, Veterans either looking to start or expand their small business will attend more than 200 breakout sessions, with a focus on how to successfully compete for federal contracts. Key federal government and private sector officials will be on hand to discuss and troubleshoot contracting issues and other business issues Veterans may have experienced.

The process to get Veteran-owned businesses certified can be complex, so information sessions on how to get set up and running will be provided, along with outreach strategies to the larger Veteran community.

This conference will mark the third for Veteran business owners. When I went last year, several Veterans told me networking with other businesses was just as crucial as attending classes. Deals were made and business relationships flourished. It cannot be understated how vital Veteran-owned businesses are to the economy; they employ 1.8 million Americans and generate more than $1.6 trillion dollars in annual revenue. With this conference, hopefully we can see the needle on both numbers move a bit.

If you’re interested in attending this year, sign up for updates on the conference page, follow along on Facebook and Twitter, and watch for more information in the coming weeks.

What does it all mean?

Why is exercise important?
If your doctor told you that doing one thing for approximately 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week would significantly reduce your risk of:

Early death, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer, falls, depression.

Would you consider incorporating it into your life? It would cause no harm, only benefits, including health and financial gains. Would you do it? By now it is no surprise that this 30-minute per day “thing” is Physical Activity!

Watch this video, it is worth every minute:

How much?

Some physical activity is better than none.  For major health benefits the CDC , the American College of Sports Medicine, the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, and the American Heart Association recommend that adults:

• Engage in at least 150 minutes per week (i.e. 30 minutes, 5 days per week) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.  Moderate-intensity is a level that elevates the heart rate, one becomes breathy (able to talk, but not necessarily sing a favorite song), and sweaty.

• Participate in strength training at least 2 days per week.  Strength training uses weights, or one’s own body weight, to exercise the major muscles of the body (legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms).

New to exercise?  That is okay!  Gradual progression of exercise frequency, total time, and intensity is recommended to reduce risk of injury.  Start small, perhaps 5 minutes per day, and work up towards a new goal each week.

What?

A gym membership is not required for physical activity.  Vigorous walking is considered moderate intensity, as is heavy gardening (shoveling, raking), bike riding, water aerobics, or pushing a lawn mower.  Chair exercises can also be done energetically enough to get one’s heart pumping. 

Strength training includes lifting weights, working with resistance bands, using one’s own body weight (sit ups, push ups, squats, lunges), and yoga.

Older adults should also incorporate balance activities into their routine to reduce risk of falls.  Examples of balance activities include: standing on one leg (with something nearby to grab for steadiness), walking backward or sideways, or standing from a sitting position repeatedly.

When?

Anytime!  30 minutes per day can be a big commitment, but this can be broken down into smaller 10 minute segments, 3 times per day.  Simply becoming more active, even if less than 10 minutes at a time, can yield benefits.  Use simple tactics such as parking at the back of the parking lot, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs, and speaking in person to a colleague instead of email or phone call.

Remember!

Anyone and everyone can be more physically active, and can improve their health.  If you are an adult with a disability, regular physical activity can provide you with the same important health benefits.  The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability  can provide additional information and guidance.  

The VA offers the MOVE! Weight Management Program  to all Veterans who want to improve their health through weight loss; speak with your PCP for more information, or to join the program.  Visit with a Registered Dietitian to discuss nutrition and exercise help and goal setting.  Speak with your healthcare provider before beginning any new physical activity routine for guidance and clearance. 

Jessie Furman is currently a dietetic intern at the Memphis VA Medical Center.

But it’s important for the American public to know that those Servicemembers who are separating from the military for wounds, injuries or illnesses have their own VA benefits process, and on average receive their disability compensation within three months of leaving the military.

This process, called the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), started in 2007 when the Department of Defense (DOD) and VA collaborated to design a more seamless transition specifically for Servicemembers who could no longer continue with their military careers for medical reasons—which includes PTSD.

To support IDES, VA has dedicated staff to work exclusively on disability claims for this population. Because of this DOD/VA cooperation, VA can begin working the necessary documentation for disability compensation before a wounded, ill or injured Servicemember leaves the military—and provide benefits much faster. It’s also important to know that for severely wounded Servicemembers, the system provides case managers to work one-on-one to ensure all the transition needs are met—especially those of the family.

So if combat wounded, ill and injured Servicemembers are being taken care of within IDES, who is in the current claims inventory and backlog that we hear so much about? Basically, the inventory is made of up people who separated or retired from the military when their time was up. And now that they are in a Veteran status, they are claiming disability compensation for medical conditions incurred or aggravated while serving. This ranges from young troops getting out now to guys who served in World War II. There’s no time limit for filing, and there’s no limit on the number of claims you can file.

In fact, about 60% of the 845,000 pending disability claims are from Veterans for whom VA has already completed at least one claim. About 78% of those Veterans are already receiving monetary compensation at some level—and about half of those are rated with at least a 50% disability, receiving $1000 or more monthly. The other 40% of the total inventory are from Veterans filing for the first time. This 60/40 percent split is roughly the same proportion for claims that have been pending more than 125 days—i.e. the backlog. Also, many people—including reporters covering the story—attribute the growing number of claims to the wind-down of current conflicts.

In reality, only one in five claims in the inventory come from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. The largest portion is actually from Vietnam-era Veterans. That makes sense when you think about the fact that this cohort is now reaching the age where health conditions are worsening. Also, VA’s decision to presume service connection for a variety of medical conditions related to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange, which was used in Vietnam, accounts for many of the claims in the current inventory. What is true about Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is that they are filing more complex claims than their predecessors—meaning each claim has many more medical conditions that VA needs to adjudicate. That’s understandable too, since this relatively small, all-volunteer force has undergone multiple deployments, with more wear and tear on their bodies.

The reality is that, for a variety of reasons, VA is receiving a lot more claims work now than it did in the past. And given the legal requirements VA has to substantiate the claims, the work is outpacing the capacity to process in a timely manner. That’s why it made the investment in new technology, processes and training that will result in a system that can accommodate a higher demand. A change of this magnitude takes time, but it is being built to last—and once it is fully up and running, it will change the way Veterans receive benefits for generations to come.

Patrick Mackin is the director of the Office of Corporate Communications at the Veterans Benefits Administration. He is also a retired U.S. Army colonel.

VA has always recognized the value and importance of Veterans being able to see recovery taking place and have a fellow Veteran help them navigate the VA system. As VA peer specialists, or peer support apprentices, you have the opportunity to share experience and knowledge with fellow Veterans as they make the transition into civilian life. The transition can sometimes be difficult with health challenges, mental health issues, employment concerns and more. However, peer specialists and peer support apprentices can help Veterans navigate their way into civilian life more successfully by offering the right tools, resources, and necessary support.

Peer specialists are actively engaged in his/her own recovery and can provide peer support services to others engaged in similar mental health treatment. Peer support apprentices meet all the requirements of a peer specialist but are not yet certified.

As a VA peer specialist or peer support apprentice, you could help fellow Veterans build fuller, richer lives. Find out if you are eligible for either position at the Peer Support Applicants FAQs page and click here to apply for positions today.

Why have life insurance?

Life insurance should give you and your loved ones peace of mind that they will have funds available if anything happens to you.

But we can’t answer this one:

If you have life insurance, have you reviewed your beneficiary designation form lately? 

That one is up to you, but we can tell you that if your beneficiary isn’t updated, your loved ones may not have the peace of mind you intended.

If you’ve had a recent life event such as a change in marital status, the addition of a child, or the death of a loved one, then now is a good time to review your beneficiary designation for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) and VA Insurance policies with policy numbers starting with V, RH, RS, J, K or W. It’s the best way to ensure your life insurance benefit is paid to the people you want.

Not keeping beneficiaries up to date may result in your benefits going to a former spouse or a deceased parent’s estate.  It could also result in payment delays at a time when your loved one needs the money.  For example, if the listed beneficiaries are children from a first marriage, then children from a current marriage might contest the claim if they believe they have more recent documents showing they should be the beneficiaries.  No one could be paid until it is determined who legally is entitled to the money.

Even if you haven’t had a recent life event, it’s a good idea to review your beneficiaries at least once a year around tax time, or another memorable date. So, mark it on your calendar as an annual event. And remember, you have the legal right to name any beneficiary you want and change your beneficiary at any time. You can also update your SGLI or VGLI policy at any time within eBenefits, the joint VA/DoD online benefits portal.

You can access all Change of Beneficiary forms here.  Here’s how:

Dave Roesner is the chief of VA’s insurance claims division.

In the first graph, we see the monthly unemployment rate for all Veterans since January 2010. The long-term trend shows a clear decrease.

Because chunks of data are often better indicators of real movement, another way to view the trend is by looking at the moving (or rolling) average. Like the chart above, the chart immediately below captures 12-month averages for the periods ending each month since February 2010. What it shows is a modest decline in the unemployment rate of Veterans over the long term. The current 12-month average unemployment rate for all Veterans stands at 6.9 percent—the lowest 12-month average unemployment rate since 2009.

This matters because the moving 12-month average is a far more conservative measure than the month-to-month data. When we see movement in the rolling average, we are confident that there is real movement in the unemployment rate.

For post-9/11 (or Gulf War II-era) Veterans, the monthly unemployment rate decreased to 7.5 percent in April. The chart below demonstrates the declining unemployment rate over time. Because the month-to-month figures for this demographic are volatile, the longer term trend is a more reliable measure that continues to show a consistent decline for over three years.

As we can see below, the 12-month moving average unemployment rate for post-9/11 Veterans has slightly dropped to 10 percent.

Overall, the numbers above are encouraging—as is the declining national unemployment rate. But we know there is still more to be done. In this economy, too many Veterans still can’t find meaningful work, and we’re working every day to remedy that.

VA is collaborating with the White House and the Chamber of Commerce on hiring fairs across the country “Hiring Our Heroes” Program. We also urged Veterans to prepare themselves for the job market by taking advantage of programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP).

Today’s numbers tell us that Veterans are finding work, but there’s still much to be done, and we can’t let up now. VA, in partnership with the White House,  and private sector, remains committed to ensuring that the unemployment rate for all Veterans continues its downward path.

• Half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. This ensures that the 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended daily are included in the diet. A variety of fruits and vegetables of different textures and colors should be included—a rainbow is the goal. This is because each color provides different nutrients. Vegetables can be prepared in many different ways—steamed, roasted, stir-fried, and seasoned with different herbs and spices are just a few of them!
• Grains should make up a little over 25% of the plate. Whole grains should comprise half or more of each person’s total daily grain intake, which is easy to do with the wide variety of whole grain products available, including whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, and brown rice. Watch the video from the USDA below for more information on whole grains.
• Protein makes up the last section of the plate, a little less than 25%. This group includes animal sources such as fish and lean cuts of meat such as chicken and beef, as well as plant sources of protein such as beans, nuts, seeds, lentils, and soybean products.
• Three servings of dairy should be included per day to provide nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Low-fat (1%) or skim milk are the best options because they provide the standard amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, with fewer fat and calories compared to whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk . Light soymilk and the variety of nut milk alternatives are great options for individuals who don’t drink dairy as long as they are brands that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. It is important to note, however, that soymilk is the only plant-based milk that has an amount of protein that is comparable to cow’s milk. Fortified oatmeal, soybeans, and broccoli are all foods that are also high in calcium. Additional high calcium foods can be found on the National Institute of Health’s website.

MyPlate can be used in the daily lives of all Americans to help each person eat healthy, well-balanced meals because it allows for the incorporation of those foods that are most nutritious, rather than the exclusion of those that are not. Choose MyPlate.gov for more information about MyPlate and eating healthy. Specific tips and resources are also included, including Healthy Eating on a Budget and more details on each of the five food groups. Happy Eating!

Jaclyn Rangel has a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis and is currently a Dietetic Intern at the VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee.