Veterans' News From The Farmingdale VFW

Veterans Education Roundtable: The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hosted a roundtable discussion about modernizing veterans' education benefits. The VFW, along with other veteran service organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Association of State Approving Agencies and various universities and technology companies such as Microsoft, discussed ways to assist transitioning veterans to find high-demand employment opportunities. Schools in attendance addressed concerns with learning modules for non-traditional students, such as providing hybrid courses. The VFW and other VSOs talked about opportunities, concerns and the proper route that courses, such as computer coding, are required to undergo for accreditation and federal funding. Overall, the consensus was that employment training and higher education are evolving.

Caregiver Benefits Legislation Introduced: Legislation was introduced last week in both chambers of Congress that would expand caregiver benefits to veterans who served before Sept. 11, 2001. The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act has received bipartisan support in the Senate from Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Patty Murray, D-Wash., both of whom have received the VFW's Congressional Award. The bill has already received 25 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. Additionally, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin expressed support this week for the expansion of the program. This legislation is a major priority for the VFW and its Auxiliary. We will continue to monitor this legislation closely. Watch for more updates.

VA Mental Health Care for Vets with OTH Discharges: During a hearing before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs , Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin announced that VA will no longer turn away veterans seeking urgent mental health care simply because they received other-than-honorable discharges. VA plans to implement the new rule later this year.

VA Offers Free Services for MST: The Department of Veterans Affairs provides free physical and mental health care services for survivors of sexual trauma regardless of service-connected disability. VA is providing outreach to men and women who may be experiencing difficulty coping to let them know that VA and Vet Centers are options for help. According to Kayla Williams, director for VA'sCenter for Women Veterans, "VA provides all care for mental and physical health conditions related to MST free of charge, and veterans do not need to have reported their experiences of MST at the time or have other documentation that they occurred in order to receive free MST-related health care.

The Purpose of This Article: is to help returning and other veterans know what their entitlements are and how and where to apply for them. When I came home, no one told me about anything, or that they even existed. To find out more, you can visit the Town of Oyster Bay Veterans Services office at 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa and speak to either Matt Rufrano or Walter Schmidt, who are counselors. Call for an appointment. Matt is 516-797-7941, Walter is 516-797-7875.

To join the Veterans of Foreign Wars: or for further information about eligibility requirements, call me (Bob) at 516-694-5539, or email at vfwBob516@aol.com.