A nD; Sonny Perdue Georgia Department of Veterans Service Pete Wheeler Veterans Bulletin Governor 3. youRReS iDe nceAtt imeofe ntRy i ntoCommissioner SeR ViceWASGeoR GiA, oRthAtyou hAVe Be enARe SiD entfoRAtleASt2yeA RS Your license could look like this im meD iAtelypRe c eDinGDAte of App licA tio n. GeoRGi ADepARtm en tofVeteRAn SSeRVi ce peteWheeleR, com m iS Sio n eR and cost you nothing! Revised 13/05 Gi ADepARtm en tofV peteWheeleR, com Georgia Veterans ... guardians of liberty February 2009 IN this issue: Secretary of veterans affairs eric shinseki visits atlanta Georgia Department of Veterans Service Veterans Bulletin February 2009 Cover Story Get A Georgia Veteran's Driver's License Page 3 VA Spends Over $2.6 Billion In Georgia in 2008 Page 4 Shinseki Visits Atlanta Page 4 Top VA Headlines Page 5 SDVS News Page 5 Georgia Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building E-970 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800 (404) 656-2300 gavetsvc@vs.state.ga.us www.sdvs.georgia.gov Georgia Veterans Bulletin The Georgia Veterans Bulletin is published quarterly by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, Public Information Division, Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, Room E-970, Atlanta, GA 30334-4800. Pat Phillips Chairman, Veterans Service Board Pete Wheeler Commissioner Tom Cook Assistant Commissioner, Claims and Field Operations Len Glass Assistant Commissioner, Administrative Service Heldon (Bill) Jung Director, Education & Training Brian Zeringue Public Information Manager Jon Suggs Editor, Veterans Bulletin Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty A Note To Our Readers: Welcome to the digital edition of the Georgia Veterans Bulletin. If you are already familiar with our publication, you will find the same valuable information that has always been in these pages, accompanied by a few additions and enhancements. By bringing the Bulletin to you online, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is saving valuable budget dollars, a necessary choice given our state's current fiscal status. But this is more than a mere cost-saving change. There are many advantages to digital publication, and we aim to make use of much this medium has to offer. Most notably, this marks a move from a quarterly to monthly publication schedule. We intend to bring you more news, more often. Remember, every hypertext link in this document is clickable. Wherever you see a website address, such as www.va.gov, you can click on the link and be taken to that site. We would like to encourage you to subscribe to our news feed via RSS. You may do so here: http://sdvs.georgia.gov/rss/sdvs_ press_releases.xml. Whenever a new Bulletin is published, whenever the Department issues any news release, you will be among the first to know. As always, thank you for your service to our country and do not hesitate to call upon us. DR iVeR 'Slic"en Se, youmuSt pReS youRSep AR AtionpApeRS (foRmD!D Most GeorgS hi aoWV ientGe:rans Are Eligible OOFnffoeicrTerCiApouTolFdASraVveeeteeYrao12A Lnu..nsSiSDeyyfev;ooerevruutiacileRmhAAecVDte urAAinlve WhroA' snR otLRimiAceBelnS ees eRDViSicc eh To Dept. of DriverS3er.vyicoesuRReS iDe nceAtt imeofe ntRy SDVS News Release SeR ViceWASGeoR GiA, oRthAtyou FaGceutbiavrruedGa,drdeuyuotyr1rig1niin,ga2avw0er0aet9restreiamrnvese,ocwrohmaonpysoecnroev nneftdl ,iBiciontncmw laeuhcdetiimn evnegpedtnerhusetoyNnD onaAretilionAalRtee SliyD entpRfeo c ReDAitnGleASDtA2tey App licA tio n. were committed by the President, are probably eligible to receive a free Georgia driver's license. "More than 85 percent of the some 766,000 veterans living in Georgia served during wartime and the vast majority of them are eligible to receive a free driver's license," says Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler. A driver's license or state ID card is issued free to veterans who were Georgia residents when they entered active duty status and are Georgia residents at the time of application or who have been residents of Georgia for at least two years immediately preceding the date of application for the license. "You did not have to be assigned to a unit that directly participated in the war or conflict to be eligible for the free license, but you must have been discharged "To obtain the license, the individual needs GeoRGiA DepARtment of VeteRAnS SeRV or separated under honorable conditions," Commissioner Wheeler points out. "A veteran could have served during only to provide a copy of a certificate, orders, 20-year retirement letter or other official documents establishing pete WheeleR, commiSSioneR Desert Storm in a stateside assignment and still be eligible their eligibility to personnel at the local driver services for the free license." office," Commissioner Wheeler comments. "The required A veteran must first present a copy of his or her DD documents can be obtained from the State National Guard 214 (Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty) Office or from the custodian of personnel records of the to personnel at one of the Department of Veterans Service reserve forces." field offices for review. Personnel in the office will review "An unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran may the DD 214 and issue a Certificate of Eligibility (DPS516) also qualify for an honorary license if the veteran had to qualified veterans. qualified and was in receipt of the fee exempted drivers The veteran then must take the DD 214 and the license at the time of death," notes Commissioner Wheeler. certificate of eligibility to any of the state's Department of The honorary license may also be issued to a DofritvheerfSreeervliicceenssoef.fiRcees vfoirsaendy 13re/q0u5ired test and issuance resident of Georgia who is the spouse of a veteran who would be qualified to receive a veteran's license but who is Commissioner Wheeler reminds veterans who disabled to the extent that he or she cannot operate a motor qualify that Georgia law now makes a veteran's free vehicle. drivers license good until age 65. State law requires all Commissioner Wheeler encourages veterans and drivers age 64 and older to pass an eye exam at a licensing surviving spouses who believe they might be eligible for facility every five years. a free driver's license to visit one of the Department's Any member or former member of the National veteran service offices. Office locations and phone Guard or reserve forces who has 20 or more years of numbers are listed in local telephone directories under creditable service is also eligible for a free license. state government and online at www.sdvs.georgia.gov. Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty VA Spends Over $2.6 Billion in Georgia SDVS News Release February 27, 2009 According to fiscal year figures recently obtained from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Georgia veterans who qualified under federal law benefited in over $2.67 billion that the VA spent in Georgia during 2008. "It represents an increase of some $420 million in VA funds over the previous year (2007)," pointed out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler. The total spent included some $1.39 billion in pension and compensation payments made to disabled veterans and/or their dependents. "This is especially good news for those veterans living on fixed incomes because these payments are tax exempt," said Commissioner Wheeler." VA also spent about $955 million in support of health care for Georgia veterans and about $196 million in education assistance. During 2008, about 200,000 Georgia veterans received health care through the VA's Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics located in the state. Currently, more than 175,000 veterans, surviving spouses and dependents receive tax free monetary benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As of September 2008, VA estimates Georgia's veteran population at 769,567. Commissioner Wheeler reminds Georgia veterans, "No VA benefit is paid automatically. They all must be applied for and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is available to assist with that application process." Locations of Department of Veterans Service offices may be found under state government in the local telephone directory or on the department's website, www.sdvs. georgia.gov. Secretary Shinseki Visits Atlanta, Meets Commissioner Wheeler Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki visited Atlanta February 25, 2009. During his stop at the Atlanta VA Regional Office, Secretary Shinseki met with Commissioner Wheeler. (SDVS Photos/Brian Zeringue) Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty VA News Of Interest To GA Veterans President's 2010 Budget Request Strongly Supports VA Programs President Barack Obama's first proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs expands eligibility for health care to an additional 500,000 veterans over the next five years, meets the need for continued growth in programs for the combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides the resources to deliver quality health care for the nation's 5.5 million veteran patients. (2/26/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1655 VA Identifies Problem with a Transcription Services Contract During a routine internal inspection, the Department of Veterans Affairs discovered a contractor providing medical transcription services who was not following the department's rules for protecting medical information. Although there is no evidence that any patient information was disclosed as a result of the violation, VA has suspended the contractor from receiving any sensitive information from the department until the contractor guarantees compliance. (2/12/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1653 VA Implementing National Safety "Step-Up" The Department of Veterans Affairs is calling for a special training campaign on safety called a "Step-Up" from March 8 to 14 at all medical centers and outpatient clinics to ensure VA staff follow the highest standards for patient safety. (2/9/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1652 Secretary Shinseki Announces Choice for Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki praised President Barack Obama's intent to nominate W. Scott Gould as next Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (1/30/09) http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1649 Highlights of ... SDVS At Work For Georgia Veterans The VFW Department of Georgia sponsored Training, Responsibility, Involvement, and Preparation of Claims (TRIP) Training January 2730, 2009 at the Atlanta VA Regional Office. Graduates from our department include Ms. Carol Crawford (Waynesboro), Mr. Hugh Downey (Canton), Mr. Roy Holton (Albany), Mr. Bob Pollard (Augusta), Mr. Bob Smith (Augusta), Ms. Roderica Stewart (Claims), and Mr. Jon Suggs (Central Office). The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) held approximately 80 hearings during the week of February 10-14, 2009 at the Atlanta VA Regional Office. SDVS represented 57 claimants. Mr. Roger Freeman, Manager, SDVS Macon, represented SDVS at a Veterans Benefits Program conducted at Bentley-Montford Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Mortuary on Thursday, February 12, 2009. Ms. Beverly Lloyd, Manager, SDVS Augusta, represented SDVS at the "Homes for Our Troops" information dinner February 18, 2009 in Augusta. For the month of January, SDVS Valdosta conducted their monthly Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) Briefing at Moody AFB involving 23 airmen in joint and one on one counseling. For the month of January, SDVS Glennville conducted weekly briefings at Ft. Stewart involving 197 soldiers in joint and one-on-one counseling.