Sonny Perdue Governor Georgia Department of Veterans Service Veterans Bulletin Pete Wheeler Commissioner Use Y Yellow Ribbon Program Pays Tuition At Private Colleges our G.I. Bill In New and Ways Universities Georgia Veterans ... guardians of liberty May-June 2009 IN this issue: commissioner wheeler addresses veterans conventions Georgia Department of Veterans Service Veterans Bulletin May-June 2009 Georgia Schools Join Yellow Ribbon Program Page 3 DoD Announces GI Bill Transferability Options Page 3 Commissioner Wheeler Addressed Conventions Page 4 SDVS At Work Page 6 Veterans News Headlines Page 7 VAMC-Atlanta Dedicates Pedestrian Bridge Page 8 Georgia Honors Its Fallen Heroes Page 9 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. Ray Hendrix Chairman, Veterans Service Board Pete Wheeler Commissioner Tom Cook Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations & Claims Dan Holtz Assistant Commissioner, Administration, Health & Memorials Heldon (Bill) Jung Director, Veterans 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. Georgia Schools Join Yellow Ribbon Program SDVS News Release June 20, 2009 Fifty schools in Georgia have agreed to participate in the "Yellow Ribbon Program," a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows degree-granting institutions to voluntarily enter into a formal agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state undergraduate rates. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match this additional funding for eligible students. This may enable qualified students to potentially attend school tuition-free. Congress intended the Yellow Ribbon Program to be utilized by universities to make up the difference in the costs for out-of-state, private, or graduate tuition. To be eligible to participate in this program a veteran must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100 percent benefit level, specifically those who have served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged due to a service-related injury. The schools will enroll veterans in the program on a firstcome, first-served basis until the agreed number of student participants is met. To review which schools in Georgia have signed up to participate in the program go to http://www.gibill. va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/YRP/YRP_List.htm The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill in 1944. The maximum benefit allows every eligible veteran, service member, reservist, and National Guard member an opportunity to receive an in-state, undergraduate education at a public institution at no cost. Provisions of the program include payments for tuition and fees, housing, and a books and supplies stipend. Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. The tuition and fee benefit is paid directly to the school and is not meant to exceed the established (or actual) in-state charges at a public institution. Additional information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program can be obtained at VA's website, www.gibill.va.gov or by calling 888-442-4551. You may also contact the State Approving Agency at 404-656-2306 or 404-656-2322 or e-mail SAAGA@ Mindspring.com. DoD Announces GI Bill Transferability Options DoD News Release June 26, 2009 The Defense Department announced today its policy for transferring educational benefits to the spouses and children of service members under the "Post 9/11 GI Bill," which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009. "This is as it should be in a volunteer force where families also serve," said Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy Bill Carr. "Transferability of GI Bill benefits is the most requested initiative we receive from our service members, and we believe it will assist us in retaining highly qualified military personnel." Career service members on active duty or in the selected reserve on Aug. 1, 2009, and who are eligible for the "Post 9/11 GI Bill," may be entitled to transfer all or a portion of their education entitlement to one or more family members. To be eligible, service members must have served in the Armed Forces for at least six years, and agree to serve four additional years, from the date of election to transfer. Service members with at least 10 years of service, who by DoD or service policy are prevented from committing to four additional years, may transfer their benefits provided they commit for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute. Additionally, to maintain proper force structure and promotion opportunities, temporary rules have been developed for service members eligible to retire between Aug. 1, 2009 and Aug. 1, 2012. Depending on their retirement eligibility date, these service members will commit to one to three additional years, from the date of election to transfer. The services will provide further implementation guidance. Beginning June 29, 2009, eligible service members may make transfer designations by visiting this Web site: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB. The Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty full transferability policy is available here. Service members may be eligible for the "Post 9/11 GI Bill" if they served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged. Based on the length of active duty service, members are entitled to a percentage of the cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning. Members not on active duty may also receive a monthly living stipend equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, and to an annual $1,000 stipend for books and supplies. The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the "Post 9/11 GI Bill," and determines eligibility for education benefits. Further information on eligibility, benefit levels, and application procedures can be found at the website, http://www.gibill. va.gov. Commissioner Wheeler Addresses Veterans Groups Remarks by Commissioner Wheeler June 2009 As the global war on terrorism enters its eighth year, our brave servicemen and women continue to experience traumatic effects as they are placed in harm's way. Since fighting began in Afghanistan in October 2001, and in Iraq in March 2003, more than 4,000 service members have made the ultimate sacrifice and more than 34,000 others have been wounded. We want to be there for our heroes now as they return from battle and we are not alone. I want to thank you for your devoted support of our Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard forces and their families as they continue to be called upon to put their lives on the line fighting in the Global War on Terror, or as some would call it, "Overseas Contingency Operations." Whatever you call it, it is still War! The American Soldier does not fight to conquer and enslave. He or she fights for the noblest of all possible causes freedom. Our brave men and women are fighting and dying for our freedom! And, they deserve all of the honor and support we can give them! Once again this year, units of the Georgia Army National Guard are being called upon to deploy this time to Afghanistan. We are focusing our attention on supporting these soldiers and their families as they mobilize for deployment, while they are deployed, and after they return from combat. We are involved in all phases of their activities to ensure that our military personnel and their families know what their entitlements are and to let them know we are available to help them in any way we can. We were there to greet the 848th Engineer Battalion from Douglas, Georgia when they returned from Iraq and went through Family Reintegration activities in Garden City in March. We were there to greet the 278th MP Company when as they returned from Iraq and went through their Reintegration activities at Fort Gordon in April. We were there for Family Deployment Survival Training for units of the 148th Support Battalion and the 108th Calvary Regiment in Dalton and Rome in February and March and for the Parade and Luncheon in Brunswick in April as those soldiers prepared to deploy to Afghanistan. We were there for a send off ceremony for Headquarters & Headquarters Company of the 48th Brigade and units of the 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Macon in April. We participate in recurring Transition Assistance Briefings at Fort Stewart, Fort McPherson, and Moody Air Force Base. We are involved in an Operation Iraqi Freedom /Operation Enduring Freedom Out-Briefing twice every month at Hunter Army Airfield. Our field offices support activities at the local Armories on a regular basis to ensure maximum outreach. We are committed to caring for our veterans of all wars and all eras to the fullest extent possible. I also want to thank you for Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty your support as we worked together to ensure that a PX and Commissary remain in the Atlanta area after Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem close in 2011. We stood together with our US Senators and Congressmen, as we wrote letters of support to the Defense Commissary Agency and lobbied for approval of a Commissary. I am happy to report that the Commissary Operating Board of the Defense Commissary Agency approved the request for a Commissary at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Working together with you, we will keep the pressure on until the doors of the commissary are open. This year, we need you to contact our US Senators and Congressmen to help us get a VA hospital on the southwest side of Atlanta. The Atlanta VA Medical Center does a great job with what they have to work with. But, they have a very serious parking problem and they are overcrowded once you get inside for treatment. It is sort of like trying to put a size 12 foot in a size 7 shoe! By working together, we can solve the problem by getting a new VA hospital on the south side of Atlanta! While we are talking about the Atlanta VA hospital, I am proud to say that construction will begin in July on continued on next page continued from page 4 the enclosed and air conditioned overhead walkway that will connect the Atlanta VA hospital with the VA Regional Office. Once this walkway is completed, veterans won't have to go up and down that steep hill to get back and forth from the hospital and the Regional Office. I am also proud to report that new VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics will be opening within the next 18 months in Newnan, Blairsville, Statesboro and Carrollton. We also hope for the VA to house a full time Clinic in our Nursing Home in Milledgeville. These VA Clinics will help ensure that health care becomes even more accessible for Georgia's veterans. As you know, our department was subjected to significant cuts in our budget for this year and next year. I am proud to say that we have been able to absorb those cuts without closing any of our 48 field offices and without furloughing any of our employees. Our veterans still have professional representatives available near where they live to help them with their benefits. I want to thank you for your unwavering support of our veterans at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Homes in Milledgeville and Augusta. Many of you visit our nursing homes regularly and show by your actions and by your kind words that you care about our veterans who are confined to nursing homes. We are proud that the State of Georgia is the only state in the union that does not charge the veteran anything for their care and treatment. Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty I am also happy to report that we are making improvements in our nursing homes and cemeteries. The total value of these improvement projects is nearly $15.5 million. Of that total, $8.4 million is from federal grants. We currently have a $3.5 million renovation project underway in our nursing home in Augusta. When this project is completed later this year, all of the nurses' stations and central patient services will be upgraded and the kitchen and dining room will be renovated. At our nursing home in Milledgeville, we are replacing the roof and renovating the fourth floor of the Wood Building. This project will be completed this summer and will cost a total of $941,000. I am also delighted to report that we are now designing another Alzheimer's unit for the Milledgeville home. We hope to start construction within the next 18-24 months, and we believe this second Alzheimer's unit will cost about $3.0 million to complete. I am also pleased to report that we completed four other improvement projects in the nursing home in Milledgeville this past year that totaled $5.4 million. These improvements included electrical and air conditioning upgrades, fire sprinkler installations, patient bathroom upgrades and installation of wall protection paneling and new patient handrails in hallways. Our nursing home in Milledgeville will also benefit from a $2.4 million grant VA received courtesy of federal continued on next page Highlights of ... SDVS At Work For Georgia Veterans Mr. Loran Bryant (Manager, SDVS McRae) and Mr. Ed Chancey (Manager, SDVS Waycross) participated in a "Veterans Forum" hosted by Congressman Jack Kingston on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in the Engram Union Ballroom, South Georgia College, 100 W. Georgia College Park Drive, Douglas, Georgia. Mr. Jeff Yarber (VBC, SDVS Macon) participated in PreDeployment briefings for HHC, 48th Brigade and 148th Base Support Battalion (GA NG), at the Macon Centroplex on April 22, 2009. Ms Judy Johnson (Manager, SDVS Dalton) presented a veteran benefits briefing at the VFW Post in Dalton, Georgia on May 2, 2009. The Claims Division had a particularly strong month with VA compensation benefit awards. Mr. George Canavaggio's efforts resulted in three separate retroactive awards for veterans of $77,118.00, $46,384.00, and $50,209.00. Mr. Mike Noles had two retroactive awards for veterans of $48,826.00 and $43,472.00. Mr. Mike Roby (North Georgia Area Supervisor) and Mr. Artis Robinson (Manager, SDVS Griffin) both participated in briefings for 78th Troop Command, Embedded Training Team 1 & Heroes Workshop for Combat Veterans at the Georgia Army National Guard Headquarters (Ellenwood) in May. Mr. Michael Powell (Veterans Benefits Counselor, SDVS Cartersville) participated in a briefing at the American Legion Post 143, Carrolton, Georgia on May 21, 2009. Ms. Rita Barnhart (Manager, SDVS Canton) represented Commissioner Wheeler and SDVS at the Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 at the City Park in Woodstock. Ms. Rita Barnhart (Manager, SDVS Canton) participated in a pre-deployment briefing for 248th Medical Company, at Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Georgia on May 30, 2009. Mr. Perry Morgan (Manager, SDVS Washington) participated in a briefing at the Wadley Lions Club, Wadley, Georgia on June 1. Mr. Joel Willis (SDVS Claims) met with the Fort Gordon Wounded Warrior Coordinator June 17, 2009 to discuss deployment and redeployment dates and how VFW can be of assistance to the Wounded Warrior Program. Mr. Tom Cook (SDVS Assistant Commissioner) represented Commissioner Wheeler and SDVS and spoke at the Georgia Department of Human Resources "Georgia Collaborative Meeting: How Do We Pave the Way Home? Focusing on the Needs of Returning Veterans, Service Members and their Families," in Forsyth, Georgia on June 17, 2009. Mr. Tom Cook (SDVS Assistant Commissioner) represented Commissioner Wheeler and SDVS and spoke at the Georgia Department of Labor Statewide Veterans' Conference in Columbus, Georgia on June 18, 2009. SDVS Valdosta and SDVS Glennville continue to support the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP). Ed Kent (Manager, SDVS Valdosta) conducts TAP Briefings at Moody AFB once a month. Tonya Malpass (Manger, SDVS Glennville) conducts TAP Briefings at Ft. Stewart each week. continued from page 5 economic stimulus funding. This grant will make it possible to construct an on campus kitchen at the Milledgeville home. I am also glad to report that the General Assembly recently approved three other projects totaling $2.7 million. These improvements include two electrical upgrade projects for the Milledgeville nursing home, and the initial design work for the Phase-2 expansion at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville. This expansion of the cemetery in Milledgeville will meet burial needs for the next 10-years! The $3.2 million Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty construction cost for the cemetery expansion will be funded entirely by the VA. I am also proud that our two state cemeteries are among the most beautiful cemeteries in the United States. As you enter the stately gates of our cemeteries in Glennville and Milledgeville, the ceremonial areas give the impression you are entering a place of honor for all Georgia veterans. Our Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemeteries provide the plot, the grave marker, vault, use of the chapel and perpetual care at no cost to the veteran. This is usually a savings to the veteran of $2,000 - $4,000 depending on which part of the state you live. Headlines Of Interest To GA Veterans VA Begins Stimulus Payments to Veterans June 25, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs has requested the Department of the Treasury to make $250 payments to eligible Veterans as part of President Obama's recovery plan. The first payments were sent Monday, June 22. All payments will be distributed by June 30. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1712 VA Launches 10-Year Health Study of 60,000 New Veterans June 22, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a large, long-term study to look carefully at a broad array of health issues that may affect Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans and their counterparts who served during the same time period. VA's "National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans" will begin with 30,000 Veterans deployed to OEF/OIF and 30,000 comparison Veterans who were not deployed. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1710 VA Secretary Hits the Road to Highlight "United We Serve" Effort June 22, 2009 - Heeding President Obama's call for Americans to commit themselves to mean- ingful, long-term service to their communities as part of the "United We Serve" campaign, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki spent part of his morning today transporting patients to the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1708 VA Reopening Health Care Enrollment to Thousands of Veterans June 19, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs, which now has nearly 8 million Veterans enrolled in its award-winning health care system, is poised to welcome nearly 266,000 more Veterans into its medical centers and clinics across the country by expanding access to health care enrollment for certain Veterans who had been excluded due to their income. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1703 Over 700 Schools Partner with VA to Help Veterans Pay for Education June 5, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that it has entered into more than 700 agreements with institutions of higher learning across the nation to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill's "Yellow Ribbon Program." http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1694 VA Studies Advanced Prosthetic Arm May 27, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a three-year study of an advanced artificial arm that easily allows those with severe limb loss to pick up a key or hold a pencil. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1687 VA Web Site Helps College Counselors Aid Veterans May 27, 2009 - The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new Web site to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and the Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts now studying on their campuses. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1686 Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty Ground Broken For Pedestrian Walkway ABOVE: Commissioner Wheeler spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony for the pedestrian bridge to link the Atlanta VA Regional Office with the Atlanta VA Medical Center. This is a project Commissioner Wheeler has long championed. ABOVE LEFT: Commissioner Wheeler, with James A. Clark (Director, VAMC-Atlanta) and Lawrence A. Biro (Network Director, VISN-7) displays an artist's rendering of the pedestrian bridge. LEFT: Close-up of artist's rendering. LOWER LEFT: Commissioner Wheeler, Lawrence A. Biro (Network Director, VISN-7), James A. Clark (Director, VAMCAtlanta), and Al Bocchicchio (Director, VARO-Atlanta), break ground. BELOW: This sand, collected at Omaha Beach, will be included in the foundation for the pedestrian bridge. It was donated by Janet Byington, District Director for U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.). Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty May 21, 2009 at the Capitol State of Georgia Memorial Day Ceremony Georgia Veterans...guardians of liberty See more photos from this event at Governor Sonny Perdue's Photo Gallery: http://photos.gov.georgia.gov/ gallery/8285737_t8qm6#542482952_rvsia