The VA is looking for volunteers to research and photograph monuments in its 120 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers' lots.  The VA began to inventory its memorials in May 2002, expecting to identify an estimated 300 monuments.  To date, more than 800 memorials have been identified, but more remain to be inventoried.

The National Cemetary homepage is:  http://www.cem.va.gov/

For additional information on the project or to volunteer, please contact Darlene Richardson at 202.565.5426 or email nca.memorials@mail.va.gov

copied from Naval Affairs, February 2002

Tax statements are now posted on myPay for Army, Navy, Air Force Reserve, Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees, military annuitants, and military retirees. W-2 and 1099 statements are available for these groups to view and print immediately, allowing them to submit their tax returns quickly. Marine Corps Reserve and active duty will be available no earlier than Jan. 13 and no later than Jan. 21. The Army, Air Force, Navy active duty members will have their statements posted no earlier than Jan. 16, but no later than Jan. 26. The statements are available at https://mypay.dfas.mil. For assistance call myPay customer support at 1-800-390-2348. myPay is an online pay accounting system that allows individuals to take control of their pay information in a safe and secure manner. The system offers faster enhanced services, security, accessibility and reliability to all customers. 

Robert Roswell, VA under secretary for health, invites veterans to visit www.myhealthevet.va.gov where they can learn about their VA health benefits, access the department’s health education library and read about breaking news regarding VA health care.  The site provides downloadable forms, a VA facility and state VA office locator, and a list of veterans’ service organizations, including FRA, and also spotlights VA non-health benefits.

Copied from Naval Affairs, February 2004

            The Defense Department announced today the creation of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM).  The KDSM is a service medal to give special recognition for the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the U.S. armed forces who have served or are serving in the Republic of Korea. 

Public Law 107-314 legislated the creation of a new medal to recognize military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters.

Members of the armed forces authorized the KDSM must have served in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea.  The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas. 

The KDSM period of eligibility is July 28, 1954, to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a national campaign to locate veterans exposed to mustard gas or the chemical agent Lewisite during their military service. Lewisite is a blister-producing chemical to which many veterans were exposed as part of chemical testing programs during World War II. Veterans of this area were also exposed to mustard gas during testing sponsored by DoD. Any veterans who suspect they were exposed to either mustard gas or Lewisite during their service is strongly encouraged to contact VA by calling 1-800-749-8387 or visit the VA benefits Web site at www.vba.va.gov

Pass to Every Vet - MILITARY RECORDS 

NPRC initiates online records request procedures. 

The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. 

Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site. 

The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. 

Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. 

Veterans and next of kin may access this application at http://vetrecs.archives.gov

According to the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Rep. James Saxton (NJ) re-introduced legislation (H.R. 968) February 17, which would change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) from 2008 to 2005 for retirees who reach age 70 and have paid SBP premiums for 30 years. More than 135,000 retirees, age 70 and older, have been paying into the program for a longer period of time than their successors will. If the current paid-up date of October 1, 2008 stands, those who enrolled in the program at its inception in 1972 will have paid for an additional six years. In the Senate, S. 185 would change the effective date from 2008 to 2005. But the Senate legislation also includes language to end the deduction of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the survivor's SBP annuity. H.R. 968 focuses exclusively on changing the effective date of paid-up SBP coverage. How do you feel about these bills? Contact your public officials now. Let your voice be heard.

For those of you with kids that qualify this could be a good source of scholarship money for next year.  You may even apply the scholarship to a service academy.  The link to the website is below:

http://www.militaryscholar.org/