The Four Pillars of the American legion

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation

• Access to VA Health Care
  
  If you served in the active military, naval or air service and are separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. For More information go to: https://www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/apply/ 
   
• Network of Service Officers
  
  Synepuxent Post 166 has a Post Service Officer who is also an VA Accrecdiated Service Officer through the Vietnam veterans of America. Our service officer will be glad to assist you with the necessary paperwork needed to apply for VA Disibility, VA Healthcare and acessing your VA benefits. At the current time, however, we are in the process of designating a new service officer. If you need help please email the post adjutant at adjutant166@gmail.com. Check back for updates to this situation.  
   
• VA Vet Centers

  
  Life isn't always easy after a deployment. That's where Vet Centers can help. Vet Centers across the country provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to combat Veterans and their families. Vet Centers guide Veterans and their families through many of the major adjustments in lifestyle that often occur after a Veteran returns from combat. Services for a Veteran may include individual and group counseling in areas such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alcohol and drug assessment, and suicide prevention referrals. All services are free of cost and are strictly confidential.For more information go to: http://www.vetcenter.va.gov

• Veterans with special needs
  
  The American Legion strongly supports efforts to improve services, advance research and deliver compassionate treatment to veterans with special needs, such as: Those who have become homeless since discharge. Those who suffer from traumatic brain injuries and/or mental illness. Those who have suffered multiple combat injuries, defined as “polytrauma.” Those who battle with conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, Gulf War illness, radiation exposure due to atomic testing, mustard-gas exposure and other medical problems linked, or presumably linked, to military service.
   
• Volunteering
  
  The American Legion has supported and actively participated in the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program since it began in 1946. Today, nearly 7,000 volunteers serve 900,000 hours annually at various VA medical centers. Get started at va.gov/volunteer
  
  There are many more opportunities to Volunteer, to see more, just go to:
  https://www.legion.org/volunteers/opportunities
  
   
• Final Respects
  
  The American Legion works closely with the National Cemetery Administration, Arlington National Cemetery, and other federal and state governments and entities to ensure a proper burial for all veterans, as well as honorable burial services for the veteran, the family of the veteran and other loved ones. The Legion also serves as a major coordinator of the Missing in America Project, which ensures that cremated remains of veterans, long forgotten in funeral homes, hospitals and other establishments, are respectfully laid to rest. The American Legion provides a large portion of the Missing in America Project’s volunteers. The American Legion also provides all U.S. flags for veterans’ graves in cemeteries overseen in Europe by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
   
• Heroes to Hometowns
  The American Legion’s Heroes to Hometowns program, under the Economic Division, helps severely-injured servicemembers transition back into their communities and civilian lives. Heroes to Hometowns cannot work without the grass-roots efforts of American Legion posts. The Legion works with DoD and VA to identify veterans in need and provide readjustment help and mentoring. In 2008, The American Legion entered into a pilot program with VA to create H2H VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) coordinators at 10 sites: Boston; Dayton, Ohio; Louisville, Ky.; Phoenix; Providence, R.I.; Richmond, Va.; St. Louis; San Diego; Washington; and West Haven, Conn. Coordinators work with the VA medical centers to identify transitioning servicemember needs and make connections for community support and assistance.
   
• Careers for Veterans
  The Federal Government has a long and outstanding record of employing veterans. Veterans have technical skills in areas of critical importance, and many also already have security clearances required for some Federal positions. Federal service provides a means for veterans to continue their noble service to this country. Please go to USA JOBS and see what the Fed has to offer.
   
• Homelessness
  
  Many Veterans face challenges throughout their lives that may lead them to lose their home, eventually becoming homeless. VA recognizes that every homeless Veteran's story is different, including their specific needs to help them get back into permanent and stable housing. There are many VA benefits that may support your specific needs, so it is important you know what benefits you may be eligible for. Please go to: http://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/veteran-homeless.asp
  
  The American Legion works with VA and numerous local posts and organizations to provide relief for veterans who have found themselves homeless. As veteran unemployment runs higher than that of the general population, so too does veteran homelessness. The Legion builds, manages or supports homeless shelters for veterans across the country and actively advocates for programs to put roofs over their heads.
• GI Bill benefits
  The American Legion has maintained a strong connection to the GI Bill since 1944, when Past National Commander Harry Colmery crafted it on stationery at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. Since then, the GI Bill – considered the most significant social legislation of the 20th century – has educated millions of Americans, and gave birth to a half-century of economic prosperity.
  The Legion provides assistance for veterans trying to decide which of today’s multiple GI Bill programs is the best fit for them as individuals, and also lobbies Congress and works with VA to strengthen the benefits. www.legion.org/mygibill

VA Newsletter - VA Plans to Propose Expanded Disability Benefits Eligibility for Veterans Exposed to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune "Click Here" to read the story.