Steve Arends Legistative Report - click here to view the report.
Communication Parters of the UVC
A Radio Talk Show hosted by Tommy Chandler, 1700AM on your radio dial
The Veterans Journal, a Free on-line publication.
About Veterans Benifits
Benefits for Veterans and Family Members
There is wide multitude of benefits and some that extend to family members of the veteran. Just to name a few:
- Health Care
- Compensation
- Education
- Employment
- Home Loans
- Life Insurance
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Survivors Benefits
- Burial Benefits
Who provides these benefits
Benefits are provided by the federal and state governments. The benefits are part of the compensation package a veteran has earned, just as they earned their pay.
Who is eligible for benefits?
Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation's population -- approximately 70 million people -- are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.
How do I find out if I'm eligible
Most veterans organizations provide information about benefits, Transition Assistance Programs provide information for separating active duty members, and the Internet has much information available. One of the best source from a VSO or CVSO.
What is a VSO or CVSO?
Veteran Service Officers (VSO) and County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) are advocates guiding and assisting all US Veterans, Armed Forces members, their dependents and survivors, in obtaining their hard-earned benefit programs.
A VSO works for a veterans organization fulfilling the needs of veterans that seek their assistance. The CVSO is a county employee who manages and coordinates the delivery of veterans' benefits, both federal and state, to eligible recipients.
Duties of a VSO and CVSO are to counsel about benefits, assist in applying for and using those programs, and develop outreach mechanisms to make local veterans aware of their benefits options.
Services provided by VSOs and CVSOs
- Comprehensive Benefits Counseling
- Claims preparation and submission
- Claims follow-up to insure final decisions
- Initiate and develop appeals when appropriate
- Networking and advocacy with Federal, State and Local agencies
- Information and referral services for the following:
- Public assistance
- VA Medical care
- State educational benefits (College Fee Waiver Program)
Assistance offered in filing for benefits:
- Compensation (service-related injuries or disease).
- Re-open compensation claim for re-evaluation and increase.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (based upon service-connected death).
- Pension (for war era veterans).
- Death pension (for survivors of war era veterans).
- Admission to the State Veterans Homes of California.
- Request for military records and decorations.
- Discharge upgrade and correction of military records.
- Vocational Rehabilitation (VA).
- VA home loan guaranty eligibility.
- Education benefits (VA).
- VA life insurance and waiver of premiums,
- Payment of proceeds of VA life insurance.
- Burial benefits (VA).
- Hospitalization/dental care at VA facilities.
- Cal-Vet Loans.
- Dependents of Veterans College Fee Waiver. Program (CA Department of Veterans)
Where do I find a VSO or CVSO?
San Diego United Veterans Council Web Site
The United Veterans Council of San Diego County was formed in 1984 providing a forum for veterans to provide input, share information, and raise issues leading to the betterment of the veteran community and to provide a united veterans position on legislation affecting San Diego County veterans and their families. You can find more about the council on the About Us page.
We meet the fourth Saturday of every month at the Veteran's Museum and Memorial Center (Old Balboa Hospital Chapel), 2115 Park Blvd, San Diego — starting at 9:30. We meet downstairs, accessible by a door near the large parking lot. All veterans, politicians, the press or interested parties are invited to attend.
We are a non-partisan, non-membership organization.
Recent web site changes - Job Fair List Updated.
Next Meeting
- Saturday July 26th.
Highlights from the June 28th Meeting
Changes To Veterans Disability Compensation Program & VA Rating Schedule
Veterans benefits seem to always be in state of flux. The changes are often hard to keep up with along with finding out more information on what is being proposed. Over the course of the last couple of years several of the most significant factors have been established to put forward changes in our benefits.
It is extremely important that you let your voice be heard. For a couple of the most significant changes currently proposed vie the web page Changes To Veterans Disability Compensation Program & Va Rating Schedule
Creating a Cohesive Veteran Community
The United Veterans Council of San Diego (UVC) has been a resounding success and is a model for developing other cohesive veterans communities.
With hundreds of established veterans organizations all working towards similar purposes, communications and knowledge does not reach all of our veterans. In many ways we stand apart instead of a unified force.
The UVC model takes advantage of the government and veterans organizations, as well as individual veterans to: widen the door for communications, increase awareness of veterans issues, providing forums for discussing and resolving issues that trouble veterans and builds a unified cohesive veterans community.
Gary Rossio, Director of the VA San Diego Healthcare system developed the "Creating a Cohesive Veteran Community" PowerPoint presentation to provide the background information about the UVCs birth and success. Additional information is available on our "About Us" web pages.
USA Together
They served us, now we can serve them.
USA Together matches available resources to those needing assistance.
A new internet site offers a way to register request for assistance and is also for those who desire to provide help. Go to USA Together and sign up!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEERS needed – Veterans Museum and Memorial Center
http://www.veteranmuseum.org/
VOLUNTEERS needed – Midway Museum
http://www.midway.org/site/pp.asp?c=coIMKTMCF&b=390791
Safety Team members - After training, volunteers are assigned a post at the start of the shift to assist museum guests and patrol for potential hazards. Candidates must be able to climb ship’s ladders, and serve 20 hrs per month. Women and civilians are encouraged to apply. The ship is a short walk from public transportation. 619 398 8289 www.midway.org
Docent training starting soon!
For a volunteer application or more information about the USS Midway Museum, visit our web site at http://www.midway.org
2007 San Diego Veterans Day Parade
The 21st Annual
San Diego Veterans Day Parade
“Honoring Those Who Serve Veterans”
November 10th, 2007
Pacific Highway
Downtown San Diego
Grape Street to Harbor Drive
The 2007 Veterans Day Parade
Thousands turned out to view the 2-hour Veteran’s Day Parade 2007. With over 100 parade entries it was a fantastic parade paying tribute to the area veterans. We are currently screening about 1500 photos from the parade and hope to have many posted by the end of the month.
The Veterans Day Parade has a new web site, www.sdvetparade.org and will be under development during the next year. It will provide information about dates and times, schedule of events for the day of the parade, forms for participants, information for participants, our request for donations of materials, supplies, and needed volunteers. Just to mention a few things.
You can find more about the 2006 parade and participants here. Pictures of the parade are posted on the web site and can be viewed here. The photographs are posted in the order of the procession. The Veterans Day Parade page is graphics intensive and may take a minute to load.
Organizations and individuals that participated in the parade are free to use the pictures for their purposes, along with a credit line of - 2006 San Diego Veterans Day Parade. High resolution photos may be obtained by emailing the web master through our contact form. Please note the picture number of the photograph(s) that you desire.
Cold War Certificate Program
In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.
This is the only official site on which to request Cold War Recognition Certificates. This site is operated by the United States Army, the executive agency for the Cold War Recognition Program. Cold War Recognition Certificates are available to qualified individuals at no cost. Any other site offering these certificates or replicas for sale or purchase are not official sites and are not approved or endorsed by the US Army.
Due to the remarkable success of this program, turn-around time for mailing certificates will be a minimum of 2 months. The CWRS Operations Team is working as fast as possible to clear the backlog. Please do not request feedback prior to 2 months from the request date. Thank you for your patience and interest in the Cold War Recognition program.
Who is eligible? All members of the armed forces and federal government civilian personnel who faithfully served the United States during the Cold War era, Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991. Individuals requesting a certificate will certify that their character of service was honorable. Acceptable supporting document for proof of service is any official government or military document with recipient's name, Social Security Number or Military Service Number or Foreign Service Number, and date of service.
Apply for the Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Phone Line: (703) 325-5864Fax: 1-800-723-9262Email: CWRS Team Address:U.S. Army Human Resources Command Cold War Recognition Program, Hoffman II, Room 3N45ATTN: AHRC-CWRS200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0473
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. 3013, Secretary of the Army; Public Law 105-85, Fiscal Year 98, National Defense Authorization Act; and Executive Order 9397.
PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: To secure sufficient information from the individual so to determine eligibility and to process the individuals' requests for the Cold War Recognition Certificate.
ROUTINE USES: Information is used for official purposes within the Department of Defense; specifically, to process requests for Cold War Certificates. This information may be used in accordance with established Routine Uses for all Department of Defense and Department of the Army system notices.
DISCLOSURE: Disclosure of the Social Security Number and other personal information is voluntary. However, failure to provide complete information may hinder proper identification of the requester, and may prevent the agency from determining eligibility of the requester for the certificate.
About the UVC web site
This web site was established in May 2006 and is intended to provide participants of the United Veterans Council of San Diego County with information about the council, upcoming meetings and other information.
The site will also provide resources for veterans throughout San Diego County. Lastly it is also intended to provide the general public with information concerning the history and current status of the council along with information they may be seeking in regard to veterans.
Who is a veteran?
Military veterans have been defined by perceptions, customs and laws for centuries. Yet in the several hundred years of the United States existence, our Congress has never defined the term “military veteran.” Whether one is considered a “veteran” by federal, state or local governments depends entirely upon the veteran benefit or program being applied for. The mission of the San Diego United Veterans Council of San Diego is inclusive of all veterans regarding a variety of issues and subject matter. As such no one definition as provide by any government program will suffice for our cause. Our definition of a military veteran is:
One who has served their country through a branch of the military services for a period of more than 60 days and was discharged or released with other than a dishonorable discharge. Or a veteran who was discharged before the 60 days for a service connected disability.