Two associations are offering separate scholarships, geared to military spouses and dependent children respectively. The National Military Family Association's Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarships can provide as much as $1,000 for spouses, which can be used to pay for earning professional certification or college degrees. Applications must be submitted online at www.nmfa.org/scholarship no later than March 15. Homefront America, a California-based support organization, is offering $1,000 scholarships to 25 military children who submit the best 500-word essays in one of four categories: Why I love my country; challenges in my life and how I overcame them; reasons I want to thank my parents; and my number one American hero. Applications must be submitted by April 25. Details are available on the Web at www.homefrontamerica.org.



GAO: Privatize Medical Jobs Carefully

While privatizing many medical and dental services jobs has allowed more people in uniform to contribute to the high pace of operations in the global war on terror, and could cost less at the same time, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says Congress could use more thorough information about its ramifications. The privatization process, which started in FY 2004, has resulted in transferal of more than 10,000 medical and dental jobs to civilian contractors before the program entered a moratorium period that began last Oct. 1 and will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2012. But because the Defense Department is scheduled to grow considerably within the next two years, DoD health care and comptroller officials may have to reexamine privatization sooner than that, the GAO stated in a Feb. 8 report. The expansion "will continue to tax the military health system in several areas, including manpower management," the report stated. The Defense Department must carefully keep track of how expansion affects health care delivery to the military system's nine million service members and dependents, and deliver that data to Congress in a timely fashion, in order to ensure that care delivery does not suffer and quality-of-life goals are met. To view the entire report, visit http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/pastweek.html.

IRS Warns of Advance Payment Scams

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to beware of several current e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure. The IRS expects such scams to continue through the end of tax return filing season and beyond.

The IRS cautioned taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams involving proposed advance payment checks. Although the government has not yet enacted an economic stimulus package in which the IRS would provide advance payments, known informally as rebates to many Americans, a scam which uses the proposed rebates as bait has already cropped up.

The goal of the scams is to trick people into revealing personal and financial information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, which the scammers can use to commit identity theft.

Typically, identity thieves use a victim's personal and financial data to empty the victim's financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim's name, file fraudulent tax returns or even commit crimes. Most of these fraudulent activities can be committed electronically from a remote location, including overseas. Committing these activities in cyberspace allows scamsters to act quickly and cover their tracks before the victim becomes aware of the theft.

People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and their hard-earned money – cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their reputations and credit records. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, may be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

The most recent scams brought to IRS attention are described below.

Rebate Phone Call

At least one scheme using the word "rebate" as part of the lure has been identified. In that scam, consumers receive a phone call from someone identifying himself as an IRS employee. The caller tells the targeted victim that he is eligible for a sizable rebate for filing his taxes early. The caller then states that he needs the target's bank account information for the direct deposit of the rebate. If the target refuses, he is told that he cannot receive the rebate.

This phone call is a scam. No legislation has yet been enacted that would allow the IRS to provide advance payments to taxpayers or that determines the details of those payments. Moreover, the IRS does not force taxpayers to use direct deposit. Those who opt for direct deposit do so by completing the appropriate section of their tax return, with bank routing and account information, when they file; the IRS does not gather the information by telephone.

Refund e-Mail

The IRS has seen several variations of a refund-related bogus e-mail which falsely claims to come from the IRS, tells the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount, and instructs the recipient to click on a link in the e-mail to access a refund claim form. The form asks the recipient to enter personal information that the scamsters can then use to access the e-mail recipient's bank or credit card account.

In a new wrinkle, the current version of the refund scam includes two paragraphs that appear to be directed toward tax-exempt organizations that distribute funds to other organizations or individuals. The e-mail contains the name and supposed signature of the Director of the IRS's Exempt Organizations business division.

This e-mail is a phony. The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mail about tax account matters to individual, business, tax-exempt or other taxpayers.

Filing a tax return is the only way to apply for a tax refund; there is no separate application form. Taxpayers who wish to find out if they are due a refund from their last annual tax return filing may use the "Where's My Refund?" interactive application on this Web site, IRS.gov. The only official IRS Web site is located here at www.irs.gov.

Audit e-Mail

Another new scam brought to IRS attention contains features not seen before by the IRS. Using a technique calculated to get almost anyone's attention, the e-mail notifies the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited. This is the first scam of which the IRS is aware that uses this to get the victim to respond.

Unusual for a scam e-mail, it may contain a salutation in the body addressed to the specific recipient by name. Most scam e-mails seen by the IRS are sent using the same technique used by spammers, in which hundreds of thousands of messages are sent to potential victims based on Internet address. Because of the volume, the typical scam e-mail is not personalized.

This e-mail instructs the recipient to click on links to complete forms with personal and account information, which the scammers will use to commit identity theft.

This e-mail is a phony. The IRS does not send unsolicited, tax-account related e-mails to taxpayers.

Changes to Tax Law e-Mail

This bogus e-mail is addressed to businesses, accountants and "Treasury" managers. It instructs them to download information on tax law changes by clicking on a series of links to publications on businesses, estate taxes, excise taxes, exempt organizations and IRAs and other retirement plans. The IRS believes that clicking on a link downloads malware onto the recipient's computer. Malware is malicious code that can take over the victim's computer hard drive, giving someone remote access to the computer, or it could look for passwords and other information and send them to the scamster. There are other types of malware, as well.

The urls contained in the link are not legitimate IRS Web addresses. All IRS.gov Web page addresses begin with http://www.irs.gov/.

Paper Check Phone Call

In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to the individual being called. The caller states that because the check has not been cashed, the IRS wants to verify the individual's bank account number. The caller may have a foreign accent.

In reality, the IRS leaves it entirely up to the individual to choose to cash or not cash a paper check. The IRS has no business need to know, and does not ask for, bank account or similar information, except when taxpayers indicate on their tax return that they are opting for the direct electronic deposit of their refund. In that case, however, it is the individual's responsibility to provide the IRS with the correct bank routing and account numbers on the tax return; the IRS does not contact taxpayers to verify the information.

What to Do

Anyone wishing to access the IRS Web site should initiate contact by typing the IRS.gov address into their Internet address window, rather than clicking on a link in an e-mail or opening an attachment.

Those who have received a questionable e-mail claiming to come from the IRS may forward it to a mailbox the IRS has established to receive such e-mails, phishing@irs.gov, using instructions contained in an article titled "How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious E-Mails or Phishing Schemes." Following the instructions will help the IRS track the suspicious e-mail to its origins and shut down the scam. Find the article by visiting IRS.gov and entering the words "suspicious e-mails" into the search box in the upper right corner of the front page.

Those who have received a questionable telephone call that claims to come from the IRS may also use the phishing@irs.gov mailbox to notify the IRS of the scam.

The IRS has issued previous warnings on scams that use the IRS to lure victims into believing the scam is legitimate. More information on identity theft, phishing and telephone scams using the IRS name, logo or spoofed (copied) Web site is available on this Web site. Enter the terms "phishing," "identity theft" or "e-mail scams" into the search box in the upper right corner of the front page.

Postal Service Makes It Easier and Cheaper to Send Care Packages

Effective March 3, 2008, the U.S. Postal Service will offer a new, larger Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box enabling customers to ship 50 percent more than with the current box. It will be offered at a discount to overseas military addresses. There will be a special version of the box for the military, with a $2 discount, if shipped to an Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) address. The USPS website has valuable tips for sending mail to troops stationed overseas:
http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/



President Urges Programs to Benefit Military Families, Wounded Troops

During the State of the Union address, President Bush called on Congress to improve the benefits and services available to Servicemembers and their families by passing bills to create federal hiring preferences for military spouses and to allow Servicemembers to transfer their GI Bill benefits to spouses and children. Currently, the Army has a pilot to allow certain enlisted members to transfer GI Bill benefits to their spouses and children. The program allows the transfer of up to 18 months of unused Montgomery GI Bill benefits to an eligible dependent. More information about the pilot program is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/. President Bush also made reference to the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors and stressed the need for Congress to continue to act to ensure that injured Servicemembers receive the care and benefits that they deserve. [Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48795]



Stimulus Package Will Include Disabled Veterans

President Bush signed the economic stimulus package on Wednesday after a short but contentious debate in the Senate over whether the bill would include a tax rebate for disabled veterans. The final version of the bill will provide disabled veterans with a payment of $300. One-time tax rebates of $600 will also be provided to individuals, $1,200 for couples and $300 for each child.



Military Widows Press for End to DIC/SBP Offset

In late January, three military widows went to federal court to press for a change to the law regarding benefits for widows. Currently, military widows who receive payments through the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) as well as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) because their spouse died of a service-related injury or illness have their SBP payments reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of DIC. There have been numerous attempts to eliminate the so-called SBP/DIC offset in Congress but only
limited success. A December 2004 law change (PL 108183) allows eligible survivors who remarry after age 56 to retain DIC payments in addition to SBP. At the time, members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee believed that this was the first step in ending the DIC/SBP offset. A subsequent legal review by the Department of Defense concluded that the law did not end the ban on concurrent receipt and that DIC payments should continue to be deducted from SBP annuities. It is the continued difference in opinion over the language of PL 108-183 which serves as the basis for the case against the government. The military widows who took their case to the US Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC on January 30 contend that the law should be interpreted to allow concurrent receipt of DIC and SBP. The judge’s decision in the case of Sharp v. The United States is pending. The National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 failed to eliminate the DIC/SBP Offset but the final bill does include a provision that provides a "special survivor indemnity allowance" for some eligible military survivors. The payments of $50 do not begin until October 1, 2008, however, and are set to end in 2016.



Senate Committee Hears Testimony about VA Benefits

At a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on January 25, the chairman of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission testified that benefits for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder were inadequate. The purpose of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission was to carry out a study of the benefits under the laws of the United States that are provided to compensate and assist veterans and their survivors for disabilities and deaths attributable to military service. It completed its
study last year, finding that the government needs to do a better job of coordinating benefits, treatment and vocational training. More information about the Commission is available at http://www.vetscommission.org/.
[Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_ptsd_080124w/]



Senators Call for Stronger Suicide Prevention Programs in Defense Department

On January 31, several Senators introduced legislation directing the Department of Defense to enhance its suicide prevention programs. The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act (S 2585) is in part a response to a steady increase in suicides among active duty troops in recent years. The bill seeks to improve outreach to Soldiers and families and mandates that the military’s suicide prevention programs be evaluated to ensure that they meet the needs of military personnel facing lengthy and repeated deployments. Last year, the Senate passed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention bill, which sought to improve suicide prevention programs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA also has a tollfree hot line number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to ensure veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock access to trained mental health professionals.



Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act Legislation Introduced

On January 22, 2008, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), introduced legislation to change Title 38 of the U.S. Code to forgive the debt owed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of men and women who have lost their lives in combat. Current law states that if a member of our Armed Forces is killed and owes the VA any outstanding indebtedness, the Secretary of VA is required to contact the family for collection. The law allows the VA Secretary some discretion for waiving certain cases. The bill would remove that discretion and forgive all debts that fall into this category. The Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act (S. 2536) would be retroactive to September 11, 2001.



Fiscal Year 2009 Department Of Defense Budget Released

President Bush has sent his Defense budget for Fiscal Year 2009 to Congress. The budget provides $515.4 billion in discretionary authority for the Department of Defense (DoD), a $35.9 billion or 7.5 percent increase over the enacted level for Fiscal Year 2008. The budget includes a 3.4% pay increase for military personnel as well as improved benefits for Servicemembers and their families. The Fiscal Year 2009 budget is posted at http://www.budget.mil .
[Source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/military_09_payraise_080204w/]



VA Requests $94 Billion for Veterans in FY '09 Budget

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake recently announced that President Bush is seeking a budget of $93.7 billion in fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with health care and disability compensation receiving most of the funding. The budget proposal calls for $47.2 billion in discretionary funding, mostly for health care. It also would provide $46.4 billion in mandatory funding for compensation, pension, educational assistance, home loan guaranties and other benefit programs.
Under the new budget, VA will strengthen its collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) for world-class health care and benefits to veterans, Servicemembers and their families, including progress toward the development of secure electronic patient health care records that can be used by both departments. This proposed budget will also allow VA to continue implementing the recommendations of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors. Highlights of the VA budget are available on the Internet at:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1448



VA Increases Travel Reimbursement for Eligible Veterans

Effective February 1, 2008, over a million eligible veterans will see their mileage reimbursement more than double for travel to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The 2008 appropriations act provided funding for VA to increase the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. While increasing the payment, VA, as mandated by law, also equally increased the deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements. The new deductibles are $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran. [Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1447]



Grief Professionals Turn Attention to Military Families

Grieving military families will gain new attention and support from bereavement professionals, thanks to a new Special Interest Group focused on loss in the military, organized within the National Association for Death Education & Counseling and chaired by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). TAPS is the national veteran’s service organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief
and trauma resources, seminars, case work assistance, and 24/7 crisis intervention care for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to http://www.taps.org or call the toll-free crisis line at 1-800.959.TAPS. [Source: http://www.taps.org/pressroom/press/ADEC-MilitarySIG.pdf]




Army Plans to Extend Outreach to Military Survivors

The Army’s Long Term Family Case Management program is planning to extend its outreach to military survivors by providing regular follow-up with the primary next of kin to ensure that issues and concerns are addressed and to obtain feedback. Army Long Term Family Case Management (ALTFCM) provides long-term support to Families of fallen Soldiers by offering assistance with any concerns or issues, and providing information on benefits, services and programs, as well as connecting families to various outreach organizations. The ALTFCM website has more information: https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active/tagd/cmaoc/altfcm/index.htm.



Highlights from the 2008 Military Health System Conference

The 2008 Military Health System (MHS) Conference, held in January, gathered key leaders including military commanders, local and regional office staff, healthcare leaders and professionals, administrators and federal and national agency partners to discuss ongoing issues in the Military Health System and future developments. One of the top issues at this year’s conference was care for wounded warriors. The Defense Department recently created the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury in its effort to step up the quality of care for wounded warriors and their families. It officially opened November 30, 2007. The center also will set standards and assess survey and validate DoD programs, and decide, in part, how resources are directed for research and other programs. The Department of Defense has also agreed that the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will build and equip the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for Traumatic Brain Injury in Bethesda, Md. In January
2007, the Fund completed construction of a $40 million world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas with funds raised entirely from private donations. The Fund’s website is http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/. Visit the MHS Conference website to learn more: http://www.health.mil.



Universities Design Programs for Veterans

Several universities across the United States are offering special programs and scholarships geared specifically to returning veterans and their family members. The University of Idaho launched Operation Education Scholarship to help veterans severely and permanently wounded as a result of service since Sept. 11, 2001. The spouses of wounded veterans also will be eligible for the scholarship. The university provides financial support and resources – such as tuition, fees and books, on-campus housing, transportation, medical assistance, child care, adaptive equipment, tutoring and mentorship – at its main campus in Moscow, Idaho.
Learn more at http://www.uihome.uidaho.edu/OperationEducation/ Supportive Education for the Returning Veteran (SERV) is a new program at Cleveland State University that is designed to assist military veterans with their transition from Soldier to civilian to
student. Classes have been designed specifically for veterans to help them in that very important first year of college. The program is open to veterans only. Learn more at http://www.csuohio.edu/serv/. Arkansas State University is home to the PRIDE Center for America's Wounded Soldiers. The Center provides education assistance in the form of GED programs, vocational and technical training, and career advising. It also offers personal rehabilitation services, mental health services, and resources and referrals for community services, veterans’ benefits, employment services, and housing assistance. The Center’s website is http://cp.astate.edu/pride/



State Education Benefits for Veterans

Many US states now offer educational assistance and benefits for veterans, their family members and for military survivors. Military.com has developed a searchable online summary of educational benefits. Learn more at http://education.military.com/money-for-school/state-veteran-benefits.



Veterans' Benefit Expiration Dates

Veterans are entitled to a number of valuable benefits but did you know that many of these benefits have expiration dates? For example, the Montgomery GI Bill for Active-Duty (MGIB) expires 10 years from date of last discharge or release from active duty. To learn more about veteran’s benefits, eligibility requirements, and expiration dates visit Military.com: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/veterans-benefit-expirationdates



Assistance for Military Homeowners

The Military Housing Assistance Fund (MHAF) helps military families to become homeowners by providing them with grants to assist them with purchasing a home. The Fund also provides financial counseling to members of the National Guard and Reserves, deployed and serving in combat zones overseas, who are having problems meeting their monthly obligations due to their deployment and activation. Learn more at http://www.militaryhousingassistancefund.org. The Fund is a project of the Financial Counselors of America (FCA), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to help
Americans manage their finances and get out of debt. Visit the FCA website at
http://www.financialcounselors.org.



Tax Tips for Military Families

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, especially those serving in combat zones, face some special tax situations and are entitled to some special tax benefits. Troops deployed to combat zones have an extended deadline to file taxes. Additionally, thanks to recent legislation, military reservists called to active duty can receive payments
from their individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans and 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities, without having to pay the early-distribution tax. The Inland Revenue Service’s website has a special section dedicated to providing the latest tax information for military personnel. Learn more at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/index.html.



Law Protects Military Families against Predatory Lending

Military Money and H&R Block are joining forces to inform Servicemembers of new regulations that combat predatory lending practices often targeted at military families. The law, commonly known as the Military Lending Act, affects payday loans, vehicle title loans and tax refund anticipation loans, and places specific requirements and limitations on loans to “covered borrowers” – that is, Servicemembers and their family members. Visit Military Money’s website to find fact sheets, articles and more information about how the new law protects military families: http://www.militarymoney.com/lending_act/



Consumers Have Expanded Options to Protect their Credit

Consumers in all 50 states now have the option of “freezing” their credit file to block review of the information and to prevent criminals from opening fraudulent accounts in the consumer’s name. Previously, credit freezes were only available in some states. Although a credit freeze is one of the strongest measures and individual can take to protect their personal information it does have associated costs. The three credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax – charge $10 for each freeze.

Additionally, consumers will have to pay a fee to the agency to lift the freeze if they want to apply for a new loan or credit card. Consumers wishing to put a credit freeze in place should contact the credit reporting agencies: http://www.equifax.com; http://www.transunion.com/; http://www.experian.com/. Consumers can also take a number of simple – and free – steps to protect themselves from identity theft. Always ensure that your Social Security Number is kept safe and do not share your SSN unless
absolutely necessary. Review your annual Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement to ensure information is correct.
You can also remove your name from the marketing lists of the three primary credit reporting agencies by calling 1-888-5OPT-OUT or visit https://www.optoutprescreen.com. Request copies of your credit report. By law you are entitled to request a free credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Learn more at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/


US Army EFMP Respite Care Program Launches Newsletter

Army Community Services (ACS) has launched a newsletter aimed at families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program that works with military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services to families with special needs. The newsletter has resources for families with special needs individuals as well as information about the respite care program. EFMP members may be eligible for up to 40 hours of respite care per month if the family
member meets specific criteria. Families should contact their installation EFMP manager through ACS. The newsletter can be downloaded at https://www.myarmylifetoo.com/efmp_newsletter. Learn more about EFMP at http://myarmylifetoo.com under the link for “Home and Family Life.”



Group Offers Holistic Treatments to Returning Veterans and Families

Servicemembers returning from deployment and their families can find help readjusting to their lives at home through traditional and holistic therapies offered by a Colorado group. For more than 30 years, Lost and Found Inc. has specialized in providing intervention and rehabilitation treatment for families. The organization developed a program geared toward military families to address issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and reintegration issues through a combination of traditional psychotherapy and “experiential” therapies. To learn more, visit http://www.lostandfoundinc.org/ and select the link for “Military Outreach.”
[Source:
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/Content.aspx?ID=44964721]



Foundations Provide Emergency Assistance to Troops and Families

The American Soldier Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit organization created to assist Soldiers, their family members, and military survivors. The Foundation can provide grants or interest free loans for food, rent or utilities, medical expenses, and other needs. Learn more at http://www.soldierfoundation.org. The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation is a non profit 501(c) 3 organization that provides funds and support to EOD military families caring for their loved ones at military medical facilities. The support provided can include plane fare, accommodations, food vouchers or other associated travel expenses. Eligible families can also use benefits for other necessities such as childcare, mortgage
and rent relief while visiting Servicemembers. Visit the Foundation website at
http://www.woundedeodwarrior.org/



A Cup of Comfort for Military Families

A Cup of Comfort is a bestselling series featuring uplifting true stories about life experiences and relationships. The publishers are currently seeking positive stories about how military life affects the personal lives of service men and women and how military life affects family members for a volume about military life. The submission deadline is March 1, 2008. Learn more at http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

Army, VA Sign Mutual Support Agreement

Feb 13, 2008

BY Army Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 13, 2008) -- Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake signed a mutual support agreement, Feb. 12, outlining continued assistance to service members and their families transitioning through the military Disability Evaluation System.

The document formalized an understanding that has already been providing care to wounded, ill and injured service members in the Disability Evaluation System

"By providing VA support to Soldiers, this agreement formalizes a resource that will help them get the health care and benefits they earned with their service," Secretary Geren said. "We must look at our policies through the eyes of our Soldiers and their Families, as we have done in developing this agreement."

"Today's agreement reaffirms VA's commitment with the Army to provide the care and benefits our veterans deserve," said Secretary Peake. "We share a duty to do what's right for our soldiers and their families."

Under the agreement, the Army will continue providing nurse case managers, legal assistance, physical evaluation board liaison officers, chain of command, primary care managers and other service-specific support. Soldiers also may call the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline at 1-800-984-8523 (overseas DSN 312-328-0002) or e-mail: wsfsupport@conus.army.mil.

VA service representatives will continue providing information and advice regarding how medical evidence is used in the evaluation of disabilities under the Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities. VA service representatives will assist and advise service members as they prepare documentation for VA benefit claims. VA benefit claims include the VA portion of joint claims processed through the Disability Evaluation System Pilot Program.

At military installations where the VA does not have permanent staff available, service members may contact VA service representatives via phone or e-mail. A listing of veterans' service organizations recognized by VA to help with VA benefits claims can be found at www.va.gov. VSOs also may provide assistance with this process.