Become the CEO of Your Own Company

You’re home from a life that has been planned for you. There were no job interviews, just orders.

But here at home no one has planned the next phase of your life. The one thing most returning service men and women are prepared for is leadership, so why not become CEO of our own company? Some of the transferable skills all veterans have are the ability to balance a budget, complete a mission, and train and manage personnel.

The options you consider somewhat depend on the job you had in the military. If your skills directly translate into a civilian job, great! Open your own diesel repair shop, launch a computer repair business, start your own restaurant, or form an engineering group to repair roads and bridges. Make it your own!

If your job doesn’t directly translate to a business, consider purchasing a franchise in a business you see a need for. In the south, 55+ communities are everywhere, and their HOAs require landscaping, painting, and pressure washing be kept up year-around. A talented handyman or cabinet maker with reasonable rates can make a great living remodeling homes. One contractor in South Florida makes Murphy beds in all types of creative styles.

It is very hard to find honest, hard-working contractors, and many seniors find themselves repeatedly taken advantage of by unscrupulous servicers. If you emphasize your military background and live out the work and personal ethics you learned in the service, you will have far more work than you can keep up with. Soon you’ll be expanding and adding your military friends as your business partners.

JDog Junk Removal and Hauling and JDog Carpet Cleaning are among the few franchises open only to veterans and their family members. Veterans who have purchased a JDog franchise find it an easy transition because the organization is built on the very same values you learned in the military. With low start-up costs and a complete training program, JDog helps you become successful very quickly.

Look to resources like Military.com and VA.gov for former CEOs who are willing to mentor new entrepreneurs. These sites offer all kinds of educational and informational articles on starting up a business.

VA’s New “Decision Ready Claims” (DRC) Program – Response to Applications in 30 Days!

What types of claims can be made under the DRC program?

Certain claims related to direct service, presumptive service and secondary service connections,
Claims for increases,
Surviving spouses,
Transitioning service members may file pre-discharge claims less than 90 days from departure from military service.

How to file a DRC Claim

If you wish to file a claim under the DRC program, you must work with an accredited Veteran Service Organization (VSO). The VSO representative will ensure all supporting evidence, such as military service records and medical exams, is attached; thus, allowing claims processors to make decisions within 30 days.

Click here to get started on your DRC.

Ending Homelessness for Veterans Across America

The end of March 2017 marked one more community that has announced the end of Veteran homelessness in their community. The City of Nashua, New Hampshire joined 40+ communities and three states (Connecticut, Delaware, and Virginia) that have reached the goal of finding permanent housing for all of their homeless veterans.

The VA launched an initiative to end Veteran homelessness in 2010, and to date 480,000+ homeless veterans across the country have been housed under that initiative.

Local Veterans Administration Medical Centers do more than medical care in their communities. They also serve as hubs for the homelessness initiative in their communities. If you know of a veteran who needs assistance with housing, please put them in contact with the local VA center.

In the last six years, the number of homeless veterans across the country has been cut almost in half.

Here are some contacts for people who want to help and people who need help:

Individuals and Businesses wishing to help eradicate homeless veterans in their city can visit: va.gov/homeless.
Refer homeless Veterans to their local VA Medical Center or urge them to call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).
To learn about employment initiatives for Veterans exiting homelessness, visit: http://www.va.gov/homeless/

VA Women Veterans Hotline 1-855 VA-WOMEN

Women Veterans Eligible for Many Benefits

While female Veterans have access to all of the benefits male Veterans enjoy, including Veterans health care and pharmacy programs, educational benefits, compensation for disabilities, VA home loans, and job assistance.

“Some women Veterans may not know about high-quality VA care and services available to them,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The hotline will allow us to field their questions and provide critical information about the latest enhancements in VA services.”

The hotline for women Veterans (1-855-VA-WOMEN) is the latest in a growing suite of hotlines the VA is hosting to make sure critical information regarding available assistance is quickly available to Veterans. Female Veterans may also visit the Center for Women Veterans for additional information and programs available specifically for women.

Other Available Hotlines

Other hotlines available to both male and female Veterans include a hotline for Veterans in crisis (considering suicide) and another for Veterans facing the possibility or reality of homelessness. Veterans can receive information and apply for benefits online at VA’s www.eBenefits.va.gov and manage their health care at MyHealtheVet.va.gov.