MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR VETERAN STUDENTS OF MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY Veterans Center Volume 41 Issue 1 AUGUST 2017 FROM THE DIRECTOR YOUR SERVICE IS APPRECIATED! The summer term has ended and the 2017-18 school year kicks off in a few short weeks. Minot State University Veteran students are reminded to complete their worksheet if they intend to use their educational benefits this fall. Looking forward to another successful fall term! Andy Heitkamp, Veteran Services director US Armed Forces dates AUGUST 4 Coast Guard Birthday 7 Purple Heart Day 14 VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) 16 National Airborne Day 29 Marine Forces Reserve Birthday Activities attended JULY 5 Minot Veteran Center outreach on campus 6 Military Day at the Zoo server 7 American Legion Baseball presenter 10 Student Affairs meeting 12 North Dakota Cares meeting 13 Recruiting and providing for Veteran Students webinar 14 American Legion Baseball First Pitch 17 Hosted Minot Air Force Base Commander Col Brooks and Director of Veterans Services, Jeff Huffman Central Missouri State University 18 North Dakota University System Veteran Benefits Reporting meeting 19 United States Department of Veterans Affairs School Certifying Officials workshop 20 North Dakota National Guard Education Center on Campus 20 American Legion Baseball presenter 20 Col Ballew farewell. Minot Air Force Base 5th Bomb Wing Vice Commander 21 Orientation 22 North Dakota State Fair Parade walk 24 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ISP meeting 25 Marketing and Student Support Services meeting 26 North Dakota State Fair Minot State Luau 27 State Fair booth Important Dates August 10 CONNECT Orientation 16 30 Bookstore financial aid book charging 21 First eight-week classes begin 16-week classes begin after 4 p.m. 22 16-week classes begin 24 Last day to add first eight-week class Last day to drop first eight-week class, or withdraw from all classes and receive 100 percent refund 30 Last day to add 16-week class Last day to drop 16-week class, or withdraw from all classes and receive 100 percent refund September 4 Labor Day, University closed 6 Tuition due and financial aid disbursed HELPFUL RESOURCES FREE online tutoring math, science, computer programming, art, economics, history, and more! www.khanacademy.org Check out the MSU Veterans Center Facebook page and give it a like to stay current with events. www.facebook.com/minotstateveterans OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 500 University Ave. W. Minot, ND 58707 701-858-4003/1-800-777-0750 www.minotstateu.edu
REMEMBER YOUR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS HOTLINE 1(888) 442-4551 Disability services are available for anyone with a service documented disability by contacting Evelyn Klimpel, disability services coordinator, at (701) 858-3371. Alternate format, testing accommodations, notetaking and electronic books are just a few of the accommodations available, http://www.minotstateu.edu/disability_services/ North Dakota Department of Veteran Affairs We highly recommend that anyone who served in Iraq or Afghanistan register on the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits website (https://www.publichealth.va.gov/expos /burnpits/ registry.asp) Ann s Corner Hello everyone! School will be starting at the end of this month. Don t forget to submit your semester worksheet asap! Please contact our office at 701-858-4003 if you have any questions. If you have any changes to your class schedule, please contact me immediately. Also, to check to see how many months are remaining on your educational benefit, log on to you e-benefits page or contact the VA at 1-888-442-4551. Enjoy the rest of your summer and I will see you at the end of the month. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. Ann Bougard, Veterans School Certifying Official North Dakota National Guard Education office was on campus 20 July assisting servicemembers with educational benefits. Army tuition assistance users Guard, reserves, or active duty questions were answered by Lisa Rankins, education services specialist, Raymond J. Bohn Armory, 4200 E. Divide Ave. Rm 351, PO Box 5511, Bismarck, ND 58506 - Comm: 701-333-3205 - DSN: 312-373-3205 - Fax: 701-333-3313 and Sgt. Belquist
To learn more or to submit an application, visit Service Dogs for America, (http://www.servicedogsforamerica. org/) download the Preliminary Application, (http://www. servicedogsforamerica.org/apply/) view the brochure (http:// www.nd.gov/veterans/files/resource/ptsd%20brochure%20 REV090613.pdf) or contact (701)685-2242 or info@ servicedogsforamerica.org. Minot State University Veteran students who wish to be certified to use their VA educational benefits, please submit the worksheet for the upcoming fall semester at https:// survey.minotstateu.edu/classclimate/online. php?p=8unsp9qx Grant available for ND Veterans with PTSD North Dakota Veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (http://www.nd.gov/veterans/ resources/federal/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd) may now apply for a grant which may provide them with a specially trained Service Dog. These service dogs are trained right here in North Dakota to assist Veterans who suffer from PTSD. The dogs provide the special needs of the veteran they are to serve whether it is calming anxiety attacks, providing comfort and assurance in public settings or waking a veteran from a nightmare. PTSD service dogs have proven to greatly assist Veterans in returning to a more normal life and reintegrating back into their community. Service Dogs for America has several of these highly trained service dogs ready to be placed with a veteran in need. To meet the minimum qualifications for a PTSD service dog the Veteran must be a North Dakota resident, have a diagnosis of PTSD, be engaged in counseling or therapy and have a doctor s recommendation for a PTSD Service Dog. All qualified Veterans are urged to apply. The grant is made possible by the 63rd ND Legislative Assembly and private donors. North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs news The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has a new series of Patriotic Plates available for purchase for North Dakota citizens. The new plates are available to all North Dakota vehicle owners and can be purchased at any of the Motor Vehicle Branch Offices in the state or by filling out an application form (http://www. dot.nd.gov/forms/sfn54397.pdf) available online through the NDDOT (http://www.dot.nd.gov/) website. The law enabling creation of the plate series was passed during the 2015 Legislative Session HB1360 (https://www.nd.gov/ veterans/legislation/house/hb1360). The Patriotic Plate series includes Boonie Stomper (https://www.nd.gov/veterans/boonie-stomper-license-plates) which became available October 2016, along with Flag of the United States (https://www.nd.gov/veterans/americanflag-license-plates) and Bald Eagle (https://www.nd.gov/ veterans/bald-eagle-license-plate) which will be available starting July 1, 2017. During the last year, the NDDOT along with the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs and Roughrider Industries have worked together to develop the plates, says Lindi Michlitsch, NDDOT Motor Vehicle Director. The artwork on the plates are beautiful and are a great way for motor vehicle owners to show their patriotism. The cost of the plates are $25, plus regular registration fees, with a portion going to the Veterans Postwar Trust Fund which is used to benefit and service veterans or their dependents. These new plates are a great way to show your American pride and patriotism and they allow you to support our
State s veterans, says Lonnie Wangen, Commissioner of the ND Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information about plates or other Motor Vehicle questions, visit www.dot.nd.gov. North Dakota Department of Fish and Game Disabled Veteran Hunt The Barnes County Veteran Service Office in cooperation with North Dakota Department of Fish and Game would like to announce the 2017 Camp Grafton Disabled Veteran Hunt for Veterans who are 50% disabled or greater. The Disabled Veteran Hunt will take place on Monday, November 13th and Tuesday, November 14th at Camp Grafton, N.D. Applications are due by August 31st and are available from any County Veteran Service Office. NORTH DAKOTA REPRESENTATIVE Marvin A. Zerr (701)721-2585 Mzerr@midco.net New requirement is that all military members and veterans interested in this program need to register online at www. proudtoserveagain.com. *PLEASE NOTE: This is a shotgun with slug only hunt, no rifles will be allowed this year.* For information contact Angela at 701-845-8511 Minot State University s Veteran Center hosted University of Central Missouri s Director of Veteran and Military services, Jeff Huffman and Minot Air Force Base Commander, Col Matthew Brooks. The outcome of the visit is a collaborative effort to explore ways to build upon services and opportunities for Active Duty/Veteran servicemembers and their family s to help ensure awareness of services currently available within each other s communities.