Veterans Newsletter July 2018 The purpose of this newsletter is to inform veterans of the various programs, workshops and services available to the veteran community, along with items of interest. Each issue will strive to keep veterans apprised of any changes in state and federal veterans programs, along with events occurring locally. Your feedback on what you would like to see covered will always be welcomed. News from the AD Works VETS Program Veteran ONLY Networking Event at AD Works! This monthly event is designed to place highly qualified veteran job seekers and military spouses in front of employers that are hiring. The environment is informal so that the veterans and spouses can be given immediate feedback on their networking skills, resume quality, and qualifications for the available jobs. It is less of a job fair, and more of an instructional job skill development workshop. The Networking Event for July will be held on July 30 th from 930am to Noon at the Centennial offices of AD Works! Please contact Regional Veteran Employment Representative, Marty Bangert at 303 636-1253, to answer your questions and or to reserve a seat. The Vets Corner The AD Works! Workforce Center has a designated area for veteran related information, to include, job fair postings, reading material from the various military related organizations, like the
American Legion, VFW, and the DAV. Vets can also find contact information for other resources in addition to employment opportunities. VA News The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will be replacing the Tricare Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) in 2019 TRDP is ending in 2018 and being replaced by the FEDVIP program. You must enroll in FEDVIP during the 2018 Open Season to keep coverage. The Open Season will run from November 12 th through December 10, 2018, with coverage effective January 1, 2019. If you are currently enrolled in a TRDP plan, you will not be automatically enrolled in a FEDVIP plan for 2019. You must enroll during the Open Season. For more information visit www.tricare.benefeds.com. What is the National Resource Directory? The National Resource Directory (https://nrd.gov) is a federal government website that connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans, families and caregivers to thousands of services and programs at the national, state and local levels to support them during recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Visitors to the site can find information on topics such as veterans benefits, health care, educational opportunities, homeless assistance, employment and more. The directory is a tri-agency initiative among the Department of Defense, Dept. of Labor, and Veteran Affairs. To find out more information go to their website, https://nrd.gov. The Decision Ready Claims Program
The Decision Ready Claim (DRC) Program is the fastest way to get your VA claim processed. With the DRC Program, you can get a decision within 30 days after you submit your claim when you work with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or other accredited representative. Your VSO will help you gather and submit all relevant records and evidence, including federal and medical records and Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), and will request your claim exam, so your claim is ready for VA to make a decision when you submit it. Currently the DRC Program is available for the following types of compensation claims: Direct Service Connection Claims, Presumptive Service Connection Claims, Secondary Service Connection Claims, Increased Disability claims, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Claims, and Pre-Discharge Claims. For more information go to www.benefits.va.gov/drc or call 1-800-827-1000. In Other Veteran Related News Tips for Veterans Who Want To Be Franchise Owners By Kimber Green, U.S Veterans Magazine According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), roughly a quarter of all veterans are interested in starting their own business. Franchises are so popular that the International Franchise Association reported that 1 of every 7 franchises in America is owned by a veteran. Hundreds of companies offer incentives for veterans to become a franchise owner. Here are a few things to consider if you are interested in owning one. Is buying into a franchise a good decision for my family? Are you passionate about the industry you are considering? Is there room in the market for this business? Is this the right
time in your life to open a business? If you and your family decide this is the right move, then you need to look into how to choose the right franchise. Start your research with the SBA, they have a veteran business outreach center (VBOC) program. They offer services to help veterans with business training, counseling and referrals. This includes workshops on business development and they have counselors available to assist you. Contact SBA for further information. How to avoid Scholarship Scams By Robert Barrows, U.S. Veterans Magazine Unfortunately, many families have fallen victim to scholarship scammers who are stealing millions of dollars from families every year. Your goal is to get money for college, and it should not cost you anything to apply for scholarships. The good news is that there are red flags to look out for to avoid becoming the victim of a scam. A general rule - if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Learn the signs to protect yourself against being defrauded and find scholarships that are right for you. Here are 3 tips to avoid scams: 1. Be cautious of fees: Applying for scholarships should not cost money. Be cautious of scholarships with application fees and never pay to get scholarship information.
2. Protect your data: Never reveal financial information such as your social security number, credit card numbers, checking information or bank account numbers to apply for scholarships. Scholarship scammers could use this information to commit identity theft. 3. Get a second opinion: If you are unsure, talk with trusted organizations about which websites they recommend. School counselors, librarians, financial aid offices, and local community organizations have knowledge and tools to guide you in the right direction. To learn more, go to the Tuition Funding Sources website (http://www.tuitionfundingsources.com) Job Search Advice Resources for Pursuing Federal Employment Article taken from the Corporate Grey Newsletter There are several federal resources available to help you find government jobs. Most federal agencies post their jobs to USAJobs.gov. In addition, each federal agency has individuals responsible for promoting veterans recruitment, employment, training & development, and retention within their respective agency. These individuals can be found on the FedsHireVets website. Another important resource for finding government employment is your network of friends and colleagues who are
working in the public sector. Remember the power of the informational interview to inquire about opportunities in the career you are targeting. Search for and join groups on LinkedIn to network for federal government job leads. Put Social Media to Work for Your Job Search Article taken from the Corporate Grey Newsletter Employee referrals carry a lot of weight in a company s hiring process. In fact, it was listed as one of the top sources for quality candidates by recruiters. Referrals are one way that social media can help with your job search, by connecting you to individuals who can refer you to the right person at their company. Use Linkedin.com, for example, to cultivate a professional image on-line. Your profile should show your expertise by sharing articles and joining on-line discussions, which build your network of relevant networking partners. By getting noticed on LinkedIn you will be on the radar of people who know people. Remember, you are not connecting to ask for a job, but rather to get information about their company and possible contacts. You are doing company research and also creating relations that may lead to future job opportunities. An added bonus is that increasing your presence and network will also increase your odds of getting noticed by recruiters. They are also using social media to find candidates for the positions they are trying to fill. Significant days and observances for the United States Armed Forces in July.
July 4 th Independence Day of the United States It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 on July 4 th by the Continental Congress July 21 st Department of the VA Created On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed Executive Order 5398 to create the Veterans Administration July 27 th National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Recognizes the brave men and woman of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought the Communist Armies of North Korea in 1950 July 29 th Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corp The U.S. Army Chaplaincy was established, July 29, 1775, to provide religious support to America s Army while assisting commanders in ensuring the rights of free exercise of religion for all soldiers. We are here for you!
We view this newsletter as a way to talk to veterans and find out what their needs are. I, along with the other members of the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Vets program, are here for you. If you would like more information on the veteran services available at our Workforce Center, please contact one of us: Dave Alred DAlred@arapahoegov.com 303 636-1596 Martin Bangert MBangert@arapahoegov.com 303 636-1253