NJ Veteran Journal
Summer 2005 Edition
 
Veterans' News You Can Use
Compiled by the Veteran Journal Staff

Buried Veterans’ Records Available On Internet
The Veterans Administration has just made it easier and faster for the public to get answers about family history, old war buddies or famous war heroes. The agency has put on the Internet 3.2 million records for veterans buried at 120 national cemeteries since the Civil War.

The VA’s Nationwide Gravesite Locator at www.cem.va.gov also has records for some state veterans’ cemeteries and burials in Arlington National Cemetery since 1999.

These records used to be on paper and microfilm. Private companies have put some of the information online and charged for it, but the VA information is free. The VA’s gravesite navigator includes names, dates of birth and death, military service dates, service branch and rank if known, cemetery and grave location. The VA will withhold some information, such as next of kin,
for privacy purposes.

The site will be updated daily. Annually, about 80,000 veterans are buried at national cemeteries.

Labor Dept. Offers Vets Assistance Website
The Department of Labor’s e-VETS Resource Advisor, located at www.dol.gov/elaws/evets.htm provides information to veterans on a broad range of topics, such as job search tools and tips, employment openings, career assessment, education, training, benefits, and special services available to veterans.

The e-VETS Resource Advisor is divided into two sections: General Services and Personal Profile.
Based on a veteran’s interests and the information provided, e-VETS Resource Advisor will provide website links of specific interest to you.

DFAS Expands Services For Retirees
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service recently announced that military retirees and annuitants would be able to obtain specific account information through the Interactive Voice Response System.

Customers choosing to use this new feature will be asked to enter their social security number and Personal Identification Number. Customers can use the same PIN to access the IVRS that they use to access myPay.

Retirees and annuitants will be able to obtain specific account information regarding correspondence address, allotments, Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Existence, deductions, gross and net pay, Survivor Benefit Plan coverage and federal and state taxes.

DoD Announces To Selectively Employ Retirees
The Defense Department announced a new policy, which allows defense managers to hire civil service retirees in critical positions without offsetting their retirement pay, which was required under previous law. A similar provision was previously implemented for military retirees. This benefit applies only to those hired on or after Nov. 24, 2003.

The policy has a number of restrictions and requirements. A retiree can only be hired into hard-to-fill positions where the retiree has unique or specialized skills or qualifications. A retiree cannot be reemployed in his or her previous job position unless someone above the hiring official approves it and certifies the critical conditions. Before any retiree can be hired, the position must be offered to qualified defense workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

For executive level positions, only the secretaries of the military departments or heads of defense agencies and field activities may appoint annuitants to such positions.

VA Calls For Improved Services For Disabled Vets
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Task Force released The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program for the 21st Century Veteran - a report calling for improved vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled veterans.

The task force was created to give the VR&E program an independent examination, evaluation, and analysis.

The task force recommended that VA improve the independent living program and expand current services to National Guard and reserve personnel.

To view the full VA report, go to www.fpmi.com/lerpress/VRE_Report_2004.pdf

Table of Contents
Abel New DCVA
Governor’s Letter
Vets Homes Update
NJ Medals Honor Veterans
Mental Health Hotline
Army Program For Vets
VA Reaches out to New Vets
Vets News You Can Use
One Shots
POW Expanded Benefits
VSO Listing
Front Page / General Info

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