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Veterans affairs staff helps Spangdahlem community

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  The Veterans Benefits Affairs Department of Defense program office staff offers a variety of informational services to veterans, dependents and their survivors.

The program aims to assist transitioning Airmen and their families as part of President Barack Obama's Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, which makes service member participation in the Transition Assistance Program mandatory.

"We'll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they've earned, and our wounded warriors receive the health care - including the mental health care - that they need," said Obama during the 2014 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress Jan. 28. "We'll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home. We all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families."

TAP components are also available for all DoD services including the U.S. Coast Guard.

Each service member must complete the following:
· A pre-separation counseling session
· VA Benefits I and II briefings
· Department of Labor employment workshop
· Capstone event to verify service member's career readiness

VA Benefits I provide information about:
· Education
· Health care
· Compensation
· Life insurance
· Home loans
· Vocational rehabilitation and employment information and counseling

VA Benefits II provides information about:
· Services and programs related to VA health care
· VA disability compensation process
· eBenefits navigation

Additionally, VBA provides Airmen information about pursuing a technical career while after their military service.

The Career Technical Training Track is designed to Airmen and spouses in:
· Defining technical career goals
· Identifying required credentials
· Finding career technical training opportunities
· Identifying local veteran resources
· Utilizing VA education benefits

Together with the involvement of the respective administrations and agencies, the joint objective is to ensure every Airman along with her/his family experiences a smooth transition from military to civilian life.

VBA briefers are available to meet individually with requesting service members and their families throughout the week to personally assist with answering questions about VA benefits and services.

To schedule an appointment, call DSN 452-1VET (1838). Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday in Building 131, Room 301.