WE SHALL NOT FORGET!

The Bits, Bytes and Links is a collection of sites of interest to military veterans, places to visit, cryptologic links, military charities, military and veterans blogs etc.  NCVA-NE members should sign on to the NCVA-NE Yahoo History Group to see articles with our members in them or articles written by our members.


 

TRICARE TO END SNAIL MAIL NOTIFICATIONS:

Tricare is moving many of its notifications from postal mail to an online system, the agency announced on October 1, 2014. The change will be effective immediately and will impact notices about changes to coverage and eligibility. That means, for example, if your coverage is pulled for any reason, you will not receive a notice about it in the mail. Instead, you will receive an email or be mailed a post card asking you to log in to the Defense Department's online benefits system, milConnect, to read your change notice.

VA UPDATES DISABILITY CLAIMS FORM:

October 6, 2014: The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it is introducing a uniformed disability claims form.  The new form will make it easier for veterans and their survivors to clearly state what benefits they are seeking from the VA and to provide information that is necessary to process their claims and appeals. The new regulations will go into effect in late March of 2015.  More information is available about VA forms 21-526EZ, 21-527EZ, 21-534EZ and 21-0958 (Notice of Disagreement) may be found on the VA's eBenefits website.

 

DD-214s are now on-line:

The National Personnel Records Center has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214s.  http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/   Military veterans and the next of kin of a deceased former military member may now use the on-line system to request documents.  Other individuals with a need for the document(s) must still use Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the on-line website.

 

 

The National Security Archive:

This Archive is an independent non-governmental research institute and library located George Washington University in Washington DC.  The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act.   Use  http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/  

 

 

The Veterans' Administration veterans' Benefits Website:

Go to https://www.benefits.va.gov  for a one-stop website that provides important information on many programs and services offered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.  There is information on healthcare, education, pensions, employment programs, insurance, home loans, etc.

 

 

List of Agent Orange At Risk Ships

The VA has expanded the list of ships with Agent Orange ships. For the complete list and other news related to Agent Orange visit this website: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/shiplist/index.asp

 

NEW ADDITION: The consequences of using tobacco:   https://vapingdaily.com/support/smoking-among-veterans/

 

 

Honor Flights for Veterans:

This is a great way to remember our WWII Veterans - with an Honor Flight.  At one of our annual reunions at Picatinny, George and Ann Keller shared a slide show about a local Honor Flight that they participated in.  They helped sponsor several WWII vets from the Port Jervis, NY area and described the beauty of the flight and the humility and appreciation of the honorees.  The home page for the Honor Flights can be found at http://www.honorflight.org .  If you would like to be a donor, your gift will be accepted with great appreciation.  - Joe Novak
 

 Armed Forces Vacation Club:

The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) is a free membership club open to active duty, guard, reserve, and retired members of the armed forces.  For more information, or to sign up for this free club, visit https://www.afvclub.com/military_search_space_a

 

 

The Middle East Conflicts War Memorial:

The Middle East Conflicts War Memorial is located on Marseilles, IL.  The website is http://www.middleeastconflictswallmemorial.us/

 

 

The USS Liberty Veterans Website:

The USS Liberty Veterans Website is found at http://www.usslibertyveterans.org

Also see http://www.gtr5.com

 

 

How to report a Retired Military Veterans Death:

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service website address is https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/survivors/Retiree-death/ . Survivors can access this website and report the death using the "fast form" to report the passing of a retiree.  If the survivor needs personal assistance with the report, he or she can call 1-800-321-1080.

Military Funeral Honors:        http://www.military.com/benefits/burial-and-memorial/military-funeral-honors.html

 

USS Pueblo Website:                  http://www.usspueblo.org

The Pocket Flag Project:             http://www.pocketflagproject.com

U.S.Flag Etiquette:                       http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall:          http://www.travelingwall.us             See the schedule for the current year.

The National Do Not Call List:           http://www.donotcall.gov              Here you can register your number, file a complaint, get consumer info.

 

 

 

 

Veterans' Benefits Handbook:     On this website, you can BUY a copy of the 2014 Handbook, or Download a copy for FREE.

http://militaryhandbooks.com/view-military-handbook/2014-benefits-for-veterans-dependents/

 

Mass. Bay Council - Navy League:     http://www.massbaynavyleague.org

US Family Health Plan (USFHP):        http://www.usfhp.com

The National Cryptologic Museum Foundation:

Welcome to the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation's (NCMF) website - http://cryptologicfoundation.org/ .  The NCMF is a not-for-profit 501(c )(3) organization that was established in April 1996 to provide direct support to the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum.

The fundamental objectives of the museum and therefore the Foundation are to: educate the public on the role cryptology has played in our national security; commemorate those in the cryptologic community that have made significant contributions;  and to stimulate visitors, especially the young, to consider careers in fields so critical to NSAs past and future success - mathematics, computer science, engineering, and foreign languages.

SOCIAL NETWORK SITE FOR VETERANS:

Fellow Veterans,

I just wanted to extend to you an invitation to join us on a social networking site built exclusively for veterans.  You can locate friends and buddies you have served with from the past and make new ones along the way.  As well as create groups for your local detachments and veterans organizations you might be affiliated with.  I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to seeing you on it.    The link is:  http://www.defensenetworkalliance.com

Semper Fidelis and God Bless America

Sgt. Ed "Sully" Sullivan,  USMC

"Aid and Attendance" an under used benefit:

The Department of Veterans Affairs is reaching out to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an under used, special monthly pension benefit called "Aid and Attendance". This pension benefit may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Many elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for a VA pension may still be eligible for the special monthly benefit if they have large medical expenses, including nursing home expenses, for which they do not receive reimbursement.  To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance.

For additional information on this benefit, you may call 1-800-827-1000 and /or look at the following website:  http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp .  Information is also available at http://www.va.gov/ or from any local veterans service organization.

 

 

 Veterans' Records On-Line:                                https://www.archives.gov/veterans/