Veterans Affairs Advocate

SOS Sent Out To "Support Our Solders" by Julie Walke

2008-08-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

SOS Sent Out To "Support Our Solders"By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julie_Walke]Julie Walke

A group of concerned and innovative companies and one private university have developed a four phase program called Support Our Soldiers (SOS) to assist Active Duty Military Personnel and Veterans in transitioning into a productive civilian life. The first two phases of the program include a 9 day family based camp that involves the entire family unit including military spouses and children, parents, grandparents and significant others. At the Camp the entire family is taught to recognize and manage behaviors that are associated with combat trauma.

Phase two at the Camp involves work, job and career counseling where the trained camp counselors, which include many military veterans, begin the process of successfully transitioning military personnel from military service into civilian life. This phase has one key goal in mind... to help these transitioning men and women find careers based on individual interests, skill sets, and regional employment opportunities in the civilian world after discharge from the service.

The third phase of this innovative program involves Follow-on Services. Services include PTSD Education, Career Training and Support and Emergency hotline services for Veterans, their relatives, friends, and employers who may have to deal with a PTSD related crises. This phase is designed to ensure that transitioning military personnel receive adequate on-going help by arranging internships and providing on-going communication, guidance, and assistance to the transitioning personnel, their families and their employers thereby increasing the chances of a successful assimilation into civilian life. The program places special emphasis on Veterans Helping Veterans, including service-disabled veterans, by providing networking resources to connect a wide range of existing training and employment opportunities from both the veteran and civilian population.

The fourth and final phase of the program includes the process of program evaluation. The evaluation includes assessment, accountability, and enhancement of the program's past and future operations.

The team assembled for this effort is comprised of a highly experienced and qualified group of private organizations that fulfill the scope required to develop and run an effective program that begins and continues the healing process for our Heroes. The team includes the following members:

The Minnow Lake Foundation, IncThe Camp Minnow Lake vision is to provide a place where families, from all walks of life, come together to learn from each other important values, mutual respect, team work, and new skills. Families learn to build self-confidence, care, and concern for our natural environment while nurturing each other. The Camp provides a combination of experiences that foster the development of positive and diverse relationships for the betterment of society.

In 1983 the first official Camp Minnow Lake office headquarters was opened for year round business and work and the staff was made up completely of volunteers. 1984 marked the first resident family camp - Family 4th of July Camp at Idyllwild, Calif. Fifty families from low income areas of San Diego were chosen with the help of 19 local school districts. Each family was given a scholarship to attend the July 4th weekend camp along with 50 camp volunteers. Together, 230 people from diverse ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds proved that understanding, tolerance, appreciation of nature, and love of self and others can be fostered in the camp environment. A formal evaluation demonstrated the success of this first camp and has become the basis for ongoing funding efforts both locally and nationally.

Simons and Associates Psychological Consulting ServicesSimons & Associates is a team of behavioral health specialists working in the field of Employee Assistance and Corporate training and Development. Comprised of corporate, military, and academic experienced psychologists (Ph.D.), psychiatrists (M.D.), marriage and family counselors (MFCC), human health/resource (RN/HR) and legal consultants, the team provides short term training and intervention and longer term, innovative consultation, training, and executive coaching.

SEIDCON, Inc.SEIDCON is an American-Indian and woman owned 8(a) firm. The company has supported the Department of Defense and other federal agencies--including the Veterans Administration--for over 25 years. Over half of Seidcon's employees are retired military, with 3 of 5 board members having U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army backgrounds. Seidcon's Program Management, Contract Management and business acumen make the firm an outstanding choice to lead and oversee our team efforts. These efforts require accomplished, involved leaders with very strong logistics and financial capabilities, to ensure our heroes, our troops, arrive home to impassioned care that will result in fulfilled lives for all of them and their families.

California Miramar UniversityCalifornia Miramar University (CMU) is a California State Approved private postsecondary institution offering Certificate Programs, Corporate Training Programs, and Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degree Programs in Business and Leadership. After a State Approved change of ownership in 2004, the private California University received additional permission from the State to move the University from Los Angeles to its present location near the Miramar Marine Corp. Air Station in San Diego. While in San Diego, the University has become an active participant in local and international organizations and innovative projects such as its own Military Spouse Scholarship program to assist military spouses by offering affordable educational opportunities coupled with child care for individuals whose spouses are deployed in the service of our nation.

Tax deductible contributions can be made to the Support Our Soldiers program by contacting The Minnow Lake Foundation, Inc. at http://www.minnowlakefoundation.org
Julie Walke

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Effective Techniques for PTSD Treatments - Part 2 by Jay Bose

2008-07-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

PTSD Treatment

It is very important to understand the core stimulus of the post traumatic stress disorder before a remedy can be identified. One of the challenges for psychotherapists is to make the patient open up and describe the event that had caused the trauma. You wish there was something like an eraser that you could use to wipe the traumatic experience from memory or pull a power cord from your brain that would reset the memory. But these are just wishful thinking and more of a pipe-dream. At the core of all PTSD treatments there is only one goal, make you learn to come to terms with yourself - a kind of meeting yourself half-way, recognizing that the past cannot be reversed, but steps can be taken to ensure that the present and future does not involve another such a traumatic experience.

Medications for PTSD treatment

A key element of PTSD is depression, following be excessive anxiety. Anti-depressants may be prescribed to the patient to calm down the nervous system. When your mind is calm, your physiology also relaxes. If the patient is also suffering from excessive nightmares and episodes of waking up in a cold sweat, tranquilizers may be prescribed. However patients could develop an inclination to overdose on such medications, which could do more harm than any good. So if medications are prescribed as a part of PTSD treatment routine, they should be properly monitored and controlled. However, medications are seldom the only remedy for PTSD. These are short term and temporary in nature and there is a risk that the patient may get addicted to it. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the medication may start to lose is potency after a while when the body gets used to it.

Group Therapy as a PTSD treatment

As discussed earlier, the most challenging aspect of PTSD treatment is to make the patient open up and provide an accurate description of the event. Patients have the inclination to keep things bottled up like they've always been ever since that traumatic event occurred in their life. Moreover they feel that the trauma is a personal demon that nobody can help eliminate. Such mental stigmas are the core inhibitors for treating PTSD sufferers. They tend to believe that they are beyond help and nothing can help them overcome their problem.

Research and statistics have proven however that if several patients who have suffered similar traumatic experiences before are brought together and made to talk among their experience, they feel more agreeable to open up. This is the core philosophy behind group therapy which is centered around the concept of sympathetic bonding.

Let's say for example, you are an accountant by profession and you are asked to participate in a forum where a bunch of cardiologists are discussing the latest advances of open heart surgery. Do you think you will open up and talk about why it is so important to have credits and debits cancel each other for a correct balance sheet? But in that same forum, even the most introvert cardiologist who has never met anyone else in the group could be seen to turn out to be a very active contributor on an invigorating discussion. This is the concept of "the like attracting like" or sympathetic bonding. This is what group therapy entails when used as a PTSD treatment method.

The psychotherapist(s) may be present physically or behind a one-way glass wall or through a video feed among the group of PTSD sufferers, who may or may not be aware that their conversation is being monitored by qualified mental healthcare professional(s). As the subjects begin to talk casually at first, eventually they start to talk about their experiences. That is when the psychotherapist(s) present get busy taking notes and analyzing the conversation.After a while the patients really start to open up one by one in the company of fellow sufferers (or sympathizers) and can begin a vivid replay of the traumatic event. Such descriptions provide valuable insight to the psychotherapist(s) on the nature of the problem, which in turn helps them analyze and determine possible remedies.

Post session research has also revealed that PTSD patients feel more relaxed having had the opportunity to "bare their chest" and finally have someone that they can relate to, listen to and share their own traumatic experience. It is the same effect as opening the lid off a pressurized container. The release of all that tension and pent up grief, by simply discussing their experiences with like minded people significantly helps to relax their nervous system. Whatever the psychotherapist recommends after such sessions can only have a positive effect on the patient.

Other PTSD treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy have proven themselves to be pretty effective as long as the patient is willing to open up and provide a true account of their experience. Patients have been reported to get into shock and feel extremely distressed when asked to describe their experiences, so it is very important that the psychotherapist does not rush through the session or convey any sense of urgency to the patient. Instead this should be approached cautiously and delicately with a keen eye for any sense of over-exertion by the patient.

Jay Bose operates his website at StressAndAnxietyFree.com, where he writes and coaches students on http://www.StressAndAnxietyFree.com/ PTSD treatment how to leverage non-invasive techniques for http://www.StressAndAnxietyFree.com/ anxiety and stress reduction. http://www.StressAndAnxietyFree.com/ Post traumatic stress disorders are the most sensitive among stress related disorders and must be approached with a lot of care.

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Effective Techniques for PTSD Treatments - Part 1 by Jay Bose

2008-06-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Emotions are a gift of nature to us - they keep us human. Feelings of joy and sorrow are all natural reactions to situations in life. Interestingly enough, the same situation in life could be interpreted as joy for one person and sorrow for another. It depends on how we perceive as individuals perceive life. Two boxers knocking the living daylights out of each other in the ring obviously could not be considered as having a joyful time and yet the crowd might be thoroughly enjoying the exchange of blows. The good thing about emotions is that they are more temporary in nature - over time images of the situation could fade away from memory. However some emotions are so strong that they seem to remain indelible in our memory. Memories of such longer lasting emotions based on situations that are negative in nature and those that lead to extreme psychological stress when the conscious mind plays them back, are often classified as psychological trauma.
What's On Your Mind?
Psychological trauma could be as recent as an experience in adulthood or something as distant as early childhood. However that experience is so severe that anytime the mind wanders over to replay that experience from memory, it literally consumes you in sheer grief.
Children growing up in unhealthy, depressing conditions or in families that indulge in domestic violence or abusive behavior turn out to be prime candidates for developing post traumatic stress disorders pretty early in life. The trauma of childhood manifests itself in the person's character, thought process and behavior patterns. I've known women who have developed gamophobia (fear of marriage) because they came from broken homes and had witnessed bitterness in relationships between the birth parents. Those memories became the source for trauma and manifested themselves as a phobia for the woman, which in turn shaped her character and attitude towards men.
In the recent past there was an uproar in the community and news media about a video being published in Youtube® where a toddler was being taught how to smoke pot in his own home. I won't give you any credits for guessing how traumatic that experience could have been for the toddler, when every rational and mature person viewing it were disturbed by the graphic scenes. Where do you think the toddler will end up in life? All we can do is wish him luck.
Abusive supervisors at work could lead to psychological trauma for employees and literally destroy their confidence to perform or even go back to work. Sexual abuse is a common cause for women developing psychological trauma .Recent news about the polygamist who literally controlled the lives of several women disturbed viewers. Can you imagine the trauma that those women and their children went through and will carry on for the rest of their mortal life?
The worst part about traumatic experiences is that they are long lasting in memory and affects the future life - hence the term post traumatic stress disorder. In other words the events of a few moments manifest themselves as trauma for months and even years to come, leading to incessant feelings of anxiety, phobias, depression and even panic attacks. These lead to inhibitions, which in turn makes PTSD treatments a challenge to be effective let alone make any progress with the patient on stress and anxiety reduction.
In the example of the women with gamophobia, the post traumatic stress disorder could manifest itself as unreasonable hatred and distrust for men, jealousy for happy couples, depression, homosexuality and even alcoholism and drug abuse. So much so that such women may not feel comfortable to discuss the problem with a male psychotherapist.
Marines coming back from the war are prime candidates for post traumatic stress disorders. It does not matter how well you can train them, the gory scenes of war in real life and in real time can break the toughest of minds. It is one thing watching a video and an entirely different thing participating in the action. When we civilians watch news media coverage on television, we tend to ignore the events, but those brave soldiers that keep us safe at home don't have that luxury of ignoring reality. Pause for a moment to imagine how stressful and how traumatic it can be to see your brother or your sister or your close friends' life suddenly get extinguished in battle. The marines go through this stress and carry these traumas every day of their life. When they return the shock of their experiences could make them develop post traumatic stress disorder. Sole survivors of attacks where everybody in his unit lost their lives except himself often wonder what it was that spared his life. That is even more traumatic.
Challenges in PTSD Treatments
There is no shortage of examples of traumatic experiences and every situation is different. However the core theme for all cases psychological trauma is inhibitive behavior, anxiety and panic if the patient is even proposed with the idea of being exposed to a similar event even in virtual re-enactment mode. However the key to an effective treatment lies exactly in the patient willing to open up and share the experience with a qualified mental health professional. This becomes a major challenge for the psychotherapist to suggest any effective remedies for patients with post traumatic stress disorders.

In the next article I will discuss some of the more effective techniques for PTSD treatments.
Jay Bose writes and offers coaching to students online on stress and anxiety reduction, http://www.StressAndAnxietyFree.com/ PTSD treatments, and other mental ailments. PTSD treatments are often a challenge due to inherent inhibitions of the patient to discuss the stimulus of trauma. Post traumatic stress disorders can have a permanent impact on a person's character, outlook towards life and general behavior.

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Another Memorial Day Tear Jerker by Pat Kiggins

2008-05-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

This is my fourth year of publishing an article on Memorial Day. I'm always surprised by the reaction that I receive each time I write one of these. I've received emails from total strangers saying how they can relate to the context of my article or how my article gave a person the courage to speak to their parent about the parent's war experiences.
Today, I started my Memorial Day like every other one in recent memory. I went outside and sat under the tree in my front yard just to have some time to myself to reflect on the meaning of the day. I search my memory to honor the men that I watched die. I always take time to pray for all those who have given their life for our country. Personally, I've only witnessed the deaths of a couple of handfuls of soldiers but I always remember to be true to the meaning of the day and pray for everyone who has given their lives.

Then, I began thinking about the reactions of various people that I met this weekend. Usually, this is a relatively quiet weekend for me but not this year. You see, I attended the World Internet Summit in Dallas from Thursday through Sunday. There were hundreds of people there trying to learn how to make money on the Internet.

I took the advice of some Veteran organizations and wore one of my Purple Hearts each day. The purpose of wearing your medals in public is to remind people that this is a weekend to honor our fallen soldiers rather than to focus on sales at the local mall. The reactions I received were varied and confusing.

Some people came up to me and simply shook my hand and thanked me for my service. Others came up and asked me what the medal was and why was I wearing it everyday. There were people from other countries who had no clue what a Purple Heart was. One lady told me that I was a "political activist" and that I shouldn't be trying to inject politics into an Internet training event.

On the night of the "networking" event, I had lots of people who wanted to talk about my military experiences rather than follow the agenda (which was to find other people who could help you in your online business).

Probably the most touching part of the event was at the end when people were taking pictures with other attendees. People kept coming up to me and asking me if I would have my picture taken with them. Most were other veterans or simply people who found it refreshing that someone would take the time to wear a medal just to remind them what the weekend was all about. I think as many people thanked me for reminding them of the sentiment as thanked me for my service. That actually blew me away.

You have to remember that I am a Viet Nam veteran and we aren't used to people thanking us for our service. In fact, most of us weren't greeted well after our war. I know many fellow veterans who fought in Viet Nam who purposely never told anyone that they were even in Viet Nam simply to avoid a confrontation.

There were also several soldiers staying at the hotel who were spending the night before being shipped out to Iraq. I took the time to meet every one of them and thank them for their service. In fact, I happened to have some copies of my book, Wake Up... Live The Life You Love: Finding Life's Passion in my car so I autographed a copy for each of the soldiers and gave it to them so they would have something to read on their trip.

This year, I decided to write an article that wouldn't make anyone cry. I want to be as upbeat as I can about a day that means so much to me. Here's what I learned from my experiences this weekend: that next year, I'm going to wear a medal everyday when I go out in public. The only way you can change the world is to take action with an end result in mind.

I'll keep wearing my medals and I'll keep writing articles. In fact, since I'm personally mentoring 16 veterans this year for free and teaching them how to use their free veteran benefits to start a business selling products and services to the government, I'm going to encourage each one of them to write their own Memorial Day article for next year.

I hope that each of you took the time to pray for a fallen soldier today. If you didn't, stop what you are doing and say a prayer right now.

It has been an honor writing for you again this year,
Pat Kiggins, The Veteran's Mentor, http://www.patkiggins.com

Pat is a best-selling author, speaker, and is known online as The Veteran's Mentor. Pat is also an accomplished business executive, a proud "Vetrepreneur" and an even prouder parent of four outstanding children. If you would like to know more about Pat, please visit his web site at http://www.patkiggins.com

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Top 10 Small Business Opportunities For Military Personnel by Candice Clem

2008-05-20T08:53:00.001-07:00

Veterans own over 5% of all small businesses in the United States. This growing number of small businesses, upwards of 4 million, is due to the success rate of veteran business startups being higher than the average due to the experience veterans have gained serving in the armed services. While there are a number of services to help veterans with business education, loans, and many organizations to help place veterans in jobs, until 1999 there were no services specifically focused on helping veterans start their own small businesses or franchise businesses.

Currently the armed forces offer several programs and opportunities for ex-military personnel who are interested in starting their own small business, including home based businesses that will allow veterans to work from home. The army in particular now offers the Army Advantage Fund. This program offers those who qualify money to help start a small business. For a 3-year enlistment you can earn $25,000, for 4 years up to $35,000, and for five or more years you can earn up to $40,000. Here is a list of 10 great home business opportunities and small business franchises that can each be started for less than $40,000.

#1 Spring Green is a Lawn care service franchise that has been serving communities for more than 30 years. They are locally owned and operated and invite franchisees to join them in service the $30 billion dollar lawn care industry. Spring Green also has a flex-start program, which allows franchisees to keep their current job while building the base for their new business. Also Spring Green offers a specific military assistance program as well that has a working grant from spring-green for veterans.

#2 Health Career agents offers veterans the important and profitable business opportunity of working in the health care business market. There is a critical shortage of healthcare professionals all across America. Who understands recruiting better than the armed forces? Put that experience to work by helping to recruit health care professionals through being either an owner/operator of a franchise, or becoming a Health Career recruitment agent

#3 American Business Systems, LLC is a state-of-the-art, web based electronic billing system. This solves medical offices' cash flow and billing problems. No special education or certification is needed, as full training and ongoing support are provided to the franchisee. By signing up medical offices you reimburse their claims and charge a small percentage fee to process the billing through the electronic system that dramatically speeds up the billing process and reduces errors that lead to insurance claims being rejected.

#4 If your military service has left you with extensive experiences in technology and computer systems the Tech-Hero on site Computer Service franchise is looking for you. With a reputation of being professionals that work with customers to resolve computer and technology issues. Called heroes because of their desire to solve problems rather than bog down clients with "geek or nerd" terms the Tech-Heroes goal is to provide customers with exceptional service without making them feel ignorant or insignificant.

#5 In Your Home provides meaningful and important services to the senior population by providing advice, modifications, remodeling, and on-going maintenance and repair to elderly homeowners who want to "age-in-place." If you have patience, solid work ethic, and a respect and care for elderly citizens, then In Your Home is a great small business opportunity to assist those senior members of the community to maintain their living standards so they do not have to relocate to nursing homes and elderly care facilities.

#6 If you have a head for finances, organization, and the passion to be successful then you should consider the Blue Coast financial group. Adding the title of Blue Coast Financial Advisor to a resume can provide an abundant source of additional income. Blue Coast Financial Advisors are fully trained upon becoming franchise owners and specialize in money saving analysis of companies and small businesses. Many businesses overpay for their workers compensation packages, equipment lease and rental insurance, research and development tax credits and many more. Blue Coast Financial Advisors are trained to recognize these oversights and correct them saving the companies that hire them thousands of dollars in unneeded expenses.

#7 If a more hands on type of home based business is what you are seeking in your small business venture look no further than PosiGrip. PosiGrip is a high profitable turnkey, home-based business with virtually no competition. Providing resurfacing and traction to slick and slippery-when wet surfaces such as concrete, tile, ceramic, and more, PosiGrip helps to combat the more than 9 million disabling slip and fall injuries accounting in more than 95 million lost work days each year. Each customer that utilizes your service also qualifies for a federal tax credit as a result of the safety provided by PosiGrip surfaces.

#8 For the small business owner who is looking for complete flexibility in their business opportunity the DVDNow kiosk is a very attractive option. This incredibly low cost business opportunity provides people with the convenience of renting a new release DVD from a kiosk in a convenient location such as a grocery store without the hassle of having to make an additional stop at a video store and wading through hundreds of out of date titles. The DVDNow kiosk can be serviced when you want, and by only carrying the most popular titles you save on stocking older movies, which only represent 10% of all DVDs rented. The DVDNow kiosk is quick and easy to start and offers immediate return on your investment.

#9 In the same vein of servicing machines the Vendstar vending machine company provides another 100% cash flow small business. The Vendstar owners set up as many vending machines as they choose to manage and service and can service and refill those machines at their convenience. With a cash-based business becoming a profitable small business owner is as simple as finding a location where people are and setting up your first Vendstar vending machine.

#10 Finally a business with continuing demand and constant need for more franchisers is the home inspection business. With Home Team inspecting you receive all the training and support you need to become a fully trained and licensed home inspector. Whether you choose to run your business with a work force of one or manage a team of inspectors, the Home Team Inspection service provides a necessary component in all purchase and sales of homes. People always need a place to live and with more and more homes being built everyday each sale requires an inspection. With Home Team Inspection Services you can quickly set up your own inspection franchise today.

These great opportunities appeal to the wide variety of skills and abilities that typically lead to high success rate in military personnel. For the military person seeking to run their own small business with the leadership and management skills that lead them to success in the armed services, these opportunities can help them find that same success and accomplishment in the business world.

Find more articles about http://www.smallbusinesssale.com/articles/2008/03/19/top-10-small-business-opportunities-for-military-personnel/#more-4/ small business franchises and browse http://www.smallbusinesssale.com/articles/category/small-business-articles/ small business opportunities at http://www.smallbusinesssale.com Small Business Sale.

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3 Tips for Safely Dealing With the Returning Military Personnel for Businesses and Families by John Mason

2008-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Let's start with a simple story regarding how many of we "civilians" have dealt with stressful situations. Perhaps something similar to this has happen to you. As an example, you get a call in the middle of the afternoon. You have just won a contest (or have to take care of a family emergency) and you have just 2 hours to get the business done or you lose out on this special deal... or family business. You must drive 40-50 miles to get where you need to be. You pull things together quickly and head out the door. As you jump into your car, you realize that you must fight commuter traffic to get where you are going and this will make your time pressure even greater. You get stuck in traffic and are surrounded by tired, frantic, hostile drivers that are all in a hurry. When you finally arrive at your destination, you are stressed and perhaps even a little traumatized by the harrowing events. Most of us can relate to this scenario and we can begin to recover from this experience. Now imagine the situation of a real life and death threat that does not end in a couple of hours but in a situation that goes on 24/7 (all day and all night) for 365 days. Whether they are under fire or not the very real threat of death is constantly there. This requires adaptations and adjustments that are both physical and mental. This is what our military personnel must confront when they are deployed in a combat zone for a one year tour of duty.

I once experienced being rear-ended in my car. It was horrific! As I decompressed from having my car "totaled," I lived with trauma and spent more time looking in my rear view mirror than I ever had before. After 8 or 9 months, I relaxed a bit, but I am still more aware and cautious about what is happening behind me as I drive down the road. People surviving in dangerous environments, for long periods of time, often do not just "switch off" the survival postures as soon as they return home. These people return home changed. They are never going to be exactly as they were before their deployment. This "change" is not necessarily bad, just different or maybe unfamiliar. It takes adjustment from both sides to allow for the healthiest re-integration for the returning combat personnel. Our returning family member, friend, or employee will require time to decompress and to ease back into "normal" routines. After a year of combat deployment and the "adrenaline rush" of working in a combat zone, they may not find that their basic jobs, or their family life, is as interesting or exciting as their lives were in deployment. In some cases people get "addicted" to the excitement of deployment and may want to re-deploy without the full support or understanding of their family or friends. There may be a change in "stateside" values where regular work may be boring or seem unimportant compared with combat duty.

If you are not a returned veteran, it is viewed as disingenuous to say, "I understand." What the returning vet is going through as the re-integration process develops. Unless you have been in combat, you probably can not accurately put yourself in their place. Since every individual who survives the traumas of combat in their own unique way, it may even be difficult to truly capture the state of mind of the returnee in every aspect of their psyche. It is not helpful for returning vets to feel that they are being "judged" by people who do not fully understand their situation.

The immediate "on" that is needed for survival "in country" is not easy to let go of even with the relative safety of being at home. Survival mode is difficult to switch off. "Knee jerk" survival habits may "kick in" in response to home side situations like sudden noise or traffic congestion. Expect change! For family re-integration, it may be best to continue normal family routines and let your returned vet learn to fit into your routine without expectations of the length of time that this requires, and without the expectation that the vet will be able to "jump in" to the normal family routines. Solid and consistent routines will help. This can be made even more difficult when babies or young children are part of the family. Both the child/baby and the returning vet will both have re-adjustments to make.

Tips for Dealing with Your Returning Vet:

1. "Home Coming" ritual should be discussed, in advance, with your returning vet. Re-integration may be best suited with a "heros" return for some vets but a quiet return and being "left alone" for a while may be the request of the returning person and should be respected! Be happy, but do not force anything. Even a loving family deluge may be difficult until your returning person is really ready. So communicate about this in preparation of the return.

2. Re-integration into the family (and back into "normal" life) should begin within 2-4 weeks but can take much longer. When enough time has passed, a gentle pressure to "normalize" can be applied. A future article will discuss this issue of "Enough time."

3. A "Safety Plan" for a "TTO" (Training Time Out) should be in place even before deployment. This will include a "code word" or "signal" that when an agitated person needs to take a break from a discussion due to the upsetting nature of the content or situation a safe, short term separation for a Set Amount of Time should be allowed and encouraged before continuing the discussion. (A recommended half hour or more to "cool down" and to practice stress management should be arranged.) If one "time out", TTO, is not enough, then you should come back together and request this additional time. It is important to return, when ready, to complete discussion rather than to walk away and leave unfinished business in an unsatisfactory, unresolved way. We all have the urge to "handle things now" and we can't end the discussion until there is a resolution. This is neither healthy nor realistic, many issues take time and considerable thought before coming to a conclusion. We also need to learn that not every situation has to have a "winner" and a "loser," simply different views. Safety for both parties is the key!!!

Dave Thomason is a 24 year Navy veteran serving in the 1991 Gulf War, 1999 Kosovo Campaign, and the Global War on Terrorism. He is currently working as and Educator/Consultant to the Navy on Domestic Abuse, Stress and Anger, and Combat Stress."
L. John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling "Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered Success & Executive Coaching and Training.

Please visit the Stress Education Center's website at http://www.dstress.com Stress, Stress Management, Coaching, and Training for articles, free ezine signup, and learn about the new telecourses that are available. If you would like information or a targeted proposal for training or coaching, please contact us at (360) 593-3833.

If you are looking to promote your training or coaching career, please investigate the http://www.dstress.com/training_cert.html Professional Stress Management Training and Certification Program for a secondary source of income or as career path.

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Write the Best Resume - Avoid this Common, Yet Fatal, Mistake by Angela Thomas

2008-05-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it. When searching for a new job, most people feel that time is of the essence and they want to get the best results in the least amount of time possible. Unfortunately, many people employ the strategy of creating ONE resume that they can submit for multiple job postings. Sounds logical right? You’ll be able to spend a lot of effort writing one good resume that can be used for many purposes. Well, while this sounds logical it is not exactly the best practice.
A resume that is BEST for one company is usually not the BEST for another. Even if you are applying to different job postings in the same general field, job postings usually differ. Some companies may be looking for one qualification in that field versus another. For these reasons it is extremely important to make sure that you tailor your resume for each job posting. So yes, this does mean more than one resume and yes this does mean that it will take more time when it comes to resume writing, however, tailoring your resume to each specific job posting will drastically increase your chances of being called for an interview.

Why is tailoring your resume to the job posting or job description so important? The first reason is that it eliminates guesswork for your employer. When an employer receives a resume, he or she is looking for the perfect candidate. The employer has likely invested a lot of time and energy into creating a job description and/or job posting that best describes what they are looking for in a candidate. When they pick up and read resumes, they are looking for information that fits that job description. If you tailor your resume to that job description, immediately after reading your resume, they will say, “This looks like our perfect candidate, let’s call them for an interview!” Another reason that it pays to tailor your resume is that is shows that you took the time to create a resume specifically for that employer. A tailored resume usually will include, in the objective section, the specific job title as it was posted on the job description and the department/company name. This allows your resume to speak to the employer on a more personal level.

Employers are short on time. They usually have a stack of resumes to consider including yours. You want yours to shine and show them that you are the perfect candidate. Avoid “cookie cutter resumes” and tailor your resume for each employer’s job description.
Author: Angela Thomas has been a hiring manager for over 4 years. Her expertise includes resume writing, cover letter writing, job interviewing, and business presentations. Visit: http://www.7tipshowtowritearesume.com for more tips on how to write a resume and cover letter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Thomas http://EzineArticles.com/?Write-the-Best-Resume---Avoid-this-Common,-Yet-Fatal,-Mistake&id=359547

How To Conduct A Job Search by Randy Place

2008-05-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

Your job search campaign is conducted like any other project - by breaking it down into steps. So all you need to know is what step you're on. Then decide the next logical step to take.
To conduct your job finding campaign is as easy as a, b, c. That's because all you need to do is -
a) Know what step you're on
b) Activate it
c) Ask yourself what's my next step.

Let's take an example. Suppose you're on an interview step of your job finding campaign. We discussed "learn how to interview" in yesterday's post. You can break down your interview into steps like this -

1. Obtain a job description for this job from the company or recruiter

2. Determine how your skills match those job specifications

3. Plan your approach to the interview

4.Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse

5. Plan wardrobe (interview outfit)

6. Get directions to interview site; dry run the day or weekend prior it if necessary

So if you've just been invited to interview, determine what step you're on. The answer is the first step of getting a job description. Then activate the step by asking the prospective employer or recruiter for the job specs. Now ask yourself, "What's my next step?" The answer is to work at matching your skills and achievements to the specifications listed in the job description.

You need to do this with all parts of your job hunt. Determine the step you're on. Activate it. And move on to the next step. That's how to conduct a job search. After you land, use the same process with all of your projects and activities.

Randy Place, a career management consultant in private practice, and Internet host of Your Career Service http://www.yourcareerservice.com/ Daily posts feature job-finding tips and career management advice. Topics include job interview tips, networking strategies, dealing with job loss, resume writing and personalized cover letters, getting ahead at work, how to handle standard interview questions and much more

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Place http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Conduct-A-Job-Search&id=1089275

Army Soldiers Bear Brunt of War in Iraq by Patsy May

2008-04-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just once I would like the news to report information on Iraq that would be beneficial to the troops currently serving there. How many Americans are currently aware of deployment lengths for Army soldiers? Does anyone know or care that our Army men and women are serving fifteen month deployments with less than twelve months at home? This is longer than any other branch of the armed forces. Our Marines would have the next highest length of deployments currently at nine months, while the Air Force and Navy are only serving six month tours. Fair, I think not.

We have allowed our Military to be divided into categories land, sea and air. I believe that if men and women enlisted in the Military they should be serving equally. One branch of service should not have to bear the brunt of the load based on a category. All of the men and women in the armed forces have been trained in basic weaponry. They know how to load, unload and fire a weapon. These are basic principles that every soldier has been taught regardless of their branch of service. Why are we not utilizing these skills and maximizing our troop reserves? I do not want to hear the reasoning of bickering and feuding military officials with the archaic rationale that one branch of service is better than another. According to the Pledge of Allegiance we are "One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all." Why are we not fighting accordingly?

Why are members of different branches not allowed to volunteer for combat positions currently being held by Army personnel? If the Army can allow soldiers to volunteer for positions outside their military occupational specialty then other branches of service can as well. The Army allows a soldier serving in a role such as Military Intelligence to volunteer for a position as a gunner on a humvee to support convoys in Iraq. These men and women were not given months of special training for these positions. Therefore, months of special training would not be necessary for members of other divisions of the armed forces.

If action is not taken to find relief for Army personnel then the Army will soon have to close up shop. Our men and women cannot continue to sustain these lengths of deployment without incurring physical and mental detriment. Our Government is well aware of this and there have been numerous studies on the mental and physical strain due to prolonged deployments. In 2004 the Army cited that twelve month deployments were to long for our troops and that the mental and physical strain was affecting their performance and well being. Now they have increased their deployment lengths to fifteen months. If twelve months was taxing what will fifteen months do?

Of course the length of deployments is also a consideration factor for young Americans hankering to do their civic duty and fight for their country. The Army is currently having recruitment issues and no one has to ask why. How many young men and women do you suppose will want to join the Army, with fifteen month deployments, when they can join other branches of service where tours of duty are much shorter and less strenuous? Not to mention that soldiers currently serving in the Army will not be re-enlisting and who could blame them. Many have been to Iraq for numerous deployments and had to endure living conditions far worse than our Iraqi prisoners. I find this very sad and disheartening.

Then of course there is the Back Door Draft. This is when the Army holds our men and women hostage and forces them to serve their country after their contract date has expired. How does this happen you ask? Well, the contract our young soldiers sign has a clause that allows the Armed forces to keep them in service past their release date if there is a shortage of trained soldiers to fill critical roles in combat situations. Imagine having your heart set on starting a new chapter in your life and then being told you are going to Iraq for fifteen more months and there is nothing you can do. Now, not only do you have to deal with the stress of a fifteen month deployment, you now have compounded issues of anger and resentment. Does your government care? No! They put you in a uniform, give you a gun and ship you off to destination nowhere. I do not know about you but this makes me mad to think that our government can take advantage of young men and women who have already given more than enough.

I do not care if you support the war in Iraq or not. As Americans we should be giving something back to the men and women who are giving so much for us. Our Army soldiers are risking their lives everyday and many will not return home. They deserve to know that the people of their country are defending them. If you are concerned about the lengths of deployments and the conditions in which our soldiers have to live while serving in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, do something about it. Write your government officials; make them answer to the people. Let them know you disagree with our soldiers serving fifteen month deployments. Now is the time for us, as a nation, to protect and defend our Army soldiers as they defend us so gallantly every day.

P. May

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_May http://EzineArticles.com/?Army-Soldiers-Bear-Brunt-of-War-in-Iraq&id=917408

Owing Taxes When You're In The Military - Uncle Sam Does Take Care Of You by Richard Close

2008-04-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

Attention! During this current global situation the men and women of American's armed services are called on more and more to serve their country in some of the most dangerous places in the world. It's no secret that military pay is not the best and even military personal can get stuck with an IRS tax debt.

Even though the IRS is known for their cold-blooded approach to collecting on unpaid debts, even they have to give up the respect due to our men and women in uniform.
IRS Support? For those of you who are in the military and your families, the IRS is far more lenient on their collection practices than with the average Joe, and it's important to know what the IRS can and can't due to your financial lifestyle.

The IRS bends over backwards to make sure that troops stationed in hazardous areas, and combat zones around the World don't have to worry about an IRS debt.

Care package...When you're in a combat zone the IRS will suspend the following for the service-person.

· Filing tax returns: When you're getting shot at everyday that April 15th deadline can slip your mind. The IRS doesn't expect you to fill out your taxes in the middle of a firefight, and they don't expect you to work on your returns during the minimal amount of down time you have.

· Paying back taxes: Most of your money has to go to your family. Since you're risking your life daily Uncle Sam isn't going to make you pay him while you're fighting for him.

· The accrual of interest and penalties on a debt: You already owe a debt to the IRS, and when you get back to the States it will be waiting for you. But since you weren't able to pay through no fault of your own you won't have to worry about any interest or penalties. That can keep your debt from ballooning out of control.

· Any and all collection activities: Since you're overseas any collection actions will only hurt your family and create undue hardship for them, so the IRS doesn't take any kind of collection against you or your family.

Take your time...The time period that these actions will be suspended for equals the length of time the service-person spends in the combat zone, plus any time they have to spend in an out of Country hospital due to wounds, plus an additional 180 days.

Even if you're not taking fire...But what about service personal who aren't in a combat zone? They can get relief from the IRS as well under the Service member's Civil Relief Act; also known as "Soldier's and Sailor's" or SCRA for short.

When a service member has a tax debt that he/ she can't afford they can apply for a deferment of debt. This deferment can suspend all income tax debt due and collection actions. The deferment also protects your spouse from IRS collections. However there are some steps that must be followed to get a military deferment.

1. You must submit a written request

2. You must establish that they are active military

3. You must provide proof that their ability to pay off the debt is affected because of their military service.

4. You must be in compliance and not have any non-filed tax years.
You and your families have sacrificed so much for your Country, and you don't always get the praise you deserve. But you've got know you're loved and respected when the IRS will cut you a break.

Now you have the smoking gun...Use it!

Richard Close was an IRS-Hitman. He was a revenue officer who took out anyone that owed the IRS money. He left that behind and now helps thousands of Americans beat Uncle Sam and save thousands of dollars. The IRS-Hitman can help you with your tax debt problems. He offers free advice and tips on removing wage garnishments and bank levies; and arms you with the skills to slash your tax debt: Visit at: http://irs-hitman.blogspot.com or

http://www.taxdefensenetwork.com, or contact: email mailto:irs-hitman@taxdefensenetwork.com irs-hitman@taxdefensenetwork.com or 1-888-248-9058.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Close http://EzineArticles.com/?Owing-Taxes-When-Youre-In-The-Military---Uncle-Sam-Does-Take-Care-Of-You&id=988172

Preparing For A Job Interview? Make Sure You Know This by Aseriah Jordan

2008-04-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Interviews, for a lot of people, are the hardest part of a job search. Not to worry my friend, with a little preparation, you will ace the interview and then some. Just like when you take an exam, you have to study to be confident in getting a good grade. Interviews are no different, except not as nerve wrecking. It's rather simple to prepare for an interview and I have listed them for you.

Interview Preparation

First off, you have to have an idea of the questions you will be asked. Sit down and think about the questions you would ask if you were the one conducting the interview. As a note, you can't possibly anticipate every question, but think of the biggest ones. Doing this little exercise will provide you with a base to answer whatever the employer throws at you.

Key, first impressions are everything. When it comes to an interview, being presentable can make or break your chancing of getting the job. This includes showing up clean shaved, showered, haircut, in other words look professional. Just make sure you don't over do it (too much perfume).

Even though what you say will sell you the most, body language has a huge affect on you communication. An experienced interviewer can read your body language like a professional poker player. While you may not be able to hide the messages your body sends, you can still control the things you say.

In Summary

This is just a simple, brief overview of what you can do to prepare yourself for an interview. Keep in mind the questions you have thought up and most importantly remain calm and collective. You will have success with this little insight but you can check out more information about interviews and what to expect by heading over http://www.shibaresumes.com/interviews.html HERE
Best of Luck and God Bless

Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aseriah_Jordan http://EzineArticles.com/?Preparing-For-A-Job-Interview?-Make-Sure-You-Know-This&id=1128629

Why a Threesome Is Important To Your Marriage by Michael Schindler

2008-04-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

She was beautiful. And married. As a matter of fact, she and her husband were expecting their first baby. But that didn't seem to matter. After a long 15 month deployment, his short, three months at home were unexpectedly difficult - more difficult than his being gone. She wanted more, as did he.

But what she wanted was much different than what he wanted; so he left for some "new relationship." No ties. No commitment. No responsibility.

What did she want that seemed to drive him away? A threesome - but not in the way most would think. She wanted marriage coaching. She wanted someone to help them navigate the difficulties; someone to help them reconnect; someone to help them re-capture what they had before he left. What started out as a hopeful and rewarding relationship - even a new beginning with the baby on the way - was turning into a shattered, frightening...mess.

This story was told to me as I was waiting to go on-air at a local radio station. I was sitting with a colonel in the final minutes before going "live" listening to her share how this promising young couple didn't know where to turn. I was having difficulty understanding how a couple wouldn't know where to turn, especially with all the resources made available. The colonel's answer was insightful, "maybe it wasn't that they didn't know where to turn, maybe it was simply that they didn't have anyone they could trust."

It's all about trust. And even when you think you can trust someone - anyone - especially your life partner, often that violation of trust seems to be made public and then you begin to doubt the other relationships you have. All one has to do is look to the recent shake ups - Spitzer, Clinton, Haggert, the church; all supposedly stalwart, core character individuals or organizations who failed in the trust department. Is it no wonder we shy away from taking our challenges to a trusted individual or organization and maybe even doubt our spouse?

It is for this reason that we have to seek out a third party - a marriage coach; someone who can provide a "tune up" for our relationship. Last year alone, over 25,000 military marriages failed. The most common reason outside of finances was that they couldn't "relate and were suspicious of their spouse."

Mike and Tonia, one of the couples I interviewed for "Operation Military Family" had to redevelop their relationship and one of the key areas was trust. Because of Mike's experience in Iraq, he learned to trust his "brothers in combat" and everyone else was looked at with a suspicious eye. When he came home, he was detached and had "no real feelings - even for his daughter." Tonia knew that if they didn't seek out help, their eight years of marriage would likely come to a screeching halt. How they overcame many of their challenges and the resources they used became a highlight in the book.

A starting point is the http://www.vetcenter.va.gov Vet Center. In most cases there is a Vet Center in your local area and they'll provide both family and individual counseling. If not, you can always call your local http://www.va.gov/ Department of Veterans Affairs and they'll have a list of vetted counselors who are eager to assist. Bottom line? Find a marriage coach. Every successful athlete has a coach and typically every growing and successful marriage has someone who is providing some degree of mentorship.

Another great resource is by Dr. Goldsmith called, " http://www.emotionalfitnessforcouples.com Emotional Fitness for Couples." This book will help bring laughter and simple tips back into your relationship.

Here are some suggestions on what other military couples are doing to have successful marriages:

1. Think of the other person before you think of yourself. Look for ways to honor your spouse.

2. Accept responsibility for dropping the ball when you do (this is a tough one). We all fail and need to admit our mistakes, ask for forgiveness and then ask what we can do to make it right.

3. Look for ways to support your spouse. Each of you will be different and those differences will function like a division of labor. Where one is weak, the other can provide strength. If you try to make your spouse similar to you, you are making one of you unnecessary.

The success of your relationship is going to be revealed in your daily habits. Mike and Tonia recognized that their daily habits weren't serving the longevity of their marriage so they took action. As a result, they were not included in the 25,000 failed marriages - they will benefit as will their children.

Mike Schindler is the Associate Director to the President at Families Northwest. He is also the founder of Operation Military Family - a company committed to raising the awareness of what resources, programs and tools are made available to our service members and families. OMF drives funds from book sales and speaking engagements back into military marriage related programs and the Veterans Family Fund. More information can be found at http://www.operationmilitaryfamily.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Schindler http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-a-Threesome-Is-Important-To-Your-Marriage&id=1115469

Medical Transcription and Military Spouses - Strange Bedfellows? by Mary Ruff-King

2008-04-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Medical transcription is not only a great field in the healthcare industry, it is now being seen as a way to provide military spouses a means of income while traveling with their servicemen and women as they are transferred from post to post every 18-24 months.
The Departments of Defense and Labor, in conjunction with companies in the private sector, have teamed up to provide military spouses a way of pursuing a career that is as mobile as the military assignments given to their mates.

With the advent of technology and the ability to find work both locally and online, medical transcription is an ideal profession to pursue for military spouses who are on the move every few years.

The American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) and the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) have teamed up with the aforementioned governmental agencies not only to promote medical transcription but also to access the largely untapped segment of the population-human resources who are desperately needed at a time when most seasoned, veteran medical transcriptionists are nearing retirement age themselves.

A number of schools have opted to offer financial support or discounts for military spouses taking medical transcription training as an incentive to get into this field. Additionally, graduates of selected medical transcription training programs who earn the registered medical transcription (RMT) credential are eligible to participate in the Department of Labor's approved registered apprenticeship program, another incentive being offered to entice and motivate new talent into the medical transcription field.

Forging this new path in the healthcare field is a necessity at this juncture. It is becoming clear that as more Americans age, the baby boomer generation will burden the healthcare industry and strain it in ways only a few visionaries can truly appreciate. Military spouses and medical transcription make a great marriage of desire to serve and ingenuity to provide our spouses of our military men and women a way in which to serve.

Good, committed, and qualified http://www.medicaltranscriptionmasterycenter.com medical transcriptionists are desperately needed and in great demand. The government, AAMT, AHDI, and MTIA are creating ingenious ways to entice you and reward you for becoming a medical transcriptionist. Find out more about this fascinating and intriguing field by visiting http://www.medicaltranscriptionmasterycenter.com Medical Transcription Mastery Center.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Ruff-King http://EzineArticles.com/?Medical-Transcription-and-Military-Spouses---Strange-Bedfellows?&id=1010692

Comparison Of Army Tankers And Marine Tankers by Victor Epand

2008-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

The following is an expert opinion by a Military Tanker: "Being a Marine Corps tanker is the way to go. Can't go into a lot of detail about how Army Tankers and Marine Tankers are different, just that the entire culture of the Army is so much different than the Marines. Either way you'll go to Ft. Knox, Kentucky. I found it to be a drab and miserable place. I give all due respect to the Army. Anyone who risks their lives in a combat field deserves respect. But, I could never have served in an Army unit. There just isn't that same Spirit."

"Army tankers go to boot camp at Knox. You watch how they train and it was laughable. They'd be sitting around drinking beer on a saturday night talking about how hard boot camp is and how the Drill Sgt. was mean because he made them do 25 push ups. If I would have went to Army boot instead of the Marines I may have failed. Not because it is harder but because there just didn't seem to be that motivating."

"Tanks are a great MOS. I loved it. I consider it the absolute best job in the Corps. I signed up for three years 1984-1987. As much as I loved it I did not want to do it for 20 years. It seemed too hard to keep at it for so long. I had my fill, I loved it. Then it was time to move on. If you want a great adventure, a way to be a part of a front line combat force without some of the more extreme hardships of the infantry, I definitely recommend Marine Corps Tanks. Only join though if you can stand the very real possibility of getting sent into combat, killing and possibly dying."

"The army has some outstanding tankers. I would like to think our tanking skills are about equal, we are better off the tank and more disciplined as a hole just from what I saw. Yes, the army has new stuff and they will let you sign up for tanks where the Marine Corps will not. I like the armies' new crap but I don't think I could ever join the army. Tanking' is challenging but very rewarding."

"All of the combat MOS's have to deal with the same stuff though. When it is cold, you are cold. When it is very cold you are very cold. When it rains, you are wet. Being wet and cold can last for days. Wet, cold and deprived of sleep. Same when it's hot or when it's very hot. You get dirtier out in the field than you would believe. All of this stuff is awesome, I just said okay this stuff is great, but 20 years?"

"The daily schedule of a tanker isn't bad at all. The maintenance is no problem. PT is about what you would expect. It's just that darn winter I spent at Camp Fuji in 86. Mother Nature had no mercy on the mountain and the mountain had no mercy on us. We started off most days shoveling the snow off of our tanks before we worked on them all day. If we were out in the field for three days that meant that we were cold for three days."

"Like I said, I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. I don't have to sleep in the snow or the rain anymore. I was also never in combat but if you ever do go to Iraq or Iran or North Korea or some place and get into tank battles and stuff then you'll see that what I thought was a tiny bit hard is like a girl scout picnic. I'd say go for being a tanker. You will love most of it like I did. Then if you love it, stick with it for as long as you can. I don't think that you will want to make that career decision though until you have finished most of your first enlistment."

"Being a tanker or armored crewman in the army or marine corp. is a challenge in its own. Going through your army or tank training is challenging in its own right. No one means to judge, but it happens when you have so much pride or better words pride in your branch of service. We all strive in one thing to be a tanker. The goal of every tanker is ride into combat on your m1a1."

"Marine tanker or army tanker we all are tankers. The army guys around us were in the final stages of their OSUT training. We didn't have many if any at all recruits around us. And the only real difference between marine and army tankers are the pride in the Corps and the Army Units. The maintained is the same. The long hard hours are the same."

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.wargear.info/ . WarGear.info carries the best selection of http://www.wargear.info/categories/adventure-clothing-foot-head-handwear-rain-gear-logo-apparel.html military clothing, war gear, and combat accessories on the market.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand http://EzineArticles.com/?Comparison-Of-Army-Tankers-And-Marine-Tankers&id=1104043

Preparing Your Family and Friends for the First Few Weeks of Deployment by Michael Schindler

2008-04-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

If you or your spouse are preparing for deployment, you surely have enough to think about without having to think about preparing your friends and family for this looming deployment. The thought of just preparing yourself and your children, if you have them, will bring you tears and frustration. As a matter of fact, it is pretty common to assume your friends and family should be looking for ways to comfort and prepare you. But understand this - out of sheer ignorance, your friends and family will need your help in order to best help you.
Simply put, you will need to manage your comfort and help and not rely on your friends and family to manage it for you.

Jody, who was interviewed for our project, shared how family and friends were quick to offer support the first week her husband was deployed. But shortly after, within two weeks, the support seemed to diminish and by the end of the month, there was only one person who called her on a weekly basis. She knew it wasn't because they weren't sympathetic, it's just that they didn't know what she needed and they got caught up in their own lives.

Interview after interview revealed that friends and family will likely need very little coaching or reminding of your needs or situation when you or your spouse first deploys. It's the weeks and months after the first couple of weeks where they may need help.

You must prepare them for the longevity of the deployment.

Here are several suggestions, found to be effective by Jody and others with deployed spouses, to help prepare your network on ways they can stay connected to you and help you throughout the deployment:

Remind your network and TELL your network how they can stay connected beyond the first two weeks. Let them know the best way to reach you and stay in touch, whether it is email, phone, IM, letters, etc.

Let your network know that it would be a great help if someone offered to take your children to school occasionally. This will provide you a little "me time" in the morning as well as keep an outside influence around your children.

Tell one of your friends or a family member - preferably one you like to associate with - to put you on his or her call list once a week. The "just calling to say hi" was a welcome call to Jody.
If someone is a great cook, ask if they are open to making double the amount of food and putting you down as a recipient.

It may seem odd to ask your friends for help, especially when its a bit uncomfortable and most of these tips seem like common sense. But as Jody clearly stated, "they just don't know how to help, so tell them."

These are just a few things you can pass along to your network to help them prepare themselves to help you as a spouse of someone deployed. Remember, take an active role in how your friends and family can help you; by doing so, this difficult time will seem less difficult.

Mike Schindler is the CEO for a web-based marketing firm, developing subscriber bases for some of the top Fortune 500 companies. He is also the founder of Operation Military Family - a company committed to raising the awareness of what resources, programs and tools are made available to our service members and families. OMF drives funds from book sales and speaking engagements back into military marriage related programs and the Veterans Family Fund.

More information can be found at http://www.operationmilitaryfamily.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Schindler http://EzineArticles.com/?Preparing-Your-Family-and-Friends-for-the-First-Few-Weeks-of-Deployment&id=1033129

Ensuring Your Military Marriage Succeeds Despite Long Deployments - Part II Overcoming INDECISION by Michael Schindler

2008-04-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

If you've been married for any length of time, it's likely you and your spouse suffer from decision constipation - the inability to make a decision on anything without having a long debate or shelving it for later; only to find later never comes. Or perhaps this experience is shared by just my spouse and me. But gentleman's bet the next time you are sitting with your spouse and he or she asks, "What do you want to do?" you'll answer, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" The question will circle several more times before you settle to...watch TV.
In this second part of the three part series that will explore the divorce debate and provide tips on how to strengthen your military marriage, we'll uncover another one of the "marriage undertows": Indecision.

In the previous article, Part I Overcoming Complacency, I mentioned observing a couple who made their divorce well known to everyone in the local coffee shop. They lost the romance, refused to make a decision to overcome their complacency and the result was a two inch stack of demands to make the divorce final. They were dragged down by the undertow.

While complacency seems like an obvious detriment to your relationship, INDECISION is a bit sneakier. If you don't face this challenge in your relationship, you're ahead of the bell curve, but for most that have endured deployments, multiple kids, financial pressures and the "surprises" of every day life, the spontaneity that runs rampant during the courtship often seems to fall victim to exhaustion and indecision in married life. It doesn't happen overnight. This indecision that starts with "what do you want to do" and fails to get an answer often works its way into"indecision" about the relationship and later culminates into a DECISION to no longer make the marriage work - especially when all the issues have been magnified by a deployment.

When Mike deployed to Iraq, he had to make life and death decisions. Tonia, his wife, suddenly had to make decisions at the home front that were typically in "Mike's department." Out of absolute necessity and survival, daily decisions were made without their spouse's input. When Mike returned, both he and Tonia shared that they were living separate lives in the same house - not really caring what the other did. Indecision about each other had crept in. When I asked Tonia if it was a fight to keep their marriage together, she answered, "fight is definitely the word I would use." When I asked if they had considered divorce, she said in the eight years they had been married, they had never discussed it until Mike's return. "It would have been so easy and even acceptable since 80 percent of Mike's platoon had divorced." Comfort in numbers. Fortunately they had a tight network of those who support marriage and were there to help.
Here are a few things they did to rekindle the flame and push INDECISION out:

1. They revisited the vision they had for their marriage when they first got married. All of us marry our spouse for a reason. We have a vision for our life together. Go back to that vision and rebuild the dream. It won't be easy but it is vital.

2. They made the decision that INDECISION would have no part in their relationship. Oh they still debate on "what to do" but with regard to their relationship, they are certain that divorce is not an option.

3. They write each other a note every day. This is a great idea and one that I have been doing for years. Every morning before I start my work day, I jot a note to my wife and my daughters. They each get their own note, tailored to them. I usually share with my wife how I'm feeling about us and provide her with some encouragement for the day and with my daughters I share with them how an event or something they did the previous day made me feel.
Overcoming Indecision will only be countered by the amount of effort you put into making your marriage work, despite the circumstances. Look for ways to keep the hope and romance in your relationship. If you don't, someone else will and the indecision will be replaced by a decision to divorce.

Part III - Overcoming Unaccountability

Mike Schindler is the CEO for a web-based marketing firm, developing subscriber bases for some of the top Fortune 500 companies. He is also the founder of Operation Military Family - a company committed to raising the awareness of what resources, programs and tools are made available to our service members and families. OMF drives funds from book sales and speaking engagements back into military marriage related programs and the Veterans Family Fund.

More information can be found at http://www.operationmilitaryfamily.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Schindler http://EzineArticles.com/?Ensuring-Your-Military-Marriage-Succeeds-Despite-Long-Deployments---Part-II-Overcoming-INDECISION&id=1085031

THE LONELINESS OF WAR by by Tom Zart

2008-04-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

THE LONELINESS OF WAR

I know I’m still here so far, far away, As I fight for what I believe is right. I wonder about you and your mom, Every moment of every day and night.

The loneliness of war can drive you insane, If you don’t get letters of concern from home. Left, right, behind and ahead, Death awaits leaving love ones alone.

We pray to God that we will be saved To return home or live the here after. Bloody, dirt-covered men, we see everyday, As we yearn for those times of laughter.

The far off stare of a fallen comrade, As you stay by his side till his end. No mother ever carried her infant child, More carefully, than we do a friend.

Many have their own personal diaries, To help keep their faculties together. Watching hot steel crash into human flesh, Always make home seem far away and better.

I’ve become an expert at dodging, weaving and diving, So try not to worry too much about me. Just help your mom and stand up from the ground, And while I’m gone be all you can be.
Love dad

Tom Zart Author of Love, War And More Published by Publish America

Operation Military Family - A Must Read For Married Members Of The Armed Forces by Shannon Evans

2008-04-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

The military life has a certain appeal to those seeking adventure, excitement, new worlds to explore, and that sense of belonging of esprit de corps. That is the idealistic goal of men and women who join to serve as soldiers, sailors, and airmen but the reality is quite different when you add a spouse and a family. Long periods of separation, brief homecomings, and the uncertainties associated with being involved in armed conflicts all take their toll on even the strongest marriages.

How does anyone's marriage survive in today's rapid deployment military life? Communication, commitment, and hard work are the key to any relationship and especially important in the military. Today's armed forces are not the same as when our parents and grandparents served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. The military's attitude toward families once was, "if we wanted you to have a family, we would have issued you one!" Those days are long gone and senior leadership recognizes today that Strong Marriages + Strong Families = A Strong Military (Member). The Department of Defense has a system of support in place for service members and their families that provide counseling and support for the issues unique to the service lifestyle. Each branch has multiple avenues of support groups and counseling services to deal with a variety of issues facing deployed and reunited families. They do care and they do want their troops and families supported and they do it very well. What the military does not do well is market their support information and networks.

Schindler's book, Operation Military Family: How to Strengthen Your Military Marriage and Save Your Family provides a guide that puts resources at your finger tips. It is an insightful book listing services and support that are available to all branches of the military. More than a handbook, Operation Military Family: How to Strengthen Your Military Marriage and Save Your Family presents the emotional and physical struggles of several military couples as they prepare for deployment, are separated by deployment, and the reunification process of the couples and families upon return. Schindler's work presents vignettes of the raw emotions and the internal struggles each marriage dealt with through the process as these couples strengthened their marriages despite the odds.

As an editor and literary coach, it is not often that I get the opportunity to work with an author whose message is positive and potentially life changing. Schindler's work engages the reader in the subject from the start and keeps them hooked, reading for information and insight presented in a relaxed, non-confrontational, supportive format.

Operation Military Family: How to Strengthen Your Military Marriage and Save Your Family is a "must read" as well as an invaluable "at your fingertips" resource for chaplains, counselors, commanders and others who provide support to military members and their families. Poignantly written with excellent insight into the real world of service marriages, this book will appeal to military members and their spouses with its true military life stories and practical lists of available community resources.

Title: Operation Military Family: How to Strengthen Your Military Marriage and Save Your Family
Author: Michael Schindler
Publisher: Aviva
ISBN: 978-1-890427-86-3
Date: November, 2007

Shannon Evans, senior editor and owner of http://www.mywritingmentor.com lives with her best friend Rick on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound just a "ferry ride from Seattle." She maintains two blogs:
www.authormarketingtools.wordpress.com http://www.mywritingmentor.wordpress.com
She works with her two Labrador assistant editors, Mocha and Luke, and her feline copy edit assistants, Caesar and Yoda. Shannon is widely recognized as one of the top writing coaches for non-fiction authors. With over 17 years editing for native and non-native English speaking authors she knows how to help writers make every word count.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Evans http://EzineArticles.com/?Operation-Military-Family---A-Must-Read-For-Married-Members-Of-The-Armed-Forces&id=975908

Employment For Veterans In the Federal Government by C Gamez

2008-04-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Great News ! Qualified Veterans get "Special Preference" over non-veterans when applying for Federal Government jobs.

Many veterans looking for Federal employment qualify for 5 or 10 point advantages over non veteran applicants.

"Veterans Preference" means that veterans get special consideration and points on their applications.

10 Points may not sound like much but it will make a huge difference in getting hired or not.
Let me show you how it may work:

When you apply for a Government position, you will be rated on a point system, your knowledge, applicable skills and your abilities all are looked at and taken into consideration. You are awarded points for the following; experience, awards, applicable skills, education, and test scores (if they are required) for the position.

The highest point rating anyone can receive is 100. So let's say a candidate eligible for a five-point preference gets 90 points, by adding his 5 point preference it automatically brings his score to 95! That means that the veteran will be hired, (most of the time), before the Federal Government agency can hire anyone with a score of less than 95 points. A Veteran with a 10-point preference would have a total score of 100.

The same goes for almost every Federal Government job.
This includes jobs such as; Social security jobs, Social Security administration jobs, Homeland Security jobs, National security jobs and many others.

If you qualify for the job posting available, and you're a veteran to boot you have an amazing advantage.You are senior to others in the application and hiring process!
More importantly, the Federal Government can't pass you over for any arbitrary reason.

There is one point where you have to be very careful: "Your Federal Resume". The Resume is also scored on a points system, it doesn't matter if it is a resumix, SES resume or basic Government resume, if it isn't done right you will lose points and not be called in for an interview.

Having a poorly or incorrectly done Federal resume will not only nullify the preference points you've earned as a veteran but it can cost you the advantage you got with your Veterans Preference.

Government employment has amazing benefits that come with the job. You should seriously consider having your Federal Resume written by a certified, professional resume writer.
A certified, professional resume writer eliminates the worry and stress.
They know how to build the resume correctly so you can work on the other important aspects of your job search!

C. Gamez is a Managing Director at http://www.federal-resume.org Federal-Resume.org With years of experience in the Business, HR and Professional Resume fields. Another great resource is http://www.federal-resume.org/federal-jobs-explained.aspx Federal-Jobs-Explained

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C_Gamez http://EzineArticles.com/?Employment-For-Veterans-In-the-Federal-Government&id=577189

"Made in America, Sold in the Nam" by Rick Ritter and Paul Richards - Book Review by Mary Simmons

2008-04-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

Made in America, Sold in the Nam: A Continuing Legacy of Pain, 2nd edition Ed.
Edited by Rick Ritter and Paul Richards
Loving Healing Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690248

“Made in America, Sold in the Nam” is a collection of short stories, essays, poems, reflections and quotes about the experiences of those who were directly and indirectly affected by U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam. It includes personal accounts by combat veterans as well as articles on the war’s impact on veterans and their families. It also explores how women experienced their own hell on earth during their tours in the war-ravaged country and incorporates a background on the war, explaining the historical and political context.

According to co-editor, Paul Richards, the majority of Americans have not wanted to listen to the stories of Vietnam veterans. “Most of the people in the nation spent their time trying to turn a deaf ear to the veterans, trying to forget that our country had ever been involved in such a dirty little war.” He goes on to say, “Wars are not made of heroes…Wars are made up of young men and women staring at the sky with vacant eyes, their life blood mixing with so much mud and slime.” As this statement suggests, this anthology does not shy away from the ugly side of the war, both in the heat of combat and in the aftermath. It was a horrendous time that has haunted those involved and the accounts are not to be read lightly. They speak of a deadly serious subject and contain real pain and horror.

You can’t come away from this book without being emotionally affected by the content. But before you read those words and say, “Well then, that’s way too heavy for me,” and therefore decide not to pick up this book, let me say that it is through painful experiences that we sometimes learn the most. One of the messages, or common themes, that jumped out at me while reading “Made in America, Sold in the Nam” was that veterans have felt ignored and unappreciated since returning to the country they fought for.

As veteran Charley Knepple describes it in his contribution, “Nothing Left to Give: A Journal of Viet Nam,” “Worst of all, I just felt used. The way in which I was used leaves me feeling angry, confused and with a rotten self-image that I have to deal with every day. I was naïve. I didn’t know what to expect from the Army or Viet Nam. I was afraid of Nam but nearly neutral on the issue of our involvement there. In Basic Training I was indoctrinated that our victory in Viet Nam would be a noble experience and that I should want to go, that combat was my birthright as a man.” He says that was the biggest lie of all and “the indoctrination had been a veiled attempt to charge us up to do the impossible for the ungrateful.” The anger, pain and disillusionment of the veterans seep through the pages of this collection, “Made in America, Sold in the Nam,” in unmistakable, blunt honesty. They will no longer be ignored and discarded. They are taking their place in world history.

http://www.readerviews.com

Reviewed by Mary Simmons for Reader Views (12/06)

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Combat Boots - Not Just For The Military Anymore by Craig Thornburrow

2008-04-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

There used to be a time when every time a person laid eyes on a pair of combat boots, they were attached to a military soldier-or at least somewhere in their immediate vicinity. These days, combat boots are still a military must have, but it doesn't stop there. As a matter of fact, they are an ever increasing trend in today's fashion, being worn by both men and women alike as part of a fashion forward outfit. They have hit the runways and the streets as well as the front line, and are just one way for civilian people to show their quiet support for the men and women brave enough to fight for their freedom overseas.

Just because civilian people are donning combat boots and combat-inspired boots does not mean that they are not still in use by the armed services. As a matter of fact, combat boots are some of the most necessary components of a military man or woman's uniform. They have their purpose, and their purpose is to combine protection with function efficiently, so that a soldier is able to do their job efficiently and comfortably as possible.

This is not to say that combat boots are the most comfortable shoes out there, but they are designed for a specific purpose. None of the purposes that are behind the creation of these incredible boots have to do with fashion, which is why it is so interesting that they would be so ingeniously incorporated into today's most innovative fashion trends.

The Fit of a Pair of Combat Boots

One of the most important facets of a pair of combat boots is the way that they fit. These boots must be worn by the wearer for hours and sometimes even days and weeks on end, so comfort is important. While they are not bound to be the most comfortable pair of shoes or boots out there, they are fairly comfortable in the sense that they can be worn without too much detriment to the feet, which is more than can be said for most civilian shoes. As time goes on, they have been innovated to be more comfortable and provide more support, making the walking and running experience a bit more pleasurable and easy on the feet.

Where to Find Combat Boots

If you are in the market for an authentic pair of combat boots, whether it be for military service or just for fashion reasons, you can check out an army or navy military surplus store. These stores are where the best prices on any authentic military wear can be found, and they are perfect for a great pair of combat boots.

What a better way to show your support for your men and women in uniform than to sport military inspired combat boots or even the real thing? Combat boots are a fashion statement and a political statement-all rolled into one.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on http://www.combatbootreview.info combat boots and http://www.combatbootreview.info/Lowa_Boots.html Lowa boots at http://www.combatbootreview.info/

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Ensuring Your Military Marriage Succeeds Despite Long Deployments - Part I - Overcoming Complacency by Michael Schindler

2008-04-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

According to a July 2006 NY Times article, "...military deployments have a way of chewing up marriages, turning daily life upside down and making strangers out of husbands and wives."
There is much debate around this topic - both the 2007 Rand Study and a recent release from the Department of Defense (March 2008) refute this NY Times statement. As a matter of fact, the Army, Air Force and Marines can sport a lower divorce rate than the national average. Yet, the conversations and experiences throughout the military chow halls and wives' clubs seem to support the NY Times statement.

This article is the first in a three-part series that will explore the debate as well as some of the most "common undertows" that pull military marriages down - and then take it one more step: how to prepare and strengthen your marriage to avoid divorce.

Regardless of your position on the debate, we know that lives are severely disrupted, that marriages are strained, that suicides are up among our returning soldiers and that more mental-health problems are occurring (AP, March 2008).

While this presents an ugly challenge, at least we know that challenges exist and now we can properly prepare for them. One of the strongest undertows to overcome? Complacency.
I was sitting in a coffee shop with one of my dear friends, Nebiye, when I saw a woman walk in and present the man who was sitting at the table next to me divorce papers. She took a seat, shoved a two inch stack of papers across the table and then they began addressing the issues...rather loudly.

What started out as a torrid romance and marriage somehow turned into failed expectations, disinterest and eventually an affair. There was no sense of interdependence - just independence, and no passion.

As [http://www.familybaptist.com/newdocs/VitaSheet.htm]Chaplain Alford shared, "you'll face challenges that have nothing to do with deployments" but deployments will compound the issues and you'll have to fighter harder to overcome the undertows.

So what can you do to overcome complacency and remain passionate about your spouse?
[mailto:Ackerman0123@msn.com?subject=Overcoming%20Complacency]Dr. Kenneth Ackerman, who has "coached" and counseled hundreds of military couples to stronger relationships points out that "couples function well when they are able to freely give and receive love and trust in a healthy interdependent relationship."

1. Look for ways to uplift your spouse. Cheryl and Jody, whose husbands were deployed for a number of months, sent "fun" packages. You know, the type that reminds us husbands why we married our spouse in the first place.

2. Work to keep the relationship in a deep trust. Women can build this in their husbands by respecting their husbands. Men can do this by professing and showing their love. Mike, who served over 300 combat patrols in Iraq, always found a way to send his wife flowers on special events, despite his being deployed. The book, " http://www.loveandrespect.com Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs explains how couples can establish their relationship in these two principles.

And finally, here's a question that my wife and I have posted on our mirror - one that regardless of the miles that may separate us at times, keeps us in check:

3. Would I want to be married to me?
If the answer is "yes", keep doing what you're doing; if "no", make changes. If you fail to make changes in your relationship, complacency will creep in, and I just may be sitting in that coffee shop observing the demise of your relationship. Don't let that happen.
Part II - Overcoming Indecision to be released first week in April.

Mike Schindler is the CEO for a web-based marketing firm, developing subscriber bases for some of the top Fortune 500 companies. He is also the founder of Operation Military Family - a company committed to raising the awareness of what resources, programs and tools are made available to our service members and families. OMF drives funds from book sales and speaking engagements back into military marriage related programs and the Veterans Family Fund.

More information can be found at http://www.operationmilitaryfamily.org/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Schindler http://EzineArticles.com/?Ensuring-Your-Military-Marriage-Succeeds-Despite-Long-Deployments---Part-I---Overcoming-Complacency&id=1061759

Best Strategy Using Internet Job Search Engines by Michael Adams

2008-04-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

Best Strategy using Internet Job Search Engines

There are hundreds of Internet job search engines, from super job banks monster.com, careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com to regional job banks, to job banks with occupational focuses, such as Dice.com. Job seekers can hardly exhaust all the job search resources, so we have meta job search engines which will simultaneously search several job board for the same job search criteria. One of the major mistakes common job seekers make is to search only the super job search engines. Admittedly more job openings are posted on the super job search engines, but in the mean time, the employers who use the supper sites will also receive much more applications for the posted position. A large portion of job bank traffic is generated by job seekers, not employers, therefore the higher a job site's traffic is, the more competitive the positions are. Additionally, many employers, especially those smaller companies, are posting only to second tire job banks for various reasons, some to reduce the influx of applications, some for a better posting plan, some to retrain applicants to local area.

Step 1 - Search Meta Job Search Engines

You can jump start your job search using the meta job search engines, which will simultaneously check multiple job boards. No meta search engines covers all the job banks, and different meta search engines supports different job banks. There are two types of meta search engines, respectively Link Engine and Listing Engine. The Link Meta Search Engines save you time in entering search criteria, so that you simply enter keyword, choose region and categories once, and then get cooked links for various job banks. The Listing Engine goes one step forward, will present all the job listings, so that you needn't pay a visit to each individual job bank. The third type of job search engine is special Meta Job Search Engine Software that not only searches the job, but also assists in composing cover letter and resume sending.

Step 2 - Post Your Resume to Job Banks

Most websites request job seekers to post resume in order to apply online, and to post your resume to all websites is a frustrating task. You can either perform the task manually, or use Resume Posting services, which do the job for you.

However, [http://www.alljobcenter.com/html/articles/resumeposting-art3.htm] Resume Posting Service is different from resume broadcasting service, which broadcasts your resume directly to recruiters.

Step 3 - Experience as Many Job Banks as Possible to Select Your Job Banks
Meta Job Search Engines only deal with some of the popular job banks. A job seeker should try as many job banks as possible, and then conclude which web sites are more effective for you. There are quite a few less known job banks with outstanding job postings. You don’t necessarily have to use all the resources all the time, but at the beginning you should try different resources so that you known which ones works better for you particular occupation, region and experience level.

Michael Adams http://www.alljobcenter.com Job Search Secret Weapon - Meta Job Search Engine Software for more job search resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Adams http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Strategy-Using-Internet-Job-Search-Engines&id=50083

US Troops Returning with Psychosocial Behavior by Jerry Garner

2007-10-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

A new US study states that more than 1/3 of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan may suffer from forms of mental illness, including psychosocial behavior. The study, commissioned by the Department of Veterans Affairs, examined returning veterans who visited a VA Hospital between September 2001 and September 2005.

Throughout history, veterans of wars have suffered from various forms of stress disorders and mental illness. From World War II to the present, the subject of mental illness becomes a topic for debate whenever our troops begin to return home from conflict.

These illnesses are often thought to exist only in extreme cases, but a new study suggests that a significant percentage of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from mental illness. The March 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine included a report titled "Bringing the War Back Home", which studied more than 100,000 US troops who had participated in the nation's war on terror.

The study was conducted as a collective endeavor that was carried out by the University of California at San Francisco and the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. Conducted by Dr. Karen Seal and 4 of her colleagues, the study looked at 103,788 veterans who visited VA facilities between September 30, 2001 and September 30, 2005.

The study consisted of veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Veterans of both operations had endured high combat stress and were eligible for free medical care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Little was known about the clinical circumstances of mental health diagnosis given to these veterans, which is where the current study comes into the picture.

Of those included in the study, a total of 25,658 vets (25%) were diagnosed as having at least one form of mental illness. An astonishing 56% of those were diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses. When the scope of the study was broadened to also include psychosocial behavioral issues, the number of afflicted troops jumped 32,010 veterans (31%).

"The youngest group of active duty veterans (age, 18 to 24 years) had a significantly higher risk of receiving one or more mental health diagnoses and posttraumatic stress disorder compared with active duty veterans 40 years or older," the study notes.

The most common affliction was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which occurred in 52% of troops that were diagnosed with a mental illness (13% of all veterans studied). PTSD occurs when someone experiences or witnesses life-threatening traumatic events for prolonged periods of time.

PTSD is often characterized by extreme symptoms, which may include flashbacks, insomnia, nightmares, hypervigilance and a lack of feeling or emotion. Some veterans will also suffer from delayed-PTSD, which may not appear until years after the traumatic event. If not properly treated, the disorder can also lead to other forms of mental illness.

Although Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was the most common illness diagnosed, a number of others were revealed in the study. Many troops were diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Substance Use Disorder, and a number of other behavioral or psychological afflictions.

It should be noted, however, that the study only consists of those who visited a VA Medical Center during the prescribed period, so the figures presented in the study may not be reflective of all soldiers who served in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Jerry Garner is a resident of Las Vegas and a frequent contributor to many publications, both internet and print. While his writing covers a wide variety of topics, he is most known for his inside knowledge of casino operations around the world. This knowledge is often on display on Garner's web site at [http://www.globalgamingnews.com]GlobalGamingNews.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Garner http://EzineArticles.com/?US-Troops-Returning-with-Psychosocial-Behavior&id=487053

Can an Amputee Have a CDL? by Aubrey Allen Smith

2007-08-31T14:48:00.000-07:00

I receive hundreds of emails from people all across the United States asking questions concerning CDL requirements and assistance with general help topics. It may take me a few days to answer, but I always write back. I enjoy the correspondence with other drivers and especially, the "newbies." I recently received an email from a gentleman who asked me a question that I have never been asked before in 29 years of trucking. He was an (arm) amputee, and was having trouble with his home state issuing him a CDL. He asked for my help.
I knew what the Regulations had to say about it, but I searched on the internet and was surprised at some of the things I found. One article was written by an employer stating his amazement that an (arm) amputee would even apply for his open truck driving job. I left a comment on his site . . . I had to! I would like everyone to know that an amputee, arm or leg, CAN DRIVE a semi tractor-trailer!

People just do not understand the Regulations when it comes to driving a commercial motor vehicle. Can an amputee have a CDL? YES! Can an amputee drive a semi rig? YES! Those whom I call "the foolish ones," will point out Regulation 391.41(b), which basically states that a person cannot drive a commercial motor vehicle if they have a "loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, or an arm." BUT, they always seem to miss the next line: except if they have "been granted a skill performance evaluation certificate pursuant to 391.49."
Within this section is the key for those with this physical condition: §391.49 Alternative physical qualification standards for the loss or impairment of limbs. All one needs is a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate. This certificate shows that the person seeking a CDL can operate the commercial motor vehicle safely, and that the amputee condition does not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle.

Several months ago I sat down at a T/A Truck Stop for dinner, and the driver next to me had ONE ARM! He had been driving that way for 16 years! So for all of you people like the above employer: understand about the subject before you write about it! And, for all you who are wondering if an amputee can have a CDL: the answer is a clear and resounding, YES!
For the complete rules, regulations and explanation for this type of situation, read [http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?section=391.49#/]Regulation 391.49 and if you are an amputee and want to drive the big rigs . . . THEN GO FOR IT! I'll ride with you any day, before I ride with the above-mentioned employer!

Good Luck, and KEEP ON ‘TRUCKIN’

Aubrey Allen Smith is an expert in motor carrier transportation and an advocate for truck driving safety. Author of the original [http://truthabouttrucking.com/]Truth About Trucking, he fights for the rights of truckers by exposing the scams within the trucking industry. Please visit http://www.truthabouttrucking.com today, if you are considering a truck driving career.
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Good Job Interview Questions to Ask by Catherine Z Jones

2007-08-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

Always have at least one good interview question to ask. Why?

Because if you have none, we think, as interviewers, that either:

You think you know everything about the job and Company (though we know you don’t).

You are perhaps not investing enough thought in your career or job choice (since you’d take the job without asking more about it).

So, even if there is nothing else you want to know, have a few good interview questions to ask. Ask a least one, perhaps about the Company, or the role for which you are applying.
It can be as simple as “Can you tell me about the Company’s plans for the next five years?” It can open up a good conversation and ends the interview on a nice positive note and gives a good last impression!

WHEN to ask good interview questions:
Some interviewers (us for example) will say to candidates, before beginning questions, that they are welcome to ask any questions as we go along, or wait till the end – whatever they prefer.

If you are told this, do whatever you prefer.
Sometimes, a relevant question will come to you during a conversation.
Don’t be afraid to ask it then.

Sometimes, asking a relevant question can spark a related conversation during which you can demonstrate more of what you have to offer (see below).

Keep general questions to the end, unless they crop up earlier.

You should ask a question if:
You don't understand a question asked of you.
There is anything you still need to find out about the job, your training or the kind of person they are looking for.

It enables you to describe strengths not yet covered by the interviewers' questioning.
You are unsure if your response to a previous question made sense.
WHAT interview questions to ask

Good questions to ask at interview include lots of open-ended questions which encourage the employer to talk. Questions like:
"What is the Company’s Vision?"
"What is the Company’s long term plan?"
"How would you describe the Company culture or ethos?"

Asking some personal questions adds as a nice touch. It shows that you see your interviewer as a person, not just your interviewer. So ask the interviews/s questions in their capacity as an employee, like: "How long have you worked here?" and "What’s the best thing about working for the Company?"

Good questions to ask at interview are any about the role which will help you understand what is required of you, how you are measured and so on….
"How will I be measured?"
"Are these team or individual targets?"
"What involvement will I have with others on a day-to-day basis?"

Questions about developing in the role can help determine if you have made the right long term career choice….
"What will the scope for learning and development be?"
"What are the opportunities for progression or promotion?"
Good interview questions to ask include those about the leadership. The answers can help you decide if the management style suits how you work….
"What can you tell me about my boss?"
"Can you tell me about the management/leadership style within the team?"

To find out more, visit: http://www.job-application-and-interview-advice.com/good-interview-questions-to-ask.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Z_Jones http://EzineArticles.com/?Good-Job-Interview-Questions-to-Ask&id=705617

A Rough Guide to Surviving the Dreaded Interview by Ian F Harris

2007-08-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Jobs are often lost at what a jockey would call the ‘first fence’. The interview. One simple act of thoughtlessness or carelessness, caused by being unprepared could see that much wanted position in a high-flying company, lost forever. Not only that, confidence damaged beyond repair. But have no fear, I am here, with five important ‘Do’s’ that should have you sailing through the interrogation and into your own office with comfy adjustable chair with secretary.

• Scrub up good.

It’s a complete waste of time turning up like you’re off to the Glastonbury festival. No matter how ‘cool’ you think you look you will not be taken seriously. Make an effort. Comb your hair. Clean your shoes –no trainers. And yes, swallow your disgust and buy that most useless of objects, a tie.

• Do your research (or at the very least, sound like you have).

You’ve applied for the job so sound like you know what you are talking about. If need be pretend you know about the company. Be confident. Remember this is not a one-way conversation. This is your chance to show interest and ask questions. Stick with questions about the business, don’t ask about holidays or time off. Sound authoritative, almost like it’s second nature but don’t get too cocky. It is not advisable to offer your opinion on how the business ought to be run or restructured.

• Be humble.

Give the impression that you are willing to learn and are in fact excited about the prospect being taught by such a well known figure (the interviewer) in the business, but don’t go too far, no-one likes a brown-noser.

• Nod and stare.

There’s nothing wrong with showing that the interviewer has your attention, so concentrate on nodding at the right moment or dropping in an odd ‘I see’ accompanied by an occasional chin rub which will help. This is the equivalent of giving a horse a lump of sugar, with the interviewer convinced he/she is the most interesting person in the world. As for the stare, this is quite an art and takes practice. What is wanted is an ‘interested stare’ not a ‘mad or crazy stare’. Once again showing that the interviewer has your undivided attention. Word of warning. If your interviewer is a woman resist the urge to stare at her breasts.

• Bathroom.

Before the interview begins go the bathroom, where you should take a leak or a dump. Empty your bowel. Then wash your hands and face and (this is most important) take time out to expel all bodily gases (try to do this when the bathroom is empty).

So there you are, five important must – do’s before what could be the biggest life changing event of your life. So good luck, deep breaths and remember, if you don’t get the job, it’s not the end of the world. Go to pub, get drunk, go home, go to bed.

Ian Harris. http://www.theacmesunshinecompany.com

Ian Harris lives in Shakespeare country (Stratford upon Avon) in the UK and loves to write, unfortunately not to William's standard, although he believes when he dies, like Will his work will be rediscovered and he will be recognized at last.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_F_Harris http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Rough-Guide-to-Surviving-the-Dreaded-Interview&id=699592

Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit - Long Term Care Benefits for Veterans by Thomas Day

2007-08-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit -- Long Term Care Benefits for Veterans What Is the Aid and Attendance Benefit? The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a disability income available to veterans who served during a period of war or to their surviving spouses. This special benefit is officially called "pension" but is more popularly known as the "veterans aid and attendance pension benefit". For a pension benefit for veterans younger than 65, evidence of total of disability must be provided. Veterans 65 and older do not have to disabled.

The National Care Planning Council estimates that as much as 30% of the US population over the age of 65 would qualify for the aid and attendance pension benefit under the right circumstances. That's how many war veterans or surviving spouses of veterans there are. The benefit is such a well-kept secret that only a small fraction of these eligible veterans are actually receiving it. Death pension -- a benefit available to a surviving spouse-- is a lesser amount based on the same rules for applying for a living pension claim. In other words, the deceased veteran must have met the rules for pension -- with the exception of being totally disabled or over age 65 -- or have been receiving pension in order for his or her spouse to receive the lesser benefit. In addition, in order to be eligible or keep receiving the benefit, the surviving spouse must remain single.

Who can submit a claim? A claim is submitted by the veteran or by the veteran’s single surviving spouse in the case of a death claim. A duly appointed service organization, an employee of the local regional VA office, or a VA approved agent may file a claim on behalf of the veteran or the spouse. A claim cannot be filed with a general or durable power of attorney. The application will be sent back requesting proper documentation for a VA power of attorney. The veteran must sign a document specifically authorizing a power of attorney for someone to submit an initial claim for him. Many chagrined children with a durable power of attorney have submitted claims on behalf of a parent only to have the claim rejected by VA.

What happens if the veteran is incompetent? If the veteran cannot submit the original application or sign a power of attorney for a surrogate to file an application, then a duly appointed guardian can complete the application. VA also allows the spouse, a parent or next of kin, or a friend to complete and submit an application on behalf of an incompetent veteran if that person submits the proper power of attorney request and indicates the applicant could be considered incompetent for financial affairs. Even though the veteran or surviving spouse may be incompetent for financial affairs, he or she should always sign the power of attorney request if he or she is competent to do so. VA may appoint a fiduciary to take over the claim and the affairs for the claimant if VA determines he or she is incompetent.

How does VA handle power of attorney? Employees of VA and veterans service organizations already have authorization for power of attorney to file an application on behalf of the veteran. They have forms for the veteran to sign to allow this to happen. An attorney representing the veteran in other affairs can also request a power of attorney in the proper format and on his or her letterhead. Any single individual may also submit a letter requesting power of attorney to submit an application if it is signed by the veteran and if the letter provides certain required information. There is also a VA form in the book support packet that can be submitted for power of attorney. All attorney requests submitted for power of attorney must state that the veteran is not paying a fee to file the application on his or her behalf.

What is an "aid and attendance" or "housebound" rating? A "rating" is granted by a veteran service representative where a condition exists that makes the disability more severe. Medical evidence is required unless someone is a patient in a nursing home, and then the requirement is waived. The rating allows VA to pay an additional monthly amount of pension or compensation to a veteran or a surviving spouse for additional costs associated with this disability.

How does one qualify for aid and attendance or housebound rating? The application form has a block allowing for a request for either rating. Submitting medical evidence in advance instead of waiting for a request from VA can help expedite the process of getting this rating. We have provided in the book support packet, a sample form that might be used for this purpose. This form is also designed around information that VA is looking for and may be a more effective presentation of the facts than typical medical records from the doctor.

What is the effective date? The effective date is generally the day VA receives an original application. If it takes three months for the process of approval or six months, it doesn't matter. The effective date still reverts to receipt of the original application.

When does payment begin? Generally, payments start on the first day of the month following the month of the effective date. This means that if it took six months to get approval, at least five months of benefit will be paid retroactively. VA requires automatic deposit of awards in a checking or savings account.

What happens if the veteran dies during the period of application? If the veteran dies during the period of application and the application was not approved prior to the death, there may be accrued benefits. If the regional office had all of the information in its possession that would have led to an approval, then there is an accrued benefit payable. Otherwise there is none. The full benefit is available for the month of death of the veteran and to a surviving spouse through an application on Form 21-534. This is the same form a surviving spouse uses for a death benefit claim for himself or herself. VA will award either an accrued benefit or death benefit to the surviving spouse whichever is larger. If there is no surviving spouse or dependent child, VA will pay the unreimbursed costs of last illness and burial to the person who paid those costs. A special claim must be submitted for these costs, not Form 21-534.

What is a veteran’s federal fiduciary, and does that affect the application? For a veteran who is considered incompetent to handle his own financial affairs, VA will appoint a fiduciary to receive the money and pay the bills. A federal fiduciary is an individual appointed for this purpose, usually a spouse or a family member. In most cases -- except for the spouse living with the veteran -- there is an interview required and mounds of paperwork. This process can take a long time, and it is to the advantage of the person filing an original claim to request the appointment of himself or herself as a fiduciary or for some other appropriate person or organization to help expedite the process. VA always makes the final decision on whom it appoints as a fiduciary. In fact, the agency might well ignore court appointed fiduciaries. In general, the decision favors declaring the veteran competent and avoiding a fiduciary where at all possible.

What is the income test for pension? If the household income adjusted for unreimbursed medical expenses and a deductible is greater than the maximum allowable pension rate -- MAPR -- there is no benefit. In 2007, the maximum allowable rate for a couple with aid and attendance allowance is $21,615 a year. For a single it is $18,234 a year. Without aid and attendance or housebound allowance the maximum couple's rate is $14,313 a year and for a single it is $10,929 a year. Death pension rates are lower. People seeking a benefit with adjusted incomes greater than these levels will be denied.

Can a household with income above the maximum limit qualify for pension? A quirk in the way benefits are calculated can allow individuals and couples earning between $24,000 to $60,000 a year to still qualify for a benefit. It has to do with the treatment by VA of the very large recurring medical costs associated with home care, assisted living, or nursing home care.

What is the pension household asset test, and what can be done if the asset test is not met? As a general rule assets cannot exceed $80,000. A veteran or spouse occupied-house, a reasonable amount of land upon which it sits and a vehicle are exempt from the asset test. In reality there is no specific test in the regulations. Veterans service representatives are required to file paperwork justifying their decision if they allow assets greater than $80,000. Thus this amount has become a traditional ceiling. The service representative is encouraged to analyze the veteran's household needs for maintenance and weigh those needs against assets that can be readily converted to cash. In the end, the decision as to allowable assets is a subjective decision made by a service representative. In certain cases a benefit award could be denied even if assets are below $20,000 or $10,000 or even zero dollars. There are legal ways to get around the asset test if assets are too high. These are described in our book.

What proofs and documents are required with the pension claim? We have already discussed the requirements for power of attorney and fiduciary if they apply. In addition, an original copy of the discharge from service -- typically DD 214 or form WD -- is required and the discharge must have been honorable. If there is a question about the marriage relationship, a marriage certificate or other proof may be necessary. Birth certificates of dependent children are usually not required but may be necessary under certain conditions. A dependent child is a minor, a dependent student under age 23, or a totally dependent adult child. There are certain documents that need to be submitted to prove future recurring medical expenses and to prove need for aid and attendance or housebound allowances. VA does not furnish these documents nor provide any information that they are required. Sample documents that could be used for these purposes are included in our book.

Can someone charge to help fill out the form? Federal code and VA regulations prohibit an agent, advisor or attorney from charging a fee to fill out and file a claim for pension. Most practitioners or providers help their clients for free, sometimes in the context of solving other retirement issues or providing long term care services. Some practitioners offer application advice for a fee (which is legal) but will send their clients to a veterans' service organization to complete the application. Some assisted living facilities or home care providers also offer free advice or help and this seems to be an acceptable practice. An agent or attorney can also be paid by a disinterested third party under certain conditions to complete an application. However, a home care agency, assisted living facility or nursing home that pays an agent or attorney to complete an application on behalf of a resident or client does not meet the definition of a disinterested third party is in violation of the prohibition for charging a fee

How are assets, income and unreimbursed medical expenses determined? The applicant must submit details on the application of all income and all assets including retirement savings accounts such as IRAs. Almost any type of money received or anything received that can be converted into money is income. The only exclusions for assets are a personal residence (occupied by the veteran or spouse) and a reasonable amount of land it sits on as well as vehicles and other personal possessions. Personal possessions used as an investment such as a coin collection are counted as assets. Unreimbursed medical expenses can be almost any expense related to medical needs.

Are there any other reporting requirements? VA requires that any change in income or assets be reported immediately. The award is calculated for 12 months in advance, but at the beginning of each calendar year, a formal report called an EVR (Eligibility Verification Report) must be filed detailing all income, assets and unreimbursed medical expenses for the coming calendar year. For example if the award is granted in April for 12 months in advance, an EVR must be submitted in January of the next year that could affect the award amount for the remaining four months of the initial 12 month period. The EVR will be used for determining benefits for the calendar year on which it is based.

What is a veteran’s federal fiduciary, and does that affect the application? VA can appoint a number of different types of fiduciaries to manage the funds on behalf of an incompetent veteran. A federal fiduciary is typically an individual such as the spouse or a child whom the VA is most likely to appoint. If VA is not notified with the application that the veteran may be incompetent and that a fiduciary appointment is requested, this could slow down the application and approval process.

Will the pension benefit pay a nonlicensed homecare provider? VA does not pay providers directly but provides extra income to make up for the cost of licensed medical care. Medical conditions or injuries or diseases that require a need for ongoing licensed homecare will allow the applicant to reduce household income by the cost of homecare making it possible to receive the additional income from a pension award. If the beneficiary has an aid and attendance or housebound allowance, VA will allow deductions for nonlicensed providers as well.

Will the pension benefit pay a member of the family to provide care at home? As explained above, VA will not pay providers directly but only indirectly through extra income. If the beneficiary receiving care in the home has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to a family member for care to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses to qualify for the benefit. The care arrangement must be legitimate and appropriate evidence must be provided.

Does the pension benefit pay the costs of a nursing home? The application form has provision for indicating residency in a nursing home and whether or not the applicant is eligible for Medicaid. VA will automatically apply the monthly cost of the nursing home in determining the pension benefit. If the applicant is single with no dependent children at home and is eligible for Medicaid, VA is required to stop any payment of full benefits and only provide the veteran with $90 a month.

Does the pension benefit pay the costs of assisted living? As explained above, VA will not pay providers directly but only indirectly through extra income. If the beneficiary receiving care in assisted living has received a rating for aid and attendance or housebound, VA will allow expenses paid to assisted living for aid and attendance or housebound ratings -- including room and board -- to be counted as unreimbursed medical expenses. The cost of assisted living being used as a retirement residence is not considered a medical expense. It does not warrant a rating and cannot be deducted.

What are the requirements to receive a death pension benefit? The applicant must be a surviving spouse or a dependent child of an eligible veteran. VA form 21-534 is used to apply for death pension, death compensation, accrued benefits, or dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). The surviving spouse must be single. A surviving spouse of any age is eligible as long as the deceased veteran served at least 90 days during a period of war. They had to be married at least a year prior to death or have a child as a result of the marriage. There is no requirement for total disability for the surviving spouse nor for the deceased veteran to have been totally disabled or older than age 65.

How does one prove that unreimbursed medical expenses will recur every month? VA has specific rules for proving future recurring medical expenses. Information in our book outlines the type of paperwork that must be submitted for each type of long term care service. The book also contains appropriate forms for this purpose. Neither the claims form nor information from the regional office provides any guidance on the rules for proving future recurring medical expenses for home care or assisted living. One simply has to know how to do it. This one crucial step often makes the difference between a successful claim and a denial.

What if the veteran or spouse is currently receiving Medicaid? Our interpretation of the rules leads us to believe that VA will not consider Medicaid payments as income. However, Medicaid will consider the nonallowance portion of the pension to be income. This could affect Medicaid eligibility in income test states. There is evidence that some income test states count the entire pension benefit including the allowance as income. According to federal Medicaid rules this should not happen.

What happens when the veteran or spouse wants to receive pension & Medicaid together? Federal law requires that a single veteran receiving Medicaid with no spouse or dependent children can receive no more than $90 a month from VA. Veterans in state veterans homes are exempt from this requirement. The veteran with a spouse can receive the benefit to help defray the costs of a nursing home. As a general rule, the pension benefit would probably not work if Medicaid were paying the bill. But the benefit does work well for non-Medicaid nursing home beds and while the recipient is going through the Medicaid spend down.

This article is an excerpt from the book -- "VETERANS AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFIT -- LONG TERM CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS" -- published by the National Care Planning Council and written and edited by Thomas Day, Council Director. This first-of-its-kind book is available in two editions -- the Standard Edition (209 pages) for the general public and the Professional Edition (443 pages) to be used as a handbook for advisors and care providers. Both books contain the necessary information and forms to complete an application for the benefit. The Professional Edition also includes citations from rules and regulations, hypothetical planning cases, asset reduction strategies and a software CD with benefit estimate software, all applicable forms and planning sheets. To review and purchase the book go to http://www.longtermcarelink.net/a16veterans_books.htm or type in your browser window [http://www.veteranbook.com]www.veteranbook.com.

Thomas Day specializes in the area of long term care planning. As director of the National Care Planning Council and chief spokesman for the Utah Elder Care Planning Council he maintains a busy schedule giving advice to concerned caregiving families and conducting radio and reporter interviews. He is also responsible for maintaining several Internet sites one of which, http://www.longtermcarelink.net is a frequently visited and popular site for long term care issues. The site currently is receiving the equivalent of 6 million hits a year. Tom is also busy writing articles and has completed three new books on long term care planning published by the National Care Planning Council.

Tom graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in physics and math and an MBA in finance. He holds a CLU designation from the American College. Tom and his wife Susan live in Centerville, Utah. They have seven children and 17 grandchildren.

Please contact Tom at 800-989-8137 or [mailto:tomday@longtermcarelink.net]tomday@longtermcarelink.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Day http://EzineArticles.com/?Veterans-Aid-and-Attendance-Pension-Benefit---Long-Term-Care-Benefits-for-Veterans&id=561773

Avoid Mistakes When Filing a VA Disability Claim by D Mann

2007-05-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

The first mistake many veterans make when filing a claim for benefits is not stating their objectives clearly. If, for instance, a veterans left leg is the basis of the claim, be sure the exact point on the leg is stated: ankle, knee, foot or hip. If all the parts of the leg are involved, state each part separately. State what the problem is with the injured part. For example, if a knee is involved, state that the knee locks, hurts when walking, etc. Be as specific as possible. If numbness or radiating pain occurs, include that as well.

Veterans are brave and courageous, but when the Compensation and Pension exam occurs, veterans need to be straightforward about their problems. Too many times, veterans base their statements about pain and problems on how they feel the day of the examination when, in fact, they should tell the examiner how they feel on their worst day. The veteran is at a Compensation and Pension examination because they are having problems in their daily lives, not to chit-chat with the examiner. The veteran needs to be truthful but don’t minimize the problems that got the examination scheduled.

The VA will repeated ask for documents already in their possession. When this occurs, call the nearest VA regional office and remind them that they already have the documents they are requesting. Better yet, write a letter telling them that the information is already in their files.

When using the services of a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) such as the DAV or VFW, be sure the VSO is willing to go to bat for you and knows about how the VA works. Unfortunately, for every good VSO, there are many, many bad ones. Ask the VSO for advice about how to complete your claim form, if the VSO is aware of current laws about VA benefits and what they will do for you if the claim gets stuck in the bureaucratic machine of the VA. If you don’t get good answers, find another VSO.

Deborah Mann and her husband, Richard, have helped many veterans with their disability claims for over ten years. The Manns have helped veterans get claims as far back as 1955 and are masters at dealing with the Veterans Administration.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Mann http://EzineArticles.com/?Avoid-Mistakes-When-Filing-a-VA-Disability-Claim&id=507281

Our Returning Iraq War Veterans by D Mann

2007-04-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

Many wounded returning Iraq War Veterans are not being advised well about filing their VA claims for benefits. Most of the time, the only assistance the veteran receives is one printed sheet that they get during the discharge process that tells them to get on the VA website and to file their claim electronically. If an Iraq veteran has been wounded with a permanently disabling injury, the veteran needs to file a claim.

Unfortunately, returning vets with PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) are often mentally unable to complete the forms needed to file a claim. Their stress levels leave them unable to concentrate on the task of completing the forms, gathering documents needed, and stating the cause of their PTSD. Simply writing down the events frequently leaves them so stressed and anxious that they are unable to function on a daily basis. Ironically, these veterans need help with their PTSD as soon as possible.

Vietnam veterans fought the VA to be acknowledged as disabled with PTSD. PTSD is nothing new. In wars past, it was called “shell-shock” (World War I) and “combat fatigue” or a “nervous condition” (World War II).

Gulf War veterans, too, have “undiagnosed” problems with aches and pains and odd symptoms that doctors are unable to put their finger on to treat. These veterans, too, need to file VA claims. Their problems are caused by exposure to harmful chemicals and gases that were used by both sides fighting in the Gulf.

Returning Iraq War veterans that have permanent injuries, burns, scars or other problems from combat are advised to file VA claims. Scars, especially on the face, are considered “disfiguring” and are worthy of a disability rating by the VA.

Even if a disability is rated at zero-percent disabling by the VA, it is important for these young veterans to have the disability acknowledged by the VA. As a person ages, disabilities that seem very tolerable at 25 years of age become arthritic and painful to a person at 50 years of age. The disability can be re-rated at a later date and it is much easier to have a disability re-rated at a higher rating than to try to establish the disabilty 30 years after discharge.

Deborah Mann and her husband, Richard, have helped many veterans with their disability claims for over ten years. The Manns have helped veterans get claims as far back as 1955 and are masters at dealing with the Veterans Administration.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Mann http://EzineArticles.com/?Our-Returning-Iraq-War-Veterans&id=507282

Getting the Job You Love - Easy Steps! by Martin Haworth

2007-03-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

If you are stuck at a job or a career that you hate, you can find a job you love, with some work and effort.

Many people in the world have jobs that they hate and they often see no way out of it. So, they often fail to put their best efforts forward and they only dream about what could be.

There are things each and every one can do. With focus and real effort, it's possible to find a job you enjoy and not have that dread feeling every morning.

In your search for a job you really want, one of the most important things you can do is to use those around you - the people you know. By looking around for job openings in the field that you want to work in and making it known to others, you will find more support than you could ever anticipate.

Sometimes, it might be necessary to take a sideways move, or even take a little less income for a while in your target field, so you can experience new ideas and workload to achieve the bigger future. This enables you to maintain income as you seek your dream job.

You could also supplement your work experience with voluntary work locally that will supplement your skills and hence CV and well, of course, as doing a little good as well!

By telling others what you are doing; the goal you have; the kind of help you could do with, you will make known that that you are available and in the marketplace for the ideal job you seek. This will also significantly improve your opportunities for a great job that rewards you well, both in monetary terms as well as personally satisfying.

Don't panic if the job you want doesn't show up right away! It might take a while for the right one - and it will be worth it!

Yet, there is more than you could do if you are prepared to spend a little money on it. By training yourself and gaining broader experiences, you will have made a great start. Your local job centers; job searches and other recruitment organizations are there to help you. And, of course, you can go online too - where would we be without the internet?

At www.headhunter.com, they will help you find a job that matches your skills, as well as working hard to ensure that the job is what you want too. And governmental help too, despite the reluctance of some to seek this out, also offer resources and services to help you find and get the most from local opportunities towards achieving your goal.

Sometimes, people need a trigger to make the step-change that is so vital. Being 'let go' or redundant or 'laid off' can all stimulate a realization that the time has come to move on. Don't be tempted with a quick-fix job that replicates the disappointing role you are leaving - take care to think through the direction you really want and plot a course of action.

A strategic plan sounds very high-powered and exotic, but is vital to make sure that you move up a level in what you want from your work. Step-by-step, making regular progress, day by day is the way to succeed, especially when change is significant.

Getting a job you've always dreamt about is a challenge. It takes strong motivation, time and resources - not to mention focus.

The result for you, will almost always be worth that extra work that you put into achieving your goal.

Just think about that dreadful feeling in the pit of your stomach each morning when that realization hits you that you have another day of grind at a job you feel miserable at. Is beating that feeling not a fabulous goal to aim for?

Then you can really get on with the life, and work, to make your dream complete.

© 2007 "How To Land Your Dream Job". You can have the job of your dreams. It takes application, attention and the information you need to get you there, young or old. There's all you need at Martin Haworth's website, http://www.howtolandyourdreamjob.com

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Brain-Injured Newsman Speaks Out For Returning Iraq War Veterans by Fern Cohen

2007-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Bob Woodruff’s report on ABC called “To Iraq and Back” brought to the public eye the problem of Traumatic Brain Injury (referred to as “TBI”) suffered by many of our veterans returning from the Iraq War. Through his own experience and miraculous recovery, he is now exposing this tragedy to the general public, and also providing a voice to our veterans, many of whom have served their country and are now left with a life-changing disability. Mr Woodruff’s 13-month recovery is not only amazing, but it is a purpose-driven event that will make changes in how the Veterans Administration provides long-term care for our returning veterans with TBI.

Last year, Woodruff, a co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight, went to Iraq to cover the war for ABC News. On January 29, 2006, he and his cameraman Bob Vogt were injured in a bomb blast that hit their vehicle. Mr. Woodruff came back to ABC on February 27, 2007 to tell his story. A special broadcast “To Iraq and Back” aired on ABC the same night. But Woodruff didn’t only tell his own story. He spoke for the many veterans who have returned from the Middle East war zone with traumatic injuries to their brains.

The story of Mr. Woodruff’s recovery is nothing short of a miracle. He considers himself lucky to have received incredible care. Not only did he have to go through surgery and grafts to repair the physical damage to his face and head, but needed rehabilitation for the unseen damage to his memory, thought processes and speech. In addition to his initial treatment upon return from Iraq, he needed constant follow-up therapy to recuperate his cognitive abilities. Coming out of a coma after more than a month, he looked at his wife who was sitting by his bed the whole time and said “Where have you been?” At first, he recognized his two older children but not his younger set of twins. Therapists and his family showed him flashcards of normal everyday objects, many of which he could not name. Thirteen months after the bombing, he has made an amazing comeback. But he still has work to do. He received first-class treatment, having been injured on the job as a reporter and being treated in major metropolitan rehabilitation facilities.

More importantly, Bob Woodruff is now giving a voice to many of our returning war veterans who are coming home with traumatic brain injuries and not receiving the level of care available to him. During “To Iraq and Back”, Mr. Woodruff introduced us to Sgt. Michael Boothby, who was injured by an IED blast in Iraq last September. Boothby got wonderful care when he first returned from Iraq. But when he transferred to his home in Texas, the VA did not have available the level of care he needed to fully recover. There seems to be a large disparity between VA services in large cities and those in smaller towns. And, surprisingly, there are veterans returning from the war with undiagnosed TBI. Not all explosions cause visible injury. There are service people coming back with impaired cognitive ability and no visible damage to their bodies. These veterans need extensive care for months and years after their injuries, some for the rest of their lives. And many of them will never be able to live normal lives again, nor support themselves and their families.

The tragedy of Bob Woodruff’s experience in Iraq has become an opportunity to call attention to the lack of VA services for many veterans returning from war with traumatic brain injuries. Returning vets need services not only when they return to the United States, but constant follow-up when they re-join their families in their hometowns. Furthermore, Bob Woodruff’s account has called attention to unseen injuries. We can see the amputees, blind, and otherwise obviously injured service people. But what about the veterans who come back and realize that their brains aren’t functioning as they should, despite no apparent bodily damage? Not all traumatic brain injuries are overt. Bob Woodruff has committed to advocating for better care for returning war veterans with traumatic brain injury. Now that he has gone through his own personal struggle, and can relate to the challenges, he can use his valuable clout as a journalist to make changes that are so desperately needed for the men and women who have served our country.

Fern Cohen is a freelance writer living in New York City. Diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease in January, 2004, she was forced to retire early from her career of teaching foreign language and ESL in the inner-city. Fern also enjoyed a 20-year career in the travel and tourism industry and holds an MS in Tourism and Travel Management from New York University. She also has a BA in French and Spanish from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and has studied collage and mixed media at the Parsons School of Design in NYC. She is active in rabbit rescue, and shares an apartment with Chelsea, a gray chinchilla bunny, who is also her muse. She has a blog at http://www.ferncohen.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fern_Cohen http://EzineArticles.com/?Brain-Injured-Newsman-Speaks-Out-For-Returning-Iraq-War-Veterans&id=475523

Job Interviews - Six Blunders to Avoid by Tom McBroom

2007-03-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs good interview question and answer advice. But just as important, you need to know what other interview mistakes to avoid. Based on my own 30 years of experience as a Hiring Manager, plus talking with many of my peers over the years, here are the most common interview blunders.

These blunders will definitely turn off any Hiring Manager and very likely knock you out of further consideration. Please take them to heart and avoid them at all costs.

Talking Too Much

Most of the Hiring Managers I know, myself included, put this high on the list of candidate turn-offs during the interview question and answer session. As a general rule, you should talk no more than half the time and one third of the time is best. Take your cues from what the Hiring Manager says and listen as much as you can. Your answers to questions will be much better as a result. One way to get the Hiring Manger to do more talking is to ask the questions you prepared in advance (you did come prepared with questions to ask, didn't you?)

True story: Some time ago, I was part of a four-person team interviewing a candidate for a technical support position. We allocated 45 minutes for the interview and it actually took over an hour and a half. During the interview question and answer session, every time we asked a question, this candidate would talk for minutes at a time, soaring off onto side issues and meaningless detail. It got to the point where we'd all silently groan and roll our eyes at each other because this person would not stop talking. We had to end the interview without asking all our questions because we ran out of time…and were simply worn out. Needless to say, this candidate received no further consideration.

Inadequate Research of the Company

A major blunder is not researching the company at which you are interviewing. Today's job market is still very competitive and if you haven't researched my company, you won't be as able relate your qualifications to my job opening as the candidate who is well prepared. With the abundance of information that can be easily researched on the Internet, there is no excuse for being unfamiliar with my company. Your interview question and answer session will go much better if you can speak knowledgeably about the company.

Bad Mouthing Previous Employers

The old saying that "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," is especially true during an interview question and answer session. If you trash talk previous employers, I'll assume you'll also bad mouth your current employer. Consequently, I don't want to become your current employer.

Displaying "Attitude"

A negative or arrogant attitude is surprisingly common on interviews. Sometimes it's a result of trying too hard to come across as being very knowledgeable. One tip here is to not cross your arms during the interview, as this is frequently interpreted as being defensive or arrogant. It's important to remember that a Hiring Manager will usually offer the job to the best qualified candidate that they like the best. If you come into the interview with an attitude, how well do you think I'll like you?

Wearing the Wrong Clothes

While complete advice on how to dress for an interview is beyond the scope of this article, there are many job advice sites on the Internet that address the subject of how to dress properly for an interview. You should research them. Even if you follow these tips, you still must use common sense when dressing for an interview (no loud colors, no jeans, no flip flops, etc).

Another true story: I was once interviewing an applicant for a marketing position. He had good qualifications on paper and was actually pretty articulate and convincing in the interview. Trouble was, he was dressed completely in black: black jacket, black shirt, black tie, black pants and black shoes. Plus, he didn't smile once. I simply couldn't shake the impression that I was interviewing a candidate for a Mortician's job. There was no way I could picture him in front of our customers, so I passed on what might have been an otherwise qualified candidate.

Asking the Wrong Questions Up Front

It can be a real turn off to the Hiring Manager by asking questions about salary, vacation, benefits, etc. It shows bad taste to ask questions of this nature during the interview question and answer session, before you've been offered the job. Your questions should all be about the specific position for which you're interviewing. Besides, if you've done your research up front, while you may not know the salary, you should be able to find out much of the other benefit information from the company web site or the job posting.

Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom http://EzineArticles.com/?Job-Interviews---Six-Blunders-to-Avoid&id=466713

Job Interviews - Six Tips to Prepare You by Tom McBroom

2007-03-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

As a Hiring Manager, I'm often asked what is my best job interview tip and I always say: "Be Prepared." I'm now going to tell you how.

Many times in my role as a Hiring Manager, I've had job applicants come into an interview like they just woke up that morning and said to themselves, "I think I'll go on a job interview today." They then proceed to snooze through the interview and follow-up a week later to find out why they didn't get the job.

Boy, could I give these applicants a good job interview tip or two!

I can tell the applicants who come properly prepared within the first ten minutes of the interview. They are the ones who can give me a well thought-out, 30 second overview of their qualifications (this is usually the first question I ask). If they are particularly good, they relate their qualifications to my specific job, as well as speak knowledgably about my company.

Remember: even if you're just interviewing for an entry level or clerical job, you can still do your homework.

Here are six job interview tips to prepare you. These will automatically put you ahead of 95% of the job applicants I've interviewed over the years.

Tip Number One

Prepare a 30 second "marketing message" to use when I ask you to "tell me about yourself." This should be about your job qualifications, NOT about your personal life. At this point, I'm not interested in where you were born, went to school, how many kids you have, etc. It's all about the things that make you a good candidate for my job opening.

Tip Number Two

Find out the name and title of every person you will meet on the interview. Memorize the names. This is a job interview tip that most applicants, oddly enough, tend to ignore. It's perfectly acceptable to ask the HR person who set up your interview to provide these details.

Tip Number Three

Have anecdotes ready. This is another job interview tip that is frequently missed. Many times, I'll ask questions that require you to provide examples of how you handled a difficult challenge or other work situation. These questions often start with a phrase such as, "Tell me about a time when you faced...." Since these questions can be about any subject, they can be difficult to prepare for, but they do follow a pattern. I'm usually interested in a few general categories, such as how you handled conflict, a difficult situation, a problem employee, or one of your success stories. Prepare a good example for each of these areas and one will very likely fit.

Tip Number Four

Do your homework and research the company. The company web site is the best starting place because it will have all the positive things that the company wants you to know. Be sure to do a search on the web site for the name of the Hiring Manager and any others you are scheduled to meet. You just may find out some information about them that will help establish rapport in the interview. Learning about the Hiring Manager is one of the best job interview tips I can give you.

Tip Number Five

Read the common questions you may come across in the interview and practice developing answers that are framed with your accomplishments and qualifications. It's one thing to say you can do something; it's another to give examples of things you have done. Be sure to have some good examples of your work that is applicable to that specific job. Your answers to questions will be much stronger as a result.

Tip Number Six

Have some questions prepared that you will ask the Hiring Manager. This shows you did your homework and have thought about the position. You should have at least four or five questions of your own, in case some of them will have already been covered by the interviewer. You want to be sure to still have some to ask. Here are some general questions that fit almost any interview:

* "If I were to ask one of your employees what the best thing is about working here, what would they say?"

* "Why is this position open?"

* "Is there a job description I could see?"

* "Can you tell me about the people I'd be working with? How long have you worked with them?"

* "How will you measure success in this job?"

* "What projects will I be working on?"

* "What do you look for most in a new employee?"

* "What do you like best about your company? Why?"

* "What do you see as the most important qualifications for this job?"

Special Warning and job interview tip: The first interview is not the time to ask questions about salary and benefits. Save these types of questions until you're actually offered the job.

Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom http://EzineArticles.com/?Job-Interviews---Six-Tips-to-Prepare-You&id=466708

Letters Of Recommendation - How To Create A Perfect Job Endorsement by Robert Mandelberg

2007-02-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

People generally have a difficult time tooting their own horns. Normally, modesty is a commendable trait; but on a job search it could be deadly. And that is where letters of recommendation can help. Why brag about how great you are when you can get someone else to do it for you? Letters of recommendation are basically testimonials from satisfied "customers." And they can be a lot more believable than resumes since they come from objective third parties.

Here are 4 surefire tips to creating powerful and convincing letters of recommendation:

Who? Who will make the most impact? Your immediate supervisor is generally the very best person to write a letter of recommendation. She has the most knowledge of your performance, abilities, and results. She can attest to how you have positively impacted the company. Many people assume that company owners and presidents are the best referrals. But unless you have direct interaction with these executives, they are usually too far removed from day-to-day operations to be aware of your talents or value.

When? When is the ideal time to have a recommendation letter prepared? While you are still with the company. As soon as plans for your separation are discussed, immediately line up your references. This enables you to put the process in motion quickly and follow up to ensure it is completed. If you wait until after you leave the company, you may find it awkward to pick up the phone and ask the boss for a favor. And with you out of sight, this task may drag on for quite come time before it gets done.

What? What type of information should be included? Instead of generalities, an effective testimonial cites specific achievements that clearly define the value an employee brought to the company. "Bill Reynolds was a loyal, dedicated employee who could be counted on to give his all" is nowhere near as powerful as "Bill Reynolds spearheaded a division-wide project to upgrade our e-mail system, which reduced our outside consulting fees by 12%." Do you see the difference? Numbers, tangible results, and accomplishments speak volumes about the worth of an employee.

How? How do I get my boss to write a powerful testimonial? Do you think writing a testimonial for someone is an easy task? Is it something that your boss could crank out in fifteen minutes or so? Probably not. A good recommendation letter takes some planning and thought to be effective. In fact, it may take a few drafts to get it just right. Is writing your letter is a task that your boss is going to relish? Not likely. She has that big meeting coming up, the month-end report is due, and now this blasted letter. Will it ever end???

Here is my suggestion: Free your boss from this burden and write the letter yourself. Yes, you read that correctly!

Do you feel a little uneasy about writing your own letter of recommendation? It's not as bad as it sounds. Once your supervisor agrees to write the letter, offer to prepare a draft that she could "tweak" and print on the company's letterhead. Your boss will be thankful that she doesn't have to labor over your testimonial and you can be sure that the letter has the ideal content and tone. As long as you are truthful, your draft should make it through practically unedited.

So make sure you are armed with a few well-written testimonials for your job search. It could very well be the extra "toot" your horn needs.

Robert Mandelberg founded The Creative Edge Resume Service in 1987. Since that time, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). Sign up for Rob's free weekly job-search tips at http://www.ResumeRob.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Mandelberg http://EzineArticles.com/?Letters-Of-Recommendation---How-To-Create-A-Perfect-Job-Endorsement&id=456387

Franchising Offers Solution For Military Vets To Adapt To Civilian Life by Julie Henningfield

2007-02-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

With specialized training under his or her belt and walking papers in hand, how does an individual, who spent so many years in the military, adapt to civilian life?

Acquiring a franchise may just be the solution. Franchising draws on parallels founded in all arms of military branches, with a strong work ethic and discipline being significant shared traits.

Successful franchisers have proven operating systems established, and in turn, search for franchisees to carry them out. Numerous military veterans have found franchised businesses to match their skills, and some exceptional programs are in place to enable veterans to pursue business ownership.

The Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative is one such program. Known as “VetFran,” this voluntary discount program was designed to help former military personnel become small-business owners. As of Sept. 1, VetFran has enabled 612 veterans to acquire small businesses, compared to 385 a year ago, and more than 150 veterans are currently considering franchise purchases.

In recognition of franchising’s wide variety of business concepts and sizes, the program allows each participating company to determine its own financial incentive. Typically, VetFran participants offer discounts of their initial fees, which make franchises more accessible to these first-time buyers. The only requirements established by the association are that participating companies be current members of IFA and offer the incentives to honorably discharged veterans. The association does not receive government funding for the initiative.

Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, the nation’s largest factory-direct mattress retailer, recently enlisted in the program, offering a 15-percent discount to veterans.“The VetFran Program is ideally suited for veterans,” Verlo Mattress Factory Stores President John Siipola said. “Many men and women coming out of the military have very specific skills and experience that may not readily apply to civilian occupations. But they have acquired the personal discipline and sense of accountability to excel in a franchise system that provides the business model, training, and ongoing support as a foundation for their success as independent business owners. The key to success in franchising is to follow the system and not spin your wheels trying to reinvent the wheel.”Siipola said because Verlo’s mattresses are individually tailored to match customers' needs, attention to detail is vital. Being a veteran himself, Siipola understands the demands of military life and its application to civilian life.“After spending six years in the Navy, I was fortunate to be accepted at Northeastern University to continue my education,” Siipola said. “After graduation, like most of my college classmates, I went into corporate America.”Siipola said he soon found that large corporations were not what he had envisioned. “Franchising offered me the opportunity to use some of the personal skills that I had learned in the military to my advantage,” he said. “Learning the system and following the guidelines within the system allowed me to succeed in a business where I had no previous experience and my military training was a definite asset.”Prior to joining Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, Siipola said he had been a proponent of the VetFran Program and worked with several veterans who were interested in becoming franchise business owners. “Not only do we at Verlo provide qualified veterans with a 15-percent discount on our franchise fee, participating financial institutions may count the 15-percent discount as equity or paid in capital for loan qualification purposes. It is a great program that can really assist our military veterans to get a start as small business owners in a proven system,” Siipola said.

To learn more about franchise opportunities with Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, visit www.verlofranchise.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Henningfield http://EzineArticles.com/?Franchising-Offers-Solution-For-Military-Vets-To-Adapt-To-Civilian-Life&id=359472

Disability Benefits for Veterans by Jack Burton

2007-02-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

If you are a disabled Veteran who is unable to work because of your disability, you can receive Social Security disability benefits in addition to your compensation from the Veterans Administration. Here is all you need to know about Social Security disability benefits for Veterans.

Members of the armed forces in the United States pay Social Security taxes on their earnings; because of these taxes Veterans are eligible for Social Security benefits for Retirement and Disability. If you have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least five years prior to becoming disabled, you meet the work requirements for Social Security disability. Social Security does not pay benefits for partial disabilities like the VA; under Social Security you are 100% disabled or you are not disabled at all.

To apply for Social Security Disability you will need to schedule an appointment by calling Social Security’s toll-free number. Your disability will be evaluated by an agency of the State you are currently residing; this evaluation typically takes 120 days to complete. If your application is approved you will start receiving disability payments after the mandatory five month waiting period.

To learn more about qualifying for Social Security disability payments visit the website Social Security Laid Bare using the links below.

Jack Burton specializes in helping people understand Social Security programs for Retirement, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Disability Benefits. The website Social Security Laid Bare presents information on all of Social Security’s programs in an easy to read format, without technical jargon. For more information visit Social Security Laid Bare: http://www.socialsecuritylaidbare.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Burton http://EzineArticles.com/?Disability-Benefits-for-Veterans&id=208918

8 Ways a Job Applicant Can Screw-up Communication with a Prospective Employer by Todd Mintz

2007-02-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

Many employment consultants write articles that give job applicants high-level resume advice that will, if followed, increase your chances of getting positive notice by a recruiter / employer.
This isn’t one of those articles.

I am the first point of contact for all the resumes / candidate messages that come through the S.R. Clarke website and the advice I have to offer you is far more rudimentary and fundamental in nature. Every communication you have with a prospective employer is important and you don’t need to give off many negative signals before your application gets tossed aside.
Here are eight ways you could possibly give an employer / recruiter negative “vibes” about your candidacy that might not be obvious to you:

1) Your email address. I do recommend that you create a new email address specifically for your job search and make it map to your desired job position (e.g. “superstar-estimator@”). Most people use their personal email address for their job search, which is fine. But, please don’t use racy email addresses. I’ve seen things like “iluvtofish@” and “vikingsfan@” which is OK. However, nobody is going to hire somebody who has a “drunk-as-a-skunk@” no matter their qualifications (and I’ve come across more than a few candidates who have used “adult behavior” terms in their email address).

2) Your resume format. Word or Adobe PDF are the only formats you should use for a resume. HTML works if there is a reason to use it (I can’t think of one). Rich text format works, but I’m not sure why anyone would use it instead of Word. I would never send a resume in Word Perfect or Microsoft Works…few employers will be able to open your documents. I’ve seen people send resumes in .txt format and I seriously question their professional judgment. If you can’t send your resume in Word or PDF format, either fax it to the employer or copy and paste the contents of the resume into the body of the email.

3) Your resume file title. A small but important point…many job-hunters use a date as part of their resume document title. If that date isn’t that recent or the last saved date of your resume isn’t recent, you are broadcasting to employers / recruiters that your resume is “old”. Savvy people will pick this up. Even if your resume hasn’t changed since you started your job search, open and re-save your resume every week.

4) Your spelling. Most people remember to spell-check their resume. However, most email clients have a setting which allows you to spell-check your emails…and I strongly recommend that you do so before emailing your resume. Employers will generally overlook a couple spelling mistakes in an email or a resume, but anything more than this would threaten your candidacy.

5) Your email etiquette. Outlook has a feature that allows you to automatically add each new person you’ve emailed to your address book. Make sure this is turned off, because if you are sending personal messages to all address book contacts as many people do, your prospective employers are getting your personal messages if you’ve inadvertently added them. Misguided job applicants have sent me the following via email:

a. Invitations to Poker Night
b. Elks Lodge Meeting Information
c. R-rated Female-Themed Humor (that I still get regularly)

6) Don’t use white-list spam control when job-hunting. Spam sucks and we all want to control it in any way possible. However, you don’t want to make it hard for prospective employers to contact you via email. If a recruiter emails you about your resume and you force him / her to be pre-approved before receiving their communications, you will likely (and deservedly) be disqualified from consideration.

7) Follow-up with the correct person. The person who answers the email correspondence regarding resumes isn’t generally the decision-maker for the position and won’t be able to help you. Email follow-up is generally worthless anyway…I would recommend telephone follow-up unless you have already established a relationship with the decision-maker.

8) The dumbest thing you can do. During the course of your job search, you’ve likely accumulated many employer email addresses. It is tactically smart to resend your resume to employers…especially if you’ve updated it. People want to save time and send the updated information to everyone at once, which I understand. To do this, put all the email addresses in the BCC field of the email, separated by either semi-colons or commas (depending on your email client). Put your own email address in the To field. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a few people put all the email addresses in the CC field instead of the BCC field which means everyone on the list knows that that the applicant is resending his/her resume to everyone else. Every CC’ed employer will chuckle at the foolishness of what you’ve done and make a note to disqualify your application.

9) The dumbest response to the dumbest thing you can do. So, I received one of these “Mass CC’ed” candidate mistake emails the other day. Not 20 minutes later, a recruiter who was included on the CC list spammed the entire list advertising his services, thoroughly embarrassing himself in front of a group of peers…which proves that employment industry professionals aren’t immune from making the same mistakes that candidates make.

In closing, there are some good high-level resume advice articles online that I encourage you to read and follow. However, make sure that you’ve mastered the nitty-gritty aspects of job-hunter communication as well.

Todd Mintz is the Director of Internet Marketing & Information Systems for S.R. Clarke Inc., a Real Estate Development and Residential / Commercial Construction Executive Search / Recruiting Firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA with offices nationwide. He is also a Director & Founding Member of SEMpdx: Portland, Oregon's Search Engine Marketing Association.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Mintz http://EzineArticles.com/?8-Ways-a-Job-Applicant-Can-Screw-up-Communication-with-a-Prospective-Employer&id=440226

Do Female Soldiers Consider Themselves Veterans? By Susan Shannon

2007-01-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

Women do not really consider themselves veterans. I have come to this conclusion after having felt isolated for years as a female veteran. I wondered, "where are all the other woman veterans"? We come back from war, and if we get out, we disperse to our lives and never reconnect. Why is that? Why haven't we formed organizations like the men have with the VFW, the American Legion, VVAW (Vietnam veterans against the war)?

I really think it is because women have not been in combat or lets say they haven't been trained in combat roles. As the combat line blurs or is nonexistent ( as in Iraq) in modern warfare, the traditional combat roles become obsolete. today in Iraq women are traveling in convoys, patroling streets, manning checkposts just like the man. They are IN combat every day.

However, we still think of war in old time terms where soldiers line up on two sides and move toward each other in hand to hand combat or tank combat. That doesn't happen much these days. Most wars that happen now are guerrila type wars. You never really know where or who your enemy is and everybody has to be ready to defend.

Will this change the way women are seen in the military? I think because women have traditionally been in rear echelon roles, they don't think of themselves as veterans. Our entire society traditionally views only the combat soldier as a veteran. There is even a hierarchy within the community of veterans as to who is the real veteran. Some combat soldiers have little respect for those who are not in direct combat as evidenced by the use of acronyms such as REMF (rear echelong mother f****r). Who can blame them? They faced death daily, saw their friends kills, were wounded. Their experience is to be respected and admired. But I also think that a lot of women feellike their roles in war are not as important because they were not in direct combat. They feel that they should just go back and shut up because the only real solidier is a combat soldier.

Many women have families to go back to, children to take care of so they tend to just move on and put the experience in a box. Women are not people who celebrate violent victory over any enemy. They are not trained to do so. Men are programmed to feel good about prevailing over an enemy.

Women have, in the past, been in support roles in war. Their jobs are just as important and without them, the combat soldier couldn't do their job. However, they are not given the recognition they deserve.

Only women themselves will achieve the recognition they deserve. No one will do it for us. We will need to form national organizations to serve our needs. We will have to demand the specific services women need. It is women who demand that the lack of support for the children of soldiers and veterans rectified. (We forget children also go through war along with their parents, but there is no room for the needs of children at the VA hospitals and Vet Centers) We can follow the courageous example of Diane Carlson who fought for years to get a statue of female veterans in Vietnam. We have to look to the women who helped bring the women veterans memorial at Arlington National Cemetary (that few realize exists). We need to gather together as a group to support each other, recognize each other and demand that this nation do the same.

Susan Shannon served in the persian gulf war as a flight nurse in aeromedical evacuation. Her job was to fly wounded soldiers to hospitals around the region. No longer in the air force, she is currently an emergency room nurse who wonders why women veterans are invisible in this country.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Shannon http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-Female-Soldiers-Consider-Themselves-Veterans?&id=401147

Veterans Stop Procrastinating: File Your Claim For Vocational Rehabilitation With The VA by Gregory Marlett

2007-01-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

OK so you're out of the service, back home and everything is right with the world. Or is it? After a month or so, you're sitting around at home and you realize - you really need to get back to work and make some money- duh. Your significant others are kind enough to remind you of this and your disability severance pay is already running through your budget like water. Now what? Where are all the jobs that were supposed to be there? Where do you start?

One place to begin is the local employment service office. But the jobs there are often low paying and demeaning with a high turnover. Who wants to be an unskilled laborer 40+ hours a week, with no benefits - and work for someone who's never been anywhere or done anything and treats you like a moron? And, forget about medical services for your children or a visit to the dentist. After the work week is done you spend the weekend in pain, nursing your painful back and tend to drink too much as a result.

Alright , so maybe the answer is to find another career - like you were trying to build in the military, until you hurt your back and they forced you out.

A career is much better than a job, since you will obtain job skills that are in demand in the civilian job market, you will generally earn much better income and will very often receive some RESPECT along the way! Another important difference is that you will be using some of your unique strengths and talents again and going to work Monday morning will not be such a dismal experience.

You begin to realize that the ideas and plans you made in the service are not realistic and the job market is nowhere as good as you had hoped. You also begin to understand the handicapping affects of your service-connected disability. Many civilian employers are not enthusiastic about hiring you for any type of physically demanding job, as soon as they see that you were separated from the military, because of fitness for duty standards.

This may be an excellent time to apply for vocational rehabilitation benefits through the VA. You will generally need to have a service-connected disability rating of 20%, or higher from the VA, to qualify for an assessment and determination of eligibility. You can also apply while on active duty, awaiting a separation for disability, or shortly after discharge, by providing medical documentation from the military and requesting a "Memorandum Rating". In this case the VA Rating Specialist does a quick review of your Service Medical Record and makes an unofficial determination that you probably qualify for a 20% or higher rating. This decision in turn, allows the Vocational Rehabilitation Division to work with you, as if you already had your permanent rating. You need to file an application online, or by filling out and submitting VA Form 28-1900. Call toll free 1-800-827-1000, or download online from www.va.gov/vaforms/.

The VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will make a determination that your service-connected disability creates an "employment handicap" for you (or not -you can always appeal, if necessary). This in turn basically means you are prevented from "obtaining or maintaining" suitable employment because of your service-connected disability. What is suitable employment for you? Good question! Basically, it is substantial (skilled) employment which is consistent with your "demonstrated" interests, aptitudes and abilities and for which there is a job market. The VA will evaluate interests, aptitudes and abilities through your military training and employment; through your civilian education and employment history; and through standardized testing.

It may be that you have done a great deal of soul searching and know exactly what you'd like to go into, or get training for. Or it may be that you haven't got a clue - either way, you can get assistance towards defining a new career goal, as well as possible funding for further education, or career training. The VA is also able to provide direct employment assistance if it is felt you already have marketable job skills, but you have a need for some direct assistance ( ie. resume, etc).

Finally, you need to be realistic with yourself, as well as the VA and employers! Don't ask for training to be a carpenter, for example, if you have a back disability. Whatever career goal you establish, has to be reasonable in terms of your health challenges, your capabilities and the civilian job market. Remember, you really only want to be going through vocational rehabilitation once - then it's on to bigger and better things!

Gregory Marlett g_marlett@hotmail.com I welcome emails related to this article. For more information, visit http://vetadvo.blogspot.com
Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Marlett

Ready, Aim, Misfire By Blue Turbit

2007-01-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

Article:
Ready, aim, misfire

Why do some people almost always succeed. And why do so many people struggle in life, just trying to make ends meet, and some seem to have everything? In fact very few have everything. Most people are average or below average and struggle through life without much success in achieving most of their dreams.

What is the magic secret? What is the secret word? Is there a potion or something you can buy to get there?

The secret is very simple. It's all right there inside you. And it's been there all this time. Your thoughts. 90% of your success starts right there in your head, in your thoughts. And it's just waiting for the opportunity to bloom and enrich your life. But you can think all day long and never get anywhere unless you have a plan to go with it. A good plan is the other 10% that makes it all happen. Thoughts have to have a purpose, a goal, and action to achieve the purpose, to complete the plan. That's where most people go astray. They either have a bad plan or don't have any plan at all, and most just simply don't follow through with any sort of guided action. When you got up this morning did you have a list of things to do, to try to accomplish today, or did you just get up and start the day with no definite plans? Most people don't, you know; get up and make a list of things to get done for the day. Most successful people do.

It takes thinking, believing, followed by action, with a good plan to get there. And the better the plan, the faster and better the results will be. It's all about thinking, believing, and then doing things to make it happen. That's it. The big secret to success. Success in anything you desire to achieve.

Good plans are about goals. Setting goals to achieve your every wish and desire in life. It's something that everyone has done one time or another, but also something that most people have failed in time and time again. Setting goals is an easy thing to say, but not very easy for most people to achieve, to successfully complete those goals, to follow through with them from beginning to end.

Why is that? Because most people go about it in a half-hearted haphazard way. They don't have a clear and easy-to-follow plan to get there. They just sort of ramble about until they often either get tired or frustrated and give up. Then they usually go to another plan and start all over heading in a new direction. And another, and another, and never really get anywhere close to where they originally wanted to be. After a while they lose faith, they no longer believe they can get there. They feel inferior, diappointed in themselves, or lose faith that they are able to achieve their dreams.

So what's the big deal? Well, lets use an analogy. If you get in your car and decide to go to some place, let's say a city where you've never been, and you just get in your car and drive off into the blue yonder until you get there. But you don't have a map or detailed instructions on how to get there, which direction to head to, where to turn at intersections, how long do you think it will take to find that place, that location where you want to go? Probably longer than the rest of your life, depending on how far away it is, and if you even started heading in the right direction to begin with.

It's the same with your future, your prosperity, or success in anything you hope to achieve. You have to have a map, or detailed instructions. A guide, and a means to check your progress along the way. Like those signs on the road that say: Xtown 150 miles, x town take the next exit, x town 48 miles, etc. That's what goal setting is all about. A clear map and directions to show you not only where you want to go, but how to go about getting there in the shortest possible way.

If you don't have that clear guide, then you are likely just driving along the highway passing places you've never been to before and you don't have a clue whether you are getting closer or further away from your desired destination. And at the end ofthe day, or week, or month, or even years down the road you are still wondering, when am I going to get there? When will I arrive at that special place I started out to get to at the beginning of my trip down the highway of life.

Think it, believe it, and act upon it. That's the beginning of the journey. Goals are the map. The guide. The directions with detailed instructions. Set goals. Learn how to set goals and follow your dreams and believe that anything is possible for anyone with a good plan. Goals are an essential part of achieving success in anything. We all have had goals at one time or another, but how many did we fufill? Maybe we need to learn how to set goals. Goals that are tuned for maximum performance to get results.

About the author:
My goal is your goals. To learn in detail how to achieve all your goals, listen to my GOALS audio series at:http://www.asuccessformula.com

Grabbing that Job: Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume By Jimmy Sweeney

2007-01-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

Looking for a job is easier nowadays, what with the advent of the World Wide Web, fast searching for jobs online, and more job opportunities. What has not changed, however, is politeness. No matter what employer you go to, no matter which company you apply to, you have to follow protocols in your job application.

One such protocol is the polite and quintessential cover letter. A cover letter is your first impression: your chance to catch attention and make yourself seen amongst the thousands of other applicants. If you can grab your prospective employer on the first page, then your resume will look all the more attractive – first impressions count even in paper correspondences, so you have to make a great cover letter to go along with your credentials.

What are the essentials of a good cover letter for your resume? Before you start typing or writing that resume cover letter, take note of the following:

You have to have the company’s complete address. Never address your prospective employer as simply “Sir” or “Madam” in the letter; and never address the letter recipient simply as “To Whom it May Concern.” This shows that you do not care about the company – so why should the company care about you?

Do your research before writing that resume cover letter. Who should the letter be addressed to? Is this person a man or a woman? Should this person be addressed as Doctor or Attorney? Your initial address not only shows politeness – it also shows that you are willing to know more about the company.

Be brief but polite. Businesses are very busy, and they have only a few people to sift through thousands of letters every day. Grab attention by being very brief. Introduce yourself in one sentence, state your interest in the job posted in another sentence, and state what you have attached to the cover letter in the third. Brevity is indeed the soul of wit – it can also be the key to that job.

Know your career goals and let these goals guide you in writing your cover letter. A cover letter may be short, but if it does not speak of someone well focused and willing to meet their goals, then a company may turn you down. Be focused on those goals when writing your cover letter. Your enthusiasm and willingness to do a job will shine through.

Provide all your contact information in another paragraph. Make sure that all the information you provide is correct. If you might be out of the house, indicate when and where the company can reach you. Remember that you have to be reachable: you are the one in need of a job, but do not grovel and throw yourself at the company’s feet like a slave. Strike the balance among strength, politeness, motivation, and a willingness to work.

Sign your name above your printed name. This shows that you are not sending out the same letter to thousands of other companies – and it shows that each letter has your personal touch. Remember, a company will not care about who you are and what you know – until it knows that you care about the company first.

Last, and most important: watch your grammar!

Are you ready to get that job you want? Then start typing that cover letter! Before long, you will be sitting at that much desired desk, or conducting that field survey you’ve always wanted to do, or simply acting as the boss. The power of the cover letter is up to you.

Jimmy Sweeney is the President of CareerJimmy and author of "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Visit him at: http://www.amazing-cover-letters.com for your "instant" cover letters today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sweeney
http://EzineArticles.com/?Grabbing-that-Job:-Writing-a-Cover-Letter-for-Your-Resume&id=394379

How To File A Successful Disability Claim With The VA by Gregory Marlett

2006-12-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

Being released from active duty soon, or been separated within the past year? If you suffered any injuries or major illnesses while on active duty, or active duty for training (Reserves and National Guard), you are entitled to file a claim for disability compensation benefits with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

This is a completely separate and independent evaluation from anything the military did, or didn't do, prior to your separation. In other words, it doesn't matter whether the military found you fit for duty or not, or whether the military acknowledged any disability resulting from your injury or illness.

This is a very important point! Why is it important you may ask? The reason is because in a few years you may have some serious arthritis in that leg you broke while jumping out of airplanes, or a need for further arthroscopic surgery on your bad knee.

All of these types of residual medical problems may require ongoing and expensive medical services and may also limit your ability to work in your chosen field. The State Police simply don't need officers with arthritic knees and forget about many other physically demanding jobs as well!

Even if you pass an employment physical, the constant strain on your back, or knee (etc.) and chronic pain will definitely put a crimp on your career and effectiveness!

The point is, that receiving recognition for having a "service-connected" condition (disability) will establish your eligibility, with the VA, for a number of important benefits that you may need in the future. These benefits include medical care, monetary compensation and access to further education and retraining.

What you will need for making a claim with the VA, is a copy of your DD214 (separation from active duty), a copy of your service medical records, especially with regards to your claimed injury or illness, and some personal assistance in helping fill-out your claim application (strongly recommended!).

Naturally, you will of course need the claim form for Compensation Benefits (VAF 21-526). This form is available from your local VA Regional Office, call toll free 1-800-827-1000, or download online from http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ .

If you don't have copies of your medical records, you will need to know the dates of treatment etc. The VA will then attempt to get these records from the military, with your permission.

I highly recommend that you obtain the assistance of a Veterans Service Officer when filling-out your claim for benefits. The reason is that these people are usually very knowledgeable and proficient in this field. They know the system well and will also assist you in appealing your case, if necessary. They can often make the difference in a successful outcome, as they are well aware of all the VA regulations and procedures that can make a difference.

Remember, the rating process is like a court of law, you have to prove your case, based on the evidence presented. The VA rating board is not representing you, they are representing the Federal Government's interests.

So, who are these Service Representatives? They are employed by a variety of groups and government entities, outside of the VA and Federal Government. They include such groups as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, VFW and State/County Veteran Service Officers.

All of these groups will represent and assist you FREE of any charges. You may join ,or not join the organization as you see fit - it simply doesn't matter.

There are also some other fine organizations with Service Officers, including Paralyzed Veterans of American, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Blinded Veterans of America.

All of these groups are certified and accredited by the VA to provide claim assistance to veterans. You can call your local VA Regional Office for contact information at 1-800-827-1000, or look these groups up online.

So, get your information and records together, obtain a Service Representative that you can work with and get your claim in to the VA right away. Don't procrastinate!

It's naturally much easier to pursue a claim now, than in 5 or 10 years. You'll be amazed at how much you forget and this hurts your chances of being successful. Also, there is a time penalty for waiting to file your claim.

If you file your claim within 1 year of your separation and your're successful, the effective date of benefits is your separation from active duty date. If you wait until after 1 year of your separation and you are successful, the effective date of benefits is the date that you first filed your claim.

Good luck, best wishes and thank you for your service to your country.

Author: Information Gregory Marlett g_marlett@hotmail.com I welcome emails related to this article For more information, visit http://vetadvo.blogspot.com Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved

Troops Pay Hidden Cost Of Multiple Deployments by Diane M. Grassi

2006-12-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

The ravages of war are hell and collateral damage that includes loss of life, permanent disability and war-related illness in both military and civilian populations is expected. But too often American soldiers have been stung by the treatment they have received with respect to their healthcare upon returning stateside.

Unanticipated by the United States Department of Defense (DOD), healthcare services provided returning soldiers from the War in Viet Nam and more recently the Gulf War were grossly under-funded, and the criticism that endured thereafter was a lesson thought to be learned for future U.S. military engagements. And in that effort, the U.S. military has been sure to launch continual public relations campaigns to project an image that active duty troops deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan receive the best healthcare that money can buy.

The Department of Defense’s Deployment Health Clinical Center website reads, “Fostering a trusting partnership between military men and women, veterans, their families and their healthcare providers to ensure the highest quality care for those who make sacrifices in the world’s most hazardous workplace.” But when it comes to the mental healthcare status of troops during deployment and upon their return to the U.S., it is woefully lacking.

There is no longer a shortage of laws and regulations in place as existed during Viet Nam or during the Gulf War with respect to mandated healthcare screenings for returning soldiers. But a lack of political will by the Department of Veterans Affairs in concert with the DOD added to a lack of oversight by a lethargic U.S. Congress, has made life extremely difficult for soldiers with acute mental health problems or those hoping to avoid them by seeking help.

Multiple administrative dilemmas at play at once have impacted the quality of life for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and upon their return. Immediately, due to a shortage of manpower, troops are now being re-deployed to battle as many as five times with less and less time to decompress between tours of duty. Were there not a need for so many bodies in the field, troops displaying emotional problems would be a liability and sent home for treatment.

Colonel Elspeth Ritchie, an expert in psychiatry for the Army’s Surgeon General has insisted that the DOD still prioritizes the mental health of service members. But she admitted that, “Some practices, such as sending service members diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) back into combat had been driven in part by troop shortage.” Absent of outwardly exhibiting symptoms of mental disorders such as PTSD, many troops fail to report their problems due to fear of retribution or are not aware there is a problem until they start acting out in other ways such as through drug or alcohol abuse.

Public Law 105-85, Section 762-767 enacted as part of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act was presented in 1997 in order to force the DOD to comply with both pre-deployment health assessment and post-deployment health assessment for returning soldiers as the result of healthcare problems them after the Gulf War. Through the filing of forms 2795 and 2796 respectively, their purpose is to trigger physical as well as mental health evaluations of troops. However, oversight of such examinations is spotty and the way in which the mental health assessment is recorded, if at all, is based upon the troop’s own self-evaluation by way of answering 4 questions concerning PTSD symptoms.

The 1998 law requires evidence that face-to-face interviews are done upon demobilization, but the DOD has refused to turn over such documentation to the Congress, for the past four years, in order to verify that it has been adequately done. Therefore, all of the regulations in the world are of little use unless there is implementation of said regulations.

And leaving the care of returning soldiers up to themselves or their families is hardly the way system was set up to work. There are nearly 70 stories of soldiers who have committed suicide either in Iraq, Afghanistan or stateside since the inception of the War on Terror. There could be more since suicides are considered part of non-combat related casualties and such statistics remain sketchy. And in most of these cases, either the families of these soldiers had pleaded for help for their loved ones, fellow soldiers reported abnormal behaviors, or soldiers themselves confided in their superiors about their troubles. Unfortunately, too many never came forward at all, fearing stigmatization.

The military subscribes to the “watchful waiting” concept with respect to mental health problems. But when it concerns PTSD, symptoms often take 6 months to a year to manifest during which time a person may have already resorted to self-medication through illicit drugs or alcohol accompanied by violent or other self-destructive behaviors. Such presents more need for preventative assessments, not less.

For those troops who have requested face-to-face evaluations there are some areas of the country which have a waiting list up to a year and then there is often dispensing of anti-depressants, often by clinicians without any psychiatric training, without any accompanying counseling or therapy of follow-up. There is even a highly touted “telemental” therapy which troops can eventually utilize which is basically counseling by e-mail or instant messaging on the internet. It is hardly adequate for a person experiencing severe anxiety, night sweats, flashbacks, or bouts of paranoia.

A May 2006 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that four of five returning troops, potentially at risk for PTSD, were not referred for further mental health evaluation. Half of those eventually got help on their own but less than 10% were referred through the military. A September 2006 GAO report highlighted that the VA underestimated the cost of serving veterans upon return from Iraq and Afghanistan due to pre-war budget figures, yet still failed to report such problems to the Congress.

In December 2006 the GAO released an additional report which shows that the funds allocated to the VA for mental health have not been spent on mental health care accordingly. The report discloses that the VA has no system in place to track spending on mental healthcare and that funds may have gone to other resources instead. But such an indictment of the VA does not alleviate lawmakers of their oversight responsibilities, either.

Dr. Frances Murphy, Undersecretary for Health Policy Coordination at the VA said in March 2006 that there is a need for improvement for mental healthcare for an increasing number of veterans seeking help. She said, “VA clinics do not provide mental health or substance abuse care, or if they do, waiting lists render that care virtually inaccessible.” “The VA needs more capacity so that vets can get treatment and don’t have to wait,” according to Paul Sullivan, a former senior analyst at the VA prior to April 2006 and now Director of Programs for Veterans for America, an advocacy organization.

Furthermore, while waiting to see a VA doctor, veterans with severe symptoms of PTSD are often denied disability benefits should they turn to illegal substances as a way to cope. They are then vulnerable to the categorization of “willful misconduct” since the military has a zero tolerance policy for drug abuse. And those who have received benefits are subject to losing them should they be found abusing drugs. Ironically, the VA is tolerant of alcohol abuse, just not illicit drugs. But even then, only if a medical doctor finds that the veteran also has been diagnosed with PTSD may they then continue to receive their disability benefits.

Veterans from the present and ongoing wars have been the best advocates for those presently active duty soldiers, reservists still on call and those now discharged. Such organizations and grassroot efforts have successfully lobbied lawmakers, attended and testified in hearings on Capitol Hill and in doing so have unearthed the inadequate access to mental healthcare for troops. And as typical of U.S. medical insurance plans, mental healthcare always takes a back seat to physical medicine. And it continues to remain the biggest hidden cost as the result of the War on Terror.

Yet through their plight for their brethren in uniform, former brothers in arms have proven that it is not always just a matter of throwing money at a situation to solve a crisis, as inadequate access to mental healthcare presents a crisis of its own. Certainly the invisible front line and a deceptive enemy have made for a war unlike any other that the U.S. military has previously fought.

Yet, much like prior wars fought by the U.S. armed forces, present and future veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will have not only fought for their health and survival on the battlefield but many must continue to fight to an ineffectual government for their continued survival. Certainly, it was to suppose to have been better by now, but sadly it is but another testament to benign neglect by those with the power to affect change.

Copyright ©2006 Diane M. Grassi Contact: dgrassi@cox.net

Diane M. Grassi is a freelance columnist, reporting and writing commentary on current events of the day providing honest and often politically incorrect assessments. From U.S. public policy to Major League Baseball, she is an eclectic thinker, and demanding of her readers to reflect on their own thinking patterns from an alternative perspective. Whether you agree with her or not, Diane M. Grassi will have you coming back to note her opinions, and if at best she wakes you up, then her goal will have been accomplished.

Ms. Grassi is featured with the online publications: New Media Journal.us; American Chronicle; Mich News.com; Opinions Editorials; the Conservative Voice; Liberty Watch Magazine as well as many others. She also writes regular columns on Major League Baseball where she is a featured online columnist with The Diamond Angle Baseball Ezine and Sports-Central.org. Ms. Grassi may contacted at: dgrassi@cox.net

Sample Interview Questions With Answers by David Clemen

2006-12-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sample interview questions of the common type are listed below. Answers are included. But perhaps suggestions for tailoring your responses is a better way to put it, since specific answers are impossible to provide. Practice answering these sample interview questions out loud to yourself or ask a friend or relative to help you.
Don't feel that you have to answer right away. Interviewers know that you're nervous and expect you to think a bit, so do think carefully before you answer. But don't hesitate too long or it'll appear that you're stalling. Interviewers will ask open-ended questions to see where you'll go with them, so try not to ramble while you're thinking of a real answer.
Q. Tell me about yourself. A. This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended interview question and likely to be among the first. It's your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly work and career related.
Q. Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?) A. Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move."
Q. What are your strengths? A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job.
Q. What are your weaknesses? A. Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.
Q. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself? A. Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.
Q. What do you know about our company? A. To answer this one, research the company before you interview.
Q. Why do you want to work for us? A. Same as above. Research the company before you interview. Avoid the predictable, such as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.
Q. Why should I hire you? A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you've done in the past. Include any compliments you've received from management.
Q. What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction? A. Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.
Q. What makes you want to work hard? A. Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again, focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.
Q. What type of work environment do you like best? A. Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being part of a team.
Q. Why do you want this job? A. To help you answer this and related questions, study the job ad in advance. But a job ad alone may not be enough, so it's okay to ask questions about the job while you're answering. Say what attracts you to the job. Avoid the obvious and meaningless, such as, "I need a job."
Q. How do you handle pressure and stress? A. This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of the "correct" answers.
Q. Explain how you overcame a major obstacle. A. The interviewer is likely looking for a particular example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show for solving it.
Q. Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now? A. Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position.
Q. What qualifies you for this job? A. Tout your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just regurgitating your resume. Explain why.
Q. Why did you choose your college major? A. The interviewer is likely fishing to see if you are interested in your field of work or just doing a job to get paid. Explain why you like it. Besides your personal interests, include some rock-solid business reasons that show you have vision and business sense.
About the Author
David J. Clemen has over 8 years experience helping the general public find gainful employment. David has worked as a Career Counselor for organizations such as the State of Massachusetts, Morgan Memorial Goodwill, and Lincoln Technical Institute. He is currently an active contributor to http://www.jpcservicesinc.com an absolutely FREE online resource.

Great Tips For Conducting The Best Job Search Ever! By Ray La Foy

2006-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Finding a new job can be a daunting task. You need to make sure your job search involves positions you're qualified for, but you also want to land a position that pays well and comes with some benefits. And, since it wouldn't hurt to do a job search for companies that treat their employees right, the stakes can be pretty high.

A good job search starts with you. You'll need to do some things in advance before you head out the door to apply or interview. First off you'll want to get your resume in order. Make sure it's accurate and offers a fair representation of your past experiences and qualifications. Keep it as short as possible while not skipping over major details. Next, you'll want to make sure you have your references in order before you conduct a job search. Employers like to hear as well as see that potential hires can do the job. With your paperwork straight, you can now begin a more thorough job search. Here are five tips to help make that job search go more smoothly:

* Evaluate your skills, strengths and weaknesses. Try to match up what you can do and what you're trained to do with ideal positions. Going after the wrong kinds of jobs for your skill set can be an exercise in futility.

* Evaluate your desires. If you have a 10-year background in management, you might not want to settle for an entry-level position. Make sure you know what you want and try to find jobs to match not only your qualifications, but also your actual worth. Sometimes this might not be possible, but shoot as close to the mark as you possibly can in your job search.

* Narrow searches by location, type of job and pay. You don't want to waste your time going after minimum pay jobs if you're over qualified and vice versa. The more you focus your job search, the less time you'll waste on positions that don't fit the bill. But, do be honest with yourself. If you're only qualified for an entry level, go after one with the notion of building on it for a better career.

*Consider skill enhancements. If you're a computer programmer, but you haven't taken a new course in five years, you might want to add a certification or two to your resume before you start your job search. Or, at the very least, have some retraining or advanced training in the works when you start applying.

* Use the tools at your finger tips. A good job search covers all the bases. This means those on the hunt look online, in papers, and even in trade magazines to find ideal positions. The more you spread out your search, the better. There's no magic way to land a position and ensure a job search will be ideal, but the more realistic you are about yourself and you are to yourself during a search, the more likely you are to land the right job. Take time to evaluate where you are in your career and your background and be certain to have all paperwork in order before you begin your job search. With some time and patience and a bit of confidence thrown in, you'll likely have asuccessful job search.

About the author: More information on jobs http://www.jobsplususa.com

Operation Holiday Kick-off

2006-12-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

The holiday season can be a very tough and challenging time for many veterans and active duty personnel. Memories of past holidays under difficult conditions, loss of comrades and time spent away from family and loved ones are made more striking by the festivities and celebrations of the holiday season around us. It often seems that our own feelings and emotions are at odds with those around us, making it more difficult to participate and take part. In short, even though we look forward to being with family and friends, it can be very overwhelming! So - take it slow and realize that you are not alone in your feelings and that there are lots of valid reasons why you feel the way you do (which cause you not to feel happy and joyous like you're "supposed" to feel). Watch the alcohol intake, as it will probably ultimately only make you feel more alienated, in excess. If you find yourself alone, reach out to some other veterans, because they will understand how you are feeling and can be very supportive. The Internet can be usefull in communicating with other veterans - especially at weird hours.

As this is my first posting of this new blog, I would really appreciate some feedback concerning information and resources you would find helpful or needed. I look forward to hearing from you and being of some service.The success of this venture will depend on a good exchange of information and ideas. Please contribute with your questions and feedback. If we don't have the information you need - we will attempt to locate it through our network.It's important as a recently separated veteran to build a support network - just as on active duty you had a team that worked together for the common good and to help overcome the challenges and assignments you faced. To your success and thank you for your service, Greg.