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Wounded Veterans

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I got to thinking about this after I saw American Chopper tonight. They are building a bike for some charity to be auctioned off and the proceeds go to help wounded veterans/families.
A noble cause in my book, but I do have a question that I can not find an answer to. Here it is.

When a person enlists into the Armed Forces, they are given a life insurance policy. If you die, let’s pick in combat, your beneficiary gets that money. I’m not sure what the amount is currently, I remember it being 300k. So let’s go with that. So the beneficiary gets 300k, yes the loved one is now gone, but why are these “charities” giving them more money, not just for those that died, but also to those that are really badly wounded. The VA provides wheel chairs, round the clock nursing care, will fix the house for the disabled veteran, ie., wheel chair ramps, one time vehicle grant up to 21k, meds, etc..

So what exactly are the charities doing for the veterans or their families.

Don’t come down on me for asking this ! I’m asking so I know why and can possibly help.
 
If you look at the way the VA works you would understand that everything that they are entitled to the soldiers don't get. My brother works at a VA in Texas and helps them get what they are entitled to. The VA is a gov entity if that helps you understand how it works. They aren't automaticly signed up to receive top of the line prosthetic limbs, or mental H/C. There are alot of Veterans that need help beyond the what the VA provides to lead a normal life. I'm sure there are veterans on here that have a better input than mine
 
One thing I have seen that is for Vets that I am not so sure the VA does is provide service dogs. There are a few groups/organizations that train and provide these dogs for Vets.
My Nephew, a 3 tour Vet, works at a ranch in Arizona that helps Vets back on to a path for success in the civilian world. I am not so sure that organization is funded by the VA either. I will inquire about that.
Unfortunately, as in many other JUST causes, there are scumbags that will take advantage of others misfortune and keep most if not all of monies collected on the unfortunates' expense.
 
When a person enlists into the Armed Forces, they are given a life insurance policy. If you die, let’s pick in combat, your beneficiary gets that money. I’m not sure what the amount is currently, I remember it being 300k.
It is 100K. Mine was only 10K. It was increased in '05 I believe.
 
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If anyone is interested I can ask my cousins husband exactly what his mom got when her husband was KIA in 1970. I’m pretty sure the son got SS until he was 18. I do know his mother went back to college to get a better job to support herself and her infant son.
 
Was that the survivor benefit or the group insurance? My understanding is that it is 100K, but you can up it by purchasing additional group insurance.

Ahh, I think this explains it.

"In response to P.L. 108-375, February 1, 2005, DOD presented proposed survivor benefit changes during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. DOD recommended an increase in the death gratuity benefit from its current amount of $12,420 to $100,000, limited to servicemembers killed in an area or operation designated by the Secretary of Defense. In addition, the DOD also recommended an increase in Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage from $250,000 to $400,000, with the premiums for the additional $150,000 coverage paid for by the government for servicemembers serving in areas or operations designated by the Secretary of Defense. Military personnel not serving in such designated areas could receive the additional coverage, but at their own expense through higher monthly premiums. As proposed by DOD, both of these measures would be made retroactive to October 7, 2001, when U.S. military operations began in Afghanistan. The President proposed these same increases as part of his FY2005 Supplemental Appropriations request. The Death Benefits Enhancements (P.L. 109-13) increased the Death Gratuity to $100,000 and the SGLI to $400,000 for those who die from wounds, injuries or illness that are combat or combat-training related. P.L. 109-80 and P.L. 109-163 made these benefits permanent for nearly all active duty deaths."
 
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Did the life insurance increase with rank? Don't really remember what it was for me when I went in in 1971 but I do remember it didn't sound like very much....
 
Here's the deal. Yes, the DOD/VA do provide the care and needed bits and pieces of external gear for eligible vets. The charities step up/in when services needed by vets are not given due to various eligibility issues and logistics involving availability of services crop up. They also are involved in various campaigns that educate vets about what they can receive, direct them towards those agencies, provide counseling, advocacy, and therapies of various types. It's a big ball of tangled string and intimidating for many vets when they try to navigate it. many vets get out and then don't begin to use the VA until, many years/ decades later and they are confused by the many facets of care. There are many non VA care programs out there that fill the gaps or provide better/faster care. And there are also those who take the money and give only a small % to actual vets in need.
 
So we know the VA can/will provide what the Veteran needs, they have for me, which is why I ask “what are the charities doing beyond what the VA provides for”? We know the VA is slow, but when you get injured, going through the PEB, you should also be getting your ducks in a row to transition to the VA, making it a smooth process.
Mine SGLI was at 100k.
 
So far I haven't used the VA for anything but have been thinking of finally signing on. I'm guessing we need to sign up? Lousy stories abound like having to wait all day long for simple stuff to happen and that's just the tip of the ice berg.
 
I suppose I asked these questions cause when I got hurt during the Persian Gulf, I didn’t get any help from any outside source, unlike today’s service member, that have a metric **** ton of agencies that are there to help.

That’s the one thing that has always bugged me.
 
organizations such as the wounded warriors program offer things like free sports and event tickets, free group therapy meetings and retreat, clothing and gear, group counseling centered around other events, travel discounts and vacation programs, HERO MILES airfare programs, occupational therapy, wound management, prosthetics, rehab etc. I have personally attended free events, free group sessions that included free gear and meals, HERO MILES for my kids to come and visit, Armed Forces Vacation stays, and other things...
 
So far I haven't used the VA for anything but have been thinking of finally signing on. I'm guessing we need to sign up? Lousy stories abound like having to wait all day long for simple stuff to happen and that's just the tip of the ice berg.
Well, the first thing for you would be to contact your local VA hospital and get set up with someone to go in and have eligibility checked and to receive some education on what can be done for you. OR, you can go online to evets, or myhealthyvet and peruse the links to see what all you are eligible for. I personally would rather sit down with a VA rep and go through first hand my military info and then talk about what all is available and what my needs were. Online involves a lot of reading and searching out the various info streams for different things. You can also call ONESOURCE. See the sticky thread on vets here at FBBO.
 
I’m glad that these things exist for today’s service member.

I wish that was around when I got hurt, but that’s my own demon to fight.
 
I suppose I asked these questions cause when I got hurt during the Persian Gulf, I didn’t get any help from any outside source, unlike today’s service member, that have a metric **** ton of agencies that are there to help.

That’s the one thing that has always bugged me.
"I got hurt" during the Persian Gulf War covers a lot of ground. Your eligibility for services would depend on various things and would best be addressed by sitting down with a vets service group rep or a VA rep. Your right, there are a metric **** ton of agencies around now. They have cropped up in such high numbers because the Gulf Wars have produced so many casualties with TBI and PTSD among other issues.
 
Cranky, go see your local Veteran Service Rep at your county government building. All counties have them. Bring your DD-214.
 
It’s all combat related, I’m set with the VA. I just wanted know what these charities do above and beyond what the VA does.
 
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