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Veterans Eligible for Free Lifetime US National Parks Pass ($10 s/h fee)

11/17/2022

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On Veterans Day 2022, the National Park Service will unveil a lifetime pass providing free entrance to national parks for Veterans and their families.

The Interagency Military Lifetime Pass waives entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites for current military service members and their dependents, Veterans and Gold Star Families.

Veterans and their families have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more.

The Military Pass has been expanded to include a pass that does not expire for Veterans and Gold Star Family members. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 authorized a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands for eligible Veterans and Gold Star Families. In recent years, they were able to receive annual passes.
Are you eligible?For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve, and is able to present one of the following forms of valid (unexpired) identification:
  • Department of Defense Identification Card
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
  • Veteran ID Card
  • Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card
Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces.
The America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Interagency Pass) ProgramThe Interagency Pass Program includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Current Military service members must show a valid (unexpired) Department of Defense ID. Dependents of current service members must show a valid (unexpired) DD Form 1173 AD or DEC.
Other free or discounted passes, including some lifetime passes, are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers and senior citizens age 62 years or older.
How to get your Interagency PassInteragency Passes can be obtained in person while visiting a participating site. Visit Places to Get Interagency Passes for a searchable list and be sure to contact the site before you go, to make sure they are open and have passes in stock. In addition, Military passes, as well as those for seniors and persons with permanent disabilities, are available online through the USGS Online Store with an additional processing fee. Existing passes remain valid. You do not need to obtain a new pass if you already have a Lifetime Senior or Access Pass.
For more information about eligibility and passes, visit Free Entrance to National Parks for Veterans and Gold Star Families (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
The participating agencies also offer several fee-free days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration. Examples of fee-free days include the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.
Fee-free days and fee policies vary among the agencies, so it’s best to check the agency website or contact the site you plan to visit in advance of your trip.
APPLY FOR A VETERAN ID CARD
APPLY FOR A VETERAN HEALTH IDENTIFICATION CARD (VHIC)

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Veterans: Get Your Free Federal Parks and Recreational Lands Pass

4/27/2022

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Regular Annual Parks Pass cost $80
Cost for Vets: $10 ($5 processing/$5 delivery)

Get it here: https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass

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Big List of Year-Round Discounts for Vets and Active-Duty Mil

12/16/2021

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The VA has a good summary listing of year-round discounts available to vets and active-duty folks.

https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/85765/veteran-discounts-available-year-round/?utm_source=VRfeature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VetResources

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Cool:  Apple offers year-round 10% off Apple products for Vets/Active-Duty + immediate family members

7/16/2021

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Cool -- Guide to Finding All Veterans Benefits in Every State

11/13/2019

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Graphic of website search engine for veterans benefits
Click on the photo above to be taken to a cool search engine that compiles state-specific and federal benefits in one place for any state.  Here's today's printout for Oregon (subject to updates of course):


  • "I Am Not Invisible Exhibit"Oregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • Anti-Discrimination Law (Military Status and Spouses of Deploying Veterans)Oregon | Anti-Discrimination Law/Policy (Vet Status)
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • College Credit for Military TrainingOregon | Educational Credit/Diploma
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Direct Professional Licensing for Military ExperienceOregon | License/Certification
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Employment ProtectionOregon | (Re-)Employment Protection
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Federal Pension Income Tax Subtraction for Military RetireesOregon | Income Tax
    N/A or not disclosed
    Retired
  • Free Camping at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Park/Camping/Lodging Admissions
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Free Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled War VeteransOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • Free Parking at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • In-State Tuition for VeteransOregon | Tuition-Rate
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    All Veterans, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Survivors
  • Income Tax Deduction for Active Duty Pay Earned Inside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    Up to $6,000 deduction
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Income Tax Exemption for Active Duty Pay Earned Outside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    No income tax
    Active Duty
  • Military and Veteran License PlatesOregon | Vehicle License Plates
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, 100% Disabled, Purple Heart, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • ODVA Home Loan ProgramOregon | Loan/Financing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Guardianship/Custodianship
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Legal Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon Service-Disabled Veteran CertificationOregon | Preferred Status (Business)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Oregon Veterans' Emergency AssistanceOregon | Emergency Relief
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Low Income/Homeless vet/Hardship, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Wounded Warrior Parking PlacardOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Property Tax Exemption for Disabled VeteransOregon | Property
    No property tax
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Other than Dishonorable Discharge, Survivors
  • Resident Rate Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Active DutyOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    Active Duty
  • State Council - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenOregon | Primary/Secondary School Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • State Tuition Assistance for Oregon National GuardOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    100% covered
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Statewide Apprenticeships (BOLI)Oregon | Training/Apprenticeship
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran Volunteer ProgramOregon | Benefits Counseling/Determinations
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran's Day Off for All VeteransOregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veterans Designation on Driver's LicenseOregon | Driver's License/ID - Designation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Veterans PreferenceOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Voyager Tuition Assistance ProgramOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    To the "Last Dollar," or the difference between what federal aid programs cover and the actual cost of tuition
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Women Veterans CoordinatorOregon | Claims Assistance/Benefits Advocacy
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • WorkSource Oregon Priority for Veterans and SpousesOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Dependents
  • Troops to Teachers Grant Coordination OfficesOregon | Hiring Facilitation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Active Duty

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On active duty?  Or do you know someone on active duty? Share this with them.

8/5/2019

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What is the Military Lending Act and what are my rights?

The Military Lending Act (MLA) is a Federal law that provides special protections for active duty servicemembers like capping interest rates on many loan products.

What are my rights under the MLA?

Answer: The MLA applies to active duty servicemembers (including those on active Guard or active Reserve duty), spouses, and certain dependents. It limits the interest rates that may be charged on many types of consumer loans to no more than 36% and provides other important protections.

(continued) ...

Go to the CFPB website for the full Military Lending Act flyer

Or click below to d
ownload the flyer so you can share it with others.
cfpb_military-lending-act-know-your-rights_handout.pdf
File Size: 126 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Free Audio Books for Eligible Vets from National Library Service

7/1/2019

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The Braille and Talking Book Program
offers Veterans who have difficulty with regular print materials the return of the gift of reading.

The Joy and Freedom of Reading

Whether escaping into a great novel or staying current with popular magazines, the freedom and independence of reading are only a few steps away. This program, from the National Library Service (NLS) and the Library of Congress, provides talking books, audio magazines, and digital talking-book players free of charge.

Any honorably discharged Veteran who is

* blind
* has low vision, or
* a disability preventing the reading of traditional materials is eligible.

Participants choose whether their selected reading materials are delivered by mail, downloaded from the web-based service BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) or through the BARD mobile app for smartphones and tablets.

NLS maintains a vast catalog of titles and publications from the latest best-sellers to timeless classics. Plus, Veterans have preferential status in the lending of materials and equipment.

The Braille and Talking Books Program is accomplished through a nationwide network of libraries to serve citizens and Veterans living inside the U.S. or abroad.  

Applying for this service is easy.

Call the National Library Service at 1-888-NLS-READ
(1-888-657-7323) or
visit them on the web at www.loc.gov/ThatAllMayRead

Veterans served to protect freedom.
Now let National Library Service provide the freedom for all to read.


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Veterans - thinking of buying a house/condo?

2/4/2019

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Because I see clients who are at risk of or already embroiled in a foreclosure, I see a lot more of the dark and ugly side of mortgage borrowing than the average person does.

So I'm not at all convinced that our so-called "American Dream" of home ownership as an aspiration for everyone is a good idea. And I urge anyone thinking about buying property to do your homework very carefully, so that you as well informed and aware of the risks as you already are of the benefits.

That said, if you are a vet and have decided that buying rather than renting is for you, you should definitely know about the home loan option available through ODVA.


The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Home Loan Program had a banner year in 2018, with an outstanding $102,044,184 in new loan origination — a 21 percent increase over the previous year and the program’s highest total in over two decades.


Behind the numbers is the remarkable fact that 362 Oregon veterans and their families were able to achieve their dream of home ownership through the ODVA home loan program in 2018. 

“It’s a great feat, and it’s really a testament to the ODVA team and their hard work,” Home Loans Program Manager Cody Cox said. “It shows their dedication to serving veterans and their home financing needs.”

Oregon is one of only five states that still offers a veteran home loan program. This Oregon benefit is separate and distinct from the federal VA Home Loan Guaranty and has lent approximately $8 billion in low-interest home loans to more than 334,000 veterans since 1945.

“The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs was originally created by the Legislature in 1945 to administer the home loan program, so it is an important part of our agency’s history and identity,” said ODVA director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “We are immensely proud of the work of Home Loans Program Manager Cody Cox and his team, and their service to our veterans.”
Today, Oregon’s veteran home loan portfolio contains just shy of 2,000 units and is valued in excess of $370 million.

Currently, ODVA's home loan program offers eligible veterans fixed-rate financing for:

  • Owner-occupied, single family residence
  • Loans up to the limit set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency
  • Purchase only (no refinancing is available)
  • Up to four (4) home loan maximum life benefit
For more information about the Oregon Veteran Home Loan Program, visit www.orvethomeloans.com or call toll-free (888)673-8387.

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John Gear Law celebrates 4th Birthday - Thanks to you

9/1/2014

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Today marks John Gear Law Office's fourth birthday.

I am very grateful to all the clients who have trusted me with their problems and given me the opportunity to help them find solutions. Thanks to your trust and confidence, I have been able to meet my primary practice goal: Making a modest living with a "values-based Oregon law practice" -- where "values-based" means I don't represent the folks trying to take advantage of others, my clients are the ones wronged by those who do.

It's not the easiest area of law and it's definitely not the most lucrative, but I think it's the most satisfying. As the Mrs. works towards her M. Div. and ordination as a minister, I am able to have a practice that reflects, rather than conflicts with, the values of a ministry.


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Macy's helps out with "Serving Our Veterans at Home"

7/17/2013

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When you donate $5 or more dollars before August 24th, 2013, you will receive an exclusive shopping pass, which gives you access to 25% off all day including sale and clearance items. You will also be helping a veteran return to a healthy productive life.

Click here to access our verified paypal page.


When donating make sure to enter your email address and write, "Shop for a Cause" in the comments section. We will then email your exclusive shopping pass within 48 hours.


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An opportunity to take the fight to the next level

5/14/2013

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Despite the cool certificate, the admission itself is nothing much -- it's what you can do with it that makes it worth having.
I have a client with a case that really needs to be brought in federal court.  So, despite my strong preference for my walking commute and my distaste for hauling up and down the valley as part of the workday, it's off to federal court I go. 


I appreciate the opportunity that my veteran client has given me to bring a substantial case that I think will right a substantial wrong.  It even makes getting up in time to catch a train at 0642 worth it.  Thank goodness for Amtrak.  

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Scam d'jour, this one aimed at Vets

1/26/2012

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From a public-spirited attorney in Washington, Peter Fels, who passes on this warning from a Spokane attorney, Dick Sayre.  No reason to think it stops North of the Columbia River.

Folks, the Attorney General is accepting complaints about VA scams which are spreading over Washington like a small plague.  They are working with the VA, who is not at all amused by these goings on.  Of particular interest to the AG are non lawyers selling insurance products and/or irrevocable trusts to disabled seniors with a purpose of shielding assets from VA so as to gain acceptance for Aid and Attendance benefits, but lawyers here and in other states taking part in the scams are also a target of their investigations.

As most of you know, VA does not have a lookback or penalty for gifting assets, making this what appears to be an easy sale for the annuity sellers, who charge for the 'service' and get commissions from the trusts and annuities.  That will likely change as a consequence of this practice.

As many of you know, clients are being talked into making gifts to children, who then either put the funds into an irrevocable trust or buy an annuity 'to keep the funds safe'.   They then apply for Aid and Attendance benefits but, of course, when they later need Medicaid, they are faced with a huge penalty period and extended ineligibility.  DSHS will deny eligibility or deem assets to be in a constructive trust; however, often the client cannot get them back - it's the worst of all worlds.

I have dealt with a number of these cases, and everyone ended badly for the clients.  Here in Spokane, the VA experts are approaching AFH's and nursing homes for presentations, and are being given a warm welcome given that the money goes to the facility.   When the next one of these goes bad, I'll be visiting with some of the litigators on this list about the forseeability of injury when the facility sets these creeps up as experts for financial gain.

The agents pass themselves off as VA experts and have business entities with snappy titles.  They make huge profits for advice and healthy commissions from crappy annuities sold to desperate people without any warning of the consequences of this approach.  As most of you also know, the VA helps people apply for A&A without cost.

If you have complaints, please direct them to Brooks Clemmons or file a complaint as set out below.  Here is contact information for Brooks:

brooksc@atg.wa.gov and (509) 456-3282 (direct line)

It would be helpful to the AG if people filed a complaint online at
www.atg.wa.gov as those complaints go straight into their bank of complaints and are coordinated with similar complaints.  The AG would like to find out if there are persons or families that have been approached or have been taken in as a consequence of these unethical and fraudulent practices.

In Brooks words:  It is our fervent desire to stop this practice and stop others from being harmed.

I have filed several complaints, and I know others have as well.   I've also created some havoc with annuity companies, but most won't budge absent litigation.  Meanwhile, the client is without services or money.   It is now reaching epidemic levels, and I ask you all to refer cases to the AG so we can prevent more people from being irreparably harmed.


Dick Sayre
Sayre & Sayre, PS

Spokane

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Resources for Vets

10/26/2011

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Tools and Services for Veterans

Veterans Day gives everyone a moment to honor and remember those who have fought and served our country through their military service. While there are many resources and organizations that help veterans and their families, the federal government provides unique tools and services to help those who have done so much for our country. Here are some of the most popular resources for veterans and active duty personnel from USA.gov:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a new mobile website created for use on all mobile devices. Here, service members, veterans and their dependents can find services and information, including facility locations, benefits and tips for returning service members.

  • There’s now a way to manage military benefits online—all in one place. Check out the VA ebenefits page where veterans can apply for benefits, view their current status, access records or browse benefits links to learn more about what is available.
     
  • The mobile app PTSD Coach is available for iPhone and Android users. PTSD Coach was designed for Veterans and military service members who have, or may have, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD can cause severe anxiety and flashbacks after someone experiences a trauma or tragedy in their life. This app provides users with education about PTSD, information about professional care, a self-assessment guide, opportunities to find support, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD.
November 11 was once "Armistice Day" in the United States, and its purpose was to honor the soldiers of World War I. In 1954, it became "Veterans Day." Learn more about the history of the holiday and find out about new initiatives to honor America’s veterans.
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Salem Resources List: Free meal sites, Emergency Services, Social Services, Shelters etc

6/22/2011

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   I found an old Salem Resources list with a number of useful listings.  As a first step towards updating it, I made a legible version of it (see file below).  Anyone knowing of newer or better information is invited to contact me with the updates so I can update the file.  Please feel free to direct others to this resource list and to suggest additional resources for people in need.
jglo_pdf_4-page_salem_social_services_resource_list_6-2011.pdf
File Size: 125 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Warning to Vets: You're Being Targeted Again

3/29/2011

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Another story pointing out how for-profit schools target prospective students more on the basis of ability to pay than on their ability to benefit from the for-profit school offers.  Hat-tip to Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine for story and graphic:

Online Colleges Target Veterans
GI benefit-rich veterans help Kaplan and other universities avoid federal financial aid rules

     Keith Melvin, a disabled and decorated Iraq War veteran, wanted to go to a traditional college until a recruiter for the online, for-profit Kaplan University began courting him. She assured him, he said, that he could trust Kaplan because it's owned by Washington Post Co. (WPO), and because the Post's board boasts such luminaries as Warren Buffett and Melinda Gates. "I was more familiar with Jimmy Buffett than I was with Warren Buffett," Melvin says.

     After learning the difference between the Sage of Omaha and the Sage of Margaritaville, Melvin enrolled at Kaplan last year. Invoking Buffett and Gates is one of many ways Kaplan attracts veterans—and the public funds used to pay their tuition. Federal spending on veterans' education will more than double this year, to $9.6 billion from $4.2 billion, says the U.S. Veterans Affairs Dept., largely because of a more generous GI Bill that took effect in August 2009. It pays veterans' tuition up to the level of their state's most expensive public university.

     Kaplan ranked third in 2009 in the number of students funded by veterans' benefits, behind two other for-profits, Apollo Group's (APOL) University of Phoenix and American Public Education's (APEI) American Public University System. Eight of the top 10 colleges were for-profits. "These schools are after the monetary gain of a healthy benefits package, not necessarily what's in the best interest of students," says Donald D. Overton Jr., executive director of Veterans of Modern Warfare, a service group with 5,000 post-1990 veterans as members. Kaplan spokeswoman Melissa Mack says: "Kaplan has received significant interest from veterans because of our military-friendly practices." She says recruiters aren't encouraged to use the names of Buffett and Gates.

     Enrolling veterans helps for-profit colleges exploit a loophole in a 1992 law capping the proportion of revenue they can derive from federal student aid at 90 percent. Tuition paid to for-profit colleges under the GI Bill counts as nongovernment revenue. Kaplan University, which derived 87.2 percent of its revenue in 2009 from taxpayer-funded education aid such as Pell Grants for poor students, may have exceeded 90 percent if revenue from the GI Bill and U.S. Defense Dept. tuition assistance for active-duty military was added, says Bradley Safalow, chief executive of PAA Research, which analyzes higher education stocks.

     U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, whose department is pushing tighter regulation of for-profit colleges, expressed concern in September that some schools may violate the spirit of the law, which was meant to ensure that they offer an education good enough that some students are willing to pay for it out of their own pockets. For-profit colleges should have "some skin in the game beyond our dollars," Duncan said.

     Veterans often don't complete degrees or land lucrative jobs after attending for-profit schools.  At Kaplan University, only 30 percent of two-year students and 33 percent of four-year students graduate. Spokesman Ron Iori says Kaplan's graduation rates are higher than many traditional schools that also serve a predominantly low-income student body like its own.

     Iraq vet Scot Reynolds, who earned a bachelor's degree in management from Kaplan University in 2009, now works as a telemarketer for $8 an hour plus commission—less than he made before he graduated. "My income has drastically dropped," he says. "Kaplan was extremely limited with help in finding work." Iori says Kaplan provides a wide array of job placement services.

     Kaplan, long known for preparing high school students for the SAT college admissions exam, derived 64 percent of its revenue in the quarter ended July 4 from its higher education division. The unit includes predominantly online Kaplan University, with 75,000 students, as well as Kaplan colleges, which have 37,000 students on 60 campuses.

     About 11,000 Kaplan University students, or 15 percent of its enrollment, are veterans, active-duty service members, or military spouses, up from 8,500 a year ago. The school targets the more than 1.2 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, who are eligible for richer benefits under the revised GI Bill, by advertising in military-related magazines such as Army Times and G.I. Jobs, exhibiting at job fairs for current and former service members, and sponsoring events held by Amvets, the country's fourth-largest veterans' organization. Veterans "can virtually go to Kaplan with no out-of-pocket expenses," Kay Houghton, Kaplan director of corporate alliances, said as she handed out brochures at the Amvets national convention in Louisville in August.

     The bottom line: Washington Post Co.'s for-profit college, Kaplan University, has used the prestige of its parent to attract veterans and their federal aid.
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Military service members and families: OSBAR Military Assistance Panel

2/4/2011

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 John Gear is a MAP volunteer attorney.  If you are a service member, service family member, or know someone who is, you should know about the Oregon State Bar's Military Assistance Panel (MAP).

The Oregon State Bar’s Military Assistance Panel connects Oregon lawyers with Oregon’s deployed servicemembers and their dependents in need of legal help.

    Since 2003 the Oregon State Bar has been addressing legal concerns of Oregon soldiers deployed overseas.  Federal and state legislation provide additional legal protection to persons entering or called to active duty in the US armed forces. Information on the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and state laws protecting service men and women is available here.

    Although many military personnel and their families are aware of the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA), they may not have the legal expertise or financial resources available to take advantage of the Act’s important provisions. The Oregon State Bar administers a referral panel that lists lawyers willing to help. Our volunteer lawyers have been trained to provide legal assistance primarily relating to the SCRA. Many volunteers are also willing to assist with family law, consumer/credit law, real property/landlord-tenant law, and estate planning issues.

    Volunteer lawyers expect to give at least one hour of advice and counseling to a cli- ent free of charge. It is up to the lawyer and client to decide whether to continue the lawyer/client relationship beyond the pro bono consultation.

How It Works:

To participate, servicemembers –

        1. Contact the Oregon Army National Guard at (503) 584-3571 for an authorization (military reference or “MR”) number; and then,

        2. Contact the Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service at (503) 684-3763 for a referral to a participating lawyer; and then,

        3. Contact the participating lawyer.
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SCAM ALERT -- Veterans targeted by scammers

1/26/2011

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Forwarded by Kevin Secor, VSO Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
    An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way.
    Websites with the name "vaservices" immediately after the "www" ARE NOT part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the US Government agency. Do not go to them or if approached or called, do not offer them any information concerning yourself or data on other veterans.
    Keep in mind that the real VA website ends in .gov. Also, be aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs does not randomly call veterans, nor does it ask veterans for information which it does not already have--like Social Security Numbers. In particular, if you have not dealt with the VA previously--and in person--and all of a sudden, you receive a call from someone saying they are with the VA or something similar sounding, hang up the phone. Also, do not respond to emails which suggest that they are from the VA. The VA never conducts official business nor asks for personal information by email.
    VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services.
    In addition, The General Counsel requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr.Daugherty at the address below.

        Michael G. Daugherty, Staff Attorney
        Department of Veterans Affairs,
        Office of General Counsel (022G2)
        810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420
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John Gear Law Office LLC and Salem Consumer Law.  John Gear Law Office is in Suite 208B of the Security Building in downtown Salem at 161 High St. SE. That is right across High Street from the Elsinore Theater, a half-block south of Marion County Courthouse.

John Gear is only licensed to practice law in Oregon. This site may be considered advertising under Oregon State Bar rules. There is no legal advice on this site so do not take anything you read here as advice for your particular problem or situation. And I do not represent you and I am not your attorney unless you have hired me with a representation agreement. While I do want you to consider me when you seek an attorney, you should not hire any attorney based on brochures, websites, advertising, or other promotional materials.  All original content on this site is Copyright John Gear, 2010-2022.
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