Holiday Intel Report, December 21

Another year is coming to the close, so we thought we’d do a big link drop for resources and useful information to keep you going through the New Year.

Health

We often mention the Veterans Crisis Line and how it has saved lives, but this video really drives home the enormous effort from dedicated folks to staff the call centers day and night. And as always, the Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, online through chat, and now by text at 838255.

Want to know more about what ails you? The A-Z Health Topic Index helps you find information on a variety of health concerns.

Benefits

Wondering what benefits you and your dependants may be eligible for? Check out our 2012 Federal Benefits for Veterans handbook, now available online in both English and Spanish. This comprehensive guide provides information on education, home loan, health care, and burial benefits.

With no down payment needed, VA-backed home loans are among the best in the business. If you’re looking to buy your own home, check out our resource page for more information and to see if you qualify.

I was proud to hear from many Veterans who graduated this year, but we still have lots of folks who will be in class this fall. Bookmark our GI Bill page for information, resources, and announcements. Our GI Bill Facebook page is another resource to keep track of what’s happening with your benefits.

Misc

The US Chamber of Commerce initiative, Hire Our Heroes, will debut online toolkits to help Veterans pinpoint growing job markets and find credible employers, among other features. In the meantime, check out their rolling list of hiring fairs across the country.

Despite some challenges, Veterans are leaving the service to continue with successful lives. We profiled 12 of them for our portrait project Strong at the Broken Places—an effort to show the nation what resiliency looks like. The project is ongoing, so if you’d like to participate, drop us a line.

Veterans are used to adapting to tough situations, working in small teams, and operating in high stress environments. Sounds like a small business doesn’t it? Learn how to create your own business, get information on upcoming conferences, and more.

A lot of folks ask, “How can I give back to Vets?” Check out our volunteer page for more information on how to get involved locally.

The fastest way to get VA news and information is from our Facebook and Twitter pages. Every VA medical center is now on Facebook, and new Twitter feeds are going up every week. Find your facility here.

Where this page came from

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