 In honor of Desert Storm's 25th anniversary, MVAA has received a
small supply of Liberation of Kuwait books from Remember My
Service. These books are available for free to Gulf War veterans.
The supply is limited, so
books will be provided on a first come, first served basis, and there is a
limit of one book per veteran.
To reserve your copy, email Sandra Mayhoe at mayhoec@michigan.gov.
|
 After a
traumatic event, most people have painful memories. For many people, the
effects of the event fade over time. But for others, the memories, thoughts and
feelings don't go away - even months or years after the event is over. If
stress reactions do not improve over time and they disrupt everyday life, it is
important to seek help to determine if PTSD is present
To help raise
awareness about post-traumatic stress and effective treatments, June has been
declared PTSD Awareness Month. To help Michigan veterans access mental health
resources, MVAA and Screening for Mental Health are encouraging veterans to have
a “checkup from your neck up” through
a free and anonymous online mental health screening tool. This program provides veterans with 24/7 access to
anonymous online screenings for depression, bipolar, post-traumatic stress,
anxiety, alcohol/substance abuse and eating disorders.
Veterans begin the screening by selecting a statement that
best fits what they have been thinking or how they have been behaving recently.
A brief series of questions follow. The survey ends with comprehensive
explanations about moods and behaviors as well as available mental health care
support and where to find nearby care.
Take a few
minutes and begin your online screening
today.
|
Comerica named 100th Veteran-Friendly Employer; Consumer's Energy gets the gold
 MVAA recently honored Comerica Bank as its 100th
Veteran-Friendly Employer and welcomed Consumer's Energy as its newest gold-level employer.
Since 2014, MVAA has recognized companies for their dedication
to recruiting, hiring, training and maintaining veteran talent. The program
also helps veterans more easily identify employers committed to hiring and
supporting former service members in their workforces.
Veteran-Friendly Employers have hired more than 3,000 veterans
in the past two years. A listing of employers and links to their
websites is available on the MVAA website.
There are currently seven gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employers: Consumer's Energy, DTE Energy, General Motors, Michigan Department of Transportation, Quicken
Loans, Roush Enterprises and Whirlpool Corporation.
To be recognized as gold, employers must retain at least 75
percent of veteran hires over the past 12 months, implement internal veteran
support networks and create either a hiring rotation or leadership development
program within their organization, in addition to meeting all other program
requirements.
Eleven companies are
recognized as silver-level employers for meeting or exceeding their veteran
hiring goals and implementing internship and on-the-job training programs for
veterans. They are: Cooper Standard, Express Professionals of
Grand Rapids, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Company, GE, Kellogg’s,
Michigan State Police, Optech, Prestige Group, Uniform Color Company and
Verizon.
Visit the MVAA
website for a list of bronze-level employers.
|
 Bill and Michelle Arvo look through his photos from Vietnam. Arvo
was a sergeant with the U.S. Air Force’s 554th Red Horse Squadron, 1968-1969.
Before deployment to Vietnam, he was trained at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida
to build support bases and run convoys to deliver building materials and
supplies under combat situations. He was awarded the Air Force
Commendation Medal for his service.
Like many Vietnam vets, coming home wasn’t easy for Air Force
veteran Bill Arvo.
He returned home to public distain and suffering from skin issues
he later discovered were due Agent Orange exposure.
“I had cysts all over my arms and they just gave me some cream,”
he said “It was kind of disheartening to go to the VA back then. It really left
a bad taste in my mouth.”
He avoided VA health care for about 40 years until he developed
heart problems and his wife, Michelle, urged him to reconsider.
“My wife said I should think about going back to the VA, that
there might be some benefits that I was eligible for now,” he said. “I went
back and received a 30 percent disability rating. Thanks to her determination I
now have a primary care doctor at the VA who really cares about veterans and
their well being.”
The Arvos are now urging other veterans to review their
benefit eligibility in MVAA's new ad campaign. The Southeast
Michigan couple is featured in television, radio, cable and digital ads that hit
the airwaves this month.
The commercial is a continuation of MVAA’s campaign to alert
veterans that the agency is available 24/7/365 to help connect veterans of all
eras to the benefits they have earned through their service. MVAA is a
state agency that partners with the VA, state and local government and numerous
veteran service organizations to provide assistance to veterans.
“New research and medical advances have contributed to numerous changes
in benefits eligibility for Vietnam-era veterans in the last 15
years,” said MVAA Director James Robert Redford. “Veterans who haven't
looked back to the VA in a number of years could be missing out on valuable
benefits.”
Veterans can be connected to state and federal benefits as well as
local resources by calling 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838) or visiting MichiganVeterans.com.
“It’s been a long time coming to be recognized, and I know some
have given up,” Arvo said. “But I’m really glad I went back.”
 Veterans are urged to double check the phone number they are using to contact the Veterans Choice Program. According to the VA, it appears a phone line has been set up to take advantage of veterans who misdial the Choice Program phone number.
The two phone lines differ only in area code. The correct Choice Program phone line is 866-606-8198. The fake line does not provide information on the Choice Program or its eligibility criteria; instead it claims to offer callers a $100 rebate if they provide a credit card number.
Veterans can tell if they have reached the correct phone line if the phone line automatically states the caller has reached the “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.” Please note, the fake line will incorrectly confirm callers have reached the “Veterans Choice Program” if the caller asks this question.
|
|
