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The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is looking for individuals across the state interested in joining a team that is committed to helping serve Minnesota Veterans and their families. Whether you are a Veteran, family member, or an individual who wants to show your support for our nation’s heroes, we are confident you will find a career path that is diverse, team-oriented and focused on making a real difference. A full listing of positions can be found at the Minnesota Careers website. Some of our current job openings:
Fergus Falls
Hastings
Luverne
Minneapolis
Silver Bay
Make the Connection is a free, online, mental health campaign that anyone can use to see videos of Veterans sharing their own stories of overcoming mental health challenges and to find mental health providers in their area.
There are more than 600 videos on the site, and they can be easily searched by condition, branch of service, service generation, gender, combat experience, and other factors. There are also dozens of articles related to Veterans’ mental health, all vetted by VA’s medical providers.
Make the Connection >>
The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) operates Historic Fort Snelling, a historic site that sits at the juncture of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. MNHS has asked for input from the public on the name of the site in light of ongoing revitalization efforts and the expanded stories of history being shared there. These include expanded stories of soldiers, Veterans and their families, enslaved and free African Americans, Japanese Americans and Native Americans who have lived in the area for 10,000 years. The name of the restored 1820s fort structure—which sits on about four acres of the property—will remain Fort Snelling. MNHS is asking about the name of the historic site operated by MNHS. Learn more about the site and the revitalization at www.mnhs.org/naming.
MNHS continues to engage groups and individuals who have an interest and connection to the stories told at Historic Fort Snelling. Although the public phase of input has ended, MNHS would like to hear from you! Please go to bit.ly/StakeholderSurvey2 to take the survey and provide your feedback.
The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) is hosting the following upcoming events:
For 33 years, the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War II History Round Table has been committed to preserving the factual history of World War II. Through the input of historians, first-hand accounts from individuals, and travel, they seek to promote the study of this influential era.
Beginning in 2019, they will meet at the Minnesota History Center at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month from September through May, unless otherwise noted in the schedule.
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Jan. 14: Evolution of the Russian Army - Dr Bruce Menning, author of upcoming "Russian Army and First World War" and the classic "Bayonets before Bullets" will discuss the turmoil of WWI as it led into WWII.
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Feb. 11: 2020 Return to the Philippines - The Battle of Manila - James Scott, author of "Rampage," and Veterans will discuss the MacArthur pledge to return and the bloody urban fighting in Manila that resulted from the Japanese defense.
More Information and Full Schedule >>
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan will host the 34th Annual State of Minnesota Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on January 20, 2020 at the Ordway.
This event is not to be missed and is an opportunity for community to come together, reflect and build on the legacy of Dr. King, strengthen connections, and celebrate the Black experience. The theme for this year’s celebration is "For Our Children."
Stay tuned on Facebook for upcoming announcements of an incredible keynote and powerful performers!
Event Information
When: Monday, January 20, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (Doors open at 9:15 a.m. with fun activities in the foyer. The program begins at 10 a.m.)
Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Cost: This celebration is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and will fill up fast. There will be overflow areas for viewing and live streaming on TPT.org.
Accessibility: ASL interpreters and CART Services will be available on site. If you have additional requests for a reasonable accommodation, contact Tessa Lara at 651-539-1103 or Tessa.Lara@state.mn.us by Friday, January 10, 2020.
MNCDHH is proud to be a Silver Sponsor for this important program. Our sponsorship covers the costs of CART and interpreting.
The Minnesota Military Museum, in partnership with Twin Cities Public Television and Concordia University, St. Paul, present this 2019-20 series held at Concordia University on the 3rd Monday of month (September through May). Parking and admission are free (a small donation to the museum is appreciated). This new series is an opportunity for Veterans (and those interested in the war and its legacy) to gather on a monthly basis to honor, remember and understand this tumultuous time.
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Jan. 20: Return to Vietnam - Many years after the end of the war Veterans have returned to Vietnam and have had a variety of experiences, usually positive. Often these trips bring a sense of closure or open doors to new life experiences or opportunities. Veterans will discuss their experiences returning to the places in Vietnam where they served in their youth.
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Feb. 17: Agent Orange - This topic was rated of great interest by many of the 2018-19 roundtable attendees. In response, hear from local Veterans and experts on the last impact of Agent Orange.
All events begin at 7 p.m. at Concordia University's Buetow Auditorium on Hamline Avenue just south of I-94. Signs will be posted.
300 Hamline Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
More Information and Full Schedule >>
The Defense Department recently announced expanded commissary, military service exchange and MWR access Jan. 1 and established a standard for physical access to military installations. Below are the top 10 questions Veterans have asked the Defense Department about the expanded access. For more information on expanded access, call Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647.
More Information >>
Do you want to save time when interacting with VA? Now, you can. AccessVA is a convenient new service allowing Veterans to access their patient billing statements online.
The new feature is for Veterans who receive care at a VA health care facility for non service-connected conditions and who therefore may owe a VA copayment (Veterans are not billed for service-connected care).
More Information >>
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Law also affects survivors of Veterans, certain dependents and Veteran homebuyers
From the Federal VA
Dec. 12, 2019
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) begins deciding Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 claims, Jan. 1, 2020, extending the presumption of herbicide exposure that include toxins such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Prior to the measure, only Vietnam War Veterans who served on the ground in Vietnam or within Vietnam’s inland waterways were eligible to receive disability compensation and other benefits based on a presumption of herbicide exposure.
Signed into law June 25, the law specifically affects Blue Water Navy (BWN) Veterans who served as far as 12 nautical miles offshore of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 6, 1962 and May 7, 1975, as well as Veterans who served in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between Jan. 1, 1967 and Aug. 31, 1971. These Veterans can apply for disability compensation and other benefits if they have since developed one of 14 conditions that are presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange. Veterans do not need to prove that they were exposed to herbicides. The specific conditions can be found by searching Agent Orange on www.va.gov.
“For six months VA worked diligently to gather and digitize records from the Naval History and Heritage Command in order to support faster claims decisions,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “These efforts will positively impact the claims process for Veterans filing for these benefits”
Qualifying recipients, in addition to affected Veterans still living, are certain survivors of deceased BWN and Korean DMZ Veterans.
Survivors can file claims for benefits based on the Veteran’s service if the Veteran died from at least one of the l14 presumptive conditions associated with Agent Orange. The law also provides benefits for children born with spina bifida if their parent is or was a Veteran with certain verified service in Thailand during a specific period. The Blue Water Navy Act also includes provisions affecting the VA Home Loan Program. The law creates more access for Veterans to obtain no-down payment home loans, regardless of loan amount, and the home loan funding fee is reduced for eligible Reservists and National Guard borrowers who use their home loan benefits for the first time. Certain Purple Heart recipients do not pay a funding fee at all. VA’s website describes these and other benefits.
Veterans who want to file an initial claim for an herbicide-related disability can use VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits or work with a VA-recognized Veterans Service Organization to assist with the application process. Veterans may also contact their state Veterans Affairs Office.
BWN Veterans who previously filed a claim seeking service connection for one of the 14 presumptive conditions that was denied by VA may provide or identify any new and relevant information regarding their claim when reapplying. To re-apply, Veterans may use VA Form 20-0995, Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim. As a result of the new law, VA will automatically review claims that are currently in the VA review process or under appeal.
For more information about the Blue Water Navy Act and the changes that will take effect visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/blue-water-navy.asp.
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