California National Guard
JFHQ J-1
Objectives
Assistance to soldiers, airmen and civilians. We strive to ensure all California National Guard members and their families receive the most current and up to date information related to veterans benefits and where to go to receive information/assistance. Our goal is to guide our members and their families to the sources that provide these benefits. Taking care of our veterans, members and families is the highest priority in the California National Guard.
General Information
Guardsmen and interested parties … This website offers additional informational resources for California Guardsmen and their families.
Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA)
The mission of a Transition Assistance Advisor is to “serve as a statewide point of contact and coordinator providing technical support to managers, supervisors, Guard members and their family members as to the benefits and entitlements available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). In addition Transition Assistance Advisors will provide technical assistance in resolving entitlements to TRICARE. We have two TAAs in California. Click on the brochure below for more information.
TAA Brochure
What Constitutes a Veteran
VHA DIRECTIVE 2005-020
2 June 2005
This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive establishes policy for determining eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits for recently discharged veterans who served in a theater of combat operations or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities.
Full Directive
Useful Links
This website is intended to be a resource with links that address a variety of areas of veteran’s information. The articles listed below reflect some of the most current information and benefits available.
Current Information and Benefits Updates
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NGAC Home Improvement Program (NGACHIP)
22 Jan 2008
This program helps make necessary home-improvements for California’s injured veterans. With this fund NGAC provides funds and or labor and materials to modify homes of National Guard homeowners and renters with disabilities - click here
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CDVA Women Veterans Programs
14 Jan 2008
From the founding of our Republic, women have served our nation in the military and continue to do so in ever increasing numbers. Although all forms of recognition provided by a grateful citizenry have always been open equally to women veterans, they remain historically under represented in using the benefits offered to them and seem more reluctant to embrace their status as veterans than their male counterparts - click here
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Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline
8 Jan 2008
The Army's 24-hour Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline offers wounded and injured Soldiers and their famil members a way to seek help to solve medical issues. The lines are open 0700 to 1900 EST Monday through Friday at 1-800-984-8523. Wallet cards are also available - click here
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Depleted Uranium, DU
16 Mar 2007
The Gulf War was the first time that depleted uranium was used on the battlefield. Because depleted uranium is very dense (1.7 times denser than lead), projectiles made of this metal can pierce heavy armor from longer distances than other high-velocity rounds. Moreover, armor fashioned from depleted uranium is very resistant to penetration by conventional anti-tank munitions. The use of depleted uranium munitions and armor played a key role in U.S. forces success during the Gulf War... More
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Staying in Touch When a Family Member Has Been Deployed
8 Nov 2005
Military Onesource
When a family member has been deployed, communication can become difficult. But the military has worked hard to set up communication channels such as e-mail and mail systems to make sure that service members and their families can stay in touch. The efforts you make to communicate with each other during a deployment can help both of you cope with the separation. Here are some tips for communicating.. More
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Military Education Web Sites
November 2005
DANTES Code 10J
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System Helps Veterans Get Awards and Decorations
29 Aug 2005
Military.ComArmy veterans and their families can have an easier time tracking and receiving medals and decorations. The Web-based system eliminates extensive paperwork, reduces processing time. These types of inquiries that used to be handled telephonically or by letter can be entered online at http://veteranmedals.army.mil/. Requests for medals are initiated through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis. Eligible veterans or the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran can request medals from NPRC at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html.
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Online Military Records Access
14 Aug 2005
(Military.Com)
The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. Veterans and next of kin may access this application at http://vetrecs.archives.gov . For more on accessing and ordering records,see a Records Overview.
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VA Chief Sees Opportunity to Ensure Care for All Service members
DoD Press Release
3 June 2005
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2005 – The secretary of veteran’s affairs said today that where some might see challenges for the department, he sees opportunities.
One of the big opportunities we have - and it's a priority of ours - is to make sure that our service members coming out of the combat theater are well taken care of," R. James Nicholson said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service. "That is one of our biggest opportunities.
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The Montgomery GI Bill - SR
(Selected Reserve) program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve.
More
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Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act
Bill # S.256 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - Title I: Needs-Based Bankruptcy - (Sec. 101) Amends Federal bankruptcy law to revamp guidelines governing dismissal or conversion of a Chapter 7 liquidation (complete relief in bankruptcy), to one under either Chapter 11 (Reorganization), or Chapter 13 (Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income).
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DoD Health Plan for Eligible National Guard and Reserve Members Announced
The Department of Defense announced today that beginning April 2005 a new premium-based, health care plan will be available to eligible National Guard and Reserve members activated for contingency operations on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
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Money: Combat Zone Exclusion Facts
Little Known Facts About Combat Zone Exclusions
Many service-members are not aware of the tax breaks they get while serving in an area that is determined to be a "Combat Zone." In addition many don't even know what is considered a combat zone.
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TRICARE Benefits Continue When Military Sponsor Dies
4 April 2005
TRICARE-eligible family members, whose sponsor dies while on active duty, continue to receive TRICARE benefits.
During the three years following a sponsor’s death, surviving spouses and children under 21 years of age (23, if enrolled in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher learning) remain eligible for TRICARE Prime without enrollment fees and co-payments.
More
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U.S. Postal Service to Pay Health Premiums for Reservists
18 April 2005
(Military.Com)
The U.S. Postal Service is agreeing to pay the employees' share (in addition to the Postal Service's share) of health insurance premiums for up to 24 months for career USPS employees who are called to active military duty. The change was made in response to a request from the American Postal Workers Union. The policy took effect March 17 and is retroactive to Dec. 28, 2002. It applies to qualified career employees of the Postal Service activated for military service under Executive Order 12302 or 13223 in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Postal Service will assume the full cost of employees' premiums for the time that they perform qualifying military service only.
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New Help for Severely Injured Vets
18 April 2005
(Military.Com)
The Department of Defense has opened the Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations (MSIJSO) Center, a 24/7 service to help severely injured servicemembers find jobs and answer questions they and their families might have. The MSIJSO Center offers help through a 24/7 toll-free number, 1-888-774-1361. In addition the DoD has partnered with Military.com to provide an online Career Center designed to connect Severely Injured Servicemembers with benefits, resources, and employment opportunities to help ease their transition. The Career Center can be found at www.military.com/support.
Send your questions or comments to: J1@ca.ngb.army.mil