Veterans Information

VETERANS INFORMATION

VA Announces On-Line Claims Applications

FLAG (SALUTE) HONORS CHANGE NOW IN EFFECT

Form DD214 Corrections

Your DD 214... Get it on Record! (How to get it certified)

VA Announces On-Line Claims Applications

The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) is providing important information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about On-line applications for veterans, survivors, and other claimants.

WASHINGTON (July 16, 2008) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that on-line applications are now accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the application.

Effective immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line application website (VONAPP) without the claimant's signature. The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant's application for benefits. Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.

VONAPP (www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm) is a Web-based system that benefits both internal and external users. Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints
of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery.

VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA, decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors. The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care benefits and much more.

Over 3.7 million veterans and beneficiaries receive compensation and pension benefits from VA and approximately 523,000 students receive education benefits. Approximately 90,000 disabled veterans participate in VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

For more information about VA benefits, go to VA's website at www.va.gov <http://www.va.gov/> or call our toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.

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FLAG (SALUTE) HONORS CHANGE NOW IN EFFECT

This means you may, and should, do the military salute in civilian clothing with or without a Veterans cover.

A reporter has reported that Congress has included the provisions of H.R.3380 and S.1877 in H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which President Bush signed into law on January 28, 2008!

The relevant section is Section 594 of the resolution and reads as follows:

SEC. 594. CONDUCT BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS OUT OF UNIFORM DURING HOISTING, LOWERING, OR PASSING OF UNITED STATES FLAG.

Section 9 of title 4, United States Code, is amended by striking all persons present and all that follows through the end of the section and inserting the following: all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

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FORM DD214 CORRECTIONS

Army Career News - 07/10/2006
This is an unofficial posting.

MILPER MESSAGE NUMBER : 06-195
TAPC-PDO-IP
DD FORM 214 (CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY), CORRECTIONS
Issued: [07/10/2006]...

REFERENCES:

A. DODI 1336.1, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

B. AR 635-5, Separation Documents.

1. This MESSAGE will expire 31 Jul 08. The procedures will remain in effect until superseded or rescinded.

2. The purpose of this message is to reiterate guidance regarding corrections to the DD Form 214, and to advise that the Mobilization Support Branch, HRC-Alexandria will NO longer correct DD Forms 214 for National Guard Soldiers.

3. The primary responsibility to correct the DD Forms 214 is vested with the appropriate Official Records� Custodian. However, designated offices (that have ownership of specific item(s) on the 214) are authorized to also correct DD Forms 214 (e.g. Retention Management Division/Awards Branch, HRC-
Alexandria and DFAS).

4. After a Soldier departs the Transition Center (TC) and/or if the distribution of the DD Form 214 (to include distribution of only copy 4) has been made, correct the error by forwarding a memorandum requesting that a DD Form 214/215 (as applicable) be issued. Forward the requests, with the supporting documentation (to include a signed copy of the 214), for:

Active Duty Officers: Cdr, HRC-A, ATTN: AHRC-MSR, Rm 5N63, 200
Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0444. FAX: 703-325-5204 (DSN: 221), email: offrcds@hoffman.army.mil.

Active Duty Enlisted: Cdr, U.S. Enlisted Records and Evaluation Center,
ATTN: AHRC-ERP, 8899 E. 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249-5301. FAX: 317-510-3685 (DSN: 699), email: OMPF@erec.army.mil.

Reentry eligibility (RE) code corrections: Cdr, HRC-A, ATTN: AHRC-EPF-
P, 2461 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA22331-0457. FAX: (703) 325-9543 (DSN: 221), email: ahrcepfp@hoffman.army.mil.

ARNG Soldiers (Officers and Enlisted): Respective State AG listed at http://www.ngb.army.mil/ngbgomo/library/roster.asp.

Discharged/Retired Soldiers and Reserve Soldiers: Cdr, HRC-STL, ATTN:
AHRC-CC-B, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO63132-5200. FAX: (314) 592-1290, DSN: 892, email: ahrc-cc-b-dd214@hrcstl.army.mil. (Although the Communications Hub Office receives all requests, the actual corrections for Discharged or Retired Soldiers are processed by the Veterans Support Branch and the Reserves are processed by the Regional Soldier Support Centers (RSSC) Directorate.)

5. If necessary, individual Soldiers also have the option of applying to the Army Board of Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to have their DD Form 214 corrected. However, they must first exhaust all the administrative means available; e.g. first going to their respective records� custodian for resolution. For further information on the ABCMR visit their website at http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/.

6. POCs:

A. AHRC-Alexandria, AD Officer Records � Ms. McGuire, (703) 325-9606 (DSN: 221), email: Theresa.McGuire@hoffman.army.mil.

B. AHRC-Indianapolis, AD Enlisted - Mrs. Willis, (317) 510-3684 (DSN: 699), email: Wanda.Willis@erec.army.mil.

C. AHRC-Alexandria, RE Code � SFC Bryant, (703) 325-6999 (DSN: 221), email: ahrcepfp@hoffman.army.mil.

D. National Guard:

(1) Policy: LTC Clement (703) 607-3400 (DSN: 327), email: lemuel.clement@ngb.army.mil.

(2) Records Management: MAJ Johnson (703) 607-9159 (DSN: 327), email: christian.johnson@ngg.army.mil.

E. AHRC-St. Louis:

(1) Veterans Support Branch: Ms. Tatum, (314) 592-0555, DSN: 892, email: Elizabeth.Tatum@arpstl.army.mil.

(2) RSSC, National Team: MAJ Meadows, (314) 592-0641, DSN: 892, email: RSSCNationalTeam@hrcstl.army.mil.

(3) Communications Hub Office: 1-800-318-5298, email: ahrc-cc-b.dd214@hrcstl.army.mil.

F. Transition Proponent � Ms. Snider, (703) 325-4148 (DSN: 221), email: deborah.snider@hoffman.army.mil.

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Your DD 214... Get It On Record! (How to get it Certified)

The DD Form 214 or "Report of Transfer or Discharge," is the single most important document given to you upon your separation from active duty. This is a "One of a kind original" document! This form is used to determine eligibility for a wide variety of veteran benefits and programs, including VA benefits, employment programs and educational benefits, etc.

See Important Notice at the bottom

How to Register Your DD Form 214

To register your DD Form 214, take the "original" document to the office of the County Clerk in your county of residence. The Clerk (or official representative ) will record your DD From 214 and return it along with any copies you may need. There is NO CHARGE for this service as long as you are a resident of the County in which the record is made. The certified copies of the DD Form 214 are notarized and time-stamped.

If you are not a resident of the county where you file the document, a fee of $5.00 will be charged for the filing. After recording this document, you may receive free copies, as long as the copies are to be used for the purpose of obtaining benefits. Once your DD Form 214 is on file with the County Clerk , you will always be able to obtain legal certified copies for future use, should the original become lost or misplaced.

What if You Don't Have Your Original DD Form 214?

If you do not have an original DD From 214, you can receive help obtaining an official copy by going to the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, 700 Summer Street NE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97310.

You will need to talk with a Veteran Services Counselor for assistance. The counselor will help you file for a new form. The Department of Veterans Affairs can then arrange for the replacement DD Form 214 to be sent to the County Clerk's office in your county at no extra cost to you.

Important Notice:

It has been determined that, until proper legislation is passed, your DD214 may be available to anyone.

This is because anything filed with the County Clerk's Office is considered Public Record

and given free access to the public.

Needless to say, in a time when identity theft is so widespread,

you may want to consider alternatives such as using a safe deposit box

for safe-guarding your important documents.

You can always get it out and have notorized copies made.

If you have any further questions about how and where to have your DD Form 214 recorded, please call:

Marion Country Court House

Office of the County Clerk

Phone: 503-588-5225

Address: 100 High St NE

Salem OR 97301

Polk County Court House

Office of the County Clerk

Phone: 503-623-9217

Address: 850 Main St

Dallas OR 97338

Updated: 05.05.03

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Webmaster Ron Morgan ron@chapter6.org

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