WASHINGTON (AFPS) – First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled the new Information Technology Training and Certification Partnership to put thousands of service members to work with industry-recognized IT certifications in hand before they leave the military. Obama, who made the announcement at the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing at the White House, said a…

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – The Veterans Affairs Department is expediting compensation claims decisions for veterans who have waited one year or longer, VA officials announced today. Effective today, VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims on hand, officials said, which will allow veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits more quickly, if eligible. Veterans will…

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – The Veterans Affairs Department has launched a new hotline — 1-855-VA-WOMEN — to receive and respond to questions from veterans, their families and caregivers about the many VA services and resources available to women veterans. The service began accepting calls March 27. “Some women veterans may not know about high-quality VA care and services…

The National Salute to Veteran’s Patient Program was held Feb. 10-16 this year. Several dignitaries including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base wing leadership visited The Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Feb. 12, giving thanks and respect to those who served in the United States military. The National Salute to Veteran’s is held during the week of Valentine’s…

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) — Many are familiar with the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, but they were not the first African-Americans to serve in the American armed forces. African-Americans have continuously served in the U.S. military since colonial times. After the fighting began in 1775, the British offered to free any…

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) — Blue retiree identification cards issued prior to December 2012 had the word “indef” instead of an expiration date. Since December, retiree cards issued have an expiration date effective the day before the retiree’s 65th birthday. Although benefits will not automatically expire, some changes will take effect based on…

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today the nationwide transition to paperless processing of Veterans’ disability claims at its regional benefits processing offices is underway. VA is aggressively building a strong foundation for its new electronic claims processing system, called Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) – a lasting solution that will transform how…