• Upcoming activities at the Kauai Veterans Center • VA Hits the Road • Korean War veterans recognition • Transferring the post 9/11 GI Bill to a family member • VA dental insurance program Upcoming activities at the Kauai Veterans Center VA Rep Benefits Workshop,
• Upcoming activities at the Kauai Veterans Center • VA Hits the Road • Korean War veterans recognition • Transferring the post 9/11 GI Bill to a family member • VA dental insurance program
Upcoming activities at the Kauai Veterans Center
VA Rep Benefits Workshop, June 21, 9 a.m. to noon, Kauai Veterans Center
Independence Day Celebration, July 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kauai Veterans Center
Korean War Veterans Recognition, July 4, 10 a.m to 11:30 a.m., Kauai Veterans Center
Kauai Veterans Museum, open to the public 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday
To find out more about these and other planned activities call Aida Cruz, 246-1135.
VA Hits the Road
The VA Regional Office in Honolulu is transforming the way they conduct outreach on the neighbor islands. Beginning on Kauai in June, VA Honolulu staff will hit the road and begin conducting on-site workshops on each island twice each year. In addition, the VA will continue offering teleconferencing appointments enabling veterans to schedule a face-to-face meetings to discuss pending claims directly with a benefits counselor.
The first workshop will be held at the Kauai Veterans Center from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 21. Topics discussed will include disability benefits, health care, home loan guarantee, vocational rehabilitation and employment, death and survivor’s benefits and more. Workshops are open to the public so that veterans, family members, widows — and those individuals within the community who advocate for veterans — can learn about these valuable benefits.
Korean War veterans recognition
Korean War veterans, including their widows, will be honored during this year’s 4th of July celebration at the Kauai Veterans Center in Lihue. The doors open at 9 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. sharp. The distinguished guest will be Maj. Gen. Darryll D.M. Wong, adjutant general for the Hawaii State National Guard and director of the state Civil Defense.
Transferring the post 9/11 GI Bill to a family member
To be eligible, active duty members are required to serve an additional four years after deciding to transfer benefits to a family member under the post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Education Benefits program.
Key points:
(1) Members must have at least six years of eligible service and agree to serve an additional four years.
(2) Spouses may use the benefit once the TEB is approved; however, children can use the benefit only after the service member has completed at least 10 years of service.
(3) Failing to complete the service agreement, including voluntary retirement, invalidates the agreement required to transfer the benefits.
(4) Members must elect to transfer post-9/11 GI Bill benefits using the TEB webpage www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect.
Common Access Card (CAC) access:
The Office of Veterans’ Services in Lihue provides free “Smart” ID card access for active-duty military, selected reserve, DoD civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
VA dental insurance program
Veterans and CHAMPVA dependents are eligible for enrollment in the new VA dental program. Questions? Visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits or call 241-3348.
• Tony Elliott, Kauai Office of Veterans’ Services
