Northwest Veterans Newsletter Blog

More than a quarter of military families carry credit card debt over $10,000, a Finra Investor Education Foundation survey found. In addition, a third of those surveyed found it difficult to make ends meet, and half of them had no emergency savings. Active duty service members and discharged veterans face a number of factors that may case financial insecurity, but you don’t have to suffer with debt. There is help available.

Resources for Those Who Serve

Stressors of military life that can aggravate debt include loss of spousal income due to frequent moves, the inability to sell a home when the serving partner is transferred to a new base, low salaries of junior enlisted troops and the lack of employer reimbursement for military moves.

However, you and your family enjoy some debt protection while you are serving, thanks to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Interest is capped at 6 percent for debt the service member incurred before going on active duty, and you can cancel a lease with no penalty. In most cases, your property can’t be foreclosed on while you are on active duty.

Discharged veterans have to resume debt payment within 30 to 90 days after discharge. After leaving the service, vets may need to find new housing, purchase a car and support their family while job hunting, on top of having to pay back old debt. Federal VA benefits may help vets obtain prescription medication, take out or refinance a home loan, receive educational scholarships, take advantage of tax credits or exemptions and receive job training. It can be hard for newly returned vets to get back on their feet, particularly when they no longer receive protection from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

Like all other Americans, veterans enjoy the protection of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which states that creditors cannot publish your name, threaten you with harm, repetitively telephone you in an attempt to goad you into answering the phone, or call you without identifying who they are. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau provides free resources for veterans who are being harassed by debt collectors. These can offer you peace of mind and help you formulate a debt repayment plan.

On Your Way to Financial Health

After looking into the resources listed above, the next step is to calculate your total debt and income. This can be scary, but you will need to know how much you owe in order to achieve financial health. Make a plan for paying down bills.

You might look into selling stocks and bonds or cashing in a lump sum annuity. You won’t receive the full annuity amount if you cash in early, but if you can use the lump sum to achieve financial health, it may be worth it.

You can also work with a debt consolidator to lump all your debt into one mass amount, obtain a lower interest rate and lower your monthly payments. Reducing your interest rate fast-tracks debt repayment, because more funds go to the principal.

About the author:  Roseanne Sutton is an former Army brat who’s now married to a career Marine. A stay-at-home mom to two boys, she writes about parenting for a variety of blogs.

Submitted by fellow Spur, Clayton Marsh.

Description: On May 24, 1973, President and First Lady Nixon hosted American Prisoners of War held captive in Vietnam for the largest dinner ever held at the White House.

40 years later, the Richard Nixon Foundation hosted what was perhaps their last reunion gathering. The following is a collection of television and print news coverage.

Once a year, the small town of Cripple Creek, Colo., waves their best red, white and blue banners to welcome bikers from all over the country. All gather with one solitary purpose: to honor the men and women who have fought for freedom. The American Veterans Rally in Cripple Creek begins August 16. For the next few days, the riders will celebrate freedom and the people who made it happen. The only question is: will you be there to party with them?

What is Cripple Creek?

Cripple Creek is a historic village that sits at the base of Pikes Peak. The area surrounding the village is full of ghost towns, gold mines and rich, picturesque mountains. The climate during the summer is balmy, making it an ideal spot for bike travelers.

The town calls itself a major tourist destination for a couple of reasons. It has a rich history as a gold city. In 1890, a ranch hand struck gold in the area making this town part of the big rush. In 1961, it received recognition as a National Historic Landmark. Nowadays, Cripple Creek’s claim to fame is its annual motorcycle rally to honor veterans.

Photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons

The American Veterans Rally

The three-day event is officially titled the American Veterans Rally and Festival but many just call it the Cripple Creek Rally. Hog riders fill the streets to give back to those individuals that have put their lives on the line for this country. Hordes of bikes rumble down Highway 67 headed into the historic district.

In 2011, the residents of Cripple Creek welcomed approximately 60,000 riders from every state in the union looking to honor veterans. Highlights for this year’s event include:

• Veterans remembrance ceremony
• Saturday night street dance
• Wild West gun fighters
• Veteran’s parade
• Military aircraft flyovers
• Live music

While visiting the town, bikers enjoy the historic flavor of Cripple Creek and its sister city Victor while taking in the rally exhibits.

Honoring the Fallen

The event includes two key features to honor those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This year, Cripple Creek will once again host The Wall, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial.

The other key focus of the rally is the POW Recognition Ride. In its 26th year, the state’s largest motorcycle procession starts at the Woodland Park High School on Saturday morning and travels through the mountains of Colorado before entering Cripple Creek. It’s best to stock up on motorcycle parts beforehand at other festivals, especially if you’re new at biking. Other Cripple Creek Rally-goers will surely be at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, where gift cards for motorcycle parts at BikeBandit.com are given away.

While in Cripple Creek

This area of Colorado has more going on than historic gold mines and motorcycle rallies. While in Cripple Creek, you will want to take advantage of some of the high stakes gaming. You can play in the Veteran’s Poker Run as part of the rally or visit one of the many local casinos.

The area has plenty of recreation to keep bikers busy, as well. It is a mountainous area, so there is fishing, whitewater rafting and kayaking within minutes of the rally.

This is the 21st year that the small town of Cripple Creek Colorado has opened its doors to motorcycle riders wanting to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces. This year you need to plan your vacation around the American Veterans Rally, because come August, the streets will fill up with shiny bikes and people looking to have some fun.

Author: Bruce Carlson – Bruce collects and fixes motorcycles, and then he writes about them. He could not picture a cooler job.

U.S. veterans personify some of the best qualities of the American people and deserve gratitude for their service. From kind words, ceremonies and financial benefits, vets are being recognized across the States for their sacrifice and duties.

Grateful companies within the auto industry have chosen to honor veterans and their families through exclusive financing programs and special discounts.

DriveTime Military Merit Program

The annual percentage rate (APR) on an auto loan varies depending on the lender, an applicant’s credit history and annual household income. DriveTime dealerships are offering active duty service members special financing through the Military Merit Program. Military members with at least 24 months of remaining active duty service are eligible to receive a three percent lower APR compared to other non-military personnel. Service members are approved regardless of credit history and are subject to a low down payment.

Photo of DriveTime in Richmond. Used with permission.

Chrysler Cash Allowance and Service

Qualified service members and veterans are eligible for a $500 cash allowance and car service for up to three years. The $500 cash allowance can be applied to the purchase of a new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle. The three year service package includes lube, oil and filter replacement. Chrysler has specific qualifying criteria for their Military Incentive Program. The cash allowance is offered on top of existing incentives and is a way of honoring veterans for their service. Active duty service members reap the benefits of Chrysler’s gratitude over a span of years.

Ford Military Appreciation Program

Ford shows its appreciation for active duty service members and their families through special pricing and discounts. The Military Appreciation Program provides a special offer towards the lease or purchase of any eligible new Ford car, truck or SUV. Discounts and special offers vary but range in the hundreds of dollars. The best way to determine the amount of special offers is to contact Ford directly. Veterans, active duty service members and their families are honored by Ford for their efforts in defense of freedom and liberty. U.S. auto companies go the extra mile to show their appreciation for the military.

Photo of Ford dealership in Ohio by Fan of Retail via Flickr

VA Compensation and Disability Benefits

As of 2011, there were approximately 21.6 million veterans living in the United States or Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These individuals have access to a number of benefits and services offered by the VA. In particular, the VA offers veterans access to compensation for injuries sustained or attributable to service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Compensation is paid based on the severity of injuries sustained and can be applied toward attaining new vehicles or other life-enhancing products. The VA also offers financial counseling and other services that help veterans with financial matters.

Honoring veterans and their families for their sacrifices is just and well-deserved. Veterans and their families have access to many exclusive auto programs and special discounts. Look for special offers and pricing if you are a veteran seeking the purchase of a new or used vehicle.

Life for the men and women serving the United States has its challenges, but it’s also full of achievement and pride for a job many people would not even attempt. However, life after the military can bring a lot of uncertainty. Fortunately, many people, organizations and businesses want to let veterans know they are not forgotten.

Joining Forces

Joining Forces is a White House initiative that connects current soldiers, veterans and military spouses with resources to find jobs when they return home. Joining Forces supports employers that create workplaces that are military family-friendly and schools that are responsive to the unique needs of the military children. It maintains a list of resources for vets, including My Next Move for Veterans, an online tool that allows them to enter information about their skills and experience in the field and match it with civilian careers.

In support of our veterans, President Barack Obama created new tax credits to urge employers to hire veterans. He also expanded the Veterans Job Bank, which connects vets with employers looking to hire. First Lady Michelle Obama recently announced the IT Training and Certification Partnership, which helps military members earn information technology certifications in their transition to civilian life.

VFW

Many resources are available to servicemen and women after they retire from active service through Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), an organization that brings veterans together and advocates on their behalf. Membership includes several everyday discounts and benefits for members, as well as the big-picture political and memorial work. Members can get up to a 75 percent discount on prescriptions, help with real estate purchases and mortgages, and discounts on college test prep materials. There are also VFW savings on LifeLock identity theft protection services, USAA auto insurance and Dell computers. 

Wounded Warrior Project

Re-entering civilian life can be especially challenging for injured vets. The purpose of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to help them re-adjust. Since each veteran’s recovery process is unique, the project promotes a variety of programs to help military personnel and their families. One is Restore Warriors, an online tool that includes videos of soldiers sharing their strategies. Project Odyssey is an outdoor retreat that focuses on peer connection, challenging outdoors experiences and healing with other combat vets.

WWP’s Our Benefits Service team makes sure soldiers and their families can access government benefits and needed community services. Families also can sign up for the Family Support Program, which means they are eligible to attend all-expenses-paid weekend retreats to connect with other injured vets and families going through similar circumstances.

The WWP also gives career guidance and support services to help vets get and stay employed. Specialists help registered family members and caregivers set goals, network with local employers, create an effective resume and prepare for an interview.

Solders returning home don’t have to feel abandoned. Tap into these resources to help make the transition easier on our soldiers and the families they care so much about.

Forty years ago today, the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam.

The following article is from Vietnam Veterans of America March-April 2013 edition. A Troop 3/17th Air Cav lost 56 brave Troopers serving our country from 1967-1971. Five during my tour with the Silver Spurs. These fallen heroes are not forgotten by their families or the Troopers that served with them when our country called.

Statement by Secretary Chuck Hagel on Vietnam Veterans Day – DoD – 29 Mar 13