MIRECC / CoE

NewsFlash | Resources

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Are you returning home to the family farm or ranch, or starting your own after military service? Transitioning to a new civilian career can be a big adjustment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has resources available to help. Start by learning how programs can serve you, connecting to USDA staff for support, and discovering how other veterans have used USDA programs for their operations.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) includes program provisions that address the unique circumstances and concerns of underserved producers that include socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers. USDA defines a military veteran farmer or rancher as a producer who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, including the reserve components. All individual members of a legal entity or a joint operation must independently meet the veteran definition. 

Recently, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that ten additional meat and poultry companies have adopted USDA’s voluntary Product of USA label, marking continued momentum behind the Administration’s efforts to help consumers easily identify products that are truly born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D. has launched a new series At the Table, to talk about programs and opportunities that support Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors by sitting down with leaders across government and the community.  Dr. Lawrence's goal with this series is to create a space where he can highlight resources, programs, and share real success stories that help Veterans build strong futures.

In this first episode, Dr. Lawrence talks with USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden about how Veterans can find purpose and opportunity in agriculture and how USDA supports them with training, financial tools, and dedicated resources.

To learn more or to apply for a Farm Service Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service program, contact your local USDA Service Center.

Announcing the 2026 Veterans Day Poster!

Each year, VA and the Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC) work together to select a poster to help tell the story of service, sacrifice and gratitude on Veterans Day. The poster serves as the visual centerpiece for the Nation’s Veterans Day observance and reflects the pride and patriotism Americans share in honoring those who wore the uniform.

The poster that will represent Veterans Day this year brings together the enduring symbols of our Nation’s history with the continued legacy of military service, and recognizes America’s 250th anniversary. This year’s design combines the modern American flag with an early American flag, visually connecting the founding of the United States with the generations of Veterans who have defended its freedoms.

The poster will be displayed in VA facilities, military installations and municipal buildings across America. It will also serve as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 11, 2026. It’s also available for download online. You can print the VA’s Veterans Day Poster at your location for easy distribution throughout your facility. We are providing simple instructions to help you reproduce the posters.

To Print on Local Office Printers: We have created an 11” x 17” poster that is compatible with most office printers. Please make sure to load 11” x 17” paper into the target printer. We recommend selecting the “Fit to page” option under the Page Setup menu. This will slightly reduce the poster size to fit the printer without cropping the image.

Local Reproduction on Wide Format Printers: We have also created an 18” x 24” version of the poster for high-resolution printing. This poster measures 18.25” x 24.25” to include bleeds. Print the poster at full size and trim 0.125” from each side after printing.

Local Reproduction at a Commercial Printer: For larger print runs, you may opt to use a local commercial printer. To assist with this, we have prepared high-resolution files that any printer can use. Please provide the following specifications to ensure the posters are printed as expected: Size: Either 11” x 17” or 18” x 24”, depending on your needs (posters include a 0.125” bleed on all sides) Paper: 80# White Gloss Coated Cover Ink: 4-Color Process with Flood Gloss Varnish

RecruitMilitary and Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

The journey from injury to recovery is not complete until a veteran is able to find meaning in his or her life. For those who are able, that means getting back to work to care for their families. RecruitMilitary and DAV Job Fairs are events where job seekers with military experience can meet with recruiters from local and national companies. Partnering with RecruitMilitary, DAV sponsors job fairs including virtual events, to connect veterans and spouses with employers nationwide who are committed to hiring them. RecruitMilitary, a leading recruitment firm dedicated to the military community, is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious "Patriot Employer" distinction by DAV. Regional and National Virtual Career Fairs for Veterans are held online at https://my.recruitmilitary.com/. 

DAV’s employment program connects transitioning active duty, Guard and Reserve members, veterans and their spouses with employers. DAV Patriot Boot Camp provides active duty service members, veterans, and their spouses with access to mentors, educational programming, and a robust community of experts and peers to help them innovate and build impactful businesses. DAV Patriot Boot Camp’s flagship programming consists of three-day events held throughout the year. These cohorts provide free entrepreneurship education, one-on-one mentorship with leading business experts, networking and a pitch competition with thousands of dollars in non-dilutive funds up for grabs. More and more employers are stepping up to hire veterans with disabilities and spouses. These patriotic companies are searching for veterans and spouses to fill their ranks. Upcoming Recruit Military/DAV career events being held in states served by VISN 5 (formerly VISN 20):

Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA Thursday, August 13th

National Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, August 25th

San Diego Veterans Job Fair, Escondido, CA Thursday, October 1st

Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA Thursday, October 22nd

Western Region Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, October 27th

National Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, November 24th

Western Region Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, January 26th

Transitioning Service Member & Spouse Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, February 2nd

San Diego Veterans Job Fair, San Diego, CA, Wednesday, March 10th

National Virtual Career Fair, Online, Tuesday, March 16th

Job Fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA, Thursday, April 22nd

National Virtual Career Fair, Online Tuesday, May 18th

Phoenix Veterans Job Fair, Glendale, AZ, Thursday, May 27th

Job Fair at Schofield Barracks, Schofield Barracks, HI, Tuesday, June 8th

Job Fair at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, Wednesday, June 9th

Job Fair at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, HI, Thursday, June 10th

The DAV Patriot Employer Program recognizes employers whose hiring practices and company policies help veterans transition into fulfilling careers after service.

Stand Downs and Job Fairs

Stand Downs are collaborative events serving Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The events are coordinated between VA, the Department of Labor (DOL), other federal, state, and local government agencies and community-based homeless service providers. Stand Downs are typically one- to three-day events providing supplies and services to homeless Veterans, such as health care screenings, mental health and substance use treatment, food, clothing, and VA Social Security benefits counseling. A DOL VETS-funded Stand Down event serves Veterans experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The critical services provided at these events are often the catalyst that enables Veterans to reenter the workforce. DOL's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) awards Stand Down funding through the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) on an annual basis, pending funding reauthorization. State, Territory, and Possession, county, city, local, special district, and Native American tribal governments and agencies, non-profit and for-profit entities, state and local workforce boards, institutions of higher education, public and tribal housing authorities and faith-based organizations are eligible to apply. VETS awards noncompetitive grants on a first-come, first-served basis to support one-day or multi-day events at up to $7,000 or $10,000, respectively. Veterans Stand Downs Events Calendar

Veteran Outreach and Events

VA Outreach and Events –  Explore resources for our outreach partners such as Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), and sign up for events. You can join our outreach events to learn about VA benefits, meet other Veterans, and more. Find in person and online events to join.

VA Vets Resources – VA VetResources shares VA and non-VA programs and service that Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors can use right now.

Pacific Northwest Military Appreciation Events, Airshows, and Fleet Week

Military Appreciation events span a wide-array of events highlighting community support for military members, including Active Duty, National Guard Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, and their families.

Seattle Fleet Week 2026 – The spectacle known as the Seattle Fleet Week returns to Seafair once again. The celebration starts with the Parade of Ships through Elliott Bay followed by a week of events where the public is invited to meet the sailors and guardsmen, enjoy free music, and take ship tours. Seafair has hosted Fleet Week on the Seattle Waterfront since 1950 in celebration of the men and women who serve our country. This year Seafair, along with Boeing, the Seattle Navy League, and the Port of Seattle, is proud to welcome the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Ships from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and the Seattle Fire Department fire boat parade around Elliott Bay with demonstrations at Pier 62 before docking at Pier 46 for ship tours and Fleet Week festivities. View the water-based parade from the Seattle waterfront and listen to the narration by tuning into 88.9 Logboom Radio (Mercer Island Highschool).

Pier 46 Displays & Exhibits // Exhibits from the U.S. Navy, the Applied Physics Laboratory, Navy League, Puget Sound Navy Museum, and the U.S. Marine Corps who will bring artillery static display, military working dog demonstration, pugil stick simulator, and Humvee display. We also have food booths and opportunities to speak with sailors from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.

Navy Band Northwest Performance // Main stage at Seafair Weekend Festival. Remember that general admission is FREE on Friday courtesy of Windermere.

Fleet Week Night at the Mariners // Cheer on the Mariners with sailors from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy. Specially priced Main Level or View Level ticket to Wednesday, July 22 game vs. Cincinnati Reds. Anchors aweigh—Fleet Week comes to T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 22! Lock in a specially priced ticket and join us for a day that honors the brave men and women of the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps who serve our nation on the open seas. Deadline to purchase: Tuesday, July 21 – 5 p.m.

Boeing Seafair Air Show 2026 Featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels – Seattle, WA. August 1-2, 2026 – The ultimate thrill-seeker’s dream come true! From the awe-inspiring U.S. Navy Blue Angels to the aerial acrobatics of local stunt planes; the air show is a showcase of some of the most elite aviation acts on the planet. And it’s not just the military that gets in on the action! The Boeing Seafair Air Show also features incredible displays by civilian pilots, vintage aircraft, and parachute demonstrations that will leave you breathless. What’s more, the air show takes place over the stunning backdrop of Lake Washington, making it an event that’s as visually stunning as it is thrilling!

Arctic Thunder Air Show and Open House – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson AFB, AK. August 8-9, 2026

Oregon International Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels – McMinnville, ORE. August 15-16, 2026 – For over 35 years, the Oregon International Air Show has been part of the local Oregon community, promoting aviation and supporting location charities. The Show will feature: U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demo Team, U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey Demo Team, U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Fat Albert, Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle from 142nd wing U.S. Air Force Redhawks (Fun Fact: In September 2024, the F-15EX Eagle II flew at the McMinnville show. This was F-15EX’s first time in a public air show!) Warbirds: F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, and P-47 Thunderbolt, Red Bull BO-105C helicopter, Red Bull skydivers, and World-class aerobatics

Magic Valley Air Show Featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels – Twin Falls, ID. August 16-17 2025

Yellow Stone International Air Show Featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels – Billings, MT. August 22nd-23rd, 2026 

Guide to Air Shows and Demonstrations

Have you ever felt the ground shake as an F/A-18 Hornet buzzed overhead? Or stood by as four jets flew so close to each other that their wings almost touch? Air demonstrations and trade shows provide an opportunity for people to see U.S. military air capabilities in action and meet the service members who fly and maintain the equipment. Visit these resources to find out what shows are happening in your area.

Transportation, Support, and Wellness

DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Director

DAV operates a fleet of vehicles around the country to provide free medical transportation for ill and injured veterans. Ford Motor Company has been a loyal friend to DAV for over 120 years. In 1922 Henry Ford provided 50 Model T Fords to help disabled World War I veterans attend the organization’s second national convention. DAV stepped in to help veterans get the care they need when the federal government terminated its program that helped many of them pay for transportation to and from medical facilities. Since the program’s inception in 1987, DAV departments and chapters have donated 3,833 vehicles and Ford Motor Co. has donated 269 vehicles at a cost of more than $100 million. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides coordinated by more than 133 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country. Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a Vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need. To find out whether there is a van near you use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC for information or assistance. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. In 2024, VA's VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement worked with the Disabled American Veterans to provide rides to 238,102 Veterans, with an average round trip of 39 miles, for a total of 9,337,177 miles.

DAV is dedicated to a single purpose: keeping our promise to America’s veterans. Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but DAV believes no veteran should have to go it alone. All services provided by DAV are free of charge. Any Service member who was not dishonorably discharged and sustained an injury or illness during their time in the military—whether service connected by the VA or not—or anyone who aggravated a previous injury during his or her time in service, is eligible for DAV membership so long as they served during a period of armed conflict. Ford Motor Company commitment continues to this day. Ford extends special, money-saving offers to all DAV and DAV Auxiliary members. DAV members visit https://www.partner.ford.com/ and use Partner Code DAVET. When you register online at https://www.partner.ford.com/, you will receive a certificate. Please take the certificate, as well as proof of DAV membership, to the dealer when you purchase your vehicle. Limit two (2) eligible vehicle purchases per eligible customer household per calendar year. The Ford Motor Company is committed to supporting our veterans. It’s part of our history and our future. Today, Ford continues to provide funding and vehicle donations to help transport veterans to their medical appointments.

Veteran Check-In

The Veteran Wellness Alliance will work with you to find a provider within our clinical partners that are able to serve your needs. Connecting best-in-class mental health care providers and peer veteran networks. We’ve assembled an incredible team. Veterans and Service members experiencing difficulties in daily life or in distress can reach out to Check-In and trust that an advocate will find a licensed professional who can help. You and your loved ones are able to receive mental and brain health services regardless of your discharge and length of service. With our collaborative effort through the Veterans Wellness Alliance, Check-In provides mental and brain health services in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. We offer in-patient and outpatient services as well as telehealth options, depending on your individual needs and geographic location. With proper care, active duty Service members and Veterans can continue to thrive on and off the battlefield. Connecting veterans with the support and services they need to live happier, healthier, more successful lives-and to make sure U.S. veterans are treated like people, not case numbers, every step of the care journey. Through the Veteran Wellness Alliance, Check-In’s clinical providers offer mental and brain health services to you and your family at no cost.

United Services Organization (USO)

Since 1941, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side. Today’s USO continuously adapts to the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families, so they can focus on their very important mission. USO airport centers throughout the country offer around-the clock hospitality for traveling Service members and their families. USO tours bring America and its celebrities to service members who are assigned far from home, to entertain them and convey the support of the nation. And our many specialized programs offer a continuum of support to service members throughout their journey of service, from the first time they don the uniform until the last time they take it off. The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the USO has relied on the generosity of corporations and foundations for more than 70 years. Corporate support through sponsorship, cause-marketing initiatives, in-kind and philanthropic donations is vital to advancing the mission of the USO. Contact the USO by phone with your questions at 1-888-484-3876.

The Blue Angels Foundation

Committed to supporting critical services for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families including transitional housing assistance and post-traumatic stress treatment. The Blue Angels Foundation’s mission is to support wounded veterans. The wounded veterans who proudly volunteered to serve our nation and preserve our freedoms are the same people today who need our time, treasure and talents to provide a path of transition back to the civilian community and a life of dignity and fulfilment. Thanks to you, each year we are expanding our footprint and impact in critical areas facing the wounded veteran and their family through our association with key benefactors around the nation. We have identified and are supporting organizations that assist veterans in key areas: transitional housing, counseling, PTSD resolution, permanent housing, life skills, transportation and employment.

Avalon Action Alliance

A post-trauma wellness nonprofit helping Veterans and their families gain control over issues related to brain health and mental wellness. Avalon provides a single point of contact and one integrative assessment for the symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS), TBI, and substance abuse (SA) to identify and guide clients to the most effective clinical or non-clinical pathway towards healing. Location of Veterans is not a barrier for treatment. Avalon Action Alliance will arrange travel to the facility best-suited for the client. Avalon’s alliance of posttraumatic growth programs provide a seven-day non-clinical training program for veterans and first responders who suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression. Avalon Action Network partners with Boulder Crest Foundation to implement their Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) programs based on the science of Post-traumatic Growth (PTG) through non-clinical training delivered by highly qualified peer guides. Warrior PATHH PTG is available to Veterans and First Responders.

Warrior Posttraumatic Growth (PTG)

Warrior Progressive & Alternative Training Helping Heroes (PATHH) PTG is our nation’s first non-clinical, peer-to-peer program designed to cultivate and facilitate Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). PTG occurs when a person turns adversity, trauma, or other challenges into positive psychological change. That is a shift that enables an individual to stop simply surviving and instead begin to THRIVE – not in spite of, but because of their life experiences. This transformative, lifelong, post-traumatic growth training program focuses on veterans and first responders struggling with traumatic stress symptoms (some of the collateral damage associated with a life dedicated to service, including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other challenges associated with trauma), giving them the training necessary to make peace with the past, live in the present, and plan for a great future. Throughout the program, students learn proven techniques to regulate thoughts, feeling, and actions, work to connect head and heart, and realize the opportunity to make peace with past traumatic experiences. This individual development enables our warriors to transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. Warrior PATHH programs are available for both men and women who are veterans (active-duty or veteran) and first responders. To be eligible to attend PATHH training, applicants MUST be an active, retired, or separated veteran -or- an active, retired, or separated certified first responder. Locations and Partnerships:

• Permission to Start Dreaming – Gig Harbor, Washington
• Boulder Crest – Sonoita, Arizona
• Eagle Oak Ranch – Italy, Texas
• Sheep Dog Impact Assistance – Rogers, Arkansas
• GratitudeAmerica, Inc. – Macclenny, Florida
• Camp Southern Ground – Fayetteville, Georgia
• Big Red Barn Retreat – Blythewood, South Carolina
• Travis Mills Foundation – Rome, Maine
• Boulder Crest – Bluemont, Virginia

Avalon Action Alliance partners with TBI Centers from around the country to provide integrated and interdisciplinary care with innovative assessments and treatments in an intensive outpatient setting. TBI Centers are open to all Veterans regardless of discharge status. No clinical diagnosis is required to attend. Avalon Action Alliance partners with Warriors Heart for substance abuse treatment providing both inpatient and outpatient treatment for dependency, alcohol abuse, and co-occurring psychological disorders. Avalon Fund started in 2019 with a $40 million commitment from Home Depot Co-Founders, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank in launching the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network.

Collaborations and Care Networks

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Through collaboration with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation have made significant strides in advancing the cause of military and veteran caregivers. From the beginning, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has been rooted in evidence-based research.

Star Behavioral Health

A collaboration between the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University and the Center for Deployment Psychology. SBHP is supported by the National Guard Bureau and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration along with numerous other organizations that provide additional support for state-specific programs. SBHP provides training to licensed mental health providers on military culture, the deployment cycle and treatments that have shown to be effective with military-connected clients. Then we place those trained providers in our online registry, where you can find one near you who matches your needs.

Real Warriors

Real Warriors, a program through the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), provides information and resources about psychological health, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury. Call 1-866-966-1020, available 24/7. Chat online 24/7.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Center for Deployment Psychology

The Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) trains military and civilian behavioral health professionals to provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive, evidence-based behavioral health services to military personnel, Veterans and their families.

Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence

TBICoE unifies a system of TBI health care, reliably advancing the science for the warfighter and ready to meet future brain health challenges. Traumatic brain injury is a significant health issue which affects service members and veterans during times of both peace and war. The high rate of TBI and blast-related concussion events resulting from current combat operations directly impacts the health and safety of individual service members and subsequently the level of unit readiness and troop retention. The impacts of TBI are felt within each branch of the service.

Hidden Heroes

Hidden Heroes is a multi-year, multi-faceted campaign that brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and seeks solutions for the tremendous challenges and long-term needs they face. Hidden Heroes seeks to raise awareness of the issues military caregivers confront every day and inspire individuals, businesses and leaders from civic, faith and government organizations to take action.

PsychArmor

Access more than 250 military culture educational products for healthcare providers, Veterans, employers, military family members, caregivers, and more.

Warrior Care Network is a partnership between Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and four world-renowned academic medical centers, providing veterans and service members living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), and other related conditions with a path to long-term wellness.

• Emory Healthcare
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Rush University Hospital
• University of California Los Angeles Health

Participants and their families receive first-class treatment tailored specifically to their needs and individualized care to support their unique journey. All treatment and accommodations are provided at no cost and financial assistance is also offered to help cover everyday expenses like groceries, utilities, and housing.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

WWP began in 2003 as a small, grassroots effort providing simple care and comfort items to the hospital bedsides of the first wounded service members returning home from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As their post-service needs evolved, so have our programs and services.

Traumatic Brain Injury Centers

• Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado – Aurora, Colorado
• Medical College of Wisconsin BRAVE (Building Resilience through Action in VEterans and first responders) Program – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• MossRehab Institute for Brain Health, Jefferson Health – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Shepherd Center SHARE Military Initiative – Atlanta, Georgia
• Tulane University Center for Brain Health – New Orleans, Louisiana
• University of Florida Brain Wellness Program, Leon L. Haley Jr., M.D. – Jacksonville, Florida
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill THRIVE (Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans) Program – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Intrepid Spirit Center

Ground was broken for the Intrepid Spirit Center at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington on October 29, 2015, and the center was officially dedicated on April 5, 2018. The Madigan Traumatic Brain Injury Program provides comprehensive health care, education and research across the continuum of care, ranging from the impact of trauma exposure to the effects of all grades/types of brain injury, while striving to address the impacts of co-occurring conditions. The $12 million center specializes in treating Service members with traumatic brain injuries and related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. It is the 6th Intrepid Spirit Center to open nationally, thanks to a partnership between the Army and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Cohen Veterans Network (CVN)

CVN seeks to improve the quality of life for Veterans, including those from the National Guard and Reserves, active duty, and their families. CVN works to strengthen mental health outcomes and complement existing support. Our vision is to ensure that every Veteran, active duty Service member, and family member is able to obtain access to high-quality care that enables them to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

• The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities – Kent, WA
• The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health – Fairbanks, AK
• The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health – Anchorage, AK

VA and National Resource Directory

Military2VA (M2VA)

Every VA medical center has a specialized Post-9/11 Military2VA (M2VA) team ready to welcome you as you transition from Service member to Veteran. Your Post-9/11 M2VA team will assist you, your family, and caregivers in navigating the VA health care system and support you in achieving your health and wellness goals. Often when Service members leave the military, they find difficulty with sense of identity, financial strain, employment/education barriers, relationship changes, mental/emotional wellness, and physical limitations as a result of their time in the military.

National Resource Directory

The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a resource website that connects Service members, wounded warriors, Veterans, their families, and caregivers to programs and services that support them. The NRD is a partnership among the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The NRD is hosted, managed, maintained, sustained and developed by the Defense Health Agency's Recovery Coordination Program and provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.

VA Launchpad for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Launchpad helps Veterans and their Caregivers find and use VA apps. The VA Launchpad organizes VA apps and capabilities to help you more easily find the tools VA has made available for you. Apps are available for Veterans, Family and Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.

Military Health mobile apps

Providing information and support to Service members, Veterans, and their families for a variety of health issues. Download these free apps on either Android or iOS devices.

National Center for PTSD

The mission of the National Center for PTSD is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's Veterans and others who have experienced trauma, or who suffer from PTSD, through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders.

Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line’s new number—Dial 988—gives Veterans in crisis a shorter, easier-to-remember way to get support as quickly as possible. The Veterans Crisis Line connects U.S. Veterans and Service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. You’re never alone. Veterans Crisis Line responders answer day and night. They listen to you and make sure you’re safe. Dial 988 and Press 1. Chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. Text to 838255.

VA Vet Centers

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Life isn't always easy after a deployment. That's where we can help. We offer confidential support for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a relaxed, non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community. Around the clock confidential call center for combat Veterans and their families at 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Veterans. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.

Make the Connection

Veterans can experience a range of life events, opportunities, and challenges after they leave the military. Connecting Veterans with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their health, well-being, and everyday lives. Make the Connection helps Veterans and their families recognize that they are not alone—there are people out there like them who are going through similar experiences, overcoming challenges, reaching positive outcomes for treatment and recovery, and finding paths to fulfilling lives.

Veterans Legacy Memorial

VA expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) — the nation’s largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members — to allow Veterans to tell their own story before they pass away. The new “Your Story, Your Legacy” feature will allow Veterans who have been approved for VA’s pre-need eligibility determination for burial in a VA national cemetery to log in to a secure website where they can privately submit images, autobiographies, military and life milestones, and historical documents.

VA will keep a Veteran’s content secure until they pass away and VA approves a request for a burial or memorial benefit. Following approval, the content the Veteran submitted will become public and appear on their VLM page on the public-facing website. VLM already offers family, friends, and others a way to chronicle the life of a Veteran by uploading written tributes, photos, biographies, documents, and other information. It contains nearly 10 million interactive VLM pages for those interred in VA national cemeteries, Department of Defense-managed cemeteries, VA grant-funded state/tribal cemeteries, National Park Service cemeteries, and private cemeteries around the world. 

Veterans, service members, and some family members may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of these requirements. One of these must be true:

• The person qualifying for burial benefits is a Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or
• The person qualifying for burial benefits is a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or
• The person qualifying for burial benefits is the spouse or surviving spouse of a Veteran (even if they remarried after the Veteran’s death), or
• The person qualifying for burial benefits is the minor child of a Veteran (even if the Veteran died first) or, in some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran

NCA provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible Veterans, their spouses, and their dependents — at no cost to the family. This includes a gravesite in any of VA’s national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone, marker or medallion, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some Veterans may also be eligible for burial allowances. VA provides eligibility determinations for interment in a VA national cemetery prior to the time of need. Through the Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility Program, upon request, individuals can learn if they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery.

VA Regional Offices

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) helps service members transition out of military service, and assists with Veterans with education, home loans, life insurance and much more. Service members, Veterans, their families, and Survivors are invited to request information on VA Benefits including disability compensation, pension, fiduciary, education, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Home Loans, and Insurance. In addition to information on VA Benefits Veterans may initiate an intent to file and request assistance with filing compensation and pension claims. Visit regional office websites to learn about the services the regional office provides, directions to the facility, hours of operation, and the leadership team that serves the regional office.

Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran

The following resources provide detailed information about VA health care: www.va.gov/health-care/ and toll-free at 877-222-VETS (877-222-8387), Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET., or 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), option 2.

Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval, space or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members, may qualify for VA health care benefits.

Minimum Duty Requirements: Veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after October 16, 1981, must have served 24-continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty to be eligible. This minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or those accessing care under certain special treatment authorities, such as treatment related to military sexual trauma (MST).

Returning Service members: Veterans who served in a theater of operations after November 11, 2001, are eligible for an extended period of eligibility for health care for ten years after their discharge. In the case of multiple call-ups, the ten-year enrollment period begins on the most recent discharge date. This special eligibility includes cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in priority group 6 or higher for ten years from their date of discharge or release from active duty, unless they are eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.

The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources:

1. Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or more.
2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge.
3. Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only, or under a special treatment authority.
4. Veterans seeking registry examinations (ionizing radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) depleted uranium, airborne hazards, and Open Burn Pit Registry). Use the chart below to help determine your eligibility.

Find out how to apply for VA health care benefits as a Veteran or service member. For other mental health services, contact a VA medical center for information on eligibility and treatment options.

The seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs authenticates the 2025 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents Survivors and Caregivers as the official summary of benefits that have been separately promulgated under Federal regulations established under Register Act. Under the provisions of 38 Code of Federal Regulations 1.9(f), it is prohibited to use the official seal, replicas, reproductions, or embossed seals of the Department of Veterans Affairs on any republication of this material without the express, written permission of the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Any person using official seals and logos of the Department of Veterans Affairs in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of 38 Code of Federal Regulations 1.9 may be subject to the penalties specified in 18 United States Code 506, 701, or 1017 as applicable.

Community Care (Mission Act)

The MISSION Act became law in 2018, bringing the VA’s previous Veterans Choice Program to an end and establishing the Community Care Program. VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed. This care is provided on behalf of and paid for by VA. Community care is also available to Veterans based on certain conditions and eligibility requirements, and in consideration of a Veteran’s specific needs and circumstances. VA offers urgent care services to eligible Veterans at in-network urgent care clinics to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections. Community care must be first authorized by VA before a Veteran can receive care from a community provider. Veterans, their representatives, and in-network community providers should report instances of a Veteran presenting to a community emergency room to VA within 72 hours of the start of emergent care. Out-of-network providers are encouraged to notify VA as soon as possible. PHONE: 844-724-7842 (844-72HRVHA) IMPORTANT: Failure to notify VA of care rendered through an in-network community facility in a timely manner prevents VA from authorizing the emergency care, and prevents claims and payments from being made through one of VA’s third-party administrators.

VA Vet Centers

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. 1-877-927-8387 is an around the clock confidential call center where combat Veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. The staff is comprised of combat Veterans from several eras as well as families members of combat Veterans. This benefit is prepaid through the Veteran’s military service.

Plan your trip to VA

In 1946, Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was established by law to provide comfort and well-being to America’s Veterans. With our many retail stores, cafés and coffee shops across the country, we serve those who have served our country. VCS is proud to offer Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families and VA employees exclusive shopping benefits online through Patriot Store Direct. Product categories range from Military Caps and apparel, Outdoors, Electronics, Automotive tires (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone, and Fuzion), Tickets and Travel, Vision (Glasses and Contact Lenses), Home and Kitchen, Floral, Toys, Gifts, Watches, and more. We are honored to give back to the VA community through many programs established for the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes. Revenues generated from VCS are used to support a variety of programs, such as VA’s Rehabilitation Games, Fisher Houses, Poly-Trauma Centers for OEF/OIF/OND Veterans, disaster relief efforts, Substance Abuse Cessation, VA’s Homelessness initiatives, Women Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention and other activities.

Hospital Service Directory

To find out whether there is a van near you, use the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact your nearest HSC. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides coordinated by more than 133 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country. Our nation’s heroes travel around the globe to protect our freedoms—it’s only right that we return their dedication. Volunteering to drive a Vet ensures that even those living remotely from VA hospitals can make their appointments and never go without the treatment they need. Please remember that the DAV Transportation Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. Learn more about the DAV transportation network through the NewsFlash Resources section.

Since the program’s inception in 1987, DAV departments and chapters have donated 4,183 vehicles and Ford Motor Co. has donated 274 vehicles at a cost of more than $104 million. Ford’s support for DAV spans nearly 100 years. The relationship began when Henry Ford provided Model Ts so DAV members could attend their annual convention. Today, Ford continues to provide funding and vehicle donations to help transport veterans to their medical appointments.

Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care

Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

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