Helene Hurricane
Helene Hurricane
South Carolina State Council has set up a site for donations for the disaster assistance and resources for Veterans. If you wish to Donate go to the button (Helene Hurricane) below and click on it. Thank you for your support.
South Carolina State Council
Welcome to the South Carolina State Council web page. The primary function of the State Council is to provide management guidance and administrative support for the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) chapters within the State. In addition, the Council may from time to time be responsible for various state wide initiatives. The council is comprised of representatives (or delegates) from each of the chapters plus a representative from the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA).
The AVVA Inc.is a 501(c)3 corporation whose main object is to support Veterans and their families, as well as the families of our active military personnel. We are a National, nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to advancing the awareness of issues affecting Veterans, their families and their communities. AVVA is made up of Veterans of all eras, families and friends of Veterans and all persons who support Veterans' issues. For more information on the AVVA go to www.avva.org
The Council meets three times a year on the second Sunday of the months of February, June and October. This is a change to the bylaws approved by the State Council in June 2019. Anyone and everyone are welcome to attend our "always open " meetings (there may be times to invoke executive session, but that is rare.)
The State Council has three meeting a year, February, June, and October.
Dues are now $50 for life membership only.
Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America is the only National Vietnam Veterans Organization Congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax exempt under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
GOALS: VVA's goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam Veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam Veterans.
About Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
VVA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE: "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."
ORGANIZATION;
The National BOD consists of four officers, 10 at-large directors, and 9 regional directors representing each of the regions. The National AVVA president also sits on the BOD as a non-voting special adviser. South Carolina falls in the seven-state mid-Atlantic region, Region III. The director for the current term is Rossie Nance NC State Council President. Each state or territory with at least three chapters may elect to have a state council and there are currently 48 state councils, including Puerto Rico. The presidents of each state elects one member from among them to sit on the Conference of State Council Presidents. They are the voice of the membership and have a seat on the National Board. They provide opinions and recommendations of the membership to the board and it respond. See Section 11 of art 1 of the Constitution.
Vietnam Veterans of America
Below is a synopsis of the March 13th Press Release on Jack’s testimony. Our new Government Affairs Director (Our Chief Lobbyist) will meet us at our upcoming CSCP. He appears awesome. A simplified listing of what Jack testified to in March follows for your info. Sam Brick, Chair
Synopsis of VVA Legislative Program that President Mc Manus testified to before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs See the April 3d Press Release (No. 24-2) for fuller descriptions.
VVA Legislative Program as President Mc Manus testified before the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs
- Fully fund the Defense POW/MIA Agency to account for the 1,577MIA’s.
- Honor Tom Corey by naming the West Palm Beach Medical Center after him.
- Pass Donut Dolly Congressional Gold medal.
- Hold an oversight hearing of Toxic Exposure with the VA Secretary as star witness.
- Amend Blue Water Act to extend the 12-mile limit to include Marines and Navy personnel who were assigned to the RVN Theater of combat ops or who got the Vietnam Service Medal.
- Research pre-Gulf War burn pit use. This would also fix the PACT Act that excluded vets in locations other than Middle East and West Asia.
- Close oversight of implementation of the Pact Act for review of how funding is used and to ensure it is for veterans and their families.
- Get the VA to execute the Fort McClelland epidemiological study under the Pact Act.
- Pass the Major Richard Star Act to allow combat disabled to receive both retired pay and disability pay simultaneously.
- Reinstate the 48-hour review for VA disability claims.
- Authorize VA disability compensation for incarcerated vets with balance due over 10% put in an escrow fund until the vet gets released.
- Get South Korea to agree for payments so the Korean American Valor Act can get started.
- Amend the Puerto Rican Tax Code to get more healthcare workers. 63.9% of PR vets are over 65 and need healthcare.
- Order the VA to reinstitute physician assistants as mental health treatment providers at VA hospitals.
Dependents of Some Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space-A
A recent regulations change allows dependent family members of permanently and totally disabled veterans to fly on space-available, or Space-A, flights.
On Oct. 23, 2020, a change to DOD/4514.13 the eligibility requirements for Space-A travel, adding dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans.
In 2019, those veterans became eligible to fly Space-A on regularly scheduled military passenger aircraft, joining retirees and their spouses; National Guard and Reserve members on the Active Status List; and surviving spouses of those who died on active duty. However, the dependents of those disabled veterans were not allowed to accompany them on Space-A flights. The regulation change states that dependents of permanently and totally disabled veterans may accompany the veteran on flights within the continental United States (CONUS) or on flights between CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories. Dependents cannot travel without the veteran sponsor. space - available flights, also known as military hops, allow eligible passengers to fill unused seats on Defense Department-owned or -controlled aircraft. Space-A passengers can fly only after all the space-required passengers and cargo have been accommodated. Space-A passengers are then loaded by priority group; those on emergency leave are the top priority, or category 1, and retirees and disabled veterans are the lowest priority, or category 6. Other categories of Space-A travelers include those on environmental and morale leave (EML), house-hunting leave, or other mission-critical or official travel. Several years ago a bill was passed allowing disabled veterans (100%) to fly on space A on military flights but did not allow their dependents. The article appeared in Military.com 02/16/2021.
Veterans Crisis Line
Women Veterans Crisis Line
Women Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 988 then and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. .
Women Veterans Crisis Line
Women Veterans Crisis Line
Women Veterans Crisis Line
Call or text the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) or use the online chat feature. Women Veterans Call Center representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays. If you contact the Women Veterans Call Center after hours and leave a message, you will receive a return call the next day the call center is open..
It's that time again Flu Season is upon us
2023 - 2024 Flu Season: Flu Shots Available September 15 – March 31, 2024
It’s never too early to start thinking about receiving your annual flu shot, and with COVID‑19 getting a flu shot is more important than ever. A flu shot is a safe way to help protect yourself, and those around you, from getting sick and having complications from flu. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important for all of us to do our part to help reduce the spread of the flu in our communities.
Beginning September 15, 2023, flu vaccines are available at no cost to eligible Veterans at more than 70,000 in-network community providers nationwide. www.va/gov/communitycare/flushot.asp If you haven't had a flu shot, Make this year that you do!!
ID Cards- Just a Remider
The Department of Defense is now in the process of replacing all military ID cards including all VA 100% and retirees. This indefinite cards with no expiration date. To Schedule an appointment to replace your existing card go to idco.cmdc.osd.mil on your browser. When you open the site there are four boxes. Click on the far-left box for appointments. Select the closest base and follow the prompts. Pretty easy. Read the material and make sure you bring enough additional ID. To Schedule an appointment to replace your existing card to https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/#/ on your web browser. When you open the site there are 4 boxes. Click the far-left box for appointments. Select the closets base and follow the prompts.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Health Issues, ALL YOU MARINES
Many veterans have reached out regarding the Camp LeJeune provisions (Section 804) of the recently passed PACT ACT. Please be advised that there is an offset of VA disability benefits with any settlement that may be received through a lawsuit. Veterans are encouraged NOT to sign any contracts to participate in lawsuits until VA clarifies how the settlement will affect service-connected benefits and care. VA regulations on this are expected in the coming months. For clarification on the impact to your current of future VA benefits, contact an accredited service office near you. Be careful who you contact, the lawyers are charging up to 50% for their fee's