VA (DEA) program will be reduced from 45 months to 36 months

Changes coming to Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program

Department of Veterans Affairs

July 3, 2018

Effective August 1, 2018, the entitlement available under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program will be reduced from 45 months to 36 months, but in October, the monthly allowance for eligible recipients will increase.

These changes, part of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, aka “Forever GI Bill,”were passed by Congress last summer.

The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or of Veterans who died while on active duty or from a service-related condition.

DEA benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships and on-the-job training.  Surviving spouses-can use benefits for correspondence courses and remedial, deficiency and some approved refresher courses.

What you need to know now:

• If you’re already taking classes, or will start taking classes by July 31, 2018, you remain eligible for up to 45 months of education entitlement benefits
• Beginning Oct.1, 2018, all students will see a significant increase in the monthly benefit

Eligible DEA recipients will be entitled to a monthly allowance of:

• $1,224 for full-time coursework, compared to $1,041 currently as of Oct. 1, 2017
• $967 for three-quarter time coursework, compared to $780 currently as of Oct. 1, 2017
• $710 for half-time coursework, compared to $519 currently as of Oct. 1, 2017

These increases go into effect Oct. 1, 2018.

To find out more about DEA benefits, please visit the DEA page on our website.

Call us if you have questions!

If you have further questions about your entitlement or eligibility, please call 1–888-GI-BILL-1 (1–888–442–4551). If you use the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), the federal number is 711. You can also visit the Forever GI Bill website at FGIB website.

As always, be sure to follow us on Facebook and on Twitter at @VAVetBenefits. These give you quick and helpful updates.

Lawsuit: Sheriff fired Deputy because of PTSD?

Army veteran diagnosed with PTSD sues over firing from sheriff's office
NJ.com
Matt Gray
July 6, 2018

Several of John McMickle's co-workers at the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office visited the U.S. Army veteran as he mourned the death of a friend in February 2017.

While McMickle wasn't a drinker, he had several alcoholic beverages that night and ended up in the hospital.

The events of that evening would eventually lead to his firing, and McMickle has filed a suit claiming the county discriminated against him.

McMickle was honorably discharged in 2006 after serving six tours, according to attorney Kevin Costello, and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service.

The veteran believes, according to the suit filed in Superior Court, that the county treated him unfairly based on his disability, rather than anything he actually did wrong.

Following his trip to the hospital, a health and welfare check was conducted "and no issues were identified." Despite that finding, McMickle's gun and ammunition were removed from his home, the suit states.
read more here

Call to help Iraq Veteran, left him beaten

Army vet sues St. Tammany sheriff, deputies over alleged beating, possible brain injury
The New Orleans Advocate
BY SARA PAGONES
JUL 6, 2018

On Jan. 21, Cambre posted on social media that he was struggling. When friends began calling him, he didn't answer the phone, prompting someone to call the Pearl River police and request a check on his welfare. Jessica Picasso, a Pearl River officer, and a paramedic with St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11 responded to the call, the suit says, and tried to convince Cambre to go to the hospital.

Army veteran Chris Cambre, who says he was beaten by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's deputies during a welfare check in January, is shown the following day with a facial laceration.
Photo provided by Chris Cambre

Chris Cambre, an Iraq War veteran who claims he was severely beaten by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office deputies in January, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming his civil rights were violated by excessive use of force and an unauthorized search of his Pearl River home.

The suit, filed Thursday, names Sheriff Randy Smith and five deputies individually. But it also names Smith in his official capacity, alleging he showed deliberate indifference to civil rights by failing to adequately train officers and commanders or discipline them. It also accuses the Sheriff's Office of covering up misconduct.

The suit alleges that the same culture at the Sheriff's Office and such violations existed before Smith took office two years ago.

The situation changed, according to the lawsuit, when the Sheriff's Office sent deputies at the request of Assistant Fire Chief Matt Parrish. A Pearl River incident report, not cited in the lawsuit, says Parrish had instructed a dispatcher to send backup because of Cambre's military training and prior comments he had made about committing "suicide by cop."

When deputies arrived at Cambre's trailer home they had their rifles drawn, the suit says, but they secured them in Picasso's police unit after Cambre showed that he was not armed.

None of the deputies asked Picasso to brief them or asked her if Cambre was being aggressive, the suit alleges.

Cambre was taken to a local hospital by an ambulance, but none of the deputies accompanied him, the suit says, even though Picasso told them she was the only officer on duty in Pearl River that night. 

read more here

UK Veteran paid ultimate price after being redeployed with PTSD

'HE WANTED TO END THE NIGHTMARES' Soldier who fought alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan hanged himself after clearing explosives ‘without being qualified’
The Sun
By Rob Pattinson and Aletha Adu
5th July 2018

Hunt was deployed to Helmand Province in 2008 and sent back in 2009 despite showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt served with Prince Harry, fifth right, in Afghanistan in 2008

A SOLDIER who hanged himself after fighting alongside Prince Harry cleared explosives in Afghanistan without being qualified, an inquest heard.

Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, 39, protected the prince and was mentioned in dispatches for saving hundreds of comrades.

Today a Lincoln inquest heard the Royal Engineer had not been properly trained for the nerve-racking combat role and suffered years of nightmares back home.

His ex-wife Lainey Hunt, a Warrant Officer with 32 Engineer Regiment, like her husband, told the hearing: "From 2008 to the day he died Nathan suffered.

"He suffered from nightmares and sleeplessness, and I would see him crying.

"I do believe Nathan wanted to end the nightmares and decided to end his life that night."
read more here

Veteran decided to become homeless veteran to tell their stories

Veteran commits to living in homeless veteran camp for 1 year
NBC News 9
By Jolina Okazaki, Multimedia Journalist
Wednesday, July 4th 2018

"The majority of the veteran suicides we get are Vietnam veterans and a lot of those guys are homeless," said Rodriguez. "The camp I'm going to, there's amputees, wheelchairs, they need help. The only way they can get more help is to tell that story and make sure people here in the country know that exists."

(KWES) -

Last year, we told you about a veteran who passed through the Permian Basin and walked to honor the 22 vets who take their lives every day. Now he's on another mission to be a voice for homeless vets.

Ernesto Rodriguez has always been an advocate to help veterans across the country, especially after dealing with PTSD. He still wants to continue his mission, but this time he's committing to one year with no A/C or roof above his head. 

"I walked across the country last year and I passed through Midland/Odessa area," said Rodriguez. "Anyone who has been in the service is going to pass by the Chris Kyle Memorial and pay their respects."

Rodriguez is heading to Tuscon, Arizona to a homeless camp that takes care of veterans. Rodriguez is joining his brothers and sisters to leave a life of air conditioning and a soft bed in order to live in a tent in the blazing heat.

read more here