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2016 Master Sergeant Promotion List

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The Army has released the "unofficial" names of the Sergeant First Classes selected on the Master Sergeant Promotion List. Here is the full list of Regular Army Soldiers who were considered and selected for promotion to Master Sergeant. The official list will be released on May 10th. The soldiers who were recommended for promotion are shown … [Read more...] about 2016 Master Sergeant Promotion List

What The VA Really Does With Your Disability Claim

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This is the final part of a three-post series on why you want to file a VA disability claim (even if you think you're not disabled) and what goes on behind the scenes. The first post explained why you want to file your disability claim, not just how to file it.  The second post explained why you should prepare as much of your claim as possible … [Read more...] about What The VA Really Does With Your Disability Claim

What Happens When (Not Just How) You File Your VA Disability Claim

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Last week's post explained why you want to file your disability claim, not just how to file it. Now we'll get into why you should prepare as much of your claim as possible up front as a "fully developed" package. It's time (once again) to visit the Veteran Service Officer. Why you want a fully-developed claim The VA is required by law to research … [Read more...] about What Happens When (Not Just How) You File Your VA Disability Claim

Why You File Your Veterans Disability Claim (Not Just How)

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"Learn From My Mistakes... Without Repeating Them!" There are roughly eighty-two gazillion websites which will tell you HOW to file your disability claim with the Veterans Administration. (I'll link to some of them.) This post explains WHY you want to file your claim (even when you feel 0% disabled), and why you want to do it as you're … [Read more...] about Why You File Your Veterans Disability Claim (Not Just How)

How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation

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[This post is brought to you by "Crew Dog" of OneSickVet.com. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] In a previous post on One Sick Vet, the blogger "Die Fledermaus" showed us a good example of how to prepare for a VA disability claim while still on active duty: going to the … [Read more...] about How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation

4 Lessons I Learned Filing For Disability Benefits

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  David McCauley is back with another great post!  You can see his other post, "Surviving An Involuntary Separation", in the Related Links section below.   If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.     The waiting game of collecting disability benefits and … [Read more...] about 4 Lessons I Learned Filing For Disability Benefits

Surviving An Involuntary Separation

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[This post is brought to you by military veteran David McCauley. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] In the Fall of 2010, my Navy career was finally blooming. My promotion was in the pipeline, I had received new orders, and had managed to save up a modest nest egg. I enjoyed my job … [Read more...] about Surviving An Involuntary Separation

The 2016 Military Pay Chart

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1.3% Pay Raise Coming In 2016. The White House and Senate FY 2016 budget proposals provide a whopping 1.3% military pay raise above the 2015 military pay rates. While the House of Representatives has sweetened the pot and propose to increase military pay by 2.3%. Once Congress comes to an agreement and signed into law by the President, the 2016 … [Read more...] about The 2016 Military Pay Chart

Should You Choose Medical Separation Or Retirement From The Reserves

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Most of my e-mail this month has been about military retirement and disability compensation. Three different readers write: Reader #1: I am a Reserve member with 18 yrs 10 months of qualifying service. 12+ years are active duty time. I was just mobilized and was injured during training. The injury is listed as a grounds for a medical board. … [Read more...] about Should You Choose Medical Separation Or Retirement From The Reserves

Preparing For The Unexpected

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This post is brought to you by Army veteran James Hinton.  (If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.) In early 2007 things were looking pretty good. I had just redeployed back to Ft. Hood after my third combat tour. I was an E-6 who had just become eligible for my E-7 and was just waiting … [Read more...] about Preparing For The Unexpected