By Larry Dandridge
According to the “VA Benefits for Service Members” webpage, found at https://www.va.gov/service-member-benefits/, “If you’re serving on active duty in the United States uniformed services, including active National Guard and Reserve with federal pay, you may be eligible for VA benefits both during service and after separation or retirement.
You may also be eligible for some VA benefits if you are a traditional or technical National Guard and Reserve member. Find out which benefits you may qualify for — and when to apply. You will also learn about these benefits in your required Transition Assistance Program (TAP) briefing.”
Military healthcare
Active-duty military members can receive healthcare from their supporting military hospital or clinic at any time. These facilities, also known as “military treatment facilities” or “MTFs,” are located on military bases and posts worldwide. To find your local hospital or clinic, you can either use the search tool on the health.mil website at https://bit.ly/46fEIFe or the Tricare Getting care tool at https://bit.ly/4c0FFm6.
Military mental health system
As stated on the Military Health System Mental Health Hub webpage, https://bit.ly/46ge52W, the Military Health System has many resources available to help service members, families, or veterans who are struggling with mental health challenges.
Military families’ lives are generally very different from others. Service members may be subject to frequent relocations, deployments, and stressful experiences due to combat and time away from their families. Families cope with additional stressors when their loved ones are deployed, managing family life on the home front. Traumatic events such as combat, assault, or disasters can have long-lasting negative effects like trouble sleeping, increased anger, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Protecting, optimizing, and defending mental health needs is vital to the well-being and readiness of our military force. Seeking help is a sign of strength and a critical element of individual performance and overall readiness.
The following Military Health facilities (with mental health care) are located within 75 miles of Beaufort’s 29906 zip code:
- Naval Hospital Beaufort, 1 Pinckney Boulevard, Beaufort, South Carolina 29902-6148, 1-843-228-5600. 2 miles from 29906.
- Joint Base Charleston, 628th Medical Group, 204 West Hill Boulevard, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina 29404-4704, 1-843-963-6880. 49 miles from 29906.
- Naval Health Clinic Charleston, 110 NNPTC Circle, Goose Creek, South Carolina 29445, 1-843-794-6001. 56 miles from 29906.
- Ft. Eisenhower (Previously Ft. Stewart), Winn Army Community Hospital, 1061 Harmon Ave, Fort Stewart, Georgia 31314, 1-912-435-6965
VA mental health care
Veterans can get connected with VA mental health care, regardless of their discharge status, service history, or eligibility for VA healthcare. Veterans also do not need to be enrolled in VA healthcare to get care. If you are a veteran and need support or treatment for a specific health problem or if you are having problems sleeping, controlling your anger, thinking about harming yourself or someone else, or readjusting to civilian life — you are not alone. And the VA can help. To access free VA mental health services right away:
- Call or walk into any VA Medical Center, any time, day or night. Find your nearest VA health facility at https://bit.ly/49MraSn.
- Call or walk into any Vet Center during clinic hours. Find your nearest Vet Center at https://bit.ly/3PJ1r6q.
- Call the VA at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. If you have hearing loss, call Teletypewriter (TTY) at 800-877-8339.
Learn more about accessing VA mental health services at https://bit.ly/3H8KAoE and learn about Veteran Mental Health Resources at https://bit.ly/3IavUFH.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is located at 109 Bee Street, Charleston, S.C. 29401-5799, phone 843-577-5011, and the “Mental Health Care” phone is 843-577-5011 Extension 2. Find the phone numbers for the RHJVAHCS CBOCS at https://bit.ly/3CUTuUj.
VA benefits you can use during and after service include:
1. GI Bill and other education benefits. Find out if you qualify for VA education benefits to help pay for school or training. If you qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, learn how to transfer your unused benefits to your spouse or dependent children. This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://www.va.gov/education/eligibility/.
2. Certificate of Eligibility for a VA-backed home loan. Review the requirements for getting a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home. This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3LCYrFw.
3. Life insurance for you and your family. Find out if you qualify for and how to manage your SGLI coverage and learn about coverage options for you and your family after separation or retirement. This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/.
Time-sensitive VA benefits should be considered when separating or retiring.
1. Mental Health Resources for Veterans. After leaving the military, veterans might experience difficult life events or challenges. The VA is here to help, no matter how big or small the problem. The VA has resources to address the unique stressors and experiences that Veterans may face. Learn more about VA Mental Health Resources and the following VA Programs at https://bit.ly/4bUUQNN:
- Make a Connection, Moving Forward, Post 9/11 Transition-Case Management,
- Suicide Prevention, VA Reach, Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 and Press 1), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), VA Solid Start, and Vet Centers.
Additional non-VA resources include the Veteran.com “In Transition Program” at https://veteran.com/intransition-program/, “Military One Source” at https://bit.ly/4dfcgFO, “The National Guard Family Program” at https://bit.ly/3SWFl0t, and Transition Assistance Program (TAP) — Online Courses at https://tapevents.mil/courses.
2. Pre-discharge disability claim. If you have an illness or injury you believe was caused — or made worse — by your service, learn how to file a disability claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program. This may help speed up your claim so you can get your benefits sooner. You’ll need to file 180 to 90 days before separation.
This benefit is open to service members and veterans (active duty, Guard, and Reserve). Learn more at https://bit.ly/3vmbvaa.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
