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FEATURED STORY

I am a Post 9/11 Veteran

HOUSE A VET Learn about the First Look Affordable Purchase Program and how you can help active military and veterans find a home. PAGE 4

VETERAN HOMELESSNESS & FINANCIAL SKILLS Research shows, veterans are more likely to end up homeless because of poor financial skills, not military stressors. PAGE 5

MORTGAGE PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS CFPB writes new mortgage rules that can help financial challenges. PAGE 7

2014 VAREP POLICY CONFERENCE APRIL 2014

PAGE 9

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

A Letter From Our President

ROGER THAT APRIL 2014

Dear VAREP Members, I present you with the first installment of “RT – ROGER THAT,” our Quarterly VAREP Member Newsletter. This is the best way for VAREP National to communicate happenings within our organization to our general membership.

EDI TOR I AL

We are quickly being recognized by key leaders in the real estate, financial, and government sectors as the authority on, and voice of, military and veteran housing.

With this in mind, I frequently receive phone calls from our local chapter leadership, state directors, and general membership on how to explain VAREP as an organization. Depending on your audience, you may want to adapt the points listed below to introduce VAREP.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Heather Nelson

PUBLISHER USA Homeownership, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals EDITOR Denise DiSalvo CR EATI VE

WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias CON TACT VAR EP HEADQUARTERS 951 · 444 · 7363 info@VAREP.net 462 Corona Mall Suite 102 Corona, CA 92879 w w w . V A R E P. n e t

How to Explain Who We Are and What We Do: • VAREP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded to directly educate the 1.4-plus million active military and 22-plus million veterans on the homeownership and economic opportunities that affect them.

• VAREP is the only organization that advocates removing barriers to military and veteran homeownership and encourages creating pro-veteran housing programs that suit the unique needs of these communities.

• VAREP is the only organization that increases utilization of the VA Home Loan program through direct military and veteran housing outreach events.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates military and veteran families on the importance of financial health on the road to homeownership.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates the real estate practitioner on the important housing-policy and lending initiatives that affect the military and veteran communities.

• VAREP Local Chapter development is expected to include 28 chapters in 17 states, with thousands of members across the United States, by December 31, 2014.

• VAREP members are trained and certified to understand and handle the unique military and veteran culture through our Military and Veteran Housing Certification (MVHC) course.

Recently, a corporate partner asked me to compare our offerings with those of some of the national brand-name veteran service organizations in the market. The comparison chart to the right shows that we fill a much needed gap in financial-literacy and housing components that the other veteran service organizations simply do not offer…In other words: We complement them and do not compete with them.

Our organization has only scratched the surface of creating awareness and having people rethink how to better serve underserved military and veteran housing needs.

As key leaders in the real estate, housing, financial, and government sectors become more aware of our mission, they are finding ways to work with us. I hope you are taking full advantage of the webinars, interviews, downloads, and other resources in the member’s area that will equip you to serve those who have served us.

Son Nguyen Founder/President RO GER T HAT

APRIL 201 4

ABOUT SON Son Nguyen is the Founder and President of the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP). Nguyen believes that homeownership and employment is the cornerstone of our economy and a dream that should be realized by all Americans, especially the military service members and veterans, who have so valiantly served our country.

Mr. Nguyen has decades of experience in the real estate, public speaking, supplier diversity consulting, education development and nonprofit development. His record speaks of innovation and leadership at the highest level. A proud U.S. Service Disabled Navy Veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from of the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management.

VETERAN NON-PROFIT COMPARISON CHART Target Audience

VAREP Veterans = 22+ Million Active Duty = 1.4+ Million

MILITARY WARRIORS FOUNDATION Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

OPERATION HOMEFRONT Active Duty Family of E1 - E6 = 1.1 Million

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

USA CARES Post 9/11 Servicemembers & Family

Financial Assistance

X

X

Emergency Food

X

X

Emergency Home Repair

X

X

Critical Baby Items

X

X

Home and Appliance Repair

X

Furniture and Household Items

X

Local Moving Assistance

X

Apartment Transitional Housing

X

X

Permanent Housing Placement

X

X

Employment Job Board

X

Rehabilitation with Recreational Therapy

X

X

X

X

Peer-to-Peer Counseling

X

Family Support Retreats

X

Peer Mentoring

X

Information Technology Training Academy

X

Financial Literacy Education

X

X

X

VA Home Loan Program Education

X

Housing Education

X

Housing Counseling

X

Credit and Debt Management Education

X

Credit and Debt Management Counseling

X

Military and Veteran First Look Affordable Housing Purchase Program

X

Mortgage Free Donated Homes for Wounded Warrior and Spouses of Deceased Warriors

X

X

X

Community Outreach

X

X

X

Live Community Housing, Financial Literacy, and Employment Fair Outreach Events

X

REALTOR, Housing Professional, and Lender Military and Veteran Certification Course

X

Military and Veteran Friendly Database

X

Advocay with a Written Policy Plan

X Military and Veteran Housing Lending Policy

Housing and Lending Policy Conference

X

Military and Veteran Financial Literacy, Housing, and Employment Resource Center

X

X

X

X Wounded Warriors

Note: The non-profit comparison chart does not list the national minority real estate trade organizations including AREAA, NAHREP, and NAREB because we are not structurally set up as a trade organization. We have our membership whom we educate to better serve the military housing needs, but ultimately we are all here to serve the military and veteran communities.

PAGE 2

APRIL 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Military and Veteran Housing Certification (MVHC)

3

House a Vet - Affordable Veteran Housing

4

Chapter Growth Across the States

4

Study - Lack of Financial Literacy Leads to Homelessness

5

Servicemembers Have New Mortgage Protections in 2014

7

2014 VAREP Policy Conference

9

VA Benefit Spotlight: VA Disability Compensation

13

VAREP Member's Area

15

April is the Month of the Military Child

17

I am a Post 9/11 Veteran

19

MILITARY AND VETERAN HOUSING CERTIFICATION

COMING MAY 2014!

The Military and Veteran Housing Certification (MVHC) is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Guarantee Program. We want our members to have an industry-recognized course, which is needed to effectively serve the housing needs of our military and veteran communities. Our goal is to educate and empower attendees to embrace the VA loan program instead of shying away from it.

BENEFITS OF THE MVHC DESIGNATION • Online or Live - The MVHC designation can be earned in an eight-hour live workshop or online format, where you can learn in the convenience of your own home or office.

• Course Auditing - VAREP members can take the course live even though they have completed the course online or vice versa by paying a reduced auditing fee of $99.00.

National Corporate Sponsors The Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals would like thank our Corporate Partners for supporting our mission.

FIVE STAR

• Professional Recognition - An MVHC certificate along with a lapel pin will be mailed to VAREP members as soon as the course has been completed.

• MVHC Branding - VAREP members can download the MVHC logo, MVHC press release, and other MVHC marketing materials to promote their certification.

• Online MVHC Housing-Professional Database - The MVHC logo will appear in your profile on the VAREP Housing-Professional Online Database. Additionally, the database will be located on www.MyHomeownership.org and marketed to the military and veteran communities.

• Continuing Education - VAREP members will receive continued MVHC updates and education via webinars throughout the year via the member’s area of the website.

• Additional Free Course - The “Military Culture 101” course is filled with interesting facts and information to help members have a better understanding of the military and veteran communities.

This is available only to members who have successfully completed the MVHC designation.

FOUR STAR

REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE To earn the Military and Veteran Housing Certification (MVHC) Designation, you must: • Be a member of VAREP in good standing.

• Complete the MVHC eight-hour core course and pass the final exam with a minimum score of 70 percent.

ONE STAR

Please note: If you are not a current VAREP member, you must join by visiting our website at www.VAREP.net prior to taking the course. The VAREP national annual membership fee is $99.00. When the course is available, VAREP Members may register for MVHC designation in the member’s area.

VAREP NATIONAL UPDATE

House a Vet AffordablE Veteran Housing "I wanted to thank you again for considering me.

Every day I turn on to my property, I think of VAREP." - Joyce House, New Laramie Property Homeowner On December 17, 2013, we closed escrow on our first House a Vet

Both programs are great for community revitalization. At this time we have

First-Look Homebuyer Purchase Program. Located in Apple Valley,

a small inventory of donated homes, but we expect to have additional

California, and donated by JPMorgan Chase, the home was sold at a

inventory as 2014 progresses.

discounted purchase price to a low-to-moderate income (LMI) military

We want to thank our partner JPMorgan Chase for making this home

family who applied during the 45-day military and veteran first-look period. After receiving the Chase-donated property, we contracted a veteran-owned company to do the rehabilitation and used a service-

®

connected disabled veteran REALTOR to list the property. It was a win for all involved, especially the community.

The House a Vet initiative includes two-programs:

possible. We would also like to announce that Wells Fargo and Bank of America have recently approved us for their property-donation programs.

We look forward to working with all our partners in 2014.

If you have any questions about our House a Vet Program, please email Rick Mercado at RMercado@VAREP.net

• The Military and Veteran First-Look Discounted-Purchase Program • Wounded Warrior Mortgage-Free Donation Homes

2012 - 2013 Chapter

GROWTH

Interested in Starting a Chapter or Joining a Current Chapter?

Developed Chapters

Upcoming 2014 Chapters

Sacramento, CA

Tucson, AZ Fresno, CA Los Angeles, CA Orange County, CA San Bernardino, CA Brevard, FL Jacksonville, FL Miami, FL Orlando, FL Tampa, FL Atlanta, GA Hinesville, GA Honolulu, HI Minneapolis, MN Concord, NC Charlotte, NC Philadelphia, PA Columbia, SC Austin, TX Dallas / Fort Worth, TX El Paso, TX Houston, TX Norfolk, VA

ESTABLISHED: JUNE 4, 2013

Bay Area, CA ESTABLISHED: JUNE 5, 2013

Riverside, CA ESTABLISHED: JUNE 17, 2013

We are always looking for leaders to fill our board of directors.

The lists to the right include the already developed chapters in seven states and the planned chapters for 2014. If you would like to start a chapter in your area, or want to join an already established chapter in your area, please take the time to fill out the Board of Directors Application. You can find this information by going to our website at w w w. VA R EP. net and click the Chapters menu item at the top. Then click the button labeled Board of Directors Application where you can fill out your information and submit.

San Diego, CA

VAREP needs active members and leaders like YOU to make the American Dream come true for the military and veteran communities all across the county!

Washinton D.C.

ESTABLISHED: JULY 29, 2013

Las Vegas, NV ESTABLISHED: AUGUST 30, 2013

Phoenix, AZ ESTABLISHED: SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Seattle, WA ESTABLISHED: SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

San Antonio, TX ESTABLISHED: DECEMBER 10, 2013

ESTABLISHED: JANUARY 30, 2014

Colorado Springs, CO ESTABLISHED: FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Denver, CO ESTABLISHED: FEBRUARY 26, 2014

PAGE 4

IN THE NEWS

Study:

Lack of Financial Literacy May Trigger Vets’ Homelessness By: Leo Shane III · Stars and Stripes PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 22, 2013

WASHINGTON — Veterans are more likely to end up homeless not just because of military stressors but also because of poor financial skills, according to new research. A new report in the American Journal of Public Health found that military members in general are less familiar with household budgets, more likely to be targets for predatory lenders and “may not have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for being financially independent and managing money.”

The study — part of a host of new research released by the journal Tuesday on veterans housing and health issues — might help explain why veterans are overrepresented in the homeless population.

Past studies have found that veterans make up about 20 percent of Americans without stable housing, even though veterans are less than 8 percent of the population. A Department of Veterans Affairs study published in the journal found that about 2 percent of all veterans who sought health care last year were at risk of losing their home or had spent time on the streets.

While post-traumatic stress, brain injuries and drug abuse have been established as contributing factors to the homelessness problem, the financial literacy study lists money mismanagement as another dangerous pitfall, and one that’s potentially easier to address.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina and Duke University said the study of 1,000-plus veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan era found nearly one-third had gone over their credit limit, written a bad check or been contacted by a collection agency. About 5 percent of those surveyed spent some time homeless.The median income for the group was $50,000, and researchers said the financial problems weren’t confined to low-income veterans.

“Money mismanagement was reported by a substantial number of veterans and urgently needs to be addressed,” RO GER T HAT

APRIL 201 4

the report said. “Financial education even on simple issues, such as how to create a budget, avoid financial scams, balance a checkbook … could readily and inexpensively be added into pre- and post-separation work with veterans.”

VA leaders have set a goal of ending veterans homelessness over the next two years and have expanded housing assistance and job training programs. Researchers said the department and military do offer some financial literacy programs, but their effectiveness needs to be re-examined. A VA study out of New York, also published Tuesday in the journal, found that homeless veterans are six times more likely to consider suicide than those with stable finances.

A VA study by Colorado researchers noted that half of all homeless veterans could be suffering from traumatic brain injury. The special issue of the journal was developed with help from VA and its National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans.

In an editorial published with the research findings, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan said their hope is that the work will increase public focus on the problem. “Homeless veterans — all homeless Americans — must not remain our invisible citizens,” they wrote. “What they need are permanent places to live, jobs, education and quality healthcare.” ◆

BY THE NUMBERS

VETERAN HOMELESSNESS Duke and UNC researchers surveyed more than 1,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to determine their risk of homelessness. Here’s what they found:

49.1% 30.2% 26.5% 24.3% 21.9% 17.9% 4.5%

HAD COMBAT EXPOSURE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MONEY MANAGEMENT HAD MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS ABUSED ALCOHOL STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION HAD PROBABLY POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISCORDER

SOURCE: American Journal Of Public Health

WERE HOMELESS Amanda L. Boston / Stars and Stripes

“ Financial education even on simple issues, such as how to create a budget, avoid financial scams, balance a checkbook … could readily and inexpensively be added into pre- and post-separation work with veterans.”

PAGE 6

IN THE NEWS

Servicemembers Have New Mortgage Protections in 2014 By: Holly Petraeus · CFPB Assistant Director for Servicemember Affairs Published: January 16, 2014 (Reprinted with Permission)

It’s no secret that the housing crisis in recent years was particularly hard on military families.

Servicemembers and their spouses at installations around the country, and even abroad, cited problems with mortgages as some of their most serious financial challenges. But now, the CFPB has written new mortgage rules that can help.

More than a third of the consumer complaints we’ve received from the military are mortgage-related. And at listening sessions around the country, concerned military families have told me about the painful consequences of poor mortgage servicing, sloppy lender recordkeeping, and inconsistent foreclosure practices.

Obviously, servicemembers aren’t the only homeowners who have run into trouble with mortgage servicers or faced financial hurdles. But the demands of military service sometimes increase the severity of the problems or limit the solutions available to address them.

So, I’m happy to report that we’ve written new rules that address some of the worst problems in the mortgage servicing industry and bring new rights and protections to borrowers, including servicemembers. For military families, this means that when they seek help for a troubled mortgage or have to move because of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, they will get fewer nasty surprises and face less risk of losing their home.

Here are some changes that should help servicemembers: • Restrictions on dual tracking. In the past, servicemembers dealing with mortgage troubles sometimes found that their mortgage servicer had moved forward to foreclose on their home at the very same time it was working with the servicemember on a potential loan modification. That’s called and our new rules set up clear guidelines that restrict this practice.

• More help for troubled borrowers. Too often servicemembers have had to apply over and over again for programs that might help them keep their homes, being asked to send in the same paperwork repeatedly. Our new rules require mortgage servicers to evaluate a borrower who files a complete application for help for all the options that are available to that borrower. That means no more multiple rounds of applications and wasting of precious time and resources for the homeowner seeking help!

• No more runarounds and missing documents. Our rules require mortgage servicers to train their people to answer your questions and, if you do run into trouble, the servicer has to assign people to help you. The servicer also has to have policies in place to make sure they don’t lose your paperwork.

RO GER T HAT

APRIL 201 4

Those are some of the new rules. In addition, servicemembers should know that we issued in June 2012, along with other regulators, saying that mortgage servicers should have processes in place to handle requests for assistance from servicemembers with PCS orders, and that they should clearly communicate their policies In 2011, two important players in the mortgage market — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — updated their policies to say that a PCS move is considered a “qualifying hardship” for mortgage assistance options for servicemembers. In other words, servicemembers do not have to be behind on their mortgage payments before they can ask for help. It was also announced that a homeowner with a Fannie or Freddie loan and PCS orders will automatically be eligible for a short sale.

Also, those servicemembers who do a short sale (selling their home for less than they owe on the mortgage) will not have to pay the difference between the original loan amount and the proceeds from the sale if the property is their primary residence and it was purchased on or before June 30, 2012.

Finally, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also has provisions for a short sale called a “compromise sale”. Servicemembers should contact their lender or the VA for more information on this program.

We work closely with the military community to get the word out about any policy changes that affect servicemembers. We encourage servicemembers and their spouses to talk to their Personal Financial Managers (PFM) about these issues, too.

We hope our new mortgage rules will allow servicemembers to spend more time on their important mission and less time worrying about their mortgages.

For more information about the CFPB and the Office of Servicemember Affairs, please visit: www.ConsumerFinance.gov/Servicemembers or call (855) 411-2372.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Office of Servicemember Affairs The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), Pub. L. 111-203, established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB” or the “Bureau”) to regulate the offering and provision of consumer products or services under federal consumer financial laws.

The Dodd-Frank Act assigns the CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs (OSA) the responsibility to educate and empower servicemembers and their families to make better informed decisions regarding consumer financial products and services including: • Developing and implementing initiatives to educate and empower servicemembers and their families to make better-informed decisions regarding consumer financial products and services; • Monitoring military complaints about consumer financial products and services, including the Bureau and other federal or state agency responses to those complaints; and • Coordinating the efforts of Federal and State agencies regarding consumer protection measures relating to consumer financial products and services offered to, or used by, servicemembers and their families.

PAGE 8

We cordially invite you to join our inaugural 2014 VAREP Policy Conference in Washington D.C. from June 8th - 11th, 2014. We will present the 2014 VAREP Policy Position Paper which advocates for reform on policies that affect military and veteran financial literacy, homeownership, and legal protective rights. The conference is filled with educational sessions and town halls to educate attendees on important housing policy, lending initiatives, and economic development affecting the military and veteran communities. Capitol Hill visits affords VAREP leadership the opportunity to advocate for removing barriers to military and veteran homeownership.

VAREP is the voice for military and veteran homeownership; we advocate and encourage financial institutions, government agencies, and the real estate industry to create programs that suit their unique needs.

www.VAREP.net/2014Conference

When military families are relocating, the Military Mortgage Express® team is ready to help Our dedicated Wells Fargo Military Certified home mortgage consultants are well-versed in the DoD culture, language and protocol, and have extensive knowledge of VA home loans. Plus, we have educational seminars and homebuying guides for servicemembers.

We’d like to work with you. Together, we can help servicemembers reach their homeownership goals.

Participant in the U.S. Army Lender Memorandum of Commitment.

It’s an honor to serve those who serve our countrySM

For more information on the Military Mortgage Express® program, please call David Gibbons toll-free at 1-800-696-6439 ext. 54363.

Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice.

This information is for real estate professionals only and is not intended for consumer distribution.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2013 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NMLSR ID 399801.

AS1022889 Expires 6/2014

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

VOICE VAREP is the

for Military and Veteran Homeownership

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?

REGISTRATION DETAILS

The 2014 VAREP Policy Conference is open to all housing professionals who want to serve the housing needs of the military and veteran communities.

To register for the 2014 VAREP Policy Conference, please visit our website at: www.VAREP.net/2014conference

General Session Topics Include:

Online Registration Fees

• The State of Military and Veteran Housing

• $499 for VAREP Non-Members • $149 for VAREP Members

• The VA Loan Program • Industry Leaders Town Hall • Veteran Supplier Diversity • Military and Veteran Lending Initiative • Advocacy on Capitol Hill CAPITOL VISITS The VAREP Capitol Hill visits are set to occur on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Hill visits give VAREP members the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to advocate VAREP’s Policy Positions including issues that affect military and veteran homeownership and economic development.

Founder and VAREP National President, Son Nguyen will discuss the 2014 VAREP Policy Positions at the Opening General Session on Monday, June 9, 2014. With his insight and the VAREP Policy Position document in-hand, VAREP members will share the importance of these positions with Congressmen during their scheduled in-person meetings.

This unique opportunity allows VAREP members to literally be the voice of military and veteran real estate. Through our national advocacy efforts, we can make the American Dream come true for those who have served us…See you on Capitol Hill!

RO GER T HAT

APRIL 201 4

Onsite Registration Fees • $599 for VAREP Non-Members • $149 for VAREP Members HOSTING HOTEL INFORMATION The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill is accepting reservations for the 2014 VAREP Policy Conference at a discounted rate of $239.00 per night, plus taxes.

Please call the the Hyatt Hotel directly at 888-421-1442 to book your reservation today. Make sure to mention that you are with the VAREP Policy Conference to get the discounted room rate. To book your reservation online, please visit our policy conference website and click the Hotel menu item.

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave. NW Washington, DC 20001 Reservations: 888-421-1442

GUEST SPEAKERS During our conference, we will have a few guest speakers including Lieutenaunt Jason C. Redman of Wounded Wear and representatives from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Senate, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Department of Defense.

Lt. Jason C. Redman NAVY NAVY SEAL SEAL ◆◆ WOUNDED WOUNDED WEAR WEAR FOUNDER FOUNDER

FEATURED SPEAKER FOR THE AWARDS DINNER GALA

POLICY CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Lt. Jason C. Redman, is a former U.S. Navy Seal and current Wounded Wear Motivational Speaker. Jason uses his positive attitude to motivate others and to continue to raise awareness of the sacrifices of America's military forces and their families.

This drive led him to create Wounded Wear, a Non-Profit organization designed to provide clothing kits and clothing modifications to America’s wounded warriors, and to promote awareness throughout the country of the sacrifices that wounded service members have made in the name of freedom.

We would like to thank our sponsors for making our first ever 2014 Policy Conference a possibility. Without your support and dedication, we would not have been able to make this event a reality. With your support, you are helping make the American dream of homeownership a reality for those that have served our nation.

TITLE SPONSOR

"Regardless of the overwhelming odds or obstacles in your path, you always have an opportunity to overcome.

It is your attitude that will determine that outcome."

- From THE TRIDENT a memoir by Lt. Jason Redman For more information on the 2014 VAREP Policy Conference, please visit our website below. We will be updating our guest speakers and sponsors as the event approaches.

WWW.VAREP.NET/2014CONFERENCE 2 0 1 4 VA R E P P O LI CY CO N FE RE NCE

PAGE 1 2

IN THE NEWS

Department of Veterans Affairs Benefit Highlight

VA Disability Compensation

VA disability compensation provides monthly benefits to veterans in recognition of the effects of disabilities, diseases, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service. The program also provides monthly payments to surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents in recognition of the economic loss caused by a veteran’s death during military service or, after discharge from military service, as a result of a service-connected disability. A summary of VA’s disability compensation programs is below.

The VA Disability Compensation The VA Disability Compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The benefit amount is graduated according to the degree of the veteran’s disability on a scale from 10 percent to 100 percent (in increments of 10 percent). Compensation may also be paid for disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses.

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2

During a weekend drill, an Army Reservist injures her knee while participating in a physical training class. She is eligible for compensation for residuals of the knee injury.

An individual enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 10, 1988, and served for a period of 3 years. He was honorably discharged on June 9, 1991. During his active duty, he fell from a bunk and injured his back. Based on his active service, he is entitled to service-connected benefits for the residuals of his back injury.

ELIGIBILITY • Service in the Uniformed Services on active duty, OR • Active duty for training, OR • Inactive duty training, AND

• You were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, AND • You are at least 10% disabled by an injury or disease that was incurred in or aggravated during active duty or active duty for training, or inactive duty training Note: If you were on inactive duty for training, the disability must have resulted from injury, heart attack, or stroke.

EVIDENCE REQUIRED • Medical evidence of a current physical or mental disability, AND • Evidence of a relationship between your disability and an injury, disease, or event in military service. Medical records or medical opinions are required to establish this relationship.

Note: Under certain circumstances, the VA may conclude that certain current disabilities were caused by service, even if there is no specific evidence proving this in your particular claim.

The cause of a disability is presumed for the following veterans who have certain diseases.

APPLYING FOR COMPENSATION WHILE ACTIVE DUTY It is to your advantage to submit your disability compensation claim prior to separation, retirement, or release from active duty or demobilization. Processing times tend to be much shorter for claims submitted pre-discharge than after discharge. Pre-discharge programs provide servicemembers with the opportunity to file claims for disability compensation up to 180 days prior to separation or retirement from active duty or full-time National Guard or Reserve Duty (Titles 10 and 32).

APPLYING FOR COMPENSATION There are numerous ways to apply for VA disability benefits depending on the type of benefit you are seeking: • Online using an eBenefits account by visiting the following link: www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal • Complete and mail your claim form to your nearest VA regional office • Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you. To find the VA regional office nearest you, use the Veterans Affairs National Facilities Locator or call VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000

Other Types of Compensation DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC) DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of servicemembers who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, or to survivors of Veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities. Parents DIC is an income-based benefit for parents who were financially dependent on of a Servicemember or veteran who died from a service-related cause.

SPECIAL MONTHLY COMPENSATION (SMC) SMC is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents.

For Veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or by specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg. For spouses and surviving spouses, this benefit is commonly referred to as aid and attendance and is paid based on the need of aid and attendance by another person.

CLAIMS BASED ON SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Veterans may be eligible for other types of disability compensation once a disability has been determined to be service connected. Special VA disability compensation programs include: individual unemployability, automobile allowance, clothing allowance, prestabilization, hospitalization, convalescence, dental, and birth defects.

For more information visit: www.Benefits.va.gov ◆

• Work with an accredited representative or agent.

You can find an accredited agent to help you by visiting www.benefits.va.gov PAGE 1 4

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

VAREP Member's Area

A Valuable Resource VAREP’s Member Area is a great resource for Real Estate Professionals that is available exclusively for VAREP Members. Here you will have access to the MVHC Certification Course, Webinars, downloads, resources and much more. Learn more about what the Member’s Area has to offer!

PERSONAL PROFILE Do not forget to fully fill out your advance profile! This profile is included in our public military veteran friendly business database marketed to military and veteran consumers who need your services. Do not be caught with an incomplete profile!

CERTIFICATION COURSES Military and Veterans Housing Certification - Coming in May of 2014, The MVHC is designed for a comprehensive understanding of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Home Loan Guarantee Program. We want our members to have an industry recognized course needed to effectively serve the housing needs of our military and veteran communities. Our goal is to educate and empower attendees to embrace the VA loan program instead of shying away from it.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) - The SCRA is a federal law that gives specific rights and legal protections to people in military service-active-duty military personnel and reservists and guardsmen while in active-duty service. The act also applies to guardsmen called to active service for more than 30 consecutive days to respond to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by federal funds.

throughout the presentation. This is a great resource for all real estate professionals to learn topics related to military and veterans, including, but not limited to: Military Culture - Four Part Series - Building rapport is the foundation to any relationship. Understanding military and veteran culture will help you better communicate with this demographic group. This series will cover various topics, allowing you to better connect with serving those who have served us.

I am a Post 9/11 Veteran - This informational webinar profiles the demographic of the post 9/11 veteran … I am one of the more than 2.5 million Americans who has served my country in a military uniform since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Getting Your Veteran-Owned Business Certified (VOSB) In an effort to help our VAREP Veteran-Owned Businesses, we have developed this webinar to prepare you for the VA's "Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Program." Verification is not a simple process. In 2012, to date, approximately 58% of applications have been denied. We hope you find this webinar to be a powerful tool in your quest to get your business certified.

WEBINARS

VA Benefits - Three Part Series - VA administers a variety of benefits and services that provide financial and other forms of assistance to Servicemembers, Veterans, their dependents and survivors. This three-part series will teach you the basics of what every eligible veteran is entitled to for their service to America.

Learn about military related topics in real estate in the convenience of your own home or office. Our VAREP real estate professionals will lead the discussion, where you can ask questions

To see a list of the upcoming 2014 Webinars, please go to our website at www.VAREP.net and log in to the Member’s Area.

Click the Webinar link on the menu bar at the top. To register

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for a webinar, please click the register link to the webinar you would like to attend. We highly recommend registering before the scheduled webinar date to attend. Please note, you must be a member of VAREP to attend these Webinars.

DOWNLOADS AND RESOURCES Real Estate Professionals will have full access to VAREP’s Downloads section. This includes VAREP logos, Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) information, training PowerPoints, and other special reports. The Member’s Area is a great resource for real estate professionals to learn more about how they can serve the housing needs of the military and veteran communities.

achieve the dream of homeownership. On the Resources section of the Member's Area Website, you will find an interactive map displaying the VA Loan usage stats of all the United States. This interactive map shows a snapshot of each state, including the number of VA Purchase Loans, VA Refinance Loans, and the total number of VA Loans all from the previous year. This chart also lists the national data for VA home loan demographics, including first and previous home buyers, no down payment versus down payment, and age demographics. Loans guaranteed by period of service is also included, starting from WWII to the Gulf War. TALK RADIO

VAREP Logos - Show your support for the military and veteran communities by displaying our logo in your email signature, business cards, T-shirts … anywhere! With your VAREP Membership, you have full access to VAREP logos.

Coming July of 2014, VAREP’s Talk Radio will be a place to hear stories from our very own VAREP Members. Listen to Real Estate Professionals, Active Military, and Veterans tell their stories and how VAREP has influenced their lives.

Training PowerPoints - This section also offers access to PowerPoints that were used for each training for your downloading pleasure.

NEWSLETTER

Resources - Members can download brochures, special reports, studies, surveys and many more helpful item to use as reference points when serving the military and veteran communities. Resource downloads include: topics specifically for military and veteran communities, such as Veteran Benefit Programs by State, Quick VA Loan Guides, Vow to Hire Heroes Act, and much more.

Educate yourself in the convenience of your home or office!

Interactive VA Loan Usage Map - The VA Home Loan is an amazing benefit that has helped more than 20 million veterans

The “RT – ROGER THAT” Member Newsletter is quarterly publication and the best way for VAREP National to communicate the happenings within our organization to our general membership.

Make sure to stay informed of VAREP updates and events that are covered by our newsletter.

For More Information, please visit our website at

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IN THE NEWS

April is the Month of the Military Child VAREP Salutes Our Military Children Provided by: www.OurMilitary.mil

There are approximately 1.9 million military children, ranging in ages from newborn to 18 years old, and 1.3 million military children are school-aged. More than 700,000 children have experienced the deployment of one or more parents since 2001. 765,000 of our military children have active duty parents, and approximately 225,000 have a parent who is currently deployed.

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The month of April offers us a special opportunity to acknowledge and honor the service of our littlest heroes, our military children. Established

by Caspar Weinberger, the Month of the Military Child recognizes the important role military children play in our communities.

Our military children are resilient and proud of their service, and they deserve our support. The Department of Defense, each of our Armed Services, Cabinet Agencies, the White House Joining Forces Initiative, as well as non-profits, businesses and communities throughout the country recognize this and have stepped up to provide a variety of special programs, initiatives and activities for our military kids.

The Department of Defense provides a wealth of resources and support for parents and military kids. Parents can find information on education, child care, and exceptional family member support on Military Homefront and MilitaryOneSource. Military kids can find tips on moving and adapting to a new town and school on DoD’s Military Youth on the Move site. Additionally, the newly launched DoD hosted Military Kids Connect site lets military kids connect with each other in a safe online environment and share their experiences.

Military kids who love to read can share their favorite book by participating in the Blue Star Families Books on Bases Essay Contest. Blue Star Families is also recognizing all military children throughout April with certificates of appreciation. If you have a military child in your life you would like to thank, you can get a certificate here.

Reading creates a special bond between parents and children, and United Through Reading makes it possible to maintain that bond even through deployment, by providing children with DVDs of their deployed parent reading their favorite books.

Operation Homefront highlights the incredible contributions our military kids make to their communities through its annual Military Child of the Year recognition program. To read the stories of these extraordinary young leaders, visit the Military Child of the Year page.

Like all kids, military kids look forward to summer and all the fun times the season brings. Many military children will likely experience a move, but no matter where they are, plenty of great opportunities for adventure await! The National Military Family Association’s (NMFA) Operation Purple Camps empower military children and their fam-

ilies to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships with incredible outdoor experiences. The application deadline is in April.

NMFA also provides unique retreats for children of wounded warriors. Likewise, the Armed Services YMCA salutes our military kids in April and all year round with a variety of youth programs.

For children of Reservists, Guard Members and Wounded Warriors, Our Military Kids provides grants to pursue a variety of extracurricular activities. This month some of these kids will get a chance to showcase the talents they have acquired before Senior Officials and Members of Congress in Washington at the annual “Celebration of Our Military Kids’ Star Power.”

Military kids have some great fans in sports…the San Diego Padres will honor military children at a home game as part of their military appreciation program, which honors service members and their families throughout the season. Likewise, the Washington Nationals and USO Metropolitan Washington team up to bring military kids to the ballpark through the “Me and a Friend” program. The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) wants to help keep military kids active and moving.

They offer free USTA memberships for military kids under 10.

Coping with a wounded parent, or worse, the loss of a parent is one of the sad realities of military life and these are circumstances many of our military kids have had to face over 10 years of conflict. To support military children through these experiences, Sesame Workshop has developed the Talk, Listen and Connect Series. Military children on installations throughout the country and the world can see Sesame Street when they hit the road on their annual tour with the USO. For a tour schedule, visit the USO’s Sesame Street/USO Experience page.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers comfort to military children whose parents have made the ultimate sacrifice through their Good Grief Camps, which teach kids how to cope with loss and connect with others to share experiences. To ensure our children of the fallen have educational opportunities, organizations like the Freedom Alliance provide scholarships for military kids who have lost a parent in combat. ◆

To learn more about the highlighted programs, please visit the following websites: The Department of Defense www.Defense.gov Military Homefront www.MilitaryHomeFront.dod.mil MilitaryOneSource www.MilitaryOneSource.mil DoD Military Youth on the Move www.DoDLive.mil DoD hosted Military Kids Connect www.MilitaryKidsConnect.t2.health.mil Blue Star Families Books www.BlueStarFam.org United Through Reading www.UnitedThroughReading.org Operation Homefront www.OperationHomefront.net Military Child of the Year Recognition Program www.OperationHomefront.net/MCOY The National Military Family Association www.MilitaryFamily.org Armed Services YMCA www.ASYMCA.org Our Military Kids www.OurMilitaryKids.org USO Metropolitan Washington www.USOMetroDC.org The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) www.USTA.com/About-USTA/Military Talk, Listen and Connect Series www.Archive.SesameWorkshop.org/TLC USO www.USO.org USO’s Sesame Street/USO Experience page www.USO.org/Sesame Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) www.TAPS.org Freedom Alliance www.FreedomAlliance.org PAGE 1 8

Featured story

February 19, 2014 Author: Military Service Initiative George W. Bush Presidential Center

I am one of the more than 2.5 million Americans who has served my country in a military uniform since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

There are many different perceptions and misperceptions about who I am, and who I’m not. The truth is, while many veterans of my generation face significant challenges, we also possess immense strengths that position us to lead a generation every bit as great as any that came before it. In the end, what’s most important to us is that the American people come to understand us – the good and the bad – in a way that empowers us to realize our full potential as individuals and citizens. So while we’re an inherently diverse group, let me tell you about me, so you can understand all of us a bit better.

When I entered the military, I most likely joined the enlisted ranks (83%), and there’s also a good chance (37%) that I enlisted as a member of the National Guard or the Reserves. By the numbers, I probably served in the Army (37%), but 23% of my peers served in the Navy, 23% in the Air Force, 14% in the Marines, and another 3% served in the U.S. Coast Guard. And, while it’s true that the U.S. military is composed of a cross-section of our society, chances are that I’m white (77%), male (83%), and between the ages of 18 to 34 (60%). That said, just over 15% of my post9/11 veteran peers are African American, 12% are Hispanic, and 3% are Asian American. Further, women serve alongside us at a rate unprecedented in history – close to 17% of post-9/11 veterans are women.

It’s important to remember that I served the nation during a time of war, and because of that there’s a high likelihood that I deployed overseas at least once. More than two million of my peers have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. For many, those deployments happened multiple times. On average, my generation of veterans spent one of every three years of our military service deployed overseas.

As it was for many of my fellow veterans, leaving the military was difficult for me. My service had become a large part of my identity and gave me a sense of purpose. But when it was finally time to leave, I probably decided to settle in either Texas, Florida, California, Virginia, or Georgia; almost 38% of my post-9/11 veteran peers live in these states. For me and

my friends, proximity to family, educational opportunities, and employment options are the things we most strongly consider when deciding where to settle after service. Yet it turns out that too many of us aren’t really prepared with the best information to support our decision-making process. It’s clear that we would benefit greatly from enhanced training and additional resources to help with the choices we have to make before leaving service. They could make us truly informed consumers as we enter our post-service lives.

When I took off the uniform, I was excited to start the next chapter of my life. Like many of my peers, I sought out opportunities to both serve my community and reconnect with my family. For some of us, the transition from military to civilian life was seamless, but for others there have been challenges.

THE MILITARY-CIVILIAN DIVIDE One significant issue we talk about often is simply feeling like we “fit in” – so many of my buddies still talk about how after coming home, they felt disconnected and isolated from the very people they served while in uniform. It turns out that, when asked, the great majority of us (84%) say that the American public has “little awareness” of the challenges facing those of us who wear – or have worn – the nation’s uniform.

Interestingly, it seems that the American public agrees – 71% of Americans say that they don’t understand the problems faced by those who have served since 9/11. This cultural disconnection has come to be called the “military-civilian divide,” and it impacts many aspects of our post-service lives. Education is just one example.

As a post-9/11 veteran, I’m highly educated.

I’ve almost certainly completed high school or an equivalent (99%), and I’ve probably also spent at least some time taking college courses (72%). If I have taken a college class or two, I’m as likely as my civilian counterparts to have completed my bachelor’s degree or higher (28%). In fact, more than one million post-9/11 veterans (or members of our families) have already decided to go back to school,

taking advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. A million post-9/11 veterans and veteran-family members attending school is a big number.

But we’re actually a small minority on the nation’s college campuses – only about three percent of the universe of college students in the United States at a given time. As a consequence, sometimes we still don’t feel like we fit in on campus. Many of us believe that our professors (63%), administrators (63%), and non-veteran student peers (70%) don’t understand the unique challenges that veterans face on a college campus. Moreover, female veterans are even more likely to feel isolated at school, and less likely to seek out and participate in programs and services designed to advance their educational experience.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the path to education is going to be different for veterans like me. My life experiences make me different from college students who have not served. Student veterans like me tend to be older than traditional, non-veteran students – 40% of us in school are over the age of 40. More than that, we’re more likely to be married than our non-veteran student peers (47% vs. 37%), and if we’re in graduate school, we probably have a child (58%). And that highlights another fact about veterans like me – family is important to us.

In fact, 58% of all post-9/11 veterans are married, and if I got married while I was serving in uniform, there is an 11.5% chance that it was to another service member. Dual-military marriages are difficult, and for many the stress of our deployments – and now the post-service challenges related to disability, employment, and other transition-related issues – have put a significant strain on our family relationships.

While we understand this reality because we live it, research also tells our story.

Recent studies focused on the stability of our families highlight how some veterans report feeling like a guest in their own household, distant or afraid our children or our partners, and general uncertainty surrounding their family roles. Some of these challenges are heightened for those of us now learning to live with disabilities, as the research suggests that our health and

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to serve to advance to see to learn our country

our education

more of the world

skills for civilian jobs

wellness concerns could negatively impact the quality of our marriages and contribute to anti-social behavior. All that said, researchers have demonstrated how my service has contributed in a very positive way toward advancing the state of my family. This includes an increased work ethic.

MAKING THE TRANSITION It’s also true that as we navigate the transition from military to civilian life, my friends and I may encounter a variety of physical and mental health-related challenges connected to our service. Many of these have their origins in the fact that we may have had a run-in with an improvised explosive device (IED) while deployed, a signature weapon of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indeed, if I served in combat, I probably had an emotionally traumatic or distressing experience (52%), and I likely served with someone who was badly injured (60%) or killed (47%) in service. Of those veterans of my generation who were seriously injured, 1,700 have lost one or multiple limbs as a con-

sequence of their service. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is also a consequence of the prevalent use of IEDs in these wars.

The Department of Defense tells us that among my peers, there have been 253,330 cases of TBI diagnosed between 2000 and 2012. More than 6,000 of those cases have been severe or penetrating brain injuries. My service also places me at a risk for hearing loss (27%), ringing of the ears (32%), or both.

Importantly, the scars of war are not always – or only – physical. Instead, sometimes the wounds are invisible. For example, while there have been many different numbers put forward about how many are dealing with the consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), most experts say that PTSD affects between 13% to 20% of us who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. (By the way, some of us would prefer to drop the “D” in PTSD, as a way to reduce the stigma that comes from calling it a disorder). It’s also true that 22% of post-9/11 veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare sys-

tem have been diagnosed with depressive disorder, and that there is a one-in-five chance that my female veteran peers respond “yes” when screened for Military Sexual Trauma (MST). These invisible wounds sometimes present complex challenges when navigating life after the military.

Researchers don’t yet fully understand the relationship between military service and suicide. But it is possible these challenges contribute to rates of suicide among veterans that are higher as compared to non-veterans.

I know this because in 2010, the Veterans Affairs looked at suicide data from 31 states across the nation. It extrapolated that, on average, military veterans accounted for 22.2% of all suicides in the United States – 22 a day – in spite of the fact that they represent just about nine percent of the U.S. population. Exactly how many of those suicides are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is still unsettled, but we do know that the suicide rate for veterans who likely served after 9/11 – those ages 18-29 – has increased every year since 2009.

FEATURED STORY

I am a Post 9/11 VeteraN February 19, 2014 What’s more, we also know that male veterans are twice as likely as their civilian counterparts to take their own lives.

Female veterans are three times more likely than female non-veterans to act on suicidal thoughts.

During recent years, my fellow veterans were more likely to die by their own hand than to have died at the hand of the enemy.

We’ve also learned that these invisible wounds are often more difficult to identify and care for than our physical scars. For me and my friends, stigma and other barriers associated with seeking treatment for mental health concerns make it less likely that we will seek the care that we need. If we do seek treatment, we may not receive adequate care when we ask for it.

In fact, a study in New York highlighted that only one-third of us who needed mental health care actually sought treatment. 50% of that group received treatment that was determined to meet a minimally adequate standard.

THE SKILLS I BRING All that said, in spite of the physical and psychological challenges that I may face, it’s also true that my military service conferred upon me skills, experiences, and traits of that group that make me an extraordinary addition to the civilian workforce and a leader in the community. I am comfortable operating in diverse work settings and leveraging my international and cross-cultural experiences. I tend to have advanced technical training that allows me to develop technology-based solutions to institutional problems, and I demonstrate strong organizational commitment and loyalty to my employer.

My demonstrated propensity towards trust in my co-workers and supervisors fosters strong and high- performing teams, which I am adept at organizing, defining, and developing for quick and decisive action in the face of uncertainty and change. It’s a tes-

tament to my fellow veterans that researchers have demonstrated that even if I am dealing with a service-connected disability, I am more likely to be employed than a non-veteran with a disability.

As a result of my military service, I have developed a sense of resiliency that helps me bounce back from personal, professional, and organizational failure more quickly and completely as compared to those who have not served.

Additionally, I tend to be highly entrepreneurial. I display a high need for achievement, a strong comfort with autonomy and uncertainty, and an ability to make effec-

transition to civilian life as well.

For example, it’s difficult to assume the burden of rent or home ownership without a job. In fact, as a male post-9/11 veteran, I am 1.3 times more likely than my non-veteran peers to become homeless.

The story is worse for female veterans. Due to the unique challenges that women veterans face, including underemployment, childcare, and sometimes being a single parent, young female veterans are two-to-three times more likely to become homeless as compared to male veterans.

They are two- to-four times more likely to be homeless than female

WE

APPRECIATE LIFE MORE AS A RESULT OF OUR

EXPERIENCES tive decisions in the face of dynamic environments. This not only helps me as an employee or leader in a traditional employment setting, but makes me more likely to start my own business than my civilian counterparts (13.7% vs. 9.8%). If I do start my own business, I am more likely to be successful.

It remains a fact, however, that the employment situation facing some veterans of my generation has been an obstacle to a successful transition to civilian life.

Over much of the past five years, the youngest among us have been more likely to be unemployed than their non-veteran peers.

For these veterans, the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high – above 15% – for much of the last four years.

The fact that a great many of us have struggled with securing and maintaining jobs has certainly impacted other aspects of our

non-veterans. All of us hope that the VA’s pledge to end veteran homelessness by 2015 is realized.

We’re heartened by the progress that’s been made in recent years – homelessness among veterans has been reduced by 24% since 2010.

PROUD OF SERVING As I said previously, the overwhelmingly majority of those who call ourselves post-9/11 veterans are proud of our service (94%). According to the folks at the Pew Research Center, we joined the military for many reasons – to serve our country (88%), to advance our education (75%), to see more of the world (65%), or to learn skills for civilian jobs (57%). Despite many of the sacrifices associated with our service, we still consider ourselves more patriotic than the average American (61%). Speaking for those of us who served in

combat, I know we feel that we appreciate life more as a result of our experiences (86%).

Like generations before us, my veteran peers and I are also beginning to take on roles of increasing leadership in society. Whether it be volunteering as Little League coaches, helping in disaster relief efforts, joining fitness-related support groups, getting involved in a local school board, or running for Congress, we continue to find ways to leverage our service for the good of society. For many of us, we joined the military to lend meaning to our lives. As we navigate the ambiguity of the future, leadership through service serves as an anchor, helping us maintain that identity through our post-service transition.

You might ask, would we do it again? On the whole, we say that we would. We feel that our military experience has helped us get ahead in life and grow as a person (71%), taught us how to work with other people (65%), gave us self-confidence, (61%) and prepared us for a post-service career (41%). In fact, those of us from the post-9/11 generation are more likely to recommend military service to a young person, as compared to veterans who served before 9/11 (82% vs.

74%). It’s true that we have conflicting views about whether or not the wars in which we served were worth fighting. But in the end, we were sent all over the world, and we served a public which often did not understand us or what we were doing – but we answered the call, and each of us is proud to say:

“I am a Post-9/11 Veteran.”

This information comes from a multi-dimensional analysis of the post-service experience completed by the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, with our partners at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University.

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“ The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.”

- George Washington

VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS info@VAREP.net

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951-444-7363