I'll be back in Dec, any advice you guys can give me? Advice with the VA (I think I'll have 20-30%) disability, GI Bill, unemployment etc?

4/24/2011 5:04:03 PM

don't get shot

4/24/2011 5:11:16 PM

How did you get disabled??? PS ... come visit me in Charleston!! I'll show you that officer high life

4/24/2011 5:36:04 PM

I can tell you that once I stopped checking I had served on job applications and left a 4 year lull in my employment I actually started getting job offers. But, it also could be that everyone thinks Marines are dumb as bricks.

4/24/2011 6:52:53 PM

^^probably got shot while trying to find the bloody remains of the bus full of children that got hit by an ied that was meant for him...

But seriously, you don't ask that question. Or "did you kill anyone" for that matter


Otherwise, state works with you pretty well, if that's where you plan on going. Be ready to send in your DD214 and disability paperwork. VA stuff... Well. Just be prepared to be on hold with the VA for 12 hours.
Live like a student and with disability, GI bill, and unemployment, you'll be living large

4/24/2011 8:11:39 PM

^very true.

4/24/2011 8:17:32 PM

i think he tore his shoulder or something from carrying stuff

4/24/2011 8:37:53 PM

^ yeah last I heard he was in Italy ... IED's aren't a big problem there as far as I know. that's why I was curious

4/24/2011 9:01:07 PM

gnarzilla summed up my experience. After getting the GI Bill setup, it was easy.

Also, congratulations.

4/24/2011 10:21:40 PM

Disability will be for hearing (yay flightline!) and my shoulder

How much would you say unemployment benefits? I'm hearing approx 300 a week and I get 4-6 months of it

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 1:00 AM. Reason : more]

4/25/2011 12:41:51 AM

I lost some hearing working on the flightline and never checked into getting paid for it...what % of hearing did you lose?

Quote :

"How much would you say unemployment benefits? I'm hearing approx 300 a week and I get 4-6 months of it"

Who knows. I remember getting mine for a bit, and I had to go into the ESC all the time and submit where I was applying to etc. I think the idea is you actually have to be searching and applying for a job, not just cashing checks...

Also where were you at in Italy? I spent about 9 months in Aviano...

4/25/2011 9:07:25 AM

I'm not sure, I got an appointment with an audiologist, but I do have tinnitus which is an automatic 10% disability.

I'm at Camp Darby with the 731 MUNS, we're a geographically separated unit of Aviano by Pisa (about 4 1/2 hours west of Aviano)

4/25/2011 11:16:15 AM

Why the hell are we paying good tax payer money to keep military bases in Italy???

Preparing for the next cold war?

4/25/2011 8:03:23 PM

because Italy is awesome

we have one in spain as well, holler Rota!!

4/25/2011 8:21:54 PM

Rota served me up some fabulous crew rest.

I've had very positive experiences with the GI bill and the NCSU VA office. I've had pretty mediocre ones with the VA's ability to count money. I've ended up with the right amount, but was overpaid, underpaid, and all sorts of phone calls trying to get the math to add up. Jumping through hoops for VA medical stuff feels like I'm back at an in-processing, however the mail renewals of drug prescriptions is pretty spiffy.

If you drive to Durham for an appointment, bring a piece of paper with your appointment info on it. It will get you free valet parking at the clinic.

4/25/2011 9:43:22 PM

Quote :

"Why the hell are we paying good tax payer money to keep military bases in Italy??? Preparing for the next cold war?"

Can't tell how serious that is (probably not) but if it is, you've got to be fucking kidding me. Hmm naval/air bases in the Mediterranean Sea AOR? Can't possibly think of any recent/ongoing events that those probably played a critical role in........

4/26/2011 1:32:29 AM

Judging from his soapbox rants, he appears to be serious

4/26/2011 11:32:36 AM

the dude is a racist retard, just ignore him. yes, he is being serious.

4/26/2011 11:52:58 AM

Point: WolfAce!!

4/26/2011 4:54:27 PM

Also, did any of you feel bad for going on unemployment?

4/27/2011 5:02:57 AM

I didn't go on unemployment, though I probably would have felt weird doing so if I had went on it.

4/27/2011 6:56:42 AM

Yeah, that's my issue, I mean I feel kind of stupid not taking 'free money' but I'd feel weird taking it. All the transition assistance guys advocate going on it just in case there is any kind of hold up with the GI Bill or VA healthcare, it's good to have an extra safety bubble.

4/27/2011 7:25:29 AM

so you're going back to school? NC State? Also I'm serious about the Charleston offer! Come visit!

4/27/2011 8:22:17 AM

Haha, yeah, I'm going back to NCSU as a 26 year old...yay.

I'm sure I'll make my way down to Charleston at some point, I do got friends at the AFB down there, I'll let you know.

4/27/2011 8:23:51 AM

Quote :

"Also, did any of you feel bad for going on unemployment?"

If I would have been acting like i was job hunting with no plan to actually get a job, yes. Since I was truly trying to find a job and not just cashing checks, no.

4/27/2011 10:26:30 AM

I'd just like to be on it for a month or two. Realistically, there will be no way I can get a job my first month or two back with all the stuff I have to do. Returning from OCONUS is going to suck

4/27/2011 11:16:58 AM

Yah I wouldn't feel bad about that at all I thought you were talking about an extended period of time

4/27/2011 11:34:57 AM

As far as unemployment goes, enjoy it while it lasts. You could be banking for a while with GI Bill allowance and UI....make sure they tax it, otherwise you'll have to pay out the ass come tax season.

4/27/2011 12:31:41 PM

New question, is the NCSU chapter of SVA still active?

4/27/2011 12:38:11 PM

Quote :

"Can't tell how serious that is (probably not) but if it is, you've got to be fucking kidding me. Hmm naval/air bases in the Mediterranean Sea AOR? Can't possibly think of any recent/ongoing events that those probably played a critical role in........ "

Yes I am serious. Are we leasing this property temporarily or is this a long term base. If we did not go around playing world police we could save lots of $$

5/3/2011 9:37:10 AM

Please take your agenda to someplace else HUR

5/3/2011 11:14:45 AM

Quote :

"Are we leasing this property temporarily or is this a long term base. If we did not go around playing world police we could save lots of $$"

What's your point with asking if we Lease the property or if it's "long term"? Either way the answer is BOTH. You should probably go write your congressman or just vote isolationist.

5/4/2011 10:51:53 PM

Quote :

"New question, is the NCSU chapter of SVA still active?"

Yes...

5/4/2011 11:13:10 PM

Im former Army

5/5/2011 8:53:47 PM