Archive for the ‘Veterans Administration’ category

Are You A Veterans? Get VA Loan

There are many Veterans in this country who are unaware of the housing benefits that are provided to them from the government. They should know that they can own a house very easily with the help of Veterans Administration Loans. Many of them who are aware of these benefits do not use them. They should know that it is the best benefit that a veteran is provided with in any country of this world.

The United States Department of Veteran Affairs has designed a loan for the people who served the military, National Guard or are reservists. However, to obtain this loan one has to contact the lenders who provide VA loans.

These people should apply for VA loans instead of other financial or mortgage loans because through VA loans they will attain more benefits. The best part about a VA loan is that there is no requirement of down payment. The veteran can get this loan without paying any heavy amount. The interest rate is also lower than other loans and 100% refinancing option is also available. This way you can save thousands of dollars and invest it somewhere else to live peacefully after you have retired. Veterans do not need to have any special qualifications to become eligible for this loan. If you have just served the nation for minimum three months on active duty and 181 days on non-active duty then you can easily qualify for this loan. Besides that, spouses of the personnel in the military can also qualify for this loan.

» Read more: Are You A Veterans? Get VA Loan

Joining Industry Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits

Recently, while providing an up-and-coming Virtual Assistant (VA) and small business owner with some start-up information, she asked me a very interesting question, “Why do you and other VA’s join organizations?”

I guess I take for granted the reasons why I belong to several industry specific organizations. But, to those that are new to any industry, joining an organization made up of your competitors is a valid concern.

Some organizations have members that are from a variety of walks of life (i.e. small business organizations, etc.) while others are more specified and include only members from a specific industry (i.e. VA organizations).

I think the consensus among members of any organization is that the benefits of being involved with others in your industry are numerous.

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An Inside Look at the Longwood Student Veteran’s Group

Did you know that Longwood University is one of the only schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia that has a Student Veterans group? In the next couple of years, the number of student veterans on college campuses is going to increase immensely and every university should have a group like this on campus to better help these student veterans transition to their civilian life. Longwood University has had this organization for a year now and it is all thanks to one brave gentlemen, Greg Serwo. As a student veteran himself, Greg Serwo attends Longwood University and plans to graduate in May 2010. As a former active duty Marine and current Air Reserves man, Greg wanted to get involved with student veteran issues.

While transitioning to campus, Greg realized that there was no veteran-specific support available at Longwood University. It all started in the Summer of 2008 because of an assignment for Ms. Mary Caroll-Hackett’s English 400 class, Greg wrote a proposal to start a program on campus for student veterans. After having experienced the struggle of transitioning back into student and civilian life himself, he wanted to help student vets make a smoother transition back to their studies. He then took it one step farther and worked to pitch the idea to Longwood University’s President, Dr. Cormier. Dr. Cormier then assisted in introducing Greg to Mr. Tom DeWitt, who sits on the Board of Directors for The Aurora Foundation, which was created in October 2008 to help student veterans receive the support they need on campus.

Greg knew what it was going to take to get a Student Veteran Association created on campus. His initial goal is to hit close to home and then slowly broaden and expand as he reached out to more veterans. He intends to start small on campus and eventually expand the efforts to Walter Reed and the D.C. Metro hospitals where he will continue to support veterans. He wants to help other vets realize what opportunities lie ahead for them–starting with the G.I. Bill and going to college.

» Read more: An Inside Look at the Longwood Student Veteran’s Group