Western Kansas

Our Community Support Coordinators have established key legal and financial partnerships that will help make your life as a member of the Army Family better!

August is Antiterrorism Awareness Month. The purpose of the month long awareness program is to instill and sustain installation wide heightened awareness and vigilance to prevent and protect the Fort Riley Army community and critical resources from acts of both international and domestic terrorism, according to Chris Hallenbeck, installation antiterrorism specialist.

Terrorism is an enduring, persistent, worldwide threat to Army forces and Army Families, he said. Radical extremist ideologies and separatist movements continue to have an anti-western and anti-U.S. orientation, which threatens the nation.

“Our Army must sustain a strong defensive posture to prevent terrorist acts and protect Army critical assets – people, critical infrastructure and sensitive information,” Hallenbeck said. “Even though we promote antiterrorism awareness at Fort Riley continuously, we have set aside the month of August to introduce new (antiterrorism) awareness products, information and threat indicators to our installation community.

Health Care

The State of Kansas can assist you in becoming eligible for the following services:

• Hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services
• Domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care including two state veterans' homes offering both domiciliary and nursing home care available to veterans and dependents
• Sexual trauma counseling
• Specialized health care for women veterans
• Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans
• Readjustment counseling
• Alcohol and drug dependency treatment
• Medical evaluation for military service exposure, including Gulf War, Agent Orange, radiation, or other environmental hazards

Filing Claims

In order for benefits of any type to be paid, appropriate claim form(s) must be filed with the VA. Assistance is provided through the KCVA in completing these forms and obtaining supporting records and documents to include military medical records, marriage certificates, death certificates, birth certificates, etc at no cost to the veteran.

Appealing Claims

Veterans and other claimants for VA benefits have the right to appeal decisions made by a VA regional office. The KCVA in partnership with national service organizations like the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars represent veterans throughout the appeals process.

Medals

The State of Kansas provides assistance to veterans in applying for service medals listed on their DD Form 214.

DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)

The State of Kansas maintains DD Form 214 files on veterans released from service and showing Kansas as their home of record. Copies of DD Form 214's from 1988 to Present may be immediately available in the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs central office. The State of Kansas' Adjutant General's Department has an Archives Office, (785) 274-1099, which can provide the following records of service: From 1946 to 1991, DD Form 214's for all branches of the service are available; a Statement of Service on World War II, 1941 -1946; and Kansas National Guard records from 1946 to the present. As required by the Privacy Act and to obtain a copy of DD Form 214, a formal request must be submitted to the Kansas Army National Guard by using Standard Form 180. The State's Kansas State Historical Society, has military records which include some of the following:

• Territorial
• Civil War
• Indian Campaigns
• Spanish American War
• World War I and II

Education and Training

Benefits to eligible veterans, dependents, reservists, and service members while they are in an approved training program to include approved university, high school, on the job training and apprenticeship. The State of Kansas can assist you in applying for and approving your participation in these major programs:

• Montgomery GI Bill: Persons who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, are generally eligible. Some Vietnam Era veterans and certain veterans separated under special programs are also eligible. The bill also includes a program for certain reservists and National Guard members.
• Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP): This program is for veterans who entered active duty for the first time after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and contributed funds to this program.
• Kansas National Guard scholarships: available for people who desire a commission in the National Guard.
• Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance: Some family members of disabled or deceased veterans are eligible for education benefits.

Time Limits: Generally, veterans have 10 years from the date they were last released from active duty to use their education benefits. Reservists generally have 10 years from the date they became eligible for the program unless they leave the Selected Reserves before completing their obligation. Spouses generally have 10 years from the date the VA first determines them eligible. Children are generally eligible from age 18 until age 26. These time limits can sometimes be extended.