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Over 120,000 Veterans to Repay Separation Benefits
Plus how Grunt Style is Outfitting America's Patriotic Spirit
Nick Kellermeyer
August 20, 2024
The Homefront Report brings you the best news and resources that U.S. military veterans need to know.
This week we cover:
Legal News: 120,000 Veterans to Repay Separation Benefits
Health & Wellness: Veterans Find Healing Through Golf
Product Of The Week: Grunt Style
Finance: Skilled Trades for Veterans
LEGAL NEWS
According to new data obtained by NBC News, federal law has required nearly 122,000 disabled veterans over the past 12 years to pay back the separation pay they received when leaving the military during downsizing periods.
The law prohibits veterans from receiving both disability compensation and special separation pay, which are lump-sum incentives offered to service members when the military needs to reduce its active-duty force. The issue has gained renewed attention as veterans, some of whom received these payments decades ago, are now being asked to return substantial sums.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported a significant increase in recoupments, with over 17,000 veterans affected in the 2018 fiscal year alone. The numbers have fluctuated since then, with a recent uptick following the implementation of the PACT Act in August 2022.
“Nobody realizes that they are doing this to so many people,” said U.S. Army Veteran Vernon Reffitt, who was recently told to repay the $30,000 he got to leave the Army more than 30 years ago.
The impact on veterans has been substantial, with some facing repayment periods of up to 15 years. The VA is legally bound to recover these special separation benefits before eligible veterans can begin receiving disability payments.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces golf to Veterans as a form of therapy, enhancing their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. The program offers a lifeline to community and purpose, with many Veterans finding peace and camaraderie on the golf course.
A recent Saint Louis University School of Medicine study revealed that early PTSD treatment for veterans under 50 may decrease the risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes. The findings suggest PTSD could be a modifiable risk factor among Type 2 diabetes patients.
Air Force Veteran Sharon Sotero has transformed her life through VA support and participation in the National Veterans Golden Age Games. After years of isolation and health struggles, Sotero found healing through fitness, ditching her walker and competing in power walking, demonstrating the power of sports and community in veterans' recovery.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
The Product: Grunt Style delivers high-quality, patriotic apparel that embodies the American spirit and is designed to instill pride in self, military, and country.
The Story: In 2009, former Army Drill Sergeant Daniel Alarik founded Grunt Style with just $1,200 in his pocket. What began as a small operation selling T-shirts out of the trunk of a car has grown into one of the most powerful and charitable post-9/11 veteran-owned companies in the United States.
Today, Grunt Style is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and employs nearly 500 people, half of whom are military veterans. The company has expanded beyond apparel to include ventures like Alpha Outpost, a gear subscription service, and Merica Bourbon.
In 2021, Grunt Style established the Grunt Style Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting service members, veterans, and their families. The foundation focuses on critical issues such as mental health, military transition, food insecurity, and veteran homelessness.
"It was never about clothing. Clothing is a way to express who you are. We’re not a fashion brand. We are a brand that means something because we really try hard to talk the talk and walk the talk."
FINANCE
As America faces a critical shortage in skilled trade workers, veterans are uniquely positioned to fill these high-demand roles. With projections of 1.9 million unfilled manufacturing jobs and a shortage of 550,000 plumbers by 2027, the trades offer a promising career path for those transitioning from military service. Many veterans already possess transferable skills in areas like diesel mechanics, avionics, and welding.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul."
Disclaimer: The Homefront Report, in association with HomefrontLaw.com, is an informational newsletter. The content of this email does not constitute legal, health, or financial advice.