December 18-January 19 Retiree Life

Marcus Serrano Life Photography

A look inside...

Top Tech Gifts for Christmas

Editor Nathan Bonar

Contributors Dave Marshall Rose Pollard

Publisher Creative ink

Creative Director Sears Hallett

Winterizing Your Home

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Make Time for Hobbies

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Retiree Spotlight Eric Horton

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VA Benefits Highlighted

Welcome to the latest issue of the Retiree Life magazine! I have taken the reigns from Sean who is a formidable predecessor, and I can’t wait to see what new challenges and experiences this new chapter will entail. I must introduce myself; my name is Nathan Bonar. I am a graduate of UT Martin and APSU while currently working on a Master’s in English. I have a passion for the written word, and this chance to be a part of the Retiree Life magazine will allow me to expand my knowledge and abilities. I am a local Clarksville man, my family goes back a couple of centuries in this area–one of my great, great uncles fought in the Civil War. I hope that this new relationship as reader-writer will flourish; I intend to do my best work and create a reading experience for everyone to enjoy.

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Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com

Photography Paula Hallett mixthatdrink.com Marcus Serrano Life Photography

Well, that’s entirely enough about me–let’s get to this new issue! I have done some of the foot work for you this year when it comes to Christmas, I found you the right gifts to buy, how to save money to buy those gifts and keep that house nice and toasty; not to mention, we have some great drink recipes and local breweries for you to visit. I like to think of this issue as somewhat cyclical from saving money and spending it wisely to preparing for those New Year’s resolutions with a nice column on VA benefits.

Nathan Bonar, Editor nathan@creativeinktn.com

Here is to a Happy Holiday season!

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OK, I have done it, you can thank me after the holidays. I have created a comprehensive list of the best tech gifts this year. People love to get a gift, of course, but isn’t it that much better when the gift is something they can actually use? Well, I hope this list will make your holiday buying a little easier, or, at least give you a starting point.

Thermo Works Classic Thermapen

$30-$99.99

$79.00 For that avid griller, this is sure to bring a big smile. Checking temperature in 2-3 seconds, this is a highly accurate thermometer that is also waterproof and has a 3,000-hour battery life. It can also display in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Power Wave Fast Wireless $45.99 It isn’t always the easiest to remember to put your phone on the charger, and that is why they invented this device. For the forgetful person on your list, this wireless charger

by Anker supports both Apple and Android charging. Simply set your phone on and the light tells you it’s charging.

Echo (2nd Gen) Smart Speaker with Alexa $79.99 This device boasts connection to Amazon’s Alexa to make calls, play music, set alarms, or ask questions. This smart speaker can also control smart home devices at the sound of your voice!

Tile Anything Finder Combo Pack $44.99 For that absent-minded person on your list, here is a gift that is sure to help them keep all their gifts this year.

Attach a tile to the thing you lose most (keys, wallet, etc.), and when you need to find it use the app and listen for the chirp. You can also use tile to find your phone.

Probably one of the most useful gifts you can buy this year.

Whistle 3 Pet Tracker $79.99 Losing a pet is a trying experience, so here is a gadget sure to help keep the pets close to home.

This GPS tracker uses the AT&T network to help pinpoint locations.

This does require a monthly subscription of $6.95, but the safety of your pets is worth it. It gives text and email alerts.

Just attach it to your pet’s collar and voila! No more running around the neighborhood at 2 am.

Google Home Mini $49.00 Google Home Mini is a great gift for anyone. This small gadget connects to the Google Assistant to help you around the house. Have a question, just ask your Google Assistant.

Dango Tactical EDC Wallet

Sphero R2-D2 (because what list isn’t complete without Star Wars?)

$89.00

$51.47

This is the wallet for the new age. It is sleek and functional. Crafted in the US, this holds up to 12 cards and a removable multi-tool with wrenches, a nail prier, and a tiny knife to boot!

For the Star Wars lover, this is a great gift that can be controlled by your smartphone. It can deliver holographic simulations to your smartphone, and it can interact with other droids from Sphero’s lineup.

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Bose Sound Link Micro Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Nintendo Switch $299.00 The Nintendo Switch is in its own playing field because not only can you play this at home, but you can take it on the go, too!

This product allows you to play head-tohead with other Switch owners.

The Joy-Con grip controllers are designed to bring games to life with HD rumble that goes beyond mere vibrations.

$99.00 This waterproof speaker by Bose is great for the avid music listener and on-the-go type. It can attach to a backpack for easy portability, and it has 6 hours of battery life! Available in black, red, and blue.

PlayStation Classic $99.99 This is sure to be a popular gift for 2018. PlayStation Classic is perfect for the gamer in the family. It will come with 20 pre-loaded games like Final Fantasy VII and Tekken 3. This is a mini console and comes complete with 2 wired controllers, a memory card, and an HDMI cable.

Sense Energy Monitor $299.00 With Sense, you can use your smartphone to access real-time monitoring of your home energy use. This device installs in your home’s electrical panel to help you see how much electricity your using, or if your sump pump is on, and more. Sense also pairs up with Alexa.

$100+ Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset $199.00 With over 1,000 virtual reality games, this is sure to be a hit.

It requires a smartphone connection and is powered by a Qualcomm chipset and comes with an intuitive controller.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones $349.99 Not only are these amazing looking headphones, they boast compatibility with Google Assistant and the best audio quality out there. Sony’s headphones can last up to 30 hours between charges and uses USB-C for fast charging (5 hours of playback after a 10-minute charge).

Fitbit Versa $199.95 Key features of this fitness watch are an accurate heart-rate tracker and guided workouts. This is completely waterproof, but also allows you to install apps on the watch, make payments, and receive notifications from your phone. With interchangeable wristbands, this is sure to be a favorite of your fitness friend.

GoPro HERO7 Black Action Camera $389.50 Do you have an avid hiker or jetsetter in the family? This is sure to help them remember those trips for the rest of their life. GoPro’s new sleek, compact HERO7 has 4K video at 60 frames a second!

It’s all about stability here with the best stabilization tech in its class.

Incase Kanso Convertible Brief Case $199.95 A black or olive-green briefcase is a great tech gift. Carry it over the shoulder, like a backpack, or attach it to your carry-on. This brief has a full-size laptop compartment with faux fur lining without forgetting plenty of other pockets for the rest of your gadgets.

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One of today’s fads is being frugal and no one likes getting frozen pipes in the winter time. This article is to remind us all that winter is upon us, and we need to be prepared for what Mother Nature may throw at us this year.

help keep the draft out and the heat in. Not only is it a good idea to caulk and weather strip, but you can also put plastic over your windows to keep that cold air out and help you keep the inside nice and toasty, like it should be.

I have found the best tips for winterizing your home after combing through tips by Bob Vila, Popular Mechanics, and Safewise.com, these tips are sure to save you some dough around the holidays. First, it is always wise to get a home energy assessment, so you can pinpoint where the energy losses are occurring, and, to go with this, you can also install a programmable thermostat like Nest to help you keep your home energy efficient while you’re away from home. Another smart tip is to get your heating unit a tune up and replace the filters; this will allow it to run efficiently and cost you less money. If your home heating unit has seen better days, then it is probably time for you to invest in a new efficient furnace to keep energy costs low. These are great ideas to boost energy efficiency in your home, but for some of us, we have older homes that need a bit more than an upgraded furnace or new smart thermostat, so we must get out the tool box and get handy.

A few other handy tips are to insulate your pipes by putting thick foam covers over them; boost that installation in the attic; installing storm doors and windows give your home an extra barrier for that cold to cross; take that A/C unit out of the window; and, don’t forget to seal your home’s air ducts around the foundation.

Some of the most effective ways to lower your home energy bill without spending an atrocious amount of money are caulking and weather stripping around drafty doors and windows. This reinforcement will

These all take a little initiative and some elbow grease to accomplish, but what about that person who isn’t so handy? Well, turning your home’s fans in reverse will bring that warm air down from the ceiling and keep the home warmer. Minding that thermostat will help keep that bill low because the more you adjust the temperature, the heating unit must exert more power and energy to keep up with the demand, and it is also a good reason for this easy tip: put on a sweater!

Last, don’t forget to get creative and go alternative as much as possible. We will end with a nice motto from Bob Vila, homebuilder extraordinaire, who says we should all do the “top-to-bottom check this fall, and you’ll avoid expensive surprises.”

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“I know what you’re thinking. I thought what you thought. Some things are just too good to be true.”

Tom Selleck opens a reverse mortgage TV commercial with those three lines. He goes on to say that he used to believe there had to be some kind of a catch, or that it was just a way for banks to get your house. Many of you might be wondering the same thing. So, what exactly is a reverse mortgage? Let’s break it down.

the home. Not being able to meet these responsibilities could result in a default and a loss of the home.

If you satisfy these requirements, and are able to maintain your financial obligations, you might be a good candidate for this type of loan. A reverse mortgage can allow you the freedom to enjoy your retirement and splurge a little, without the burden of a monthly mortgage payment. Some borrowers use the money to pay off their existing mortgage, while others may travel, purchase a new car, or just spoil those grandkids.

However you choose to use it is up to you, just keep in mind that this is a loan, not free money.

According to an article by Wade Pfau, a contributor to the Forbes Media website (Forbes.com), most reverse mortgages are HECM loans, or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. This is a program that is backed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the 1987 Housing and Community Development Act, though the reverse mortgage has been around since 1961. This is basically a home equity loan that you can receive as a lump sum, a monthly distribution, or a line of credit which you can use as you choose. The main benefit to this kind of loan is that you do not have to make monthly mortgage payments.

Also, if you are a veteran and have been thinking about taking a VA loan, you might want to learn about some of the differences between the two before making your decision. Aside from the obvious difference that with a reverse mortgage, you don’t have to make monthly payments as you would with a VA loan, there are a few other perks for veterans. As a vet, you would pay fewer closing costs with a reverse mortgage, and there are

by Rose Pollard some built-in FHA policies that protect your spouse and/or heirs that the VA cannot provide. The AAG (American Advisors Group, top reverse mortgage lender in America) website discusses this topic in more depth and has a link to order a free information kit. You can visit them here: americanadvisorsgroup.com/news/ reverse-mortgage-loans-financial-tool-veterans

There are a couple of qualifications that you must meet before applying.

Applicants must be 62 or older, and own at least 50% of their home. You can also take a reverse mortgage loan even if you own your home outright. You then choose how you would like to receive it, and the loan becomes due at the time of the borrowers death. The house title remains in the homeowner’s name for the duration of the loan, and the beneficiaries would decide whether to pay off the loan or sell the house to settle the debt.

This is by no means a complete explanation of the reverse mortgage. There are many other factors to consider, but this will at least give you an idea about whether on not this is something you’d like to investigate further. As with any major financial decision, you should always consult with a trusted financial advisor before signing on the dotted line.

In addition to the two previously mentioned requirements, borrowers need to be absolutely certain that they can keep up with their monthly obligations before taking the loan. Recipients of reverse mortgage loans are required to keep up with property taxes, homeowners insurance, and regular maintenance of 8

After a long career of following an agenda day-in and day-out, you now have time to focus on what you find important in your life. Hobbies are what we do for fun in our down time, so let’s explore some of the fun options we have in the Ft. Campbell area to wet our appetite.

A huge past-time in this area is fishing, I know my father and grandfather were avid fishermen and both served here at Ft. Campbell. Fishing is a readily available sport here with so many fishing holes and rivers to choose from, like Land Between the Lakes or Reelfoot Lake. Not only are these places a great destination for fishing, but I have many friends who are avid kayakers. Blueway Adventure is owned by Richard, who is a Veteran.

They are housed at 1030 S Riverside Drive and have daily rentals with three different routes starting at $25 for the Park Route. If you go further with this hobby, they can even set you up with a sweet new kayak of your own.

If you like the outdoors, then maybe the shooting range is of interest? Well, in the last issue, we put the spot light on Joseph Calabrace, who owns a local shooting range, Cross Creek Lodge.

Shooting skeet or practicing your aim can be a great way to get outside and home in your skills.

Keeping with the outdoor theme, this area is ripe with old battle fields and forts which can give that history or military buff a great day out of doors exploring the area’s history.

Fort Defiance Civil War Park is just a hop and a skip away, and Fort Donelson is just a short drive down to Stewart County. Taking a trip down toward Nashville gives you plenty of

options to stick with the history or Civil War theme with attractions like the Confederate Memorial Park at Winstead Hill, the Eastern Flank Battlefield Park, Bell Meade Plantation, and the many battles and skirmishes that were fought are found on the Battle of Nashville Tour map (you can find the map at battlefields.org or alternatives at civilwartrails.org).

Moving from purely outside to inside and outside hobbies, yoga is becoming one of the fastest growing trends for relieving stress. My friend Magdalena owns Shangri-La Day Spa at 917a Tiny Town Road. Here she does some wonderful work with Veterans as she hosts a yoga class specifically for Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families. On Tuesdays at 17:30, she hosts a yoga class at Shangri-La, on Thursdays at 19:30 yoga is hosted at Prime Fitness on Madison Street, or Sundays at 16:00 you can get limber at Raja Hot Yoga on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. Yoga is a great way to lose the stress and work on that summer beach body at the same time.

Another great hobby is woodworking. Starting off with simple carving is recommended, but a good set of woodworking tools is a must. Seriously, just think of all the things you can fabricate yourself instead of spending a day at IKEA. One last hobby to fill that void is making beer! Who wouldn’t want a running supply of beer at home?

Well, it is easy to get started. All you have to do is find a Mr. Beer starter kit, read the directions (yes, I would suggest you do so it will ferment and do all that science-y stuff like it should), then get your ingredients, follow said directions, and then voila! Just four to six weeks later and you have BEER! With that hypothetical beer in my hand that I just hypothetically made, I cheers you to your new hobby.

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I had the pleasure of sitting down for coffee and an interview with Eric Horton.

We had a great time getting to know one another at Plumb Line Coffee shop in downtown Clarksville. I came prepared with a few questions, but I expected our time to find its way to the best topics. Here is what Eric Horton had to say: Where are you from and tell me about your military career?

I am from Illinois, and I joined the military on February 1st, 1990. I finished my career on September 29, 2016. My military career went by so fast! It was fun; I had a great time, and I still don’t know how it went by so fast. My initial MOS was Infantry, but early on as a Private, my Platoon Sergeant talked me into re-classing into another MOS that had transferable skills after the military, which I spent 20 years doing. I retired as a Senior Leader, and I had several tours overseas including the last one for Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013, Korea, the Balkans, the Netherlands and Germany. The people I have met from different cultures are now family.

What kept you in Clarksville after retiring?

Well, I had intentions to go back to Iowa after having been stationed there from 2002-2006 at the University of Northern Iowa, but after being stationed here in 2014, my daughters became heavily involved with dancing at Dance Force and the community, so it was hard to pull them away from that–it would be hard to leave.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love the outdoors, canoeing, camping— just unplugging in the outdoors. I like to go to LBL (Land between the Lakes), the Red River in Adams TN, and Foggy Bottom in Nashville.

I am a total dance dad, too! I follow my daughters to all of their dance competitions, which take us to surrounding states. I love it because it is the family all together, you know, family time. My daughter Bailey is in the Nutcracker performance this year in Nashville, so that is awesome. We are excited about that. Anyway, since I retired, I have been heavily involved with my daughters.

Favorite spots to hit in Clarksville?

For coffee, either here at Plumb Line or Mugsy’s on Fort Campbell Blvd..

For a good steak, I like to go to the Blackhorse downtown on Franklin Street, or Edwards. For tacos, I like El Bracero out off Exit 1. My secret getaway in town is the Greenway to go ride bikes with my girls.

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continued on page 13

What’s your weekend getaway?

Honestly, Nashville for the Parthenon and the park around it. I also like LBL for the girls—that’s where I took them for their first nature hike and camping. Louisville is another good one because we have friends who are stationed there at Fort Knox.

Cadiz is a fun one to go sit and eat on the pier or camp at Prizer Point.

What do you do, Eric?

I work at Workforce Essentials as Operation Next’s Career Skills Program manager. We begin the process of discharge 180 days before a soldier leaves. We make sure the spouse and soldier can transition to civilian life with training and then a job. Our job is to get them training and job placement for the real world. To initiate the process, all they have to do is email: 101vets@WorkforceEssentials.com. I wanted to go into this line of work because I know first hand how hard that transition is, even with a solid plan, and I saw the cultural differences that I had to overcome out of the military. I we through the Army Career Skills Program Hire Our Heroes and Austin Peay’s Executive Leadership program. After service, my passion has to participate in any and everything that this community has to offer so that I would not retire and retreat, and be an avid contributor to this wonderful community. I had leadership experience and other skills from the military that I did not want to waste. I am happy to work for Operation Next and Workforce Essentials because it allows me to be a champion for these newly retiring soldiers and their spouses. I still treated my brothers and sisters like a battle buddy, so to speak by practicing the motto of never leaving a fallen comrade whether while in uniform and or out of uniform after they transition out. I like to tell people this, you have to learn who you are, what you bring to the table. Know your transition and what you can do or you will have a rough transition. I also like theold NCO creed, “Be, Know, Do.” Advice for those in early retirement?

First and foremost, they do not need to retire and retreat, they have skills that are valuable to the community. They need to stay active in the community that they will live in forever. It is almost a disservice not to use those leadership skills and contribute to your community post retiring or transitioning out. If you come in the military at 20 and leave at 40 and as statistics say, you live to 80 that is halftime in your game of life. You give the best prime years of your life to the service, so use those skills you have gained and learned and help contribute to the community. Another piece of advice is you can’t run a race looking behind you and win, so leave your positional importance once you retire behind, it doesn’t define who you are now or the race you will run because we still have the 2nd half of our life to live and focus on winning the game, so we need a new strategy. One of my keys to success comes from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War—know your enemy, not to characterize them the same, but how do you know your new battlefield, as well as yourself and your true capabilities?

fÑ=óçì=ÅçãÉ=áå=íÜÉ=ãáäáí~êó= ~í=OM=~åÇ=äÉ~îÉ=~í=QM=~åÇ=~ë ëí~íáëíáÅë=ë~óI=óçì=äáîÉ=íç=UM íÜ~í=áë=Ü~äÑíáãÉ=áå=óçìê= Ö~ãÉ=çÑ=äáÑÉKÒ

I love the old NCO phrase BE KNOW DO. BE the Best you can be from the skills you have learned once you transition; KNOW who you are and your new environment and DO your best in all you have learned and can.

It was a great time to chat with Eric. He picked an excellent place for us. Talking further with Eric I wanted to know what made him tick, and he did not let me down. He says, “everything revolves around widening his worldview and visiting as many places as he could.” He told me that he put 100,000 miles on his car in 3 years while he was stationed in the Netherlands because he wanted to see the world and the military allowed him to do that at every duty location.

For that he has the utmost love and passion for giving back to this wonderful service in anything he can.

With all the amazing food offerings in the area surrounding Fort Campbell, there has to be at least one or two places good for wetting your whistle too. And there definitely is with the multiple different craft breweries in the area, bringing ales, lagers and stouts of all flavors to dinner tables, backyard gatherings and into the local grocery stores in the community. Here’s a couple of the best places to get some hoppy libation as the weather starts to cool off for the fall.

The Tennessee Valley Brewing Company is one of the newest places in Clarksville to grab your favorite brew and sit down with friends, new and old. They have a rotating list of beers on tap, and make the majority of their brews in house, from the Governor’s Braggot Mead to the Orange Radler Shandy.

They also have live music and food trucks on Friday nights so be sure to come in for a flight or two while checking out some local music.

Tennessee Valley Brewing Company Mon - Thur 3 pm - 9 pm, Fri & Sat noon - midnight, Sun noon - 8 pm 2088 Lowes Dr. Ste. H, Clarksville tnvalleybrewing.com, • 931-320-9192

Blackhorse has been a Clarksville staple for years. Since former 101st Airborne Division helicopter pilot Jeff Robinson opened the pub in 1992, thousands and thousands of patrons have come through to see what’s on tap and grab a bowl of their famous beer cheese dip. Blackhorse makes their own beers in house as well, and you can find their Barnstormer Red Ale and Vanilla Cream Ale at most grocery stores in the area.

And if you’re a night owl, head up to the Tap Room bar above the restaurant for drinking after the pub closes.

Blackhorse Pub and Brewery Mon - Thur 11 am - 10 pm, Fri & Sat 11 am - 11 pm, Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm 132 Franklin St., Clarksville blackhorsebrews.com 931-552-3726

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Situated on the historic and culturally significant Strawberry Alley, Strawberry Alley Ale Works is looking to be Clarksville’s next big restaurant after opening in April 2018. With a mix of old and new elements from restaurants past, what’s a better way to make your mark in the community than with beer?

They have a set of four house brews and half a dozen or so rotating brews throughout the year, all of which pair well with their Bourbon burger.

Strawberry Alley Ale Works Mon - Thur 11 am - midnight, Fri & Sat 11 am - 1 am, Sun 10:30 am - 11 pm 103 Strawberry Alley, Clarksville • saaleworks.com • 931-919-4777 Tennessee’s smallest brewery!

The Star Spangled Brewing Company is a Veteran owned brewery, brewing on a 3 barrel system producing the best 93 gallons of craft beer possible. They specialize in small batch, high gravity beers and homemade root beer. This brewery was created out of the love for our Country and great craft beer. Careful thought and planning was put into building out this brewery utilizing as much “Made in the USA” products as possible. Enjoy the carefully brewed beverages, but be amazed at the craftsmanship and care that was taken in creating this Patriotic Brewery.

Star Spangled Brewing Company Wed & Thur 3 pm - 8 pm, Fri 3 pm - 10 pm, Sat noon - 10 pm 1030 Progress Dr. Suite E - Clarksville • starspangledbrewingco.com • 615-398-1237 As the first and only craft brewery in Christian County and Hopkinsville history, Hopkinsville Brewing Company has been serving the community for only a few years, but they managed to turn a few heads in the process.

Their Kickstarter campaign whose funds went to support the opening of the brewery raised more than $40,000, more than enough for the business to launch in September 2016. The nanobrewery has eight of their own brews on tap, and they have food trucks most every night outside the business to serve hungry customers.

Hopkinsville Brewing Company Wed & Thur 4 pm - 8 pm, Fri & Sat 2 - 8 pm 102 E 5th St - Hopkinsville hopkinsvillebrewingcompany.com • 270-987-3115 16

Once you retire, time is yours again. So, why not do something for yourself? Well, how do I do that, you might ask? I will be very happy to tell you all about the VA Benefits you may qualify for if you were serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of that event, our nation decided to allow those in the Armed Forces to receive education benefits during or after their service. This will be a quick overview of what chapter benefits relate to you specifically as a retiree.

CH.30 Montgomery GI Bill For this chapter, the Veteran paid $1,200 into the Montgomery GI Bill in their first year of active duty service ($100 a month). Under this chapter, you apply to receive a monthly amount which you must pay your school tuition with, and you are able to keep the leftover money as a type of stipend. This chapter can be related to the CH. 35, but for the Servicemember and not the Dependent, in terms of how it is paid out as a monthly amount, then you make payment to the school.

CH.31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Eligibility for this chapter benefit is for Veterans who have a service-connected disability rating of 20% with an employment handicap, or 10% rating with a serious employment handicap. Last, you must be discharged with anything other than dishonorable.

Entitlement for this chapter benefit is assessed with the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to determine if there is an employment handicap, and then to develop a rehabilitation plan which outlines the services the Veteran will be provided. Services are based on individual needs, and after being tested and the disability assessed, they may qualify for one of these five employment tracks: Reemployment with Previous Employer, Rapid Access to Employment, Self-Employment, Employment through Long-Term Services, and Independent Living Services. The scope of this article does not allow an explanation of each one of these, but for further information, you can visit vets.gov. The Veteran will have up to 12 years after their date of separation from active duty, or the date the VA determines the Veteran’s service-connected disability compensable. There is a subsistence allowance that is paid each month based on the rate of attendance (full-time or part-time) at the school, the number of dependents, and the type of training. Veterans can also elect a special subsistence allowance if they are eligible for both VR&E and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. VR&E has a secondary program that works in tandem with VR&E on college campuses: VetSuccess On Campus (VSOC). VetSuccess is designed to assist Veterans transitioning into college life. A VSOC counselor ensures that Veterans receive support and assistance in pursing their educational and employment goals.

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CH. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill The GI Bill is available to those who have at least 90-days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001. This also pertains to those who were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability after 30-days. Purple Heart recipients qualify for 100% benefits paid by the GI Bill, regardless of length of service.

On vets.gov, there is a GI Bill Comparison Tool that will help you make the right decision on whether to train at a college or the on-the-job training program. This program also has some specific components that are not under any other benefit, such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, which assists Veterans in paying the cost of your tuition and fees if they exceed the amount allowed under your GI Bill entitlement, and the Transfer of Entitlement Option, which allows the service-member to transfer their unused benefits to a spouse or dependent (this must be completed while active duty). For a list of the programs that are covered under the GI Bill, you can visit benefits.va.gov If you were released from active duty before January 1, 2013, you will have a 15-year limitation to use your GI Bill benefits, if you were discharged after January 1, 2013, the limitation has been removed and there is not a time limit to use your GI Bill. The GI Bill makes payments on your behalf straight to the university while also sending you a Basic Housing Allowance based on your rate of attendance (full-time or part-time).

CH. 35 Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program (DEA) This chapter title is the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, and it allows dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to service-related conditions, classified as 100% unemployable, or died while active duty to earn an education. Under this benefit, the dependent or spouse may receive up to 45-months of educational benefits if you began using them prior to August 1, 2018, after this date, you may qualify for up to 36-months. To be eligible, you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of: A veteran who died or is permanently disabled as a result of a service-connected disability; A Veteran who died from any cause while the permanent disability was in existence; A Servicemember who is missing in action or captured in the line of duty; A Servicemember who is forcibly detained by a foreign government; or, A Servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving hospitalized outpatient treatment for a service-connected disability, and is likely to be discharged for that disability. Some other factors to consider are the dependent must be between 18 and 26, and they cannot continue using benefits after their 26th birthday. If you are the spouse, you have 10 years to use your benefit from the time the VA finds you eligible or the date of death of the Veteran.

All of these benefits and more are found on the VA’s website. I have covered the basics of what you need to know to begin the process. If you are eligible for any of these benefits, you have to complete a form on vets.gov to start receiving your benefits (either a Form 22-1990 or a Form 22-5490, depending on the chapter benefit). After you have completed the initial process, you need to decide which school you would like to earn your education. Once you have decided, simply stop by the Veterans Affairs office on that college campus to begin your file and get your education going. Some last-minute basics on these benefits: Under the VA requirements, you must be earning college credit towards a degree program (i.e. B.S. in Biology, or B.S. in Engineering), or enrolled in a training school like welding, cosmetology, or trucking, to qualify for your educational benefits.

What this means is, if you take a class that will not help you earn the degree you are working towards, then the VA will not pay for that class, and you are responsible for the payment of that class. As with anything military, hurry up and wait! This process of beginning use of your benefits can take several months, so it is always a good idea to get started as early as possible.

Austin Peay State University alone has around 2,500 students who use VA benefits. For more information on what benefits you qualify for and further information on the process, please visit vets.gov and search the chapter you want to learn more about.

Drink recipes and photos courtesy of mixthatdrink.com

Christmas time is filled with festive get-togthers with family and friends.

Make your party special with seasonal cocktails that all your guests will be talking about.

Mistletoe Martini Cranberry Christmas Cocktail 1 1⁄2 ounce vodka 1 ⁄2 ounce elderberry liqueur 1 1⁄2 ounce cranberry juice 1 ⁄2 ounce simple syrup Cranberries Mint leaves Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in the vodka, elderberry liqueur, cranberry juice and simple syrup.

Shake until chilled. Strain into a martini glass.

Garnish by tossing in a few cranberries and floating mint leaves on top.

Coffee Nudge 3

⁄4 ounce dark creme de cacao ⁄4 ounce Kahlua 1 ⁄2 ounce brandy 6-8 ounces hot coffee Whipped cream 3

In order, pour the ingredients into a mug.

Top with whipped cream.

Grinch cocktail 2 ounces Midori 1 ⁄2 ounce lemon juice 1 teaspoon simple syrup Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and pour in all the ingredients.

Shake well until chilled.

Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

A short service with a lasting impact War has a way of bringing together what may initially seem like polar opposites.

No place is this more evident than with the U.S.’s involvement in World War II and the activation of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. The 555th, or Triple Nickels, were one of the first all-black parachute infantry test platoons in the U.S. military.

“Many years before “Black Pride” became a popular slogan, a small group of black American Soldiers gave life and meaning to those words,” according to the Triple Nickle website. “Born within an army that had traditionally relegated blacks to menial jobs and programmed them for failure, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion succeeded in becoming the nation’s first all-black parachute infantry test platoon, company and battalion.”

After activation in winter of 1943 in Camp Mackall, North Carolina, the battalion served various purposes related to World War II but never saw combat related to the conflict.

They were initially tasked to be “Smokejumpers,” which involved jumping over the forest fires in the American northwest scanning for Japanese Fire Balloons that were bioweapons launched from the Pacific attempting to decimate American and Canadian agriculture and cities.

The 555th served alongside the 11th and 101st Airborne Divisions, among others, before their ultimate deactivation on December 15, 1944.

The Triple Nickels received physical recognition for their service and sacrifice in September 2014 with a monument where original World War II-era members were present to see the unveiling of the marble stone with the 555th’s patch emblazoned on the front. The monument sits in front of the 11th Airborne Division monument, the division that helped father the 101st Airborne Division, with multiple other monuments in the lot adjacent to the Don F. Pratt museum.

Clarksville’s Elester Garner chapter of the 555th Parachute Infantry Association serves as the Clarksville area’s meeting place for Triple Nickel veterans.

They host different fundraisers throughout the year to help sponsor the organization’s scholarship and can be seen around Clarksville and Hopkinsville events posting the colors prior to many happenings.

For more information about the Elester Garner Chapter and for membership information, visit www.TripleNickleElesterGarnerChapter.net.