According to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, active duty personnel who received “traumatic injuries” during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq will get payments of at least $25,000 to $100,000 before Christmas. Service members or their beneficiaries must complete a certification form, providing information from their physician and service. The committee Web site has more information. This is a link to the VA Web site for more information.
The Air Force recently released an updated policy implementing the Pentagon’s new guidance on troops’ religious accommodation requests. The new policy emphasizes the role commanders play in reviewing such requests, limiting the role of chaplains and eliminating special boards meant to advise leaders.