Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Rally Pointer Spawn. Good morning everybody, and welcome to the
Rally Point Radio Show. It's me Amanda Macchiato mccanu and
Justin Ledford. Yep, coming at you. Happy Friday. We're going
to get started right away with this show, jumping right
(00:22):
in with a segment of Warrior Wellness Radio. So, as
some of you know, if you've been listening to the
show for a little while, Justin wear several hats, one
of which is a co host on the show, but
another one is the founder of Warrior Wellness. So justin
let our listeners know for those that might not, what
is Warrior Wellness about? How'd you come to create it?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So it started out as an idea to to basically
take care of veterans, get them up, moving active, you know,
into the gym. At the time, I was working at
the YMC, and part of that was getting them to
(01:07):
come in, get their gym membership, get personal training, take
care of them. It's actually modeled off of a program
at the Oshkosh, Wisconsin YMCA. It's called Beyond Limits. So
I started looking at that and researching it and they
have like a twelve week program and within that twelve
(01:29):
week program, you get twelve one hour sessions of personal
training as well as like weekly group exercise and stuff
like that. So I decided to develop Warrior Wellness from that.
So basically what Waror Wellness does as one of its
(01:52):
main things is twelve weeks of a gym membership of
your choice as well as twelve weeks personal training group exercise.
We also have the Legacy Rock Club and just different
things so cool.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So not only are you engaging people on a physical level,
but my take because I help you with Legacy Rot Club,
you know, we ruck quite a bit around Charlotte County.
It's also taking care of people's you know, sense of
community and trying to help bring people back out, not
just to bring them back out to the gym, but
to bring them back out into the community and get
(02:29):
them engaging with people. Sometimes as veterans, we tend to
withdraw a little bit, maybe, you know, kind of leave
leave people alone, kind of do our own thing. And
sometimes that's that's okay. Sometimes we need that to recharge,
but sometimes that can kind of not be a good thing,
because sometimes your mind can be a terrible place to
(02:50):
wander sometimes, especially if you're a veteran and depending on
what you went through during your time in the service.
So it's so important to make sure that we are
getting together, that we're commiserating, building camaraderie and legacy. Rout
Club is a fantastic way to meet both those tenets
of physical fitness as well as community engagement. So that's
(03:13):
kind of another layer of it, right.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, exactly. So I hadn't even planned for that piece.
I know that we've talked about it before, but part
of the Legacy Rock Club is, you know, it kind
of kind of takes care of that piece of like
the group training and the group engagements that.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
We're missing and getting veterans together to talk about things
and share their experiences, share stories about maybe their time
in the service or even just commonalities related to transition.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, so when we get together, they just start talking.
So we have a couple of Vietnam veterans that are
out with us, one of them being Paul Pleshi, who
is our co.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Host an unofficial booking agent.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, so he's out of town right now enjoying some
family time, but he's one of our main stays, so
we miss him out there right now.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
But yeah, so, and it's not just veterans, like we
also have very veteran supportive folks that are a part
of our core nucleus of the Legacy rout Club. So
like Deborah Cameron, her friend Sharon, we have them as well,
and they're they're not veterans and you don't have to
be a veteran to come out for a Legacy rot Club,
which is the beauty of it. But they're so supportive
(04:30):
and they love hearing our stories and they love, you know,
giving veterans an encouraging word or positivity in their day,
which is wonderful because we need that. I mean, we
hear people all the time say thank you for your service,
and it's not that we don't appreciate that we do,
but after a while, you hear it so much that
(04:51):
it's it's nice to see it lived out. And Sharon
and deb definitely.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Do that right exactly. And then we also have our
other regular that come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cassie,
so she's had to take on a few more responsibilities
lately as the interim she makes sure that I say
interim executive director of the Franz Ross YMCA, but yeah,
(05:17):
she's awesome. So she comes out on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We have her full support and I'm glad that I
can continue the relationship between myself and the YMCA and
taking care of the veterans but then also getting them
back into the y.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Absolutely. And so for those that are listening, we talk
about you know, recks on Tuesday, Thursday, whatever, What is
your schedule? What is the schedule for Legacy Rock Club
In case we have listeners who want to join us
and we want you to join us. If you're listening
and you're wondering or you're thinking about it and you're
on the fence, this is your formal invitation that we
want you to come out to the Legacy Rock Club.
(05:56):
So tell us where Legacy Rout Club meets and on
which days of the week.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Absolutely, So every Tuesday and Thursday we're at the Franz
Ross YMCA at seven thirty am. And then on Wednesdays
we're at the KPA's Pioneer Trail which is almost to Inglewood.
It's like right past the bridge in Port Charlotte. But
then also on Fridays we do Centennial Park, which is
in the Westport community in Port Charlotte.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Perfect So if you're looking for an opportunity, if one
of those days of the weeks or that time works
for you, come on out periodically. There are Saturday rucks
as well. There was a Ladies' ruck a little while back,
and there are plans for more rucks on Saturdays to come.
So for those that work or you know, maybe seven
(06:45):
thirty in the morning just doesn't fit your schedule, definitely
keep listening to show so that you can stay tuned
and find out when we're having weekend rucks.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, and as it starts to cool down, I'm sure
that we'll do things at different times of the day.
But uh yeah, so right now, that's our that's our
set schedule. We were just kind of like having pop ups,
but then that wasn't very successful. So I figured if
we just do like a like a solid schedule, we
should be all right. And a lot of people got
(07:16):
discouraged at the beginning because the difference between just rocking
and walking, you know, carrying your weighted pack and everything,
and a lot of people don't want to do that
or are you know nervous about that. Well, just come
out there, you know, come out there, start out just
walking and then you know, add a backpack and then
(07:36):
add some weight to it, so.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Or don't whatever you wherever you're at in your fitness
journey is where you're at, so come out. There's zero judgment.
We have people that come out all the time that
don't bring a backpack, or they have a backpack but
they don't put weight in it, or you know, whatever
the case might be. We have. We have some young
folks who come out and they have fifty pound packs.
But it's not a competition and we're not there to compare. Yeah,
(08:01):
so we're just there to have a good time, meet
up and just challenge ourselves on whatever level for wherever
we're at.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I don't even notice anymore, like who has a
backpack and who doesn't. It's catered to the individual. So
like Quinn as a young man that comes out with us,
and he actually starts the fire Academy today, So good
luck to Quinn. But he comes out with like his
fifty pound pack every time, and you know that's his journey,
and you know, he did his his fitness tests to
(08:30):
get into the Firefighter Academy and it worked out for
him because right because he's.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Used to it exactly as an old retired lady. Fifty
pounds in a ruck does not work for me. Right now,
I think I'm sitting at twenty two. Yeah, and that's
enough of a challenge for me. Twenty two is a
significant number, which I didn't think about at the time, honestly.
I mean I just kind of want and went around
my house and put what I had in my bag.
So I had a twelve pound weighted vest, so I
(08:57):
threw that in there. And then I had two five
five pound ankle weights, so that makes twenty too. So
I just kind of and that's all I did. I
just plopped them in the backpack, kind of tried to
situate them to where the weight distributed well enough that
it wasn't bothering me. But I worked up to it.
I think I was at seventeen pounds for the longest.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So I have.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Let's see, I have two ten pound dumbbells wrapped in towels,
and then I have like a throw pillow for filler
that my wife might be missing, but that's where it's at.
And then I have a pack of crackers because when
we go to Kpe's, I like to throw the crackers
to the fish. Right there's a nice bridge that you
can see fish in there.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yes, absolutely, And there are there are stopping points, there
are photo ops.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I want to know what you're gonna eat though, Oh,
you gotta bring food for yourself.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Oh yeah, no, I don't know. I never eat anything
when I go out, but yeah, I mean I always
have water on me and I try to make sure
that I have enough water for everybody else. And bug
spray good, Yes, yeah, I have the bugs.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Murder flies in Southwest Florida are vicious. Yeah, this year especially. Actually,
I've been talking to people who have lived here for
over a decade who are like, this is the worst
year they can ever recall for mosquitoes. So yeah, fun times.
If you don't live in Southwest Florida, you're probably laughing,
like that's why I don't live in Florida. But I
still love it. Murder flies are not I'm okay with it.
(10:25):
I'll adapt. We just spray ourselves down and keep it moving.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
So we did our Independence Day rock and man, you
could you could see the mosquitoes like you could seeming.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Yeah, yes, it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
I had never seen that before where they're just so
big and plentiful.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It was a feast for the vectors. Yeah, and we
were we were the feast.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, so that that event was kind of a bust,
but not really. You know, it was still there were
six of us out there, and we had a few
people that were like, hey, I'm on my way, and
I was like, just don't worry about it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
But well, to be fair, there was a huge deluge
that morning before the ruck started, so that was a
bit of a deterrent because when you're sitting in your
car and it's raining hammer handles, you're kind of like,
this is not going to work. And it doesn't work
for everybody, so oh, well, I get it.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I also live across the street from Centennial Park, so
I was going to show up regardless right now. If
it was, you know, twenty minutes away from my house,
I might not have been there exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
See, and I've made the mistake of trusting the weather
man before because in the past there was one week
where we canceled a ruck because everything the weather I'm
not even gonna name the weather app because I don't
want to get in trouble, but the weather app I
was using, which was supposed to be accurate, said that
it was going to rain storm blow Huppawappa on us,
(11:51):
and so we decided, let's just cancel the ruck and
we did and not one rain drop fell at the
site where we were to ruck. So after that, I've
just decided, you know what, if it's liquid sunshine, it's
liquid sunshine. As long as there's no lightning. They joke,
nothing can stop the US Air Force, as the last
(12:12):
line of our song except lightning within five So I
still abide by that rule. But anyways, so if you're
looking for a good time and a way to get involved,
the Legacy Ruck Club is definitely a piece of that,
but it's simply a portion of Warrior Wellness and Warrior
Wellness because of you know, the gym memberships and the
(12:35):
needs for helping to foster physical fitness, engagement and mobility
for veterans. There's a cost involved with that, and so
with that, Warrior Wellness is a not for profit. So
the way that Justin is able to do his program
is through the generosity of others, really, and so there
(12:57):
is an event coming up to help If people are
looking for a way to contribute or looking for a
way to help support Warrior Wellness, can you speak to that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, absolutely so on the twentieth of July.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
It's a Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, it's a Sunday. It's from one to five at
the Wyvern in Point of Gore to Florida. And basically
the admission is a donation and with that you get
two drink tickets as well as appetizers. I don't know
if that's appetizers until the appetizers run out or if
it's just for a couple of hours.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
From one to five. And then it's on the rooftop, right, and.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Then there's also a bar, so if you're not good
with your two drinks and you want more, then you can.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Go to the bar and get more and there'll be music,
there'll be giveaways.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Right, So we're going to have we're gonna have some
silent auction things, some drawings for some prizes that organizations
have been nice enough to donate. And like Amanda was saying,
you know, these things aren't free, like I would love
(14:11):
to do everything for free.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
However, well, you are able to offer things for free,
but it has to come through donations. It can't come
out of your own pocket, right, Yeah, you have a
family I do to support, so it'd be wonderful if
you know, as retired disabled veterans, we could just be
philanthropic and you know, make it rain on organizations and
such and do good things. And we try to where
(14:36):
we can, but you can't carry it alone with warrior
wellness like this is definitely one of those groups where
it literally takes a village. It does so there, but
there will also be music, there will be giveaways, there
will be all kinds of stuff like that. It'll be
a great place if you are active in the community
and you want a network, bring your business cards, be
(14:59):
ready to talk to other like minded people who love
supporting veterans. If you just love veterans and you have
a great social group and you guys just want to
kind of go somewhere and have a nice change of scenery,
support a great cause, enjoy some drinks and orders, then
by all means, come out, dress up, dress down, just
(15:20):
come out and have a great time supporting the worthy
cause of helping take care of veterans in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Right because as veterans age, we withdraw, we start to
live in our heads and not get out as much.
So the idea is to just keep them active. So
right now I have a couple of clients that have
been referred to me by Shauna, who is on here
once a month. She does helping Hearts for Heroes. She
(15:48):
works at right at Home Healthcare. So she calls me up, Hey,
I have a veteran that is, you know, in my program.
So she refers them to my program. And so right
now I see them a couple of times a week,
and I see them at a gym that I'm already
a member of. Well if it turned out that they
(16:10):
wanted to go somewhere else, you know, I want them
to have that option. So I want to be able to,
you know, provide that opportunity for them. And yes, I
do personal training, but maybe they don't want me, which
is fine. Maybe they want, you know, a female personal trainer,
or an older personal trainer or a younger personal trainer,
(16:30):
or whatever the case may be. And so I want
to be able to accommodate the veteran in any possible
way that I can. And like, like we've said, I
can't do that without without donations, without funding, and yeah,
so that's what waror wellness.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Is so absolutely and so the give back to the
community though, is big because it results in veterans who
are more resilient, more active, more mobile. But there are
other ways that warrior wellness is present in the community.
So you recently had an opportunity to do something wonderful
to boost the emotional wellness of a widow of a veteran.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Warrior wellness does not stop at physical wellness. It's emotional wellness,
it's mental wellness. And that's for veterans, active duty, military dependence,
whatever the case may be, just whatever furthers the wellness
of those individuals. So yes, I had a lady come
(17:32):
up to me at the YMCA. She had her husband's
jacket that he wore in World War Two.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, And so I told her I would take care
of it. And so I pulled a service record and
I pulled all this information, did up a bio and
ordered a shadow box, had it put on the wall
at Charlie Foxtrot, and we had a nice little ceremony
to dedicate this jacket that is now hanging in Charlie Foxtrot.
(18:05):
And yeah, you know, just things like that. And I
know that that she really appreciated it and her daughter
really appreciated it. I was a little nervous. I'm not
much of a public speaker, oddly enough. But yeah, so
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
I feel like that you.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Challenged yourself too through warrior wellness, which is good. I mean,
that's the whole point of warrior wellness is challenging us
to grow, challenging veterans to grow. So you definitely grew
that day because I was there at that dedication, and honestly,
you did a good job. It's talking to a widow
about what her husband did during World War Two and
(18:44):
commemorating his service through dedicating his coat that he wore.
It's no small thing, that's and it's something that you
want to be very you know, deliberate about in the delivery.
And so I thought you did really well. But it
really you're right. It helped You're welcome. It really helped
(19:05):
the widow, her daughter. It helped them to really see
that the community genuinely cares about, you know, her late husband,
her late father's military service, and that there's still we're
still willing to honor that, like we still want to
honor that as we should. That's something that should never
ever fade from the American conscience is thanking veterans for
(19:29):
their service and honoring their service and their sacrifice, because
I mean, without that, God knows where we would be.
So I mean I thought it was definitely a great
thing to do. A lot of community members showed up
to support the family, So that's just another way that
Warrior Wellness is able to give back to take care
(19:52):
of veterans and to take care of their families. So
that's just another reason for people hopefully to want to
come out to the fundraiser and help support the mission
of Warrior Wellness because it transcends just going to the
gym or coming out for a rock. It's so much
bigger than.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
That, right, And so the coat worn by Sergeant McGraw
h that was like the first piece of what's going
to be the Wall of honor at Charlie Foxtrot. So
if people have a if if you have a deceased father, brother, sister, mother, whatever,
(20:30):
who we didn't have the opportunity to honor them while
while they were still with us. What we're going to
start doing is like a like a five x seven
photograph as well as a plaque to kind of break
down their military service to make sure that we honor
those individuals. So once again that's that's another thing that
(20:50):
you know, it incurs costs.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
You know, we want to make.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Sure that we do it, but do it right, do
it correctly. Absolutely, and so yeah, so that that's just
another piece of of waror wellness and part of the
healing for those families in a way for us to
honor those individuals that came before us.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Absolutely, and anybody can come to those ceremonies that are
held at Charlie Foxtrot when they happen. If you go
to Charlie Foxtrot Brewing's Facebook page, they're usually pretty good
about advertising. And they're located on seventeen hundred Tamiami Trail
in Port Charlotte. They're in the same shopping center as
Perkins the Military Recruiters Taco Bell near Murdock Circle, but
(21:30):
on Tammyami Trail or also known as forty one. So
that's just another way that if you want to give
back and you know, help support warrior wellness, come out
to those come out and support the families of those
veterans as we honor their service. And if you want
to get involved in helping to honor their service by
(21:51):
all means, let justin know. But we're kind of coming
up short on time here, So how can people get
a hold of you if they want more information about
Warrior Wellness or if they want to be involved or
whatever the case might be. How can they best reach you?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, absolutely, So you can email me at Justin at
Warrior DASHW dot com or the website is warrior w
dot com for Warrior Wellness. And once again, it's just
taking care of veterans really, you.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Know, exactly holistically, mind body, soul, taking care of their
families if they're no longer with us, honoring their service. Absolutely,
And if you are a surviving family member and would
like to have your family member honored at Charlie Foxtrot
on the Wall of Honor, please reach out to Justin
(22:47):
let him know he would love to do it.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I don't mean to speak for you, but I'm pretty
you're pretty confident that I'm accurate in saying that, but absolutely,
like we would love the opportunity to honor your family member.
So again, email address.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Is is Justin at Warrior DASHW dot com. And please
come out and see us on July twentieth at the
Wyvern in Punta Gorda. It should be a great event
and Like I said, the admission is donations, get a
couple of drinks, I guess some appetizers.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Maybe win a prize. Yeah, absolutely, Enjoy some music, enjoy
some time with friends, make new friends, make some new
networking connections. Whatever works. Yeah, So hopefully we'll see you
all out there. Thanks again Justin for being on this
show doing Warrior Wellness Radio. We appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Do you need healing from service related trauma? Join Military
Reboot starting July sixteenth, twenty twenty five for a twelve
week course to help you navigate your service related trauma
and help you find healing. More information is available at
Reboot Recovery dot com. Mark you for July twentieth, twenty
(24:01):
twenty five, from one to five pm at the Wyvern Hotel,
Perch three sixty rooftop one oh one East Rata Esplanade
in Point of Quart of Florida. This fundraiser will benefit
Warrior Wellness that helps keep warriors in the fight, help
veterans stay fit, provide gym memberships, personal training, swimming lessons,
and holistic health services to those who served. And now
(24:23):
for this segment, we have a new recurring monthly segment
where We're going to talk about all things veterans, benefits,
healthcare services for family members of veterans, all that jazz
with Stephanie Mattlock. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Stephanie, thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Me absolutely so tell us a little bit about yourself.
You've been on the show before, but for those that
maybe didn't hear that episode, tell us a bit about yourself,
about your military service and how you came to be
the guru of all things via benefits.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I like so again. My name is Stephanie Mattlock. I'm
a US Navy veteran. I served seven years. I starved
from nineteen ninety to nineteen ninety seven. When I got
out of the military and exited out, I had no
physical I had nothing. I was just told basically, have
a nice life, and so I did. I went on
(25:16):
with life basically suppressing a lot of the things that
had occurred while I was in the military. Around I
guess it was around twenty twelve. I was actually standing
at a kitchen counter with my now husband at that time,
with my boyfriend and a good friend of ours. They
were both veterans, they were both receiving disability, and they
(25:36):
were both receiving healthcare through the VA. I had no
clue what it was. So that's kind of where my
journey started. I kind of dove in. I had my
medical records, and so I started going to the VA healthcare.
I got enrolled. I also got enroled for mental health,
started really doing my due diligence on the benefits side
(25:56):
and understanding basically what the thirty eight CF are ones,
which you know is the code Federal Regulation for disabilities.
Also understanding how the raiders rate, and it kind of
just morphed from there. I followed male claims and eventually
throughout the years, I wound up becoming one hundred percent
(26:17):
PMT Because of all my disabilities due to the service,
one of them, which is pretty near and dear to
my heart, is I am an MST survivor, which is
a military sexual trauma. I'm an advocate for anybody, whether
it's male or female, that was assaulted either physically harassed,
emotionally or mentally in the military to step forward and
(26:41):
not be afraid for their voice to be heard. So
that's really one of my passions that kind of have
evolved over the years until about this about a few
years ago, and created a Facebook group which I have.
It's be a Claim Veterans Healthy Veterans, and that really
kind of just grew. We have over fifty six thousand
(27:03):
members in that Facebook group, which includes veterans, thousands dependents,
anybody that's needing help and guidance. We kind of just
help there. We like to keep it very protective. I
don't allow people that are trying to take advantage of
veterans in there, such as claim Shark companies. And then
we created a YouTube channel which is also the same name,
(27:25):
be a Claim Vetroans Helping Veterans. We have about almost
twelve thousand subscribers. We do a lot of informative videos,
and we do occasionally live Q and E, which is
there to help veterans. So that's really kind of my
passion helping veterans because I didn't know that I deserve
benefits back when I got out, and still to this day,
(27:49):
there's a lot of metros that either don't know the
benefits they deserve or they're like the typical thing. You know,
I don't deserve benefits. You know, I'm not in a
wheel share, so I get down a lot. You have
to understand anything that's incurred in service, whether it's an
injury and illness and it happened in service, you deserve
(28:11):
to be granted service connection.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Absolutely right about that. Thank you for all that you
do to advocate for veterans, and thank you for your
service in the Navy. I hate that you had to
experience MST, but I'm thankful that you've been able to
turn that into an advocacy platform to help others.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Yeah, helping another budget when they message me or they
email me and you know they endured something regarding the
MST portion of the military, and letting them know that
you're not alone. You know they're scared because they're going
to have to go through the compensation and tension exam
for not disability. That's where you really just you have
(28:59):
to open up. You have to be open and honest,
don't hold your feelings back. And that gives me great
passion when I'm able to help on that short and say, look,
you got to get through this because at the end
of the day, you deserve to be rated for what
happened to you. That really is you're right and that
(29:19):
and that really is my passion along with everything else,
trying to help that just no, don't get me wrong,
I don't plan to know everything. I'm learning things too
or you know, oh I didn't know that. That's great
to know, So I'll like, I'll put that in my
little like bucket of things now. I know you know
it's all about helping each other for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
And to be fair, though, you've done a lot more
research than most of us, because I know I haven't
read thirty eight CFR in its entirety justin have you?
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Oh no, absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
So you definitely bring something to the table by virtue
of the fact that you are willing to dig deep
and dive into those regulations that govern our healthcare are
benefits and so today I know you wanted to talk
about two topics, the first one being the VA clothing
allowance benefit, which I've only heard about this in the
(30:12):
last year or two, but only very brief surface level information.
So tell our listeners what that benefit involves with the
VA clothing allowance.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
Sure, absolutely so, Like there's a lot of benefits that
venters don't realize that they potentially could quantify. For clothing
allowance with the VA is one of them. So the
annual VA clothing allowance is a compensation that is given
to a veteran annually that either has a DINVISI that
(30:44):
destroys clothing or a medication like a crane that is
prescribed for a service projected disability. Now keep in mind
the only way you can qualify for it is either
the device of the crane has to be for a
service connected disability. Now a lot of veterans go back
in their mind and think of the military clothing where
(31:05):
they always guide it annually. That's not this. You have
to qualify for it. So for instance, this year for
twenty twenty five, one Clothing Allowance is oneenty twenty four
dollars and fifty cents. It is a tax free allowance
that is provided to eligible ventures to help replace for
clothing damage by either prosthetic devices or theopeutic appliances or
(31:28):
skin medication that is related to their service to music disability.
For example, I have two braces they're called the Arizona
Richie braces for my ankles. My ankles are service connected.
I have been receiving a VIA Clothing Allowance times two
since twenty seventeen, and what I am now considered is
(31:54):
grandfathered in. So how these works and I have a
video on my YouTube channel is you have to see
if your device or your cream qualifying. Now prosthetics, as
most know, when you go to the VA you need anything,
you're going to the prosthetics department. So what I kind
(32:16):
of encourage mentions to do is first find out what
their prosthetics department at their local VA that they're going
to does. What I have qualify or clothing allowance. They
can check with their prosthetics departments for the device, and
I also have a spreadsheet that has the creams listed
(32:36):
the crans. Are them a yes or no? If it's
a yes, then you can cantal qualify if the device
destroys the clothing. And that's where it kind of gets
a little sticky because to me, destroying clothing with a
device could be something like velcrow. But they're getting a
little picky now with the VA. They want something like metal.
(33:00):
So let's say it's a back brace, right you're wearing it,
it's gotten metal, it's destroying your shirt. Let's say you
have knee braces for your knee, and like I said,
for me, I have my ankle braces. So you can
get up to four clothing allowances annually. With the VA,
you must file no later than August first of every
(33:25):
year for that year's clothing allowance. So for instance, as
I mentioned, I've grandfathered in, so after August first, I
would be receiving my two clothing allowances, which is typically
somewhere in September October timeframe. If you've never filed, now
I suggest you go watch my video. Feel free to
(33:45):
you know, email me or message me and I can
help you. But it's a really easy application because it
goes through either your prosthetics department or it goes through
like a traditional plane through the VA. But it is
a benefit that most veterans do not realize they potentially
qualify for.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Sure. No, we're both like looking at each other here
in the studio like wow.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Yeah, No, I'm sitting here thinking like, oh, what do
I use? But all I use the I don't think
I think I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
No, I don't think that probably would, but it's the
list of the list of creams that people might be
prescribed would probably be a more likely pathway. Obviously barring prosthetics,
I mean that's an obvious given. But but then the
braces and things like that as well. So the braces
(34:41):
have to be prescribed by the VA and for a
condition for which the veteran is rated correct correct.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
And you know, I mean we could talk for hours
here about all these potential other Maybe that's.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Why we have you on a monthly segment now, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
I know I've got so many of my head going
a mile a minute, but this one is is again
near and dear to my heart because I did my
due diligence and I'm like, what is a clothing lone?
So I digged into it. And like I said, it's
now becoming a little bit harder with the BA because
a lot of people think like orthonics, you know, like
(35:20):
let's say soul inserts. Those don't qualify. They're not destroying anything.
You need to think and picture something that's destroying either
your shoes, which my braces do because they widen my
shoes because they have a metal brace, they destroy them.
That's a destruction of a clothing. It could be a shoe,
it could be a pants, it could be a shirt.
(35:41):
Like you said, Amanda, the creams. A lot of people
are prescribed to creams or skin conditions that there's service
connected for those destroy your clothing they get stained. So
at the anchic to day, why not file for it
and see if you qualify. Because, as I said, a
couple years ago, prosthetics decided, let's just do away with
(36:04):
having to file every year. If you're already qualified, let's
just grandfather.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
You in, right, because that's not going anywhere. You're going
to need a prosthetic for the rest of your life.
That's not going to suddenly cure itself and then you'll
be fine. Where I could see how possibly a prescribed
cream over time, if a condition improves or subsides, then
you don't need that cream anymore. Maybe that could change
the situation a little.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
Bit correct And I think, like I said, this is
a benefit that you know, a lot of vecterans don't realize.
They're like, wait a minute, what is this? Maybe I qualify,
you know, And I find it best stile with your
prosthetics department versus doing the claim because from the clane,
which is a standard claim on the standard form, takes
(36:51):
longer to go to the DA. If you go directly
to your prosthetics department and you pick up the form,
which I have the form number ten dash eighty six
seventy eight and it's also in my video. And just
go have a casual talk with your prosthetics department and say, look,
you prescribe these for me for my thron's kind oft
(37:12):
of disability. Do I qualify? Should I file for it?
And heck, file for it anyway and see what they
come back with. I do notice that the prosthetics department
is very helpful when it comes to that, especially where
I'm attached to my chief prosthetics doctor. She was very
(37:33):
helpful with me in regards to getting mine approved. Go
to them. You can't hurt right.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Worst they can tell you is no, or deny the
claim or reject the form, or whatever the case might be.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Correct. It can also become an appeal. So here's an
interesting firm fact. I've been rated I'm beginning at since
twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two. Is where they were gotten
for a grandfathering it. I reapply, they denied me. Now
keep in mind I was attached to one Va prosthetics
team and then I transferred to a new prosthetics team.
(38:07):
The lady that processed that, she's like, you don't qualify.
I'm like, what do you mean? I don't qualify? I
did qualify since twenty seventeen, so I did you know me?
I did my due diligence and I got the chief
of Prosthetics and I emailed her and I'm like, why
am I being denied this? She overturned it. So that's
my ammer fun fact. Just because you get denied, don't
(38:29):
let it go. Because it's possible you should be getting it.
That's why they have the appeal system. Unfortunately, if the
VA did everything right, there'd be no jobs for anybody
to help veterans with planes right and appeals.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
True, that is absolutely true. So I think my friend
that told me about it, she was a double knee
replacement recipient, so she got clothing allowance because all the
braces and all the rehabilitative you know things she had
(39:04):
to wear during the course of her knee healing caused
problems for her clothing as well, and she had to
buy bigger size clothing. She had to buy specific pieces
of clothing to accommodate the certain braces that they had
her wearing. So, if I recall, that was how I
kind of learned about it. But I figured it was
(39:26):
I haven't had a kny replacement, so I was like, Oh,
I probably don't qualify for that, but I think hearing
this now today people will start looking into what creams
they might be given for skin conditions or anything like that,
and kind of hopefully going back and looking through it
because it's a benefit that's offered to us. Sometimes with benefits,
(39:47):
if you don't use it, you lose it. So it's
worth looking into for sure.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
And I'm going to touch on your friend when I'll
get into her personal business, I would like you to
ask for if she's not one hundred percent P and
T and she had a total new replacement.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Oh she is, No, she's she's one hundred percent total
and permanent.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
Yeah, okay, Kurt, then she would be eligible. That's another
one we could talk about in another day. She'd be
eligible for temporary disability. A lot of veterans don't know
about that after they have surgery for service connected disability.
If that's a conversational for another day, that might actually
be my next topic because it's a really good one.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
So.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
The other topic you wanted to touch on today was cola.
So every year we kind of tend to get a
little bit more money in our monthly via payment due
to cost of living adjustments, or I guess sometimes tell
me if I'm wrong, maybe I'm misunderstanding it. But if
I'm not mistaken, sometimes it's a congressional thing that drives
(40:50):
an increase by some minuscule percentage in our monthly benefits pay.
But let's talk about COLA. What is what is the
ground truth? Because we all know what we've heard, but
what's the truth of it?
Speaker 5 (41:04):
So, as you said, COLA is the cost of living adjustment. Now,
there have been years, there have been years in the
past where there's been no increase. If you go and
look under if you just google COLA increases over the years,
it will give you each year's breakdown of what each
year gave you as in an increase. There are some
(41:25):
that will zero. Well, that's because the economy didn't dictate it.
So if you guys remember a couple of years ago
we got some significant increases, we have like a five
point nine, we had an eight point seven, because that
is adjusting with the cost of living, right, Well, Nuturans
don't automatically get it. What we get the COLA increase
(41:48):
is based on Social Security Administration's increase. So we kind
of just piggyback off of that, so every year ours
has to get approved. Now they are trying to change
that congressionally to just automatically give the VA benefits the
automatic adjustment when SSA gives their increase. So right now,
(42:10):
this is July, we're tracking at a two point five
percent increase, which we will know for sure by October first,
because that's when it's going to be set. That's kind
of the new fiscal year as we all know, it
kind of starts over. So we're probably going to track
less than a three percent increase, but it's better than nothing, right,
(42:31):
I mean, that's what I tell veterans. Veterans get pretty
upset where they don't feel like the significant increase. But
in my mind, if you track the last few years
of our POLA increase, we've gotten a significant increase over
the years, and to me that is precedent. Like I said,
(42:53):
at five point nine and the eight point seven I
think of fourteen percent a couple of years ago, that's
never going to go away. Keep that in mind, it's
remember going to decrease. You're always going to have this
whatever you're receiving now. And then as we go forward,
if we get then another increase that would be great.
So right now we're talking two point five percent. And
(43:15):
as we all know, or maybe we don't, you would
get that obstructive December first, VIA pays in their rears,
so you're December first, you will see that increase to
your VA benefits. And now that does include not only
your VA compensation, but let's say you get SMC pay,
(43:36):
that also increases.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
So anything special medical compensation justin just looked at me
like what is that? And I was like, special medical compensation.
So that's if like you lose a reproductive organ or PREPP.
There's other stipulations, but I know that that's one of them.
I think the SMC apply if you lose a limb.
Speaker 5 (43:58):
Correct, So there's and that's a navigreat video. Go to
my please go to my YouTube channel da claim Veterans
Helping Vedrooms and look at my SMC video because the
most common one, as we all know, is S and
C dash K, which is what you were talking about, Amanda.
For men, I'm going to say ed women, it's f sad.
(44:21):
So anything that is affecting the creative organ, lots of
organ like a hyps director sm C K. Then like
you said, there's all these other smcs, which is a
special monthly compensation. Those do get the colon increases as well,
so it's it's again it's a little bit of a bomp,
you know. I mean, to me, something's batter than nothing.
(44:44):
So I take it as grateful. Veterans don't necessarily they
want more money, you know, that's that's on them. But
colon increase is given to VA benefits based on the
Social Security iministration COLA increased, which we will see its
finality around October. And again it all goes according to
(45:08):
the constant living adjustment out here and what's going on
with the economy, right.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
And it's funny that you mentioned December earlier because I know,
for me and I'm sure every other veteran, we get
a letter in the mail every year with kind of
an updated certificate of eligibility if you will, that tells
us this as you're rating, this is how much money
you're getting as of this date. So you can use
that for everything like getting your VA home loan, or
(45:35):
it's documentation that helps for getting your disabled veteran license plate.
If you're in the state of Florida, they need to
see that so it comes in handy for a bunch
of different things. But it also helps, like you said,
because it shows that COLA adjustment too, because it shows
you what your monthly compensation is.
Speaker 5 (45:54):
Right, and you touched on a very good point, Amanda.
A lot of people don't understand their benefit letter when
they see that December first date. That turns you to
keep in mind, that's your COLA date. What's the date
of your heartsive date? Because you'll see two different dates
on your benefit letter. You'll see that date which coincides
with your COLA every year, and then you'll see your
(46:15):
affective date for your overall rating. So sometimes that just
get that confused. But that's December first date is definitely
your COLA date every year, and it's put on your
benefit letter.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
So what's the Have you heard anything about trends as
far as what's expected with COLA for this year?
Speaker 5 (46:32):
Yeah, that is That's what I'm That's that's what I'm
indicating right now. The trend for this year is two
point five.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
Percent, so it's a little bit lower than it's been
in years past. But I mean in the military, it
was the same way every year when we got a
pay raise. Sometimes it was like one point six, sometimes
it was three point four, Sometimes it was like zero
point something. I think there was one year where we
were sub one percent for pay raises. So it fluctuates,
like you said, with CPI, other economic factors, social security exactly.
Speaker 4 (47:07):
So, and then you have to keep in mind the
active duty they don't they have a completely different increase
versus nats exactly, and veterans and.
Speaker 5 (47:19):
Activeviuty are not on the same increase. But yeah, going
back to your question, right now we're talking at two
point five percent. Yeah, it's low, but I keep going back,
think about the last three years, guys, right think about
it a five point I think it was five point nine,
an eight point seven. I think last year we've got
to three something. Now we're to think about that. But
(47:40):
twenty percent increase in the last several years, that's that's significant,
and that should be a positive instead of a negative.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
It's better than zero any day of the year, it
really is, especially for those of us that you know,
that's our income. For people that are on veterans, who
are on fixed incomes where there via disability might be
the only compensation they're receiving, or they get their VA
disability and their retirement check or via disability and Social Security.
(48:13):
You know, when it's a fixed income situation, it absolutely matters,
and that's a benefit.
Speaker 5 (48:19):
And to me, any increase into my VA compensation annually
is more money in our pockets for groceries, for anything
we need. So I try to look at as the
positive spin and not like, oh my gosh, holdly got
two point five percent.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
That's up, you know, like we said, yeah, anything greater
than zero is a bonus. So well, thank you for
taking the time and being on the show with us today, Stephanie.
We're excited to have you on as a monthly recurring
segment for those of you that want more information. As
we said multiple times today, the YouTube is VA claims
(48:55):
Veterans Helping Veterans, and that's also the name of the
Facebook page VA Claims Veterans Helping Veterans. I actually looked
it up myself and joined your Facebook page, so you'll
see that. And I'm already subscribed to you on YouTube.
So you also do a weekly Q and A. Am
I right on that or is it monthly?
Speaker 5 (49:14):
I do? We try to do not a weekly, sorry,
We try to do sometimes from one to twice a month,
depending on the group. We haven't actually done one in April.
Sorry guys, we have been extremely busy, but we're going
to try and get some set up here over the summer.
Something else we do I can give a shout out
is our email address. If you have any questions that
(49:35):
you don't feel comfortable putting in either the Facebook group
or the YouTube channel on the comment section, you can
always email us at the n It's the acronym vac
VHV at gmail dot com and we'll happily answer your
questions through email as well.
Speaker 1 (49:51):
Awesome. Thanks again for being on the show, Stephanie, and
we'll see you again next month.
Speaker 5 (49:56):
All right, and remember my motto mentions do better than mess,
no better hop toy Alton.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
All right, Sea and that's our show for today. Thank
you so much for joining us, whether you're on one
hundred point nine FMWCCF or via the iHeartRadio app. We'll
see you next time. Rally Pointers fall Out. Do you
need healing from service related trauma? Join Military Reboot starting
July sixteenth, twenty twenty five for a twelve week course
(50:25):
to help you navigate your service related trauma and help
you find healing. More information is available at Reboot Recovery
dot com. Mark your calendars for July twentieth, twenty twenty five,
from one to five pm at the Wyvern Hotel, Perch
three sixty Rooftop one oh one East Rata Esplanade in
Point of Quarda, Florida. This fundraiser will benefit Warrior Wellness
(50:48):
that helps keep warriors in the fight, help veterans stay fit,
provide gym memberships, personal training, swimming lessons, and holistic health
services to those who served.
Speaker 6 (50:58):
Our veterans risked it all to protect our freedom. One
of the best ways to say thank you is to
volunteer to support them at a time and history where
kindness is a virtue. Volunteering at a therapy bag event,
teaching a craft class, or simply helping veterans at a
hospital means a lot. For over forty seven years, Help
(51:18):
Heal Veterans, a not for profit organization, with the support
of citizens like you, has created manufactured and distributed therapeutic
art and crafts projects for our veterans and military at
no charge to them. As a National Veteran service organization,
Help Heal Veterans supports VA hospitals patients at home and
(51:39):
our active military together help heal veterans and volunteers like
you have delivered over thirty two million therapy kits to
injured and recovering veterans. To volunteer or learn more, visit
heel vets dot org. That's heel vets dot org.
Speaker 5 (51:58):
I'm Staff, Sarzan marksm Argent, Samantha cat Staff, sergeanty Staff,
Sergeant William Lewis, and I am proud to defend my
family and our nation.
Speaker 3 (52:05):
The Air Force Reserve is part of the story of
this great nation. Grateful that I have a chance to
wear the uniform of the heroes that won't reform me.
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I am proud to be part of a team that
helps make.
Speaker 1 (52:14):
A difference in the world.
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Every day. Men and women from communities across this nation
serve as Reserve citizen airmen. Even as technology evolves and changes,
our commitment to defend and protect this nation remains steadfast.
We celebrate those who have served and those who are
proudly serving. We celebrate our proud history and look towards
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Am proud to be a member, and I'm proud to
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Proud to serve in the US Air Force Reserve, afpreserve
dot com
Rally Pointer Spawn. Good morning everybody, and welcome to the
Rally Point Radio Show. It's me Amanda Macchiato mccanu and
Justin Ledford. Yep, coming at you. Happy Friday. We're going
to get started right away with this show, jumping right
(00:22):
in with a segment of Warrior Wellness Radio. So, as
some of you know, if you've been listening to the
show for a little while, Justin wear several hats, one
of which is a co host on the show, but
another one is the founder of Warrior Wellness. So justin
let our listeners know for those that might not, what
is Warrior Wellness about? How'd you come to create it?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So it started out as an idea to to basically
take care of veterans, get them up, moving active, you know,
into the gym. At the time, I was working at
the YMC, and part of that was getting them to
(01:07):
come in, get their gym membership, get personal training, take
care of them. It's actually modeled off of a program
at the Oshkosh, Wisconsin YMCA. It's called Beyond Limits. So
I started looking at that and researching it and they
have like a twelve week program and within that twelve
(01:29):
week program, you get twelve one hour sessions of personal
training as well as like weekly group exercise and stuff
like that. So I decided to develop Warrior Wellness from that.
So basically what Waror Wellness does as one of its
(01:52):
main things is twelve weeks of a gym membership of
your choice as well as twelve weeks personal training group exercise.
We also have the Legacy Rock Club and just different
things so cool.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So not only are you engaging people on a physical level,
but my take because I help you with Legacy Rot Club,
you know, we ruck quite a bit around Charlotte County.
It's also taking care of people's you know, sense of
community and trying to help bring people back out, not
just to bring them back out to the gym, but
to bring them back out into the community and get
(02:29):
them engaging with people. Sometimes as veterans, we tend to
withdraw a little bit, maybe, you know, kind of leave
leave people alone, kind of do our own thing. And
sometimes that's that's okay. Sometimes we need that to recharge,
but sometimes that can kind of not be a good thing,
because sometimes your mind can be a terrible place to
(02:50):
wander sometimes, especially if you're a veteran and depending on
what you went through during your time in the service.
So it's so important to make sure that we are
getting together, that we're commiserating, building camaraderie and legacy. Rout
Club is a fantastic way to meet both those tenets
of physical fitness as well as community engagement. So that's
(03:13):
kind of another layer of it, right.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, exactly. So I hadn't even planned for that piece.
I know that we've talked about it before, but part
of the Legacy Rock Club is, you know, it kind
of kind of takes care of that piece of like
the group training and the group engagements that.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
We're missing and getting veterans together to talk about things
and share their experiences, share stories about maybe their time
in the service or even just commonalities related to transition.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, so when we get together, they just start talking.
So we have a couple of Vietnam veterans that are
out with us, one of them being Paul Pleshi, who
is our co.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Host an unofficial booking agent.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, so he's out of town right now enjoying some
family time, but he's one of our main stays, so
we miss him out there right now.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
But yeah, so, and it's not just veterans, like we
also have very veteran supportive folks that are a part
of our core nucleus of the Legacy rout Club. So
like Deborah Cameron, her friend Sharon, we have them as well,
and they're they're not veterans and you don't have to
be a veteran to come out for a Legacy rot Club,
which is the beauty of it. But they're so supportive
(04:30):
and they love hearing our stories and they love, you know,
giving veterans an encouraging word or positivity in their day,
which is wonderful because we need that. I mean, we
hear people all the time say thank you for your service,
and it's not that we don't appreciate that we do,
but after a while, you hear it so much that
(04:51):
it's it's nice to see it lived out. And Sharon
and deb definitely.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Do that right exactly. And then we also have our
other regular that come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cassie,
so she's had to take on a few more responsibilities
lately as the interim she makes sure that I say
interim executive director of the Franz Ross YMCA, but yeah,
(05:17):
she's awesome. So she comes out on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We have her full support and I'm glad that I
can continue the relationship between myself and the YMCA and
taking care of the veterans but then also getting them
back into the y.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Absolutely. And so for those that are listening, we talk
about you know, recks on Tuesday, Thursday, whatever, What is
your schedule? What is the schedule for Legacy Rock Club
In case we have listeners who want to join us
and we want you to join us. If you're listening
and you're wondering or you're thinking about it and you're
on the fence, this is your formal invitation that we
want you to come out to the Legacy Rock Club.
(05:56):
So tell us where Legacy Rout Club meets and on
which days of the week.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Absolutely, So every Tuesday and Thursday we're at the Franz
Ross YMCA at seven thirty am. And then on Wednesdays
we're at the KPA's Pioneer Trail which is almost to Inglewood.
It's like right past the bridge in Port Charlotte. But
then also on Fridays we do Centennial Park, which is
in the Westport community in Port Charlotte.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Perfect So if you're looking for an opportunity, if one
of those days of the weeks or that time works
for you, come on out periodically. There are Saturday rucks
as well. There was a Ladies' ruck a little while back,
and there are plans for more rucks on Saturdays to come.
So for those that work or you know, maybe seven
(06:45):
thirty in the morning just doesn't fit your schedule, definitely
keep listening to show so that you can stay tuned
and find out when we're having weekend rucks.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, and as it starts to cool down, I'm sure
that we'll do things at different times of the day.
But uh yeah, so right now, that's our that's our
set schedule. We were just kind of like having pop ups,
but then that wasn't very successful. So I figured if
we just do like a like a solid schedule, we
should be all right. And a lot of people got
(07:16):
discouraged at the beginning because the difference between just rocking
and walking, you know, carrying your weighted pack and everything,
and a lot of people don't want to do that
or are you know nervous about that. Well, just come
out there, you know, come out there, start out just
walking and then you know, add a backpack and then
(07:36):
add some weight to it, so.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Or don't whatever you wherever you're at in your fitness
journey is where you're at, so come out. There's zero judgment.
We have people that come out all the time that
don't bring a backpack, or they have a backpack but
they don't put weight in it, or you know, whatever
the case might be. We have. We have some young
folks who come out and they have fifty pound packs.
But it's not a competition and we're not there to compare. Yeah,
(08:01):
so we're just there to have a good time, meet
up and just challenge ourselves on whatever level for wherever
we're at.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I don't even notice anymore, like who has a
backpack and who doesn't. It's catered to the individual. So
like Quinn as a young man that comes out with us,
and he actually starts the fire Academy today, So good
luck to Quinn. But he comes out with like his
fifty pound pack every time, and you know that's his journey,
and you know, he did his his fitness tests to
(08:30):
get into the Firefighter Academy and it worked out for
him because right because he's.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Used to it exactly as an old retired lady. Fifty
pounds in a ruck does not work for me. Right now,
I think I'm sitting at twenty two. Yeah, and that's
enough of a challenge for me. Twenty two is a
significant number, which I didn't think about at the time, honestly.
I mean I just kind of want and went around
my house and put what I had in my bag.
So I had a twelve pound weighted vest, so I
(08:57):
threw that in there. And then I had two five
five pound ankle weights, so that makes twenty too. So
I just kind of and that's all I did. I
just plopped them in the backpack, kind of tried to
situate them to where the weight distributed well enough that
it wasn't bothering me. But I worked up to it.
I think I was at seventeen pounds for the longest.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
So I have.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Let's see, I have two ten pound dumbbells wrapped in towels,
and then I have like a throw pillow for filler
that my wife might be missing, but that's where it's at.
And then I have a pack of crackers because when
we go to Kpe's, I like to throw the crackers
to the fish. Right there's a nice bridge that you
can see fish in there.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yes, absolutely, And there are there are stopping points, there
are photo ops.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I want to know what you're gonna eat though, Oh,
you gotta bring food for yourself.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Oh yeah, no, I don't know. I never eat anything
when I go out, but yeah, I mean I always
have water on me and I try to make sure
that I have enough water for everybody else. And bug
spray good, Yes, yeah, I have the bugs.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Murder flies in Southwest Florida are vicious. Yeah, this year especially. Actually,
I've been talking to people who have lived here for
over a decade who are like, this is the worst
year they can ever recall for mosquitoes. So yeah, fun times.
If you don't live in Southwest Florida, you're probably laughing,
like that's why I don't live in Florida. But I
still love it. Murder flies are not I'm okay with it.
(10:25):
I'll adapt. We just spray ourselves down and keep it moving.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
So we did our Independence Day rock and man, you
could you could see the mosquitoes like you could seeming.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Yeah, yes, it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
I had never seen that before where they're just so
big and plentiful.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
It was a feast for the vectors. Yeah, and we
were we were the feast.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, so that that event was kind of a bust,
but not really. You know, it was still there were
six of us out there, and we had a few
people that were like, hey, I'm on my way, and
I was like, just don't worry about it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
But well, to be fair, there was a huge deluge
that morning before the ruck started, so that was a
bit of a deterrent because when you're sitting in your
car and it's raining hammer handles, you're kind of like,
this is not going to work. And it doesn't work
for everybody, so oh, well, I get it.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I also live across the street from Centennial Park, so
I was going to show up regardless right now. If
it was, you know, twenty minutes away from my house,
I might not have been there exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
See, and I've made the mistake of trusting the weather
man before because in the past there was one week
where we canceled a ruck because everything the weather I'm
not even gonna name the weather app because I don't
want to get in trouble, but the weather app I
was using, which was supposed to be accurate, said that
it was going to rain storm blow Huppawappa on us,
(11:51):
and so we decided, let's just cancel the ruck and
we did and not one rain drop fell at the
site where we were to ruck. So after that, I've
just decided, you know what, if it's liquid sunshine, it's
liquid sunshine. As long as there's no lightning. They joke,
nothing can stop the US Air Force, as the last
(12:12):
line of our song except lightning within five So I
still abide by that rule. But anyways, so if you're
looking for a good time and a way to get involved,
the Legacy Ruck Club is definitely a piece of that,
but it's simply a portion of Warrior Wellness and Warrior
Wellness because of you know, the gym memberships and the
(12:35):
needs for helping to foster physical fitness, engagement and mobility
for veterans. There's a cost involved with that, and so
with that, Warrior Wellness is a not for profit. So
the way that Justin is able to do his program
is through the generosity of others, really, and so there
(12:57):
is an event coming up to help If people are
looking for a way to contribute or looking for a
way to help support Warrior Wellness, can you speak to that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, absolutely so on the twentieth of July.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
It's a Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, it's a Sunday. It's from one to five at
the Wyvern in Point of Gore to Florida. And basically
the admission is a donation and with that you get
two drink tickets as well as appetizers. I don't know
if that's appetizers until the appetizers run out or if
it's just for a couple of hours.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
From one to five. And then it's on the rooftop, right, and.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Then there's also a bar, so if you're not good
with your two drinks and you want more, then you can.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Go to the bar and get more and there'll be music,
there'll be giveaways.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Right, So we're going to have we're gonna have some
silent auction things, some drawings for some prizes that organizations
have been nice enough to donate. And like Amanda was saying,
you know, these things aren't free, like I would love
(14:11):
to do everything for free.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
However, well, you are able to offer things for free,
but it has to come through donations. It can't come
out of your own pocket, right, Yeah, you have a
family I do to support, so it'd be wonderful if
you know, as retired disabled veterans, we could just be
philanthropic and you know, make it rain on organizations and
such and do good things. And we try to where
(14:36):
we can, but you can't carry it alone with warrior
wellness like this is definitely one of those groups where
it literally takes a village. It does so there, but
there will also be music, there will be giveaways, there
will be all kinds of stuff like that. It'll be
a great place if you are active in the community
and you want a network, bring your business cards, be
(14:59):
ready to talk to other like minded people who love
supporting veterans. If you just love veterans and you have
a great social group and you guys just want to
kind of go somewhere and have a nice change of scenery,
support a great cause, enjoy some drinks and orders, then
by all means, come out, dress up, dress down, just
(15:20):
come out and have a great time supporting the worthy
cause of helping take care of veterans in our community.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Right because as veterans age, we withdraw, we start to
live in our heads and not get out as much.
So the idea is to just keep them active. So
right now I have a couple of clients that have
been referred to me by Shauna, who is on here
once a month. She does helping Hearts for Heroes. She
(15:48):
works at right at Home Healthcare. So she calls me up, Hey,
I have a veteran that is, you know, in my program.
So she refers them to my program. And so right
now I see them a couple of times a week,
and I see them at a gym that I'm already
a member of. Well if it turned out that they
(16:10):
wanted to go somewhere else, you know, I want them
to have that option. So I want to be able to,
you know, provide that opportunity for them. And yes, I
do personal training, but maybe they don't want me, which
is fine. Maybe they want, you know, a female personal trainer,
or an older personal trainer or a younger personal trainer,
(16:30):
or whatever the case may be. And so I want
to be able to accommodate the veteran in any possible
way that I can. And like, like we've said, I
can't do that without without donations, without funding, and yeah,
so that's what waror wellness.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Is so absolutely and so the give back to the
community though, is big because it results in veterans who
are more resilient, more active, more mobile. But there are
other ways that warrior wellness is present in the community.
So you recently had an opportunity to do something wonderful
to boost the emotional wellness of a widow of a veteran.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Warrior wellness does not stop at physical wellness. It's emotional wellness,
it's mental wellness. And that's for veterans, active duty, military dependence,
whatever the case may be, just whatever furthers the wellness
of those individuals. So yes, I had a lady come
(17:32):
up to me at the YMCA. She had her husband's
jacket that he wore in World War Two.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yeah, And so I told her I would take care
of it. And so I pulled a service record and
I pulled all this information, did up a bio and
ordered a shadow box, had it put on the wall
at Charlie Foxtrot, and we had a nice little ceremony
to dedicate this jacket that is now hanging in Charlie Foxtrot.
(18:05):
And yeah, you know, just things like that. And I
know that that she really appreciated it and her daughter
really appreciated it. I was a little nervous. I'm not
much of a public speaker, oddly enough. But yeah, so
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
I feel like that you.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Challenged yourself too through warrior wellness, which is good. I mean,
that's the whole point of warrior wellness is challenging us
to grow, challenging veterans to grow. So you definitely grew
that day because I was there at that dedication, and honestly,
you did a good job. It's talking to a widow
about what her husband did during World War Two and
(18:44):
commemorating his service through dedicating his coat that he wore.
It's no small thing, that's and it's something that you
want to be very you know, deliberate about in the delivery.
And so I thought you did really well. But it
really you're right. It helped You're welcome. It really helped
(19:05):
the widow, her daughter. It helped them to really see
that the community genuinely cares about, you know, her late husband,
her late father's military service, and that there's still we're
still willing to honor that, like we still want to
honor that as we should. That's something that should never
ever fade from the American conscience is thanking veterans for
(19:29):
their service and honoring their service and their sacrifice, because
I mean, without that, God knows where we would be.
So I mean I thought it was definitely a great
thing to do. A lot of community members showed up
to support the family, So that's just another way that
Warrior Wellness is able to give back to take care
(19:52):
of veterans and to take care of their families. So
that's just another reason for people hopefully to want to
come out to the fundraiser and help support the mission
of Warrior Wellness because it transcends just going to the
gym or coming out for a rock. It's so much
bigger than.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
That, right, And so the coat worn by Sergeant McGraw
h that was like the first piece of what's going
to be the Wall of honor at Charlie Foxtrot. So
if people have a if if you have a deceased father, brother, sister, mother, whatever,
(20:30):
who we didn't have the opportunity to honor them while
while they were still with us. What we're going to
start doing is like a like a five x seven
photograph as well as a plaque to kind of break
down their military service to make sure that we honor
those individuals. So once again that's that's another thing that
(20:50):
you know, it incurs costs.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
You know, we want to make.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Sure that we do it, but do it right, do
it correctly. Absolutely, and so yeah, so that that's just
another piece of of waror wellness and part of the
healing for those families in a way for us to
honor those individuals that came before us.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Absolutely, and anybody can come to those ceremonies that are
held at Charlie Foxtrot when they happen. If you go
to Charlie Foxtrot Brewing's Facebook page, they're usually pretty good
about advertising. And they're located on seventeen hundred Tamiami Trail
in Port Charlotte. They're in the same shopping center as
Perkins the Military Recruiters Taco Bell near Murdock Circle, but
(21:30):
on Tammyami Trail or also known as forty one. So
that's just another way that if you want to give
back and you know, help support warrior wellness, come out
to those come out and support the families of those
veterans as we honor their service. And if you want
to get involved in helping to honor their service by
(21:51):
all means, let justin know. But we're kind of coming
up short on time here, So how can people get
a hold of you if they want more information about
Warrior Wellness or if they want to be involved or
whatever the case might be. How can they best reach you?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, absolutely, So you can email me at Justin at
Warrior DASHW dot com or the website is warrior w
dot com for Warrior Wellness. And once again, it's just
taking care of veterans really, you.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Know, exactly holistically, mind body, soul, taking care of their
families if they're no longer with us, honoring their service. Absolutely,
And if you are a surviving family member and would
like to have your family member honored at Charlie Foxtrot
on the Wall of Honor, please reach out to Justin
(22:47):
let him know he would love to do it.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I don't mean to speak for you, but I'm pretty
you're pretty confident that I'm accurate in saying that, but absolutely,
like we would love the opportunity to honor your family member.
So again, email address.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Is is Justin at Warrior DASHW dot com. And please
come out and see us on July twentieth at the
Wyvern in Punta Gorda. It should be a great event
and Like I said, the admission is donations, get a
couple of drinks, I guess some appetizers.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Maybe win a prize. Yeah, absolutely, Enjoy some music, enjoy
some time with friends, make new friends, make some new
networking connections. Whatever works. Yeah, So hopefully we'll see you
all out there. Thanks again Justin for being on this
show doing Warrior Wellness Radio. We appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Do you need healing from service related trauma? Join Military
Reboot starting July sixteenth, twenty twenty five for a twelve
week course to help you navigate your service related trauma
and help you find healing. More information is available at
Reboot Recovery dot com. Mark you for July twentieth, twenty
(24:01):
twenty five, from one to five pm at the Wyvern Hotel,
Perch three sixty rooftop one oh one East Rata Esplanade
in Point of Quart of Florida. This fundraiser will benefit
Warrior Wellness that helps keep warriors in the fight, help
veterans stay fit, provide gym memberships, personal training, swimming lessons,
and holistic health services to those who served. And now
(24:23):
for this segment, we have a new recurring monthly segment
where We're going to talk about all things veterans, benefits,
healthcare services for family members of veterans, all that jazz
with Stephanie Mattlock. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Stephanie, thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Me absolutely so tell us a little bit about yourself.
You've been on the show before, but for those that
maybe didn't hear that episode, tell us a bit about yourself,
about your military service and how you came to be
the guru of all things via benefits.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I like so again. My name is Stephanie Mattlock. I'm
a US Navy veteran. I served seven years. I starved
from nineteen ninety to nineteen ninety seven. When I got
out of the military and exited out, I had no
physical I had nothing. I was just told basically, have
a nice life, and so I did. I went on
(25:16):
with life basically suppressing a lot of the things that
had occurred while I was in the military. Around I
guess it was around twenty twelve. I was actually standing
at a kitchen counter with my now husband at that time,
with my boyfriend and a good friend of ours. They
were both veterans, they were both receiving disability, and they
(25:36):
were both receiving healthcare through the VA. I had no
clue what it was. So that's kind of where my
journey started. I kind of dove in. I had my
medical records, and so I started going to the VA healthcare.
I got enrolled. I also got enroled for mental health,
started really doing my due diligence on the benefits side
(25:56):
and understanding basically what the thirty eight CF are ones,
which you know is the code Federal Regulation for disabilities.
Also understanding how the raiders rate, and it kind of
just morphed from there. I followed male claims and eventually
throughout the years, I wound up becoming one hundred percent
(26:17):
PMT Because of all my disabilities due to the service,
one of them, which is pretty near and dear to
my heart, is I am an MST survivor, which is
a military sexual trauma. I'm an advocate for anybody, whether
it's male or female, that was assaulted either physically harassed,
emotionally or mentally in the military to step forward and
(26:41):
not be afraid for their voice to be heard. So
that's really one of my passions that kind of have
evolved over the years until about this about a few
years ago, and created a Facebook group which I have.
It's be a Claim Veterans Healthy Veterans, and that really
kind of just grew. We have over fifty six thousand
(27:03):
members in that Facebook group, which includes veterans, thousands dependents,
anybody that's needing help and guidance. We kind of just
help there. We like to keep it very protective. I
don't allow people that are trying to take advantage of
veterans in there, such as claim Shark companies. And then
we created a YouTube channel which is also the same name,
(27:25):
be a Claim Vetroans Helping Veterans. We have about almost
twelve thousand subscribers. We do a lot of informative videos,
and we do occasionally live Q and E, which is
there to help veterans. So that's really kind of my
passion helping veterans because I didn't know that I deserve
benefits back when I got out, and still to this day,
(27:49):
there's a lot of metros that either don't know the
benefits they deserve or they're like the typical thing. You know,
I don't deserve benefits. You know, I'm not in a
wheel share, so I get down a lot. You have
to understand anything that's incurred in service, whether it's an
injury and illness and it happened in service, you deserve
(28:11):
to be granted service connection.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Absolutely right about that. Thank you for all that you
do to advocate for veterans, and thank you for your
service in the Navy. I hate that you had to
experience MST, but I'm thankful that you've been able to
turn that into an advocacy platform to help others.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Yeah, helping another budget when they message me or they
email me and you know they endured something regarding the
MST portion of the military, and letting them know that
you're not alone. You know they're scared because they're going
to have to go through the compensation and tension exam
for not disability. That's where you really just you have
(28:59):
to open up. You have to be open and honest,
don't hold your feelings back. And that gives me great
passion when I'm able to help on that short and say, look,
you got to get through this because at the end
of the day, you deserve to be rated for what
happened to you. That really is you're right and that
(29:19):
and that really is my passion along with everything else,
trying to help that just no, don't get me wrong,
I don't plan to know everything. I'm learning things too
or you know, oh I didn't know that. That's great
to know, So I'll like, I'll put that in my
little like bucket of things now. I know you know
it's all about helping each other for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
And to be fair, though, you've done a lot more
research than most of us, because I know I haven't
read thirty eight CFR in its entirety justin have you?
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Oh no, absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
So you definitely bring something to the table by virtue
of the fact that you are willing to dig deep
and dive into those regulations that govern our healthcare are
benefits and so today I know you wanted to talk
about two topics, the first one being the VA clothing
allowance benefit, which I've only heard about this in the
(30:12):
last year or two, but only very brief surface level information.
So tell our listeners what that benefit involves with the
VA clothing allowance.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
Sure, absolutely so, Like there's a lot of benefits that
venters don't realize that they potentially could quantify. For clothing
allowance with the VA is one of them. So the
annual VA clothing allowance is a compensation that is given
to a veteran annually that either has a DINVISI that
(30:44):
destroys clothing or a medication like a crane that is
prescribed for a service projected disability. Now keep in mind
the only way you can qualify for it is either
the device of the crane has to be for a
service connected disability. Now a lot of veterans go back
in their mind and think of the military clothing where
(31:05):
they always guide it annually. That's not this. You have
to qualify for it. So for instance, this year for
twenty twenty five, one Clothing Allowance is oneenty twenty four
dollars and fifty cents. It is a tax free allowance
that is provided to eligible ventures to help replace for
clothing damage by either prosthetic devices or theopeutic appliances or
(31:28):
skin medication that is related to their service to music disability.
For example, I have two braces they're called the Arizona
Richie braces for my ankles. My ankles are service connected.
I have been receiving a VIA Clothing Allowance times two
since twenty seventeen, and what I am now considered is
(31:54):
grandfathered in. So how these works and I have a
video on my YouTube channel is you have to see
if your device or your cream qualifying. Now prosthetics, as
most know, when you go to the VA you need anything,
you're going to the prosthetics department. So what I kind
(32:16):
of encourage mentions to do is first find out what
their prosthetics department at their local VA that they're going
to does. What I have qualify or clothing allowance. They
can check with their prosthetics departments for the device, and
I also have a spreadsheet that has the creams listed
(32:36):
the crans. Are them a yes or no? If it's
a yes, then you can cantal qualify if the device
destroys the clothing. And that's where it kind of gets
a little sticky because to me, destroying clothing with a
device could be something like velcrow. But they're getting a
little picky now with the VA. They want something like metal.
(33:00):
So let's say it's a back brace, right you're wearing it,
it's gotten metal, it's destroying your shirt. Let's say you
have knee braces for your knee, and like I said,
for me, I have my ankle braces. So you can
get up to four clothing allowances annually. With the VA,
you must file no later than August first of every
(33:25):
year for that year's clothing allowance. So for instance, as
I mentioned, I've grandfathered in, so after August first, I
would be receiving my two clothing allowances, which is typically
somewhere in September October timeframe. If you've never filed, now
I suggest you go watch my video. Feel free to
(33:45):
you know, email me or message me and I can
help you. But it's a really easy application because it
goes through either your prosthetics department or it goes through
like a traditional plane through the VA. But it is
a benefit that most veterans do not realize they potentially
qualify for.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Sure. No, we're both like looking at each other here
in the studio like wow.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Yeah, No, I'm sitting here thinking like, oh, what do
I use? But all I use the I don't think
I think I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
No, I don't think that probably would, but it's the
list of the list of creams that people might be
prescribed would probably be a more likely pathway. Obviously barring prosthetics,
I mean that's an obvious given. But but then the
braces and things like that as well. So the braces
(34:41):
have to be prescribed by the VA and for a
condition for which the veteran is rated correct correct.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
And you know, I mean we could talk for hours
here about all these potential other Maybe that's.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Why we have you on a monthly segment now, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
I know I've got so many of my head going
a mile a minute, but this one is is again
near and dear to my heart because I did my
due diligence and I'm like, what is a clothing lone?
So I digged into it. And like I said, it's
now becoming a little bit harder with the BA because
a lot of people think like orthonics, you know, like
(35:20):
let's say soul inserts. Those don't qualify. They're not destroying anything.
You need to think and picture something that's destroying either
your shoes, which my braces do because they widen my
shoes because they have a metal brace, they destroy them.
That's a destruction of a clothing. It could be a shoe,
it could be a pants, it could be a shirt.
(35:41):
Like you said, Amanda, the creams. A lot of people
are prescribed to creams or skin conditions that there's service
connected for those destroy your clothing they get stained. So
at the anchic to day, why not file for it
and see if you qualify. Because, as I said, a
couple years ago, prosthetics decided, let's just do away with
(36:04):
having to file every year. If you're already qualified, let's
just grandfather.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
You in, right, because that's not going anywhere. You're going
to need a prosthetic for the rest of your life.
That's not going to suddenly cure itself and then you'll
be fine. Where I could see how possibly a prescribed
cream over time, if a condition improves or subsides, then
you don't need that cream anymore. Maybe that could change
the situation a little.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
Bit correct And I think, like I said, this is
a benefit that you know, a lot of vecterans don't realize.
They're like, wait a minute, what is this? Maybe I qualify,
you know, And I find it best stile with your
prosthetics department versus doing the claim because from the clane,
which is a standard claim on the standard form, takes
(36:51):
longer to go to the DA. If you go directly
to your prosthetics department and you pick up the form,
which I have the form number ten dash eighty six
seventy eight and it's also in my video. And just
go have a casual talk with your prosthetics department and say, look,
you prescribe these for me for my thron's kind oft
(37:12):
of disability. Do I qualify? Should I file for it?
And heck, file for it anyway and see what they
come back with. I do notice that the prosthetics department
is very helpful when it comes to that, especially where
I'm attached to my chief prosthetics doctor. She was very
(37:33):
helpful with me in regards to getting mine approved. Go
to them. You can't hurt right.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Worst they can tell you is no, or deny the
claim or reject the form, or whatever the case might be.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Correct. It can also become an appeal. So here's an
interesting firm fact. I've been rated I'm beginning at since
twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two. Is where they were gotten
for a grandfathering it. I reapply, they denied me. Now
keep in mind I was attached to one Va prosthetics
team and then I transferred to a new prosthetics team.
(38:07):
The lady that processed that, she's like, you don't qualify.
I'm like, what do you mean? I don't qualify? I
did qualify since twenty seventeen, so I did you know me?
I did my due diligence and I got the chief
of Prosthetics and I emailed her and I'm like, why
am I being denied this? She overturned it. So that's
my ammer fun fact. Just because you get denied, don't
(38:29):
let it go. Because it's possible you should be getting it.
That's why they have the appeal system. Unfortunately, if the
VA did everything right, there'd be no jobs for anybody
to help veterans with planes right and appeals.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
True, that is absolutely true. So I think my friend
that told me about it, she was a double knee
replacement recipient, so she got clothing allowance because all the
braces and all the rehabilitative you know things she had
(39:04):
to wear during the course of her knee healing caused
problems for her clothing as well, and she had to
buy bigger size clothing. She had to buy specific pieces
of clothing to accommodate the certain braces that they had
her wearing. So, if I recall, that was how I
kind of learned about it. But I figured it was
(39:26):
I haven't had a kny replacement, so I was like, Oh,
I probably don't qualify for that, but I think hearing
this now today people will start looking into what creams
they might be given for skin conditions or anything like that,
and kind of hopefully going back and looking through it
because it's a benefit that's offered to us. Sometimes with benefits,
(39:47):
if you don't use it, you lose it. So it's
worth looking into for sure.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
And I'm going to touch on your friend when I'll
get into her personal business, I would like you to
ask for if she's not one hundred percent P and
T and she had a total new replacement.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Oh she is, No, she's she's one hundred percent total
and permanent.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
Yeah, okay, Kurt, then she would be eligible. That's another
one we could talk about in another day. She'd be
eligible for temporary disability. A lot of veterans don't know
about that after they have surgery for service connected disability.
If that's a conversational for another day, that might actually
be my next topic because it's a really good one.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
So.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
The other topic you wanted to touch on today was cola.
So every year we kind of tend to get a
little bit more money in our monthly via payment due
to cost of living adjustments, or I guess sometimes tell
me if I'm wrong, maybe I'm misunderstanding it. But if
I'm not mistaken, sometimes it's a congressional thing that drives
(40:50):
an increase by some minuscule percentage in our monthly benefits pay.
But let's talk about COLA. What is what is the
ground truth? Because we all know what we've heard, but
what's the truth of it?
Speaker 5 (41:04):
So, as you said, COLA is the cost of living adjustment. Now,
there have been years, there have been years in the
past where there's been no increase. If you go and
look under if you just google COLA increases over the years,
it will give you each year's breakdown of what each
year gave you as in an increase. There are some
(41:25):
that will zero. Well, that's because the economy didn't dictate it.
So if you guys remember a couple of years ago
we got some significant increases, we have like a five
point nine, we had an eight point seven, because that
is adjusting with the cost of living, right, Well, Nuturans
don't automatically get it. What we get the COLA increase
(41:48):
is based on Social Security Administration's increase. So we kind
of just piggyback off of that, so every year ours
has to get approved. Now they are trying to change
that congressionally to just automatically give the VA benefits the
automatic adjustment when SSA gives their increase. So right now,
(42:10):
this is July, we're tracking at a two point five
percent increase, which we will know for sure by October first,
because that's when it's going to be set. That's kind
of the new fiscal year as we all know, it
kind of starts over. So we're probably going to track
less than a three percent increase, but it's better than nothing, right,
(42:31):
I mean, that's what I tell veterans. Veterans get pretty
upset where they don't feel like the significant increase. But
in my mind, if you track the last few years
of our POLA increase, we've gotten a significant increase over
the years, and to me that is precedent. Like I said,
(42:53):
at five point nine and the eight point seven I
think of fourteen percent a couple of years ago, that's
never going to go away. Keep that in mind, it's
remember going to decrease. You're always going to have this
whatever you're receiving now. And then as we go forward,
if we get then another increase that would be great.
So right now we're talking two point five percent. And
(43:15):
as we all know, or maybe we don't, you would
get that obstructive December first, VIA pays in their rears,
so you're December first, you will see that increase to
your VA benefits. And now that does include not only
your VA compensation, but let's say you get SMC pay,
(43:36):
that also increases.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
So anything special medical compensation justin just looked at me
like what is that? And I was like, special medical compensation.
So that's if like you lose a reproductive organ or PREPP.
There's other stipulations, but I know that that's one of them.
I think the SMC apply if you lose a limb.
Speaker 5 (43:58):
Correct, So there's and that's a navigreat video. Go to
my please go to my YouTube channel da claim Veterans
Helping Vedrooms and look at my SMC video because the
most common one, as we all know, is S and
C dash K, which is what you were talking about, Amanda.
For men, I'm going to say ed women, it's f sad.
(44:21):
So anything that is affecting the creative organ, lots of
organ like a hyps director sm C K. Then like
you said, there's all these other smcs, which is a
special monthly compensation. Those do get the colon increases as well,
so it's it's again it's a little bit of a bomp,
you know. I mean, to me, something's batter than nothing.
(44:44):
So I take it as grateful. Veterans don't necessarily they
want more money, you know, that's that's on them. But
colon increase is given to VA benefits based on the
Social Security iministration COLA increased, which we will see its
finality around October. And again it all goes according to
(45:08):
the constant living adjustment out here and what's going on
with the economy, right.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
And it's funny that you mentioned December earlier because I know,
for me and I'm sure every other veteran, we get
a letter in the mail every year with kind of
an updated certificate of eligibility if you will, that tells
us this as you're rating, this is how much money
you're getting as of this date. So you can use
that for everything like getting your VA home loan, or
(45:35):
it's documentation that helps for getting your disabled veteran license plate.
If you're in the state of Florida, they need to
see that so it comes in handy for a bunch
of different things. But it also helps, like you said,
because it shows that COLA adjustment too, because it shows
you what your monthly compensation is.
Speaker 5 (45:54):
Right, and you touched on a very good point, Amanda.
A lot of people don't understand their benefit letter when
they see that December first date. That turns you to
keep in mind, that's your COLA date. What's the date
of your heartsive date? Because you'll see two different dates
on your benefit letter. You'll see that date which coincides
with your COLA every year, and then you'll see your
(46:15):
affective date for your overall rating. So sometimes that just
get that confused. But that's December first date is definitely
your COLA date every year, and it's put on your
benefit letter.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
So what's the Have you heard anything about trends as
far as what's expected with COLA for this year?
Speaker 5 (46:32):
Yeah, that is That's what I'm That's that's what I'm
indicating right now. The trend for this year is two
point five.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
Percent, so it's a little bit lower than it's been
in years past. But I mean in the military, it
was the same way every year when we got a
pay raise. Sometimes it was like one point six, sometimes
it was three point four, Sometimes it was like zero
point something. I think there was one year where we
were sub one percent for pay raises. So it fluctuates,
like you said, with CPI, other economic factors, social security exactly.
Speaker 4 (47:07):
So, and then you have to keep in mind the
active duty they don't they have a completely different increase
versus nats exactly, and veterans and.
Speaker 5 (47:19):
Activeviuty are not on the same increase. But yeah, going
back to your question, right now we're talking at two
point five percent. Yeah, it's low, but I keep going back,
think about the last three years, guys, right think about
it a five point I think it was five point nine,
an eight point seven. I think last year we've got
to three something. Now we're to think about that. But
(47:40):
twenty percent increase in the last several years, that's that's significant,
and that should be a positive instead of a negative.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
It's better than zero any day of the year, it
really is, especially for those of us that you know,
that's our income. For people that are on veterans, who
are on fixed incomes where there via disability might be
the only compensation they're receiving, or they get their VA
disability and their retirement check or via disability and Social Security.
(48:13):
You know, when it's a fixed income situation, it absolutely matters,
and that's a benefit.
Speaker 5 (48:19):
And to me, any increase into my VA compensation annually
is more money in our pockets for groceries, for anything
we need. So I try to look at as the
positive spin and not like, oh my gosh, holdly got
two point five percent.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
That's up, you know, like we said, yeah, anything greater
than zero is a bonus. So well, thank you for
taking the time and being on the show with us today, Stephanie.
We're excited to have you on as a monthly recurring
segment for those of you that want more information. As
we said multiple times today, the YouTube is VA claims
(48:55):
Veterans Helping Veterans, and that's also the name of the
Facebook page VA Claims Veterans Helping Veterans. I actually looked
it up myself and joined your Facebook page, so you'll
see that. And I'm already subscribed to you on YouTube.
So you also do a weekly Q and A. Am
I right on that or is it monthly?
Speaker 5 (49:14):
I do? We try to do not a weekly, sorry,
We try to do sometimes from one to twice a month,
depending on the group. We haven't actually done one in April.
Sorry guys, we have been extremely busy, but we're going
to try and get some set up here over the summer.
Something else we do I can give a shout out
is our email address. If you have any questions that
(49:35):
you don't feel comfortable putting in either the Facebook group
or the YouTube channel on the comment section, you can
always email us at the n It's the acronym vac
VHV at gmail dot com and we'll happily answer your
questions through email as well.
Speaker 1 (49:51):
Awesome. Thanks again for being on the show, Stephanie, and
we'll see you again next month.
Speaker 5 (49:56):
All right, and remember my motto mentions do better than mess,
no better hop toy Alton.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
All right, Sea and that's our show for today. Thank
you so much for joining us, whether you're on one
hundred point nine FMWCCF or via the iHeartRadio app. We'll
see you next time. Rally Pointers fall Out. Do you
need healing from service related trauma? Join Military Reboot starting
July sixteenth, twenty twenty five for a twelve week course
(50:25):
to help you navigate your service related trauma and help
you find healing. More information is available at Reboot Recovery
dot com. Mark your calendars for July twentieth, twenty twenty five,
from one to five pm at the Wyvern Hotel, Perch
three sixty Rooftop one oh one East Rata Esplanade in
Point of Quarda, Florida. This fundraiser will benefit Warrior Wellness
(50:48):
that helps keep warriors in the fight, help veterans stay fit,
provide gym memberships, personal training, swimming lessons, and holistic health
services to those who served.
Speaker 6 (50:58):
Our veterans risked it all to protect our freedom. One
of the best ways to say thank you is to
volunteer to support them at a time and history where
kindness is a virtue. Volunteering at a therapy bag event,
teaching a craft class, or simply helping veterans at a
hospital means a lot. For over forty seven years, Help
(51:18):
Heal Veterans, a not for profit organization, with the support
of citizens like you, has created manufactured and distributed therapeutic
art and crafts projects for our veterans and military at
no charge to them. As a National Veteran service organization,
Help Heal Veterans supports VA hospitals patients at home and
(51:39):
our active military together help heal veterans and volunteers like
you have delivered over thirty two million therapy kits to
injured and recovering veterans. To volunteer or learn more, visit
heel vets dot org. That's heel vets dot org.
Speaker 5 (51:58):
I'm Staff, Sarzan marksm Argent, Samantha cat Staff, sergeanty Staff,
Sergeant William Lewis, and I am proud to defend my
family and our nation.
Speaker 3 (52:05):
The Air Force Reserve is part of the story of
this great nation. Grateful that I have a chance to
wear the uniform of the heroes that won't reform me.
Speaker 5 (52:13):
I am proud to be part of a team that
helps make.
Speaker 1 (52:14):
A difference in the world.
Speaker 3 (52:15):
Every day. Men and women from communities across this nation
serve as Reserve citizen airmen. Even as technology evolves and changes,
our commitment to defend and protect this nation remains steadfast.
We celebrate those who have served and those who are
proudly serving. We celebrate our proud history and look towards
(52:39):
an exciting and uniting future. Our mission is to fly,
fight and win in air space and cyberspace, and I.
Speaker 2 (52:48):
Am proud to be a member, and I'm proud to
serve in the United and I am proud to protect
our country.
Speaker 3 (52:52):
Proud to serve in the US Air Force Reserve, afpreserve
dot com
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