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Military Resource Center
From the Director WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE!
As this new year begins, please stop in the Military Resource Center,
Dakota Hall, and let our staff know how we can better serve student
veterans in 2020.
In this newsletter, you will learn about resources available for veterans,
including the National Parks lifetime access pass, cervical cancer
screenings, and camaraderie at Vet Centers. For those of you currently
enrolled at Minot State, you will find important information about
scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year, including the Feb. 15 deadline
for campus scholarships.
Andy Heitkamp
Military Resource Center Director
IN THIS ISSUE
Volume 7 – Issue 2, February 2020
Be seen. Be heard. Belong.
OFFICE HOURS 8 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Military Resource Center Minot State University 500 University Ave W Minot, ND 58707 701-858-4003 / 1-800-777-0750 MinotStateU.edu
Ann’s Corner
Activities Attended
Important Dates
Stroklund’s Section
Seven Resources for Veterans
Marketplace for Kids
Camaraderie at Vet Centers
Lifetime Access Pass
Dental Care Update
VA Life Insurance
Cervical Cancer Screenings
Peer Tutoring Available at MSU
Braille and Talking Books
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program
Minot State Scholarship
Minot Vet Center Outreach
January
6 BIT meeting
7 Marketplace for kids (Flag presentations)
8 Safe Communities meeting
8 Campus holiday potluck
10 Orientation
10 MAFB Honorary Commander program
13 BIT meeting
14 Student Support Services Advisory meeting
14 ND Veterans Affairs Advisory Council meeting
15 University Cabinet 16 Student Affairs meeting 22 ND Suicide Prevention Coalition Presentation
25 Red and Green Day 27 BIT Meeting 29 ND Cares group on campus 30 Artificial Intelligence discussion group 31 Wellington Veteran Breakfast
Activities Attended
Ann’s Corner
Happy New Year!
Hello! One month down, three to go. I hope everyone
is having a good semester! For those of you who
would like to use your benefits this semester but
have not completed your semester worksheet,
contact our office right away at 701-858-4003. Also,
make sure the classes you enroll in are part of your
degree plan. If you are majoring in more than one
major or a minor/concentration, make sure it is
showing in Campus Connection. You will need to
complete a major/minor change form on the
registrar’s office page on the Minot State website.
This form should be completed when you make any
changes to your degree plan. For questions, contact
the registrar’s office at 701-858-3345 or our office.
Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for your
service!
Ann Haider-Bougard
Veterans School Certifying Official
Important Dates
Academic
February
6 – Last day to return spring textbooks for refund 14 – Valentine’s Day 17 – University Closed – Presidents Day 21 – Last Day to Drop first eight week course
US Armed Forces Dates
February
3 Four Chaplains Day
14 Valentine’s Day
17 President’s Day
19 Coast Guard Reserves Birthday
Stroklund’s Section
Minot State University’s POWER Center is committed
to your academic, personal, social, and career
success. The Center offers opportunities and services
designed to optimize individual growth with campus
engagement, community involvement, and enriched
cultural experiences. Through advocacy, mentoring,
exploration, and inspiration each student is
empowered to become a responsible, life-long
learner. As the veterans’ representative, I can help
you achieve your goals. If you are not a current
member to POWER, stop and see me in the new
Academic Support Center, located in the lower level
of the Gordon B. Olson Library. POWER Center is
free if you qualify.
Paul Stroklund
Academic Coach, POWER Center
Seven resources veterans can use right now
VA offers a variety of mental health resources for veterans, family members, and friends.
As a veteran, you might experience difficult life events
or challenges after leaving the military. We’re here to
help no matter how big or small the problem may be.
VA’s resources address the unique stressors and
experiences that veterans face – and we’re just a
click, call, text, or chat away
Seven mental health resources veterans can use
right now:
1. Same day 24/7 access to emergency mental
health care
2. Make the Connection: maketheconnection.net
3. Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255
4. Vet Centers
5. Coaching into Care: mirecc.va.gov/coaching
6. Veteran training programs
7. AboutFace: ptsd.va.gov/apps/aboutface/
For more information about VA’s mental health
resources and behavioral health services, please visit
VA’s Mental Health Services website at
mentalhealth.va.gov, or the Vet Center website (for
combat Veterans) at vetcenter.va.gov.
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
blogs.va.gov/VAntage/70273/7-stress-resources-
veterans-can-use-right-now/
The Minot Chapter 4 DAV helped teach American flag history, etiquette, proper display, and care of the U.S. colors during
the five sessions of the Marketplace for Kids event held on campus on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Thank you for your help!
Marketplace for Kids
Veterans find assistance, camaraderie at Vet Centers
At rows of tables in a packed community center,
nearly five dozen veterans smiled and swapped
stories over a potluck meal. The veterans spanned
generations, from Vietnam, Cold War, Desert Storm,
Iraq, and Afghanistan. Donning veteran ball caps and
jackets with their spouses nearby, the group swelled
to about 100.
After the meal, hands shot up during a drawing.
Shouts of BINGO! during the raffle brought laughs
from the crowd. As they heard their winning ticket
called, Fayetteville Vet Center staff brought prizes to
smiling veterans. After the raffle, there were pats on
the back and talking with old friends and meeting new
ones. Two veterans donning Marine Corps hats came
together to talk for the first time, asking the other what
unit the Marine served in.
This scene from the annual Christmas luncheon put
on by the Fayetteville Vet Center on Dec. 13 is typical
of the camaraderie veterans experience when they
engage with any center, said Ed Clark from the
Fayetteville Vet Center in North Carolina.
To find a Vet Center located near you, please go to:
va.gov/find-locations/?facilityType=vet_center
Minot Vet Center
330 South Broadway
Minot, ND 58701
701-852-0177
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
blogs.va.gov/VAntage/69675/veterans-find-
assistance-camaraderie-vet-centers/
National Park service lifetime access pass
Good for entry into 400+ National
Parks and over 2,000 recreation sites
across the country
Many veterans with a service connected disability
rating are entering federal recreation lands and
national parks for free with an America the Beautiful -
The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
Lifetime Access Pass through an interagency
partnership between the U.S. Department of the
Interior, National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish
and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management,
Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of
Reclamation. Good for entry into thousands of
federally managed recreation sites across the
country, the lifetime access pass is another way a
grateful nation says thank you for the service and
sacrifices of U.S. veterans with disabilities.
The access pass admits the pass owner and any
passengers in a single, private vehicle (non-
commercial) at per-vehicle fee areas and the pass
owner three additional adults where per-person fees
are charged. In addition to free entry at participating
sites, the access pass includes discounts on
some expanded amenity fees such as camping. Sites
recommend that pass owners check with each site
before visiting for details about access pass entry and
discounts.
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
blogs.va.gov/VAntage/60590/disabled-veterans-
eligible-free-national-park-service-lifetime-access-
pass/
VA announces proposal to increase access to dental care
The MISSION Act authorizes VA to submit statutory
waivers to Congress for the purpose of testing
innovative service delivery models to improve the
quality of care for America’s veterans. Under existing
statute, VA has limited authority to provide dental
services for veterans. With this waiver request, VA is
submitting a proposal to increase access to dental
services for enrolled veterans ineligible for dental
services through VA by connecting them with
community-based, pro bono, or discounted dental
service providers.
“The MISSION Act gave veterans real choice over
their healthcare decisions,” said Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Robert L. Wilkie. “Through this pilot
proposal, we want to ensure veterans have access to
quality dental care through a network of providers
who are proud to serve America’s heroes.”
Poor oral health can have a significant negative effect
on overall health. Clinical research has found
possible connections between gum problems and
heart disease, bacterial pneumonia, and stroke. Upon
approval of this pilot, VA will work with groups such
as the American Dental Association and Federally
Qualified Health Centers across the U.S. to offer pro
bono and discounted dental services to veterans.
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5377&utm_
campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm
_name=&utm_source=govdelivery
Which VA life insurance program is best for you?
VA offers life insurance programs that provide
financial security and peace of mind for service
members, veterans, and their families. These
insurance programs have specific eligibility criteria,
insurance terms, and application processes. But how
do you know if you’re eligible, and how do you apply?
Which program is right for you?
• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
Disability Extension
• Veterans’ Group Life Insurance
• Family Servicemembers’ Group Life
Insurance
• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
Traumatic Injury Protection
• Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance
• Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
blogs.va.gov/VAntage/17542/va-life-insurance-
program-best/
Cervical cancer screenings for women veterans
Screening can help prevent cervical
cancer
VA encourages you to talk to your primary care
provider about cervical cancer testing because early
detection can help save your life.
Cervical cancer was once the number one cause of
cancer-related death in women. Due to increased
screening, the number of cervical cancer deaths in
the United States has dropped by more than 50%
since the 1970s, according to the American Cancer
Society.
Please click on the link below to read the entire article
and learn more:
blogs.va.gov/VAntage/70089/cervical-cancer-
screenings-women-veterans/
Braille and Talking Books
The Braille and Talking Book Program offers veterans
who have difficulty with regular print materials the gift
of reading.
This program, from the National Library Service
(NLS) and the Library of Congress, provides talking
books, audio magazines, and digital talking-book
players free of charge.
Any honorably discharged veteran who is blind, has
low vision, or a disability preventing the reading of
traditional materials is eligible.
For more information, call the National Library
Service at 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) or
visit them online at www.loc.gov/ThatAllMayRead
Peer tutoring available at the Academic Support Center (ASC)
Peer tutoring for the spring semester began on
Tuesday, Jan. 21 in the Academic Support Center,
located in the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson
Library. The tutoring schedule is available ONLINE
and in the ASC. This schedule will be updated
periodically as changes and additions occur. You are
encouraged to attend tutoring sessions early in the
semester and to check on schedule changes
regularily.
Contact Information
Tammy Wolf, Tutoring Coordinator
Academic Support Center
Library Lower Level
701-858-3360
1.
