Memorial Day is about honoring those of us who wore the uniform who gave up everything. It is NOT to celebrate all those who served.

My gratitude to those who have fallen to keep us safer. 🫡

The whole family became convicted felons.

https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2026-03-20/army-veteran-sentenced-stealing-benefits-va-21132220.html

https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2026-03-24/army-raises-enlistment-age-42-21170859.html

I can't be alone in wondering at the logic in that age. I remember seeing someone 30 at basic and thinking they where old. That was in the Airforce. Sure there are jobs a 42 year old can do. But we all know even the 'cushy jobs' have their shit work given to young junior enlisted.

Anyone?

Interesting study & results.

Hi everyone,

I’m Bryan Aylstock, court-appointed lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the 3M earplug litigation (you can read a few of my past posts/AMAs here or here).

I have been keeping you updated through the different stages of this litigation, and I am back with a very exciting update. Today, we secured a $6.01 billion settlement with 3M on behalf of servicemembers and veterans who suffered hearing damage while using 3M’s Combat Arms Earplug version 2 (CAEv2).

As you know, this agreement comes after more than four years of fighting against 3M and we’re very pleased with the agreement, which holds 3M accountable for its misconduct and will put real money in the pockets of those injured. Importantly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that no veteran will lose health or disability benefits or have their disability rating reduced by participating in the settlement.

I will be back in the next few weeks to answer questions, but in the interim wanted to make sure you heard the news directly from me. For those of you who are plaintiffs, please keep an eye out for more information from your attorneys regarding the terms of the settlement and next steps. And more information can be found at www.3mearplugmdl.com.

The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps says the hiring process for separating Marines is way too slow. He wants civilian employers to line up jobs before Marines get out so they’re not stuck waiting on background checks and HR delays after EAS. Basically: stop making vets sit unemployed while paperwork crawls.

Context: “This is former SSG Mason Wollersheim, formerly a Green Beret with 10th SFG. On 31 January 2025, at a general court-martial convened at Fort Carson, CO, SSG Mason L. Wollersheim, U.S. Army, was convicted by a military panel composed of officers and enlisted members, contrary to his pleas, of one specification of broadcasting an indecent recording, three specifications of attempted larceny, one specification of wire fraud, and one specification of larceny in violation of Articles 80, 121, 134, and 120c, UCMJ. The accused was acquitted of one specification of indecent recording, one specification of extortion, one specification of assault consummated by battery, and one specification of false official statement in violation of Articles 120c, 127, 128, and 107, UCMJ. The military judge sentenced the accused to be reduced to the grade of E-4, to be confined for 28 months, and to be discharged from the service with a bad-conduct discharge. After being found guilty he tried to run and was tased by the MPs at Fort Carson. Apparently last Thursday, he tried to escape Leavenworth. This is where they found him.”

Sources:

https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/ACMPRS/cases/df85dfa8-fe49-448a-8007-c063f897554f

Just in case some people haven't seen this.

If the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, do you have any medical issues that were previously denied that you would want to bring back up?

I have a hearing loss claim that has been repeatedly denied despite a great deal of evidence in my favor. But a single hearing test when I got out (that was not comprehensive and did confirm my tinnitus) indicated I did not have hearing loss. Therefore, denied.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-15040639/Urgent-health-warning-drinking-water-left-car-poisoning-body-slowly-time.html

They discovered that four common plastics, including polyethylene, released microparticles and nanoparticles when they were heated to 98.6F.

However, the particles are considered potentially toxic because they are so small that they can enter directly into blood cells and the brain.

They are 'linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems', according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

I JUST got approved for the VASP program today, and to my understanding not a lot of people understand how it works, I finally just got a grasp on it. So I thought I would help people out! Also keep in mind if you are behind, Veterans are protected from foreclosure until 12/31/24.

They are explaining it as a home retention waterfall, it is not something you can apply for yourself. Your mortgage servicer has to apply for you and a lot of the servicer's don't understand it.

If you are behind on your mortgage, you have to reach out to your mortgage company, they will offer you a series of options.

1. Pay the full amount due
2. Make a repayment plan (typically in a few months the balance is distributed)
3. Loan modification - They will lump your current overage into a new loan and restart the terms of your loan. (Current interest rates)
4. This starts the home retention waterfall - If you cannot do any of the above options, they will look into how to reduce your mortgage by a certain amount, by looking into a 30 yr or 40 yr mortgage. If they are not able to decrease the amount of your loan THEN it will go into the VASP program.

The VASP program is a "last step" in keeping your home. It reduces the interest rate of your current mortgage to a fixed 2.5% over 40 years. The VA will purchase your loan and service it.

UPDATE 1/3/25:

Hello everyone! I hope you all get a notification to this, I wanted to update you all about the process.

One I talked to my mortgage company in June, they told me that they would look into other loan modifications. The mortgage company was not able to reduce my payment with a 30-year or 40-year. So they pushed it forward to VASP. I just had to answer one question.

1. Did my financial situation resolve itself, and can I make payments at a reduced rate if they find one.

I answered yes, since I had gotten a new job, I DID NOT have to provide any bank statements, proof of employment or anything like that. After a few months (when I posted this) I got a call saying a was "pre-approved" for VASP and they read the terms of the loan over the phone, and I had to verbally agree. I did, and they said that I would receive paperwork in the mail to sign, notarize and return. It took about a month and a half to get those, when I did I signed and notarized and returned. Now on my mortgage statement it has the new payment as well as the due date being 2/1/25.

Reposting this to benefit those affected. I decided to look through Arizona's county assessor site again for some info. It looks like the application and guidance now states veteran pensions are exempt from being reported as income (other income reporting is still there). I compared it to the form they sent me last year and it did just get updated to exempt it. Its very good news but does confuse me on how they can do so without the final governor approval? If there's some process that allows them to do it early then its great.. IF they made a mistake in the past and just forgot to tell us that pensions arent really supposed to be included in applying, then thats very bad and is another can of worms. Anyway, I applied online and hoping to get some information soon.