Retiring military personnel - who have had due 30 years of service or more - will no longer have their retirement pay capped at 75 percent of base pay thanks to changes in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. For example, a member who served 32 years will receive 80 percent of their retired pay base and a member who has served 42 years will receive 105 percent of their retired pay base. More detail about the new retirement pay schedule is available from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

All military pay information can be found in Military.com's Pay Section.

Free Fitness DVD for Veterans

Week of July 23, 2007

RMAXi.com International is showing their appreciation for the armed forces by offering all veterans a free fitness DVD called FlowFit. The program addresses each of the 6 degrees of human movement. It's available to all skill and fitness levels, no two workouts are the same and it only requires 14 to 18 minute sessions, 3 times a week. The DVD retails at $39.95. It's free; all you have to pay are the shipping costs of $6.95. Get your free DVD here.

Free legal advice for Veterans

Week of July 23, 2007

The law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC, recently announced its Washington, D.C., pro bono project "When Duty Calls." Womble Carlyle will host the program in an effort to provide military veterans with pro bono legal assistance in the initial stages of disability claims filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, read the article on the Military.com website at www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,142517,00.html?wh=wh.

VA Disability Pay Set Too Low

Week of July 23, 2007

The draft of a recent study commissioned by the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (www.vetscommission.org) has concluded that disability compensation for veterans with severe injuries is set too low. The study suggested that the problem may be particularly acute for the youngest severely injured veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who will face a lifetime earnings gap when compared with their non-disabled peers. Analysis of the Commission?s study is available on the Military.com website at www.military.com/features/0,15240,139156,00.html.

Nicholson to Leave Veterans Affairs

Week of July 23, 2007

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson announced last week that he has tendered his resignation to President George W. Bush, effective no later than Oct. 1, 2007. Nicholson said he wants to return to the private sector. ?This coming February, I turn 70 years old, and I feel it is time for me to get back into business, while I still can.? He said he has no definite plans at this time. Nicholson was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee in January 1997. Immediately prior to becoming Secretary, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (The Vatican).

You can read more about his resignatiuon on Military.com at www.military.com/features/0,15240,142646,00.html.

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