INDEPENDENT RESOURCES FOR U.S. VETERANS & FAMILIESVeterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1
SERVICE TO STRIDEVETERAN RESOURCE FIELD GUIDEGET SUPPORT
THE BRIEFING / FIELD NOTES

USEFUL INTEL.
PLAIN LANGUAGE.

Practical guidance built from official sources. New briefings arrive every three days.

LATEST START HERE
Editorial illustration of plain books, an olive notebook, work gloves, and a pencil on a weathered wooden table beneath olive trees.Education
· 5 MIN READ

VR&E versus the GI Bill: where to begin

Understand how VR&E and the GI Bill differ, why benefit order deserves attention, and what to bring to a conversation with VA.

Read the briefing
ARCHIVE RECENT BRIEFINGS

KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Editorial still life of a face-down phone, closed khaki folder, and magnifying glass on an olive-drab desk in angled light.Benefits
· 4 MIN READ

How to spot veteran benefit scams

Recognize pressure tactics, check claims representatives through VA, and find official reporting routes without giving a suspicious sender more information.

Read the briefing
Editorial illustration of an olive records folder and blank appointment papers on a wooden desk overlooking a quiet clinic waiting area.Policy Watch / Health care
· 9 MIN READ
POLICY STATUSEnacted law; expanded enrollment available

The PACT Act opened the door. What happens after you apply?

A closer look at PACT Act health-care access: what changed, why enrollment and disability compensation are separate, and what would show the policy is working.

Read the analysis
Editorial illustration of an open notebook, worn textbooks, and an olive field bag on a desk beside a campus window.Policy Watch / Education
· 10 MIN READ
POLICY STATUSCourt rulings in effect; VA implementation and individual reviews ongoing

More GI Bill months? First, find out what those months can pay for.

VA now reviews affected GI Bill records automatically. Here is how to understand the 48-month ceiling, separate benefit programs, and the uncertainty between a court ruling and your next term.

Read the analysis
Editorial illustration of two olive folders, a folded road map, and a compass on a desk beside a neighborhood clinic entrance.Policy Watch / Health care
· 10 MIN READ
POLICY STATUSEnacted law; routine referral and authorization rules still apply

Community care: a referral is only the beginning.

What community-care reforms can change, what VA still needs to authorize, and why the strongest test of access is the appointment a veteran can actually use.

Read the analysis
A service-record folder, blank papers, dog tags, a pen, and a compass arranged on olive canvas.Records
· 4 MIN READ

What to do if you can’t find your DD214

How to request military service records, what information to prepare, and one important note for VA benefit applications.

Read the briefing
A folded road map, compass, keys, notebook, and phone arranged on a military field desk.Local support
· 4 MIN READ

Five questions to ask your state veterans office

A practical briefing for making the most of a call or meeting with your state or territory veterans office.

Read the briefing
A veteran and an accredited representative calmly reviewing blank paperwork at an office table.Benefits
· 3 MIN READ

How a VA-accredited representative can help

Understand the difference between VSO representatives, accredited attorneys, and claims agents—and how to verify them.

Read the briefing
Blank application papers, an olive document folder, glasses, and a pen arranged neatly on a wooden desk.Health care
ARCHIVE · · 3 MIN READ

Getting ready for your VA health-care application

A calmer way to prepare for VA health-care enrollment, with practical advice on paperwork, application options, and following up.

Read the briefing
House keys and a small wooden house sit on blank paperwork beside an olive canvas case and a compass.Housing
ARCHIVE · · 3 MIN READ

Your VA home-loan COE, explained without the jargon

Understand what a Certificate of Eligibility does, which records to gather, and how it fits into the wider home-buying process.

Read the briefing
A man in an olive civilian shirt works on a laptop at a wooden desk with a notebook and a canvas duffel nearby.Employment
ARCHIVE · · 3 MIN READ

Turn your military experience into a civilian résumé

A practical writing exercise for translating military responsibilities into clear, honest résumé bullets that civilian employers can understand.

Read the briefing

The Briefing uses an automated editorial workflow and official source material. Each article lists its sources and review date. Program providers make all eligibility decisions.