MYVETS.US · FIELD GUIDE
What you earned, explained.
I'm John Elia. I was a Marine from 1986 to 1990, and I've worked in IT ever since. This is the guide I'd hand a buddy: the benefits, discounts and services veterans have earned, in plain English, with tools you can use right here — and the scams to watch for along the way.
Plain EnglishEvery chapter starts simple. The fine print is there when you want it, in "go deeper" panels.
Hands-onTools, not brochures: work out VA math, find what's worth checking, spot a scam before it costs you.
SourcedEvery rule and number links to the official page it came from, with the date it was checked.
Start here
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The chapters
CH 01Consumer discountsHow veterans prove status for discounts without handing over a DD-214, the government perks that pay off, and a searchable list of confirmed discounts.TOOL · FINDERCH 02Disability ratings & claimsService connection, intent to file, C&P exams, VA math, the bilateral factor, current rates, decision reviews, and where to get free, accredited help.TOOL · VA MATHCH 03VA health careVA health care eligibility, applying, priority groups in plain English, the PACT Act, community care, copays, the Veterans Crisis Line and Vet Centers.CH 04GI Bill & educationPost-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, VR&E, apprenticeships and licensing tests, explained plainly, with what still applies to pre-9/11 veterans.TOOL · BENEFIT FINDERCH 05VA home loansVA home loans plainly: no down payment, no PMI, getting your COE, service minimums by era, the funding fee and its exemptions, and refinance traps.CH 06Jobs & your own businessFederal veterans' preference, FedsHireVets, American Job Centers and priority of service, SkillBridge, SBA help for veteran businesses, New York resources.CH 07Scams that hunt veteransClaim sharks, benefit buyouts, fake records fees, fake charities, romance cons and VA phishing. How to spot each one and where to report it.TOOL · SCAM SPOTTERCH 08Lock down your accountsVA.gov sign-in, passkeys vs. text codes, password managers, free credit freezes, guarding your SSN and DD-214, and the first hour after a scam.
The tribute
The original MYVETS.US — the map of bases and posts, the six branches, the Ledger of what every war cost, and the stories veterans have shared — is still here, all of it.