Saluting our Veterans: AARP Montana offers free Resources & Tools to Veterans, Military & Their Families
Continuing our longstanding commitment to honor veterans, active military and their families, AARP Montana has set up this resource page to share free tools, guides and resources that are especially designed for Montana veterans and military personnel.
Who are Montana's veterans? See a fact sheet here >>
“As a veteran myself, I along with AARP commend the tens of thousands of Montana veterans that have bravely served and sacrificed for our country,” said Al Ward, AARP Montana volunteer and former state president. “We also recognize the unsung heroes — the families and caregivers of our veterans — many of whom have made immeasurable sacrifices to care for their loved ones as they return from service. We invite all Veterans and Military Families to make use of these free resources.”
FREE MILITARY CAREGIVING GUIDE FOR VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
AARP has a long history of supporting those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, and we take pride in helping them navigate life’s transitions. Caring for a veteran or service member is one of the most important roles you’ll ever play. We’re here to make your caregiving journey easier — which is why we created this practical and helpful guide.
● Download a pdf copy of the guide here >>
HOME MODIFICATION BENEFITS GUIDE:
Free guide to help connect veterans and military families with financial assistance and programs to modify their homes.
● Download the free home modification benefits guide here >>
AARP VETERANS & MILITARY SPOUSES JOB CENTER:
The newly-launched AARP Veterans and Military Spouses Job Center is a digital platform bringing together valuable information and resources to help veterans and military spouses compete in today’s job market. The job center includes a new Veterans Career Advantage Course to build on career planning and skills development to help navigate the job market.
FREE GUIDE TO HELP MONTANA’S VETERANS ACCESS HEALTH CARE:
AARP recently launched a new tool to bring together valuable information and resources to help veterans, military families and their caregivers navigate their health care options. Veterans and their families have traditionally struggled with where to begin when deciding the best path for their health care needs: VA health care, Military Tricare, Medicare, private insurance, or Medicaid.
The Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator Guide provides Montana’s veterans with critical information about what is required to qualify for health care benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Department of Defense (DoD).
● Download a pdf copy of the guide here >>
MILITARY CAREGIVING GUIDE FOR THE "HEROES BEHIND OUR HEROES":
Since AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, took a personal tour of the Mount Alto Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C., in 1959, AARP has recognized the special challenges faced by military and veteran caregivers. We are pleased to offer our new AARP Military Caregiving Guide for veterans, service members and their families.
● Download the free military caregiving guide here >>
FREE AARP RESOURCES AND GUIDES FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES:
- AARP’s Veterans’ Health Care Benefit Guide
- Military Caregiving Handbook
- Financial Guide for VMF Caregivers
- AARP offers free resources for military caregivers grappling with stress, suicidal thoughts
- Free Resources for Veterans with PTSD, Other Mental Health Challenges
- Membership Discount for Veterans & Military Families
- Veterans Guide to AARP Benefits
- Veterans Burial Benefits Guide; Tips for End-of-Life & Survivors’ Benefits Eligibility
ADDITIONAL FREE AARP CAREER TOOLS FOR VETERANS:
- AARP Job Board: Offers customized search filters for the veteran community via its ‘veterans wanted’ search filter. This feature serves up employers who are actively searching for veterans. Some employers even use a ‘Veterans Wanted’ badge on their job postings to show their commitment to hiring veterans. Visit www.aarp.org/jobs.
- AARP Resume AdvisorSM: Helps translate military experience for the civilian workforce with a free resume review. Veterans can receive objective feedback on how their resume communicates their skills and expertise and personalized recommendations to make it stand out.
- AARP Work Reimagined for Veterans & Military Families Workbook
- Veterans Wanted: search button on AARP Jobs Board
FRAUD PREVENTION RESOURCES & OPERATION PROTECT VETERANS:
- AARP Veterans Fraud Center, a new online education and resource center to help protect veterans, service members and their families against fraud
- AARP Montana Protect Veterans Site
- Watchdog Alert Update: VA Warns Vets: Don't Post Vaccine Cards on Social Media
- Top Scams Facing Veterans & Military Families One-Pager
- Veterans Edition: Watchdog Alert Handbook
MONTANA ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING HEALTH AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS TO VETERANS:
- Adaptive Performance Center — Helena and Billings
- Braach Shepherds 4 Veterans -- Philipsburg, MT
- K9 Care Montana - Livingston, MT
- Warriors and Quiet Waters -- Bozeman, MT
- North West Montana Veteran's Food Pantry -- Kalispell, MT
- Freedom Ranch for Heroes -- Wise River, MT
- Mending Waters Montana -- Helena, MT
- Heroes and Horses -- Manhattan, MT
- Veterans Navigation Network -- Yellowstone County
- Horses Spirits Healing -- Billings, MT
- Dog Tag Buddies -- Billings, MT
- Montana Warriors on the Water -- Miles City, MT
- Big Hearts Under The Big Sky -- Montana City, MT
- Valor Equine Therapy Service (VETS) -- Columbia Falls, MT
- Montana Wounded Warriors -- Kalispell, MT
- Northeast Montana Veterans Coalition -- Sidney, MT
- Warrior Wishes Montana -- Billings, MT
- Montana Veterans Foundation
- Veteran Support Network -- Missoula Region
- Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana -- Kalispell, MT
- Montana Supporting Military -- Care Packages for Troops -- Helena, MT
- Impact Montana - Promoting Wellness Among Service Members, Veterans & Families
- Canine Companions Veterans Initiative -- Northwest Region
MONTANA VETERANS HOMES:
MORE MONTANA RESOURCES FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES:
- Montana State University - Veteran Services Information
- Montana Tech - Veterans Services
- University of Montana -- Vets Office
- Flathead Valley Community College Veterans Center
- Carroll College - Veterans Services
- Helena College Veterans Resources
- Rocky Mountain College - Veteran's Community Resources
- How to apply for VA health care
- Montana VA Clinic Directory
- Montana VA Health Care System
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry Veteran Services
- Montana Department of Justice - Resources for Veterans
- Montana Department of Military Affairs - Veterans Affairs
- Healthcare for Montana’s Veterans -- Montana DPHHS
FREE GUIDED POST-COMBAT JOURNAL
This post-combat journal is offered free of charge from AARP volunteer and veteran, Rich Nason. In Rich's own words, here is why he is making this tool available to veterans and how you can get a free copy:
"As a soldier having experienced combat several times during my early 1970’s tour in Vietnam, I came to understand first-hand what it meant to have every aspect of my own core challenged, but then as a veteran I came to understand as a soldier having faced combat that only I alone knew the road I had traveled. These deep-rooted emotions can impact an individual physically, emotionally and even their family. This can apply to any veteran having faced similar situations. Many veterans find various avenues seeking ways of healing from these emotional challenges, but then there are some who choose to handle it on their own. They might say “There’s no problem. I can handle this” -- these are the individuals I had in mind when I wrote the journaling book 'A Guided Post-Combat Journal'."
"I have dedicated this journal to the soldiers and veterans of the Armed Forces who over the last several decades have put themselves in harm’s way for their country and who are still trying to find their way back home to their true selves. If you would like to have a free copy sent to you please send your mailing address to ranason3@gmail.com and a copy will be sent. Title your email "Journal" so I know its purpose. Your address information will be deleted from my system once your book is sent and there will be no follow-up."
