Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)



===

Most government web sites have some of the worst user interfaces that
I've ever seen. I suppose that if you use them all the time they're
probably OK, but I'm only on them once every year or two and it always
seems like a struggle. One of the worst is for renewing your EPIRB
registration and we have two of them.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:12:23 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)



===

Most government web sites have some of the worst user interfaces that
I've ever seen. I suppose that if you use them all the time they're
probably OK, but I'm only on them once every year or two and it always
seems like a struggle. One of the worst is for renewing your EPIRB
registration and we have two of them.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

It's funny, my military pay site is pretty easy to get into and use. The Army Knowledge Online
site is unreal. It's the one I mentioned to Luddite early. I quit worrying about 'Army Knowledge'.

John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:48:39 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:

John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.

Ours seems to have everything on it, including the 'see through' picture along with the regular
picture. I think Virginia is just not that crazy about veterans. In many, if not most, places,
Veterans Day is a school holiday. Not here. Here, Martin Luther King did a lot more for this country
than any veterans did.

On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:48:39 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:

John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.

Whoops, my bad. Virginia has a separate ID card for Veterans.

https://themilitarywallet.com/virgin...erans-id-card/

On 3/23/2018 11:48 AM, Bill wrote:
John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.



It's optional in Massachusetts. When I renewed my license last year I
brought my DD-214 with me. They scan it into their "system" and the new
license has the "Veteran" designation on it.

Congress passed the general Veteran ID card that John mentioned back in
2014 but they are just getting around to issuing them.

On 3/23/2018 12:21 PM, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:48:39 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:

John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.

Ours seems to have everything on it, including the 'see through' picture along with the regular
picture. I think Virginia is just not that crazy about veterans. In many, if not most, places,
Veterans Day is a school holiday. Not here. Here, Martin Luther King did a lot more for this country
than any veterans did.


Strange since certain areas of Virginia are awash with active duty
military and veterans.

On 3/23/2018 12:34 PM, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 15:48:39 -0000 (UTC), Bill wrote:

John H. wrote:
On Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:43:51 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:


Finally got vets.gov to recognize who I am. It was a little
frustrating because several times my attempt to register was kicked out
for some reason by a related registration requirement called "ID.me".
It asked all kinds of questions like what car loan I took out in the
last year along with a list of different vehicles. One answer was "none
of the above" which I checked. Another was what year one of my bank
credit cards was issued. Who the hell knows? It's not on the card like
some that say "member since XXXX". Anyway, I was finally able to answer
all the verification questions to their satisfaction and an ID.me
account was verified

Those sound like the questions asked by some credit outfits to get your
credit report. Takes a half
hour of research to answer the damn questions. I've had to go back and
look at tax returns from 29
years ago to get answers sometimes.

So, being formally registered, I went back to the Vet.gov site to apply
for the new veteran ID card. Turns out I don't need one. It states
that if you already have a VA health card (which I do) and/or a state
driver's license that has "Veteran" on it (which I also have) ... you
don't need to get the new card as either of the latter will qualify you
for any military discounts offered.

One thing is for sure. Dealing with the government hasn't changed in
the last 40-50 years. :-)

Just try getting into the DOD website. I've quit. They want a new umpteen
letter with a dozen rules
for a password, which you must change frequently. Finally I just said
hell with it. It's cool that
your state puts 'Veteran' on your license. Virginia doesn't.


Maybe it is the new ID requirement licenses. California DL does not meet
the requirements.

Whoops, my bad. Virginia has a separate ID card for Veterans.

https://themilitarywallet.com/virgin...erans-id-card/



Funny thing for me is that although I was nine years active duty and two
more in the reserves, I never knew I was eligible for benefits other
than education (which I used) and a VA mortgage guaranty (which I also
used when I purchased my first house).

It wasn't until a little over a year ago that I found out (due to the
prodding of several vet friends) that I should apply for VA health
care. I always thought you had to be a retired "lifer" or have a
service related disability to qualify. Much to my surprise all vets
can receive health care at the VA, the degree of services dependent on
a number of qualifiers.

I've been going to the VA for regular checkups and blood tests for over
a year now and am very pleased with their services. They offer many
tests recommended for people in my age group and to establish a baseline
in my records since I really had nothing before. All the visits and
tests are free. For example, one of my blood tests indicated a white
blood cell count that was slightly higher than normal. They performed a
specialized (and expensive) test for a potential genetic mutation that
could indicate early stages of leukemia. I tested negative and blood
work since indicates the white blood cell count has gone back to normal.

The only thing I pay is an $5 to $8 co-payment for any medications.