2. September through August:
NMS provided support to 1,505,863 military
members and their families in 2011-12
In 2011-2012, MAP events provided interaction with
more than 260,000 service members and their
families
Operation Uplink provided the 6 millionth
connection
on Veterans Day, 2011. We’re now at over 6.8
million connections!
Unmet Needs assisted over 205 families with grants
totaling almost $250,000.
2
NATIONAL MILITARY
SERVICES
FY 2011-2012 RECAP
3. 3
New this year, NMS has designed lapel pins with the
new VFW tag line “No One Does More For Veterans”.
The pins are available through the NMS office or
through your Department NMS Chairman
NATIONAL MILITARY
SERVICES“NO ONE DOES MORE FOR
VETERANS”
$20 $15 $10 $5
4. NATIONAL MILITARY
SERVICES
4
Wounded Warrior, USO, and Fisher House are all
good programs. However, NMS is your VFW
program and relies on your support!
Encourage Departments, Districts and Posts to
donate to National Military Services instead of
individual programs.
This allows funds to be used where needed
most.
Programs can’t continue without your support!
5. The NMS Service Challenge is a great NMS incentive
to encourage participation at the Post level for NMS
donations
Will run from August 1st
to May 31st
, 2013
Challenge your members to support their branch of
service and track on the thermometer and/or using the
Donor Supporter Cards
NMS supporter pins will be provided with
each pack of cards
Donations received and sent back to
NMS will fulfill All American requirement
(minimum $100 for Post)
The thermometers and supporter cards are available for download at
www.vfw.org behind the log in under the National Military Services link.
NATIONAL MILITARY
SERVICES
ALL AMERICAN FUNDRAISER
IDEA
5
6. Posts:
Hold a fundraiser with proceeds going to NMS ($100 minimum)
Districts:
Make a donation to NMS ($250.00 minimum)
Departments:
Department fundraising event for NMS (non-reimbursable
minimum of $500 or donate $500 to the program)
*Deadline is June 30, 2013*
*To receive your award at National Convention,
deadline is June 15, 2013*
ALL-AMERICAN NMS
DONATION QUALIFICATION
FOR 2012-2013
6
7. ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM
MAKE SURE YOUR DONATION
COUNTS!!
7
Qualified donations to NMS:
Make check payable to National Military Services
Mail to: VFW, 406 W. 34th
Street, Suite 216,
Kansas City, MO 64111
Call NMS for credit card donations over the phone
at (816) 968-1155
Go online to www.vfw.org/contribute
9. NATIONAL MILITARY
SERVICES
NMS UPDATEHelp NMS spread our
success stories!
Sign up for the bi-weekly
NMS Update at
www.vfw.org
Share the stories with the
members of your Post and
community
Send pictures and
information about your
troop support activities
9
10. 10
Contact: Darcie Jones
Email: Uplink@vfw.org
Phone: (816) 968-1155
Operation Uplink forms and information
available at: www.vfw.org/NMS
OPERATION UPLINK
11. 11
Since 2006, Free Call Days have connected over 6.8
million calls
Continuing to provide two Free Call Days monthly at
over 600 MWR SPAWAR locations throughout
Afghanistan and other Middle East locations
Calls to the US, and landlines in other US home base
countries, i.e.: Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy etc.
Free Call Day schedule is available at
www.vfw.org/NMS
DSN line access codes are provided for service
members outside of Afghanistan/Kuwait for participation
in the scheduled Free Call Days
OPERATION UPLINK
FREE CALL DAYS
13. 13
OPERATION UPLINK
DOMESTIC VIRTUAL PINS
Operation Uplink is sending virtual PINs to VA
hospitals, medical centers and deployed
service members without Free Call Day access
in lieu of domestic calling cards
Provides 100 minutes of talk time per PIN
VFW Posts and Ladies Auxiliary members
must complete request form to receive bulk
virtual PINs
Individual PIN requests MUST include service
member’s email
14. 14
Above is an example of the list of PINs to be emailed. They are preset to print on
plain paper to cut apart or on Avery Labels # 5160 to peel off and stick on the back
of your VFW business card.
OPERATION UPLINK
DOMESTIC VIRTUAL PINS
16. 16
Contact: John Linstra
Email: MAP@vfw.org
Phone: (816) 756-3390 ext. 211
All MAP applications and info available
behind the log in at: www.vfw.org
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
17. 17
The Military Assistance Program (MAP) is the core
NMS program that promotes VFW involvement and
interaction with the local military community
Opportunity to educate about everything NMS has to
offer:
Operation Uplink: Free Call Days and virtual PINs
Unmet Needs: financial assistance
Since 2007, MAP has hosted nearly 2 million military
and families at over 1,700 events!
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
18. 18
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMMAP Grants are available to VFW Post and Auxiliaries
who participate in military unit functions such as:
Welcome Home parties
Farewell events
Holiday parties
FRG meetings
MAP funds are based solely on donations and our
procedures help MAP assist as many service
members as possible
Contact the MAP office for guidance-we’re here to help
you through each step of the MAP Grant process!
19. 19
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM Helpful suggestions for a successful MAP Grant request:
Review and follow all MAP information. This information is
provided for your benefit
Follow all procedures
Complete each line of the MAP Grant application
List all items needed for event on the Event Calculator
The MAP office acknowledges each application once it is
received! If you haven’t heard from us within a few days,
contact us!
MAP Grants provide basic food and beverages for ONLY
the military and their families
Current MAP events average $3.25-$3.50 per person
22. 22
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
ADOPT-A-UNIT
Adopt-A-Unit enables VFW Posts and Auxiliaries to
forge a connection with the local military community
before, during and after deployment
More than 2,000 units have been adopted since 2007
How the Adopt-A-Unit program works:
Submit an Adopt-A-Unit application to National
Headquarters
MAP sends a packet of materials for support of the
adopted unit
Submit activity reports
The support you offer is only limited to your imagination!
23. 23
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
ADOPT-A-UNIT
Adopt-A-Unit packet of materials:
Certificates – one for Post and one to present to unit
“100 Great Ideas”- tips and ideas from Post and Auxiliaries for
fundraising and activities to coordinate with your adopted unit
Activity Report- submit minimum of one per year
NMS User Brochure
VFW NMS Overview
Free Call Day schedule
Unit (Military) Commander’s Packet-created exclusively for your adopted
unit’s commander and should be presented with the duplicate certificate for
the unit
Cover sheet to attach VFW business card
Military NMS Overview
Free Call Day schedule and FAQ
Unmet Needs Application
24. MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
BEST OF THE BEST VFW Posts and Auxiliaries who have conducted and
reported 5 different types of activities on behalf of their
adopted unit.
As of August 2012—112 VFW Posts and/or Ladies
Auxiliaries have qualified for “Best of the Best” out of 510
Post and Auxiliaries current/active in the Adopt-A-Unit
program
The VFW Departments with the most Posts and Auxiliaries
in the “Best of the Best” often have the smallest military
population
Please contact the MAP office to request a “Best of the Best”
certificate to present to qualifying VFW Post/Auxiliaries
24
25. 25
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
MEMORIAL COMMENDATIONS
Memorial Commendations are an expression of the VFW and its
Auxiliary’s condolences to a fallen soldier’s family. Certificates are
presented to the family by a VFW member as an offer of support.
The commendation is a professional certificate with the appropriate
branch of service emblem enclosed in a vinyl portfolio
Available for the families of service members killed in action in current
conflicts
NMS office emails DOD notices daily to the NMS Chairman, Department
Commander and Adjutant. Contact NMS@vfw.org to request.
Information needed:
Deceased service member’s full name and rank
Branch of service
Date of memorial service (if known)
Name and address to whom the Commendation should be shipped
26. 26
Contact: Zach Schwenk
Email: Unmetneeds@vfw.org
Phone: (866) 789-6333
Unmet Needs application and information
available at: www.vfw.org/NMS
UNMET NEEDS
27. 27
UNMET NEEDS
Created in 2004 to assist
military service members
and their families
experiencing a financial
hardship directly related to
their military service
Provides grants up to
$2,500 for qualified service
members and their families
29. 29
UNMET NEEDS
Unmet Needs pays for basic life needs such as:
mortgage, rent, repairs, insurance, utilities, food
and clothing
Grants are paid directly to the “creditor”
company and not to the individual
Hardship cannot be due to mismanagement of
funds, civil, domestic matters, or legal issues
Application process takes approximately 5-10
business days after all required paperwork is
received
Each case is reviewed individually and acceptance
is determined by a committee
30. 30
UNMET NEEDS
Department Assistance:
Applicant needs immediate assistance
Department verifies eligibility and need
Contact NMS Director for pre-approval
Submit a completed Unmet Needs
application for reimbursement with copy
of check
31. 31
If all three criteria
are not met, then
the applicant is
not eligible.
Unmet Needs
Application-
Page 1
UNMET NEEDS
32. UNMET NEEDS
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
The VFW Unmet Needs program proudly stands ready to assist our
service men and women when they are burdened by natural disasters
out of their control (tornadoes, fires, floods)
Service members or veterans must have:
Served on active-duty title-10 orders within the past 36 months
Submit a completed ONE PAGE application
Experienced a state-declared natural disaster which has damaged or
destroyed their primary residence
Assistance does not apply to vehicle damage or vehicle insurance
deductibles
Total loss of the primary residence: $500
Power loss or damage to the home: $300
Application must be received within 30 days of
state-declared natural disaster32
