Retraining Grants Recently unemployed or underemployed veterans may receive up to $3,000 per year, for a maximum of two years, if they have a financial need while being retrained for employment. The amount of the grant is determined by the applicant's financial need as calculated by the WDVA. Other education or retraining grants will be included when determining the veteran's financial need for this program and should be included on the application.                                                                To qualify, the applicant must have been involuntarily laid off or discharged (not due to willful misconduct) within a period beginning one year before the date that the WDVA receives the application. The applicant must have been employed for at least six consecutive months with the same employer or in the same or similar occupations. At least one day of that employment must have been within the period beginning one year before the date that the WDVA receives the application.                                                                  An underemployed applicant must have current annual income from employment that does not exceed federal poverty guidelines. To qualify, an underemployed applicant must have experienced an involuntary reduction of income during the year prior to the date that WDVA receives the application.                                                                    The applicant must be currently enrolled in a technical education program or engaged in a structured on-the-job training program that will be completed within two years of the date that the application is received by the WDVA. The program must reasonably be expected to lead to employment. Course work for a four year college or university degree does not qualify. The WDVA may require written verification from the school or employer that the veteran is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the program.                                                                         In addition to all Wisconsin technical colleges, various private occupational and trade schools, approved by the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board (EAB), may qualify for the retraining grant program if they do not offer four-year degrees or four-year programs.                                                                        An applicant may receive a second retraining grant no sooner than one year after the first grant was issued. No applicant may receive more than two retraining grants. The applicant may not receive a retraining grant and another WDVA education grant for the same period.                                                                                          The WDVA will pay a retraining grant to the veteran's employer on behalf of a veteran engaged in an on-the-job training program.                                                                                  Veterans may apply for the grant through their County Veterans Service Office. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) offers three different loan programs to eligible Wisconsin Veterans, the Home Loan, the Home Improvement Loan, and the Personal Loan. All WDVA loans are underwritten using standard industry practices and procedures.                                                               Funding for loan programs comes from the sale of bonds or cash reserves in the Veterans Trust Fund. All loans help the Veterans Trust Fund by providing a source of revenue for other veterans programs.                                                                      Veterans may have multiple loans with the WDVA. Certain restrictions may apply. See individual programs for details.                                                                             The Military Funeral Honors Program (MFHP) in Wisconsin provides a final tribute to the men and women who served our state and nation honorably as members of the U.S. armed forces. It allows a grateful nation to pay its last respects in a dignified and solemn ceremony.                                                                                 The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) administers the program with assistance from veterans' service organizations, County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), funeral directors and the active and reserve components of the U.S. armed forces.                                                                  Program Background National: On January 1, 2000, Military Funeral Honors became a statutory benefit to all veterans with the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act. The law requires that, upon the family's request, every eligible veteran is entitled to receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include folding, presentation of the United States burial flag and the sounding of taps, at no cost to the family.                                                              Wisconsin: On May 9, 2000, the governor signed into law a bill that directed the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to administer a Military Funeral Honors Program using local units of member organizations of the Council on Veterans Programs and members of the Wisconsin National Guard. As part of this bill, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs was authorized to establish honor guard teams, which are currently located at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery–King, Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery–Union Grove, and Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery–Spooner.                                                             Wisconsin Mission To provide and coordinate the final tribute to eligible Wisconsin veterans acknowledging their faithful and honorable service to the State of Wisconsin and the Nation. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs' Military Funeral Honors Program is designed to complement and augment existing federal and local programs that provide this solemn and dignified ceremony to honor a deceased veteran at the time of burial. The MFHP is committed to serving veterans and their families. The MFHP ensures all agencies are coordinated in their efforts and those honors are conducted with dignity and respect and meet an acceptable military standard.                                                                       Wisconsin MFHP Facts Over 448,000 veterans live in Wisconsin; 40% live in southeast Wisconsin. 12,000 Wisconsin veteran's deaths are projected each year between 2008 and 2012, nearly twice as many as 15 years ago.                                                                  Wisconsin is one of nine states that have created a Military Funeral Honors Program with full-time employees to conduct and assist with providing honors. The WDVA MFHP coordinates honors with seven military casualty assistance centers throughout the country, 16 different military organizations with over 500 units, seven different Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) with over 1,300 posts and two funeral associations with 600 funeral homes. Types of Honors AvailableFuneral Honors consist of the folding and/or presentation of a burial flag and the sounding of taps. Any of which can be rendered, depending on the families wishes.                                                                     The minimum number of personnel who will respond to a request for honors will be two uniformed service representatives. Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 entitles eligible veterans to have a detail consisting of two or more uniformed military personnel present for military funeral honors. At least one of these representatives will be from the branch of service of the deceased. These two representatives will sound Taps, fold and present the U.S. flag to the next of kin.                                                                            If requested and available, the MFHP at no cost to the family of a veteran will arrange for a firing detail consisting of a minimum of three individuals who will fire three rifle volleys. This rifle detail may consist of MFHP team members, VSOs or other military organizations. It is appropriate to have multiple organizations present at the same service to render honors.                                                                                      If requested and available, the MFHP will arrange for a bugler. Due to a shortage of buglers, Taps is normally sounded with the aid of an electronic bugle provided by the military service providing honors.                                                                    Funeral directors are requested to ask the question to the family if they would like military representation and/or local VSO support for honors to be provided. If a family requests military representation and/or a VSO cannot provide the support requested, the honors should be coordinated through the MFHP.                                                          Eligibility CriteriaVeterans are eligible for military honors at their funeral if they meet one of the following requirements:                                                             Died while serving on active duty or in the Selected Reserve (drilling with a unit). Discharged from active duty under conditions "other than dishonorable." Completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve under conditions "other than dishonorable." Discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.                                                                      Under Dishonorable Conditions. For the purposes of determining eligibility for Military Funeral Honors under 10 U.S.C., individuals who have at any time been discharged or released from military service with any of the following characterizations of service or under any of the following circumstances, shall be considered to have been discharged or released under dishonorable conditions, and Military Funeral Honors shall not be provided:                                                             A Dishonorable Discharge. A Bad Conduct Discharge. A Dismissal from the Service awarded by courts-martial. An Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge. An Officer Resignation for the Good of the Service in Lieu of courts-martial, which results in a discharge characterization of Under Other Than Honorable Conditions.                                                             Coordination ProcessFamily members of the deceased veteran should first notify their funeral director of their desire to have military funeral honors rendered. (There is no cost to the veteran's family to have military funeral honors provided by WDVA or the military.) The family should provide the funeral director with the following information, if available:                                                           Name of deceased, date of birth, Social Security number, form DD-214 (discharge), or any other proof of veteran status or eligibility for burial honors. Branch of service and type of service (active, reserve, National Guard, retired). The funeral director or family member, if not using a funeral director, should then contact:                                                                Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Attn: Military Funeral Honors 30 W. Mifflin St., PO Box 7843 Madison, WI 53707-7843 Toll-free phone: 1-877-944-6667 Madison area phone: (608) 261-0510 / 0512 / 0179 Toll-free fax: 1-866-454-0356 Madison area fax: (608) 261-0511 Email: honors@dva.state.wi.us Sign-Up for our FREE Veteran Newsletters and FREE Veteran Alerts. Full name:  * required Email address:  * required Comments: I agree to receive FREE veteran newsletters and alerts. Yes No   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 [ Benefits By State ]