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Military Resource CenterVolume 9 – Issue 4, April 2022IN THIS ISSUEAnn’s CornerActivities AttendedImportant DatesMcRae’s Section2022 Tax Information forVeteransFrom the DirectorAirborne Hazards and Burn PitExposuresI hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break. I encourage you to read throughour newsletter to find out more about summer and fall registration, thePOWER Center, and potential tax benefits and assistance.The Military Resource Center continues to serve our military educationalbenefited students. Please continue to provide suggestions about how wecan improve our current practices. We appreciate the feedback, as it allowsus to better serve your needs as you work to accomplish your academicgoals!Andy HeitkampMilitary Resource Center DirectorVeteran BreakfastEnrollment VerificationCOVID-19 Provisions ENDPrairie Warrior AuctionOFFICE HOURS8 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.Military Resource CenterMinot State University500 University Ave WMinot, ND 58707701-858-4002 or 701-858-40031-800-777-0750MinotStateU.eduBe seen. Be heard. Belong.

Activities AttendedMarch1Bystander Intervention to stop stigma aroundlearning differences workshop2Safe Communities meeting3Minot Area Military Affairs meeting4Hug a GI Day7Empowering Woman Veterans workshop8Minot Area Homeless Coalition meetingI hope everyone had a restful Spring Break!9BIT Team meetingTo all the students who have registered for thesummer and fall terms, do not forget to complete thesemester worksheet. If you are enrolled in bothterms, complete a worksheet for both terms.10Counseling on Lethal Means training10BIT Team meeting10VA Safety and Justice challenge15Cascade Training16Cascade Training16MAFB meeting17Spring Potluck17Cascade Training17Inter-Agency meeting1721SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServiceStrategic Plan meeting22Academic restructuring updates22Junior Achievement Edison23University Cabinet24Student Affairs meeting24Wellness Center fair24BIT Team meeting24VA Outreach, Access, and Recovery28Vet Center Outreach on campus28MAFB Chaplin Brown meeting29Welcome Back Vietnam Veterans Day – GrandHotel30In-Depth look at Behavioral Health Support forGuard service members31SCO Training31Nursing Department presentationAnn’s CornerIf you wish to change your schedule, please notifyour office right away. Any changes you make maycause a debt for you and we want you to be aware.To our Post 9/11 – Chapter 33 students: to prevent adelay with your BAH payments this spring term,please update your contact information with the VA at1-888-442-4551. Please don’t forget to verify yourenrollment this month. Contact our office if you havequestions at 701-858-4003 or 701-858-4002.Ann Haider-BougardVeterans School Certifying Official

Important DatesAcademicApril1April Fool’s Day8MSU’s FAFSA priority deadline10Last day to withdraw from all classes andreceive a 50% refund for second 8-weekcourses15Good Friday, University closed15FAFSA priority deadline18Easter Break, no classes21Last day to drop second 8-week courses22-23 Spring Honor Dance and Powwow28New Student RegistrationMcRae’s SectionHappy Month of the Military Child to everyone! April isone of my kids’ most favorite months of the year,mainly because of all the events they used to partakein on the bases where we’ve lived. It’s important torecognize and honor the commitments and sacrificesthat military families have had to make over theyears. This April, I encourage everyone to thank theirfamilies for being there for them and to always keepmoving forward.The Military Resource Center and POWER Centerare committed to your academic, personal, social,and career success. The POWER Center offersopportunities and services designed to optimizeindividual growth with campus engagement,community involvement, and enriched culturalexperiences. Through advocacy, mentoring,exploration, and inspiration, each student isempowered to become a responsible, lifelong learner.As the POWER Academic Coach at the MilitaryResource Center, I can help you achieve your goals.US Armed Forces DatesApril5Gold Star Spouses Day9POW Recognition Day14Air Force Reserve Birthday15Purple Up! For Military Kids Day19Patriot’s Day23Army Reserve Birthday30Military Brats DayApril is Month of Military ChildSexual Assault Awareness MonthDistracted Driving Awareness MonthScan QRcode toapply forPOWER!The Academic Support Center, which houses thePOWER Center, is in the lower level of the Gordon B.Olson Library. The POWER Center and its servicesand programing are provided free of charge toindividuals that qualify.Rob McRaePOWER Academic CoachMilitary Resource Center

2022 Tax Information for VeteransThe Internal Revenue Service is committed to helpingall Veterans. They work with community andgovernment partners to provide timely federal taxrelated information to veterans about tax credits andbenefits, free tax preparation, financial education, andasset-building opportunities available to Veterans.Their approachThe Stakeholder Partnerships, Education andCommunication (SPEC) office within the Wage &Investment Division has built a network of nationaland local partners. Organizations include corporate,faith-based, nonprofit, educational, financial, andgovernment. With so many tax benefits availabletoday, taxes can serve as the starting point for manypeople's dream of stronger financial security.Partnership with VAThe IRS and US Department of Veterans Affairsentered into a Memorandum of Understanding in2015. The primary focus of the MOU is to provide freetax preparation services to Veterans and theirfamilies.Partnering organizations prepare tax returns free ofcharge for low- to moderate-income taxpayers. Alsocheck out the partner Outreach Connection for linksto newsletter articles, podcasts, widgets, and otherelectronic products to help reach out to customerswith timely tax news. If you represent a Veteransorganization, why not look further to see how you canbecome involved?Contact informationIf you are interested in partnering opportunities inyour area, send an email to partner@irs.gov todayand let them help you get started making an impact inyour community!Free tax preparation servicesEach year, millions of people have their taxesprepared for free by IRS-certified volunteers.The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and TaxCounseling for the Elderly programs have helpedpeople for more than 40 years. Over 1.3 million freetax returns were prepared for Veterans since theinception of the MOU at nearly 8,000 free taxpreparation sites across the country. Here are somedetails about VITA and TCE:1. The IRS works with local community groupsto train and certify VITA and TCE volunteers.2. VITA generally offers free tax return preparation tothose who qualify.3. TCE is mainly for people age 60 or older. Theprogram focuses on tax issues unique to seniors.AARP participates in the TCE program throughAARP Tax-Aide.4. VITA and TCE provide free electronic filing. Efiling is the safest, most accurate way to file yourtax return. If you combine e-file with direct deposit,you can get your refund faster.IRS free fileWhether you draw a paycheck, are self-employed, orown a small business, you can use all available taxforms you need for free with IRS Free File. If youmade 69,000 or less during 2019, you qualify forfree brand-name software offered through apartnership between the IRS and leading tax softwareproviders. Some of these providers offer free federaland free state return preparation and electronic filing.If you made more than 69,000, you can use FreeFile Fillable Forms, electronic versions of IRS paperforms best for someone experienced in returnpreparation.Earned income tax creditMany Veterans are eligible for various tax creditsincluding the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundablefederal income tax credit for low- to moderate-incomeworkers and their families. Roughly two millionVeterans and military households receive the EITC,the refundable component of the child tax credit orboth, according to Center on Budget and PolicyPriorities. The credits provide a tax break for eligibleservice members, allowing them emergencies. TheTax Credits for Working Families organizationproduced a video sharing how tax credits are a vitalresource for many who have served our country.To view the entire article, click here.

Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit ExposuresVA added three presumptive conditions related toparticulate matter exposureThe new presumptive conditions are asthma,rhinitis, and sinusitis. To be eligible for benefits, youmust have gotten one of these conditions within 10years of your separation from active service.This will expand benefits for Veterans who served in: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, and Uzbekistanduring the Persian Gulf War, from Sept. 19,2001 to the present orThe Southwest Asia theater of operationsfrom Aug. 2, 1990 to the present.If you have a pending claim for one or more of theseconditions, you don’t need to do anything. We’ll sendyou a decision notice when we complete our review.For more information about VA benefits and eligibility,or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors canvisit www.VA.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.To view the entire article, click here.For information about the registry, click here.

Dear GI Bill Student,On June 1, 2022, COVID-19 legislation that permits you to receive MHA at the resident (inperson) rate, while taking courses converted to online training due to COVID-19 willend. Starting June 2, 2022, you will no longer receive the MHA at the resident (in person)rate for classes taken online. When enrolling for courses after that date or any subsequentterm, you will need to enroll in approved resident (in person) classes to continue receiving yourMHA at the resident rate. Otherwise, you will receive the online rate, which is half the nationalaverage. To find out more about your MHA rate, and to receive an estimate, please visit theGI Bill Comparison ToolQuestions?Check in with your School Certifying Official and visit the COVID-19 Student FAQshttps://www.va.gov/ORMDI/The 2022 35th Annual Prairie Warrior Auction will be Thursday, April 21, 2022.We need you! Our military play an important role in our nation and the morale of our troops istop priority. Could you take some time and attend our 35th Annual Prairie Warrior Auction? Theevent has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 21 at the Grand Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m. Themoney raised goes to events that benefit the wellbeing of our troops and their families as theysacrifice for us every day.As a Barksdale Trophy Award winner for community support, the Minot Area Chamber EDC isproud to sponsor the 35th annual Prairie Warrior Association Auction. Through the years thisevent has raised nearly 668,000 for Minot AFB to help underwrite picnics, family holidayevents, Air Force competitions and other activities throughout the year.Entrance is 20 per person, which includes hors d’oeuvres. To avoid lines, tickets can bepurchased ahead of time by logging onto the minotchamberedc.com website.If you want to look at items early, or absolutely can’t make it, you can bid online for silentauction items and even buy them right away. Starting April 18, go tohttps://minotchamberedc.cbo.io with the keyword minotchamberedc and start the biddingprocess!

Prairie Warrior Auction Volume 9 - Issue 4, April 2022 OFFICE HOURS 8 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Military Resource Center Minot State University 500 University Ave W Minot, ND 58707 701-858-4002 or 701-858-4003 1-800-777-0750 MinotStateU.edu Be seen. Be heard. Belong. \爀吀䔀堀吀 匀吀夀䰀䔀匀屲All copy is set in Helvetica.