🇺🇸 Veteran Resources
Resources for Veterans, Families, and Caregivers
The USS Paul F. Foster Association is committed to keeping our shipmates connected—not only to each other, but also to the benefits and resources available to those who served our country.
Under Construction!
Whether you are looking for VA health care, disability compensation, information about toxic exposures, mental health support, employment assistance, or resources for your family, the links below are a good place to start.
You earned these benefits through your service. Don’t assume you don’t qualify—take the time to find out.
🧠 Veterans Crisis Line
If you or another Veteran is in crisis, help is available 24/7.
📞 Call 988, then press 1
📱 Text 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line provides confidential support for Veterans, service members, and people concerned about a Veteran.
If there is immediate danger:
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
🧠 VA Mental Health Resources
VA provides mental health services for Veterans, including counseling and treatment for PTSD, depression, substance use disorders, and other mental health concerns.
You do not have to wait until things become a crisis to ask for help.
🇺🇸 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA.gov – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The official VA website is the best starting point for information about federal benefits and services for Veterans and their families.
You can use VA.gov to:
- Apply for VA health care
- File and manage disability claims
- Check the status of VA claims and appeals
- Manage VA benefits
- Find VA medical centers and clinics
- Learn about education and career benefits
- Explore home loan benefits
- Find caregiver resources
- Learn about burial and memorial benefits
Explore VA Resources and Support
🏥 VA Health Care
Veterans may be eligible for VA health care based on their military service, discharge status, disability status, income, and other factors.
VA health care can include primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prescriptions, medical equipment, and other services.
VA Health Benefits Hotline:
877-222-8387
You can also visit a VA medical center or clinic for assistance with enrollment.
💰 VA Disability Compensation
If you have an illness or injury that was caused or aggravated by your military service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation.
VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible Veterans with service-connected conditions.
How to File a VA Disability Claim
VA Benefits Hotline:
800-827-1000
Need help with a claim?
Veterans can work with an VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent.
Find an Accredited Representative
☣️ PACT Act & Toxic Exposures
The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during military service. It also expanded VA health care eligibility for many Veterans.
Learn About the PACT Act and Your VA Benefits
Toxic Exposure Screening
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive a toxic exposure screening. Ask your VA health care provider about receiving a screening.
Possible military exposures include:
- Burn pits and airborne hazards
- Agent Orange
- Radiation
- Gulf War-related hazards
- Camp Lejeune contaminated water
- Other hazardous substances encountered during military service
Don’t assume an exposure from decades ago is irrelevant today. Talk with your VA health care provider.
👨👩👧 Family & Caregiver Resources
Military service affects families as well as Veterans. VA provides programs and resources for spouses, children, caregivers, and survivors.
VA Family and Caregiver Benefits
Caregiver Support
VA’s Caregiver Support Program provides resources, education, support, and services for eligible caregivers.
Caregiver Support Line:
855-260-3274
🎓 Education & Career Benefits
Veterans and eligible family members may qualify for education, training, career, and employment assistance.
VA Education and Training Benefits
VA Employment Resources for Veterans
Resources include:
- GI Bill education benefits
- Vocational training
- Career counseling
- Employment assistance
- Small-business resources
- Transition assistance
🏠 VA Home Loan Benefits
Eligible Veterans, service members, and some surviving spouses may qualify for VA-backed home loan benefits.
VA home loan programs may help eligible Veterans purchase, build, or refinance a home.
🏠 Homelessness & Housing Assistance
If you or another Veteran is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, VA has programs that can help with emergency housing, shelter, and longer-term support.
Veterans who need housing assistance should not wait until they are completely out of options.
⚓ Vet Centers
Vet Centers provide counseling and support for eligible Veterans, service members, and their families.
They can be particularly useful for Veterans who may not be comfortable beginning with a traditional VA medical center.
⚰️ Burial & Memorial Benefits
VA provides a variety of burial and memorial benefits for eligible Veterans and their families.
These can include:
- Burial in a VA national cemetery
- Memorial headstones and markers
- Burial allowances
- Presidential Memorial Certificates
- Memorial items
- Bereavement counseling for eligible survivors
VA Burial and Memorial Benefits
📞 Important VA Phone Numbers
| Resource | Phone |
|---|---|
| Veterans Crisis Line | 988, Press 1 |
| VA Benefits | 800-827-1000 |
| VA Health Care | 877-222-8387 |
| VA General Information / MyVA411 | 800-698-2411 |
| VA Caregiver Support | 855-260-3274 |
| TTY | 711 |
Need some ships history to help with a VA claim?
Ships History Timeline Page
We have assembled a list of every significant event during the service of USS Paul F. Foster DD-964 and EDD-964. These dates and information were collected from official deck logs, command histories, and cruise books, If you have any additions or clarifications please let us know.
USS Paul F. Foster DD-964 Digital Command Histories
A Command History is:
👉 An official record submitted each year by a ship’s Commanding Officer
👉 Required by the Navy and typically sent to the Naval History and Heritage Command
It serves as a permanent historical record of the ship’s service.
🇺🇸 Veteran ID Cards & Military Base Access
Can a Veteran Get a VA ID Card for Base Access?
There are several different types of Veteran identification cards, and they do not all provide military installation access.
Veteran ID Card (VIC) — NOT for Base Access
The VA Veteran ID Card (VIC) is a free digital identification card available to many veterans with an honorable or general discharge. It can be used to verify veteran status for discounts and similar purposes.
Important: A VIC cannot be used to access military bases or installations, commissaries, or exchanges. (Veterans Affairs)
Apply for a VA Veteran ID Card (VIC)
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) — May Provide Base Access
A VHIC is issued to veterans who are enrolled in VA health care. It is primarily used for identification and check-in at VA medical facilities. (Veterans Affairs)
Eligible veterans may also use a VHIC to obtain access to certain Department of Defense installations and facilities. Base access is not automatic, however. The veteran generally must first visit the installation’s Visitor Control Center and complete the required access process.
Under the current VA/DoD process, eligible veterans who don’t have a VHIC may also be able to enroll for installation access using a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card. The installation verifies the veteran’s identity, conducts the required security checks, and electronically verifies eligibility and purpose. (VA News)
After enrollment, the veteran generally uses the same VHIC or REAL ID presented during enrollment when entering that installation. Access enrollment is typically valid for a limited period and requirements can vary by installation. (VA News)
Before traveling to a military base:
Contact that installation’s Visitor Control Center ahead of time. Installation commanders control access, and requirements can vary depending on the installation and the purpose of the visit. (Veterans Affairs)
Retired Military — Different Rules
Veterans who retired from the military may qualify for a Department of Defense identification card. A DoD-issued ID is different from a VA Veteran ID Card and is specifically used to establish military status and provide access to military installations and services. (Veterans Affairs)
⚓ Foster Reunion Tip
For shipmates attending a future reunion or ship visit at a Navy installation, don’t assume that having a VA ID means you can enter the base. Start the access process early and check directly with the installation hosting the event.
For our Association reunions, always follow the specific base-access instructions provided by the USS Paul F. Foster Association and the host installation, including any required forms, identification, registration deadlines, or visitor-center procedures.
Useful VA Resources:
VA — Types of Veteran ID Cards
VA — Get a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
VA/DoD — Installation Access Information
The current National Park Service program provides U.S. military veterans with a free Military Lifetime Pass through the America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Pass program. The pass covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees at participating federal recreation lands, including NPS, Bureau of Reclamation, BLM, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites. (National Park Service)
🇺🇸 Free National Parks Pass for Veterans
Military Lifetime Pass — Free for U.S. Veterans
Did you know that U.S. military veterans can receive a free lifetime pass to many of America’s national parks and other federal recreation lands?
The America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Military Lifetime Pass is available at no cost to U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Family members. The pass provides free admission to participating federal recreation sites and covers standard entrance and day-use fees. (National Park Service)
The pass is honored at recreation areas managed by:
- National Park Service
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Bureau of Land Management
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (National Park Service)
How to Get Your Free Pass
Veterans can obtain the Military Lifetime Pass in person at many federal recreation sites. Accepted documentation includes:
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- Veteran ID Card
- Department of Defense identification card
- A state-issued driver’s license or identification card showing a veteran designation (National Park Service)
A digital pass can also be obtained through Recreation.gov. Physical passes can be requested online, although shipping or processing fees may apply when ordering online. (National Park Service)
What the Pass Covers
The Military Lifetime Pass covers entrance fees and standard day-use fees. It generally does not cover camping, tours, special recreation permits, reservation fees, organized-group fees, or concession-operated activities. (National Park Service)
Learn More & Get Your Pass:
National Park Service — Free Access for Veterans & Gold Star Families
🇺🇸 A Message to Our Foster Shipmates
Many of us served decades ago. Some of us never thought about VA benefits when we left the Navy. Others may have assumed that a problem wasn’t related to military service—or simply didn’t know where to begin.
It’s never a bad idea to learn what benefits you may have earned through your service.
Keep your DD-214 and other military records. Keep copies of medical records and documentation of conditions that may be related to your service. When you need help, consider working with an accredited Veterans Service Officer or other VA-accredited representative.
Most importantly, don’t go through a difficult time alone.
Your Foster shipmates are still out here.
⚓ Once a Foster Sailor, Always a Foster Sailor.
Honor • Valor • Service
📋 Disclaimer
The USS Paul F. Foster Association provides these resources and links as a convenience to Veterans, their families, and Association members. The Association is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any of the organizations linked on this page.
Eligibility for VA benefits, health care, compensation, and other services is determined by the appropriate government agency or organization. Information, programs, telephone numbers, and eligibility requirements may change. Please verify current information directly with the applicable organization.
The USS Paul F. Foster Association does not provide legal, medical, financial, or benefits advice. Veterans seeking assistance with VA claims or benefits may wish to contact an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), attorney, or claims agent.
If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate emergency or is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For Veterans in crisis, call 988 and press 1, or text 838255 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
Our goal is simply to help our shipmates find the resources that may be available to them.
⚓ Once a Foster Sailor, Always a Foster Sailor.
Honor • Valor • Service