U.S. Veterans
Resources and Links

Few groups of men and women are better recognized than U.S. Veterans. A large percentage of American veterans, young and old, continue to serve after their military term through volunteer work and in public service. Not everyone has the time or resources to volunteer but whenever possible you should try and give someplace that needs help. Service organizations are all over the place and their only objective is to serve others. But they need help doing that. Volunteer and you can make a difference in a veteran's life.

For veterans, opportunities exist in areas like bidding for government contracts, high quality health care, property tax exemptions and the list goes on. U.S. Veterans in business are most often given the 'second look' when it comes to competing for a bid especially in a government bid scenario. If you have your act together you will have a good advantage over anyone else in the bidding process.

When starting your own business you are in for a lot of work. Anyone who has done it will agree. Operating an ongoing business is no less work but over time the learning curve gives way to experience. As a veteran you should take advantage of every ounce of help you can get to plan your business, to cover all the financial bases and to learn how to manage the business.

Working with other veterans in various organizations will help you to promote your business while helping other veterans do the same. Veterans want to do business with other veterans. It's the most natural network there is outside of blood relations. It's common ground and in the business world it makes a difference.

I have found a world of resources that have helped me along the way. If you are service disabled you will have certain benefits that others do not have. All veterans, service disabled or not, have benefits and benefits are meant to be used. But you cannot use them if you are not aware that they exist.

That's why I put this list together of some of the websites that I find helpful. Contact me if you find a good source of information so that I can include it on this page.

Go to GovBenefits.gov. Take the survey - about 100 questions - it took me about ten to fifteen minutes to complete - it's worth it. You'll get a list, several pages long, full of benefits that you may or may not be aware of all pertaining to your own particular situation.

Need information that may help you with your existing business? Or, do you want to start a new business? Go to VetBiz.gov Get registered and find resources to help answer some of your questions.

Another very helpful site is the Department of Veterans' Affairs Public and Intergovernmental Affairs page. This is where you can view or download the book on Federal Benefits for U.S. Veterans and Dependents. Other resources include VA news and videos about veterans' rights and benefits.

Register To Do Business With The Federal Government

If you are going to bid on work with the Federal Government you will need to complete a few tasks.

First, U.S. Veterans will need a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. You can get your code by logging onto www.census.gov. You can enter keywords that best fit your business in the NAICS search box to find suggested codes.

Next, U.S. Veterans will need a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), number. It's simple and only takes a few minutes to get one. You can do this by calling 1-866-705-5711. But before you call go to the DUNS Numbering Guide and scroll down to the list of information you will need. Do this before you make the call.

Then you need to go to Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at www.ccr.gov. At CCR you will need:

your SIC number,

your DUNS number,

your Tax Identification Number (TIN)

and your company bank account information.

It all sounds like a lot of work but it can all be accomplished in under 30 minutes total time in most cases. One point to remember is be sure to write down all your log in information and passwords and also write down if the passwords are case sensitive. Keep this list handy, you will need it later.

More Helpful Sites

Military.Com State Veteran Benefits

Service Disabled Employment and Rehabilitation Application for Benefits

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Small Business Administration Veteran Information Page

Veteran's Benefits - U.S. Code Title 38

Disabled American Veterans

Government Grants

VA Mortgage Center (not a .gov site)

Glenn's Homepage for Diabled Veteran's Benefits (individual site for resources)


I started this page on November 22, 2008. It is and will be a work in progress. The intent is to give you a resource for checking out what benefits may be at your disposal. Stay tuned as we continue our research.

If you encounter an error on this page drop me a line in the form below and let me know so I can correct it.

Thank you,

Mason Thompson, SDV

Mr. Thompson is a service disabled veteran and former Marine. He is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and volunteers his free time at the VA hospital in Albuquerque. He owns several businesses including a blinds company called All About Blinds and Shutters, Inc. which has been verified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and has been added to the verified business database at VetBiz.gov