National Parks lifetime pass.
- America the Beautiful Military/Veterans Pass — free lifetime access to national parks and federal recreation lands for veterans and Gold Star families.
Veteran-owned and operated
Veteran benefits & resources.
A curated hub of federal, California, and High Desert resources, with an emphasis on the benefits most veterans never hear about. We are veteran-owned, and we built this to help our community actually use what they earned.
1Find the benefit or resource
2Open the official link
3Confirm and apply
In crisis or just need to talk? Reach the Veterans Crisis Line now.
Free, confidential support, 24/7, for veterans, service members, and their families. You do not have to be enrolled in VA care.
- Call: dial 988, then press 1
- Text: 838255
- Online chat: veteranscrisisline.net
Heads up: Signal & Shield Solutions is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, CalVet, or any government agency. Benefit rules and amounts change often, so always confirm details on the official links below. Nothing here is legal, medical, or financial advice.
Benefits most people miss
Earned perks that quietly save real money.
These are the ones veterans are most surprised to learn they qualify for. Eligibility varies, so check each link.
Commissary, Exchange & MWR access.
- Expanded base privileges — since 2020, all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and caregivers can shop tax-free at commissaries and exchanges and use MWR facilities.
Space-A military flights.
- Space-Available travel — 100% service-connected disabled veterans can fly standby on military aircraft, often for free.
Aid & Attendance.
- Aid & Attendance and Housebound — an added monthly payment on top of VA pension if you need help with daily activities or are largely confined to home. Widely underused by older veterans.
MilTax free tax software.
- MilTax — free federal and state tax prep and filing built for the military community, with no income limit.
Vet Centers.
- Vet Centers — free, confidential readjustment and PTSD counseling, separate from VA hospitals, for combat veterans and their families. You do not need a VA disability rating.
Health care & disability
Care, ratings, and the PACT Act.
VA health care.
- Apply for VA health care — more veterans qualify than assume they do, especially after recent expansions.
- VA dental (VADIP) — dental coverage options many veterans overlook.
Disability benefits.
- Disability compensation — file a new claim, add conditions, or request an increase.
- PACT Act — expanded eligibility for burn pit, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. If you were denied before, it may be worth another look.
Coverage for dependents.
- CHAMPVA — health coverage for spouses and children of permanently and totally disabled veterans.
Education & training
School, trades, and tech, for you and your family.
Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- GI Bill benefits — tuition, housing allowance, and books.
- Yellow Ribbon Program — covers tuition beyond the GI Bill cap at many private and out-of-state schools.
Veteran Readiness & Employment.
- VR&E (Chapter 31) — for service-connected veterans, often more generous than the GI Bill and it can be used for training, school, or starting a business. Underused.
- DoD SkillBridge — civilian job training and internships during your final months of service.
CalVet College Fee Waiver.
- College Fee Waiver — waives system-wide tuition and fees at California public colleges (community colleges, CSU, UC) for eligible children and spouses of service-connected disabled or deceased veterans. Can be worth tens of thousands.
- Fry Scholarship & DEA — education benefits for survivors and dependents.
Home & housing
Buying, adapting, and staying housed.
VA & CalVet home loans.
- VA home loan — no down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and the funding fee is waived if you are service-connected disabled.
- CalVet Home Loans — California’s own veteran loan program, sometimes with competitive terms and protections.
Disability housing grants.
- SAH & SHA grants — help paying for home modifications tied to a service-connected disability.
- Native American Direct Loan — for eligible Native American veterans on federal trust land.
Property tax & homeless support.
- California Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption — a substantial property tax break for 100% disabled veterans and eligible surviving spouses.
- HUD-VASH — housing vouchers plus case management for veterans facing homelessness.
Employment & business
Jobs, hiring preference, and veteran-owned business.
Hiring preference & placement.
- Feds Hire Vets — veterans’ preference and the federal hiring process explained.
- VA careers & employment — job search, resume help, and career counseling.
Veteran-owned business.
- SDVOSB / VOSB certification (SBA) — certify your veteran-owned business to compete for set-aside federal contracts.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center — free business counseling and the Boots to Business program.
California statewide
State benefits worth claiming.
California adds real benefits on top of federal ones. CalVet is the hub for all of them.
CalVet.
- CalVet — California Department of Veterans Affairs, the front door to every state benefit below.
- CalVet Veterans Homes — long-term and skilled nursing care for eligible veterans.
DMV & state parks.
- California DMV veteran services — a free “VETERAN” designation on your license or ID, disabled veteran license plates, and fee waivers.
- California state park veteran passes — free or discounted access for eligible disabled veterans and others.
Education & property tax.
- College Fee Waiver — California public college tuition waived for eligible dependents.
- Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption — a significant break on your home’s property tax.
Local — High Desert & San Bernardino County
Help close to home, from people who know the area.
Start with a County Veterans Service Officer. They file VA claims for you at no cost, and you should never pay anyone to file a basic claim.
San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs.
- Find your County Veterans Service Officer — official CalVet directory; look up San Bernardino County for the office nearest the High Desert.
VA care in the High Desert.
- VA Loma Linda Healthcare System — the regional VA health system for our area.
- VA facility locator — find the nearest clinic (including the Victorville area) or Vet Center by ZIP code.
Local posts & counseling.
- Find a Vet Center — free readjustment counseling near you.
- American Legion & VFW — find posts in Apple Valley, Victorville, and Hesperia. Call to confirm current hours.
Survivors & families
Support for spouses, children, and caregivers.
Compensation & pension.
- Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — monthly benefit for eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents.
- Survivors Pension — for eligible low-income surviving spouses and children of wartime veterans.
Caregiver support.
- Family & caregiver benefits — stipends, training, health coverage, and respite for those caring for a veteran.
Getting started
New to this? Start here.
Account & DD-214.
- Create a VA.gov account — one login for claims, health, education, and more.
- Request your DD-214 / records — the document you need for most benefits.
File a claim the smart way.
- How to file a disability claim — the official step-by-step.
- Use a free County Veterans Service Officer or an accredited VSO. Never pay for help filing a basic claim.
Veteran-owned, and we back it up.
Signal & Shield Solutions is proud to support fellow service members and their families. Mention your service and ask about our military discount on IT support, security camera and system installs, and 3D printing.
- Managed IT and on-site help for business and home
- Security cameras and systems, installed and supported
- Custom 3D printing, designed and printed locally
This page is a free community resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the VA, CalVet, or any government agency. Links go to official sources; please verify current eligibility and details there.