Military Order of Purple Heart

General information

The Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Annual Operating Budget is approximately $9.75 million of which approximately $7 million goes to support the Service Program. The majority of the funding is received from the MOPH Service Foundation through either restricted or unrestricted grants. The Service Foundation receives their money through various fund raising activities, such as thrift stores and a vehicle donation program. MOPH has a number of national programs to help our member as well as all veterans and their families without discrimination of branch of service or era of service to our country.
National Service Program (NSP)
1. The NSP operates a nation-wide network of 77 Service offices from Guam to Puerto Rico. Over 91,000 veterans
2. and dependents receive expert assistance in obtaining well deserved benefits from the VA from MOPH’s service staff comprised of 140 trained and accredited National Service Officers (NSO’s), managers, and assistants. In addition to its paid staff, the MOPH has a dedicated corps of volunteer Department and Chapter Service Officers who also provide assistance to veterans.
3. In the 12 months of FY 2013, MOPH NSO’s obtained over $337 million in VA benefits for their clients, submitted over 14,500 claims to the VA, processed 275 appeals, appeared at 126 hearings, and made over 2,600 outreach visits to Vet Centers, Hospitals, and MOPH Chapters. These numbers do not reflect the contacts and visits made by MOPH volunteer Department and Chapter Service Officers.
4. The MOPH Service Program also provides expert legal opinions and representation for veterans before the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). MOPH represents any veteran regardless of membership or affiliation. The MOPH does not accept government funds for and cases brought to appeal.
5. When not assisting veterans directly, MOPH National Service Officers are required to attend local VA training, successfully complete an on-the-job Training Program, and attend one week of intense annual training in order to maintain their VA accreditation.
6. The MOPH is proud of its NSO designated veterans case management system (VCMS). The web-based client database, automated VA forms, and reports provide for rapid client response and excellent case oversight.

Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS)
1. The Hallmark of MOPH is our National VAVS program. We service our veterans throughout the VA Health care system and in State Veteran Homes. We have volunteers in over 100 VAMCs and clinics across the country. We have Patriot members on the local VAVS committee in over 77 VA facilities. The MOPH Service Foundation provides funds in the form of grants to assist in obtaining clothing, personal hygiene items and allowing our members to take these veterans on outing like ball games, movies and picnics.
2. MOPH has volunteers donating their hours in most local communities, one way or another to bring joy into these veterans’ lives. In fiscal year 2014, MOPH donated more than 160,031 hours this was equal to more that $3,608,699 in savings for the VA Health Care System. The MOPH plays a very active role as a voting member of the DVAs' National Advisory Committee. This committee is responsible to making recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health to improve the VAVS program.
3. Over the past 7 years, the MOPH, through its National VAVS program, has given nearly $50,000 in scholarships, rewarding those wonderful young American student volunteers.

Americanism
1. MOPH provides materials and Member volunteers to visit classrooms and civic organizations nationwide wherein our Members tell of their experiences in the US Armed Forces, providing historical perspective to world events.
2. Employment opportunities for veterans are made through our association with State and Federal Job Fairs and Programs. In conjunction with the VA, the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration, MOPH support has led to the hiring of numerous OIF/OEF Veterans.
3. In 2014 we received 355 scholarship applications. Three hundred-twenty (320) met all requirements and were forwarded to the Scholarship Committee. The Committee awarded eighty-three (83), $3,000 scholarships totaling $249,000. Twenty (20) scholarships were awarded to MOPH members, five (5) to spouses of MOPH members, and fifty-eight (58) to lineal descendants of MOPH members. In addition , MOPH Scholarship winner Austin Howard was awarded the 2014 Lieutenant Michael P Murphy US Navy Seal Scholarship ($2,000) funded by Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy USN, Memorial Scholarship Foundation of Riverhead, New York.

Legislative
1. MOPH maintains a constant presence on Capitol Hill voicing its position on numerous legislative issues concerning veterans and the military. MOPH maintains membership in many veterans’ coalitions to help bring forth a united stance on important legislative issues.
2. MOPH has been the lead Veterans’ Organization on several legislative issues; one most notable has been the DoD regulation awarding the Purple Heart to POW’s who have died in captivity.