Mobile apps for veterans have become essential, offering support in managing health, staying connected, and finding entertainment. These tools are crucial for navigating post-military life, providing access to services, benefits, and community resources. In this guide, we’ll highlight the best apps for veterans that cater to their unique needs, from health management to staying in touch with loved ones and enjoying some downtime.
How Cell Phones For Soldiers Support Veterans
Cell Phones For Soldiers Mobile: Veteran Phone Application
- What it offers: Access to free cell phones and phone service plans for veterans.
- How it supports veterans: This program helps veterans stay connected with loved ones, access resources, and manage their daily lives by providing them with essential communication tools.
- How it works: Veterans can sign up for the program through Cell Phones For Soldiers, fill out the necessary forms, and receive a cell phone with a service plan.
Veteran Phone Application | Contact Cell Phones For Soldiers
Health and Wellness Apps
For veterans, maintaining health and well-being is crucial, and these apps provide valuable support in managing both physical and mental health needs.
VA Health and Benefits
- What it offers: Navigating the VA system and accessing health and benefits services.
- How it supports veterans: This app provides a one-stop solution for veterans to manage their healthcare and benefits, including scheduling appointments, viewing medical records, and checking the status of claims.
- How it works: Veterans can use the app to securely access and manage their VA benefits, communicate with healthcare providers, and find local VA facilities.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
PTSD Coach
- What it offers: Managing symptoms of PTSD, which many veterans experience after service.
- How it supports veterans: The app offers resources to help veterans cope with PTSD, including educational materials, self-assessment tools, and techniques to manage symptoms like anxiety and anger.
- How it works: Veterans can access tools like guided relaxation exercises, symptom tracking, and crisis support contact information to manage their PTSD on the go.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Insight Timer
- What it offers: Stress, anxiety, and sleep issues management.
- How it supports veterans: This meditation and sleep app offers a vast library of guided meditations, sleep aids, and relaxation exercises to help veterans manage stress and improve sleep quality.
- How it works: Veterans can choose from thousands of free meditations, join live events, and track their progress over time, fostering a regular practice that supports mental health.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
MOVE! Coach
- What it offers: Managing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle.
- How it supports veterans: MOVE! Coach is a weight management app designed to help veterans improve their physical health through personalized coaching, exercise plans, and dietary guidance.
- How it works: The app provides a 19-week program that includes goal setting, tracking progress, and learning new habits to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Insomnia Coach
- What it offers: Insomnia and sleep disturbance management, common among veterans.
- How it supports veterans: This app helps veterans manage and overcome insomnia through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies, personalized sleep plans, and relaxation techniques.
- How it works: Veterans can track their sleep patterns, receive tailored advice, and practice techniques designed to improve sleep quality over time.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Mental Health and Support Apps
For veterans facing mental health challenges, these apps for vets offer critical support, from anonymous networks to structured self-management programs.
Objective Zero
- What it offers: Assistance with feelings of isolation and the need for immediate mental health support.
- How it supports veterans: Objective Zero connects veterans with peers, mentors, and mental health professionals through a confidential network, providing a safe space to talk and access resources.
- How it works: Veterans can instantly connect via voice, video, or text with other veterans or mental health experts, offering a lifeline during difficult times.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
AIMS for Anger Management
- What it offers: Help with difficulty managing anger, a common issue among veterans due to the stresses of military service.
- How it supports veterans: AIMS (Anger and Irritability Management Skills) provides tools and techniques to help veterans understand and control their anger, improving overall mental health.
- How it works: The app offers educational resources, exercises, and self-assessments designed to help veterans manage anger and reduce the impact of irritability on their daily lives.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
VetChange
- What it offers: Assistance with challenges related to substance use, particularly alcohol, which can be a coping mechanism for many veterans.
- How it supports veterans: VetChange is designed to help veterans reduce or quit drinking by providing self-help tools, educational content, and progress tracking.
- How it works: The app guides veterans through personalized goals, coping strategies, and self-monitoring to promote healthier habits and support long-term change.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Older veterans often face significant barriers in accessing and using these apps, including a lack of awareness or difficulty navigating mobile devices. To address these challenges, the VA and Department of Defense have developed educational materials that provide step-by-step guides and the basics of mobile device use. These materials have received positive feedback from older veterans and healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of making mental health resources accessible to all veterans, regardless of their comfort with technology. (Source: WUSTL.edu)
Social and Community Apps
Staying connected with peers and finding a supportive community is essential for veterans. These apps and platforms offer opportunities for veterans to engage with others, participate in events, and find mentorship.
Team RWB
- What it offers: Assistance with Social isolation and a supportive community among veterans.
- How it supports veterans: Team RWB (Red, White, and Blue) helps veterans build connections through physical and social activities. The app connects veterans with local events, fitness challenges, and community service opportunities, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging.
- How it works: Veterans can use the app to find and join events in their area, track their fitness progress, and connect with other veterans through shared activities and goals.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
RallyPoint
- What it offers: Professional networking tailored to veterans.
- How it supports veterans: RallyPoint is an online network where veterans, service members, and military families can connect, share information, and seek advice. It serves as a platform for mentorship, career advice, and discussions on military and veteran-related topics.
- How it works: Users create profiles, join discussions, ask questions, and connect with others in the military community. RallyPoint facilitates networking, knowledge sharing, and community support.
Veterati
- What it offers: Assistance with transitioning to civilian life and finding career guidance.
- How it supports veterans: Veterati offers a free mentorship platform where veterans can connect with mentors in various industries to receive career advice, guidance, and support. It’s designed to help veterans navigate their post-military careers with the help of experienced professionals.
- How it works: Veterans sign up, create a profile, and can browse through available mentors. They can then schedule mentorship calls to discuss career goals, job search strategies, and more.
Entertainment and Recreation Apps
These apps for veterans offer ways to unwind, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time. By providing entertainment and relaxation, they contribute significantly to overall well-being.
VetTix
- What it offers: Limited access to affordable entertainment and recreational activities for veterans.
- How it supports veterans: VetTix provides free tickets to concerts, sports events, theater performances, and other entertainment opportunities for veterans and their families. This helps improve the quality of life for those who have served by making these events more accessible.
- How it works: Veterans can sign up, verify their service, and apply for tickets to events they are interested in, making it easy to enjoy recreational activities without the financial burden.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Free Games for Veterans
Video games can be a powerful tool for veterans, providing a therapeutic outlet and helping with mental health recovery. A study of video game play and mental health recovery in veterans has shown that these types of entertainment can offer significant mental health benefits for veterans, such as reducing stress and providing a sense of community and achievement.
Organizations like Stackup actively promote positive mental health and combat veteran suicide through gaming and geek culture. They provide veterans with access to free or discounted games and organize gaming events that foster camaraderie and support among veterans. By engaging in gaming, veterans can find a constructive and enjoyable way to relax, connect with others, and manage their mental health.
Utility and Resource Apps
These veterans affairs apps streamline access to VA benefits, manage appointments, and provide other essential resources, making life easier for veterans.
VetsApp
- What it offers: A centralized platform for accessing VA benefits and services.
- How it supports veterans: VetsApp simplifies the process of managing healthcare appointments, prescriptions, and benefits, all from one app.
- How it works: Veterans can schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, and track their VA benefits, all through a user-friendly interface.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
Military OneSource
- What it offers: Comprehensive support resources for veterans and their families.
- How it supports veterans: Military OneSource provides 24/7 access to a wide range of services, including counseling, financial planning, and education resources.
- How it works: Veterans and their families can use the app to access support services, find local resources, and connect with expert advisors.
Download on App Store | Download on Google Play
VA Online Scheduling
- What it offers: An online platform for scheduling VA appointments.
- How it supports veterans: This tool allows veterans to easily schedule, view, and manage their VA appointments.
- How it works: Veterans can log in to the VA Online Scheduling portal to book or reschedule appointments and receive reminders.
Conclusion
These apps for Veterans offer vital resources, from health management to entertainment and community connection. By exploring these tools, veterans can enhance their quality of life and stay connected to the support networks they need and deserve.
