State Treasurer Tim Cahill Announces Soon to Be Senior Master Sergeant Carey-ann Patterson as Veteran of the Month

State Treasurer Tim Cahill has long been a supporter of US Veterans. His office has established the Veterans’ Bonus as a division of the Administration and Finance Department.

According to the Treasurer’s department, “We are proud to provide bonus payments for veterans, service members and their families for qualified service in the United States.

The Treasury administers the World War II Bonus, Korean Bonus, Vietnam Bonus and the Welcome Home Bonus. All bonus payments are subject to applicants meeting eligibility requirements. The Welcome Home Bonus is for veterans who are engaged in or have completed qualified active service since September 11, 2001.”

State Treasurer Tim Cahill recognized Soon to be Senior Master Sergeant Carey-ann Patterson of Worcester, Massachusetts, as March’s “Veteran of the Month.” Patterson has been in the United States Air Force, working as an Air Transportation Specialist for 17 years at Westover ARB, 439th AW, Chicopee, Massachusetts.

She is in the 58th Aerial Port Squadron and currently Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Air Terminal Operation Center (ATOC). In June 2009, Patterson volunteered to participate in the Global Medic Exercise in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, involving three different branches of the Armed Services. She received “TOP PERFORMER” at the end of the week-long exercise. Patterson completed her USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Distance Learning Course for promotion to Senior Master Sergeant.

While studying for her Associates Degree in Nursing, Patterson simultaneously worked at UMASS Memorial as a PCAII and continued to fulfill her obligations as an NCOIC. Last month, she took her Nursing Boards and successfully passed as a Registered Nurse.

Currently, she is working together to get her 29 Airmen ready for deployment to Iraq in two months. This will be Patterson’s third deployment for “Operation Enduring Freedom” and “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. After deployment she will focus on completing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing to be commissioned as an Officer in the Air Medical Evacuation Squadron as a Flight Nurse. A multi-decorated Senior Master Sergeant, Patterson has received many medals including the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with a gold star, and two Global War on Terrorism Medals.

“It is a great honor to recognize Senior Master Sergeant Carey-ann Patterson as this month’s Veteran of the Month,” said Treasurer Tim Cahill. “We owe these men and women a debt of gratitude, and one way to show it is through the “Welcome Home” Bonus. Our goal is to make all eligible service members aware of this program.”

The “Welcome Home” Bonus is a tax-free cash payment available to eligible United States service members. Administered by Treasurer Cahill’s office, the program provides a bonus to service members called to active duty since September 11, 2001.

With the initiation of the “Veteran of the Month” program by our office, we are hoping that this will give others the opportunity to claim their veterans’ bonus from Massachusetts who have served in the Armed Forces and simultaneously raise awareness for the “Welcome Home” Bonus benefit. Service members from Massachusetts who 1) served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or 2) served in any other nation in the world for a period of 180 days or more are eligible. To date, more than 19,000 applications have been approved.

For more information about the “Welcome Home” Bonus program, or for an application, please contact Treasurer Cahill’s office at www.mass.gov/treasury or 617-367-9333 x859.
Treasurer Cahill’s office also administers a bonus program for veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Office of Veterans’ Services administers a bonus program for Gulf War veterans.

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