An estimated 600 veterans from across the country will be in Indianapolis Aug. 20-24 to compete in the 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games

This year’s games, cosponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Help Hospitalized Veterans and the Veterans Canteen Service, are being hosted by the Roudebush VA Medical Center.

The Golden Age Games are open to all veterans age 55 and older who receive care at a VA medical center. Events include swimming, bicycling, bowling, croquet, air rifle, golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes, discus and shot put. There are divisions for competitors with a wide range of disabilities.

A number of events will serve as qualifiers for the 2009 National Senior Games, in San Francisco.

For more information on the Golden Age Games, log on to www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov, or call Jenny Ballou, the games’ public affairs coordinator, at (757) 728-3450.

TRICARE made simple

Those seeking a better understanding of TRICARE benefits can take a free online course from “TRICARE University.” The course covers a wide range of topics including eligibility, medical benefits, programs, pharmacy, dental, online resources and TRICARE Reserve Select.

The course is segmented to allow beneficiaries to learn about TRICARE benefits in any order of interest and at their own pace. Log on to www.tricare.mil/tricareu, click “online training” and select the TRICARE public course. For more information on TRICARE, visit military.com’s benefit channel at www.military.com/benefits/tricare.

MTV seeks correspondent

The MTV cable network is looking for a new on-air correspondent to cover the issues facing America’s newest generation of veterans during the presidential campaign season, and it wants a veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan to fill the spot.

Candidates must be knowledgeable about the issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, possess good writing skills, have an outgoing personality and be willing to relocate to New York City, where the MTV studios are based, from Aug. 1 to Dec. 1.

Those interested may apply online at salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/436/t/4262/questionnaire.jsp?questionnaire_KEY=589. For more information, e-mail Andy Roberts at Andrew@iava.org.

RAF flies over R.I. today

Keep your eyes on the skies at midday today. The Red Arrows, the precision flying team of Britain’s Royal Air Force, will arrive in Rhode Island and fly in low-level formation over much of the state. The group is expected to fly over the State House, leaving contrails, at about 12:15 p.m.

Today’s flyover will serve as a sneak peek in advance of the Red Arrows’ performance in the Rhode Island National Guard Open House and Air Show the weekend of June 28-29 at Quonset Point, North Kingstown.

For detailed information about the Red Arrows, log on to www.raf.mod.uk/reds/

For more information about the air show, go to www.riairshow.org.

Armed Services Night Wednesday at McCoy

The Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday evening will hold their 29th-annual Armed Services Night at McCoy Stadium, with a 6:15 p.m. program of marching and music before the 7:05 p.m. start of the Sox game against the Richmond Braves.

The program honoring veterans and active personnel will feature performances by the 88th Army Band and Guards of Thunder and a parade of colors by veterans’ groups and the military.

Tickets for the event are $3.50, and are available from the Rhode Island National Guard and most veteran organizations; on game night they may be purchased at the stadium’s Gate 8. For more information call the Pawsox at (401) 724-7300.

Naval Station Newport hosts concert, fireworks

Naval Station Newport will hold its annual Celebrate America concert and fireworks program at Dewey Field on Sunday, July 6.

Soul Power, an East Coast touring rhythm and blues group, will kick off the program at 5 p.m., followed by Navy Band Northeast’s concert band at 7. A 25-minute fireworks display will begin at about 8:45.

The concert is free to the public. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. No coolers, backpacks, glass bottles or pets will be allowed.

Enter Naval Station Newport through Gate One, the main entrance near the Officers Club, beginning at 4 p.m. Music, concession sales and kids’ games at Dewey Field will begin at 5 p.m. The Naval War College Museum will remain open that evening.

•American Legion

Balfour-Cole Post 64, 170 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield, will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

•Italian-American Veterans

The department’s monthly meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, at 7:30 p.m.

•Order of the Purple Heart

Oliver Hazard Perry Chapter 1812 will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Rhode Island Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Ave., Bristol.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars

Gatchell Post 306 will hold an Italian dinner fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the post home, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket; tickets are $7 at the door. And from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Post 306 will hold a breakfast; tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under, at the door.

•Disabled American Veterans

The department executive committee will meet Thursday at 7 p.m., in classroom 3 (fifth floor) of the VA Medical Center in Providence.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.