Homeland Veterans Magazine

Vol. 7 Number 12 • December 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland MAGAZINE

Pearl Harbor

Survivor

Stuart “Stu” Hedley

0755 HOURS Citizens

Help Veterans

Empowering Veterans

INSIDE THE ISSUES 2019

What’s Next Transitioning

Cybersecuity

Pictures For Heroes A Soldier’s Christmas

Art & Healing Enlisted To Entrepreneur

LEGAL EAGLE

USS Arizona Memorial

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all-new

cirque christmas show

all-new

ice skating show

over 1 million glimmering lights

WE ARE PROUD TO SALUTE THE MEN & WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES

NOW–JAN. 5

Experience SeaWorld’s festive decorations, over 1 million glimmering lights, holiday shows & attractions like the All-New Winter Wonderland on Ice, the All-New Cirque Christmas & more. Plus, meet Rudolph & Santa Claus himself.

PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL ITT OFFICE FOR TICKETS Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & TM under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved. © 2019 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Jeff Edwards 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army Sheriff’s Deputy SWAT-Team Marksman

Share, Connect and Rally Support CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network that helps patients and caregivers connect with family and friends during a health journey. Our online platform offers simple tools for sharing health updates and mobilizing a community of support.

Learn more and start a site today.

CaringBridge.org/military

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EDITOR’S

LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com

Contributing Writers Holly Shaffner Honor Flight

RanDee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens

Vicki Garcia

Enlisted to Entrepreneur

CJ Machado

Homeland Photojournalist

Kelly Bagla, Esq. Legal Eagle

Joe Molina Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Eve Nasby

What’s Next - Transition

Scott Hermann Cybersecurity

Collaborative Organizations

www.HomelandMagazine.com Greetings and a warm welcome to Homeland Magazine!

Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine.

The Magazine focuses on national resources, support, community, and inspiration for our veterans and the military families that keep it together.

Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future.

The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with our veterans, service members, military families, and civilians.

The magazine is supported by a distinguishing list of national veteran organizations, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more.

We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.

Homeland Magazine is a veterans magazine for veterans by veterans.

We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of Homeland Magazine.

Mike Miller

Publisher/Editor mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com 4

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Wounded Warrior Project Disabled American Veterans American’s Warrior Partnership Shelter To Soldier Father Joe’s Village Flying Leathernecks Give An Hour Courage To Call Boot Campaign National Women’s History Operation Homefront With National Veteran Advocates & Guest Writers Homeland Magazine is published monthly. Submissions of photographs, Illustrations, drawings, and manuscripts are considered unsolicited materials and the publisher assumes no responsibility for the said items.

All rights reserved.

Homeland Magazine

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(858) 275-4281 Contact Homeland Magazine at:

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DECEMBER INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 Alive Day - A Course Change 8 Citizens Help Veterans 12 Empowering Veterans 14 Stu Headley - Pearl Harbor 16 Pictures of Heroes 20 Beat the Holiday Blues 22 A Soldier’s Christmas 24 Arts & Healing - Gratitude 26 Homeland 2019 - Inside the Issues 32 What’s Next - There is Hope 34 Transitioning Veterans 38 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 42 Military Money - GI Bill 44 Cybersecurity 46 Legal Eagle - CA New Law 49 Careers In Law Enforcement 56 Army - Navy (America’s Game)

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ALIVE DAY

A course change

Army veteran, amputee traces life’s path back to ‘Alive Day’ in Vietnam

By Matt Saintsing

Top: Army veteran Bill Caywood takes a break from combat west of Chu Lai, Vietnam, in 1969, months before losing part of his right leg from an enemy booby-trap.

Above: Caywood at the 2019 National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament in Iowa, where he became the event’s first-ever recipient of the DAV Freedom Award.

B

ill Caywood vividly remembers stepping out of a rice paddy in Vietnam when an explosion tore through his leg. While walking as point man—the most forward and exposed position of a combat patrol—he triggered a booby trap, sending a volley of ignited fragments into him and the soldier behind. Fifteen minutes later, a second explosion causes further injuries.

On Dec. 9, 1969, just 13 days after his 21st birthday, his right leg was amputated below the knee. The events leading up to that day laid before him a path he otherwise would not have traveled.

The Indiana native’s draft number had come up while he was considering enlisting in the Navy, but at the in-processing site, the room was divvied up by service—half became Marines, while Caywood’s side of the room ended up in the Army.

Following the attack, he was treated at Valley Forge Military Hospital in Pennsylvania, where he was first introduced to DAV. He was offered assistance with his VA claims, and local DAV chapters also took patients on off-site trips. When Caywood left Valley Forge, he began his new life as an amputee, but his involvement with DAV was just beginning.

After earning a college degree and spending a few years in the restaurant and hotel industry, Caywood, prompted by his VA vocational rehabilitation counselor, began working at DAV in the early 1980s at the Indianapolis regional office. For 15 years, Caywood helped his fellow veterans access the benefits they earned in service.

During that time, he met his wife, Cindy. Her mother worked in the same building as Caywood. One day, while meeting her mom for lunch, Cindy was introduced to the Army veteran. They started dating shortly after.

“He liked to do really fun things, like hike and go to the circus,” she said.

Caywood’s injuries clearly didn’t stop him from living life to the fullest, but he hid the fact that he was an amputee from Cindy, afraid of what she might think.

“After about a month or so I found out, and of course it had no impact on me whatsoever or our relationship,” said Cindy.

Since retiring from full-time benefits advocacy, Caywood has remained an active participant with DAV. He attends several DAV-sponsored events each year, and in addition to mentoring veterans at national events, he has helped put on adaptive sporting events through DAV in his home state.

Caywood was recently honored with the National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament’s inaugural DAV Freedom Award for embodying the event’s rehabilitative spirit.

While Caywood doesn’t go as far as to celebrate his Alive Day, he views the tragedy of losing a leg as a springboard for some of his proudest life achievements.

“It changed my direction, of course,” added Caywood.

“But that direction doesn’t need to be a negative one.” ■

Artist - Elizabeth Moug 6

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Host this National Memorial in your Community

Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

www.RememberingOurFallen.org www.PatrioticProductions.org

Tribute Towers

Remembering Our Fallen is a national memorial unlike any other -with military & personal photos of 5,000 military Fallen since 9/11/2001

“If the purpose of a war memorial is to help us remember the sacrifices of the Heroes, and to help us heal from our sorrow, then your mission has been accomplished. Thank you for this tremendous gift.”

Unveiled at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 2017, it has since traveled the nation coastto-coast.

- 1LT Daniel P. Riordan’s Mother

This memorial also includes those who returned from war, but lost their inner battle to suicide, and those who died from non-war zone injuries while serving in their military capacity.

“There is a ‘disconnect’ between those we ask to serve our military objectives and our society at large. This memorial made that connection very dramatically and helped us understand the magnitude of their sacrifices.

Please contact us to add a Fallen loved one, host the memorial, or make a donation at: info@RememberingOurFallen.org

- Ed Malloy, Mayor of Fairfield, Iowa

Artist - Saul Hansen

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Citizens Brave Distance and Terrain to Help Veterans Two Men Pedal from Santa Barbara to Charleston to Bring Light to Veteran Suicide They rode their bicycles nearly every day for more than 40 days, more than 3,300 miles from Santa Barbara, California, to Charleston, South Carolina.

Matt Prather and Mike Price are two inspired civilians who accomplished a daunting goal to help our nation’s veterans. The Blue Angels Foundation offered to match Matt and Mike’s fundraising dollar for dollar to benefit Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) programs that tackle mental health issues. Matt and Mike had a clear objective of raising awareness about veteran suicide.

“Unfortunately, America is losing 20 veterans every day to suicide; that’s more than 7,000 per year,” said Matt, a retired engineer and business owner. “To put that into context, the military has lost 6,800 service members in combat since September 11, 2001. We lose more veterans to suicide each year than we have lost in combat in 18 years. This is a national crisis, and we rode our bikes to raise awareness as well as needed funds.”

Along a journey that traversed 11 states, they met people who were moved by both the size of the feat they undertook and their selflessness; in turn, those people had a profound impact on Mike and Matt.

Mike is a retired businessman who remembered meeting a veteran’s mother at a coffee shop on the bike route. “I explained what I was doing, and she teared up,” Mike said. “She said, ‘My son has done four deployments and he’s in treatment right now and he’s not getting great results.’ And to be able to put him in touch with Wounded Warrior Project and the Blue Angels Foundation has so much meaning. It set the tone for the rest of the trip.”

Matt and Mike started their cross-country journey on Sept. 21 in California and concluded Nov. 7 in Charleston. The two friends want to connect 100 injured veterans with lifesaving WWP programs in 2020.

The Blue Angels Foundation supports WWP and its Warrior Care Network®. Veterans coping with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can receive lifesaving clinical mental health care through Warrior Care Network.

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Warriors never pay a penny for WWP programs because they paid their dues on the battlefield.

In addition to matching the funds raised by Matt and Mike, which are currently at $47,000, The Blue Angels Foundation has also committed $1,000,000 a year to WWP over the next five years for Warrior Care Network.

Honoring the military is personal for both men. Matt’s father and father-in-law served in the U.S. military.

In Mike’s case, his father served in the Navy in WWII. “I can’t think of a better way to honor his commitment than

Matt Prather and Mike Price are two inspired civilians who went coast to coast to help our nation’s veterans: they pedaled from California to South Carolina. The Blue Angels Foundation offered to match Matt and Mike’s fundraising dollar for dollar to benefit Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) programs that tackle mental health issues.

Matt and Mike also raised awareness about veteran suicide.

to ride and work for the cause of helping to eliminate suicides of our returning military soldiers,” Mike said.

In addition to meeting people who shared their personal connections to the military, Matt and Mike kept photos of injured veterans in their overnight trailer as a reminder of the needs of U.S. servicemen and women, and as a source of inspiration.

“Most people don’t know about the veteran suicide issue we have,” Matt said. “Many of our veterans are returning home with invisible wounds of war. That’s something that Mike and I didn’t recognize when we started.

So, the ride was to try to bring awareness to a big problem in this country.”

For Mike, the journey has opened new questions and a renewed thirst for answers.

“I’ve been asked so many questions that I don’t know the answer to,” Mike said. “Why is the rate of suicide increasing? Why is our society not doing more?

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It’s made me have more thirst for knowledge, to be able to answer those questions for other individuals and to broadcast the message to people like me, who didn’t know the magnitude of the problem, but who are becoming acutely aware. If we don’t do something, then we’re not helping the people who take care of us.”

He contacted WWP to register a fundraiser and told the person on the line that he wanted to walk for warriors.

When asked where he wanted to walk, the answer came easy: he would walk from his home in Florida to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where his son, daughter, and grandchildren live.

Army Veteran and Service Dog Walk 2,650 Miles for Warriors

Recently divorced and with time on his hands, Ken spent the next few months planning how to get across the country on foot with his service dog, Pam. He acquired a cart to carry a tent and a few supplies.

Ken Brock sat for a good 45 minutes pondering whether to put himself and his service dog, Pam, back on the road – and possibly in harm’s way – to continue their long journey. The day before, an 18-wheeler had sideswiped the cart Pam was in along the side of the road, sending both scrambling to find each other in the dust.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and that day was the only time in his five-month journey that he hesitated to march on. The Army veteran had already braved heat and humidity in the South, floods in the Midwest, high winds and cold – and even a recall back to Florida for a mandatory VA checkup – before the near-death experience in Nebraska.

Pam got into a good routine of walking between four and five miles each day. Ken would then push her in the cart, and he quickly went through seven pairs of shoes. He also lost more than 50 pounds – and gained countless new friends along the way.

Time on the road gave him a chance to reflect. He enlisted in the Army in 1983, became a military police investigator in 1985, and served until 1993. He acknowledges that PTSD led to his isolation and the demise of his marriage.

During his trip, he started to see there is still goodness everywhere.

Ken and Pam managed to walk 2,650 miles across the country, pitching a tent at night and meeting supporters along the way. They started on Feb. 1, 2019 from AmVets Post 86 in Keystone Heights, Florida, and arrived in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, a few days before July 4.

Upon his arrival, Ken was met with a grand welcome from his six grandchildren holding posters, his two children, friends, and strangers – including first responders – who came to support him after hearing his story.

He was happy to accomplish his goal of celebrating the 4th of July with his children and grandchildren, who live in Coeur D’Alene.

“Thinking about other wounded warriors kept me going,” Ken said.

Because of Ken’s determination, the money he raised will help injured veterans like himself receive PTSD treatment, physical and mental health services, career counseling, and connection opportunities that remind them they are not alone.

The journey gave Ken a sense of purpose and a clear mission after struggling with his own PTSD and feeling “house-ridden.” He retired from the Army and was struggling with personal and professional transitions. It wasn’t until October 2018 when Ken saw a TV commercial for WWP that he found his next mission: honoring and empowering other veterans.

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Ken Brock walked from Florida to Idaho with his service dog, Pam, to raise money for veterans. The Army veteran knows first-hand the struggles servicemen and women go through and partnered with Wounded Warrior Project to honor and empower warriors.

“Taking the country roads and seeing the goodness in people gave me a new perspective,” Ken said. “The true heart of people came out; there’s goodness out there and everyone came out to show it.”

His fellow members at AmVets Post 86 in Keystone Heights, Florida, supported him from day one. They called him every weekend, sold “Where is Pam” t-shirts, and donated to his Go Fund Me page.

He also realized the power of one: “While I was walking through north Georgia, a man called out to me. When he heard what I was doing, he brought six children to hear my story. They listened intently. The father then turned to his children and said, ‘This man is out there walking for soldiers, for the people who take care of this country so you can have a better life.’ The children were his foster children. It was great to witness that he was doing right for his kids and teaching them right.”

In another town, a female veteran talked to Ken for more than two hours, telling him her combat stories and sharing how she also manages PTSD. Since then, she’s starting to go out to dinner with her family and socialize more, and she is in the process of getting a service dog after meeting Pam. Ken is inspired to plan his next walk and is busy with speaking engagements to help bring awareness to the needs of veterans. He and Pam will also be honored guests at the Christmas Parade in their charming hometown of Keystone Heights.

Wyndom runs the front entrance and outdoor areas, and Anthony runs the inside of the barn. Wyndom’s daughter Alexis, aka Jitterbug, runs the social media accounts that inform the community about which days to come out.

The hayride from the parking area to the barn is a tribute to Wyndom’s late father, Charlie, who donated his property as a parking lot for the season. The trailer used for the hayride is painted brightly with “Charlie’s Memorial Ride” to honor his commitment to the charitable purpose of the barn, where active duty military never have to pay admission.

“We’re proud of our country, and we know that if it were not for our veterans, we would not be here,” Wyndom said. “This is our small way of paying back.”

October Ghouls Rise Up to Help Veterans

Wyndom, Anthony, and their community have donated $27,000 over the last five years from Westside Haunted Barn. Supporters like them help provide the life-changing free services WWP offers warriors and their families.

Every October for the last five years, Wyndom Wix, Anthony Barber, and a group of volunteers turn an ordinary country barn into Westside Haunted Barn in Westmoreland, Tennessee. People come from surrounding counties for spooky, yet family-friendly fun at the barn.

See how other generous donors are helping injured veterans achieve their highest ambition at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/gratitude, and see ways to give back at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/give-back.

The barn experience is a gift from the family and community to veterans. They charge $7 admission (free with military I.D.) and donate all proceeds to WWP.

About Wounded Warrior Project

“Volunteers prepare a child version and a grown-up version of the barn,” Wyndom explained. “That way everyone gets to experience the thrills, and everyone comes out smiling and laughing.”

Three generations of families volunteer their time at the barn in this community 60 miles northeast of Nashville.

Barn guests include a Cub Scouts troop that camps near the barn for one night every year.

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition.

WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), top rated by Charity Navigator, and holding a GuideStar Platinum rating. To get involved and learn how WWP connects, serves, and empowers, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us

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Empowering Veterans With Meaningful Access to Benefits

By Josh Wilson, Corporate Relationship Manager at America’s Warrior Partnership The first step to improving the quality of life of military veterans and their families is to empower them with the option to utilize existing resources. We must ensure veterans have a streamlined method to apply for and access their earned benefits. Some veterans encounter unique difficulties in enrolling for benefits, such as living in impoverished or rural areas with limited resources. Most often, the issue is not a lack of will on the part of the veteran, but a lack of opportunity within the community.

Such was the case with Sam*, a 66-year-old Army National Guard veteran living in rural Georgia. He was drafted for the Vietnam War in 1972 and went on to serve for a total of six years. Upon exiting the service, he perceived the government to be inefficient and the political climate at the time to be quite hostile against veterans. This motivated him to keep his military service to himself when he returned home to begin a career in construction. Sam sought a pure country life, and over the past several decades he has never used a computer or a smartphone. He never applied for benefits and eventually lost his DD-214, a document which proves his military service.

In the fall of 2019, Sam contacted our team at America’s Warrior Partnership to inform us that he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, a condition that is associated with exposure to Agent Orange. He requested assistance obtaining a new DD-214, which he would need to procure a veteran ID card for accessing his healthcare benefits, so we connected him with the America’s Warrior Partnership Network for a referral to a service provider who could assist him.

We began the process by making an eBenefits account for Sam that would provide streamlined access to requesting a new DD-214 from the Department of Defense (DoD). Once Sam had a DD-214 and a veteran ID card, we could refer him to a local VA healthcare facility.

Upon completing Sam’s account, we encountered our first major obstacle: the DoD informed him that he could not update his account without “proofing.” Proofing is the process the government uses to verify the identity of a veteran in order to prevent fraud or identity theft.

Traditionally, proofing could be conducted online; all a veteran had to do was take a three-minute quiz related to his or her credit report. Unfortunately, the VA had recently canceled the process of proofing via the internet.

Undeterred, we worked with Sam to pursue another approach – telephone proofing – but that also presented its own share of obstacles. After being transferred three times over the course of 4 hours, Sam was told that telephone proofing could not be done since he had never used his DD-214 with the VA before.

The last remaining option to complete the proofing was to contact the National Personnel Records Center directly, which is located in the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri. The center requires veterans to physically mail or fax in their requests for a new DD-214.

America’s Warrior Partnership was able to coordinate with Sam to have the request faxed, but the process may take up to three weeks to complete. Even if he was able to get the document quickly, the nearest veteran service office was more than an hour away from his home. He would need to do additional planning to get to the facility to be proofed for eBenefits. Once he receives his DD-214, we will continue working with him to complete the process.

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The transportation costs and time investments rendered the entire process a difficult task, but thankfully Sam is on his way to getting proofed and will soon receive his DD-214. Not every veteran is so fortunate, and this is a situation that needs to change. That’s why America’s Warrior Partnership contacted the White House Veteran Affairs Office to inform them of Sam’s story and advocate for the reinstatement of remote and telephone proofing as an option for veterans to receive their DD-214 and enroll in eBenefits. Until that change is made, our country needs to continue working together to empower every veteran and family member with guidance on their options to enrolling in and accessing their benefits.

Communities can take the first step to empowering veterans by developing and implementing a service program that proactively and holistically engages local veterans. This one-size-fits-one approach ensures each and every veteran is connected with a resource that can assist them in navigating their unique situation.

WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always allow the affected to seek help. Lend a hand and provide them with methods of help, listen and be a friend.

Our trademark approach to accomplishing this is called Community Integration, which is a proven model that provides veteran-serving organizations with the tools to create a customized program that is responsive to local veterans, families and caregivers.

Homeland Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than 1 million veterans in life-changing ways each year.

If you would like to learn more about Community Integration, or require assistance navigating the process of accessing your benefits, connect with us at AmericasWarriorPartnership.org.

Resources.

*Sam’s name has been changed to respect his privacy.

Support.

About the Author

Inspiration.

Josh Wilson is the Corporate Relationship Manager for America’s Warrior Partnership, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities to empower veterans. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served as an Aviation Ordinance Team Leader in Iraq, Africa and various locations throughout the United States. He holds a Juris Doctor, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University, and is a licensed attorney in the state of Georgia.

At Homeland Magazine you can visit our website for all current and past articles relating to PTSD, symptoms, resources and real stories of inspiration.

Resources & Articles available at:

www.HomelandMagazine.com

For more information on America’s Warrior Partnership, visit www.AmericasWarriorPartnership.org.

FIGHTING PTSD

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0755 HOURS

By Holly Shaffner

Pearl Harbor Survivor Stuart “Stu” Hedley In honor of the 78th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, we honor Pearl Harbor Survivor Stuart “Stu” Hedley. Stu turned 98 years old in October and he can recount every detail from December 7th, 1941 like it was yesterday.

The time was 0755 and he was stationed on the battleship USS West Virginia. Stu was looking forward to going on a picnic with a girl and her mom that day but instead he witnessed hundreds of Japanese bombers invading Pearl Harbor on a sleepy Sunday morning. Over the intercom, he heard “away the fire and rescue party” and he made his way to the weather decks. Out on deck, he saw the barrage of enemy planes striking the battleships. A Japanese bomber flew so close that he could see the enemy air crew laughing as they fired their weapons and dropped torpedoes into the harbor.

One of the USS West Virginia officers yelled, “Battle Stations on the double!” and Seaman First Class Hedley ran to Gun Turret #3 where he was the gun pointer for the 16-inch gun. Once there, he could hear the machine bullets striking the turret and could feel the torpedoes hitting the ship.

The West Virginia took hits from six torpedoes and two bombs, one bomb landed near Stu’s battle station. He is here today to tell his story because that bomb did not explode. Eleven other men in the turret next to him were not as fortunate as they all perished.

During the attack, Stu and his shipmate wanted to see what was happening outside, so they opened their periscope cap and he watched in horror as the USS Arizona was struck. “I saw the explosions and bodies being thrown in the air,” said Hedley.

He and his shipmate knew they had to get out on deck and when they did, he saw the USS West Virginia was listing 15 degrees and he thought the ship would capsize.

He watched the USS Oklahoma capsize and they knew they had to get off the ship.

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The ship was moored outboard of the USS Tennessee and they had to figure out how to board the battleship. Stu watched as fellow sailors were being killed as they tried to use lines to cross over to the ship. He saw the barrel of one of the ships guns extending over the ship, so he and his buddy ran across it and jumped on to the Tennessee.

Stu is a man of deep religious faith and he told his buddy, “If I don’t die today, I will see the end of the war.”

Once onboard the Tennessee, they were instructed to get to shore. Between the ship and shore were flames shooting up about 30 feet off the water from the burning petroleum. Stu stripped down to his skivvies and he and his buddy jumped feet first into the water.

They swam as far as they could under water and came up twice through the burning flames to get air. “It was the hottest breath of air I have ever taken,” said Hedley.

They reached the beach as the USS West Virginia sank into the mud.

They were taken to the base dispensary and since they were not wounded, they were given ointment, sulfa and morphine and told to render care to injured men. At about 0925 Stu saw an enemy plane making a bombing run and he yelled “Duck!” The enemy plane dropped a bomb in the center of the dispensary.

Stu’s near brushes with death did not end there. The West Virginia was being refloated and repaired so he was reassigned to the USS San Francisco which was ordered to the Battle of Guadalcanal.

This was another fierce battle and again Stu found himself assigned to a gun turret.

The San Francisco sustained major damage and 236 men lost their lives, including his best friend, Johnny Anderson. Stu tells the story of being tasked with helping the ship’s doctor identify bodies, including coming upon the dismembered body of Johnny.

After 13 combat engagements and 20 years of service, Stu retired as Chief Petty Officer. Even though he loved the Navy, he knew that it was time to go so that younger sailors had the opportunity to advance.

At 98 years young and in his “free” time, he is an accomplished speaker often speaking to children and community groups. He estimates that he has educated over 200,000 people about the horrific events of December 7th. He says that in today’s history books, there is barely a paragraph talking about the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He tells the students to “stay in school” and “learn to love one another”.

Stu was married to his bride Wanda and had five children. They would take a trip every five years to celebrate their marriage and for the 25th anniversary, they went back to Hawaii. As they were taking a tour boat into the harbor, Stu had flashbacks of the enemy planes. He could hear and see the planes remembered all the sounds and smells. His wife asked what was going on and for the first time Stu told her that he was there on December 7, 1941.

His advice for everyone is simple – “set goals and stick with them” and “be committed to what you are doing”.

This is great advice from a member of our Greatest Generation. On this December 7th, Stu will be back in Pearl Harbor. He knows firsthand the sacrifices our nation made on that fateful day.

Stu and Wanda were married for 64 years when she passed away. After her death, Stu wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to serving others. He serves the community through his church and was an active member of the local Pearl Harbor Survivors chapte

“I will be there to honor those who didn’t make it and to pray for families who lost their loved one,” Hedley said about this year’s remembrance.

He served in leadership positions and was the President when they closed the chapter due to his brothers passing away.

Stu does not think he is a hero, but we do. He is an American treasure and we are glad that he is here today to share his story with us.

Stu Hedley 11/26/19

Photo by Zach Coco Pictures for Heroes

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Pictures for Heroes “It is so important to preserve the legacy of this Generation and what they had to endure to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today,�

- Zach Coco

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Colonel Robert Thacker

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Pictures for Heroes

By Holly Shaffner Zach Coco knows something about heroes. He gets to interview them, photograph them and preserve their stories. Those heroes are the men and women who served in World War II and he has a big reason to do it and to keep it going.

He started his project four years ago after his grandfather passed away. Zach’s grandfather was Fireman Second Class Anthony Salvatore Coco and he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. “He was my hero growing up,” says Zach and it was after his grandfather’s passing that he wished he had learned more about his hero’s service to our country.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that just over 389,000 World War II veterans are still living from over 16 million who served. With World War II veterans dying at almost 300 per day, the urgency to get their stories told could not be more crucial.

Zach’s mission is to connect with World War II veterans and get their stories archived before time runs out.

The service Zach provides to the veteran and his or her family is totally free to them – he figures it the least he can do for them and to thank them. In preparation to document their story, Zach spends up to five hours planning for their first meeting. He calls them and talks about their World War II story, researches their battle or background and arranges for a day to meet with them.

This day is special for the World War II veteran as they are looking forward to Zach’s arrival. He travels to their house and sets up his gear, talks to the veteran, views his or her memorabilia and then goes to work. He takes stunning photographs of the veteran, goes home and records the pictures and story on a CD, and mails it to the veteran and his or her family. For every veteran he meets, it takes Zach between eight to ten hours to document and preserve their story. His payment is usually a cup of coffee, cookies and a sandwich, and a big hug.

He has photographed hundreds of veterans and just released his first book featuring the portraits and short biographies from 100 WWII veterans – the majority from Southern California. Zach worked on this project outside of his full-time, paid job as a professional photographer and financed the project out of his own pocket. He never asks for the veteran or their family to pay for his time or supplies. It is his honor to do this for this grandfather’s brothers and sisters – and what a tribute it is. As Zach documented the stories, he added each veteran to the book. Now that the book is published, each veteran or their family will receive a copy.

Anthony Salvatore Coco (Zach’s grandfather & inspiration) & Zach Coco

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Every veteran he has spent time with has been very special and some veteran’s stories rise to the top. Zach has spent the day with and photographed the (then) oldest living Pearl Harbor Survivor, Ray Chavez who was 106 years old when he passed away in 2018 in Poway. Another San Diegan is U.S. Army veteran, Joe Reilly. Joe was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne during World War II and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day. There was Stanley Troutman who worked as a War Correspondent and one of the first to document the destruction from the Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And then there’s U.S. Air Force pilot, retired Colonel Robert Thacker. During his service he earned two Silver Star Medals, three Distinguished Flying Cross Medals and ten Air Medals.

Laverne Peck Robert Friend Stanley Troutman

Ray Chavez

Joe Reilly

After spending years in the presence of the Greatest Generation and listening to their wartime stories, Zach has a newfound perspective…“There are no more bad days and the small things really aren’t that bad.”

They come home to hundreds of cheering friends, family and well-wishers and for just a few moments in their life they truly feel like heroes.

So how does Zach meet all these amazing veterans?

He is connected to hubs within the Honor Flight Network.

He went on his first flight several years ago and was hooked. Since then he has been a guardian for veterans or been part of the media team to document the trip and has been on seventeen trips.

The trip consists of a “once in a lifetime” experience for the most senior veterans across the country, typically World War II or Korea era. The Honor Flight goes to Washington, D.C. and veterans visit the memorials built for their service and sacrifice. For some of them it is the first time they have ever visited their memorials and for the majority of them it will be their last trip.

Along the way, they meet new friends, share their stories that have been locked away for over seventy years and heal some of their war wounds. For seventy-two hours they are recognized and honored for their service.

And that is Zach’s goal, to make each veteran he meets feel like a hero. After all they are our nation’s heroes and they are our Greatest Generation. Mr. Anthony Salvatore Coco is the inspiration behind this project and he would be proud what his grandson is doing to carry on the legacy of his brothers and sisters.

“It is so important to preserve the legacy of this Generation and what they had to endure to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today,” said Zach.

Zach’s project is local to Southern California and with funding he hopes to grow it nationally. The biggest challenge for Zach is time – time outside his pay job to get to the World War II veterans before their stories are gone.

To see a sampling of the World War II veteran’s stories and pictures, to purchase his book, or connect with him for a special WWII veteran in your life, go to: www.PicturesforHeroes.com.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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Beat The Holiday

BLUES

By Jessica Rawlings, Program Evaluator, U.S. Army Public Health Command It’s that time of year again: Festive music fills the air, fireplaces crackle, and holiday cheer abounds. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right?

Not necessarily. Many people can find themselves dealing with the holiday blues and can be sad, lonely or even depressed. There are many reasons that people might find themselves struggling with the holiday blues: Pressure to feel merry, reminders of lost loved ones, and financial hardships are just a few.

Military families can add one more reason to that list: Deployment. Coping with deployments can take a toll on one’s emotional well-being, and this is only increased when a loved one’s deployment spans the holidays.

Here are a few tips to help beat the holiday blues: 1. Take it one day at a time--try to avoid looking at this time of year as the “holiday season,” instead try to break it down day by day, think of it as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. Often, it is easier to think “I can get through this day” rather than thinking “I can get through this season.”

2. Get in touch with family members by writing letters, visiting or making phone calls.

3. Try to avoid retail therapy--fight the temptation to spend extra money to make you feel better as this can lead to increased stress or depression when the credit card bills arrive.

4. Give yourself permission to have fun--it is normal to be sociable during the holidays, even if your loved one is not available to attend events with you.

5. Ask for help--you don’t need to be superman or superwoman; you do not need to wing it alone, depend on close family and friends to help you through this time.

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6. Stay busy--avoiding unstructured time may help to minimize difficult feelings. Try to fill your calendar with fun events and give yourself something to look forward to.

It is also important to know when “the blues” are a sign of something more. Depression is common around the holidays and recognizing the symptoms is a key step in getting the help you might need. Symptoms of depression include lack of sleep or over sleeping, over eating or not eating at all, crying for no reason or any reason, and loss of interest in activities. If you are experiencing these symptoms for an extended period of time and are concerned that you may be depressed, contact your primary care provider or Patient Centered Medical Home for help.

There are many ways to beat the holiday blues, but remember it is okay to feel what you are feeling. Forcing yourself to be happy can often make it worse. Try to incorporate some of the tips above if you find yourself feeling down during the holidays, and remember: you are not the only person experiencing the holiday blues.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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The Night Before Christmas T’was the night before Christmas, he lived

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this home did live.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye; I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

all alone in a one bedroom house, made of plaster and stone.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see: no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand; on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary. I found the home of a soldier, at once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping; silent, alone, curled up on the floor, in this one bedroom home.

Not how I pictured a US soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read, curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom, each month of the year, because of the soldiers like the one lying here.

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The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, “Santa, don’t cry. This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more; my life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep; I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, and we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night, this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right, “Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.”

Happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful new year.

- Homeland Magazine

A Soldier’s christmas

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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Arts & Healing Arts for Military Veterans

By Amber Robinson The Art of Gratitude In a recent therapy appointment, I asked my therapist what I should write about for the December edition of Homeland Magazine. Without skipping a beat, she said,”Gratitude.” I let her know that my column was about the healing arts. The topic of gratitude didn’t really fit into the parameters of what I usually write about.

But, as I thought about it, I realized that cultivating gratitude was an art within itself. Just like any art, from painting to writing to dancing, it takes a daily practice to become skilled at it. Just like art, gratitude encourages us to become more mindful in how we view and interact with the world. Just like art, it becomes a vehicle for us to use in fostering deeper connections with our fellow human beings. Gratitude encourages us to be vulnerable and open-minded in how we express ourselves. Art also encourages us to open ourselves up to explore our feelings and seek means to express and accept them.

Scientifically, gratitude has been proven to improve many aspects of our daily existence. According to “Psychology Today” magazine, exercising gratitude daily can improve mental health, physical health and strengthen or create new friendships. It can also improve self-esteem, sleep and help propel us toward our goals.

The first step in creating gratitude is to slow down long enough to look around and become aware of how you feel in the moment. Most Americans are caught up in the routine of their fast-paced lives to slow down long enough to feel thankful. Gratitude encourages us to be in the present moment, but most of us are a few steps ahead of ourselves in our head, and if we aren’t doing that, we are numbing our minds by constantly checking on social media or watching endless hours of Netflix.

We are rarely present in the moment.

Once we are able to become more fully aware in the present, we are able to really look around at our situation, the people around us and what they bring into our lives.

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The colors of gratitude The colors of gratitude

My guess is there are many things you take for granted each day. Becoming mindful helps us to look at those things and begin to appreciate them again.

Things such as a loyal mate, your rowdy kids, driving a car each day or having enough to eat.

Begin to once again notice all the things that make your life easier and more pleasurable. Take a moment to write them down in a gratitude journal, or on a sheet of paper you can magnet to the fridge. Each day wake up and list four things in your mind that you are thankful for in your life. Work to relinquish any feelings of self-pity that will drag you down. It can be hard to stand up to self-pity, especially when things are hard.

As Veterans we may struggle to slow down and become mindful of the present moment. In service, we were trained to always think a few steps ahead. As we leave service, many of us also start to find we no longer feel connected to our non-miltary community.

For those of us with Post Traumatic Stress symptoms, we often isolate ourselves and even struggle to leave our homes. Cultivating gratitude may seem like an impossible task, but if you just use a bit of that military discipline, you can make gratitude a part of your daily routine.

HOMELAND Veteran Resources & Organizations

This holiday season is the perfect time to get creative with how you see the world, and how you connect with the world. Paint this year’s festivities in all the colors of gratitude, and watch how your masterpiece beautifully unfolds.

Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but Homeland Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone.

At Homeland Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

Visit Homeland today at

www.HomelandMagazine.com Homeland Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans

The colors of gratitude

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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2019

Inside the Issues EVERY issue available at www.HomelandMagazine.com

Vol. 6 Number 1 • January 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland 2019 Veterans Magazine

Vol. 6 Number 2 • February 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland Veterans Magazine

Homeland Veterans Magazine

Vol. 6 Number 3 • March 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Why Women’s Military History is Important

Homeland Photo Journalist prepares for documentary & jump school

Inside The Issues of 2018

Wellness Coaching: Many Paths to Health Enlisted to Entrepreneur Careers In Law Enforcement

Higher Education Tips for Military Veterans

LIVING PROOF

EMPOWERING VETERANS

Women’s History Month

SUICIDE OF YOUNG VETERANS: A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

SECOND CHANCES

A DECADE OF REFLECTING

“Why I Do What I Do”

Treatment Court

CEO & TWO NAVY VETS CREATE NEW BEGINNINGS AFTER SERVICE

Empowering Veterans in the New Year

TOUR OF HONOR The Next Trip to Washington, D.C. is May 3-5, 2019

Military Veterans

MILITARY MONEY MINUTE

Enlisted to Entrepreneur Careers In Law Enforcement

Vol. 7 Number 7 • July 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Brain Injury Awareness VetCaregiver Self Check-In

DAV, Veterans

CELEBRATING AN AMERICAN ARTIST SCOTT LOBAIDO

The Next Trip to Washington, D.C. is May 3-5, 2019

Military Veterans Vol. 7 Number 8 • AUGUST 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Tribute to Service Dogs Guiding Veterans Toward Empowerment

CYBERATTACKS

A Different Lens

Our Personal Security

Mental Health

Military Veterans

WHAT’S NEXT - TRANSITION

Journeying Back to Independence and Well-Being

Setting Sail

A Different Lens - TBI

9/11

Learning to Live Again Through Adaptive Sports

Normandy Jump 2019

CYBERSECURITY Protect Yourself

WHAT’S NEXT Transitioning to Civilian Life

Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration

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www.HomelandMagazine.com

WARRIORS

Veteran Programs

HomelandMagazine.com / JULY 2019 1

Vol. 7 Number 9 • SEPTEMBER 2019

MAGAZINE

LEGAL EAGLE

Breaking Stereotypes of the Military Experience

Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration

Homeland

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

GI FIlm FestIval

LEGAL EAGLE Careers In Law Enforcement

HOMELAND / March 2019 1

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Careers In Law Enforcement

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

Money Money

NEVER FORGET

Are Giving Hearts

The Path of Positivity:

LEGAL EAGLE

Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration

Setting Sail

PURPLE HEARTS

The Month of Independence

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

TOUR OF HONOR

Veterans Magazine

Veterans Magazine

Careers In Law Enforcement

HOMELAND / February 2019 1

Setting Sail

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Woman Warrior Lifts Others

Fitness’s Role In Transitioning

HOMELAND / January 2019 1

Homeland

Alive Day

Discovering New Passions in a Civilian Career

Normandy Jump 2019

A Year In Review

ABC’s of Transitioning into civilian life

HomelandMagazine.com / AUGUST 2019 1

Careers In Law Enforcement WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

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rans

Veterans, Transitioning Military Personnel, Active Military, Military Families & Veteran Organizations

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! Vol. 6 Number 4 • April 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland

Vol. 6 Number 5 • May 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Homeland

Homeland

Veterans Magazine

Veterans Magazine

Veterans Magazine

FIGHTING

PTSD

Memorial Day: A Time For Heroes

Month of the Military Child

Protect and Serve Takes New Shape

PURPLE UP!

100th Anniversary

Finding Pride to Support Military Community

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

of easterseals

FOR MILITARY KIDS

Veteran Business LEGAL EAGLE

Recreation for the Whole Military

Supporting Community Based Services

Marine Walks to Support U.S. Military Veterans

Carry Forward 5K

A Heart Attack of the Mind

The Final Mission

WARRIOR CARE NETWORK Veterans Reclaim Their Lives

Getting through depression

Self Employment & PTSD

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

LEGAL EAGLE

LEGAL EAGLE Careers In Law Enforcement

Careers In Law Enforcement

Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration

Resources • Support • TransitionHomelandMagazine.com • Inspiration / JUNE 2019 1

HOMELAND / MAY 2019 1

Vol. 7 Number 10 • OCTOBER 2019

www.HomelandMagazine.com

MAGAZINE

Homeland

Vol. 7 Number 11 • November2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

MAGAZINE

Remembering a Wife, Mom and Woman Who Served

Wounded Veterans Empower Others

HONOR FLIGHT

DOUBLE UP FOR VETERANS

A blast from the past

CELEBRATING VETERANS

What’s Next

Homeland Pearl Harbor

Survivor

Stuart “Stu” Hedley

0755 HOURS Citizens

WhaT’S NExT

Help Veterans

Transition to Civilian Life

Transition to Civilian Life

Empowering Veterans

Enlisted To Entrepreneur

GI BILL

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Veterans bring distinctive capabilities to civilian employers

Veterans bring distinctive capabilities to civilian employers

Careers In Law Enforcement Veterans bring distinctive capabilities to civilian employers

Navy Veteran

INSIDE THE ISSUES 2019

What’s Next

Transforms His Life

Transitioning

Gulf War Veteran Puts His Cancer in the Bullseye

TRANSITIONING WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / OCTOBER 2019

Vol. 7 Number 12 • December 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

MAGAZINE

Solving Veteran Suicide is not Simple and Straight Forward

Forward

Finding Help and Hope

PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

MEMORIAL DAY ISSUE

HOMELAND / April 2019 1 Resources • Support • Transition • Inspiration

Homeland

The Science of PTSD

Tour of Honor

Difference

Honors Veterans’ Service

Careers In Law Enforcement

The Face of PTSD

Honor, Courage, Memorial Day - Veterans Day Commitment Remember The Hershel “Woody” Williams

Vol. 6 Number 6 • June 2019 www.HomelandMagazine.com

Cybersecuity

Pictures For Heroes

CYBERSECURITY Protect Yourself

Careers In Law Enforcement

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A Soldier’s Christmas

Art & Healing Enlisted To Entrepreneur

LEGAL EAGLE

USS Arizona Memorial

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Homeland Magazine - Inside The Issues 2019

transitioning January Inside This Issue

February Inside This Issue

6 A Year In Review 2018

6 ABC’s of Transitioning

8 Empowering Veterans in the New Year

8 Fitness’s Role in Transitioning

10 Wounded Warrior - Wellness Coaching

12 New Passions in a Civilian Career

14 Resolutions Solutions

17 Second Chance, DAV

18 Normandy Jump 2019 (CJ Machado)

18 Why I Do What I Do

24 Boot Campaign - New Beginnings

20 Suicide of Young Veterans

33 DAV - Helping Veterans

22 How Can We Empower Veterans

35 Veterans - Homelessness

27 MILITARY MONEY MINUTE

36 VANC - Happy New Year

28 VANC - 2019

38 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

30 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

40 Higher Education Tips

34 Legal Eagle

38 Legal Eagle

38 “Pucks & Paws”

39 Overcoming Financial Challenges

40 American Legion is turning 100

44 INFINITE HERO FOUNDATION

43 Careers in Law Enforcement

49 Careers in Law Enforcement

HOMELAND / February 2019 5

HOMELAND / January 2019 5

Issues available at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com JUNE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PTSD FIGHTING

MAY INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 Honor, Courage, Commitment 6 Marine Walks To Support U.S. Veterans 12 Carry Forward Honors Veterans’ Service 16 Supporting Community Based Services

8 Operation Deep Dive

18 The Heart Attack Of The Mind

12 Finding Help & Hope

22 Remember The Difference

16 Warrior Care Network

24 Memorial Day: A Time For Heroes

22 The Face of PTSD

29 Sacrifice & Self-Worth 30 Memorial Service Miramar National Cemetery

24 Veterans PTSD Treatment

32 VANC - Memorial Day 2019

28 The Science of PTSD

34 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

32 Tour Of Honor - Final Mission

36 Veterans Bring Leadership Skills

36 PTSD - How Can We Help

40 Legal Eagle

38 VANC - Ease Your Mind

41 Money Matters

40 Self Employment & PTSD

42 No Hero Left Behind

44 Military Money Minute

45 Careers in Law Enforcement

45 Legal Eagle - Website 47 Careers in Law Enforcement HOMELAND / MAY 2019 5

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Homeland Magazine - Inside The Issues 2019 April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community.

APRIL INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.

6 100th Anniversary easterseals

MARCH Inside This Issue

8 New Children’s Museum 9 Month of the Military Child 10 Big Brothers Big Sisters - Operation BIGS

6 A Decade of Reflecting

11 Purple Up for Military Kids

8 Brain Awareness Month

12 Supporting Military Community

10 VetCaregiver Check-In

18 Strengthening Family Ties

13 Living Proof, Alive Day

22 Recreation Military Family

14 I AM A VETERAN

24 Protect & Serve

18 Veteran Homelessness

27 The First Alive Day

20 Why Women’s History is Important

30 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

22 Woman Warrior Lifts Others

#BIAMonth

32 Veteran Business

26 Inclusive Veteran Support

36 Legal Eagle - Business Tips

31 Father Joe’s Village

37 Money Matters

34 ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

39 Careers in Law Enforcement

38 Legal Eagle

March is

46 Shelter to Soldier

AWARENESS MONTH

48 Military Child of the Year Awards

BRAIN INJURY

39 Money Matters 41 Careers in Law Enforcement 50 A Different Lens

HOMELAND / March 2019 5

HOMELAND / April 2019 5

Issues available at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

HAPPY 4th of JULY

AUGUST INSIDE THIS ISSUE

JULY INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Dog Days of Summer

6 Beauty and the Beat - Music Unites Us 8 GI Film Festival - Breaking Stereotypes 12 Purple Hearts are Giving Hearts 17 Veterans Toward Empowerment 19 Dog Days of Summer 20 One Team. Two Heroes.

22 Purpose Only a Service Dog Can Give 24 Veteran Finds Solace with Service Dog 27 James’s Best Friend 30 A Different Lens - Mental Health 32 What’s Next - Transition 34 8 Second Resume 35 Interview Tips 36 Dream Job 38 Business Ideas for Pet Lovers 40 Summertime at VANC 42 Military Money 44 Legal Eagle 46 Cybersecurity 49 Careers In Law Enforcement

4 Cyberattacks - Personal Security 9 Independence Day - History 10 Your Month of Independence 12 Art Brings Awareness (22) 14 Independence & Well Being 18 A Different Lens - TBI 22 Veterans Setting To Sail 27 Helping Hands 28 Advantages of Real Estate 32 Freedom - VANC 34 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 38 Reintegration - Transitioning 41 Legal Eagle - Partnerships 43 Careers in Law Enforcement

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HomelandMagazine.com / AUGUST 2019 5

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Homeland Magazine - Inside The Issues 2019

SEPTEMBER INSIDE THIS ISSUE

OCTOBER INSIDE THIS ISSUE

8 Centric Veteran Programs 10 The Great Navy Birds 11 In honor of those “left behind” 12 Remembering Our Fallen 14 Warriors Learning to Live Again 19 Normandy Jump 2019 23 Roy’s Run - Shelter to Soldier 25 A Different Lens - Mental Health 26 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 28 What’s Next - Transition 30 Resume Advice - VetCTAP 32 The Power of Positive Thinking 34 VANC - Back to School 36 Cybersecurity - Protect Yourself 38 Military Money - Funds 40 Legal Eagle - LLC or S-Corp 42 GI Film Festival 46 Liberty Station - Navy Base to Arts 53 Careers In Law Enforcement

7 Veteran Puts Cancer in the Bullseye 8 My Real “Alive Day” 10 Navy Veteran Transforms His Life 14 A Different Lens - Anxiety 16 Empower Veterans 18 Arts & Healing 20 Veterans - Homelessness 22 Cybersecurity - Awareness Month 24 Military Money - GI Bill 26 What’s Next - Transition 28 From Service to Civilian Life 30 Transition Tips 31 Distinctive Capabilities 32 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 36 Legal Eagle - Regulations 38 VA Benefits 40 VA Home Loan 43 Careers In Law Enforcement WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / SEPTEMBER 2019

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Issues available at www.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com

DECEMBER INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NOVEMBER INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 I AM A VETERAN

6 Alive Day - A Course Change 8 Citizens Help Veterans 12 Empowering Veterans 14 Stu Headley - Pearl Harbor 16 Pictures of Heroes 20 Beat the Holiday Blues 22 A Soldier’s Christmas 24 Arts & Healing - Gratitude 26 Homeland 2019 - Inside the Issues 32 What’s Next - There is Hope 34 Transitioning Veterans 38 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 42 Military Money - GI Bill 44 Cybersecurity 46 Legal Eagle - CA New Law 49 Careers In Law Enforcement 56 Army - Navy (America’s Game)

10 Honor Flight - Blast from the past 14 Paying it Forward 18 Help A Hero 20 Double Up For Veterans 22 Veteran Suicide 24 Different Lens - Mindfulness 26 Remembrance - Mom, Wife, Soldier 28 Fighting Spirit 30 Celebrating Veterans 32 What’s Next - Transition 34 Cybersecurity - Protection 38 Legal Eagle - Trademarks 40 Military Money - Savings 42 Enlisted to Entrepreneur 47 Careers In Law Enforcement WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019

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veterans

HOMELANDMAGAZINE.COM Resources Support Inspiration

Homeland Veterans Magazine Voted 2017, 2018 & 2019 BEST resource, support media for veterans, military families & military personnel.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life

By Eve Nasby

There is Hope The world is in transition. 2019 is mostly behind us and 2020 looms ahead. Like those who transition out of the military we put off the old and wonder what the new will hold. Uncertainty lies ahead. After the confetti of Times Square is swept away and the reality of a New Year rushes in we take pause to wonder what lies in store.

For those in transition, a New Year means a New You is about to be birthed.

F.E.A.R. As a professional in the recruitment industry, and the host of multiple TV and Radio shows focused on the topic of hiring veterans I know that you have a lot of FUD. Yes, FUD. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt about who

you are and what value you bring to the table. You are fearful of the future. You are uncertain of how your skills will translate into the civilian workforce and you doubt your ability to make it.

Let’s couple FUD with another well-worn acronym, F.E.A.R, and we have a celebratory cocktail with which to ring in the New Year in epic failure. Fear is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real. As you transition into the New Year with the New You, let’s unpack what you bring to the table lest you forget.

The latest recordings in your mind that play tunes of fear and self-doubt need to be replaced with the truth about who you are and what you bring to any

There is Hope You are diverse.

The military is one of the largest diverse employers in the nation. That means that you understand how to thrive in a diverse workplace and be culturally sensitive and work intelligently with people of diverse backgrounds.

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Who Are You? 1. You are diverse. The military is one of the largest diverse employers in the nation. That means that you understand how to thrive in a diverse workplace and be culturally sensitive and work intelligently with people of diverse backgrounds.

2. You are a fast learner. You have been given excellent training and are adept at learning new skills quickly.

3. You are a team player. “That’s not my job.”, is not in your vocabulary. According to veteran advocate and VP of HR, Celeste Blodgett, you are the first to volunteer for projects and will be the last out of a burning building making sure all of your co workers are safely out.

4. You are mentally strong under intense pressure.

The stress and pressure of deadlines with limited resources are often SOP in the military. You get the job done no matter what.

5. You are trained to be a leader. You lead by example.

You lead by serving and you understand chain of command.

6. You are technologically savvy. Because of your training and exposure to technology you are a great asset to companies as they explore new ways to improve performance within the workplace.

7. You are a person of integrity. I think this is the most important asset to any company. We can train for skill. We can’t train for integrity. You either have it or you don’t. You understand the value of truth, owning mistakes, and doing an honest day’s work.

You have our full permission to copy these seven qualities and post them on your mirror, on your dashboard and on the top of your note pad before you walk into that next interview. Be confident in the training you had in the military. Know that you bring value and a unique skill set that no one else on the planet can.

Know that 2020 has great potential for you. It also may have great challenges. There are great resources for you to help you in any area you may be struggling with.

Have a great holiday season and Happy New You 2020.

Need help transitioning?

Need help with interviewing?

Resume writing? Networking? Connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d love to meet you and help you get to where you want to be.

Eve Nasby is a hiring expert with almost three decades invested in these topics.

Join her on LinkedIn today. www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-0050452

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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Veterans Chamber of Commerce

By Joseph Molina www.vccsd.org

Transitioning Military and Veterans Military-Life and Post Military-Life two very different things entirely. Some of us who are out of service, found it difficult to easily adapt to the new civilian way of life. Veterans are used to a military life which have embraced and have been exposed for years. This has become the identity we identify with and in an environment, we understand and feel comfortable. But once we exit the military, we leave behind that of which we have become accustomed to ie the friends; the families; the comradery; the way of life and transition to a new, different and in many ways’ unfamiliar territory (the civilian environment).

For many of us this may turn out to be a very big change and for some a very difficult transition.

Luckily there are many governmental, non-profit and community organizations that provide support and assistance to transition military and veterans. Even though there are many groups why are we seeing many veterans having problems? So, the question remains; Where is the Disconnect? Why do we still have transitioning veterans across this great land unable to secure jobs or having financial difficulties?

No one may have a One-Answer to all of these questions, but the truth is that many groups are engaged in an effort to help and support transitioning military and veterans.

In this edition we want to highlight some of the BEST Resources available for Military and Veterans. These are but a short list out of the many currently in place for the benefit of all of our military/veterans.

RESOURCES FOR JOBS Jobs for Vets VetAscend (www.vccsd.org/jobs.html) VetAscend has unlimited online tools ready for vets.

They are equipped with a “matching” approach for veteran matching applicants with employers. The service is free for veterans and fully supported by employers. In this technology and information age, information is not the issue, we can find almost anything, but this vast amount of information makes it difficult to filter and narrow down the “True” options really available. Vetascend removes those challenges by “Matching” talents with Opportunities.

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Veteran Employment Center VEC is a division of the US Department of Veteran affairs. The VEC was established to help vets convert their military occupational code into civilian skills that are required and enough for a good resume to enable the vet to reach out for a career as a civilian. There is a tool known as a military job translator which is been offered by VEC that assists vet to find jobs that are best suited and would require their training, skills, and experience.

LinkedIn for Vets LinkedIn is a great tool for inquiring about job openings and also enables you to appear in the search results of other employers on the platform who require your skillset. LinkedIn also offers a free 1-year Job Seeker Premium subscription at $360 and courses to learn at Lynda.com to all U.S. Veterans. Setting up a LinkedIn account is definitely important for those seeking employment. Learning how to use the platform also important, veterans should take an intentional and strategic approach when using the platform.

Path2Success (https://path2happisuccess.com/) Path2Succes is another resource that functions to help veterans find jobs and it has a fantastic rate of over 60 veterans served every month. Their services are available for those transitioning and seeking employment. The service brings job coaches who delivered a set of assessments and coaching to help transitioning and veterans find the “Dream-Job”. The service has a small fee to cover the online platform service. Veterans receive deep discounts.

Leadership Academy (www.vccsd.org/militaryexecutives.html) CEO/CFO Management Positions that become available in the corporate market are available for those transitioning from the military who have Received the “Leadership Training” preparing them to be “Civilian Leaders”. The Leadership academy works with transitioning military and veterans who have “Leadership” experience while serving.vhe Academy prepares veterans with the Leadership skills from the civilian perspective. The main objective of this program is to offer a “qualification” that will be accepted by civilian organizations.

The Leadership Academy is housed under the umbrella of Universities who will issue the certificate. The fees for attending the Academy are low and many times Sponsors offer scholarships that cover the partial or the full cost for veterans. You can learn more about this program here Leadership Academy. The Academy also offers the: First time Manager Program, that prepares Transitioning Military/Veterans to Compete for Supervisory and Managerial position types of jobs.

Starting a Business as a Veteran?

RESOURCES TO START A BUSINESS at www.vccsd.org/ Veteran Business Outreach Centers The SBA offers help to veterans in their local communities via Veteran Business Outreach Centers.

These centers can aid veterans to reach out to resources like business training, counseling and mentoring, and so on in their respective communities. These courses may also be completed on line with professional Instructors.

Online Entrepreneurship Course In most cases Students have the opportunity to be assigned a business coach who will Support entrepreneurs at every step. These Mentors are Certified Business Coaches, and are graduates of the Start-Up Coach Program People who have demonstrated a unique ability to supporting new business owners.

The transition from military service to civilian life can be a difficult one, especially when it comes to your career.

That’s why a growing number of veterans choose to forge their own path and become entrepreneurs after leaving the Armed Forces.

Boots to Business Boots to Business, another program of the SBA established for vets serve as a resource. It’s an entrepreneurial training program that is conducted at the time of transition. Transitioning military who selected the Entrepreneurial track.

While starting a business comes with numerous challenges, former service members do have one distinct advantage: the veteran community.

Vet-Buy (Supporting Local Veteran Companies) The Vet-Buy Mobile app and Program is set up at Local cities and with the support of the Chambers of Commerce and under the Leadership of the National Veterans Chamber of Commerce to Promote and to create a Customer-Veteran Company Relationship for the purpose of Increasing Traffic to the Veteran Owed Company.

Unlike most highly competitive entrepreneurial environments, veteran entrepreneurs share information much more easily.

“The strength and power of veteran entrepreneurs comes from other veteran entrepreneurs”

If you or someone you know is a veteran looking to start a business, please feel free to contact Vicki Garcia.

Vicki is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 33+ -year- old marketing consulting firm. If you want support for starting up a business, email her at vicki@veteransinbiz.com.

Vet-Contractor The Vet-Contractor Program works closely with LocalRegional-State- and Federal Agencies and Large Private Companies to 1) Identify and 2) Train and 3) Help Veterans Qualify for Contracts. Vet-Contractor is available for New and Seasoned Veteran Contractors.

For advice, tips and programs you can read Vicki’s monthly column at Homeland Magazine or visit www.HomelandMagazine.com and

Resources available for Veterans are many and most of them are free to Veterans. If you know of a Veteran looking for resources, we will be happy to support.

click on the banner:

ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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A Different Lens Mental Health Monthly

By RanDee McLain

Anxiety thru Transition Anxiety is the apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually around an impending event or action. That is a lot of words but what does it mean?

Remember back to your first day of school…. did you stay up late with anticipation of what is to come? Was there some level of fear of the unknown? What about a big presentation at work? Did you pace back in forth in your kitchen repeating your speech over and over?

All of these are ways anxiety makes its way in our life.

We all experience anxiety on some level in our lives.

Though some level of anxiety is normal it is when it negatively impacts your life and disrupts your daily functions that is truly a problem. That level of anxiety can be classified as a type of anxiety disorder ….but we will save that for another day. What we are discussing today is the normal everyday anxiety we face and ways to help mitigate it.

As I sit here and write this column I think back to my own anxiety. I have a hectic day job of overseeing a large mental health clinic, do consulting work throughout the country and stay active in my community. I think just writing that gave me some level of anxiety…. but that is my life so how do I manage it and not let it manage me?

Similarly, our service members transitioning out of the service often face a lot of anxiety. The fact is many of them this is their first time truly integrating into civilian life. Many of our transitioning service members went into the service at 18 – straight from mom’s house and into Uncle Sam’s house. They have never had to interview for a civilian job, translate skills and compete against people that have been doing this for years.

So how do I manage my anxiety and how can our transitioning service members start to manage theirs?

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First, have a plan. Sounds simple right? Well, it is not always that easy. You may have known your entire career what was expected of you and what the result would be if you did/did not do the task at hand.

It can be very different in the civilian world. Have a plan of what next steps are. They may change but at least you have somewhere to start. In the service, I had structure and felt lost when I came out. I had a plan to go back to school. Though, I did not know what I would do after that or even a major I would pursue I at least had a plan and a purpose. I would get up and go to school every day.

That leads us to step two-baby steps. We do not have to map out the rest of our life right now. Sometimes it is a simple first step of just getting to school or work.

Transition takes time and it is ok to start with small goals and work your way up to larger tasks.

Step three, have a support system. It is important we all have someone or something to turn to in our times of difficulty. Many transitioning services members look for a mentor to help them along through the process.

This can be a veteran that has already successfully transitioned out or anyone that is willing to take time and listen and be a support for you while navigating the difficult road called transition.

Step four is self-care. Yes, I lean into my clinical side for this, but it is so important. We can not help others or even our selves if we do not properly take care of ourselves. You can do small things to recharge yourself like working out, being outdoors, playing with your dog, or being with family. Self-care is deeply personal to each person- find what is YOUR self-care.

Transition for our service members is anxiety provoking but with a plan, baby steps, a great support system and a little self-care ….

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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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ENLISTED TO ENTREPRENEUR

By Vicki Garcia

Your Brain on a Book We all know we can find all the info we could ever need on the internet. YouTube.com alone has zillions of howto videos on everything from fixing your vacuum cleaner to making chocolate covered gummy bears. Prepare yourself. I’m going to go all old school on you.

Certainty you can stare at a screen or listen on your headphones for hours. It’s tempting to use a device such as an iPad or your laptop to read. Its convenient because they perform other functions as well. But which is a better read? A book in your hand, or reading a book online?

Ferris Jabr writes in The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens that reading a book is a different kind of experience. A screen cannot give you the tactile satisfaction of turning a page, looking ahead to the end and rocking in a cozy hammock. It can be very satisfying to be truly disconnected from everyone else and plunge yourself into the world of books.

Your Brain Is A Learning Machine Research abounds on this topic. Open Education Database reports in Your Brain on Books: 10 Things That Happen to Our Minds When We Read says paper books provide, “spatial navigability” physical cues that help us find our way around. If you’re a science geek, a quick search will provide exactly what they have discovered about what reading a paper book does to your brain.

For me a book helps me to stay focused and put me to sleep. A paper book doesn’t try to distract and interrupt me constantly with delicious titles on a side panel I’m going to want to read RIGHT NOW, or ads for the best whatever. I know they want to help, the little darlings.

Please go away.

A Book Makes a Great Gift Think about it. What else can you give to help your friend grow their business for only $15.10 or lower? Here’s a few books I recommend and were recommended by our Operation Vetrepreneur participants.

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How to Write Copy That Sells by Ray Edwards, FREE online (you will get the hard copy in the mail).

The all-time, absolutely best book on persuasion architecture by a master. His in-person workshops are expensive, but worth the money. His website is a treasure trove of helpful information. Get the free book at his website. https://tinyurl.com/rdq93v9 Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith, $10.20 on Amazon.

A succinct and entertaining look at the unique characteristics of services, how to turn more prospects into clients and keep them. A very easy read with memorable snippets.

SELLING THE INVISIBLE covers service marketing from start to finish. Filled with wonderful insights and written in a roll-up-your-sleeves, jargon-free style, each page is a new chapter, such as: • Greatness May Get You Nowhere • The More You Say, the Less People Hear & • Seeing the Forest Around the Falling Trees.

YOU, INC. by Harry Beckwith -$10.20 on Amazon.

While you’re in Amazon, you may as well get Harry’s other book. You, Inc. expands on his fundamental premise of selling, providing wonderful tidbits, anecdotes, and advice through his well-known homespun writing style. If you’re into Personal Branding, this is the book for you!

So, there you have it. Don’t cheat yourself by downloading it. How about you chill out, go off the grid, and make a paper book…where you can underline, highlight and make notes…your new treasured friend?

I guarantee the book you choose will be a comfort in a busy, stressed, information overload world.

Little Gold Book of YES! By Jeffrey Gitomer $15.76 on Amazon- A complete, step-by-step, fully integrated game plan for understanding and mastering your attitude. You’ll learn the 7.5 specific things you can do to maintain your intensity, drive, and commitment... discover 20.5 attitude gems that capture the value of thousands of dollars of books and courses. You will love this book and his Little Black Book of Connections and the Little Red Book of Selling.

It can be very satisfying to be truly disconnected from everyone else and plunge yourself into the world of books.

Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days by Jay Levenson 14.83 on Amazon. The “bible” for DIY low and no cost marketing on how to set goals and maximize profits.

Updated real-life examples, proven fundamental concepts, step by step how-to guidance. This is a must have for every small business owner.

10X rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone - $18.67 on Amazon. The 10X Rule will dissolve fear, increase your belief in yourself, eliminate procrastination, and provide you with an overwhelming sense of purpose. Not for the faint hearted, this high energy book aims to motivate you to aim higher. I can see why military and veteran entrepreneurs like it.

Reading a book is a different kind of experience.

A City of San Diego grant has paid for Operation Vetrepreneur to help launch and support veteran (Military & Spouse) startups and growing businesses.

See our ad in Homeland Magazine and San Diego Homeland Magazine.

Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too

by Gary Vaynerchuk – $18.41 on Amazon, A Number One Best Seller! Gary dissects every current major social media platform so that you will know exactly how to amplify your personal brand on each.

Working with highly experienced entrepreneurs, and using a unique brainstorming high-touch model, you get mentoring and info while in the company of other likeminded veterans.

Contagious: Why Things Catch on by Jonah Berger - $9.39 on Amazon. Why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Berger provides specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread—for designing messages, advertisements, and content that people will share.

Tell us about yourself at www.veteransinbiz.com, sign up for a workshop or mentoring at www.meetup.com/Operation-Vetrepreneur-San-Diego/

Vicki Garcia is the Co-Founder of Operation Vetrepreneur & President of Marketing Impressions, a 30+ -year- old marketing consulting firm.

Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is About Help Not Hype by Jay Baer - $19.40 on Amazon. The New York Times best seller, and #1 Amazon best seller saying Baer’s Youtility is arguably the greatest contribution to the field of social media marketing since 2012.”

Apply to join Operation Vetrepreneur’s FREE Think Tank Groups at www.veteransinbiz.com, visit www.veteransinbiz.org and go to www.meetup.com/Operation-Vetrepreneur-San-Diego/

for more info.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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MILITARY MONEY MINUTE A Monthly Financial

By Lara Ryan, Daniel Chavarria & Michael Biemiller

GI BILL CHANGES –

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BOTTOM LINE UPFRONT If you are able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, do so now! Several changes have already been made and more are coming.

BACKGROUND

NEW POLICY

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was designed as a retention tool for military members in the early years of the Post-9/11 era. When it was created, the military was struggling to maintain its end strength. The thennew GI Bill carrot was used was used as an incentive – serve a few more years, and you will be eligible to use enormously valuable benefit.

The following is now the DoD policy:

In 2009, the deal became even sweeter.

Servicemembers were able to transfer their Post9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouse or children in exchange for agreeing to serve more time on active duty.

So, you got to have already served 6 years, but can’t have been in for 16 years or more, and you have to agree and be eligible to serve another 4.

This was unprecedented, as there are virtually no other benefits that are transferrable to the spouse and children (with the exception of some benefits that could transfer posthumously).

NO LONGER ELIGIBLE

In 2019, retention is no longer a problem, and Congress is looking for ways to cut costs, including a significant Reduction in Force. This has an impact on the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and their transferability.

When servicemembers became eligible to transfer those benefits, they had to meet certain requirements.

However, new eligibility rules passed in JUL 2018 changed from whom and how GI Bill benefits may be transferred. The deadline for implementation of the new rules was previously set for JUL 2019, but there has been an extension to JAN 2020.

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- Have at least 6 years of service as of the date of GI Bill transfer request, - Agree to serve at least 4 additional years, - Be eligible to serve at least 4 additional years, - Have not completed your 16th year of military service (as of 12 JAN2020).

Finally, you have to complete the transfer paperwork within 30 days of the re-up.

The following members were previously allowed to transfer benefits, but are no longer eligible: - Have at least 10 years of service and cannot serve 4 more years because of policy or law, but you agree to serve as long as you are able by law or policy • WHAT CHANGED? Members must now be eligible to extend 4 years in order to transfer their benefits.

- Are retirement-eligible from 1AUG2009 – 1AUG2012 (member must sign up for one more year of service starting from the date the GI Bill benefits are transferred).

• WHAT CHANGED? Members must now be eligible to extend 4 years in order to transfer their benefits.

Starting 12JAN2020, members must not have completed their 16th year of service in order to transfer their benefits.

IMPORTANT: All transfer requests must be submitted and approved while the member is still in the military.

Transfers cannot be initiated after retirement or separation.

WHO CAN RECEIVE YOUR BENEFIT TRANSFER Remember, the best part of transferring benefits (other than blessing your dependents with a free education), is that the transfer is non-binding. So, you have nothing to lose! You can transfer the benefits and later decide to decrease or rescind. Therefore, it doesn’t matter WHAT amount you transfer, it just matters THAT you make the transfer! You can transfer a minimum of one month to any dependent in your DEERS system. You can adjust the allocation of benefits at any time in your MilConnect account (MilConnect Home • Benefits • Transfer of Education Benefits).

We strongly recommend that anyone who is eligible to transfer benefits do so!

WOUNDS WE CANNOT SEE

FYI – Legislation has been proposed to cut the Military Housing Allowance (MHA) that accompanies the GI Bill use. The MHA is generous; it pays at the same rate as the BAH for an E-5 with dependents, which in Southern California can be more than $2,500/month. Because in some cases, the BAH can be higher than the cost of room and board at local universities, there is a proposal to cut the MHA by 50% for future Post-9/11 GI Bill transfers to children.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not always allow the affected to seek help. Lend a hand and provide them with methods of help, listen and be a friend.

This change will not apply to those who have already transferred benefits. Additionally, members will have 180 days after the bill passes to be grandfathered into the current system.

Homeland Magazine works with nonprofit veteran organizations that help more than 1 million veterans in life-changing ways each year.

Resources.

Support.

We’ll keep you posted in next month’s issue!

Lara, Dan & Michael work with a team and run a comprehensive financial planning practice that specializes in working with active duty, retired, veteran and military-connected individuals, families, and businesses. They are not fee-based planners and don’t charge for their time, but believe every servicemember needs and deserves a financial plan.

Lara.ryan@nm.com (307) 690-9266

Inspiration.

At Homeland Magazine you can visit our website for all current and past articles relating to PTSD, symptoms, resources and real stories of inspiration.

Resources & Articles available at:

www.HomelandMagazine.com

Daniel.Chavarria@nm.com (702) 497-3264

FIGHTING PTSD

Michael.biemiller@nm.com (858) 663-4296

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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CYBERSECURITY Credit Monitoring, Identity Theft Protection, and Data Breach Management

By Scott Hermann, CEO and identity theft protection expert www.identityiq.com

EVERYONE is at risk for identity theft, even the nation’s oldest veteran I remember reading a news story last year about Richard Overton, who was 112 at the time and the United States’ oldest living veteran, having survived Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima while in the Army. But he wasn’t in the news for those tremendous accomplishments – he was in the news because he was the victim of identity theft.

While everyone is at risk for identity theft, do you know veterans are twice as likely to become victims, according to a study by the AARP? Many cumulative factors make veterans’ personal information – such as your name, Social Security number (SSN), and birthday – some of the most vulnerable. To start with, the military uses your SSN to identify you. For some veterans, your SSN showed up on everything from dog tags to mailing labels to appointment letters, in plain view of others to see and possibly steal. While the Department of Veterans Affairs has initiated protocols to help protect veterans’ SSNs, there are new risks.

Stories on military personnel being individually targeted by foreign cybercriminals – from Russia to China to Iran – have filled the headlines. Some cybercriminals have used social media and other platforms in attempts to gain access to personal information as well as classified information.

Another top risk comes from personal information exposed during data breaches – and the government has had its share. The Pentagon experienced a data breach last year that exposed 30,000 personnel’s travel and other personal information. The Office of Personnel Management has been hit by cyberattacks twice – the first time in 2006 affecting 26.5 million records and a second time in 2014 with 21.5 million people compromised. Veterans Affairs also has fallen victim to hackers with the Tricare health care system experiencing a data breach of 4.9 million military hospital and clinic patients’ records in 2011.

What happens to your stolen information? It can be bought and sold on the dark web to the highest bidder.

Identity thieves can then take your personal information 44

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and attempt to take out loans, open new credit cards, clone debit cards, change a billing address, acquire a new driver’s license, and use your identity when questioned by police.

How can you protect yourself? Start by protecting your personal information. Don’t carry around your SSN card or military discharge papers (DD Form 214) in your wallet or purse. Keep these documents secure at home in a lockbox or safe. Other important documents that have your SSN or other personal information should be stored in that secure location as well. If you have old documents you want to discard, shred them instead of just throwing them in the trash.

Also, be cautious when giving out your SSN or other personal information. Don’t be afraid to ask a business or organization if your SSN or other information is required. If it is required, ask them how they store your personal information. Never give your SSN out over the phone or through email.

Another essential part of protecting yourself is credit monitoring, which includes active delivery of your credit report. Check your credit report and verify all the information included is yours. With credit monitoring, you also can receive alerts for suspicious activity, such as a new account that’s opened using your SSN. This is important so you can act quickly if there is fraud, possibly saving you thousands of dollars.

In the case of Mr. Overton, an identity thief was able to gain access to his SSN and personal checking account number and use the nation’s oldest veteran’s personal information to open a fake bank account to drain the real account. The news article said the money in the drained account was meant to go toward the cost of around-the-clock care for Mr. Overton, who passed away in December. He was a supercentenarian, honored World War II veteran, and, unfortunately, a victim of identity theft. Today, everyone is at risk for identity theft, especially veterans. Protect yourself so you don’t become a victim. ©2019 IDIQ provider of IdentityIQ

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners

By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

NEW CALIFORNIA LAW AFFECTING INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND FREELANCERS

The most immediate implication of AB-5 and the ABC Test is that it turns independent contractors into employees.

AB-5 puts ride-sharing and delivery companies, such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash, in the spotlight. AB-5 will also limit the amount of work a freelancer can do for a company, such as independent writers who make a living writing articles for various news outlets or magazines or even websites, as under this law, freelance writers will only be allowed to write 35 submissions before they are either hired as an employee or not used again by the company, leading to loss of work.

California has done it again, making it even harder for independent contractors and freelancers to make a living in the State of California.

Who is exempt from AB-5?

The types of businesses that are exempt from the bill include but are not limited to: doctors, lawyers, dentists, insurance agents, accountants, engineers, real estate agents, hairstylists and a variety of creative professionals.

This does not mean that all of these businesses will be automatically labeled independent contractors. In addition to the ABC Test, these businesses will also have to pass the multi-factor test applied in the Borello case.

Last year the California Supreme Court announced a demanding three-part test hiring companies must meet to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees.

On September 18, 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed into law California Assembly Bill 5 (AB-5) that becomes effective January 1, 2020, which broadens the three-part test beyond violations of the state’s wage orders, narrows the types of work to which that test applies, and authorizes the city attorneys of big California cities to sue hiring companies to enforce the new law.

This could potentially reclassify millions of independent contractors as employees and dramatically reshape the future of independent workforces in California.

The court held in the Dynamex Case that an “ABC Test” must be used to determine worker classification.

A worker can only be classified as an independent contractor if:

What to do next?

There is no doubt that AB-5 will have a meaningful impact in California so it’s a good time to start planning and taking the necessary steps now. An immediate step you can take is to incorporate your business and now you will fall within the business to business category where hiring companies will continue to hire without the threat of having to turn you into employees.

I’m the CEO of www.GoLegalYourself.com where we provide legal tools for savvy entrepreneurs and I’m proud to provide a limited time offer of 40% discount on our Startup Essentials Package to help you prepare for the AB-5 Law that will take effect January 1, 2020.

Please use the code Startup40 at “check out”

(a) The worker is free from control and direction in the performance of services; and

For more information on how to legally protect your business please pick up a copy of my bestselling book: ‘Go Legal Yourself’ on Amazon or visit my website at www.golegalyourself.com

(b) The worker is performing work outside the usual course of the business of the hiring company; and

Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm,

(c) The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business.

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APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

40% off the Startup Package www.golegalyourself.com Offer expires Dec 31, 2019

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JOBS FOR VETS

Careers In Law Enforcement Visit Today For Law Enforcement Profiles & Job Openings

HomelandMagazine.com JOBS FOR VETS LAW ENFORCEMENT 48

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019

Military service can be a perfect entrance into a law enforcement career.

Military and law enforcement personnel have had a longstanding relationship with overlaps in training exercises, equipment, and, most important, personnel.

It is not uncommon for a service member to make the jump from the military to law enforcement, as both professions look for the same characteristics; leadership, fidelity, chain of command, and teamwork are all common themes in both professions.

Quite understandably, many American military veterans often gravitate to a career in law enforcement when the time comes to rejoin the civilian workforce.

The two professions have many fundamental similarities; from the uniforms they wear with pride, to the firm command structure they serve under, to great personal risk they endure while protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

Opportunities in Law Enforcement You’ve served your country, now serve your community!

The following agencies are actively hiring & proudly support our veterans, active military and the families that keep together.

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WE DON’T JUST THANK

VETERANS,

WE HIRE

THEM.

PGHJOBS.NET CITY OF PITTSBURGH - E/O/E 52

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Sworn to Serve Live to Protect Be FLPD FORT LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Military Preference Given The task ahead of you is never as great as the Power behind you

ANNUAL SALARY NON-CERTIFIED $55,536 - $85,675 CERTIFIED $58,344 - $85,675 Contact us to learn how you can become part of the Premier law enforcement agency in South Florida

(719) 444-7437 cspd.coloradosprings.gov

WWW.FLPDJobs.com recruiter@fortlauderdale.gov Recruiting@ci.colospgs.co.us 954-828-FLPD (3573)

Facebook: Colorado Springs Police THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER twitter@cspd.pio

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By CJ Machado, photo journalist Homeland Magazine

AMERICA’S GAME ARMY-NAVY -The most anticipated game of football season

Go Army! Go Navy!

The most anticipated game of football season is coming to San Diego...

The Army–Navy game is one of the most traditional and enduring rivalries in college football. The rivalry between Annapolis and West Point, while friendly, is fierce. The Army cadets live and breathe the phrase “Beat Navy!” while midshipmen cheer the ingrained opposite phrase, “Beat Army!”

The Army-Navy game will be played in Philadelphia, PA at the Lincoln Financial Field and has been frequently attended by sitting U.S. presidents with an expected 100,000 spectators each year.

For San Diegans, the best venue in town to watch this intense rivalry is at our own American Legion Post 416 in Encinitas, CA, 210 West F Street, Saturday, December 14th. Doors will open at 11 am and the game will begin at noon. Come join us and sport your favorite team’s jersey, because whatever team you’re rooting for, the American Legion Post 416 is the place to be with drink specials and a tailgate party you won’t want to miss.

Half-time show will include the 2020 synergistic collaboration for veteran advocacy that will inspire Americans throughout the country!

• “Save Our Legion” American Legion Post 416 • TAT Veterans Tour with Roamin’ Joe • Honor Ride 2020 presented by Purple Foxes United, LT Williams (All projects will benefit “Save Our Legion” campaign, Honor Flight San Diego and many other veteran organizations) For more information, visit:

www.HomelandMagazine.com and click on the Honor Ride 2020 banner.

At the end of the game, both teams’ Almae Matres are played and sung. The winning team stands alongside the losing team and faces the losing academy’s students; then the losing team accompanies the winning team, facing their students. This is done in a show of mutual respect and solidarity. Since the winning team’s alma mater is always played last, the phrase “to sing second” has become synonymous with winning the rivalry game.

Among the many spectators, our revered veterans from the “Greatest Generation” will be attending, including WWII Paratrooper Tom Rice pitting against Naval aviators CAPT E. Royce Williams and RADM Doniphan Shelton.

We hope to see you at American Legion Post 416 to celebrate “America’s Game” Army-Navy on Saturday, December 14th. Consider sponsoring a table for your organization or reserve a seat for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and camaraderie. Tickets start at $29.

Special pricing is given to all non-profit organizations.

That alone is worth your visit and support.

Visit: www.excelarace.com

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THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM

Go to a TOP college with the support of other veterans and FULL TUITION GUARANTEED. Posse is selecting veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to attend:

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

VASSAR COLLEGE

POSSE IS LOOKING FOR VETERANS WHO: • Have not previously received a bachelor’s degree • Have served at least 90 consecutive days of active duty since September 11, 2001, and have received or will receive an honorable discharge by July 1, 2019 • Can commit to a one-month pre-collegiate training program in New York City in the summer of 2019 • Are leaders in their places of work, communities and/or families

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM? Visit our website at www.possefoundation.org/veterans or email the Posse Veterans Team at veterans@possefoundation.org.

GET TO KNOW A POSSE VETERAN SCHOLAR...

WHAT IS THE POSSE VETERANS PROGRAM?

GRANT KILLIAN

COLLEGE DEGREE: Each cohort—a Posse—of 10 veterans attends college together to pursue bachelor’s degrees.

University of Virginia Navy Gallatin, TN

FUNDING: Vassar College, The University of Virginia, The University of Chicago, and Wesleyan University guarantee four years of full tuition funding after GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon benefits have been applied.

SUPPORT: Comprehensive training from Posse prepares veterans for the college experience and support continues on campus through graduation.

CAREER: Posse offers internship opportunities, career coaching and connections to a large professional network to prepare Posse Scholars for leadership positions in the workforce.

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Grant joined the Navy after graduating from high school in 2015. He developed into a strong and effective leader while training at the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School. At UVA, Grant hopes to study physics and international relations while actively engaging with the university and surrounding communities. Grant says, “the Posse Foundation is investing in groups of driven individuals with incredible leadership potential to have an impact on conversations, campuses, communities, and the world."

www.homelandmagazine.com

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“★★★★★! A Must-See!” —Broadway World

“There is a massive power in this that can embrace the world. it brings great hope... it is truly a touch of heaven.”

—Daniel Herman, former Minister of Culture of Czech Republic

AuThEnTiC ChinESE CulTurE

BANNED iN ChiNA where China’s rich spiritual and artistic heritage are suppressed by the ruling communist regime.

5,000 YEars of civilization — livE on stagE

T

ake a magic journey through 5,000 years of civilization! Travel back to ancient dynasties. Watch myths and legends come alive.

Discover vibrant ethnic and folk traditions. Stunning classical Chinese dance, colorful costuming, breathtaking backdrops and enchanting melodies will not only delight your senses, but also nourish your soul. Shen Yun returns to Escondido and San Diego with an all-new 2020 program. Experience the power of Shen Yun!

“Exquisitely beautiful. An extraordinary experience.”

—Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actress

Travel Back to Grand Dynasties

Myths & Legends Come Alive

Explore Ethnic & Folk Traditions

JAN 17–21 California Center for the Arts, Escondido | JAN 24–26 san diEgo Civic Theatre

A Perfect Gift. Get Tickets Today! 888.973-7469 | ShenYun.com/SD 60

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2019