Veterans News – January 8, 2016 For Today: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. - Melody Beattie
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. - Tecumseh
---------------------------------------------------------------
Veterans News ----------------------------------------------------------------DOD Contracts Awarded for Friday, January 8, 2016. http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ContractView/Article/642085/source/GovDelivery
-----------------------------DOD Contracts Awarded for Thursday, January 7, 2016. http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ContractView/Article/641905/source/GovDelivery
-----------------------------
Pilliero/Mazza, PLLC, Attorneys At Law – Weekly Report for January 8, 2016. Very good scoop in here for we Veterans doing business with the U.S. Federal Government. http://us5.campaignarchive2.com/?u=3137381f0d20c6d9665e6633f&id=8edd0dd2ae&e=2437c2a935
-----------------------------Defense News Early Bird Brief for Friday, January 8, 2016. http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe531179726707757612&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc15 74746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffc f14&ju=fe1911727d650c75731d77&r=0
-----------------------------Defense News Early Bird Brief for Thursday, January 7, 2016. http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe52117972640d7a7413&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc15 74746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffc f14&ju=fe231172726d017d731076&r=0
-----------------------------VA Media Summary and News Clips for Friday, January 8, 2016. Please see attached pdf.
----------------------------This Week at VA - for period ending Thursday, January 7, 2016. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/12ee65c
---------------------------The VIP Program Expands - Arming MORE Vets to Win! Since 2009, The National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) has trained over 500 veteran servicedisabled and veteran owned small businesses nationwide to succeed in the federal
contracting market, at no cost to the company. Graduates report an average revenue growth of 51% just one year after completing the program. In 2016, VIP will now train businesses new to federal government contracting. Find out which program is right for your business! http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Arming-More-Vets-to-Win-Help-Spread-the-Word.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=znVhL1KZHmM For our Veterans doing business with the federal government, you are missing something exceptional here if you decline to take advantage of this amazing Program. There has been nothing but praise from every Veteran that has attended the Program……all at no cost. Thanks, appreciation, and many Kudos for Barbara A. Ashe, National Director, Veteran Institute for Procurement & President, Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation…and her entire staff.
---------------------------American Legion On-Line Update for Thursday, January 7, 2016. http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=cadc3fb4-2794-4a2f-b2a7f6434af7e8e0&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2bc1a65794d1dd&MailID=31270578&listid=84772
---------------------------Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, January 8, 2016. http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=FCD45E2B-BEE44F7D-95D8-41E884C3C220&sid=22cbe9eb-3ef0-4eca-8105-ef9f466dc32d
----------------------------Pentagon Announces Changes to Military Decorations and Awards Program. http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/641860/pentagon-announceschanges-to-military-decorations-and-awards-program?source=GovDelivery
---------------------------Research on Suicide Risk among OEF/OIF Veterans. A study of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans found that in the seven years following separation from active duty service, suicide risk decreased over time among men but varied over time for women. Overall, suicide risk was higher among male Veterans compared to female Veterans. Read more
at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/gender-differences-suiciderisk.asp
---------------------------VA VHA Bulletin – Inside Veterans Health –Free, Confidential Courses to Launch Your New Year. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVHA/bulletins/12ed745
---------------------------TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin #334 of January 8, 2016 http://www.tricare.mil/podcast
---------------------------Disabled Veteran Business Alliance (DVBA) Newsletter for Thursday, January 7, 2016. Thanks to Kathryn Sabellico at DVBA for getting this scoop to us! https://www.trailblz.info/DisabledVetBA/eviewer.aspx?cid=DDA1315366BCC1E3CED59 2FE4D8259E07F322CD8156CD95C5296FB509C441503
---------------------------Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs News & Announcements for Friday, January 8, 2016. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=c8983f5a-dd6f-4264-a713d0afe6038805&c=8dbaae20-aaae-11e3-9e26-d4ae52844390&ch=8e909bc0-aaae11e3-9e79-d4ae52844390
-----------------------------POLITICO Morning Defense for Friday, January 8, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus.
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/dod-congress-fight-oversyria-funds-us-tech-execs-to-meet-on-social-media-and-terrorism-obama-budgetexpected-feb-9-212062
------------------------------Your 5:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines. http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=9d27a58542&e=a823c4dfb6
-------------------------------Your 12:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines. http://us4.campaignarchive2.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=3b7ab2073d&e=a823c4dfb6
--------------------------------Your 6:00 am GovConWire - Top News from Executive Mosaic. http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=74f5c5742c&e=a823c4dfb6
-------------------------------Executive Mosaic GOVCON Wire - The Week’s Top GovCon News Stories, January 4 – 8, 2016. http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=02569e1fd4&e=a823c4dfb6
-------------------------------GovCon Newsletter for Friday, January 8, 2016.
http://www.govcon.com/doc/new-automated-business-development-solution-forgovernment-contractors-launched-0002?user=1144812
-------------------------------National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) Newsletter of Friday, January 8, 2016. http://naus.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNla WQ9NTI2OTI1NCZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTAwODM4ODY4MA==
-------------------------------U. S. Department of Labor Newsletter for Thursday, January 7, 2016. http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/newsletter
--------------------------------Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, please consider sponsoring. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt
----------------------------------A Variety of Veterans Related News from a Variety of Sources
Marine Corps Times Marine Corps boot camp, job titles to be gender-neutral by April. The Marine Corps has been ordered to come up with a plan to make its enlisted entry-level training co-ed, and to make its job titles more gender-neutral following the recent move to open all military combat roles to women. Stars and Stripes Secretary of the Navy orders Marines to make initial training coed. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has instructed the Marine Corps to end
gender-segregated initial training by April to comply with Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision to open all military jobs to women. Washington Post Hundreds of new federal jobs will be created for Obama's guncontrol plan. President Obama's executive actions to combat gun violence call for an expanded role for the federal government, with hundreds of new federal law enforcement staff members and oversight by several agencies. Military Times Gun debate could mean new focus on vets' safety device. As the Defense Department and White House launch renewed efforts to research gun safety technology, two Air Force veterans hope their years of work on the issue will get another look. Military Times American Legion questions White House gun restrictions. The nation's largest veterans organization expressed concern to President Obama that his executive actions on gun control may keep former troops from seeking mental health treatment. Associated Press Dem: CIA Director Petraeus again debunks Benghazi theories. Former CIA Director David Petraeus's testimony to the House Benghazi committee Wednesday was consistent with what he told congressional investigators more than two years ago when he debunked several conspiracy theories about the deadly attacks, says a committee Democrat. Defense News Report: Special Operations Head Next CENTCOM Chief. President Barack Obama plans to tap Special Operations Command (SOCOM) head Army Gen. Joseph Votel as the next leader for US Central Command (CENTCOM), according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Military.com DoD Examines Rules for On-Base Military Spouse Businesses. Defense Department officials are holding a weekly working group to examine ways to make it easier for military spouses to operate small businesses out of their on-base homes. Army Times Army cancels touring Soldier Show, surprises service member performers. Soldiers who attended last month's auditions for the Army Soldier Show expected to hear in early January whether they'd been selected for the touring, Broadway-style performance that has visited bases worldwide since its inception in 1983. Washington Post Capri Sun innovator gives $16 million to Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Before he developed and marketed the citrus fruit beverage known to the world today as Capri Sun, Hans-Peter Wild was a child in Heidelberg during World War II who would always remember the generosity of the U.S. troops stationed in his father's factory.
Breaking Defense New CNO's Given His Vision - Now For The Hard Part. The design's emphasis on adaptability and learning makes sense for the world we are likely to encounter going forward. It will, however, be challenging to translate into the Navy's organize, train, and equip functions. Air Force Times Air Force to trim civilian workforce in 2016. The Air Force is likely to cut its civilian workforce in 2016, the service said Wednesday in a news release. Stars and Stripes: Lobbying efforts for asbestos bill fueled infighting among Vets. A letter from the California chapters of six veterans groups landed on the desks of House leaders this week, swirling into the center of a fierce lobbying fight over the fate of sailors and others sickened by asbestos. The veterans wrote to support a bill making the medical histories of people poisoned by asbestos available to industry defense lawyers. The letter arrived at a key moment just before an expected House vote Friday. Stars and Stripes: VA ‘presumption’ regulation could help up to 15K Camp Lejeune Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs expects up to 15,000 seriously ill veterans who served at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before 1988, when base drinking water was contaminated, to be helped by a faster-track compensation process proposed last month. But the promised acceleration in VA disability awards can’t begin until the proposed regulation becomes final, which could take at least another year to complete, VA officials said in a phone interview Tuesday. The Hill: Veterans and the FACT Act: What’s the truth? All decent and principled members of Congress wish to honor the service of our nation’s veterans. That is why veterans’ voices really are heard, and really do matter, on Capitol Hill. For this, I am grateful. But what can members of Congress do when veterans’ voices are in conflict? They must look more deeply into the issue at hand, and they must sharpen their curiosity about the motivations behind counter-intuitive lobbying campaigns. The Tampa Tribune: Castor, Bilirakis, Rubio upset at Veteran service problem in St. Pete. Local members of Congress who routinely deal with the Department of Veterans Affairs are calling for action in the wake of a report that veterans seeking benefits had to wait longer because documents were improperly prepared and stored. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor wrote a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald seeking a meeting to talk about ongoing problems at the VA. Tampa Bay Times: Castor, Rubio blast VA over report detailing backlogged files. One day after an audit blasted the Veteran's Affairs office in St. Petersburg for allegedly leaving veterans' personal information vulnerable to identity theft, elected officials from Florida called on the department's top official in Washington to remedy the problem. In a letter sent Thursday to Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said the issue of privacy at the VA has "tormented many of my friends and neighbors in Tampa Bay."
Florida Politics: Kathy Castor Tells VA Secretary Latest Problems “Unacceptable”. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has become just the latest member of Congress to blast the persistent problems with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Listing three major problems that have surfaced in the news recently, the lawmaker has penned a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald. She writes that “the VA has not met its responsibility to our veterans on a number of fronts. USA Today (Video): Critics allege conflict of interest in VA care probe. The Department of Veterans Affairs launched an investigation last month of poor patient care at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, but a top deputy in the office in charge of the probe may have a conflict of interest — his younger brother is the medical center’s chief of staff. Dr. Edward Huycke, deputy of national assessments at the VA Office of the Medical Inspector in Washington, is the older brother of chief of staff Dr. Mark Huycke… WMFE-FM (NPR-90.7): Orlando VA Gets One Step Closer To Opening Lake Nona Hospital. More services opened this week at the new Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona. Outpatient surgery and eight endoscopy suites opened at the $665-milliondollar hospital. “We opened our surgery services here in Lake Nona,” Strickler said. “That’s a core function for us to look to open the bed tower and emergency department and fully activate the medical center today.” Associated Press NY lawmaker: Open state armories to homeless. A New York state assemblyman is calling on the state to open its military armories to the homeless as temporary shelters when cold weather hits. The Daily Messenger: Naples boy donates $1,006 to Canandaigua VA to help homeless Veterans. Jacob Vivirito, 8, presented the Canandaigua VA Medical Center with a check for $1,006. The money will go toward the VA’s programs for homeless veterans. Jacob began his fundraising campaign by setting up outside his house on Eelpot Road and playing his guitar and bugle for passersby. When people learned about his campaign they donated for the cause. Tulsa World: Veteran Affairs clinic teams up with American Legion to alleviate parking pains. Tulsa’s Veterans Affairs clinic is a busy place where it’s not unusual to see a full parking lot and veterans having to park in unpaved spots and walk uneven ground to make their appointments. But the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic is working to alleviate the problem with help from American Legion Mohawk Post 308. The aim is to get patients and employees to ride the shuttle to free up parking space at the clinic, while offering door-to-door service for veterans, said VA spokeswoman Nita McClellan. Military Times DoD has key role in Obama's new gun control plans. President Obama will charge Defense Department officials with a key role in his controversial new
gun control initiatives, instructing them to research ways to improve firearms safety and become early adopters of that technology. Army Times Female Army vet leads 'dream team' to fight ISIS in Iraq. Dozens of Americans have left the comforts of home fueled by atrocities Islamic State militants have ravaged against their countrymen in Iraq and Syria, but also in places like Paris, and most recently, San Bernardino, California. Reuters U.S. West Point academy swears in first woman commandant of cadets. Brigadier General Diana Holland, 47, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, assumed the leadership post after being honored in a packed ceremony at the academy 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City, whose graduates typically serve as Army officers. Military Times Medal makeover: DoD wants your help with Warrior Games design. Organizers of the 2016 Warrior Games want to put your design skills to good use. Military.com Army Investigates Case Involving Man Found Living in Barracks at Bragg. The U.S. Army has launched a formal investigation into how a civilian came to be living in a special operations barracks at a North Carolina base. Marine Corps Times New PCS rules require government charge card. Following Defense Department policy, the Marine Corps has replaced travel advances for permanent change of station moves with a government credit card. That means you won't have to charge expenses to your personal credit cards, and risk being charged interest, or pay out of pocket. However, you can't wait until the last minute before packing up and hitting the road. Navy Times CNO's new vision for the Navy: 5 takeaways. The Navy of the future needs to learn quickly, adopt emerging technology faster and constantly self-assess to make sure it's on the right course, according to guidance published Tuesday by the Navy's new top officer. Stars and Stripes Pentagon to review 1,100 Iraq, Afghanistan medals to determine whether they deserve upgrade. The Department of Defense will review more than 1,100 Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross and Silver Star recommendations to determine whether the medals were awarded appropriately or should be upgraded to a Medal of Honor, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The Arizona Republic: VA Chief of Staff Departs After Less Than a Year in Post. Less than a year after his appointment as Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald's right-hand man, VA chief of staff Rob Nabors is leaving the agency "to pursue other opportunities," officials confirmed Wednesday. As a member of President Barack Obama's White House staff, Nabors was first loaned to the Department of
Veterans Affairs in 2014 to help troubleshoot problems at the height of the health-care wait-time crisis. The Des Moines Register: Despite problems, VA provides quality care for Veterans. There is no defending the mistakes made by the Veterans Affairs health providers that you listed in your editorial [License VA doctors where they practice, Jan. 4]. However, you started with the sweeping pronouncement that “there are many reasons it doesn’t make sense to have a separate, federally managed health care system for our nation’s veterans.” Washington Examiner: Medical privacy is not the VA way. Department of Veterans Affairs officials have racked up more than 10,000 privacy breaches since 2011, making the VA the nation's most prolific violator of laws protecting patients' personal medical information. However, the government agency tasked with punishing providers who break the law, called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, took no disciplinary action against the VA, according to a review by ProPublica. Stars and Stripes: GAO: Army should monitor PTSD prescriptions more carefully. The VA and Defense departments have developed joint guidelines for treating PTSD and mild brain injury, which discourage the use of benzodiazepines — a class of sedatives — and antipsychotic drugs. Both classes of these drugs were once widely prescribed for PTSD, but studies have found that the potential for serious side effects outweighs their effectiveness. The GAO report found that the VA closely tracks prescriptions for PTSD… Chicago Tribune: Service dogs give more than medicine to PTSD Veterans. Ralph Matson says his service dog changed his life, and perhaps even saved his life. Simultaneously, he saved his dog's life. Beef, a pug, was a three-year-old rescue dog when he was paired with Matson, and trained to respond to Matson's post-traumatic stress disorder. Matson pauses, and attempts, without success, to hold back his emotions. "I can't imagine what my life would be like if it wasn't for this dog." He's petting Beef, who sits in his lap as he talks. Task & Purpose: Despite Recent Gains, Restrictions Persist for Service Dogs at VA Facilities. In recent years, there have been significant policy changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the admittance of service dogs at healthcare facilities, though in some cases they still face restrictions. Specifically, service dogs are prevented from staying overnight during inpatient care. This is due to both safety concerns and the burden that caring for a service dog might place on VA staff, explained Joyce Edmondson… San Diego Union-Tribune Vet gets gift of independence. On Dec. 1, 2011, Kimmel was helping build a patrol base just south of Kajaki Dam in Afghanistan when he jumped off the forks of a tram loader and landed on a 40-pound IED. Four days later he woke up in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His left arm had been amputated, as well as both legs above the knee.
Stars and Stripes: Bill favors asbestos industry over sick Vets, groups say. Hall and other critics say a bill moving through the House this week would hand the asbestos industry a key legal advantage when fighting the claims of terminally ill veterans. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, changes how information on billions of dollars in asbestos-poisoning settlements – much of it from sailors exposed decades ago – is handled. Republican sponsors claim it will root out fraud… International Business Times: Veterans Asbestos legislation: New Bill in Congress Would Toughen Rules to Claim Federal Compensation. A bill moving through Congress this week could mean that veterans suffering the ill-effects of asbestos die before they are able to claim compensation. The bill, introduced by Republicans, adds a new layer of bureaucracy to the system that will make it harder to claim from the federally-held compensation pot. Tampa Bay Times: Report: Veterans’ claims backlogged by the thousands at St. Petersburg VA office. More than 41,900 mail packages with unprocessed veterans' claims materials piled up at the Veterans Affairs office in St. Petersburg last year, according to a new report by the department's inspector general. The inspector general also found that 1,600 boxes of claims materials from the St. Petersburg office swamped a scanning facility in Georgia — and raised doubts about whether the information had been securely stored. The Tampa Tribune: Veterans waited longer for benefits through St. Pete office, VA finds. Veterans who filed benefits claims at the St. Petersburg Regional Office waited longer in 2014 because claims materials weren’t prepared properly, a Department of Veterans Affairs report says. Inspectors also found that personal information was inadequately stored at a contractor scanning center, posing a risk of identity theft, according to the report by the VA Office of Inspector General. Because of the problems, the average wait time at the St. Petersburg office increased from 152 days in June 2014 to 179 days the following December… Stars and Stripes Arlington burial battle still brewing for family of female WWII pilot. As World War II drew to a close, the Women Airforce Service Pilots program was disbanded. In 1977, however, the WASPs, who had been largely forgotten, were finally granted veteran status. Now a petition has been started to allow WASPs to be buried Arlington National Cemetery. The Washington Post (AP): Move to let female pilots ashes rest at Arlington Cemetery. An Arizona congresswoman filed legislation Wednesday to ensure that a group of female World War II pilots can have their ashes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The pilots known as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, flew military aircraft in noncombat roles during wartime to free up male pilots for combat. The women were considered civilians until Congress retroactively granted them veteran status in 1977.
La Crosse Tribune: Update: Tomah VA counselor arrested on suspicion of sex assault. A mental health counselor at the Tomah VA Medical Center has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting patients on the hospital’s troubled psychiatric unit. According to court documents, Charles W. Davis, a peer support specialist, made lewd comments and gestures, exposed himself to female patients and received oral sex from a patient in his office. Davis, 47, was arrested Monday by the Tomah VA police and booked into the Monroe County jail. The Washington Times (AP): Tomah VA counselor arrested on suspicion of sex assault. Police at the Tomah Veterans Administration Medical Center are investigating allegations that a mental health counselor sexually assaulted patients in the hospital’s psychiatric unit. The 47-year-old man was arrested Monday by the Tomah VA police and booked into jail. The La Crosse Tribune reports he was released on a signature bond Tuesday and is expected to be charged next week. The man is a peer support specialist. Government Executive: What’s Missing in ‘No Discipline’ Decision for VA Managers. Government Executive’s article “VA Decides No Discipline Necessary for ‘Hit List’ Managers” reported that the Veterans Affairs Department would not discipline managers for abusive misconduct alleged by the American Federation of Government Employees because the allegations had been addressed through the grievance process or Equal Employment Opportunity complaints. In a follow-up statement on its website, the Federal Managers Association noted that it is satisfied with the VA's decision…
-----------------------------------From: JS Pentagon OCJCS Mailbox Warrior and Family Support Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 Subj: Chairman’s Office of Reintegration News: Friday, 8 Jan 2016 CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED The appearance of hyperlinks and the inclusion of specific examples of veteran service organizations, veteran support networks, or veteran support portals does not constitute endorsement by the Chairman's Office of Reintegration, the Joint Staff, or the Department of Defense of the non-Federal entity, the external web site, or the information, products, or services contained therein. The Joint Staff does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these websites. COMMUNITIES IN ACTION
Veteran “Overwhelmed” By Help To Rebuild Home 5newsonline.com A couple who lost nearly everything in the recent flood are now overwhelmed by the amount of people reaching out to help them. James Kaelin and his wife, Marta, said that because James is a veteran, many other veterans in the River... Wells Fargo and Military Warriors Support Foundation Surprise Veteran with Mortgage-Free Home During Rose Parade PasadenaNow Retired Army Staff Sergeant Dominic Perrotte III expected to ride in the 126th Rose Parade to represent Americans who have served in the military. Instead, he was surprised with a mortgage-free home … USAA Pitches in to End Veteran Homelessness in San Antonio 1200 WOAI Travis Pearson of the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, says this grant will allow the establishment of programs that will not only get homeless veterans off the streets, but keep them there, by providing job training, mental health ... WELLNESS Veterans Let Slip the Masks of War: Can This Art Therapy Ease PTSD? Daily Beast Walker, an art therapist and healing arts coordinator with the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center runs an art therapy program in which service members returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan... Military suicides on the increase 13newsnow.com Some alarming new statistics on military suicides. This comes after several years of modest improvement with the suicide rate. New numbers this week from the Defense Suicide Prevention Office show all branches of the service saw an increase... VA Program Helps Incarcerated Veterans Transition Back Into Society NPR When I first met Shaun Tullar, he was locked up in the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County, Calif. He was being held in what the jail calls the vets pod — a ring of cells for veterans to live together like a military unit. We met in a room... EMPLOYMENT Vet unemployment sees record year despite December jump Military Times The December unemployment figures cap off a year of employment success for veterans of all generations not seen since the boom days before the recession, Bureau
of Labor Statistics data indicate. And for the youngest generation of veterans, 2015 was... Despite Reports, Unemployment Is Still A Major Issue For Veterans Task&Purpose The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly unemployment numbers that Zarembo cites simply don’t reflect reality. Its methodology for obtaining data on veterans is deeply flawed, as it doesn’t count people who have not looked for a job in the last four weeks or people who work part time and are underemployed. Solving the veteran unemployment problem Deseret News A study by researchers at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families found that the leading cause of this high attrition rate among veterans was a misunderstanding about what it meant to work in a certain field. That's why veteran employment ... EDUCATION NICC selected as top military, veteran school Decorah Journal Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) has awarded Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) the designation of a top school in its 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities, which measures best practices in military and veteran education. MSU earns top honors in military and veteran education KBZK Bozeman News Montana State University has earned a top school designation in the Military Advanced Education & Transition 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities, an annual guide measuring best practices in military and veteran education. This is the second year in a ... Very Respectfully, JASON A. SCHMIDT, Lt Col, USAF, Deputy Director, Chairman’s Office of Reintegration The Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington DC 20318-9999
-------------------------------------From: Joe Davis, VFW Director for Public Affairs Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 11:08 AM Subj: VFW Announces New Student Veterans Fellowship Class
Legislative fellowship to bring 10 student veteran leaders to Washington WASHINGTON (January 8, 2016) – Ten Student Veterans of America (SVA) leaders have been selected to join more than 500 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. when they storm Capitol Hill, Feb. 28 to March 3, on behalf of all veterans, service members and their families. The fellowship selections were announced this morning at SVA’s 8th National Conference in Orlando, Fla. “Student veterans are America’s future leaders, which is why this fellowship is so critical to honing their skills as advocates for all who serve in our nation’s military,” said VFW Commander-in-Chief John A. Biedrzycki Jr., an Army veteran and retired educator who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. “Last year’s inaugural VFW-SVA Legislative Fellows are already contributing significantly in their communities back home, which is why the VFW looks forward to inspiring a new class of fellows to make an even great difference.” The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship is a semester-long academic experience that involves research, action, reporting and advocating on behalf of one of four veterans’ issues: success in higher education; access to health care; the impact of sequestration on the military; and transitioning from military to civilian life. During their visit to Washington, each fellow will be paired with a VFW mentor and accompany their VFW state delegation around Capitol Hill for in-person meetings with their members of Congress. The fellows will also receive briefings from federal officials on ongoing policy initiatives, as well as learn techniques to work with the media when advocating on veterans’ issues. Upon returning home, each of the 10 fellows will also be responsible for executing a community action plan, to include delivering their individual research papers directly to their respective congressional delegations. The 10 selected fellows for 2016 are:
Michael Aavang, Marine Corps veteran, Hillsdale College Robert Davis, Navy veteran, North Lake College Stephen Hudson, Marine Corps veteran, Southeast Missouri State University Paulo Iparraguirre, Navy veteran, California State University Northridge Robert Janice, Marine Corps veteran, Arizona State University Rebekah Lloyd, Army veteran, Regent University Deanna Parker, Marine Corps veteran, Marywood University Charles Pegg, Army veteran, University of North Dakota Daniel Snedden, Army veteran, North Carolina State University Benjamin Wocken, Air Force veteran, University of Missouri-Columbia
The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship program is one of the latest examples of a collaboration between the two organizations that was formalized in 2013 with a memorandum of understanding. To interview any of the 10 selected fellows, contact
Ryan Gallucci from the VFW at rgallucci@vfw.org or Jessica Cosciafrom SVA jessica.coscia@studentveterans.org.
--------------------------------------From: Ann Markel, VFW Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 3:02 PM Subj: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 8, 2016 1. The VFW Wants to Hear from Women Veterans: In our continued effort to better represent the needs of our membership on Capitol Hill, the VFW is asking all women veterans to take a short survey on veterans’ health care, benefits and services. We thank the more than 1,200 women veterans who have already participated. If you have not participated, click here: https://www.research.net/r/VFWSurveyofWomenVeterans. 2. The VFW Announces New Student Veterans Fellowship Class: While attending the 8th National Conference of the Student Veterans of America, the VFW announced the 10 selected fellows for the 2016 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship. The 10 student veterans are all noted leaders on their campuses and members of the VFW. They will become the second class of fellows and will embark on a semester-long experience which will have them research issues faced by veterans and make proposals on how Congress could help correct those problems. Additionally, the fellows will attend the National Legislative Conference hosted by the VFW in March and join more than 500 members of the VFW who will be storming Capitol Hill on behalf of veterans, service members and their families. For more information and to see the list of fellows, click here: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2016-Articles/VFW-AnnouncesNew-Student-Veterans-Fellowship-Class/. 3. Military Medal Review: The Department of Defense announced yesterday the results of a year-long review of the military decorations and awards program. DOD is specifically focused on combat and valor recognition, to include a review of the Medal of Honor process, as well as to create new devices. Among the key changes are: -- Implementation of new goals and processes to improve timeliness of the Medal of Honor and other valor awards; -- Standardization of the meaning and use of the “V” device as a valor-only device to ensure unambiguous and distinctive recognition for preeminent acts of combat valor; -- Creation of a new combat “C” device to distinctly recognize service members performing meritoriously under the most arduous combat conditions; -- Adoption of a common definition of Meritorious Service Under Combat Conditions to determine eligibility for personal combat awards; -- And the introduction of an “R” remote impacts device to recognize service members who use remote technology to directly impact combat operations. The “R” device would be affixed to preexisting non-combat awards and eliminates any further discussion about creating the controversial Distinguished Warfare Medal that the VFW helped to jettison in 2013.
The complete list of changes to the military decorations and awards program can be found at: http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Military-Decorations-andAwards-Review-Results.pdf. 4. TRICARE Pharmacy Copays to Increase: Starting Feb. 1, copayments for brand name drugs through TRICARE Home Delivery will increase from $16 to $20 for up to a 90-day supply. At retail pharmacies, generic drug copays go from $8 to $10, and brand name drug copays go from $20 to $24, for up to a 30-day supply. Copays for nonformulary drugs and for drugs at non-network pharmacies will also change. All drugs obtained from military pharmacies, and generic drugs through TRICARE Home Delivery, will still be at no cost to beneficiaries. TRICARE officials say beneficiaries can save up to $208 for every brand name prescription drug if they switch from a retail pharmacy to TRICARE Home Delivery. Learn more at: www.tricare.mil/pharmacy. 5. TRICARE Pharmacy Emergency Procedures Due to Storm Goliath: TRICARE has instituted emergency prescription refill procedures in areas impacted by Storm Goliath. Under this policy, TRICARE beneficiaries may refill their prescriptions at any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. Emergency prescription refill procedures are in place in Missouri, Alabama, New Mexico, and Texas from December 28, 2015 through January 27, 2016. Emergency prescription refill procedures are in place in Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, and Mississippi from December 30, 2015 through January 29, 2016. For more information, visit:http://www.tricare.mil/Resources/DisasterInfo/DisasterAlerts/12_28_15_StormGolia th.aspx --------------------------------------------------------------------------VETERANS EVENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------Federal Business Council (FBC) 2016 List of Conferences and Events: Lot of events going on and set-up and managed by FBC. Here is the list that takes us through to October 2016. https://www.fbcconferences.com/search.aspx
------------------------------------Job ZONE Listing of Job Fairs for 2015 through 2016.
http://us1.campaignarchive2.com/?u=0990c1fbb840ccb617b5992e6&id=383110f983&e=4c98ba860d
---------------------------------National Veteran Small Business Coalition - DC Metro Dinner Meeting. Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22209 (Free Parking) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-veteran-small-business-coalition-13-january2016-dc-metro-dinner-meeting-tickets20030317218?ref=enivtefor001&invite=ODkyOTk5MS93Z2F0ZXdvb2RAcXVhbGl0eXN 1cHBvcnQuY29tLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign =inviteformalv2&utm_term=eventpage
--------------------------------Veterans Committee presents the Prime Contractors Panel. Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Hosted by the City Club’s Veterans Committee! Come meet Diversity Program Managers from BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, L-3 & Deloitte as they discuss how to work with, compete for & win Subcontracting Opportunities with their respective companies. Thanks to our friend Jennifer Schaus for getting this scoop to us! For more information and to register: http://app.info.clubcorp.com/e/es?s=1236288378&e=177314&elq=9c90a1fbe2b14c089c d85f2728cee03f
-------------------------------Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) Event. Join NVTC on January 13, 2016, in McLean, VA for a FREE event open to Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, Reserve, National Guard, and Military Spouses! Event to take place at the Gannett Building, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Companies and agencies located in the Commonwealth of Virginia recognize the talent Veterans bring to the workforce, and want to meet with you to talk about their job openings. Résumés are required for registration, and NVTC will ensure these employers know what you're looking for in a company while they search for the prime candidate.
THIS IS A FULL DAY EVENT. Hiring companies will pitch their job openings and then conduct screening and networking sessions with members of the audience in a group format. In order to attend, you must be: · A Veteran of the Armed Forces · A serving member of the National Guard or Reserve · An active duty Service Member with less than 3 months left until EAS/ETS. · Military spouse Register here: http://www.nvtc.org/events/genregvetstu.php?event=VETRECRUT6 Questions? Contact Steve Jordon 703-268-5145 or SJordon@NVTC.org Tina Parlett-Calhoun Director of Communications, Virginia Department of Veterans Services
-------------------------------Women Veterans ROCK! Woman Warrior Weekend - Transition Retreat. January 15 – 17, 2016, Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. For more information and to register: http://www.womenvetsrock.org/events/
--------------------------------Engineer Job Fair. Sponsor: Corporate Gray / Washington Post. January 27, 2016, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Location: Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. If you have an engineering background, you are invited to meet face-to-face with Northrop Grumman, Amtrak, Federal Aviation Administration, ACT-I, Pepco, and other top companies seeking engineering talent at the Corporate Gray / Washington Post Engineer Job Fair on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. All engineering disciplines are welcome, including but not limited to software engineers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, chemical engineers, computer engineers, electrical engineers, nuclear engineers, aerospace engineers, RF engineers, systems engineers, and more! Go here for detailed information and to register. http://www.corporategray.com/jobfairs/372
---------------------------------
Don't Miss the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Government Contracting Forum. Thursday, January 28, 2016, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Bethesda Pooks Hill Marriott. Cost is $60.00. Go here for more detailed information and to register: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Don-t-Miss-the-MCCC-Government-ContractingForum.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=z6UtFBDgJ8o
--------------------------------Code of Support Foundation Presents Toast to Our Troops! Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Women in Military Service for America Memorial - 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Come share in the camaraderie, and if you can, consider sponsoring. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toast-to-our-troops-tickets-19551817011?ref=ebtnebtckt
--------------------------------Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce – National Center for Veteran Institute for Procurement once again announces VIP. March 1 – 3, 2016, and June 21 – 23, 2016. VIP Grow is a 3-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program designed for veteran businesses to increase their ability to win government contracts by establishing best business practices. Classes are instructed by industry experts, government officials, and agency representatives. To date, 546 Veteranowned businesses nationwide have graduated from the program. VIP is offered at no cost to participants. Enrollment is open to Veteran-owned businesses nationwide and limited to one executive from each business. Class size is limited to 50 individuals per session. As I understand from a number of Veterans that have attended VIP, this is an OUTSTANDING program. Two sessions are now available but better sign up quick! Go here for more detailed information. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/VIP-Grow---Spread-the-Word-to-ArmVets-to-Win.html?soid=1101128334983&aid=D95rd9q3xcc
-------------------------------VA OSDBU Announces the NASA/JPL and the City of Pasadena Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Industry Day. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 7:00 AM, Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Registration is Free. Go here for details and to register:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12b94ae
-------------------------------Save the Date: VA OSDBU Announces the 2016 National Veterans Small Business Engagement. November 1 – 3, 2016, Minneapolis, MN. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOSDBU/bulletins/12dadbb
-------------------------------Folks! If you want to be REMOVED from the Vets News Distribution List, just send me an e-mail with the subject line "REMOVE!"
Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our amazing Troops and their loved ones everywhere.
Godspeed all....Wayne
Wayne M. Gatewood, Jr., USMC (Ret) Founder, President, CEO Quality Support, Inc. Established 1989, VA CVE-Verified SDVOSB AIMS Consolidated Schedule GS-00F-0068M MOBIS - Schedule 874 8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 220 Landover, MD 20785 301-459-3777 - Fax 301-459-6961
http://www.qualitysupport.com/