Veterans News – January 29, 2016 Greetings all. Hope you and yours are well. Had a very busy week at work. Did not get the News out last night, so here it is. Have a peaceful weekend folks! For Today: The truth sets you free. It's a very liberating thing, when you say this is who I am warts and all and then you can just get on with life. It's amazing. Geri Halliwell When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.
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Deborah Norville
This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare’s Hamlet – Act 1, Scene 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------Veterans News -----------------------------------------------------------------DOD Contracts Awarded for Friday, January 29, 2016. http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ContractView/Article/646622/source/GovDelivery ------------------------------DOD Contracts Awarded for Thursday, January 28, 2016. http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ContractView/Article/645922/source/GovDelivery -------------------------------Centre Law and Consulting – Reason to use The Federal Procurement Data System – Next Generation. http://us8.campaignarchive1.com/?u=8af0b63399b66dc96a7d83c10&id=4587aa581f&e=02f466ea84\ Great to see that our good friend Wayne Simpson is still active…Thanks Wayne!! --------------------------------Piliero/Mazza, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, Weekly Report for January 29, 2016. For my fellow Veterans in business, this is good scoop to know. http://us5.campaignarchive2.com/?u=3137381f0d20c6d9665e6633f&id=bd235084e2&e=2437c2a935 --------------------------------Defense News Early Bird Brief for Friday, January 29, 2016. Note: When you open you shall see "January 30, 2016", but this is the Brief from January 29, 2016.
http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6612707461067e7017&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc15 74746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffc f14&ju=fe2911737761027b711675&r=0 -----------------------------Defense News Early Bird Brief for Thursday, January 28, 2016. Note: When you open you shall see "January 30, 2016", but this is the Brief from January 28, 2016. http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6812707467067d771d&m=ff011577756600&ls=fdcc15 74746702797514777266&l=fe8b13707d6c007d7c&s=fe1f13787563037a761273&jb=ffc f14&ju=fe2611737767057a7c1679&r=0 ----------------------------This Week At VA. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/132f4ca -----------------------------VA Media Summary and News Clips for Friday, January 29, 2016. Please see attached pdf. -----------------------------Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs - Jobs for Maryland Veterans. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=5b4fe36e-e3a5-4ec1-8539599224a96c00&c=8dbaae20-aaae-11e3-9e26-d4ae52844390&ch=8e909bc0-aaae11e3-9e79-d4ae52844390 -----------------------------Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) WEB Weekly for Friday, January 29, 2016. http://us5.campaignarchive2.com/?u=fc1957b75b642e06570817b9d&id=c8d861e401&e=b4237e9c56 -----------------------------Student Veterans of America (SVA) – SVA IMPACT Newsletter for February 2016. I think it is pretty cool that these Veterans have come together in the way they have. Well done SVA! http://us11.campaignarchive1.com/?u=00012c707b4eea916ba13da83&id=7ae4db6789&e=fd6eaa003d ----------------------------Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, January 29, 2016. http://www2.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=520F37A2-CE9A-428CBCD1-C4D79D21AAF0&sid=22cbe9eb-3ef0-4eca-8105-ef9f466dc32d --------------------------Reserve Officers Association (ROA) – Reserve Voice – Legislative Update for January 30, 2016. By the way, membership in the ROA is open to Commissioned, Non-Commissioned, and Warrant Officers as well.
http://us7.campaignarchive1.com/?u=0715db98ee6b11c1903a18744&id=f74e8ca36f&e=0eb3190c97 --------------------------The American Legion On-Line Update for Thursday, January 28, 2016. http://editor.legionemail.com/vo/?FileID=35744e33-9b67-49c4-8b5103e2c4333226&m=f60ba55a-761b-463f-8a2bc1a65794d1dd&MailID=31358396&listid=84772 ---------------------------National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) Weekly Update. http://naus.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNla WQ9NTMxNzAyOCZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTAwODM4ODY4MA== --------------------------TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin 337 of January 29, 2016. http://www.tricare.mil/podcast --------------------------Social Security Matters – Scammers Fake Social Security E-mail. http://blog.socialsecurity.gov/scammers-fake-social-security-email/ ---------------------------POLITICO Morning Defense for Friday, January 29, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/mckeon-adds-newlobbying-clients-army-commission-recommends-apache-compromise-aumf-still-stalledin-congress-212425 -----------------------------POLITICO Morning Defense for Thursday, January 28, 2016. A Daily Briefing from Inside Washington’s National Security Apparatus. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-defense/2016/01/nicholson-tapped-to-benew-us-commander-in-afghanistan-his-senate-confirmation-hearing-is-already-set-fortoday-army-commission-to-unveil-findings-212394 ------------------------------Executive Mosaic – GovConWire – The Week’s Top GovCon News Stories – January 25, thru January 29, 2016 http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=24459a67ae&e=a823c4dfb6 ------------------------------Your 5:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines. http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=b02d819dae&e=a823c4dfb6
-------------------------------Your 12:00 pm Daily ExecutiveBiz Headlines. http://us4.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9447c61bfb9058cb4553aedbf&id=7db0a2693e&e=a823c4dfb6 --------------------------------Your 6:00 am GovConWire - Top News from Executive Mosaic. ------------------------------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. The Washington Post (Fact Checker): Fact-checking the seventh round of GOP debates. Fiorina repeated inaccurate and widely misreported figure about veteran deaths. The 307,000 numbers comes from a Sept. 2, 2015, VA Office of Inspector General report, which detailed the findings of an investigation into alleged mismanagement in processing health-care applications. The Veterans Health Administration’s Health Eligibility Center, which processes eligibility and enrollment information, maintains about 22.3 million records in its system. Daily Beast McCain and Top Dem Warn Pentagon: Petraeus Demotion May Be Illegal. Defense Secretary Ash Carter wants to strip the retired general of a star four years after his offense against the Army. Critics say the move is more than gratuitous, it may be against the law. Defense News Defense Secretary Carter To Preview FY17 DoD Budget on Feb. 2. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter will preview the Pentagon's fiscal year 2017 budget request at a Feb. 2 event, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday. Stars and Stripes Defense Secretary Carter to seek longer family leave. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday that he intends to give 12 weeks paid maternity leave to female servicemembers and work to boost time off for paternity leave and adoptions. The Hill Republican wants price tag for closing Gitmo. A Kansas congresswoman wants a full accounting of how much it would cost to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
Military Times As military integrates combat jobs, a new push to position women as leaders. Women in the U.S. military will step into a host of new combat and command roles in coming months. Outside advocates want them to be leaders in the veterans community, too. Army Times Army Press is a new way to get soldier memoirs, research published . Ever wanted to write a book about a historic battle and its relevance to today, an article arguing about the nuances of the rules of engagement, a memoir from battle or simply a 500-word book review? The Army wants to make it easier for you, the soldier, to become a published author. Marine Corps Times Marines' special operations command gets first female applicants. Female Marines are already lining up to join one of the Corps' most elite communities just weeks after the military lifted its decades-long ban barring women from serving in combat roles. Navy Times Experts: Iran's arrest of U.S. sailors broke international law. Iran's supreme leader is hailing his hard-line paramilitary forces as heroes for their arrest of 10 American sailors at gunpoint, but an emerging consensus of U.S. legal experts believe the provocative act was a dangerous violation of international law that has so far gone without repercussions. Air Force Times Sen. McCain grills Air Force secretary over Russian rocket engines. Sen. John McCain did not mince words in slamming the Air Force for its reliance on Russian-made rocket engines, saying the service was using "empty promises ... stalling tactics, stale arguments, and suspect assertions." Military Times: Lawmaker wants VA to speed up new Veteran ID Cards. The lawmaker behind national IDs for veterans is upset that federal officials are still months away from issuing any of the new cards. “Another year is too long of a wait, as millions of veterans remain vulnerable to identity theft,” Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald on Thursday. “VA needs to pick up the pace and move faster on issuing identification cards to any veteran who wants one.” The Philadelphia Inquirer: Phila. VA director fires back: ‘I feel like a scapegoat’. Angry, defiant and at times in tears, the ousted director of the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs benefits office lashed out Thursday at critics who she said had targeted her for political reasons in a bid to undermine the beleaguered agency. Testifying before a judge who will decide if she keeps her job, Diana Rubens said the VA Inspector General's office has become "a tool" of House Republicans hell-bent on vilifying VA leaders. Government Executive: Former VA Senior Executives Will Learn Their Fate by Feb 1. The Merit Systems Protection Board by Monday will issue a decision on whether to uphold or overturn the demotion of two former senior executives at the center of the relocation benefits controversy at the Veterans Affairs Department. Diana Rubens,
former director of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Philadelphia office, and Kimberly Graves, former director of VBA’s St. Paul, Minn., regional office, were demoted officially on Jan. 6… Stars and Stripes: Senior VA execs appeal demotions: 1 is reversed; other awaits ruling. An administrative judge has reversed the demotion of one of two Department of Veterans Affairs senior executives accused of using their positions to transfer to easier jobs at the same salary and receive huge relocation packages. Kim Graves, director of the St. Paul, Minn., regional benefits office, was demoted and transferred earlier this month. The appeals judge in Chicago issued his ruling Wednesday, just as a similar hearing began in Philadelphia… KDBC-TV (CBS-4, Video): V.A. Secretary McDonald: “Failing Veterans”. El Paso Congressman Beto O'Rourke has begun work on legislation to reform the benefits appeals process for veterans. His aim is to create a fully developed appeals process that would guarantee faster processing and decisions. Meantime, Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald isn't mincing words about the appeals process saying it is "failing veterans." McDonald is now asking congress for a massive overhaul. Medill Reports: Women Warriors Have Special Health Needs, Researchers Report. Women veterans are more at risk for lower life satisfaction, lung cancer, cognitive decline and hip fractures than non-veteran women, the Women’s Health Initiative reported in a new study. “We know the roles women are allowed to fulfill are expanding, including active combat,” said Gayle Reiber, one of the study’s researchers and a professor of health services and epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle. “We need to learn more to preserve and protect the health of women veterans.” Task & Purpose: PTSD is The War Families Fight At Home. In regard to the comprehensive care that veterans often need, Cohen explains, “The level of support [veterans] need in order to reintegrate into civilian life … that can be anywhere from physical or medical care, to psychological care, to social support for veterans and their families, to career reintegration.” Jared has largely dealt with his back pain through painkillers prescribed by VA doctors. For his PTSD, he is seen often at an outpatient center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. BeyondChron: How VA Health Care Outdoes Private Sector. Because the nation’s media has been focused almost exclusively on the problems of America’s largest, and only publicly funded, fully integrated healthcare system – the Veterans Health Administration — we barely hear anything about the successes of VHA healthcare. Pioneering treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (from which anywhere from 18-30% of veterans suffer) is one of the most significant of those successes. Los Angeles Times: VA proposes hundreds of housing units plus services for homeless Vets at West L.A. campus. Federal officials released a blueprint Thursday for transforming the long-neglected West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus into a
residential community with hundreds of housing units for homeless veterans, offering some potential relief as Los Angeles struggles to deal with an increase in homelessness across the city. The plan calls for construction of 1,200 permanent supportive housing units for disabled and traumatized veterans and more than 700 short-term units for homeless veterans… The Washington Times (AP): Los Angeles land to be used for Veterans, not businesses. The federal government on Thursday released a plan to build nearly 2,000 apartments to house chronically homeless veterans in West Los Angeles to settle a lawsuit that alleged it had ignored their plight. The Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled the draft of a master plan to build 1,200 permanent and 700 short-term housing units at the site of its sprawling West Los Angeles health and medical campus. If the plan receives federal approval… Los Angeles Daily News: 1,200 housing units for homeless Veterans planned at West LA’s Medical Center, UCLA baseball stadium to remain on property. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released a draft plan today for revamping the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center that calls for 1,200 housing units for homeless veterans. The plan also calls for healthcare, housing, education and other services and amenities to be located at the campus for veterans who are not homeless. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles, said the plan marks the “beginning of a new era of action on behalf of Los Angeles County’s veteran heroes.” Fontana Herald News: We are making progress in helping our Veterans. As a veteran, it is especially meaningful that San Bernardino County met its goal of finding housing for hundreds of homeless military veterans within our county. In less than six months, the 401 veterans originally identified by the county as homeless now have permanent housing. In addition, more than 100 veterans who became homeless or moved into the county were also assisted in finding housing. Military.com: VA E-Claim System Melts Backlog, But Costs Alarm Congress. Over the past five years, since Republicans won back control of the House, the Department of Veteran Affairs has been flogged publicly many times, often for allowing a mountain of backlogged disability compensation claims. As the backlog fell, lawmakers now are learning, they should have paid more attention to how much VA was spending on its primary tool for the task -- a paperless claim system. Military Times Korn Ferry: Veterans are high on 'learning agility'. Corporate leaders that talent management powerhouse Korn Ferry works with are assessed for "learning agility," described as a top predictor of leadership success. After the company teamed up with Exelis Action Corps and Points of Light on the Leveraging Military Leadership Program, Korn Ferry's experts were able to discover how veterans measure up. NPR (Audio): Inmate-Run Program Helps Vets Behind Bars Navigate VA Maze. Veterans serving time behind bars are still entitled to some — but not all — of
the benefits earned through military service. Wednesday, we told you the story of the struggle one former inmate faced trying to inform the Department of Veterans Affairs about his incarceration. Today, we look at a one-of-a kind inmate-run program trying to help other incarcerated veterans work and communicate with the VA to get their benefits. Stars and Stripes Wounded Warrior Project denies claims of waste, lavish spending. Under fire for questionable use of donations, the Wounded Warrior Project on Wednesday denied allegations that it spends too little on injured troops while paying for resorts, parties and alcohol. The Washington Times: Wounded Warrior Project demands CBS News retract ‘absurd and patently false’ spending report. The Wounded Warrior Project is demanding CBS News apologize and retract a report accusing the charity of lavishly spending donor money on itself. CBS News spoke to more than 40 former Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) employees who accused the charity of needlessly spending millions of dollars in donations on lavish conferences and parties. “We are outraged to see that CBS chose to run the story despite our ongoing efforts to set the record straight,” WWP said in an open letter posted Wednesday on Facebook. WJLA-TV (ABC-7): Oldest female Veteran passes peacefully in sleep at 108 years of age. The Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center's office says World War II Veteran Alyce Dixon passed away peacefully in her sleep today at the age of 108. The Center says that Ms. Dixon was a "high-spirited" and "fun-loving" local celebrity. On Sept. 11, 2015, ABC7 reporter Mike Carter-Conneen spent time with Ms. Dixon on her 108th birthday party saying she had quite the personality. Associated Press Obama to Honor 4 Who Protected Jews During Holocaust. President Barack Obama is honoring four people, including Americans from Indiana and Tennessee, for risking their lives to protect Jews during the Holocaust. The Hill Republican proposes select panel on prisoners of war. Freshman Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) has introduced a measure to create a select committee for investigating unresolved cases of missing soldiers and prisoners of war. Politico Everything you need to know about the next GOP debate . What time is it, who made the stage, how do I watch, and lots of other stuff. Politico Pentagon in open brawl over spending priorities. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is facing an open revolt in his own ranks. Stars and Stripes Army's Nicholson tapped for top job in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama’s administration has selected an Army general with extensive experience in Afghanistan to lead American efforts there at a time when concerns are mounting about the Afghan army’s ability to thwart a resurgent Taliban and other terror threats.
Army Times Eric Fanning's Army secretary nomination still firmly blocked. After a smooth and overall positive hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Eric Fanning's confirmation to be the next Army secretary still is not guaranteed. Marine Corps Times Confederate flag tattoo stops man from joining Marines. The Marine Corps confirmed that a man was told his tattoo of a Confederate flag made him ineligible to join the Marines because it violates the service's policy on body ink. Breaking Defense Invisible Bullets: The Navy's Big Problem In Future War. In the brutal naval battles of the future, the first clash of arms will be a clash of electrons. If you don't win the invisible battle of the airwaves, you can't win the visible battle of missiles. Air Force Times Davis-Monthan AFB too loud, busy, residents claim in lawsuit. A few residents living near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, want the Air Force to reinvestigate whether more military flights are harming their health. Examiner.com: VA hiring rules discriminate against Veterans. The only jobs explicitly reserved for veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are low paying jobs such as janitors or housekeeping aides. In large part that is because the VA hiring practices favor union members over veterans. The Daily Caller News Foundation discovered the problem when it did and analysis of data from https://www.usajobs.gov/USAjobs.gov, the Federal government’s official job site. The Hill: Two senior VA officials appeal demotions for a second time. Two former senior executives with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who were demoted after allegedly abusing their positions to get plum job assignments have appealed the decision again. The employees, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves, were senior executives and regional directors, accused of forcing subordinates out of jobs they wanted for themselves, according to the VA's inspector general. The Philadelphia Inquirer: VA brass defends demoted Phila. Director. Top managers at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department on Wednesday praised the embattled director of its Philadelphia benefits office, describing her as one of the agency's finest employees and questioning claims that she had improperly schemed to land an easier job at the same pay. Testifying before an administrative law judge, Acting Undersecretary for Benefits Danny Pummill said that Diana Rubens, a career VA manager, was the perfect choice to help clean up the problem-plagued Philadelphia office. Stars and Stripes: Demoted Philly VA exec appeals punishment for transfer, relocation bonus. After months of remaining silent in the public spotlight, two Department of Veterans Affairs senior executives at the heart of a scandal over their relocation bonuses are finally getting their days in court this week. Here in Philadelphia
on Wednesday, Diana Rubens was asking an administrative judge to overturn a demotion and a steep pay cut in an appeals hearing. Military Times: VA Secretary: Appeals process is ‘failing Veterans’. In his second plea to Congress in a week, Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald on Wednesday said his department’s benefits appeals process is “failing veterans” and asked lawmakers for a massive overhaul to fix the process. “Decades worth of law and policy layered upon each other have become cumbersome and clunky,” McDonald said in a statement to House lawmakers and the press. KPCC-FM (NPR-89.3, Audio): VA Secretary to LA landlords: Please give leases to homeless Veterans. Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald was in Los Angeles Wednesday with a mission: convince area landlords to rent apartments to homeless military veterans. While Los Angeles has made progress towards ending veteran homelessness, there were still about 2,500 homeless vets in L.A. County as of December 2015. Of them, about 800 have a government housing voucher — but can't find a landlord willing to accept it. Military Times: Lawmakers push VA to let doctors recommend medical marijuana. Twenty-one lawmakers have written Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald urging him to let VA doctors discuss marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states where it is legal. Under a VA policy that expires on Jan. 31, VA doctors are not allowed to discuss medical marijuana with their patients or recommend it as a treatment. Senators and representatives — 19 Democrats and two Republicans… The Hill: Lawmakers press VA to allow medical marijuana for Veterans. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow veterans to use medical marijuana. Currently, VA doctors are prohibited from recommending medical marijuana to their patients, even in states that have legalized pot. These veterans must go to nonmilitary doctors outside their healthcare plan to obtain a prescription. The tedious and expensive process often discourages veterans from seeking access to such treatment, critics say. The Washington Times (AP): Louisiana delegation aims to get VA hospital director fired. Louisiana’s congressional delegation - with the exception of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy - issued a strongly worded letter opposing the appointment of an embattled official to oversee veterans hospitals in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. The delegation asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to rescind the appointment of Skye McDougall and even called her assignment “an insult to Louisiana veterans.” CNN: Why is Gilead charging VA $40,000 for drug? In America, honoring our veterans comes second nature to most citizens. That's because the overwhelming majority of our people understand that, if not for the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform, the United States would not be the extraordinary place it is
today. Unfortunately, this concept seems lost on the people at drug maker Gilead Sciences. Military.com: Pharma Company ‘Price Gouging’ VA on Hepatitis Medicine: Lawmaker. The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee is slamming an American pharmaceutical company for "price gouging" by charging upwards of $40,000 for a nine-week course of Hepatitis C medicine for veterans -- about 45 times what it charges for the same treatment in Egypt and elsewhere. The medicine, called Sofosbuvir, has already prompted Congress to add an additional $2.7 billion to the Veterans Affairs Department's budget in order to "prevent the department from having to ration veterans' access to the drug… CNN (Video): Berry Coats dead; Veteran was at heart of VA scandal. Barry Coates, the U.S. veteran who became the human face of the Veterans Affairs scandal over delays in care in 2014, died on Saturday of the cancer that wracked his body after waits for medical care at a VA facility. He was 46. Coates became a national figure representing delays in medical care at VA hospitals after he was featured prominently in a CNN investigation in January 2014. NPR (Audio): After Overpayment of Benefits, VA Wanted $38,000 Back. Clay Hull has a stubborn sense of justice. After an improvised explosive device blast in Iraq ended his time in the military, he fought the Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs over the amount of compensation they awarded him for his injuries. "If I'm in the wrong, I'll admit it. But I'm not going to let somebody just push me around, especially the VA," he says. Military.com: FTC Files Suit Against Devry University. In the Federal Government's latest move to crack down on what it sees as problems with private universities, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced that it has filed suit against the operators of DeVry University. In its suit the FTC alleged that DeVry’s advertisements deceived consumers about the likelihood that students would find jobs in their fields of study, and would earn more than those graduating with bachelor's degrees from other colleges or universities. The New York Times: Wounded Warrior Project Spends Lavishly on Itself, Insiders Say. But in its swift rise, it has also embraced aggressive styles of fundraising, marketing and personnel management that have caused many current and former employees to question whether it has drifted from its original mission. It has spent millions a year on travel, dinners, hotels and conferences that often seemed more lavish than appropriate, more than four dozen current and former employees said in interviews. Former workers recounted buying business-class seats… CBS News (Video): Charity watchdogs question Wounded Warrior’s spending on Vets. The country's most prominent veterans charity is facing criticism from more than 40 former employees about how it spends the more than $800 million it has raised in the past six years. In Part 3 of a CBS News investigation, a charity watchdog raises
questions about how much money is actually being spent on veterans. Marc Owens, a former director of tax exempt organizations at the IRS, reviewed the Wounded Warrior Project's tax documents at the request of CBS News. Military Times World War I Centennial Commission selects design for D.C. memorial. The World War I Centennial Commission has selected a final design for a memorial to the Great War in Washington, D.C., that will feature an open plaza of basrelief panels, freestanding sculptures and green space that its architect says exalts "humanity and the human spirit over the glorification of war." Stars and Stripes Zero fighter flies over Japan for 1st time since WWII. One of Mitsubishi's legendary Zero fighter planes took to the skies over Japan on Wednesday for the first time since World War II -----------------------------------From: Ann Markel, VFW Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 3:12 PM Subj: VFW Action Corps Weekly, January 29, 2016 1. Winter Storm Impacts Congressional Schedule: Winter storm Jonas caused federal offices to be closed during part of this week forcing Congress to postpone several congressional hearings. The VFW will update you when the hearings are rescheduled. 2. Draft Registration for Women? The VFW attended a press conference today with Selective Service System Director Lawrence Romo, who confirmed that the Pentagon has yet to make a recommendation to Congress to consider changing the registration requirement, but he did give it a 50:50 chance of occurring, now that the combat exclusion clause on women has been eliminated. With few exceptions, all 18 to 25-yearold American male citizens, as well as documented and undocumented immigrants, are required to register. Failure to do so is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as being rendered ineligible for federal student loan grants, federal government employment, and employment with many state and local governments. The Selective Service System is a small, 124-employee independent agency within the Executive Branch. Right now, 16 million 18 to 25-year-old American males are registered; adding women would more than double their workload, but Roma said, if tasked, they could handle the additional workload with about 40 new employees and a slight increase to their $23 million annual budget. Learn more about the Selective Service System at: https://www.sss.gov/. 3. Force of the Future Update: Defense Secretary Ash Carter yesterday took another step toward building a Force of the Future in order for his department to maintain a competitive edge in attracting top talent. This latest announcement focuses on eight military family quality of life initiatives, some of which requires congressional legislation. The new initiatives are:
-- Create 12-Week Paid Maternity Leave Standard: This would double the current leave and immediately put DOD in the top tier of institutions nationally. More than 200,000 women currently serve in uniform, comprising 14.8 percent of enlisted personnel and 17.4 percent of officers. -- Expand Paternity Leave to 14 Days: The initiative would increase the current 10day paternity leave to 14. -- Expand Adoption Leave: DOD currently authorizes three weeks adoptive leave to one parent. For the 84,000 military-to-military marriages, this initiative would provide two weeks of leave for the second parent, as well. -- Extend CDC Hours to 14 Hours Minimum: Nearly half of all military families have to rely on an additional provider to meet their childcare needs outside the hours provided by military Child Development Centers. This initiative will extend CDC hours to overlap normal working shifts by at least two hours to ensure consistency with the daytime work patterns of the majority of military members. -- Standardize Mothers’ Rooms: To help transition from maternity leave, DOD will require Mothers’ Rooms at all facilities with more than 50 women assigned. This will result in the improvement or establishment of 3,600 rooms throughout the military. -- Examine Additional Childcare Options: The three service secretaries will assess childcare options to improve access and usability. To be evaluated are: expanding current capacity at those Child Development Centers where waiting lists exceed 90 days, allowing families to get on waiting lists upon receipt of orders instead of after arriving at new duty stations, creating a universal CDC waiting list application, and to better train CDC directors about interim off-base care resources, new parent mentorship networks, home-based child care, as well as to establish parent advisory boards. -- Allow Longer Assignments for Family Reasons: DOD will seek an amendment to existing Title 10 authorities to permit service members to remain at current duty stations longer when it is in the best interests of their families. Examples cited were children in their senior year of high school, spouses about to graduate from a local university, and the need to care for a nearby ailing parent. In exchange, service members would incur additional active duty service commitments commensurate with the extension. -- Provide Egg and Sperm Cryopreservation: The department will cover the cost for active duty members to freeze their sperm or eggs through a pilot program within the current governing rules of TRICARE. One purpose of the pilot is to understand the costs and potential recruiting and retention benefits for providing this medical service. After two years, the pilot may be renewed or service members can pay for additional storage out of pocket. Learn more details about the eight initiatives at: http://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0315_Force-of-the-Future. 4. Desert Storm Memorial Update: The VFW spoke before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission yesterday in support of the proposed National Desert Storm Memorial. The VFW fully supports its creation, as authorized by Resolution 305, which was approved by delegates attending the 115th VFW National Convention in St. Louis, Mo. Getting commission approval is another step in a multilayered process that’s required for any new monument or memorial in Washington, D.C. The eight commissioners were in agreement that the Desert Storm Memorial should be located in Area 1, which encompasses a large portion of the National Mall, as well as across the
Potomac River heading towards Arlington National Cemetery. Whether or not the new memorial will be permitted to be built within the portion identified as “The Reserve” is still to be determined. The Reserve is the most coveted area, as it currently encompasses the Vietnam, Korea, World War II, and the District’s World War I monuments. Learn more about the Desert Storm Memorial at: http://www.ndswm.org/. 5. WWI Memorial Design Selected: The World War I Centennial Commission announced the winning design for a new national memorial. “The Weight of Sacrifice,” created by 25-year-old Joe Weishaar, a 2013 University of Arkansas graduate who now works in Chicago, and New York-based sculptor Sabin Howard, was selected out of five finalists from 350 total entries. The design met the challenge of creating a concept to appropriately honor the service and sacrifice of the nearly 5 million Americans who served, and the more than 116,000 who died. The new national memorial is hoped to be dedicated on Veterans Day 2018, the centennial of the end of “The Great War.” It will be built a block away from the White House in Pershing Park, and include the existing statue of Army Gen. John J. “Blackjack” Pershing, commander of American Expeditionary Forces, and member of VFW Post 27, which was formerly located in the Philippines. See the winning design at: http://www.defense.gov/News-ArticleView/Article/644632/officials-announce-winning-design-concept-for-national-wwimemorial?source=GovDelivery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------VETERANS EVENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------Jennifer Schaus & Associates – Schedule of Upcoming Events (Procurement related and Veterans Small Business Events) in and around the Washington, DC area. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=81fa7f67-09e6-45c7-81464e9804d905a9&c=c88ed930-bfa9-11e3-b2df-d4ae526edc76&ch=c945cd20-bfa9-11e3b395-d4ae526edc76 -------------------------------------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 --------------------------------
Virginia Department of Veterans Services, Virginia Values Veterans V3 Program, Training Schedule for January 12 – 31, 2016. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=9cf88308-4cba-4f11-99bb19263b9e9666&c=f0bce490-c33d-11e4-887e-d4ae5292b9a6&ch=f0f7a3a0-c33d-11e4887e-d4ae5292b9a6 -------------------------------Virginia War Memorial’s Popular Artifacts Roadshow Returns Saturday, January 30, 2016. For detailed information, please see the attached pdf. -------------------------------SBA, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office Presents - Responding to a Federal Request for Proposal (RFP) 101: How to submit a compliant, persuasive and WINNING Bid. Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd St SW, Washington, D.C. 20416. For more information and to sign up for this cost-free event: http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/1315ef7 -------------------------------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 ------------------------------Northern California – Bay Area, Disabled Veteran Business Alliance (DVBA) Bay Area Chapter Meeting. February 10, 2016, Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Go here to find additional details and to register. https://www.trailblz.info/disabledvetba/eviewer.aspx?vid=3EA78F45A74528E5FE6F485 BC50969BE1D73ED620845C13FF4AC644B83757F28 -------------------------------National Veteran Small Business Coalition - DC Metro Dinner Meeting. Wednesday, February 10, 2016 from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST), Arlington, VA. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-veteran-small-business-coalition-10-february2016-dc-metro-dinner-meeting-tickets20954599772?ref=enivtefor001&invite=OTA2MTY5MS93Z2F0ZXdvb2RAcXVhbGl0eX N1cHBvcnQuY29tLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig n=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend --------------------------------SBA Workshop – Pricing for Government Contractors. Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA),
4224 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. This event is at NO Cost. Go here to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pricing-for-government-contractors-tickets20481441543?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event _email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button --------------------------------Disabled Veteran Business Alliance (DVBA) – Invitation to DVBA Inland Empire Chapter Meeting. February 17, 2016, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Riverside, CA. For details and to register: https://www.trailblz.info/disabledvetba/eviewer.aspx?vid=CC24404B54CD9570816C6E DA8A96DC05549507255E208548780905DEFE0F7F77 -------------------------------American Legion 2016 Small Business Workshop, Small Business Roadmap to Success -Tuesday, February 23, 2016, Washington, DC. No Cost. For details and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/small-business-roadmap-to-success-tickets-20743439185 -------------------------------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 -------------------------------Early Bird Registration - Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) GovConNet Procurement Conference. Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7:30am 3:00pm, The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD
20850. For more information and to register: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=08c96955-1f83-4cafb177-027760fb00db&c=654b34e0-c049-11e3-b39b-d4ae529cddd3&ch=665b4550c049-11e3-b39d-d4ae529cddd3 --------------------------------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/