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VETERANS MAGAZINE NATIONAL
The Best Veterans Magazine in America
500,000+ Readers
ARIZONA
GOVERNOR DUCEY MEETS WITH VETERAN LEADERS
AZ LEGISLATURE HONORS AMERICAN LEGION POST 41
US NAVY SEABEES — WE BUILD, WE FIGHT FOR AMERICA
THE RIPPLE EFFECT SUPPORTS SUICIDE PREVENTION
THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS
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THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA “Arizona is the ideal place to live, work, play, recreate, retire, visit, build a business and get an education.”
— GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY
DOUG DUCEY Elected November 4, 2014. Sworn in January 5, 2015 as Arizona's 23rd Governor. Arizona’s 32nd State Treasurer. Former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery. He graduated from Arizona State University where he met his wife, Angela. Father to three sons: Jack, Joe and Sam. Born in Toledo, Ohio.
Governor of Arizona
WANDA WRIGHT, Director
TAKE ME HOME TO ARIZONA
ARIZONA POPULATION 7,026,629
ARIZONA IS THE BEST STATE FOR VETERANS
Explore the magic of Arizona. www.visitarizona.com
Arizona Dept. of Veterans Services
HOMELAND SECURITY
GENERAL MICHAEL MCGUIRE
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MILITARY BASES IN ARIZONA Fort Huachuca Army, Sierra Vista — $2.4 Billion Luke Air Force Base, Glendale — $2.0 Billion Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson — $1.5 Billion Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma — $1.36 Billion
Director, Arizona National Guard & Dept. of Emergency and Military Affairs
MICHAEL GETS ADOPTED
GOVERNOR DUCEY AT THE CONTROLS
John Kelly meeting with Governor Ducey after a US border tour.
US ATTORNEY GENERAL
GOVERNOR MEETS WITH COUNTY SHERIFFS Jeff Sessions meeting with Governor Ducey after a US border tour.
ARIZONA JOB DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS
INTEL building new plant which will bring 10,000 new jobs to Arizona.
“He is the most loving, smart, funny and happy kiddo. He wakes in the morning and says, ‘Mom, I so happy,” Tara Montgomery said. There are more than 18,000 children in Arizona foster care waiting to be adopted. Be a hero to a child by opening your home & your heart. More info: www.dcs.az.gov (l-r) Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly along with Governor Ducey and four Arizona sheriffs including Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier, Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmont, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada and Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels.
MAN SAVES DEPUTY
GOVERNOR SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES
Thomas Yoxall said he could not stand and watch as man attacks an Arizona State Trooper.
Governor Ducey and Francis Battaglia, owner of KFNX radio station in Phoenix. www.1100kfnx.com
A HORSE NAMED DUCEY
Raytheon will create 2,000 jobs in Tucson. See Raytheon feature on page 10
Lucid is bringing 2,000 jobs to Casa Grande.
Orbital ATK will create 500 new jobs in Chandler.
ADP brings 1500 jobs to Tempe.
“Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads. While California puts the brakes on innovation and change with more bureaucracy and more regulation, Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses. In 2015, I signed an executive order supporting the testing and operation of self-driving cars in Arizona with an emphasis on innovation, economic growth, and most importantly, public safety. This is about economic development, but it’s also about changing the way we live and work. Arizona is proud to be open for business. California may not want you, but we do.” — Governor Doug Ducey
First Salt River Colt Born In 2017 Named After Governor Ducey. SUPPORT FOR MILITARY & VETERANS
Governor Ducey, Steven Powell & Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwell.
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A FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA
by Mark Field, Publisher & Editor My first job was newspaper delivery growing up in Brooklyn, New York. I remember getting up early and riding my bicycle (at least until it was stolen) introducing me to the first criminal act against me. After a decade of military service all over the world underwater, a decade in college obtaining 3 degrees, a decade in finance have all led me to my present & current position, newspaper delivery. Granted it is quite different when you are responsible for the entire content and presentation along with the newspaper delivery. My name is Mark Field and this is my expression of my First Amendment, freedom of speech. I am honored to be the Publisher & Editor of the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE and to bring the most important, unbiased, non-political information from a wide variety of sources to serve the needs and minds of veterans in Arizona. Thomas Jefferson wrote on the importance of a free press to keep government in check. He concludes that if he had to choose between “a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. A free media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing. It is also a vibrant marketplace of ideas, a vehicle for ordinary citizens to express themselves and gain exposure to a wide range of information and opinions. — American Civil Liberties Union. The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE will be that free and independent press. I remember thinking of how long would a free and independent press exist in Russia, China, North Korea, Syria, I would say, we would NOT get a 2nd issue off the press. God Bless America and to forever support Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press.
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SPIRTUAL & RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE
LET US PRAY: “Lord, our God, as we begin this new year, we come before you with a heartfelt prayer. Help us foster a committment to civility and compromise; and, instill in us, kindness, cooperation, and mutual respect. Teach us what is honorable, righteous, and true. In our time, when self-serving attitudes abound, guide our dedicated public servants,to serve in a spirit of understanding and humility. Dear Lord, instill in our leaders, a moral and just vision of the future; so that, by their collective efforts, and your loving kindness, the people of Arizona may know a future, blessed with prosperity, equality and peace. Amen! — Rabbi Bernard Savitz, Scottsdale, Arizona
“I see the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE everywhere and I always pick up the latest edition. What a great magazine.” — Derek W. Simmons, SSG., Retired US Army, Sierra Vista, Arizona
“I just came back to Minnesota after a visit to my son in Scottsdale where I came across the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE. After spending 20+ years in the both the US Navy and Air Force, and a member of man veterans organizations. I got more information from your magazine than all those organizations put together. Your magazine is one of the best I have seen. I give thanks for a great magazine.” — Harvey Bakke, Red Lake Falls, Minnesota “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” — Sun Tzu, The Art of War
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Please support our advertisers for they believe in us and help make this publication possible.
WE ARE NATIONAL
Publisher & Editor Mark Field, US Navy Veteran MarkField@AZVetMag.com
TEXAS
Associate Editor & Graphic Design Dana Sill, US Air Force Veteran DanaSiIl@AZVetMag.com
The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE is proud to partner with The Washington Post and we welcome new writers including, Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist George Will.
Health Advisors Dr. Sue Sisley, Eddie Katz Ken Simington San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor loves the National Veterans Magazine.
CALIFORNIA
NEW YORK
Editorial Advisory Board Joey Strickland, Rick Romley Jim Covarrubias, Terry Araman Brad Bridwell, Andy Dzurinko
WASHINGTON
CONTRIBUTORS
STATES WITH MOST VETERANS
EXPERIENCING LOVE AND SURVIVING LOSS
by Mark Field When I was a young man, I proudly served my country in the US Navy. When I was a young man, I met a woman from Texas who touched my soul in a way that would never let me forget those moments. Some 20 years after she is gone and people around me would say that you will forget her. When I think back to those years long ago, I should have fought more for this woman. I should have protected her from the negative forces in the world. When I was on the operating table ready to leave this world, my thoughts were with her in knowing that I had experienced the deepest love I had ever known. I was at peace in knowing that I had experienced an emotional and spiritual connection with someone a long time ago. Sadly I would never experience that same feeling again. I prayed that my time on earth was meaningful to other people. I heard back from God that my time was not over and that I still had more work to do. Go off and seek to heal as many souls as you could. Find those veteran souls that need healing and help them find that same love you once found. Help them feel that their country appreciates all their sacrifices. I also heard back to go find that woman and make sure she knows how you feel about the times you spent together, the words you said to each other and the connection that you will never find again. 20 years later I still search for that lost connection and if I ever find her again, I will rejoice in knowing that I am ready for the eternity.
California - 1,942,775 Texas - 1,689,759 Florida - 1,588,029 Pennsylvania - 1,035,566 New York - 983,844 Ohio - 943,046 Virginia - 827,810 Illinois - 803,964 Georgia - 778,282 North Carolina - 776,683 Michigan - 719,393 Arizona - 660,000+ Washington - 617,225 Tennessee - 533,833 Missouri - 521,526 Source: US Census Bureau
Governor Doug Ducey Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, George Will Curtis L. Coy, Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence Barry Goldwater Jr., James Symonds Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Dr. Joseph Mercola Dr. Jeffrey J. Harsh, Dr. Steven Brown Timothy Lawson, Henry Howard Michiko Riley, Jessica B. Jacobsen Rhonda Burke, LeAnn Hull Wendy Shackley, Kelli Donley Diana Petterson, Philip D. Cushman Brian Sodoma, Stephanie Green Eber Scott Hanson, Alexis Egeland Chip Stoecker, Dustin Quiroz Christina Tetreault, David Lucier Terry Araman, Connie Weber Christine Gannon, Steven Goetsch Paula Pedene, Amanda Dejesus Vance Phillips, Rachel Mindel Suzanne Jameson, Lee Hanna
Published by The Homefield Group Published Spring & Fall POB 83323, Phoenix, AZ 85071 Spring/Summer 2017 issue Advertising: Mark@NationalVeteransMagazine.com
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ARIZONA LEADS NATION IN CIVICS EDUCATION
by Dustin Quiroz, Cronkite News Governor Doug Ducey urged fellow governors this weekend to follow Arizona’s lead and implement civics requirements in schools to help improve the nation’s civic and political engagement. “It’s cute when a 5-year-old doesn’t know who the current president is,” Ducey said Sunday at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association here. “But when 10 percent of our college graduates believe that Judge Judy sits on the Supreme Court, it’s not that funny.” Ducey pointed to the American Civics Act, a 2015 state law that requires high school students to pass the same citizenship test of basic civics that is given as a naturalization test to immigrants. That requirement will take effect in Arizona this year, with students in the Class of 2017 the first to have to pass the test in order to get their diplomas. “In this political environment, civic engagement is a bipartisan issue and I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the individuals that bring action to this vital cause,” Ducey said of the requirement. The civics test is being pushed by the Scottsdale-based Civics Education Initiative, an affiliate of the Joe Foss Institute, which aims to return civics to public education. Officials behind the initiative said they are already seeing “transformative change” as a result of the effort to restore civics to the curriculum. “From a student’s perspective, having civics on a test that matters is important, it tells them this topic is important,” said Karen Summers, a vice president at the Joe Foss Institute. “And as it relates to America, the same is true.” While Arizona was the first state to require a civics test to graduate, 14 other states have since followed suit and another 25 have bills pending in their legislatures this year, according to the institute. Its goal is to have legislation similar to Arizona’s in every state by September. Colorado is one of the 10 states that does not have a law on the books or a bill pending. But Gov. John Hickenlooper said that he thinks civics education is important, particularly given the tone of political discourse in the country now. “If you look at all of the division and turbulence we’ve got in this country right now, a lot of it is based on the fact that people don’t understand how our political system works and how society works,” Hickenlooper said Sunday at the governors’ meeting. While Hickenlooper agrees with Ducey on the importance of civics, he could not comment on what progress is currently being made toward a civics requirement in his state. But Ducey urged other governors to act, and act quickly. He attributes low turnout among young voters to a lack of understanding about civics. Ducey laid part of the blame on the states, challenging his fellow governors to take those steps toward requiring civic education that he said would help combat a disengaged younger generation. “We expect them to do their part but I would challenge all the governors here, have we done our part?” Ducey asked.
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JERI WILLIAMS LEADS PHOENIX POLICE DEPT.
by Christina Tetreault, Cronkite News Arizona native Jeri Williams will become the first woman and second African American to lead the Phoenix Police Department when she becomes chief in October. Williams, a former Maryvale resident who spent most of her nearly three-decade career with the department before being tapped as the Oxnard, Calif. police chief in 2011, has deep roots in Phoenix. So does her family. Her husband, Cody Williams, is a justice of the peace and former Phoenix city councilman and her son, Alan Williams, plays for the Phoenix Suns. How does it feel to make history in Phoenix? In this whole process, and people may not believe this, I did not think about making history. What I thought about is what I’ve done for the past 28 years in law enforcement. And that is work hard, being a leader, taking everything seriously. Just work tirelessly to make the community safe. I’m certain it was in my mind that I was ‘making history,’ but I don’t believe that I got picked because I’m female. I know I got picked because I am the best person for the job at this time. What was it like standing before the media and so many community members and leaders? It’s so nice to in light of the national message of what’s going on in law enforcement, from tragedies in Dallas to the different messaging going around in law enforcement, to have a positive, happy time where the community is supportive. The media has been amazingly supportive, and the city of Phoenix Police Department, my friends, and my family have been so supportive. I’m blessed and I’m honored to be in the position that I’m in and I wouldn’t have it any other way. How will you work on your transition from Oxnard to Phoenix? Fortunately for me, the transition from Phoenix to Oxnard was an amazing transition and the community was supportive. The (Oxnard) police department was supportive, the mayor and council was supportive, and to me, it will be just coming back home, which is really nice. I know the streets, I know the culture. I will have to learn and meet new people. I prided myself on having really good working relationships with the media prior to me leaving, so learning the new faces and the new nuances will be challenging – not insurmountable – and not anything I’m not used to and accustomed to. I’m looking forward to being the city’s police chief regardless of what community that is. What are you going to do to bridge the distrust between some Phoenix residents and police officers? The vast majority of contacts that officers in the police department make every day are favorable. They are wonderful, they are helping people. They are answering phone calls for service and problem solving. In those rare instances and occasions where there are challenges, I have to be notified. If I don’t know that something has happened, how am I going to fix something? How am I going to train if I don’t know something has happened?
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Mike Pence VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Donald Trump PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
President Trump’s Speech to Congress (excerpts)
James Mattis SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Rex Tillerson SECRETARY OF STATE
Dr. David Shulkin SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mike Pompeo DIRECTOR CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Steven Mnuchin TREASURY SECRETARY
Alex Acosta LABOR SECRETARY
Heroic veterans will get the care they so desperately need. Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve. Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land. Our terrible drug epidemic will slow down and ultimately, stop. And our neglected inner cities will see a rebirth of hope, safety, and opportunity. Dying industries will come roaring back to life. Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, Walmart, and many others, have announced that they will invest billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs. We’ve saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the price of the fantastic new F-35 jet fighter, and will be saving billions more dollars on contracts all across our Government. We have placed a hiring freeze on non-military and non-essential Federal workers. We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a 5 year ban on lobbying by executive branch officials — and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists for a foreign government. We have undertaken a historic effort to massively reduce job crushing regulations, creating a deregulation task force inside of every government agency; imposing a new rule which mandates that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated; and stopping a regulation that threatens the future and livelihoods of our great coal miners. We have cleared the way for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota access pipelines thereby — creating tens of thousands of jobs — and I’ve issued a new directive that new American pipelines be made with American steel. We have withdrawn the United States from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership. To protect our citizens, I have directed the Department of Justice to form a Task Force on Reducing Violent Crime. I have further ordered the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, along with the Department of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to coordinate an aggressive strategy to dismantle the criminal cartels that have spread across our Nation. We will stop the drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth — and we will expand treatment for those who have become so badly addicted. At the same time, my Administration has answered the pleas of the American people for immigration enforcement and border security. By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars, and make our communities safer for everyone. We want all Americans to succeed — but that can’t happen in an environment of lawless chaos. We must restore integrity and the rule of law to our borders. America has spent approximately six trillion dollars in the Middle East, all this while our infrastructure at home is crumbling. With this six trillion dollars we could have rebuilt our country — twice. To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the infrastructure of the United States — financed through both public and private capital — creating millions of new jobs. This effort will be guided by two core principles: Buy American, and Hire American. We must build bridges of cooperation and trust — not drive the wedge of disunity and division. Police and sheriffs are members of our community. They are friends and neighbors, they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters — and they leave behind loved ones every day who worry whether or not they’ll come home safe and sound. We must support the incredible men and women of law enforcement. To keep America safe we must provide the men and women of the United States military with the tools they need to prevent war and — if they must — to fight and to win. I am sending the Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the Defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history. My budget will also increase funding for our veterans. Our veterans have delivered for this Nation — and now we must deliver for them. The challenges we face as a Nation are great. But our people are even greater. And none are greater or braver than those who fight for America in uniform. Americans prosper and grow — are not too much to ask. When we have all of this, we will have made America greater than ever before. For all Americans. This is our vision. This is our mission. But we can only get there together. We are one people, with one destiny. We all bleed the same blood. We all salute the same flag. And we are all made by the same God. From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears — inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past — and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts. And when we fulfill this vision; when we celebrate our 250 years of glorious freedom, we will look back on tonight as when this new chapter of American Greatness began. The time for small thinking is over. The time for trivial fights is behind us. We just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts. The bravery to express the hopes that stir our souls. And the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams to action. I am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American Spirit. I am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country. And I am asking everyone to seize this moment and — Believe in yourselves. Believe in your future. And believe, once more, in America. Thank you, God bless you, and God Bless these United States.
John Kelly HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY
Jeff Sessions ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ben Carson SECRETARY HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Ryan Zinke INTERIOR SECRETARY
Rick Perry ENERGY SECRETARY
Nikki Haley UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR
Herbert McMaster NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
VA MORTGAGE EXPERTS
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WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL AT WESLEY BOLIN PLAZA VANDALIZED
WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL – WESLEY BOLIN PLAZA
by David Lucier Within the park boundaries of Wesley Bolin Plaza, located immediately to the east of the Arizona Capitol Building, many monuments to our heroes stand as testament to the courage and valor of those who served our country while wearing the uniform of the US Armed Forces. Regrettably, we have reached a point in time when all the WWI veterans have passed on and there are none left to speak for or honor their brothers in arms. In contrast, we still have living veterans from all the other major, foreign wars: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, who still advocate for and honor their comrades. One of those memorials has no living members to tend to its memories or its wellbeing. The World War I monument to the men & women who experienced the “War to End All Wars” stands wounded itself. Missing its plaque, we mourn its absence. So, it is time we celebrate its presence, acknowledge its wounds, and renew its soul and its body. One hundred years have passed since the United States entered WWI on April 6, 1917. Constructed and placed in the park in 1967, it marked the 50th anniversary of the war. 50 years later, it needs to be restored. The Arizona Military Museum and the Arizona Veterans & Military Leadership Alliance are forming a small ad hoc committee to restore the WWI monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Without your help, our WWI monument will continue to stand wounded. Contact David Lucier at davidflucier@gmail.com On a personal note, my grandfather, Ralph François Lucier, fought during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive as a young, US Army Infantry Captain.
WOMEN LEADERS HONORED TO “GIVE BACK AND CELEBRATE”
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ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE Veteran Legislation Update: 53rd Arizona Legislature
by Terry Araman There has been substantial progress this year on Arizona state legislation impacting our military and veteran populations. Arizona is home to 600,000+ service members, veterans and their families. Our Arizona State Legislative Veterans Caucus is a forum for discussing, proposing and reviewing current legislation. Co-chairs this year are Arizona State Representative Jay Lawrence and Arizona State Representative Richard Andrade. Noting some of the current highlights, the following bills have been proposed, voted on and signed into law by Governor Ducey: • HB 2107 – Will grant required school attendance residency status for children of active duty military members who are transferred to a military installation in any Arizona school district. This bill was proposed by Rep. Paul Boyer. • HB 2271 – Will accept substantially equivalent military training, education, or experience to “completely or partially” satisfy requirement for a state-issued license, certificate, or registration. This bill will assist veterans returning to civilian life from military service to enter the civilian workforce, without timeconsuming and costly need to license and register in their profession, if they already have substantial training and experience during military service. This bill was proposed by Rep. Maria Syms. • HB2341 – Exempts a license, certificate, or registration of a member of any National Guard from expiration while the member is serving on federal active duty, instead of limiting the exemption to only Arizona National Guard members. This bill was proposed by Rep. Richard Andrade. • HB 2415 – This bill puts the state of Arizona in compliance with Public Law 114315 passed by Congress, pertaining to veterans’ in-state tuition. Without the change in the state statute, veteran educational benefits would not be able to be used in Arizona after July 2017. This bill impacts 23,000 veterans and veteran families who use these benefits in Arizona. This bill was proposed by Rep. Jay Lawrence. • SB 1327 – Authorizes placement of a Gold Star Memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Financing for the memorial will be from funds raised, without assistance from the state. Proposed by Sen. Debbie Lesko. In addition to the above, we are hopeful that HB 2270, which will allow transfer credits for Arizona public universities and community colleges to award academic credit for a veteran’s “military skills, knowledge, and competencies”, towards an associate degree, certification, and private vocational programs. Proposed by Rep. Maria Syms. We are also hopeful about SB 1203, to extend the Military Family Relief Fund from 2018 to 2025, while capping it at the current amount, to continue to assist post 9/11 veterans. Any future donations will defer to the state Veteran Donations Fund, to be sued ‘for the benefit of the veterans of all eras within this state as grants”. Thank you to Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Dave Hampton for his on-going updates on Arizona state legislative issues.
ATHENA Leadership Model: Live Authentically, Learn Constantly, Build Relationships, Foster Collaboration, Advocate Fiercely, Act Courageously and Give Back and Celebrate.
ATHENA Valley of the Sun (AVOS) applauded the achievements of area women chosen based on the organization’s mission to “Leave No Women Leader Behind.” According to AVOS CEO, Dr. Kristine Quade, “We were so proud to share the remarkable and inspiring stories of these amazing women and to ‘Give Back and Celebrate’ their (l-r) ATHENA International President, contributions to our community. This Andrea Conner, ATHENA International diverse group personifies a new legacy Founder, Martha Mertz, ATHENA of leadership in Arizona.” Leadership Award Recipient Barbara The ATHENA Leadership Award Barrett and ATHENA Valley of the Sun recipient was Ambassador Barbara President, Dr. Kristina Quade. Barrett. After earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s and law degrees at Arizona State University, Barrett practiced Aviation law. She has served as U.S. Ambassador to Finland, was a backup spaceflight participant for the Soyuz TMA-16 flight to the international space station and has climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 1994, Barrett was the first female Republican candidate to run for Governor in Arizona and serves on the board of the Smithsonian Institute, among other boards. HAIL AWARD RECIPIENTS Live Authentically: Dr. Brenda Combs went from living on the streets, surviving violence, abuse and addiction, to receiving her Doctoral degree in 2011. Learn Constantly: Dr. Nadia Katrangi co-founded The Good Tree Institute of Arizona in 2010 to provide assistance and support to Muslim women in the community. Building Relationships: Dr. Claire McWilliams teaches life skills to increase motivation and reduce turnover within the hospitality industry at Arizona State University. Foster Collaboration: Annie Groth uses her financial services expertise to develop programs on Financial Literacy for impoverished single, widowed and divorced women who feel vulnerable without the skills needed to develop financial independence and security. Advocate Fiercely: Jody Farley built the nonprofit “Singleton Moms” to ensure that mothers fighting cancer didn’t have to worry about their family’s needs to allow them to focus on healing. The organization takes care of the small yet important aspects of life, including providing food and other necessities. Act Courageously: Maraion Douglas created MOMA's house — a non-profit that works with women committed to transforming their lives while in recovery from domestic violence and human sex trafficking. Quade says, “These leaders have all gone the distance, both personally and professionally, to serve our community.” More info: www.athenaaz.com
Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord, AARP Arizona State Director Dana Marie Kennedy and Maricopa Mayor Christian Price meeting with the US Dept.of Commerce in Washington, DC to support Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Arizona.
ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME SOCIETY GALA
The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS) recently hosted its 11th Annual Patriotic Gala at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise ValleyScottsdale to honor leaders who are a voice for our military, our veterans and their families. Event proceeds fund scholarships and a wide variety of veteran projects. “It is such an honor to recognize deserving individuals who are prime examples of carrying out our daily mission of preserving our military traditions,” said AVHOFS President Thomas Hessler. “I can’t deny that I was most excited to present our scholarship awards to five exemplary students and veterans who are dedicated to patriotism and our community.” The AVHOFS presented a total of $8,000 in financial scholarships to five students – Justin Blommer, a Marine veteran who now attends Arizona State University where he is working on a Biomedical Engineering degree, and four students participating in the nationally recognized Veterans Heritage Project (VHP), who, by research and study ensure that the legacy of veterans is timeless. Radio and television personality, Mike Broomhead emceed this year’s event. Entertainment was provided by local high school student and accomplished violinist, Evan Pittman, who performed the National Anthem and Military Service Medley along with the Uptown Angels who performed several sets of classic 1940s, 1950s and USO Tour tunes. Award recipients included: Mr. John O’Malley, Copper Sword Award; Hon. Richard C. Andrade, Copper Shield Award; Hon. Marianne T. Bayardi, Copper Star Award. About The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society The mission of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society is to preserve and perpetuate the traditions of the American military and all who served in it, to undertake charitable and other projects at the state and local levels, to work with veterans organizations in the attainment of their objectives and to promote and encourage responsible citizenship among all Americans. They are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. More info: www.avhof.org
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RAYTHEON IS PROUD TO SUPPORT VETERANS IN ARIZONA
by Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence President, Raytheon Missile Systems Raytheon is Arizona’s largest private government contractor. Our primary customer is the US Department of Defense. With 10,000 employees and more than 500 suppliers throughout Arizona, we make a sizable economic impact to the state. While I’m very proud of those numbers, I’m even prouder of our commitment to the warfighter, both on and off the battlefield. Our support of the armed forces goes far beyond the products and services we provide. A major portion of Raytheon’s charitable outreach is targeted directly toward veterans. I would like to call on others in the private sector to do even more to support America’s vets. There are so many opportunities to give back to those who have served. Raytheon teamed with non-profit No Barriers to sponsor a wilderness expedition for a group of wounded warriors. Fourteen injured veterans participated in a 10-day experience in the Grand Canyon that was designed to help them regain confidence, reintegrate more fully and positively into society, and in some cases to truly rebuild their lives. Raytheon works with the Student Veterans Association to provide career coaching to veterans and help them translate their military service and experience to the business world. Practical advice on resume preparation and interview techniques enables those men and women to successfully transition to the next phase of their careers. We partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the children of military families, operating youth centers and after-school programs on the majority of U.S. military installations and in communities with a strong military presence. This year, Raytheon was a major corporate sponsor of Sunday’s “Salute to Service” NFL home game of the Arizona Cardinals. In partnership with Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, we honored active duty service men and women from Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca, welcoming home some of Arizona’s recently deployed warfighters. Raytheon designated November 711 as our company’s “Week of Service.” Throughout the country, our employees have volunteered their time to complete dozens of community service activities supporting America’s veterans and active military. Many Raytheon employees are also veterans. Their dedication to our company’s mission of providing the most effective solutions for the defense of the United States and allied nations is deeply meaningful. Having served for a time themselves, they now deliver capabilities that provide today’s warfighters a competitive advantage, helping them do their jobs and return safely to their families. I hope each of us will take time throughout the year to pause and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices that America’s men and women in uniform, and the families that support their service to our country, have made to defend our freedoms. This article originally appeared in the Arizona Republic
RAYTHEON ADDS 2000 JOBS IN ARIZONA
Proudly Built in Arizona ADMIRAL VERN CLARK
The Raytheon Company board of directors has elected Admiral Vern Clark, US Navy (Ret.), 61, to the board. With the election of Vern Clark, the Raytheon board is comprised of 12 directors. Clark joins the Raytheon board following 37 years of distinguished military service, culminating with his appointment in July 2000 as the 27th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Upon his retirement in September 2005, Clark became the second longest serving CNO in history.
Gary Kochuba, center, was recognized for his work on the Standard Missile-3 program by Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, President of Raytheon Missile Systems; Riki Ellison, Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; US Senator John McCain; US Representative Martha McSally; Lt. Gen. Mark C. Nowland; and Command Master Chief Loran “Mark” Bather.
RAYTHEON COMPANY plans to expand its Southern Arizona operations by adding nearly 2,000 jobs at the Missile Systems business headquarters over a five year period. The company plans to hire workers at all skill levels with an emphasis on engineering and other higher-wage, technical positions. Job creation, facilities expansion and operational output is expected to result in billions of dollars of economic impact for Arizona over 10 years. “These rewarding, high technology jobs will support Raytheon’s growth and bring even more top talent to this region,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “The strong support we receive from state and local organizations is essential to our expansion plans, and will help provide Raytheon with the workforce and infrastructure to meet the growing demand we are seeing from our customers.” The company’s decision to expand here validates Southern Arizona’s strengths in innovation, technology and quality as a community to attract and retain talent. State, regional and local partners are working with Raytheon to demonstrate that Arizona has the partnerships, infrastructure and workforce to meet the company’s long-term growth needs. Partners in the expansion initiative include Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, City of Tucson, Sun Corridor Inc., Tucson Electric Power and the Tucson Airport Authority.
RAYTHEON PLANS MAJOR ARIZONA EXPANSION
STATE OF ARIZONA: “With an existing workforce of 10,000 people and a network of over 500 suppliers in Arizona, Raytheon is the largest private employer in Southern Arizona and has an incredibly positive economic impact throughout our state,” said Governor Ducey. “Increasing Raytheon’s infrastructure and job growth in Arizona is a major win for all of us, and the result of strong partnerships statewide.” CITY OF TUCSON: “Raytheon's decision to annex into the city gave them the tools and opportunity to stay and grow in Tucson. Management saw that being part of Tucson made good business sense,” said Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, City of Tucson. “We're very pleased that Raytheon has chosen to expand its operations in Tucson.” PIMA COUNTY: “Pima County is thrilled to support the addition of 2,000 Raytheon jobs here in Southern Arizona,” said Sharon Bronson, chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors. “In recent years, the County has made several key transportation/infrastructure investments near Raytheon to support potential expansions such as this one today, including the Raytheon buffer zone; creation of the Aerospace, Defense & Technology Research and Business Park; and rerouting Hughes Access Road to create the new Aerospace Parkway.” SUN CORRIDOR INC.: “The impact of adding nearly 2,000 jobs and significant investment by our region’s
largest private employer cannot be overstated,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, Sun Corridor Inc. “Raytheon’s decision comes on the heels of other relocations and expansions in the last few years by Caterpillar, HomeGoods and Comcast among others. Southern Arizona is now at the top of national job growth rankings, making us a region on the move.” ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY: “Raytheon’s decision to expand its operations in Tucson is excellent news not only for the region, but for our entire state’s economy,” said Sandra Watson, President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “Following a competitive search process, Arizona’s pro-business policies, exceptional talent and strategic location won out. This project will create a significant number of high-wage jobs, adding to the already strong momentum in Southern Arizona.” ABOUT RAYTHEON: Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
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ORBITAL ADDS 500 JOBS IN ARIZONA
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Orbital ATK, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense technology firms, today announced the expansion of the company’s Launch Vehicles Division operations into an additional facility in Chandler, Arizona. Subject to Chandler City Council approvals, Orbital ATK will be moving into the Allred Park Place along Chandler’s Price Corridor, known for being home to leading edge companies focused on advanced business services, aerospace, life sciences, sustainable and high technology research and manufacturing. The building will add 46,000 square feet of office space to Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles campuses. With additional facilities in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona, Orbital ATK’s total footprint in the state is more than 840,000 square feet, supporting more than 2,000 high-tech and high-paying aerospace and defense jobs and a total payroll of more than $170 million in Arizona. The additional Orbital ATK facility will help support a projected growth of up to 500 full-time, high-wage jobs over a five-year period. Orbital ATK’s launch vehicle business began in Chandler in the 1980s and has grown to more than 1,200 employees working in Chandler at two locations. The business provides launch vehicles for commercial, civil and government customers. The additional jobs complement Arizona’s robust aerospace and defense sector that contributes $38 billion annually to the Arizona economy and employs more than 52,000 workers. “Orbital ATK has been a key part of Arizona’s aerospace and defense sector for many years and has helped cement our state’s reputation as a leader in the industry,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The company’s continued commitment to Chandler speaks volumes about Arizona’s talent pool, business climate and quality of life. Arizona is absolutely committed to supporting job-creators that are advancing cutting-edge technologies, and we congratulate Orbital ATK on its success!” “Orbital ATK’s has a 30-year history of designing and building rockets in Chandler, Arizona,” said Rich Straka, Orbital ATK’s Vice President and General Manager of Launch Vehicles Division. “Our launch vehicles deliver commercial and government payloads into orbit, including critical supplies to the crew aboard the International Space Station. We also build missile defense interceptor and target vehicles that are critical to the nation’s security. This cooperative agreement with the state of Arizona and City of Chandler helps ensure we have the room to support those vital programs for our country.” This project will add to the growing landscape of high-wage Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) jobs in Chandler and the state. “Orbital ATK has long been an anchor on the Price Corridor and a vital contributor to Chandler's reputation as the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest. We appreciate the company's continued faith in the City expressed through their selection of Chandler for this expansion project,” Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. “We have seen a number of Chandler companies expand their workforce this past year and these new, high-level engineering jobs, will have a tremendous impact to the region as Orbital ATK continues its strong investment in Chandler.” “Earlier this year, PwC ranked Arizona number one in the nation in aerospace manufacturing attractiveness,” said Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President & CEO. “When an industry leader like Orbital ATK chooses to significantly expand its workforce in Arizona, it reinforces why we earned that ranking. This project will create hundreds of new, high quality jobs and further enhance Arizona’s leadership position in the aerospace, manufacturing and technology sectors. I thank Orbital ATK for its ongoing commitment to Arizona!” “The announcement that Orbital ATK has decided to grow its operations in Chandler is tremendous news for Arizona, and will create 500 new jobs for hardworking Arizonans and enhance our state’s important contributions to national defense,” said US Senator John McCain. “The expansion of one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense corporations adds to the increasing number of innovative companies deciding to do business in Arizona to take advantage of our pro-growth policies and active defense community. I applaud Governor Doug Ducey and his entire team for their efforts in making this expansion a reality.” “Orbital ATK’s growing presence in Chandler is welcomed news for the local community and Arizona’s economy. I thank Orbital ATK for continuing to invest in Arizona,” said US Senator Jeff Flake. Orbital ATK has hundreds of high-tech job openings that it is seeking to fill at its facilities in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona for more information: www.careers.orbitalatk.com.
INDUSTRY IMPACT: AEROSPACE & DEFENSE IN ARIZONA
Arizona is home to more than 1,200 aerospace and defense companies, including major industry players such as Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, General Dynamics, Honeywell Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Orbital Sciences, Raytheon Missile Systems and the hundreds of small and mid-sized suppliers they support. Together, these companies significantly impact Arizona's overall economy employing more than 52,000 people directly. Numbers that reflect Arizona’s long-standing history with leading names in the industry — companies whose continued success in everything from unmanned aircraft systems to missiles, space vehicles to commercial aircraft and research into alternative fuels — drives further future growth. Together, with a less regulating state government, lower cost of doing business, competitive cost of living, top research programs, skilled workforce and optimal year-round flying conditions, our state offers rich incentives and a collaborative environment. The results? Aerospace and defense companies thrive in Arizona.
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INTEL TO BUILD NEW FACTORY IN ARIZONA
Intel’s Fab 42 will target advanced 7 nm technology and create more than 10,000 Jobs in Arizona Intel Corporation announced plans to invest more than $7 billion to complete Fab 42, which is expected to be the most advanced semiconductor factory in the world. The high-volume factory is in Chandler, Arizona and is targeted to use the 7 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process. It will produce microprocessors to power data centers and hundreds of millions of smart and connected devices worldwide. The announcement was made by US President Donald Trump and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at the White House. Intel Corporation announced plans to invest more than $7 billion to complete Fab 42. On completion, Fab 42 in Chandler, Arizona, is expected to be the most advanced semiconductor factory in the world. The completion of Fab 42 in 3 to 4 years will directly create approximately 3,000 high-tech, highwage Intel jobs for process engineers, equipment technicians, and facilities-support engineers and technicians who will work at the site. Combined with the indirect impact on businesses that will help support the factory’s operations, Fab 42 is expected to create more than 10,000 total longterm jobs in Arizona. “Intel’s business continues to grow and investment in manufacturing capacity and R&D ensures that the pace of Moore’s law continues to march on, fueling technology innovations the world loves and depends on,” said Krzanich. “This factory will help the US maintain its position as the global leader in the semiconductor industry.” “Intel is a global manufacturing and technology company, yet we think of ourselves as a leading American innovation enterprise,” Krzanich added. “America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to foster economic growth and innovation. Our factories support jobs — highwage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that are the economic engines of the states where they are located.” Intel is America’s largest high-technology capital expenditure investor ($5.1 billion in the U.S. 2015) and its third largest investor in global R&D ($12.1 billion in 20151). The majority of Intel’s manufacturing and R&D is in the United States. As a result, Intel employs more than 50,000 people in the United States, while directly supporting almost half a million other U.S. jobs across a range of industries, including semiconductor tooling, software, logistics, channels, OEMs and other manufacturers that incorporate our products into theirs. The 7 nm semiconductor manufacturing process targeted for Fab 42 will be the most advanced semiconductor process technology used in the world and represents the future of Moore’s Law. In 1968 Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted that computing power will become significantly more capable and yet cost less year after year. Making a leading-edge computer chip is the most complex manufacturing process in the world, engineering magic that turns sand into semiconductors, the foundation of the knowledge economy. The chips made on the 7 nm process will power the most sophisticated computers, data centers, sensors and other high-tech devices, and enable things like artificial intelligence, more advanced cars and transportation services, breakthroughs in medical research and treatment and more.
BOEING SIGNS $3.4B CONTRACT FOR APACHE HELICOPTERS
Boeing and the US government recently signed a five-year, $3.4 billion contract through which the Army, and a customer outside the US, will acquire the latest Apache attack helicopter at a significant savings to taxpayers. This is the first multi-year agreement for the Apache “E” variant. The Army will receive 244 remanufactured Apaches while 24 new ones will go to the international customer. “This agreement is great news for our army, our soldiers, the American taxpayers, our industry partners and numerous international partners,” said US Army Col. Joseph Hoecherl, the Apache project manager. “It is a direct result of the professional dedication and diligent efforts by government and industry teammates to provide the much needed capabilities of the world's best attack helicopter — the AH-64E Apache — at a fair and affordable price that results in year over year savings to the taxpayer. In the hands of our trained US soldiers, the Apache's technologies and resulting capabilities are essential to US Army operations around the globe.” Boeing builds the Apache in Mesa, Arizona. Deliveries of the “E” model began in October 2011. Seven customers outside the U.S. have ordered this variant. Including this latest version, the U.S. and 15 other countries have relied on the Apache during the past three decades. “The Apache has made a tremendous impact in the defense of the nations that have flown it for the last 37 years,” said Kim Smith, Boeing Attack Helicopters vice president and program manager. “Our team understands the responsibility we have to deliver the best aircraft on time at an affordable price every day, and we are committed to maintaining that well established tradition of excellence.”
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7 REASONS ARIZONA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE & WORK
by Governor Doug Ducey Arizona is the number-one best state in the US for people to live, work, and play — and it’s only getting better. I want to share seven reasons that Arizona is unique and beautiful to me and to the nearly seven million people who live here — 1. We Embrace The 21st Century Economy. Some states and cities did everything they could to stop new and exciting companies from operating: restraining orders, lawsuits, you name it. Arizona? We embrace innovation. One of my first actions as governor was to allow ridesharing services throughout the state — encouraging companies like Uber and Lyft that offer Arizonans a safe and reliable means of transportation to expand. Soon after, Uber opened a Center of Excellence in Phoenix that is set to employ several hundred people over the next few years while delivering support services to riders and drivers in cities around the world. You can now hail an Uber anywhere in Arizona, including at Sky Harbor International Airport, and the company’s economic partnership with the University of Arizona is promising to deliver strong results related to the research and development of new technology. And, only a few weeks ago, Uber relocated its self-driving vehicle program from California to Arizona — putting our state on the map of the future. 2. The Weather And Climate Are Unbeatable. The long-running joke is that, even when it’s hotter than can be outside, the weather is still “120° and beautiful.” Our climate is one of the five C’s of Arizona’s economy, the others being copper, cattle, cotton, and citrus. It doesn’t get any better than 300 days of sunshine per year, and the breathtaking sunsets, mountain trails, and dry heat to go with it attract visitors (“future residents”) year-round. Around every corner, and every moment of the day, there’s a “Wow” moment waiting to stun you. 3. We Pursue Nothing Less Than Educational Excellence When Investing In Our Children. Arizona is home to three of the top ten public high schools in the nation. And Arizona has one of the most comprehensive school choice programs in the United States because we agree that parents have a right to choose the best schools for their children regardless of what zip code they live in. Our universities and educational institutions are top notch. Arizona State University was named the most innovative university in country for the second year in a row. The University of Arizona is a leader in optics research. And Northern Arizona University is known for producing some of the top teachers in America. The Executive Budget for fiscal year 2018 increases our investment in education, with a focus on our kids in the lowest-income neighborhoods, and provides signing bonuses for educators who commit to teaching in lowincome schools — all without raising taxes. That’s what responsible fiscal choices over the past two years have allowed us to do while keeping our promise to taxpayers. 4. Avocados, Anyone? The food scene in Arizona is unparalleled. Mexican plates, American plates, and more—we have it all. Food trucks, just like Uber, are welcome in Arizona. And you can’t leave without testing out the craft beer industry. In early 2015, I signed legislation to reform an outdated law that was stifling craft brewers and hurting jobs. Four Peaks Brewing Company is a testament to what can happen when businesses are allowed to flourish. Love to ski? Check out Flagstaff. Traveling to Tucson? Go a few miles south and experience a burgeoning wine country in Sonoita. 5. New Businesses and Jobs are Flocking to Arizona. If there’s one hash tag that describes our state, it’s #OpenForBusiness. Over the past few years, Arizona has seen significant economic gains—including dozens of businesses expanding or relocating from neighboring California alone. In just the last two years, we’ve seen more than 100,000 new private sector jobs land in our state. That’s because we offer businesses a steady, common-sense regulatory environment and tax policies that reward hard work and success. Apple announced a major $2 billion expansion, one of the largest investments in the company’s history. Google launched a self-driving vehicle program, explaining that “Arizona is known as a place where research and development is welcome, innovation can thrive, and companies can set up roots.” Lucid Motors selected our state for its electric car manufacturing operation, expected to bring more than 2,000 new jobs and $700 million in capital investment to the region by 2022. These are only three of the many companies expanding in Arizona because of the opportunities our economy provides. 6. We Embrace Outsiders. Between 60 and 70 percent of Arizonans are from somewhere else — including me. I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, and came to Arizona for college. There’s no good old boys club or dynasties here. In Arizona, you can write your own tickets. As our first governor, George Hunt, once said — all you need to grit, will and determination. The opportunities are boundless for newcomers. 7. We’re Strengthening Our Relationship With Leaders In Mexico. Solidifying Arizona’s reputation in the world as an incredible destination to live, work, and play means going out of our way to strengthen our relationship with our state’s largest international trading partner: Mexico. In June 2015, I completed the first Arizona governor-led trade mission to Mexico City in nearly a decade. The Arizona Republic’s editorial board praised the trip as having “opened doors” to a relationship that has “long brought economic benefits on both sides of our international border.” I have met with Sonora Governor Claudia Pavlovich and Mexican business leaders on several occasions to discuss how the United States and Mexico can cultivate a thriving economic partnership in the coming years, and I will continue to meet with other leaders in the country to do the same. These are only 7 reasons Arizona is a great place to live and work — in reality, the reasons are countless. So I encourage everyone to purchase a plane ticket, hail an Uber, and visit Arizona whenever you can.Be warned, though: The next thing you might be doing is loading up a U-Haul truck. Doug Ducey is the Governor of Arizona.
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ARIZONA AIR BASE NAMED AFTER BARRY GOLDWATER
As a Colonel in the United States Army Air Corps, Senator Barry Goldwater founded the Arizona Air National Guard in 1947 and flew on countless missions. His dedication to the Arizona National Guard will forever be remembered with the new 161st Goldwater Air National Guard Base.
Proud to join my good friend, Barry Goldwater Jr. in the renaming ceremony.
by Tinashe Machona Goldwater Air National Guard Base is officially the new name of the installation formerly known as Phoenix Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey enacted the change during a ceremony to honor one of the Arizona Air National Guard's founding members. In 1946, the late Senator Barry M. Goldwater was one of the original members of the state's first Air Guard squadron which later became today's 161st Air Refueling Wing. After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Goldwater returned to Arizona and became the first federally recognized National Guard pilot in the state. He dedicated 37 years of his life to military service in the Army, Air Force Reserves and Arizona Air National Guard; eventually retiring as a major general. In 1949, Goldwater's political career began when he was elected to the Phoenix City Council. He later served five terms as a US Senator from Arizona. “Senator Goldwater was an avid military pilot who had the zest for flight that is at the heart and soul of operations. It's magnificent that our base is linked with his rich heritage,” said Col. Patrick Donaldson, commander of the wing's operations group. He added that the base's name change is a momentous event for the wing, which invigorates pride, honor and tradition among today's Airmen. Donaldson emphasized that Goldwater is an inspiration to work hard in order to innovate and tackle challenges while taking care of Airmen. “He was a great advocate for air power in the Senate Arms Services Committee, who did great things that should energize all of us to affect change,” said Donaldson. He noted that Goldwater's name represents leadership and a fundamental appreciation for the American Airman. He said the senator's impact on the state is evidenced by the many establishments named after him, such as the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex in southern Arizona — invaluable training airspace for military pilots. Although the base will now bear a new name, its mission will remain the same as it will continue to engage in air refueling operations around the globe flying the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. “It is an honor to have Barry Goldwater Jr. Speaks to Airman Senator Goldwater's name at the front during the name dedication ceremony at gate and I am immensely privileged to the Goldwater Air National Guard Base be part of the unit during this in Phoenix. (photos by Michael Matkin) dedication,” said Donaldson. Chief Master Sgt. Martha Garcia, the wing's command chief, said that Goldwater was instrumental in legitimatizing the wing as a federally recognized unit. She added that it is fitting to name the base after him because of his distinguished military and public service records. “The accolades that the wing has received over the years represents hard work and I am honored to be the first command chief Goldwater Air National Guard Base,” said Garcia. She said she has observed excitement among Airmen on base because the name embodies the unit's long tradition of excellence. Garcia said the men and women of the wing will continue to soar above expectations as they did before the name dedication. The wing was presented the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award this year. An honor annually given by the secretary of the Air Force to select units that distinguish themselves by exceptional service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets them above and apart from similar units. The wing previously earned the award in 1968, 1972, 1977 and 2012. “The base name change is a fantastic opportunity to honor the legacy of Barry Goldwater and it highlights his contributions to the founding of our wing,” said Col. Troy Daniels, the wing commander. He added that the extraordinary men and women of the wing epitomize high standards of work ethic, which is a testament to the wing's lineage traced from Goldwater. “We need to reflect on the great things we have accomplished over the years and be proud of Goldwater's legacy. His values must Gov. Doug Ducey shakes hands with Lt. Col. Tyler Griffith, commander of the live on and we should carry that into 197th Air Refueling Squadron in the the future,” said Daniels. cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.
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BARRY GOLDWATER LOVED ARIZONA, LOVED HIS COUNTRY & LOVED TO FLY
Speech by Barry Goldwater Jr. The good lord, is watching us as we honor this warrior Barry Goldwater. Governor Ducey, as Governor and Commander in Chief you bring honor and importance by your presence to this occasion. Barry Goldwater was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at the age of 21 in the United States Army Reserve. Flew P-47 Thunder bolts across the North Atlantic to Europe. He was stationed in Karachi, India serving in the Asian Theatre where he flew routes over the Himalayans (the Hump) supplying arms and supplies to General Chiang Kai-shek and the Republic of China fighting Mao Zedong and the Communist army. At the end of the war, Mustering out of the US Army Air Corps as a Colonel in 1945. He came home and Arizona Governor Osborn appoints him Captain and was asked to help create the Arizona Air National Guard, the 197 Fighter Squadron named the Copperheads. Back at work in the Goldwater Store he and his brother decided it would be good for business if one of them became a Republican. So they flipped a coin and Dad lost. I read a Dear Abby newspaper article that said “Dear Abby, I have always wanted to have my family history traced but I can’t afford to spend a lot of money to do it. Any suggestions? Sam California — Dear California Sam, Register and run for office. In the Phoenix City Council at the age of 40 he helped integrate the bus terminal, airport and the National Guard. On Eisenhower’s coat tails in 1953, he is elected to the US Senate. For the thirty years in the US Senate, he kept his pilots license current logging over 10,000 hours in 160 different aircraft. He retired from the US Air Force Reserve as Major General in 1969. 1969 was the year I won a Congressional seat from California, my brother Mike being my campaign manager and joined my father in Congress; one of the few times a father and son served together. He ran for President in 1964. He was Chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee. K7UGA was his ham radio call signs where during the Vietnam war he patched over 500,000 phone calls to family members. He fought to repeal the draft. He was Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He was invited to become a member of the Royal London Photography Society for his extensive published photographs. Authored legislation conferring veteran’s status on Women Air Force Service Pilots. Co-author Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act. Supports the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman to serve on the US Supreme Court. The list of accomplishments are many. He was truly a Renaissance man that loved life’s adventures. Our relations with our father were instructional. He was not home much but when he was the whole family went camping. By the time we were out of high school we had walked, ridden horses, and driven over every inch of Arizona. He once told us that there is more decency in a pine tree than in many men.
That when you walk in the forests you walk with God, and to be kind to others for as you walk through life, the dust you stir up will fall on others, and brother, they will never forget. As a parent our mother and father led by example. Mom volunteered to help others and she encourage charity. He was a perfectionist. The slogan “The best always hung over the Goldwater store and he expected that of us. He worked hard and he asked the same. He was always honest and he drilled that into us. Most everyone liked our Mother and father, they were fun to be around. He was respected by politicians from both sides of aisle. You knew what he thought and could count on his word. We watched, learned and hoped some of those qualities rubbed off. While away from home during WWII we would get letters admonishing us for not obeying our mother. He said that his friend George, a little bird that flew with him, told him about our mischievous behavior and we believed him. Unknown to us, Mom was feeding all that to him. Boy we could hardly wait to get our hands on that bird. He had an extensive gun collection of all kinds and we would walk out our back door and shoot. It was Mike’s and mine job to clean those guns and keep them all oiled up. He had a trading post in Northern Arizona where cowboys would take tourists on horse back down 14 miles to see the Rainbow Bridge, the largest natural arch in the world. We flew in his airplane up to Rainbow Lodge a lot. When he got tired he would sit me on a suitcase and let me fly while he snoozed off. He told me when my feet reached the pedals he would teach me to fly. Well around 18 my feet could reach, and I asked him to teach me. He declined, saying he didn’t want to teach me his bad habits. Without his knowing I went to the airport and cut the grass and swept out hangars for flight hours. I got my licensed and we flew together often with me being pilot in command. Senator Goldwater was a man of moral conviction, integrity and honesty. His ideas, his courage, and candor helped shape our national character. Goldwater left a legacy of honesty, love of country and his state and a dedication to liberty. He once reminded me that you may have a lot of money but without friends you are very poor. I think he would look down favorably with all the friends that are gathered here today, and feel blessed and quite wealthy. He loved his family, he loved nature and the outdoors, he loved his country and his state and yes he had a special love for flying and an un a bashed love affair with the Air National Guard. But alas, he is gone, probably with God looking down on this occasion and getting a kick out of all this fuss. He has joined those who came before and with a deep love and respect for those that remain who all together I am sure feel blessed and privileged to have climbed into a cockpit. “Up up the long delirious burning blue. I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew; and, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod the high un-trespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God”
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A NEW VOICE FOR CONSERVATISM
by George Will As a boy, Barry Goldwater Jr., son of the former senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee, would step out of his father’s house and shoot at tin cans 50 yards away. Now 78, he says he could fire in any direction and not endanger “anything but a cactus.” His father, born in 1909 in Arizona territory, three years before statehood, built the house on a bluff where, as an adolescent, he rode his horse and slept under the stars. There were about 30,000 people in Phoenix. The house is now in the nation’s 12th-largest metropolitan area (about 4.6 million people). Arizona’s population, which was approximately 200,000 when the future senator was born and 750,000 when he was elected in 1952, is now approaching 7 million. Today’s governor, Doug Ducey, is demonstrating the continuing pertinence of the limitedgovernment conservatism with which Senator Goldwater shaped the modern GOP, after himself being shaped by life in the leave-me-alone spirit of the wide open spaces of near-frontier Arizona. Last year, Ducey, now 52, told National Review, “If you want to learn something new, you need to read something old. As Barry Goldwater wrote in ‘Conscience of a Conservative,’ “My aim is not to pass laws, it’s to repeal them.” Ducey was preaching what he already had practiced. He took office in January 2015, as the Super Bowl was about to be played in suburban Glendale. The head of a state agency vowed that he was going to stage a sting to put Uber out of business, thereby benefiting Uber’s taxi and limousine competitors. Ducey says he fired the man and abolished the agency. Ducey has sided with Airbnb against local governments restricting it to protect competitors, and has removed government-imposed limits (benefiting large beer brands) on the growth of microbreweries. He does not want Arizona to be part of “the permission society.” This is the title of a recent book by Timothy Sandefur, vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute, a liberty-promoting think tank located 3½ miles from the governor’s office. Sandefur documents how far the United States has lapsed from the Founders’ premise that our rights preexist government, which is instituted to protect them. Today, Americans’ rights are increasingly restricted to those privileges that government grants for its purposes. Ducey recently demonstrated his understanding of this regarding the rogue
barber. A Tucson cosmetology student, who himself was once homeless, disturbed the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology’s serenity by giving — without possessing a barber’s license — free haircuts to homeless people. Ducey asked the board to dismount from its high horse and recognize “an act of charity that we should be celebrating.” About a third of Americans now need some form of government permission to do their chosen work, and Ducey wants Arizona to be an oasis of liberty in a society plagued by excessive occupational licensing. Born in Ohio, he came here to attend Arizona State University and became a businessman who attended Goldwater Institute events. After he joined the founder of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream shops and opened 1,400 nationwide, he was elected state treasurer, then governor. Seeking advice from the best, he called former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels (R), who suggested appointing to his administration businesspeople looking for new challenges. (Daniels asked, “Do you know anyone who plays golf on Tuesdays and is miserable?”) Ducey wants Arizona to have a “West Coast vibe with a Midwestern work ethic,” and he cheekily calls California’s Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown “my partner in growing Arizona’s economy,” because California’s business climate is a powerful incentive for firms to relocate in Arizona, where more than 60 percent of the residents were born elsewhere. Arizona’s motto is “Ditat Deus” (God Enriches), but God’s work can be facilitated by Ducey’s goal of getting the state’s income tax “as close to zero as possible.” Ducey calls himself a “full-spectrum conservative,” which includes supporting free trade (NAFTA has been good for Arizona’s commerce with Mexico), but there are limits to his Western libertarianism. Last year, he led the campaign that resulted in Arizona being the only one of five states voting on the issue to defeat legalization of recreational marijuana: “I’m the son of a cop and the father of three teenage sons.” The current president has pointedly said, “This is called the Republican Party. It’s not called the Conservative Party.” Actually, it became a conservative party partly because of what an Arizonan did many decades ago. It may become such a party again, with another Arizonan’s help.
VETERANS EXEMPLIFY THE BEST OF WHAT OUR COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER
COL. RICHARD TOLIVER: PIONEERING COMBAT PILOT
by George F. Will Hearing about a shortage of farm laborers in California, the couple who would become Susumu Ito's parents moved from Hiroshima to become sharecroppers near Stockton. Thus began a saga that recently brought Ito, 91, to the Holocaust Memorial Museum here, where he and 119 former comrades in arms were honored, during the annual Days of Remembrance, as liberators of Nazi concentration camps. While his Japanese-American Army unit was succoring survivors of Dachau, near Munich, his parents and two sisters were interned in a camp in Arkansas. Ito attended one-room schools, graduated from high school at 16 and was accepted at Berkeley. His parents, however, believed JapaneseAmericans could not rise in the professions — even the civil service — for which the university would prepare him. So he attended community college, studying auto mechanics, although he could not join the mechanics union. In 1940, Congress passed conscription and Ito was content to be drafted, thinking the military would be an adventure. He got that right. World War II veteran Nelson Akagi Although nearsighted and “my feet receives a belated medal of service were flat as boards,” he and five other Jan. 3, 2003, in Salt Lake City. Akagi Japanese-Americans from around was among those honored recently at Stockton were inducted in February the Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1941. Because “Japanese revered Washington, D.C. their sons being in the military,” the Japanese-American community threw a farewell banquet for them, and gave each $35. After Pearl Harbor, the Army “took our rifles away.” Soon, while he was in training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, his parents and sisters were interned as security threats, first at a California race track where they slept in horse stalls on straw mattresses, later in Arkansas. Bored by life as a military mechanic and “gung ho about going to war,” he volunteered to be a forward spotter seeking targets for the artillery, a job with a high casualty rate and a short life expectancy. Soon he was in Mississippi, from where he, wearing his country's uniform, could occasionally visit his family behind barbed wire in Arkansas. In Mississippi, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of Japanese-Americans, trained before being shipped to Europe. It included Daniel Inouye, now 85, who lost an arm while winning a Medal of Honor. He is now in his eighth term as a U.S. senator. After experiencing combat in Italy, the unit moved up through France and to the famous rescue of the “lost battalion” of the 36th Texas Division, which was cut off by Germans. The 442nd, which suffered 1,000 casualties rescuing 175 surviving Texans, became the most decorated unit for its size in American history. By March 1945, the 442nd was in southern Germany. Soon it was at Dachau. Eddie Ichiyama of Santa Clara, California, who also was here recently, says that “even right now” he can smell the stench. The ovens were still warm. On a nearby railroad flatbed car, what looked to be a supply of cord wood was actually stacked corpses.
Retired Col. Richard Toliver graduated from Tuskegee Institute University in January 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He began his Air Force career in February 1963 as a project engineer and completed pilot training in June 1965. He was one of the first five African American F-4 Phantom II pilots to serve under the famed Tuskegee Airman General Daniel “Chappie” James. Toliver was twice deployed during the Vietnam War and flew 446 missions and 860 combat hours in fighter jets. During his 26 years of service, Toliver served throughout the United States, Southeast Asia, Europe, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. He commanded a number of units and held key staff positions in major commands of the Air Force. He was a command pilot with 4,000 flying hours in the F-4, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, OT-37 Tweet, O-2 Skymaster, T-33 Shooting Star, and several civilian aircraft. His many military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 27 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Nelson Akagi of Salt Lake City remembers an officer “adopting” Larry Lubetzky, a liberated Lithuanian Jew, as an interpreter. After the war, prisoner No. 82123 went from Germany to Jerusalem to Canada to Mexico City, from where Akagi received a call in 1992. Akagi will search the Holocaust Memorial Museum archives for fresh information about Lubetzky. After the war, Ito rejoined his loved ones, who had lost everything. He became a professor of cell biology and anatomy at Harvard Medical School. He retired in 1990 but still goes to the lab several days a week. Such cheerful men, who helped to lop 988 years off the Thousand Year Reich, are serene reproaches to a nation now simmering with grievance groups that nurse their cherished resentments. The culture of complaint gets no nourishment from men like these who served their country so well while it was treating their families so ignobly. Yet it is a high tribute to this country that it is so loved by men such as these. The Holocaust museum draws almost 2 million visitors a year, four times more than were anticipated when it opened 17 years ago. A museum official says dryly, “Human nature has been an enormous help.” She means that atrocious behavior, a constant component of the human story, continually reminds people of the museum's relevance. It is, therefore, grand that the museum also honors those, like Ito, Akagi and Ichiyama, who exemplify the rest, and best, of that story. George Will is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer on politics and domestic and foreign affairs for the Washington Post. His writings appear in hundreds of publications including now the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE. George Will grew up in Champaign, Illinois, attended Trinity College and Oxford University and received a PhD from Princeton.
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VA PARTNERS WITH CVS & TRIWEST
The Phoenix VA Health Care System, TriWest, and CVS Health Partner to increase veteran access to health care services. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a new initiative between the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS), TriWest Healthcare Alliance, and MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health that will expand access to high quality and convenient health care services for veterans in Phoenix and surrounding communities. Through this initiative, Phoenix VA HCS nurses, when clinically appropriate, will now be able to refer veterans to MinuteClinic through the Veterans Choice Program for the treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. “Our number one priority is getting Veterans access to care when and where they need it. The launch of this partnership will enable VA to provide more care for veterans in their neighborhoods,” said Dr. Baligh Yehia, the Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Community Care. Dr. Yehia is leading the VA in its transformational journey to provide Veterans with easy access to personalized care from a robust network of federal and private providers. “Partnerships between VA and private providers are essential to delivering care in the diverse geographies where Veterans live,” he said. This sentiment is echoed by TriWest, one of VA's partners in administering the Veterans Choice Program. President and Chief Executive Officer of TriWest, David J. McIntyre, Jr. states, “TriWest values greatly the partnership with community providers who share our commitment to providing veterans timely, high quality, and convenient health care.” “This new public-private collaboration between CVS, TriWest and the VA is an important step forward in enhancing choice and flexibility in Veterans' health care,” said Senator John McCain. “I've long believed that veterans in need of routine health care services should not have to wait in line for weeks to get an appointment when they can visit community health centers like MinuteClinic to receive timely and convenient care. Thanks to the leadership of CVS Health and the VA, Phoenix's nearly 120,000 veterans will now be served at 24 different area MinuteClinic locations for minor health care services.” This innovative program provides veterans with more options and access points for receiving care for a wide array of minor illnesses and injuries. “We are thrilled to have this new partnership for Phoenix area veterans. Increasing access and availability of care is crucial. In sending veterans out into the community, however, we are always conscious of providing the best care coordination we can. We are working to leverage technology to share important clinical information and ensure care continuity,” said Dr. Maureen McCarthy, PVAHCS Chief of Staff. To facilitate care coordination, the partnership will share electronic health information in the same manner that proved successful in a similar program launched in 2016 with the Palo Alto VA Health Care System. MinuteClinic visit summaries will be sent to a Veteran's VA primary care physician. This ensures the VA physician has the clinical information necessary for followup services in the VA, if appropriate. Veterans who call the Phoenix VA Health Care System Help Line at 602-2226550 or 800-574-7174 (toll free) can be referred to one of the 24 MinuteClinic locations in the Phoenix area for treatment of common acute illnesses. “We believe in the MinuteClinic model of care and are excited to offer our health care services as one potential solution for the Phoenix VA Health Care System and its patients with minor illnesses and injuries,” said CVS MinuteClinic Chief Medical Officer, Tobias Barker, M.D. “We're looking forward to working with the Phoenix VA Health Care System team to ensure that their patients have additional options for high-quality acute care at times and locations that are convenient for them.”
Participating CVS MinuteClinic Locations for Phoenix, AZ VA Program Nurse practitioners at CVS MinuteClinics specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions, as appropriate, for common family illnesses such as: strep throat; ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections; nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; and heartburn and indigestion. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions, sprains and strains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A and B are available at most locations. CVS MinuteClinic is open seven days a week and no appointment is necessary.
PARTICIPATING CVS MINUTECLINIC LOCATIONS
28138 N. Tatum Blvd., Cave Creek 2995 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler 2010 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler 5975, W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler 3170 S. Higley Rd., Gilbert 765 S. Lindsay Rd., Gilbert 18591 N. 59th Ave., Glendale 2840 N. Dysart Rd., Goodyear 5050 W. Baseline Rd., Laveen 6015 E. Brown Rd., Mesa 9950 E. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa 1212 S. Greenfield Rd., Mesa
8332 W. Thunderbird Rd., Peoria 1610 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix 4742 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix 3210 E. Union Hills Dr., Phoenix 4430 E. Ray Rd., Phoenix 28635 N. North Valley Pkwy., Phoenix 10707 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix 21201 E. Ocotillo Rd., Queens Creek 14672 N. Frank L. Wright Blvd., Scottsdale 10653 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 15474 W Greenway Rd., Surprise 1750 E Broadway Rd., Tempe
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BILL TO COMBAT OPIOID ADDICTION & ABUSE
US Senators John McCain and Kirsten Gillibrand recently introduced bipartisan legislation to combat opioid addiction and abuse by limiting the initial supply of opioid prescription for acute pain to seven days. Opioid addiction and abuse is commonly happening to those being treated for acute pain, such as a broken bone or wisdom tooth extraction. This federal legislation is modeled after laws in several states, including Arizona and New York. “One of the main causes for the alarming increase in drug overdoses in the United States is the over-prescription of highly addictive opioids, which have increased by 300 percent over the last 15 years,” said Senator McCain. “In fact, people who are addicted to prescription opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin. In Arizona alone, heroin and opioid overdoses have skyrocketed, with the Arizona Department of Health Services reporting that more than 1,000 people required emergency room treatment for drug overdoses in 2014 while heroin-caused deaths increased by 44 percent between 2013 and 2014. Our legislation builds on the important steps taken by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey last fall to tackle a root cause of this epidemic by limiting the supply of an initial opioid prescription for acute pain to seven days. We have a long way to go to end the scourge of drugs across our communities, but this legislation is an important step forward in preventing people from getting hooked on these deadly drugs.” “Our bipartisan bill would target one of the root causes of the opioid addiction crisis, which is the over-prescription of these powerful and addictive drugs for acute pain,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Too many lives have been destroyed, too many families have been torn apart, and too many communities all over New York are suffering because of this tragic epidemic. I am proud to join with Senator McCain in this urgent fight against the overprescription of opioids, and I look forward to seeing it pass through the Senate as quickly as possible.” Under current federal law, a medical professional must receive a license from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in order to be allowed to prescribe a schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance in the United States. This registration must be renewed every three years. This legislation would require medical professionals to certify, as part of their DEA registration, that they will not prescribe an opioid as an initial treatment for acute pain in an amount that exceeds a seven-day supply, and may not provide a refill. This limit does not apply to the treatment of chronic pain, pain being treated as part of cancer care, hospice or other end of life care, or pain treated as part of palliative care.
“One of the main causes for the alarming increase in drug overdoses in the United States is the over-prescription of highly addictive opioids, which have increased by 300 percent over the last 15 years.” — Senator John McCain
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ADMIRAL SYMONDS PAYS TRIBUTE TO PEARL HARBOR HEROES
Phoenix Pearl Harbor Commemoration – December 7, 2016 It is an honor to speak on the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941. We are here to remember those who fought so valiantly when caught totally unaware that Sunday morning, those who lost their lives, those families who lost their fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers. There were 57 Congressional Medals of Honor awarded to Navy Sailors during World War II. Fifteen of those were awarded for actions on December 7th in Hawaii. The ranks of these great men ranged from Seaman First Class to Rear Admiral, including one First Class Petty Officer, three Chiefs, two Warrant Officers, two Ensigns, one each Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander and Commander, and two Captains. Four were stationed on USS CALIFORNIA, three on ARIZONA, two each on NEVADA and OKLAHOMA, one each on WEST VIRGINIA, UTAH, and the tender VESTAL, and one was at Naval Air Station KANEOHE BAY. They hailed from fourteen cities and towns across the country. Two were from Los Angeles. One each were from the big cities of Philadelphia, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC. Three were from relatively larger cities – Columbus, GA, and Springfield and Massillon, OH. There were one each from Charlotte, MI and Thomaston, CT, with populations just less than 10000. Three were from the villages of Laddonia, MO – pop. 511, Vernon, UT – 264, and Beverly, KS – 159. Chief Peter Tomich was born with the name Petar Tonic in the small village of Prolog, which was in the Austria-Hungary empire in 1893 and is now in Bosnia-Herzegovina. By the way, Tomich had already served in the US Army during World War I before joining the Navy and rising to Chief Petty Officer. There was a sixteenth medal of honor awarded for actions that day. Marine Corps First Lieutenant George Ham Cannon was a battery commander on Sand Island in the Midway Islands, which were also bombed by the Japanese on December 7th. First LT Cannon was mortally wounded while in charge of the battery, but he kept on fighting and ensured the others wounded by the exploding bomb were evacuated before he was. He directed the reorganization of his post until forcibly removed from the battery. Because of his lack of concern for his own well being, he died from a loss of blood. There was Captain Mervyn Sharp Bennion, the CO of USS WEST VIRGINIA, who was hit by a splinter from a bomb that exploded on a turret of the TENNESSEE moored alongside. The splinter tore off the top of his stomach and left him paralyzed when it apparently hit his spine. While holding in the contents of his abdomen with one arm, he continued to direct the actions of his men to save the ship and evacuate the wounded for the next hour and a half, while refusing to be evacuated himself, until he ultimately died on the ship. Seaman Dorie Miller, a cook, and a huge man who was a former high school football star, was tasked with helping the wounded captain. While on deck after assisting the Captain, he picked up a 50 caliber Browning rifle and shot down at least one Japanese aircraft, and possibly up to four – earning the Navy Cross and his place in the history of Pearl Harbor. On USS ARIZONA, there was LCDR Samuel Glenn Fuqua leading firefighting efforts on the deck of the ship, which was an inferno. Due to his cool and calm leadership in the midst of such chaos many lives were saved on that ship that lost so many below decks. On the bridge were both Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, the battle group commander, and Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh, the CO, continuing to attend to their duties with no thought of evacuating. They were killed instantly when the entire forward part of the ship exploded as a falling bomb detonated in an ordnance hold. On USS CALIFORNIA, Lieutenant Jackson Charles Pharris braved compartments flooding with oil as he steadfastly supplied ammo to the upper decks for the gunners. He selflessly assisted others to exit the compartments flooded with oil even as he was overcome twice by fumes. He was credited with saving many lives and keeping the ship in action during the attack. Lt. Pharris was assisted in the ammo resupply effort by Warrant Officer Thomas James Reeves who continued to work in a burning passageway until he was overcome by smoke and died. Also below decks Machinists Mate Robert R. Scott continued to ensure his air compressor would supply air to the ship though his compartment was flooded. He refused to leave as he said, “"This is my station and I will stay and give them air as long as the guns are going,” and he was lost. Ensign Herbert Charpoit Jones, age 23, was about to relieve the Officer of the Deck on CALIFORNIA when the attack began. Ensign Jones went into a smoke-filled hatchway, crawled along the oil slick decks to rescue a stricken sailor before being temporarily overcome by fumes himself. When he came to, he saw an antiaircraft battery without a leader and took command. As a second wave of Japanese planes came in, he fired his guns until all their ammunition was expended. When he realized an ammunition hoist had been damaged, he quickly organized a party of volunteers to go below and pass the ammunition up by hand. The needed shells had just begun to reach the battery when a bomb hit the ship, mortally wounding Ensign Jones. He said to his men, "Leave me alone! I am done for. Get out of here before the magazines go off." Many of you know the USS NEVADA was the only battleship to get underway that morning. You may not know about two men who were instrumental in making it happen. Chief Boatswain Edwin Joseph Hill dived off the ship to get to the mooring and release the lines. Having done so, he swam back to the ship and was later attempting to get the anchor down when the bow was hit by a bomb, killing him and 46 other Sailors. In the engineering department, Warrant Officer Machinist Donald Kirby Ross’s station in the forward dynamo room became unbearable due to smoke, steam, and heat. Warrant Ross forced his men to leave that station and performed
all the duties himself until blinded and unconscious. Upon being rescued and resuscitated, he returned to the smoke filled space and secured the forward condenser to prevent its exploding. He then proceeded to the after dynamo room where he was again rendered unconscious by exhaustion. Again recovering consciousness he returned to his station where he remained until directed to abandon it. USS OKLAHOMA, moored on the Captain Symonds as Commanding outboard side and just ahead of Officer of the USS Ronald Reagan WEST VIRGINIA, was hit by eight paying respects to Nancy Reagan at torpedoes and began to capsize. the funeral of Ronald Reagan. Ensign Francis Charles Flaherty, age 22, and Seaman First Class James Richard Ward, age 20, refused to leave their respective turrets when the order to abandon ship was given. They sacrificed their lives while providing light so their shipmates could see to escape the dying ship. On the opposite side of Ford Island, USS UTAH also capsized when hit by torpedoes. As it was going over, Chief Watertender Peter Tomich ordered his men to get out of the engineering spaces, while he stayed behind to ensure the boilers were shut down so they wouldn’t explode and endanger the escaping men. He lost his life because he remained behind and ensured their safety. USS VESTAL, a ship repair tender, sat outboard of ARIZONA that morning. Captain Cassin Young was topside, having taken personal command of the three inch anti-aircraft gun. He was blown overboard when the forward magazine exploded on ARIZONA. He swam back to the ship and with the VESTAL settling and listing, he calmly got the ship underway, beaching it on the other side of the harbor, saving the ship. This wasn’t the end of Young’s story, however. Promoted to Captain, he took command of USS SAN FRANCISCO before the Battle of Guadalcanal. During the Savo Island night fighting of November 12-13, 1942, he was killed on the bridge while in close combat with a Japanese ship. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for that action, which contributed to the Navy’s blunting the Japanese mission to support their soldiers on Guadalcanal. I had the great honor and pleasure of having lunch one day and getting to know briefly, Lieutenant John William Finn. I knew his name from the award all aviation ordnancemen compete for each year, The John W Finn Aviation Ordnanceman of the Year. On the morning of 7 Dec, 1941, Aviation Ordnanceman Chief John Finn was called to NAS Kaneohe Bay, he knew not why. On his way with a buddy, he saw an airplane doing a wingover at low level near the road. He saw the red circle on the bottom of the wing and immediately knew the Japanese were attacking the airfield. When he arrived Hangar #3 was burning out of control and every PBY on the field was smoking in ruin. Chief Finn set up his own machine gun on an instruction platform near where the heaviest activity seemed to be concentrated. In the open and masked only by the thick clouds of smoke, he began firing back at each new wave of enemy planes. Beside him planes were exploding and bullets were digging into the ground. Chief Finn was wounded, and then wounded again, and again, and again. Still he remained behind his gun, firing back at the incoming airplanes. "I was SO MAD," he said, "I guess I didn't have enough sense to be frightened or scared." He wouldn't give up and wouldn't abandon his station. When the airplanes finally left, Chief Finn kept going, though he had well over twenty wounds of various types all over his body. He led the effort to emplace anti-aircraft weapons around the field, because they didn’t know whether the Japanese would be back. They worked past midnight to get it all done. He was finally persuaded to get treatment for his many wounds, but when he arrived for treatment the aid station was full of other seriously wounded men, so he decided to wait. Instead of seeing a doctor he returned home to check on his wife. When morning came he reported back for treatment. He was immediately hospitalized for nearly three weeks of major care. He wasn't well enough to return home until Christmas Eve. These men who received our highest military honor were certainly not the only ones who showed amazing courage and heroism that day. About all of them one wants to say, “How could they do those things with no regard for their own lives?” And yet our history abounds with similar stories of unbelievable heroism in the face of near certain death. Whether an old hand, an Admiral or Captain who had given it plenty of thought during his career, or a very young Ensign or Seaman who reacted to combat for the first time, these men uniformly demonstrated their overriding love and respect for their shipmates. It is because these men were raised in a free country, with a history of courageous men who sacrificed for our freedom, that they had within them a passion for serving their fellow mates and their country. Whether they thought themselves as potential heroes, and none of them do, even after their acts of heroism, when the time came to act, they did so unselfishly. While it might be said we have been fortunate through the years to have so many who would fight for our freedom, it’s more correctly stated the freedoms on which this nation was founded have bred in us the collective dedication and commitment that we will remain free. It is that national sentiment that infuses us personally, that carries each individual forward into the fire when our shipmates, and all the people of this nation, are depending on us. Thank you for attending today and for your attention. God Bless you, God Bless the men and women who fought and died in Pearl Harbor and throughout World War II, and God Bless America.
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WESLEY BOLIN MEMORIAL PLAZA AT THE ARIZONA STATE CAPITOL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY
Ollie Babbitts leads the Pledge of Allegiance with Marshall Trimble and Vern West.
Chino Valley High School’s Veterans Heritage Project.
Judy Hatch has organized the Pearl Harbor Remembrance project for the last seven years. She is seen here receiving congratulations from Governor Doug Ducey for a job well done..
Gold Star Wives Pat Kelly, Kathy Upchurch and Patti Termini at the Pearl Harbor Tribute.
LCDR Brenda Way and her father, John Culbert who served in WWII.
WWII veteran Jack Holder with Governor Ducey at Pearl Harbor.
Billy Weldon with Governor Ducey at Pearl Harbor.
Former Secretary of State and Senate President Ken Bennett was instrumental in bringing the guns from the USS Arizona & USS Missouri to Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix.
Arizonans remembering Pearl Harbor Day in Hawaii with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona State Representative Cesar Chavez and Arizona State Senator Catherine Miranda.
MORAL INJURY – THE SOUL IN PAIN
by Terry Araman Most Americans have heard about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and understand that it affects our combat military and veterans in a variety of ways, leading to symptoms such as hypervigilance, nightmares, and difficulties in establishing and maintaining healthy personal relationships. PTSD can often lead to selfmedication, with abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, or misuse of illegal substances. Fortunately, we have several decades of significant strides in treating PTSD, utilizing therapeutic techniques conducted by mental health professionals, sometimes in combination with controlled medications. Non-traditional therapies such as Yoga, medication, or nature therapy may also be effective treatments. When a veteran experiencing PTSD engages in healthy activities there may be a decrease in symptomatic experiences related to PTSD over time, lessening the negative effects of combat or other traumatic incidences. What, then, is Moral Injury, and how does it relate to military personnel and veterans, impacting reintegration into civilian life? Briefly, Moral injury is the damage done to one's conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values or codes of conduct. We are still at the beginning stages of understanding the intense effects associated with exposure to violence, inhuman treatment of humans to other humans, and death under brutal wartime circumstances, both on the victims of battle and the perpetrators. Very often Moral Injury is experienced by military personnel along with PTSD, but is increasingly becoming recognized as a separate condition requiring specialized intervention and therapies. Recently in Arizona we have had two acknowledged experts speak about Moral Injury, both conducting lectures and workshops to educate military and veteran service agencies and personnel on the topic. Rita Nakashima Brock, Research Professor and Codirector of the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School, is the co-author of Soul Repair, Recovering from Moral Injury After War. Ms. Brock spoke at The Franciscan Renewal Center in Phoenix, and conducted a workshop at the Arizona Coalition for Military Families Symposium in April of this year. David Wood, veteran war reporter and correspondent who spent more than thirty years covering the U.S. military and conflicts around the world, including being embedded with American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, published What Have We Done: The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars, in 2016, with a focus on the experiences of the veterans of our most recent wars.
ARIZONA’S MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
(l-r) front row: CSM. Robert M. Patterson, US Army, Vietnam; Maj. Frederick E. Ferguson, US Army, Vietnam; CWO4. Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, USMC, WWII; Col. Jay Vargas, USMC, Vietnam; SSgt. Salvatore A. Giunta, US Army, Afghanistan; (l-r) back row: Maj. James A. Taylor, US Army, Vietnam; Sgt. Robert J. Mitchell, USMC, Iraq (Navy Cross Recipient); Col. Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum, USMC, Vietnam.
Mr. Wood conducted a lecture and discussion group on Moral Injury hosted by Arizona State University, Office of Veteran and Military Academic Engagement, in January of this year. Is Moral Injury a new phenomenon, perhaps somehow resulting from the brutal tactics and violent turmoil of modern warfare? The term Moral Injury was coined by author Johnathan Shay, Clinical Psychiatrist, in his 1995 book Achilles in Vietnam. Dr. Shay related the experiences of Vietnam veterans, with whom he had worked in his clinical treatment of PTSD, to the traumas and tragic war wounds of the soul, experienced during and after military actions in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. Those of us who are working with combat veterans in clinical, homeless, and treatment settings, are seeing the effects of Moral Injury on our most recent veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other wars. It is critical that we educate ourselves on the very real pain and suffering experienced by veterans from this condition, and that we search for appropriate activities and treatments to mitigate the longterm effects of Moral Injury.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH NEWSLETTER
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“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” — President Abraham Lincoln
intRoducinG the secRetaRy oF veteRans aFFaiRs
by Dr. David J. Shulkin Secretary of Veterans Affairs I am grateful to President Trump and to members of Congress for entrusting me with the privilege of serving veterans and the dedicated employees of the Department of veterans Affairs as your secretary. It is my highest professional honor. Together, we’ll ensure our nation’s obligation to provide care and benefits to those “who shall have borne the battle” and fulfill our institutional I CARE Values: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence. That obligation and those values are sacred to me, first, as an American – a beneficiary of the service and sacrifices of veterans and their families who defend our uniquely American freedoms and opportunities. They’re also sacred to me because my father served the nation as an Army psychiatrist, and both my grandfathers were Army veterans. My paternal grandfather served as chief pharmacist at the VA hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, and as a young doctor, I trained in VA hospitals. So, serving the nation and serving veterans is a family tradition. It was a privilege to serve as VA’s Under Secretary for Health over the past year and a half. Now, I look forward to continuing our collective efforts across the department and our country to deliver the care and services our veterans need and deserve. Among many critical efforts already underway, we will continue building on significant progress increasing access for veterans, preventing suicide, addressing unique needs of women veterans, supporting veterans’ families and caregivers, continuing to drive down the disability backlog and veteran homelessness, and pursuing necessary legislation to reform the outdated appeals process and for other critical legislative priorities. With the support of the president, Congress, veterans, their service organizations, and the American people, we — the dedicated employees of VA — will continue to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise. There is no nobler mission. There is no higher calling for any American. I am humbled and proud to serve with you. Dr. David J. Shulkin is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Prior to his confirmation on Feb. 13, 2017, Dr. Shulkin served as VA’s Under Secretary for Health for 18 months, leading the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with over 1,700 sites of care serving nearly nine million veterans.
new va mid-town clinic
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suicide PRevention is toP PRioRity at va
by Dr. David J. Shulkin Secretary of Veterans Affairs We are continuing to ensure same-day access for urgent mental health needs at every medical center. Among veterans and the American public at large, suicide is a public health crisis. Losing even one veteran to suicide is unacceptable, which is why suicide prevention is a top priority at VA. We know that we save lives when we get veterans into treatment. This past year, VA has expanded our suicide prevention efforts providing greater access to our services, and we are continuing to ensure same-day access for urgent mental health needs at every medical center. We continue to hire more VA mental health professionals and are aggressively utilizing telemental health technologies where services are limited. We are actively exploring more effective treatments and searching for new approaches using innovative, technological strategies. We are strengthening the Veterans Crisis Line, doubling it in size, opening a new hub in Atlanta, and using best-in-class business practices to improve its capacity as a call center and its effectiveness as a lifesaving resource. Last year, the Crisis Line dispatched emergency responders an average of 30 times daily and made 80,000 referrals to suicide prevention coordinators at our medical centers. We are saving thousands of lives. But we will not rest as long as there are veterans who remain at risk. Despite these improvements and deploying assets of the country’s largest integrated medical and behavioral health care system, VA cannot fully address this issue alone. Of the 20 veterans who died each day by suicide in 2014, 14 were not connected to VA for care in the past year. So we are enhancing our partnerships with community-based providers to broaden the network of mental health professionals and are researching to find new solutions. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed suicide is rising across all demographics and generations of Americans. We believe our partnerships, research and new technologies will benefit all Americans, and we will continue to be seen as the forerunners in suicide prevention efforts. As a nation, we must support each other and direct friends, family members, veterans and colleagues to the right resources where hundreds of caring professionals are standing by to help.
homeless veterans services
COMMUNITY RESOURCE & REFERRAL CENTER (CRRC) 1500 E. Thomas Road, Suite 106 Phoenix, AZ 85014 602-248-6040
5040 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix
GRand oPeninG
9250 W. Thomas Road, Goodyear
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Future construction of a 200,000 sq. ft. va clinic coming in a few years
Phoenix metro va medical Facilities
PHOENIX VA MEDICAL CENTER 4001 North 3rd Street, Phoenix 602-728-0279 SOUTHEAST VALLEY VA CLINIC 3285 S. Val Vista Dr., Gilbert 480-397-2800 SOUTHWEST VALLEY VA CLINIC 9250 W. Thomas Rd., #400, Phoenix NORTHEAST VALLEY VA CLINIC 11390 E. Via Linda Rd., #105 Scottsdale, 480-579-2200 NORTHWEST VALLEY VA CLINIC 13985 W. Grand Ave., #101, Surprise 623-251-2884 MIDTOWN VA CLINIC, PTSD CLINIC 5040 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix THUNDERBIRD VA CLINIC 9424 N. 25th Ave., Phoenix 602-633-6900 ANTHEM VA CLINIC 3618 W. Anthem Way, #120, Anthem 623-249-2300 CASA GRANDE VA CLINIC 1876 E. Sabin Dr., Suite 15, Casa Grande, 520-836-2536
northern arizona va medical Facilities
PRESCOTT VA MEDICAL CENTER 500 Hwy 89N, Prescott 928-445-4860 FLAGSTAFF VA MEDICAL CLINIC 1300 W. University Ave., Flagstaff 928-226-1056 COTTONWOOD VA CLINIC 501 S. Willard, Cottonwood 928-649-1523 GLOBE-MIAMI VA CLINIC 5860 S. Hospital Dr., #111, Globe 928-425-0027 KINGMAN VA CLINIC 2668 Hualapai Mtn. Rd. Kingman, 928-718-7300 PAYSON VA CLINIC 903 E. Hwy. 260, Payson 928-468-2100 SHOW LOW VA CLINIC 5171 Cub Lake Rd., #380 Show Low, 928-532-1069 LAKE HAVASU CITY VA CLINIC 2035 Mesquite, Suite D Lake Havasu City, 928-505-7100 CHINLE VA CLINIC Hwy 191 & Hospital Drive Chinle, 928-674-7675
VA Director Dr. David Shulkin with the Phoenix VA Health Care System Director Rima Nelson (right) and Chief of Staff Dr. Maureen McCarthy (left).
va Benefits office
PHOENIX VA BENEFITS OFFICE 3333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix 800-827-1000
arizona vet centers
PHOENIX VET CENTER 4020 N. 20th St., #110, Phoenix 602-640-2981 MESA VET CENTER 1303 S. Longmore, #5, Mesa 480-610-6727 WEST VALLEY VET CENTER 14050 N. 83rd Ave., #170, Peoria 623-398-8854 LAKE HAVASU CITY VET CENTER 1720 Mesquite, #101, Lake Havasu 928-505-0394 PRESCOTT VET CENTER 3180 Stillwater Dr., Prescott 928-778-3469 YUMA VET CENTER 1450 E. 16th St., #103, Yuma 928-271-8700 TUCSON VET CENTER 2525 E. Broadway Blvd., #100, Tucson 520-882-0333 CHINLE VET CENTER Navajo Rte 7, Chinle 928-674-3682 ELOY VET CENTER 308 N. Main Street, Eloy 520-423-4255
The VA Community Outreach Newsletter is published at no cost to government.
national cemeteries in arizona
NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix 480-513-3600 PRESCOTT NATIONAL CEMETERY 500 Hwy 89 N., Prescott, 928-717-7569 ARIZONA VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY AT CAMP NAVAJO 14317 Veterans Drive, Bellemont ARIZONA VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY AT MARANA 15866 N Luckett Road, Marana SOUTHERN ARIZONA NATIONAL CEMETERY 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, 520-458-7144
southern arizona va medical Facilities
TUCSON VA MEDICAL CENTER 3601 S. 6th Ave., Tucson 520-792-1450 NORTHWEST TUCSON VA CLINIC 2945 W. Ina Rd., Tucson 520-219-2418 SOUTHEAST TUCSON VA CLINIC 7395 S. Houghton Rd., #129 Tucson, 520-664-1831 GREEN VALLEY VA CLINIC 380 W. Vista Hermosa Dr., #140 Green Valley 520-399-2291 SIERRA VISTA VA CLINIC 101 N. Coronado Dr., Sierra Vista 520-459-1529 SAFFORD VA CLINIC 355 N. 8th Ave., Safford 928-428-8010 YUMA VA CLINIC 3111 S. 4th Ave., Yuma 928-317-9973
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MESSAGE FROM THE PHOENIX VA DIRECTOR
by Rima Nelson, Director Phoenix VA Health Care System It is hard to believe I have been at the Phoenix VA Health Care System for six months now — the time has passed quickly and I am pleased with our accomplishments so far but we know we clearly have more work to do. Here is an update on where we are today. First, I want to welcome Mr. Shawn Bransky and Mr. Michael Welsh who have joined us, respectively, as the Deputy Director and Associate Director. They represent the final two members to join our executive leadership team. Having a full and permanent leadership team is something the Phoenix VA has not had in several years, and we look forward to the continuity and benefits of having a permanent team in place to focus on our mission of ensuring america’s veterans receive the highest quality, timely care they have earned. As we concentrate on improving access to care, one of the challenges we face is balancing our capacity with the growing number of veterans we serve. It is our privilege and pleasure to be able to serve new veterans who come to the Phoenix VA. We want to be proactive in accommodating this growing population. There are more than 300,000 veterans in the Phoenix area who are eligible for care, and we now serve more than 90,000 individual veterans. With the likelihood of continued growth, we must continually anticipate the space, people, and equipment we will need to meet the health care needs of our veterans in the future. In the past six months, we have made some solid improvements in those areas. With respect to space, we just opened two new clinics in the community. The new Midtown Clinic is just two miles from the main hospital. It is home to many of the primary care services that were previously housed at the main hospital. In addition to primary care, this clinic provides mental health, social work, nutrition, and pharmacy consultation. It also houses our main Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment clinic. The Southwest Clinic, located at 93rd Avenue and Thomas, serves veterans living in the southwest Phoenix metro area. This new VA clinic provides primary care and mental health services, as well as social work, nutrition, clinical pharmacy consultation, and a laboratory draw station. Some specialty services are also available at the clinic via Telehealth. By moving the majority of our primary and mental health care services to our community clinics, we bring the healthcare veterans need the most closer to their homes. Not only is that more convenient for veterans, but that allows us space in the main hospital to improve and expand our specialty care services. In addition to ensuring we have the space to provide care to our Veterans, we also need to ensure we have the people needed to provide that care. We currently employ 3,300 people. Approximately 37 percent of our employees are veterans themselves. Since June 2014, we’ve hired 624 more employees to help care for our veteran population. At first glance that may not sound like enough employees to keep pace with a population growth of more than 6,000 Veterans during the same time; however, we also have the benefit of using the Choice program to provide care when needed. We recognize the importance of the Choice program and value the network of community providers who partner with us in our mission. That is also where technology and equipment can come into play. As we continue to improve processes and look for ways to provide the best care to the growing number of veterans we serve, technology is one tool that has proven beneficial. VA Telehealth Services use health informatics, disease management, and telehealth technologies to target care and case management which improves access to care for veterans. Our growing capabilities in clinical video telehealth (where the provider and Veteran are on a real-time video link), as well as “store-and-forward” telehealth (used for medical images and recordings that are evaluated at a later time), provide a great benefit to Veterans who live in rural areas. We also know how important our home telehealth program is in helping veterans with chronic conditions remain in their homes. Just know that our entire Phoenix VA team is working hard to balance our capacity with demand while providing outstanding and timely healthcare. We will continue to advocate for additional resources, utilize the Choice program when appropriate, and look for new and innovative ways to provide the best care possible to the veterans we serve.
PHOENIX VETERANS FAMILY ADVISORY MEMBERS
Dr. Brandi Luedtke (standing, middle) is a Clinical Psychologist in the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT Team). Her main interests are in complex mental illness, particularly PTSD, and in the integration of third-wave behavior therapies, such as Mindfulness-based interventions, into evidence-based psychotherapies. Following internship at the Cincinnati VA and prior to coming to the Phoenix VA in 2015, she served as Project Director/Co-Investigator of a VA-grant funded study entitled, "Mindfulnessbased Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD and Relationship Function" in which she assisted in the development and implementation of a randomized control trial of a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral couples therapy intervention for OEF/OIF/OND veterans and their intimate partners at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, IN. She has published in the areas of PTSD and schizophrenia disorders. Dr. Luedtke also serves as a National Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD Trainer for the Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health and travels nationwide conducting workshops for the dissemination of CBCT throughout the VA system, as well as the Department of Defense.
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NORTHERN ARIZONA VA LEADERSHIP
BARBARA A. OEMCKE Prescott VA Medical Center Director Ms. Oemcke was appointed Medical Center Director at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System effective March 5, 2017. Ms. Oemcke’s 30 years of Healthcare leadership experience includes Foodservice Management, Clinical Nutrition, Revenue Cycle Management, Business Management and Healthcare Administration. She served as interim Business Manager for VISN 23, during which time she led the successful roll-out of Fee Basis Claims Software and initiated the successful consolidation of VISN 23 revenue functions to the Central Plains Consolidated Patient Account Center. Ms. Oemcke also held positions of Associate Director and Interim Medical Center Director at the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics from 2013 through 2017. Ms. Oemcke holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition from North Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Cloud State University as well as a graduate of the 2012 VA Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP). Ms. Oemcke is involved in numerous National VA committees and workgroups. She is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying travel, bicycling, hiking and the many outdoor recreational opportunities in Northern Arizona.
MALCOLM KEITH PIATT, MD, FACP, MHA Prescott VA Medical Center Chief of Staff Dr. Keith Piatt was appointed Chief of Staff at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System effective March 23, 2014 and served as the Acting Medical Center Director from November 30, 2015 - March 4, 2017. Dr. Piatt is a 1985 graduate of the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine, where he was selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He served his internship, residency, and chief residency at the Good Samaritan Medical Center/Carl T, Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was named intern of the year and resident of the year. After completion of his residency, Dr. Piatt joined the staff at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center. He was responsible for the establishment of the first multidisciplinary HIV clinic in 1990 and was awarded the Secretary’s “Hands and Heart” honor in 1992. He was selected as the Associate Chief of Staff for Ambulatory Care Services in 1995 and oversaw the opening of seven community based outpatient clinics, four in the metro Phoenix area and rural clinics in Payson, Globe, and Show Low, Arizona. Dr. Piatt completed work on a Master's degree in Health Care Administration in 2006 through Seton Hall University and was chosen to give the commencement address. He has been selected five times as one of the “Top Doctors in Phoenix” by Phoenix Magazine.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA VA LEADERSHIP
WILLIAM J. CARON Director, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System William J. Caron (SES), FACHE, was appointed Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) March 5, 2017. As SAVAHCS Director/CEO, his duties include the overall organization and operation ($505M operating budget, 2500 FTE, $2.5M Research Budget) of a highly affiliated 277bed, tertiary-care teaching medical center and community based outpatient clinics throughout Southern Arizona. SAVAHCS is the principal teaching affiliate with the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, as well as 36 other institutions of higher learning. With facilities in Tucson, Safford, Casa Grande, Sierra Vista, Yuma, and Green Valley, SAVAHCS ensures outpatient and inpatient services are available to more than 171,000 Veterans residing in a catchment area which includes eight counties in Southern Arizona and one in western New Mexico. The SAVAHCS operates a 24-hour emergency department and is the host site for various regional referral centers of excellence. The SAVAHCS supports clinical training and staff development through its VA certified advanced tier simulation center. Each year more than 1,000 physicians, nurses and other health care professionals participate in a full range of health care training programs at SAVAHCS. Mr. Caron was a US Navy Hospital Corpsman Reservist in college and began his medical career as a Physical Therapist in the private sector. He entered active duty in the U.S. Air Force and served as a Physical Therapist at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. He also served in leadership roles during a 14year career in the private sector where he managed multiple clinical services. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Associate Director of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Previously, Mr. Caron served as the Associate Director at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. ANTHONY M. STAZZONE Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Chief of Staff Anthony M Stazzone M.D. was appointed Chief of Staff of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) in December 2016. He provides oversight for the Education, Training, Development, Telehealth Services, Care Coordination, and Quality and Performance Management departments. Dr. Stazzone received his MD at the University of Arizona, School of Medicine in 1998, and completed his Residency (2001) at the University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. He has earned his Board Certification in Internal Medicine (ABIM) in 2001. Dr. Stazzone started his career in private practice with the Carondelet Medical Group and transitioned to the University of Arizona Medical Center for twelve years where he was the Chief of Staff-elect. He began his VA career as the Chief of Primary Care here at the SAVHCS in April 2015. Dr. Stazzone holds a clinical faculty position as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine and is engaged in the training of resident physicians and Medical Students. Dr. Stazzone holds a leadership role on a variety of SAVAHCS committees to include the Academic Affiliation Committee, and the Care Coordination Committee. He also holds membership on the Medical Executive Board, Peer Review Committee, PACT Executive Steering Committee. He is a certified Green Belt in Lean Healthcare and is actively involved in Rapid Process Improvement Workgroups at SAVAHCS.
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MARIO DIAZ & DR. RANDY GROTH SERVE AS CIVILIAN AIDES TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
Mario Diaz Arizona North
Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning with Mario Diaz.
Dr. Randy Groth Arizona South
CASA Mario Diaz graciously accepts a proclamation from the Town of Gila Bend Town Council. Attending with Diaz are Captain Lee and Sgt. First Class Bailey.
Arizona’s CASAs, Dr. Randy Groth (Arizona South) and Mario Diaz (Arizona North) traveled throughout Arizona to thank town and city councils for introducing proclamations honoring the US Army's 242nd birthday on June 14, 2017.
MARIO DIAZ is the newest Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) and was invested during a ceremony conducted earlier this month at the Pentagon. Mario Diaz was selected by former Secretary of the Army Eric K. Fanning to represent Arizona (North). “I'm honored to represent the Secretary of the Army and the women and men who sacrifice much to keep our country safe,” Diaz said. “I'll be active in telling the Army story to communities across Arizona with pride.” CASAs are a vital part of the Army, promoting good relations between the Army and the public and advising the Secretary about regional issues. Each state, the District of Columbia and the five US territories have one or more CASAs appointed to provide a vital link between the US Army and the communities for which they serve. CASAs are usually business or civic leaders who possess a keen interest in the welfare of the Army and their communities. Diaz earned a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University and a master's of Public Administration from Arizona State University. Diaz is active in his community and is associated with many memberships and affiliations to include the governing board member of the Scottsdale Soccer Club which is Arizona's largest soccer club, is a governing board member of Tesseract Private School and governing board member for the Arizona Family Health Partnership. Arizonans recognize Diaz for his frequent appearances as a television and radio commentator on Arizona public policy issues in Spanish and English. Currently he is the President of Mario E. Diaz and Associates, a government and public relations firm located in Phoenix, Arizona. CASAs serve a two-year term without compensation. Terms may be extended to a total of 10 years of service. The secretary may recognize a civilian aide as a CASA Emeritus after 10 years of distinguished service.
MARIO DIAZ is considered to be one of the top government relations strategists in the Southwest. Mario began his career working for such notable individuals as U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini, Congressman Ed Pastor and as the Law Enforcement Liaison for United States Attorney Janet Napolitano. Mario later managed the Janet Napolitano for Attorney Mario Diaz with former Arizona General Campaign, and went on to Governor Janet Napolitano. become Director of Intergovernmental Affairs /Law Enforcement Liaison in the Attorney General’s Office. After forming Mario E Diaz & Associates in 2001, the Janet Napolitano for Governor Committee was first in line as a premier client. In 2002, Napolitano won her election and Mario was appointed to Governor-Elect Napolitano’s Transition Team. He later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Napolitano. In 2003, Mario was appointed State Director of the John Kerry for President Campaign and achieved success when Kerry won overwhelmingly in the Arizona Primary. Kerry’s primary victory in Arizona helped Mario E Diaz & Associates expand its contacts nationally. Under Mario’s leadership, the firm serves as a resource for school districts, community colleges, tribal nations, non-profit and labor organizations, candidates for public office, high-profile corporations, city, county, state and federal government entities. The Diaz team is well known for its strategic advice and counsel to business, political & community leaders for move public policy forward. Mario and his family are also owners of an art gallery, Francesca’s Art Gallery, located in the heart of Phoenix. Mario has serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise (Founding Member), the Arizona Family Health Partnership, and the Arizona State University President’s Minority Advisory Council. In 2014, Mario was a candidate for a seat on the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board where he received nearly 190,000 votes from Maricopa County voters. Mario is frequently asked to speak at political conferences such as the American Association of Political Consultants. In 2009, Mario was one of a handful of national Latino leaders invited by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to visit Israel. He has also traveled with the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to China to seek business opportunities between China and Arizona. Mario’s community awards include: · Valle del Sol Lorraine Lee Latino Advocacy Champion Award · ADL Marty Shultz Award for Community Partnership · Phoenix Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award · Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Award . Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award Mario received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from Arizona State University in 1991, and went on to receive his Masters of Public Administration degree from ASU where he was named Latino Graduate of the Year. He is married to Veronica De La O and has two children.
DR. RANDY GROTH is the Chief Executive Officer for AllSource Global Management, LLC. He has over 35 years experience in operations and management and has served in a variety of positions where he has gained significant experience in military and legislative affairs, teaching, administration, fund-raising, finance, real estate, and economic development. He has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, is published, has presented at numerous regional and national conferences in the areas of development, higher education, economic development, budgeting and finance, and the politics of the budgetary process. Dr. Groth received the Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from Missouri State University (1974), the Masters of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado (1981), and the Ph.D. from the University of Arizona (1990). Dr. Groth has received a number of awards and honors for his efforts in business, higher education, fundraising, and economic development. MILITARY SERVICE 1975 - 1977 Officer, United States Army Signal Corps; 1977-1981 U.S. Army Reserves. Attended the Signal Officers Basic Course and Radio Systems Officer Course at Fort Gordon, GA and Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA. GOVERNMENT SERVICE Former Member, Arizona’s Military Facilities Commission-Governor Jane Hull’s Blue Chip Panel on Military Affairs; Former Member, Governor Fife Symington’s Military Facilities Commission; Former Member, Governor Hull’s Commission on Dual Enrollment. AWARDS Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year,” April 1992; Association of the United States Army’s “Soaring Eagle Award,” Spring 2007; “Groth Hall,” the University of Arizona South Administration and Academic Building was named in Dr. Groth’s honor, June 2008 by the University of Arizona South Foundation. He has served as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army since April 2003.
MARICOPA
TUCSON
Arizona CASA Mario Diaz has collected more than 20 Proclamations from cities and towns across Arizona honoring the United States Army and wishing it a very happy birthday. Pictured above are Staff Sergeants Cantoran and Hernandez of the Casa Grande, AZ Recruiting Center along with Ms. Tracy Davis of the Blue Star Mothers of Maricopa, AZ & Marvin Harrison, member of the city of Maricopa Veteran's Committee. Mayor Christian Price presents CASA AZ North Mario E Diaz with a city Proclamation.
Arizona CASAs, Dr. Randy Groth and Mario Diaz, organized a statewide effort to get Army Birthday Proclamations from every city in Arizona. Below: Presentation by the mayor of Tucson, Arizona, Jonathan Rothschild, recognizing the Army's upcoming 242nd Birthday. From left to right in the photo: Dr. Randy Groth; SSG Jerry Franklin, U.S. Army Old Pueblo Recruiting Station; the Honorable Jonathan Rothschild, Mayor of the City of Tucson; and CPT Michael Anderson, Tucson Army Recruiters.
COOLIDGE
CAVE CREEK
Mario E Diaz, CASA for AZ North, accepts a proclamation from the Town of Cave Creek town council honoring the U.S. Army's 242nd birthday ON June 14, 2017.
Mario Diaz meeting with City of Coolidge Mayor Jon Thompson. He worked with the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce & veteran Oscar Rodriguez on a military memorial.
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VETERANS FIND SUPPORT AT STANDDOWN
by Connie Weber They come from all over the Valley for a variety of reasons — job assistance, legal help, housing assistance or food. Some simply get haircuts, while others find temporary sleeping quarters and hot meals. Those with pets can even have their animal seen by a veterinarian. Veterans in Maricopa County can obtain assistance with almost all needs at the Maricopa County StandDown, a two-day event organized by the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness for homeless and atrisk military veterans. The Department of Economic Security (DES) has been a fixture at this event — the biggest in the country for the last eight years. DES Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME) Local Office Manager, Rhonda Coombs, has participated for most of those years. “I love this; this is not a job,” said Coombs. “That’s what we do in family assistance—we help people—and that’s probably the best feeling anybody could have.” Over the two-day event, DES helped more than 350 people with nutritional and cash assistance. Most of the need was for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Coombs estimates about 75 percent of the veterans who visited DES at the StandDown are homeless. “A lot of them, because they are homeless, don’t get their mail, so they don’t know when their benefits run out,” said Coombs. They miss their renewal, so their benefits stop.” Veteran Richard T. Davis was one of those DES helped on Friday. “They treated me right,” said Davis. “No complaints at all! The food stamps are really helpful to me.” Coombs says most, especially the older vets, are very appreciative. “They even tell us ‘thank you for being here,’ which we don’t hear a lot at the local office,” said Coombs. “They’re generally appreciative for whatever we can do for them.” The Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness hosts the StandDown, which is a military term that refers to a brief period of time for a soldier to leave a combat area, to rest and regain strength before returning to battle. The first event in 2001 drew 414 veterans. Last year, 1,850 were served. Maricopa County’s annual event is now in its 16th year. Estimates are at least 1,900 veterans walked through the doors and received at least one service at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix this year. Some veterans, like Davis, would come twice a year, if it were offered. “StandDown is a good event for vets who don’t have access to services,” Davis said. He called it one-stop shopping, where he can take advantage of all the services in one day. Pima County hosted a StandDown earlier this year, and others are scheduled for Bullhead City and Yuma. The Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance (AVSA) was created in 2014 to pool resources and share best practices for StandDowns held across Arizona. More info: www.ArizonaStandDown.org
2017 MARICOPA COUNTY STANDDOWN DEMOGRAPHICS
2,109 veterans: Male 1855, 88%; Female 254, 12% Volunteers: 1,509 Court & Legal System: 1,204 veterans received legal services Branch of Service: Army: 1119, 53%; Navy: 385, 18%; Marine Corps: 303 15%; Air Force: 239, 11%, Coast Guard: 14, 1% ADOT Motor Vehicle Division: Veterans Served: 750 Social Security Administration: Total Services: 309 138 SSN Card applications • 38 new benefit claims • 133 status changes DES: Assisted 283 veterans Total meals served: 5,250 Clothing: 1,200 veterans received clothing 36 volunteers from The Trilogy Veterans Club helped unload clothing Veterans Benefits Administration: 436 veterans seen • 230 claims processed 141 homeless claims processed Veterans Affairs: Over 100 veterans registered with the VA Housing: 9 Housing Providers; 296 veterans came through the Housing area Supportive Services for Veteran Families: 100 Veterans interviewed, 84 eligible Vision: Readers – 428; Prescription Exams – 194, Total: 622; Volunteers – 33 Women Veterans: 169 Women veterans were assisted 81 Volunteers: 41 on day one and 40 on day 2 Childcare: area to be watched: 7 on first day and 10 on the second day. Total 325 vets & family members received childcare, toys and other gifts. Mary Kay held 32 individual Pamper Sessions Haircuts - 1 stylist did 9 and there were 33 chair Massages provided Families visiting the Childcare area for toys and clothes: 325 Veterinary Services: Vets for Vets' Pets served 338 veterans with 589 pets. 476 dogs served, 113 cats served, 1 ferret served,1 guinea pig served Boarded: 105, Groomed: 55 Hygiene Kits: 1640 hygiene kits were distributed Arizona @ Work: Five employers with over 300 veteran connections Ultrasounds: 67 patients and did over 1400 exams. 2 patients were sent to the hospital and 4 to urgent care. Haircuts: 462 were given Acupuncture: 332 veterans. Up 21% from last year. Combat Vets Motorcycle Association provided "behind the scenes" security
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VETErAN ENTrEPrENEUrS
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Veterans are 45% more likely to start a business
ThE SBA IS SEEkINg TO dEVElOP NEw VETErAN-OwNEd BUSINESSES IN ArIzONA US SMAll BUSINESS AdMINISTrATION www.sba.gov
An entrepreneur is willing to work 16 hours a day to avoid working 8 hours a day for someone else.
VETErAN ENTrEPrENEUrS
Over 97% of the businesses in the state of Arizona are small businesses, which are the greatest sources of innovation, job creation and revenue growth in Arizona’s economy.
BOOTS TO BUSINESS COUrSE hElPS VETErAN ENTrEPrENEUrS
SBA Administrator LINDA MCMAHON
Regional Advocate PHIL LOVAS
Recent Boots to Business class at Gateway Community College
Arizona Director ROBERT BLANEY Former Police Officer
Veteran Rep. JAMES PIPPER US Air Force, ret.
The AZSBDC Network is here to help launch, grow and sustain small businesses in Arizona. They are Arizona’s largest most comprehensive and accessible statewide source of assistance for small businesses in every stage of development. The Network consists of two teams — the Arizona Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) which provide tools, training and one-on-one business counseling, and the Arizona Procurement Technical
SBDC leaders including Arizona Director Janice Washington, Ed Molina
Assistance Centers (PTAC) which help businesses seeking federal, state and local contracting opportunities. The AZSBDC Network is an innovative partnership between eight of the state’s community college districts, the one non-profit, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). they are fully accredited by the America’s SBDC, a national system that connects 63 SBDC networks across the country.
PHOENIX Lender Rep. CRAIG JORDAN US Navy veteran
Instructor NICK RAGO US Army veteran
US Small Business Administration ARIZONA DISTRICT OFFICE 2828 N. Central Avenue Suite #800, Phoenix, Arizona Veterans Business Rep. JAMES PIPPER 602-745-7230 Women’s Business Rep. ANNA RIVERA 602-745-7207
BOOTS TO BUSINESS Free Entreprenurial Education for Veterans June 14 & 15 — Tucson Pima Community College
FREE business resources and consulting to help you start and grow a business. Call 602-745-7250. www.greaterphoenix.score.org
The International Franchise Association’s VetFran initiative honors the men and women who have served in the US military. “VetFran,” was developed to help veterans transition to civilian life. Over 600 franchise companies participate in the program. Many companies offer discounted franchise fees for veterans. www.vetfran.com
The SBA is seeking Arizona veteranowned businesses for the next emerging leaders program. More info call James Pipper at 602-745-7230.
hElPINg VETErANS STArT ThEIr OwN BUSINESS
by Barb Carson, Veteran-owned small businesses have always been a pillar of America’s economy, but they are in a generational decline. More than 1.1 million veteran business owners are over the age of 65, and in 2014, only 4.5 percent of Post-9/11 veterans started a business. When considering that nearly half of World War II veterans and 40 percent of Korean War veterans started businesses, the differences are stark. As an estimated 200,000 service members transition from the military every year, the Small Business Administration knows how imperative it is to connect service members, veterans and military spouses with the tools and resources they need to become business owners — and what the nation risks losing if they don’t. Census data shows veterans are 45 percent more likely than non-veterans to start a small business. Today, veterans own 2.52 million small businesses — nearly 1 in every 10 — while employing 6 million Americans and generating $1.14 trillion in receipts. However, estimates show there would be nearly 1.4 million more companies, creating an additional 2.8 million jobs, if today’s veterans launched their own businesses at a similar rate as Korean War veterans. Starting a successful small business is a tough mission. It requires tenacity, discipline and adaptability — all character traits found in a veteran, alongside many other skills. But being your own boss doesn’t mean going it alone. Transitioning service members and veterans need ready access to business assistance services, resource networks, capital and market opportunities to ensure success. Empowering and regenerating America’s veteran entrepreneurs is one way to help reverse our declining trends in entrepreneurship while also facilitating the
economic revitalization of small towns and rural America. The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development works to formulate, implement and promote policies and programs that equip members of the military community with counseling, training and education, as well as access to capital to start their own businesses and assist them with contracting opportunities. Since 2013, 50,000 transitioning service members and military spouses have participated in the BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM www.boots2business.org. B2B provided — for the first time since World War II — a strong, visible pipeline of potential veteran business owners. Boots to Business provides free entrepreneurship training in more than 200 military installations and military communities. Graduates of these programs are 53 percent more likely to start a business, and 91 percent are still in business after a year, according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Resources like the Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide entrepreneurial development, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible members of the military community. The Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Development Training Program supports organizations that deliver entrepreneurship training to service-disabled veterans, and the Veterans Institute for Procurement is an accelerator-like program that focuses on procurement. In addition to the resources listed above, female veterans, active duty, and military spouses can also access resources through Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship. More info: www.sba.gov
The Armory helps veterans launch and scale startups. Veteran entrepreneurs can join The Armory, a new incubator for veterans in Phoenix. The Armory is located at Arizona Center. “The Armory’s portfolio companies
receive free office space, world-class mentors, and access to capital but what they really get is an entrepreneurial ecosystem that recognizes the value of veteran founders and sets them up for success” — The Armory’s founder and CEO & US Air Force veteran Phillip Potter. More info: info@armoryup.org
ThE ArMOrY SUPPOrTS VETErAN ENTrEPrENEUrS
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TRUMP SIGNS ORDER FOR VA IMPROVEMENT
President Donald J. Trump visits VA and signs executive order ‘Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
President Donald J. Trump visited VA to thank veterans for their service, and VA employees for their work helping veterans. While at VA, the president signed an executive order entitled, “Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs,” and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin, made three new key announcements at the VA’s Central Office. The executive order is focused on improving “accountability and whistleblower protection” at VA by creating an office dedicated to that purpose and the position of special assistant to the secretary who will report directly to the secretary and serve as executive director of the office. The new executive director “will report directly to me as secretary so that we can identify barriers that are preventing us from removing employees and people that we have identified that should no longer be working at VA,” said Shulkin. “We want make sure that we have employees who work hard and are committed to the mission of serving our veterans.” The VA will establish the office and appoint the executive director within 45 days of the signing of the executive order. The executive director will advise and assist the secretary in using all available authorities to discipline or terminate any VA manager or employee who has violated the public’s trust and failed to carry out his or her duties on behalf of Veterans. The executive director will also assist the secretary in recruiting, rewarding, and retaining high-performing employees. At the signing ceremony for the executive order, Shulkin also announced three new key initiatives at the Department. VA partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services Effective today, VA is entering a partnership agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services that will allow the assignment of medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to provide direct patient care to Veterans in VA hospitals and clinics in underserved communities. “My priority has been to improve access to care for our nation’s heroes,” said Shulkin. “By partnering with our colleagues at HHS, we will enhance the availability of clinical care in those areas most in need.” The initial agreement enables up to 20 officers from the Commissioned Corps to treat Veterans in VA facilities that are most in need of staffing support. The agreement also allows up to 10 more officers to help support coordination for veterans receiving non-VA community care. New fraud, waste and abuse taskforce The secretary announced a major new initiative to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Effective today, this initiative has the potential to save tens of millions of taxpayer dollars currently at risk, for fraud, waste and abuse that can be redirected to better serve Veterans. The initiative will include bringing in the leading thinkers from the private sector and other government organizations in an advisory committee to identify and leverage cutting-edge fraud detection tools and; and coordinate all fraud, waste and abuse detection and reporting activities across the department through a single office. The department has identified potential savings in the area of improper payments to health care providers, major contracts, contracts for pharmaceuticals, and the delivery of benefits to veterans. “Restoring the trust of veterans and improving system-wide accountability are among my top priorities. It’s essential to ensure that all our employees and the companies that we do business with are being good stewards of the resources available to care for our Veterans,” said Shulkin. Removing red tape at state-owned veteran nursing homes Effective today, VA is amending guidelines to allow state-owned veteran nursing homes to follow state guidelines in the construction design of their facilities – removing red tape, while increasing access to services for veterans. Up to now, to qualify for federal grant funding for veteran nursing homes in their state, Governors and state officials have had to follow federal construction design guidelines. With today’s announcement by the secretary, that is no longer the case and governors are freed up to follow their own state guidelines in the construction design of these facilities while still qualifying for the same level of federal grant funding as before. In announcing the move, Shulkin noted that state design guidelines already are sufficient to the task of providing safe conditions for our veterans and the department recognizes the need to move quickly to reduce unnecessary barriers to providing much needed services to our veterans. VA operates 135 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots in 40 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand and maintain 105 Veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. For veterans buried in private or other cemeteries, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. In 2016, VA honored more than 345,000 veterans and their loved ones with memorial benefits in national, state, tribal and private cemeteries.
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CARE FOR OTHER-THAN-HONORABLE DISCHARGES
VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin recently announced his intention to expand provisions for urgent mental health care needs to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges. This move marks the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on expanding access to assist former OTH service members who are in mental health distress and may be at risk for suicide or other adverse behaviors. “The President and I have made it clear that suicide prevention is one of our top priorities," Shulkin said. “We know the rate of death by suicide among veterans who do not use VA care is increasing at a greater rate than veterans who use VA care. This is a national emergency that requires bold action. We must and we will do all that we can to help former service members who may be at risk. When we say even one veteran suicide is one too many, we mean it.” It is estimated that there are a little more than 500,000 former service members with OTH discharges. As part of the proposal, former OTH service members would be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact the Veterans Crisis Line. “Our goal is simple: to save lives,” Shulkin continued. “Veterans who are in crisis should receive help immediately. Far too many veterans have fallen victim to suicide, roughly 20 every day. Far too many families are left behind asking themselves what more could have been done. The time for action is now.” Before finalizing the plan in early summer, Shulkin will meet with Congress, Veterans Service Organizations and Department of Defense officials to determine the best way forward to get these former service members the care they need. “I look forward to working with leaders like Congressman Mike Coffman from Colorado, who has been a champion for OTH service members,” Shulkin added. "I am grateful for his commitment to our nation’s veterans and for helping me better understand the urgency of getting this right.” Veterans in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1), or text 838255.
VA NURSES SERVE THEIR COUNTRY BY HELPING VETERANS
CONGRESS PROTECTS VETERANS CREDIT RATINGS Bill Helps Veterans Wrongly Penalized by Delayed VA Payments
by Mark Field
US Representatives Randy Hultgren, John K. Delaney, Jackie Walorski and Kyrsten Sinema have introduced legislation to protect the credit rating of veterans and prevent them from unnecessary financial hardship due to delayed payments associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Choice Program. The slow disbursement of Veterans Choice Program payments has meant that potentially thousands of veterans have been adversely affected, having large and inaccurate medical debts wrongly listed in their name while the VA and private providers work through billing. This error can make it more difficult and more expensive for veterans to buy a home or car, rent a place to live or be hired for a new job. The Protecting Veterans Credit Act (H.R. 5593) creates a US Representative Kyrsten Sinema one year credit reporting grace period for the resolution of debt from medical services received through the VA’s Veterans Choice Program. The legislation is supported by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the National Patient Advocate Foundation. “Enough veterans have faced collateral damage from delays at the VA—their credit score shouldn’t be another casualty of this bureaucracy,” said Congressman Hultgren. “Veterans and their families deserve accurate and timely billing and reimbursements from the VA. They should not be held liable for the VA’s problems. We need quick action on this legislation to ensure our veterans aren’t held responsible for bureaucratic ineptitude.” “No veteran should have their credit rating hurt because of delayed Veterans Choice Program payments, that’s completely unacceptable to me. In many cases, veterans are already using the Choice Program because they’ve endured a long wait time to be treated. We shouldn’t destroy their finances on top of that,” said Congressman Delaney. “Credit ratings fundamentally impact the cost of major purchases and can alter a family’s financial trajectory. The Protecting Veterans’ Credit Act creates the time needed to protect a veterans financial health while the actual parties responsible for the payments process and pay their medical bills.”
THE PROBLEM
• Because of delays and incorrectly assigned bills, veterans have received adverse actions on their credit reports and inappropriate debt collection efforts. • Adverse credit action makes it more difficult and more expensive for a person to get a home mortgage or an auto loan or even to rent an apartment. • To address these issues, the VA set up a call center for veterans to contact the VA to resolve debt collection and adverse credit reporting. As of the end of May, the VA handled more than 7,100 inbound telephone calls. • While the VA is actively trying to reform the Choice Program, veterans need immediate and retroactive relief from erroneous credit reporting actions and debt collection efforts. No veteran should have their credit score hurt or be harassed by debt collectors because of a delay in the VA or their private contractor paying the bills.
THE SOLUTION
• The Protecting Veterans’ Credit Act delays medical debt from medical services received through the Choice Program from being reported to credit reporting agencies for one year. This delay provides adequate time for the VA and its contractors to resolve the issues, while retaining a route for resolution of any copayments or other obligations. • The bill provides a mechanism for veterans to easily dispute adverse actions already on their reports. Additionally, the bill requires debt collectors to provide the veteran with written information of their rights and who they can contact to resolve an issue.
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ARMY CAREER BENEFITS GLENDALE LAW ENFORCEMENT HOPEFUL
Story & photo by Alun Thomas Internment/Resettlement Specialist, which is basically a corrections officer in the Military Police corps.” The recruiter The road to a career in law enforcement has been a then asked Street if she wanted to be placed on the PaYS mammoth journey for Ashley Street, almost a decade program, which ensures Soldiers are guaranteed a job in the making. Where the path once seemed dim, it’s interview with a PaYS partner of their choice after completing now incredibly brighter — all thanks to the US Army and the Partnership for Youth Success program, which their Army Reserve training or first term of service. have combined to help Street pursue her dream of The program provides employers with a pool of highly becoming a police officer. skilled, motivated and professional candidates from which they can fill their personnel needs. Street accepted readily, Street, a native of Glendale, Arizona, currently works as realizing it would be a helpful transitional tool when she a security officer with Security Services, a non-sworn eventually left active duty. “I knew it would get me an position with the Glendale Police Department, a role she interview with various organizations I was interested in,” she sees as a stepping stone to an eventual spot with the police said. “I had very specific goals — get my degree, obtain itself. It’s something she’s aspired to upon graduating high school and entering college, where she pursued a degree leadership skills, get my loans paid off and come out and in criminal justice. “I started at Arizona State University apply for law enforcement.” and became interested in criminal justice and law Ashley Street, security officer with Street has fond memories of her recruiter, who she said enforcement through a friend who was taking courses in Security Services, a non-sworn position helped her find a new direction in life. “I had a really great that field,” Street said. “I was working in a completely with the Glendale Police Department, recruiter who kept in touch with me, even after I joined the different field and once I started helping her with criminal and also a noncommissioned officer in Army,” Street said. “When I was working in Guantanamo justice studies I changed fields immediately.” the Army Reserve, poses with Antonio Bay he wrote a letter checking up on me, which was 2 and Luckily her friend’s father was a lieutenant in the Johnson, marketing analyst for the a half years after I enlisted.” He made it a really smooth, local police department and he invited Street for a ride Partnership for Youth Success easy transition and he got me shipped out to basic training along, which solidified her desire to serve in law program, at the Glendale Police just two weeks after I signed up,” Street recalls. Street ended up doing two terms and served five years on enforcement. “I was hooked instantly and immersed Department in Glendale, Arizona. active duty, in locations such as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, myself in criminal justice studies,” Street said. “Once I graduated with my degree I applied to several police departments where I did and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before leaving for civilian life once again. Once out Street used her Post 9-11 GI Bill and earned a master’s degree, while also well in the hiring process.” Unfortunately Street was deemed to be lacking in leadership skills by the accepting her current position in security, which is earning her a fast track to departments, which she said was due to fierce competition from those with a her goal of working as a police officer. Street said none of it would have been possible without the US Army, which military background. “I was up against a lot of Soldiers and military professionals that were coming off active duty and had skills that transitioned gave her all the tools necessary to succeed as a leader and noncommissioned well to law enforcement,” she continued. “My degree was great, but not officer. “I love, love the United States Army,” Street said with a smile. “Without comparable to leadership skills and attaining characteristics necessary for it I wouldn’t have the passion in civilian life I do now. I missed it so much I the police. I just didn’t have the total package,” Street said. joined the Army Reserve to get back in. “The leadership and the interpersonal With a student loan debt and burgeoning responsibilities, Street saw an communication skills, I would never have been able to sit here and talk about advert for the U.S. Army and took the plunge by visiting a recruiter in Glendale this without the confidence the Army gave me,” Street continued. “The Army’s to enlist. “My recruiter told me about the loan repayment program, which I provided all this for me and I’ve had great leadership to help me along the way." jumped all over,” Street explained. “I signed a contract to become an
THE WHITE APPLE INSTITUTE TALK SHOW is produced by the White Apple Institute (a veteran operated nonprofit 501c-3). This show is focused on preventing adult students (veteran and non-veterans) with emotional challenges and disability issues from dropout/burnout from school, work, and LIFE! Dr. Danita Applewhite’s outreach seeks to restore hope and motivate many “nontraditional” and “underserved” veterans and non-veterans who “struggle to juggle” school, work, parenting and life. Hear valuable info, self-help tips, inspiring stories, and “down to earth” controversial discussions about the things that “emotionally dis-able” us and many times lead to hopelessness, homelessness and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Applewhite was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council and the Arizona State Rehabilitation Council. She also serves on the Veterans Medical Leadership Council, the Women’s Army Corp Veterans Association, and is a Lifetime Member of Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America. www.whiteappleinstitute.org
MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES
BeConnectedAZ launched by the Arizona Coalition for Military Families to provide resources for veterans services. “Sometimes people will say, ‘You know, I need these resources, but I don’t know where to turn to,’” coalition spokeswoman Kelly Anne Beck said. “This way, it’s kind of a centralized location to be able to find those resources.” The aim of the new program to provide a place for veterans to obtain services and get them the help they need to prevent suicide. “These are exciting times,” retired Air Force Col. Wanda Wright, who heads the Arizona Department of Veterans Services, said. “As these programs come together, you see how the network is getting tighter and tighter across the state so that we catch more veterans because that’s what they deserve.” “Knowing someone cares and helping hands are there does wonders for veterans dealing with trauma. She said she once stopped a veteran in a store and asked him where he’d served and how he was doing. “Two questions I asked,” she said. “And I know that he knows now that someone in the community cares about him.” For more info: www.beconnectedaz.org
NATIONAL DESERT STORM WAR MEMORIAL
by Megan Moloney Veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm will soon have their own memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., thanks to legislation signed by the President Trump. “A joint resolution approving the location of a memorial to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield.” The resolution was sponsored by Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly and Arkansas Senator John Boozman and designates the location of the memorial on the National Mall. “I appreciate the commitment of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to swiftly approve this resolution so our Gulf War veterans are appropriately honored for their service and sacrifice in our nation’s capital,” Sen. Boozman said. “This resolution is the final step in Congress to create a memorial in our nation’s capital that loved ones and future generations can visit to honor the men and women who fought and died for our country in the First Gulf War,” Senator Donnelly added. The National Desert Storm War Memorial will honor those veterans who served in the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. Now that legislation to create the memorial has been approved, the memorial’s sponsors will begin the process of fundraising and working with the National Capital Planning Commission to select a location on the National Mall and a final design. Funds for the construction of the memorial will be raised privately by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association. Donate at www.ndswm.org
HEPATITIS C AWARENESS
The Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix is promoting Hepatitis C testing to all of enrolled veterans. May has been designated at Hepatitis C Awareness Month and the Phoenix VA is hosting a special event on May 19th to promote screening for Hepatitis C and provide information for the highly effective medications that are now available. They are planning to have a guest speaker, testimonials, entertainment (our VA band “Sounds at Work), refreshments, give-a-ways, and a raffle. • Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus: the virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. • Approximately 399 000 people die each year from hepatitis C, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma • Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection
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PROSTATE CANCER MOST COMMON CANCER FOR MEN
by Dr. Jeffrey Miller Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in the United States, excluding skin cancer. The prostate is a walnut sized gland that sits below the bladder and functions to produce semen that bathes sperm as they travel through the reproductive tract. As men age, the prostate can enlarge and obstruct the flow of urine, causing difficulty urinating, frequency, urgency, and nocturnal awakening to void. This condition is known as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). This condition, if bothersome or progressive, can be successfully treated with medication or surgery. However, unrelated to BPH, malignant cells can develop within the gland leading to prostate cancer. Usually a health care provider will perform a digital rectal examination (feeling for a firmness or nodule on the prostate) and order a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Blood levels of this substance, uniquely produced by the prostate, have been found to be increased in those with prostate cancer. Traditionally, if an abnormal rectal exam or elevated PSA were detected, a biopsy would be performed to make the diagnosis. However, screening for prostate cancer in the general male population has become controversial more recently. Many prostate cancers are of the nonaggressive type and may never cause symptoms or spread. So detecting these cancers early might not lead to improved survival and treatment of these “over-diagnosed” cancers could lead to unnecessary side effects such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Over the last 5 years, many patients diagnosed on biopsy with these low-grade, low-volume nonaggressive tumors have been watched successfully without treatment, following PSA levels and repeating biopsies periodically. This protocol is known as Active Surveillance. Those in good health with reasonable life expectancy diagnosed with the more aggressive, potentially lethal prostate cancer type, can undergo treatment with radiation, surgery or less invasive measures to achieve cure. So the question of whether to screen for prostate cancer and subject a patient to potential complications of a biopsy is a hot topic in the urologic community currently – especially since diagnosing prostate cancer early may not improve a man’s quality of life or extend survival. Fortunately, newer blood tests, such as the 4-K Test, and newer imaging techniques such as prostate MRI can now help determine whether a man is harboring the aggressive or non-aggressive prostate cancer type, thereby allowing some men to avoid biopsy. Once prostate cancer is diagnosed, genetic testing can now be performed to determine what chance that particular tumor has of progressing in that particular patient’s lifetime. Despite the fact that many men die with and not from prostate cancer, it still was estimated to have caused approximately 26,000 deaths in the United States in 2016. With all this in mind, it is recommended that each patient take an individualized approach, discussing all screening options with their provider. Based on a man’s overall health status, age, family history, life expectancy, and personal preference, an intelligent discussion should be carried out before the PSA test and prostate exam are performed, reviewing the implications of diagnosing prostate cancer early and the diagnostic and therapeutic measures that would ensue if an abnormality is detected. Dr. Jeffrey Miller graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his Urology residency at the University Arizona Health Sciences Center and the Tucson VA Medical Center. Editor’s note: Dr. Jeffrey Miller currently serves as our health & medical advisor.
THE VA WANTS YOU TO QUIT SMOKING
Tobacco quitlines can double your chance of quitting compared to getting no support at all. You are even more likely to be successful when you use a quitline and take smoking cessation medication. Any Veteran receiving health care through VA is eligible to use the Quit VET quitline. CALL 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838) to speak with a tobacco cessation counselor Monday-Friday. The quitline is closed on Federal holidays. Speak with a Quit VET counselor and get: • Help developing a quit plan • Individualized counseling • Strategies to prevent relapse • Follow-up calls to help you stay quit
Your counselor may ask you specific questions about your tobacco use, quitting history, and motivations to quit in order to help create a quit plan that works for you. Quitline counselors can also provide you with four followup calls to help you stay quit. Any information you provide to the counselor during the call is kept private. It will not be shared with your VA health care provider or entered in your VA electronic medical record. Your first call will last about 15 to 30 minutes. Counselors are unable to provide smoking cessation medications to callers. Talk to your VA health care provider about using medication, and let them know that you are using the Quit VET quitline. Quit VET is a collaboration between VA and the National Cancer Institute. “I feel great. I couldn't have done this without you guys. You have been such a support to me. Thank you for helping me through this.” — a former smoker
A recent Defense Department study stated that 38 percent of smokers in the military started after they enlisted. Defense Department research shows that tobacco use has steadily declined since the 1980s, when almost half the force was smoking or using similar products. Recent studies have found that about 25 percent of troops smoke cigarettes compared with about 20 percent of civilians. Roughly 13 percent use smokeless tobacco products compared with 3 percent of civilians.Defense Department research estimates the military loses approximately $1.9 billion a year to illnesses and lost productivity related to tobacco use. Across the Capitol grounds, members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee debated legislation that would prohibit smoking indoors at any VA health facility, and ban all outdoor smoking on VA medical center grounds by October 2022. The Veterans Affairs Adminstration estimates that 20 percent of veterans enrolled in VA health care programs are smokers. “Many of the non-smoker (patients) are also older veterans who may be at higher risk for cardiac or other conditions that may make them even more vulnerable to the cardiovascular events associated with secondhand smoke,” VA Deputy Under Secretary for Health Jennifer Lee said in a statement to the committee.
SMOKING MATH — IT IS TIME TO QUIT Example: A couple smoking 3 packs a day, each. Cost: $9.24 per pack x 6 = $55.44 per day. Annual cost of cigarette smoking = $20,235 Total cost over 30 years of cigarette smoking = $607,068
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TRANSITIONING FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
by Steven Goetsch Military separation can be a daunting ordeal. For me, it was really amplified, awaiting a surgery, I thought my retirement would be placed on hold. I finally got word from a chief medical officer on February 27 that it would not. This was the ending of a long drawn out process for me and my family. They cut my retirement orders and I was out the door March 1. To say I was shell shocked was a gross understatement. I couldn’t afford to be. My first task: out processing 22 years of Air Force life and like many veterans, figuring out how to put food on the table without the uniform on. Transitions from the military are thought to be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life. There is no denying the differences between military and civilian living. Take solace in knowing that society is now wise to that fact, and there are a plethora of resources available to assist you and help you make a successful transition. I include a few points that I learned along my own journey. l Don’t attempt to do it alone: lean on your network; that means friends, your family, spouses and former colleagues. There is no shame in asking for help. l Make the transition your new job. Have a plan, stay motivated and put in the effort. l Fight off the discouragement bug. I put out over 70 applications before I got a call back. It was tempting to wake up and begin to just not care. It will come, but you have to be ready. You fight it off by setting daily goals; researching networking and training opportunities, looking for federal and state agencies to assist you and doing research in your desired field. l Lastly, play up your military service. It is your edge — use it. Most veterans fall short because they do not properly translate their service into traits and skills that will effectively help an organization. I have a degree in human resource management, and I have been asked repeatedly to dissect and translate military jargon and terminology. Do not put your future in someone else’s hands. Because so many social issues are rooted in employment or financial strain, I began with that, but it is important just like your military training that you take care of your physical, mental and spiritual needs. A job search is your focus, but it is not your only focus. Take walks with your family, set aside recreational time. Find routines like church, clubs, or any other activities that you did when you were still active duty. It’s easy to let the frustration of a job search feed obsessive behaviors. Take it from me, it will build up the disappointments and make it more difficult to accept rejection that are a part of any job search. So as you prepare for your transition, remember that you are in a very select group and everybody knows it. It’s just up to you to show it to them. Salute smartly and good luck.
VETERANS WALK FOR PTSD AWARENESS
Statistics show that 22 veterans die every day from illness, PTSD or suicide. Soldiers perpetuate a lifelong camaraderie that extends to all corners of the country and Army Veteran Eli Smith has set out to make others aware of that connection. By hiking more than 13,000 miles to each corner of the United States, Smith will be raising awareness for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Eli Smith (left) and Ernesto Rodriguez. suicide within the veteran Follow Eli Smith at community. He will be marching for www.facebook.com/4cornershike Follow Ernesto Rodriguez at the next three years to do so. www.facebook.com/nerdnesto The Ohio native began his journey in Pensacola, Florida, and stopped in Deming for the weekend on his way to California. “It was really hard, and it started ringing through my social circle,” said Smith of comrades suffering from PTSD and the hopelessness of suicide among the ranks. “Things like that kept happening too often and I wanted to do something about it.” The cause originated when the reality of PTSD and veteran suicide began to hit too close to home for Smith. An avid hiker, Smith began the hefty preparations for the hike by raising money for the necessary gear. To do this, he sold his possessions and has only kept the bare minimum of belongings needed to complete the hike. The hike will take Smith to every corner of the United States and he still has nearly 12,000 miles yet to complete. “It’s been very welcoming, very gracious,” Smith said. “The veterans and different organizations that we’ve been able to meet has been tremendous. A lot of people don’t even know that we lose 22 veterans per day.” Currently, there are several individuals on the road walking for veterans and Smith happened to cross paths with another soldier in Midland, Texas, walking for similar reasons. Ernesto Rodriguez set out from Tennessee after retiring from the military the past year and began his march for awareness on the veteran suicide rate. Rodriguez will be marching to California during his trek to complete 2,200 miles. Smith and the Rodriguez have quickly developed a friendship traveling together and have done so for company and safety sake. “It’s the same message — it’s just evolved a little bit as we go through,” Rodriguez said. “Taking care of veterans is very important to us.” National statistics indicate that, on average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day for various reasons involving PTSD and other illnesses. This data has become unacceptable Smith and Rodriguez who are focused on completing their journeys for the cause. The two have stopped at several cities and towns and met local veterans and various causes willing to help and raise awareness as well. They will be traveling west for the next two months. “What keeps me going, when it comes to the actual mission at hand, meeting 102-year-old WWII vets, getting to go to Fort Bliss and getting to hang out with soldiers. These are awesome experiences,” Rodriguez said. “I always look forward to who’s the next person I'm going to meet in the next town.”
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SERVING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO SERVED
by David McIntyre, President and CEO, TriWest Healthcare Alliance I would like to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thank you to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care providers, and our network of over 11,900 community health care practitioners for their commitment in providing our nation’s veterans with the health care they have earned here in the Grand Canyon state. At TriWest Healthcare Alliance, we are proud to serve alongside VA in administering the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). Together, we have one mission – serving those who served. The VCP is improving at a rapid pace which is largely due to strong relationships between the veteran, VA medical facilities and local private sector doctors. Since the start of VCP, more than 74,000 veterans in Arizona have received care through the program, leading to high quality health care, closer to home and in a timely manner. As the VCP continues to grow, and more veterans receive care in the community, TriWest will continue to work closely with VA to ensure our veterans receive the very best health care they have earned and deserve.
ACUPUNCTURE & THE VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM
by Dr. Steven Brown Acupuncture and Chiropractic are the most utilized forms of Complementary Medicine in the country. Both are proven effective and inexpensive for treating acute and chronic pain and injuries compared to medications. Acupuncture is also indicated for treating anxiety, insomnia and depression associated with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Acupuncture and Chiropractic are both available through the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). VCP authorizations for Chiropractic care also include Physical Medicine treatments such as electric muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound and myofascial release therapy. The VCP allows Veterans to receive care at private-sector non-VA facilities, instead of waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility. It was initially a temporary three-year program, set to expire on August 7, 2017. However, on April 19, 2017, President Trump extended the program to allow the expenditure of the remaining $950 million in the program. A Veteran is eligible if any these situations apply: 1. The veteran has been (or will be) waiting more than 30 days for VA medical care. 2. The veteran lives more than 40 miles away from a VA medical care facility, or faces one of several excessive travel burdens. Even if the veteran has a VCP card, the veteran must first see their VA provider at a VA facility for care to be authorized under the Veterans Choice Program. Once care is authorized by the VA provider, the VA will contact the non-VA facility and schedule the initial appointment for the veteran. VCP authorizations for Acupuncture and Chiropractic are often easier to obtain than for other services, as only a limited amount of Complementary Medicine services are available at VA facilities. Therefore, the time and/or distance requirements are more readily met. The VCP program in Arizona is administered by the TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Veterans can contact TriWest at 866-606-8198 with questions regarding the VCP. More info: 480-377-1226 or www.brownchiro.com
PRE-NEED ELIGIBILITY FOR VA NATIONAL CEMETERIES
The VA now provides eligibility determinations for interment in a VA national cemetery prior to the time of need. Through the Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility Program, upon request, individuals can learn if they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a VA national cemetery. “MyVA is about looking at VA from the veterans’ perspective, and then doing everything we can to make the veteran experience effective and seamless,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “This new program reaffirms our commitment to providing a lifetime of benefits and services for veterans and their families.” Interested individuals may submit VA Form 40-10007, Application for PreNeed Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, and supporting documentation, such as a DD Form 214, if readily available, to the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office by: toll-free fax at 1-855-8408299; email to Eligibility.PreNeed@va.gov; or mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, P.O. Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151. VA will review applications and provide written notice of its determination of eligibility. VA will save determinations and supporting documentation in an electronic information system to expedite burial arrangements at the time of need. Because laws and personal circumstances change, upon receipt of a burial request, VA will validate all pre-need determinations in accordance with the laws in effect at that time. Eligible individuals are entitled to burial in any open VA national cemetery, opening/closing of the grave, a grave liner, perpetual care of the gravesite, and a government-furnished headstone or marker or niche cover, all at no cost to the family. Veterans are also eligible for a burial flag and may be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov, or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at any open VA national cemetery at the time of need, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. VA operates 135 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots in 40 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. VA also provides funding to establish, expand and maintain 105 Veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. For veterans buried in private or other cemeteries, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. In 2016, VA honored more than 345,000 veterans and their loved ones with memorial benefits in national, state, tribal and private cemeteries.
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ARMY DOCTOR DISCOVERS NEW SLEEP DISORDER
During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, scattered reports surfaced regarding an unusual sleep disorder among some combat veterans. Col. Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, a sleep researcher, said that upon returning home from combat duty, some veterans were having nightmares with “dream-enactment behaviors.” These behaviors were troubling, he said. “They'd strike out, scream, yell at their spouse and even run around their bed and at times hurt themselves or others.” In 2013, Mysliwiec was working at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis, McChord, Washington. It was then, he said when he came across such an instance at the center's sleep laboratory. “We found the first documented case in probably 30 years at Madigan,” he said. What he saw, he said, was not only troubling, but puzzling, as there was no category for the sleep disorder in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders 3 and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. ICSD-3 is the diagnostic manual for sleep disorders and DSM 5 is used by psychiatrists and psychologists. So Mysliwiec and colleagues labeled what they saw as “trauma associated sleep disorder,” or TSD. Regarding the 2013 finding, Mysliwiec said, “[A] friend and colleague at Madigan called it the 'Rosetta Stone' moment because we heard similar reports beginning in 2007 with Soldiers returning from combat. They'd be telling us these things, and we didn't know what this disorder was. We've also seen it described a handful of times in articles and journals.” While it's rare to see cases of TSD in sleep labs, Mysliwiec said a colleague of his witnessed just such a case in March in the sleep lab at Madigan. While it was an unfortunate experience for the Soldier, he said, it was an exciting moment for him and other sleep researchers because the diagnosis is consistent with their earlier findings. CATEGORIZING TSD: Mysliwiec said TSD is definitely not a nightmare per se, because a person doesn't move around in nightmares. He also said it's not a REM behavior disorder. REM behavior disorders, he said, are typically found in patients in their 60s who also have a neurodegenerative disorder such as Parkinson's. Instead, TSD “is dream-enactment behaviors relating to traumarelated nightmares.” Mysliwiec and his colleagues are working to get TSD categorized as a sleep disorder in both the ICSD-3 as well as the DSM 5. Mysliwiec and his coresearchers will have three presentations regarding TSD at an annual sleep conference this year. He has also co-published his findings in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2014. That paper was titled “Trauma Associated Sleep Disorder: A Proposed Parasomnia Encompassing Disruptive Nocturnal Behaviors, Nightmares, and REM without Atonia in Trauma Survivors.” He also plans to release another study on the topic in a journal next year. TREATMENT OF TSD: Mysliwiec said some who suffer from TSD have benefited from being treated with prazosin, a sympatholytic drug also used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. “If you have PTSD, your body may release too much adrenaline,” he said. “Adrenaline is a hormone that can make you feel stressed and contribute to nightmares as well as abnormal behaviors in sleep. Prazosin blocks some of the effects of adrenaline released in your body.” Editor's Note: Dr. Vincent Mysliwiecthe is the Sleep Medicine Fellowship director at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Educational Consortium, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, where he trains sleep medicine fellows. He is a sleep medicine consultant to the Army Surgeon General, and a sleep researcher at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE & ACUPUNCTURE
VETERANS CHOICE PROGRAM PROVIDER
Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Massage Therapy
“After multiple Infantry deployments, I was left dealing with degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and various other orthopedic issues. Successive treatments of Chiropractic adjustments, Acupuncture, and muscle stimulation were a significant part of my path to regaining functionality and reducing chronic pain without being over-medicated. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Brown. In my experience, his focus has always been helping the patient.” — Ken G., US Army
DR. STEVEN BROWN, DC, Dipl Ac
Doctor of Chiropractic Diplomate, Intl. Academy of Medical Acupuncture Faculty Associate, Arizona State University
480-377-1226
BROWN CHIROPRACTIC & ACUPUNCTURE, PC 2127 E. Baseline Rd, Tempe www.brownchiro.com
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ARIZONA MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
The diverse network of federal military facilities located in Arizona provides the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with unequaled access to high-quality, weather friendly, costeffective training for American Armed Forces. More significantly, this network comprises an integrated array of bases, testing and training facilities, ranges, and airspace that operate within a physical environment that is uniquely suited to their individual and combined mission objectives and to the nation’s evolving defense posture. In short, Arizona provides DoD with unparalleled resources. Since the late 1970s, the State of Arizona has been fully committed to and has taken significant steps toward ensuring DoD’s long-term partnership in Arizona. In December 2003, the Governors Military Facilities Task Force put forth twenty-seven recommendations to ensure long-term retention of the State’s military facilities so that they may continue to perform their vital national defense functions and maintain their critical role in the Arizona economy. On May 17, 2004, the Governor signed HB 2140, a comprehensive military bill that included a number of the recommendations of the Task Force, including the establishment of the Military Affairs Commission (MAC) and the Military Installation Fund (MIF). In 2014, Governor Brewer issued Executive Order 2014-02 entitled Sustainment of Arizona's Military Installations that reinforces the Military Affairs Commission's mission and commitment to support the military in Arizona. PURPOSE The Military Affairs Commission (MAC) serves a critical mission in the State of Arizona to ensure that the missions of federal military installations located in Arizona are protected and can meet any future need that this country faces. To accomplish this mission, the MAC monitors and makes recommendations on executive, legislative and federal actions necessary to sustain and grow Arizona’s network of military installations, training and testing ranges and associated airspace. Through the MAC, Arizona is able to keep issues impacting federal military installations in the forefront, balancing private property rights with insuring that state and local policy positions maintain and enhance military missions at the installation. Included within the jurisdiction of the MAC is the Military Installation Fund (MIF), the purpose of which is to ensure that private property rights are addressed as efforts are made to maintain and enhance military missions at the military installations located within Arizona. The specific responsibilities of the MAC are to advise the Executive and Legislative Branches on pertinent issues relating to the military and installations throughout Arizona, to protect the ongoing strategic missions of federal military installations located within Arizona, and to prioritize property applications as part of the administration of the MIF. MAC Membership is comprised of 18 appointed Commissioners representing expertise in military affairs, local elected officials, and private property interests; as well as four Advisory members comprised of the Arizona Adjutant General, the Arizona State Land Commissioner, a federal land use agency, and a military installation commander. MAC members can be viewed here. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ARIZONA’S PRINCIPAL MILITARY OPERATIONS In addition to the capabilities Arizona provides to our national defense, Arizona’s military operations are increasingly important to the state’s economy. They create and support tens of thousands of jobs and generate more than $9 billion in revenue, according to a recent study that details the economic contributions of Arizona’s major military installations. Arizona has increasingly looked at the economic impact of the military, beginning first with the City of Glendale and other political subdivisions and then subsequent state sponsorship of the studies through the Military Affairs Commission and Arizona Commerce Authority. The studies have looked at the impact of the facilities themselves, as well as other economic activity that is generated by their presence. The study included nine military installations in Arizona, the five major bases: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca, Luke Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station — Yuma, and Yuma Proving Grounds, as well as the four National Guard facilities in central and southern Arizona.
UNIFIED ARIZONA VETERANS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman Reggie Yates, Vice Chair Judi Beischel, Secretary Carol Culbertson, Treasurer Bob Hysko, and Newly elected directors Lea and Patrick Young, Terry Araman, Bob Dalpe, Dylan Dalzotto and Rob Welch (the Immediate Past Chair).
GRAND OPENING VETS COMMUNITY CONNECTION
CO-CHAIR COL. THOMAS M. FINNEGAN, USA RET. Sierra Vista, Cochise County Born in Richmond Hill, New York in 1944. Entered the U.S. Army in 1965, served in Vietnam, retired at Ft. Huachuca in 1993 with rank of Colonel. Earned BS degree in accounting under the Army bootstrap program. Past President of Fort Huachuca 50. Member of the Governor’s Military Facilities Task Force and presently serves as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Military Affairs Commission. Active in efforts to protect Arizona military installations during the Base Realignment and Closure deliberations. Established Team Cochise for health care, education and employment of active military, veterans, and spouses. CO-CHAIR LISA ATKINS Arizona State Land Commissioner Arizona’s State Land Commissioner oversees millions of acres of land held in trust to benefit schools and other public institutions. Governor Ducey appointed Lisa Atkins as land commissioner, a post that includes heading up the Land Department and its administration of trust land. Atkins served on the Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business advocacy group, and is also a member of the board that oversees the Central Arizona Project aqueduct system. She formerly served more than 20 years as chief of staff for former Arizona Congressman Bob Stump and also was executive director of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona. BRIG. GEN. R. THOMAS BROWNING, USAF RET. Member at Large; Sierra Vista, Cochise County Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1941. Graduated US Air Force Academy in 1964. Shot down over Vietnam in 1966; was held as a POW until 1973. Retired as Commander of the 58th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, in 1992 with rank of Brigadier General. Became CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc. Serves on the board of Science Foundation Arizona; Embry Aeronautical University; ASU Technopolis, Veteran’s Medical Leadership Council. Past Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona; past Director of Valley of the Sun United Way. Member of the Governor’s Military Affairs Commission, and Council on Workforce Policy.
LT. GENERAL ROBERT JOHNSTON, USMC RET. Tucson, Pima County He immigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland, to the USA at 18 years old. After graduating from college in 1961, he became a US citizen and joined the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, in which he served until his retirement in 1995. Lt. General Johnston served two tours in Vietnam followed by a number of assignments in both staff and command. During the Persian Gulf War he was the Chief of Staff to General Norman Schwarzkopf. In 1991, he commanded a 24-nation multinational force in Somalia and was subsequently assigned as the Marine Corps Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower. He is presently on the Governor of Arizona Military Affairs Commission, a Board Member of the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Tucson Airport Authority and an active member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council. CAPTAIN MATTHEW J. KENNEY, US ARMY, RET. Phoenix, Maricopa County Born in Tucson. Graduated from Arizona State University in 2007 and ASU Law School in 2016. He served as a US Army Infantry officer in Iraq. Served as the Arizona Director for the Concerned Veterans for America and served as the Director of A Secure Arizona, and he is currently the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party.
MONSIGNOR RICHARD W. O'KEEFFE Yuma, Yuma County Monsignor Richard W. O'Keeffe was born in Ireland and is the founder of the Yuma Catholic High School. Since June 1978 the Monsignor, a man of great integrity, energy and sincerity, has faithfully served Yuma Proving Ground and the Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma as Catholic chaplain. He drove from town most Sundays to celebrate mass at the post chapel and at least one weekday each week to make visits, perform counseling, conduct baptisms, and perform other duties carried out by a chaplain. He represents a rare combination of judgment, fidelity to truth,intellectual force, and clarity of interpretation. COL REBECCA N. SEEGER, USAF RET. Flagstaff, Coconino County Col. Rebecca N. Seeger, US Air Force, retired in 2011 after 30 years of active duty service. Seeger worked as an electrical engineer and program manager for the Air Force. Over her three decades of service, Seeger held numerous roles including working with the Air Force Inspector General Office and serving as Commander of the Defensive Contract Management Agency where she oversaw 11 states. Colonel Seeger was the Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency Twin Cities. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, upon retirement, she returned to Flagstaff. Today, she does volunteer work with NAU athletics and the High Country Veterans Stand Down, and serves on the Coconino County Joint Land Use Study Committee.
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ESTABLISHING SERVICE CONNECTION FOR HEARING LOSS
Established in 1977 to improve the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing residents, ACDHH serves as a statewide information referral center for issues related to people with hearing loss and aspires to be a national leader in communication access, support services and empowerment of communities throughout the state. The purpose of the organization, and its commissioners, is to ensure, in partnership with the public and private sector, accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing to improve their quality of life. www.acdhh.org.
Arizona Relay Service (AZRS) is a public service provided by the State of Arizona and administered by the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH). AZRS makes communication by telephone easy, accessible, reliable and convenient for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or have difficulty speaking. www.azrelay.org.
by Amanda Dejesus For most veterans, having to deal with hearing loss and tinnitus is quite common. As of the year 2014, the VA noted that 933,000 veterans were being compensated for hearing loss and almost 1.3 million veterans were compensated for tinnitus. That statistic is alarmingly high. A veteran with either of these two conditions may be wondering what is needed to establish service connection: www.hillandponton.com/establishing-serviceconnection/for hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Tinnitus is a noise that you hear in your ears, such as a buzzing or ringing that happens again and again, or consistently. The only rating available for tinnitus is 10%. A 10% rating will be assigned whether you have ringing in one ear or in both ears, you cannot receive a 20% rating due to tinnitus in both ears. However, there can be a higher percentage available for those whose condition is so severe that it is debilitating or prevents you from working. You may be able to seek an extra schedular rating for your tinnitus in excess of the 10 percent limit in the Schedule of Impairment Ratings. Hearing loss is defined as any degree of impairment of the ability to comprehend sound. If you are diagnosed with both hearing loss and tinnitus, you may be entitled to one separate rating for hearing loss and another separate rating for tinnitus. WHAT IS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH SERVICE CONNECTION: 1. A current diagnosis of a hearing condition 2. Evidence of an event that caused the condition, and 3. A medical opinion linking the current hearing condition to the event in service or nexus. Along with the list above, two types of tests are needed to prove a claim for hearing loss. These tests will include a
controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a pure tone audiometry test. The Maryland CNC test is a particular word list that is used to test your ability to hear spoken words. A pure tone audiometry test is different tones that must be detected at varying frequencies (low frequencies to high frequencies). Even if you only claim hearing loss in one ear, both ears should be tested. Examinations will be conducted without the use of hearing aids. This will prevent any biased results. These tests should be performed by a state licensed audiologist. The VA will take the auditory test results and, use a numerical formula, to determine the actual rating that will be assigned. This formula can be found in Section 4.85 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Typical ratings for hearing loss are 0% or 10%, but severe or profound hearing loss can qualify for a higher rating. Tinnitus is one of the most claimed disabilities when it comes to applying for compensation. Hearing loss comes in at a close second. This statistic comes from the 2015 Annual Benefits Report. The report shows that 9.6 percent of veterans claimed tinnitus and about 5.2 percent of veterans claimed hearing loss. Yet, these two disabilities will be denied time and time again. The bottom line is that it is very important to have the three components mentioned earlier to establish service connection for hearing loss and/or tinnitus: a current diagnosis, evidence of an event that caused the condition, and a medical opinion linking the current hearing condition to the event in service or nexus. Any veteran struggling with tinnitus and/or hearing loss, should not give up or become discouraged if they are denied the first time or even the second time around. This is a real issue for many veterans. Hopefully, this information will help in the initial process when trying to establish service connection for tinnitus and/or hearing loss.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS? According to the Hearing Health Foundation, hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the top 3 injuries sustained by active duty military. A VA study reported hearing loss as the most common service-related disability amongst veterans. Most veterans with hearing loss will qualify under new expanded VA criteria to receive top-of-the-line hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive communication devices like special telephones, free of charge. Any veteran with hearing loss should check with the VA about their eligibility. In addition, in Arizona, there are many assistive technologies available for free through the Arizona Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program. WHAT CAUSES HEARING LOSS AND CAN IT BE TREATED? While age is certainly a contributing factor, most hearing loss is caused by prolonged, repetitive exposure to loud sounds and noise. Different types of occupational and recreational noise exposure include: warfare, construction or mechanic jobs, motorcycles, or even things like concerts and MP3 players. All of these can produce decibel levels that exceed safe limits and, over time, can cause hearing loss. If you are experiencing any signs of hearing loss or if you think you have hearing loss, see your doctor or a licensed hearing healthcare professional in order to assess the degree of hearing loss, to treat it, and to determine a plan to prevent further loss. There are many assistive technologies, available for free through Arizona Relay Service or the Arizona Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program, that can help you with your hearing, keeping you connected to your friends and family. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A HEARING LOSS? Many people may notice possible signs of hearing loss throughout their daily activities. Some signs to look for include: • Frequently ask others to repeat themselves • Often turn or cup an ear towards a sound • Feel the need to look directly at faces to better understand what’s said • Keep the volume on the TV or radio at a level that others say is too loud • Experience episodes of pain or ringing in your ears, especially if accompanied with dizziness • Notice that some sounds remain clear while others are harder to discern Tips for a person with a hearing loss to communicate in a group setting When in a small or large group setting it can be difficult to communicate and an individual with a hearing loss can feel isolated and alone. To help avoid these feelings try these tips: • Inform friends and family about the best way to communicate with you • Anticipate difficult situations and plan how to minimize them. If in a noisy environment pull the person aside for a one-on-one conversation • Set a time limit so you don’t become exhausted and unable to handle the situation • Pay attention and concentrate on the speaker • Look for visual clues and ask for written cues if needed • Let the speaker know how well he or she is conveying the information • Communicate to others when you don’t understand what they are saying • If you’re too tired to concentrate, ask for discussion later WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING? It is important to protect your hearing because in most cases, once you start to experience a loss, your hearing can’t come back. But, hearing loss is preventable. Here are just a few tips from the on how to protect your ears and keep hearing loss at bay: • Keep the volume on televisions, music, radios and cell phones turned down to a moderate level. • Smoking toxins can negatively affect a person’s hearing ability. Don’t smoke. • Get your hearing and your child’s hearing checked routinely. • Wear ear plugs and other protective gear when operating noisy equipment. • Take regular breaks from loud noise – at least a10-minute break every hour. • Avoid unhealthy eating. A poor diet increases the chances of being diagnosed with diabetes and thus puts an individual at a greater risk of developing hearing loss. GENERAL EAR HEALTH TIPS AND ADVICE Pay close attention to your hearing. If you start to notice a hearing loss, see a doctor right away. Untreated hearing loss may lead to dementia and other diagnoses. According to the American Academy of Audiology more than 19 million Americans over the age of 45 experience some type of hearing loss. People with untreated hearing loss often feel depressed, sad, lonely, and as if they have lost something.
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BLINDED AND VISION IMPAIRED VETERANS
Losing the ability to see through your own eyes is something that cannot be imagined; those outside of this world may never fully understand it. The frustrations of developing visual impairment as an adult can be daunting.
VA’S REHAB CENTER HELPS VISION IMPAIRED
“The most destructive part of losing one’s sight is the feeling of incompetence. I’ve broken or cracked more than half of my set of drinking glasses by dropping or knocking them over. I vacuum up electrical cords Blinded Veteran Michael Jernigan because I forgot to check for them. I’ve and his Guide Dog Brittani. walked into people by accident. I’ve stepped on my cats too many times to mention, and I’m afraid that one of them holds a grudge.” — Mike Jernigan “I completed a 16-week blind rehabilitation program at the VA. This was the most instrumental step on my path back to independence. There I learned how to clean a house, do my laundry, iron my own clothes and even cook my own meals, which is a great thing because I am a very talented cook. I learned how to do maintenance around the house to include rewiring a lamp and fixing the plumbing underneath the sink. As part of my manual skills instruction I completed a couple of woodworking projects. This program has taught me that even without sight I can lead a very productive life.” “Although suffering from my injuries might seem like an unfortunate incident, it has provided me with many great opportunities to better myself. I have taken advantage of the ones that interest me the most and look forward to any more that may cross my path.” — Mike Jernigan
VA BLIND REHABILITATION SERVICE (BRS) provides world-class rehabilitation programs for veterans and servicemembers with visual impairment. VA implemented a progressive plan in 2009 to provide vision and blind rehabilitation to veterans and Servicemembers, who have earliest vision loss to total blindness. BRS sponsors programs such as “White Cane Day,” to help people who are sighted better understand the onset of blindness. During these events, BRS representatives educate the sighted through activities such as walking with a white cane while blindfolded, wearing devices that simulate visual impairment, and exploring the technologies that help blind veterans remain independent. Helping people to understand how the blind successfully function helps them to better appreciate the accomplishments and independence of blind people.
by Paula Pedene When people ask me about the problem with my eyesight I tell them I have Retinitis Pigmentosa and to help “break the ice”, I often share a few analogies: “There are three million people in the US living with Retinitis Pigmentosa, so that’s like the city of Phoenix all being blind or legally blind.” “No I don’t drive anymore. My cane just isn’t long enough to reach the street from the car.” All kidding aside, dealing with vision loss is a constant reminder of the importance of what it means to develop character in adversity. Studies show that Retinitis Pigmentosa occurs in about 1 of every 4,000 people in the United States and there are nearly 32 different forms of the disease. It typically causes night blindness and tunnel vision. In managing my disability, I feel fortunate as a Navy Veteran to have access to VA services and recently went through the dual program at the Southwest Blind Rehab Center at the Tucson VA Medical Center, which is part of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) located in Tucson, AZ. The Veteran centric approach to care helped me put distance between myself and the darkness I sometimes find. Wide Range of Services: The Center is led by Diana Kellermeyer. She and supervisory blind rehabilitation staff lead five teams of instructors who cover an extensive gamut of services including: Mobility training and orientation to help learn the use of the white cane and other assistive techniques; Technology classes to help students learn how to use accessibility features on computers, smart phones, tablets and other assistive devices; Daily living skills including safety in the kitchen while cutting food and using stoves, tricks on how to measure food/liquids, reading through the use of a device called a victor reader, talking clocks and more; Manual skills in arts and crafts to help improve fine motor skills, learning how to use equipment safely especially tools for woodwork, and home repairs; Low vision training helps me scan a room effectively to optimize the sight I have, learning ideal distances from the computer and learning how to read body language cues through the eyes since my vision often blocks out a portion of a person’s face; Counseling to assist in any personal adjustments to vision loss through individual and group therapy meetings; A thorough optometry exam to include prescriptions, best sunglasses to reduce glare and enhance vision, etc.; Nursing care for those who need assistance during the program; A recreational component including night time activities, outings, visits to various Veterans Service Organizations and an overall uplifting sentiment. I was part of the “Chili Pepper” team supervised by Brenda Miller Stockton. My team facilitator was Charles (Alex) Smith who worked with me on mobility and technology. Denise Omdahl assisted with manual skills like woodworking. Deb Nore supported me through living skills and Terry Moss helped me improve my low vision skills. This integrated approach reminded me of a saying by Helen Keller, the deaf & blind American author, political activist and lecturer — “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” “The innovative attitude from our director allows us as instructors to better understand our student’s lives, goals, and how training in one area of blind rehab overlaps into other areas of blind rehab,” said Smith. “This enhances our understanding as instructors and functionally allows our Veterans to understand how to use their training from all their classes together–not isolated from one another.” Employees with Positive Attitude is Key: The teams were veteran centric and “empowered”. So I asked Kellermeyer her leadership insights on building such collaborative teams. “First, I look for the right person for the job,” she said. “Then I let them tell me what they need to do to help each veteran. I keep our staff engaged through coaching, mentoring, and cross training. I strive to build people for the good of the organization, to be innovative, and I ready them for wherever their future may lead. I’ve found hiring employees with a positive attitude is key.” The training through VA’s Southwest Blind Rehab Center will help me by utilizing proper cane techniques (I was a bit rusty) in my mobility, in using adaptive guidelines through my daily living skills, and developing enhanced computer skills through assistive technology. But perhaps the most memorable experiences is the camaraderie of fellow veterans through an inpatient setting. I met a World War II veteran who earned the Silver Star, and another who landed on Utah beach during the Normandy invasion. I met a Korean War veteran who handled artillery. I met several Vietnam veterans, two with Purple Hearts. And I met several other Veterans from different conflicts all dealing with vision loss. In close quarters we were able to share our fears, our challenges and our hopes. The program gave us the chance to renew our spirit of courage and strength to carry on. Paula Pedene, VHA Office of Communications, is a Fellow of the Public Relations Society of America, a distinction for service to community, excellent demonstration of Public Relations and service to the society for at least 20 years. She is also a VHA Certified Mentor. l
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The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE is proud to announce that we are having the magazine converted to Braille to allow people who are blind or vision impaired to be able to read the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE.
March 28th was National Blinded Veterans Day recognizing and honoring blind veterans across the United States. This is to inform and educate about blindness, as well as recognizing the thousands of wounded veterans returning with visual impairments due to eye and brain injuries. Each year additional veterans lose sight beyond the category of legal blindness. More info: Jhenni Morrow, President, Arizona Blinded Veterans 480-444-6827. www.azblindedveterans.org
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DIABETES PREVENTION
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THE HEALTH RISKS OF SUGARY DRINKS
A lawsuit filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer-advocacy group, claims that Coca-Cola and industry group the American Beverage Association have misled customers regarding the health risks of consuming sugary drinks such as soda. “Each year, Coca-Cola reaps huge profits from the sale of its sugar-sweetened beverages,” the suit reads. “Each year, Coca-Cola spends billions of dollars on misleading and deceptive promotions and advertising that have enormous appeal to consumers, including children, which advertising effects persist over years.” The suit specifically takes issue with Coca-Cola and the ABA's emphasis on “calories in, calories out” and exercise as the best ways to manage health, which CSPI argues ignores scientific evidence linking sugar-sweetened drinks to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The suit additionally claims Coca-Cola purposefully misled Americans on the health risks of drinking soda by funding research that downplays the dangers of sugary beverages, a practice the company ended after public criticism. The ABA has long argued the obesity is a “complex condition,” pointing to the fact that obesity and diabetes rates have increased in recent years, despite the fact that soda consumption is dropping. Coca-Cola has similarly claimed that soda can be part of a balanced diet, promoting exercise and smaller bottles as solutions to potential health issues. “This lawsuit is legally and factually meritless,” Coca-Cola said in a statement. “We take our consumers and their health very seriously and have been on a journey to become a more credible and helpful partner in helping consumers manage their sugar consumption.” The company said that it has worked to improve products' nutrition by adopting front-of-pack calorie labeling, expanding low- and no-calorie products, reformulating products to reduce added sugars, and being more transparent in regards to disclosing funding. Coca-Cola also said it does not advertise to children under 12. “America’s beverage companies know we have an important role to play in addressing our nation’s health challenges. That’s why we’re engaging with health groups and community organizations to drive a reduction in the sugar and calories Americans get from beverages,” the ABA said in a statement. “Unfounded accusations like these won’t do anything to address health concerns, but the actions we’re taking, particularly in areas where obesity rates are among the highest, can make a difference.” CSPI is demanding that Coca-Cola and the ABA disclose files on potential health implications of consuming sugar-sweetened drinks, fund a public health education campaign, and end advertising aimed at children as well as marketing that implies drinking sugary beverage is not linked to health problems. Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest
THE CASE AGAINST SUGAR
Amazingly eye-opening, and truly terrifying. It’s hard to grasp the huge impact of refined sugar on human evolution, and — once again — thanks to greedy lobbies, we happily march towards our doom, so that the sugar industry barons may continue to enjoy the profits of providing us with our drug of choice. It’s unbelievable that governments try to regulate recreational drugs, at the same time when one of the most toxic inventions of humanity is virtually promoted as a healthy alternative to the “oh-so-dangerous” fat. According to Gary Taubes, sugar causes just about every “disease of Western civilization “Taubes helps us understand how to make better decisions regarding sugar as individuals and as a nation.” — Library Journal
DIABETES PREVENTION is one of the core missions of the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE. There has been an 800% increase in diabetes from 1960 to present in the USA. One in four veterans are diabetic or pre-diabetic. And are not aware that they have the condition. GERSON THERAPY was developed by Dr. Max Gerson in 1928 was one of the first natural cancer therapeutics and has been used to treat cancer patients for more than 80 years. Rooted in an organic, plant-based diet, raw juices, coffee enemas, and natural supplements, the Gerson Therapy’s mission is to restore the body’s ability to heal itself.
NICOS — A VA MOVE! PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY Nicos served 11 years in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and Cryptologic Technician Interpreter. He completed the MOVE! program in 2014 and had elective weight loss surgery in 2015. He has maintained a 130 pound weight loss and recently met his goal weight to qualify for a knee replacement surgery. He stated the program taught him to make sustainable food and physical activity changes that promote weight loss. He feels younger and has more energy which has offered more opportunities in life. He was recently on a cruise and went on a zip line which before wouldn't have happened because of his weight. His advice to other veterans: be selfish, take control of your food, your body and physical activity choices. It is not impossible!
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CARBOHYDRATES NOT ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Diabetes can be prevented and reversed with carbohydrate diet. According to a new comprehensive financial analysis reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association and The Washington Post diabetes leads a list of just 20 diseases and conditions that account for more than half of all spending on healthcare in the United States. US spending on diabetes diagnosis and treatment totaled $101 billion in 2013, and has grown 36 times faster than spending on heart disease, the country’s No. 1 cause of death, researchers reported. University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor of Nutrition Barbara Gower, Ph.D., conducts research on diet composition and disease risk and says that diabetes can both be prevented and reversed with a carbohydrate restricted diet. Type 2 diabetes can be managed with diet alone in many cases. However, this message is not getting to the patients; they are told to take drugs. A clinic at UAB treats diabetics with a diet that dramatically reduces carbohydrates. In most cases, patients can eliminate all medication. “They are thrilled to stop injecting insulin, and they question why “no one ever told them” they could control their diabetes diet alone,” Gower said. “The conventional advise to diabetics is to eat carbs, and then inject insulin — or take other drugs. Why do this? “The medication is needed because diabetes is a disease of carbohydrate intolerance; if the patient does not eat carbs, they do not have to use medication,” she said. “I use the ‘cigarette’ analogy. We know it is bad to smoke, so we tell patents not to smoke. Why don’t we do the same thing with sugar and processed starches? The excuse I hear is that ‘people won’t stop eating sugar and starches.’ However, by the same analogy, we could have thrown up our hands and said, ‘people can’t give up smoking.’” “We need to treat diabetes like lung cancer and COPD; all of these diseases are preventable with lifestyle,” Gower said. “Further, even with established, long-term, type 2 diabetes, it can be managed with diet. It is not impossible to eat a low-carb diet that is healthful and satisfying. We do it all the time, and we teach our patients to do it. They love it. “Carbohydrates are not essential nutrients for the human body, and with proper instruction, patients can adjust their diets to minimize them.” Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham
CLOSE TO 25 PERCENT OF VA PATIENTS HAVE DIABETES
Nearly one in four veterans receiving care from VA has diabetes. This is partly attributable to the older average age of veterans compared to the general US population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly 26 million people, or about 8 percent of the US population, have diabetes. That includes about 11 million persons 65 and older, or about 27 percent of seniors. In the United States, about one-in-four persons with diabetes are not aware that they have the condition. While exact numbers are not available, it is likely that the number is lower for veterans receiving regular VA primary care. However, many veterans of all ages are at risk for diabetes because of the high rate of obesity and those who are overweight, estimated at over 70 percent of veterans receiving VA care. WEIGHT LOSS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY An individual does not have to achieve drastic weight loss. Losing about five percent of one’s weight will help. In recent studies, a weight loss and exercise program was more effective than medication in both younger and older individuals. The medication was not effective in persons older than 60. The VA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program is available to all veterans who are overweight or obese and for whom weight management is appropriate. It supports veterans in developing plans that work for them to lose or maintain weight through balanced diet, physical activity, and behavior change approaches. For the MOVE! program to be tailored to the individual’s needs, the veteran can complete a 23 item questionnaire. More info: www.move.VA.gov. MOVE! is available in multiple convenient formats including group sessions, telephone-based care, and a new home messaging program called TeleMOVE! which uses the telephone line, provides daily support, and is interfaced with a scale for weekly home weigh-ins. Talk with your Primary Care Team about MOVE!. Although the focus of American Diabetes Month is to identify individuals at higher risk for developing diabetes, it is important to remind persons who already have diabetes of the importance of weight loss and physical activity in managing diabetes. Additionally, persons with diabetes or at risk for diabetes should manage other conditions, such as hypertension or high lipid levels, appropriately, and if they have diabetes, they should be screened at regular intervals for early signs of kidney, foot or eye conditions. DIABETES AND AGENT ORANGE Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of the diseases VA presumes is associated with exposure to herbicides, such as Agent Orange. Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange do not have to prove a connection between their type 2 diabetes mellitus and military service to be eligible for VA benefits. Healthy eating habits and exercise can help prevent this chronic disease.
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DR. RALPH MOSS AND THE POLITICS BEHIND FINDING A CURE FOR CANCER
by Dr. Joeseph Mercola If you are old enough, you might recall a controversy in the early 1970s regarding the compound Laetrile, purported to prevent the spread of cancer. New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was ground zero in that firestorm. In the early 1970s, America’s war on cancer was in full force, and Sloan Kettering was regarded as one of the world’s leading cancer research centers. But Sloan Kettering’s Board of Directors swept positive findings about Laetrile under the rug when it became unprofitable and publicly unpopular for them to support it. Their Laetrile research was done under their own roof by one of the world’s most respected cancer researchers of the day—Dr. Kanematsu Sugiura. One person—and only one—has come forward with the truth about what turned out to be one of the most reprehensible cover-ups in the history of cancer research. In 1974, young science writer Ralph Moss had just netted his first big-time job in Sloan Kettering’s public relations department, but he soon found himself smack dab in the middle of the Laetrile fiasco. In July 1977, Moss was no longer willing to lie on behalf of his employer, so he exposed the truth about Sloan Kettering’s conduct at a highly publicized press conference. The next business day he was fired and swiftly escorted to the door by armed guards. This story is personally recounted in a new documentary Second Opinion: Laetrile at Sloan Kettering, in which Moss reveals the full extent of the Laetrile cover-up, in its entirety, as an insider. He’s also written a book about it, called “Doctored Results”. Eric Merola is an award winning documentarian whose prior work includes Burzynski: The Movie and Burzynski — Cancer is Serious Business, Part II. The experience was life changing for Ralph Moss, who has since devoted his career to independently evaluating the claims of conventional and nonconventional cancer treatments. WHAT IS LAETRILE? Laetrile is the patented drug made from the natural compound amygdalin, found in the seeds of many fruits, such as apricot, plum and peach pits, apple seeds, and quince, as well as in almonds. Laetrile is also known as Amigdalina B-17 or vitamin B17, although there is very little evidence it warrants classification as a vitamin. Amygdalin contains glucose, benzaldehyde, and cyanide. Cyanide is believed to be the active cancer-toxic ingredient in Laetrile. However, cyanide is toxic to all cells, so Laetrile’s overall toxicity is a concern. Some Laetrile proponents claim that it’s more toxic to cancer cells than to normal cells. Getting cyanide poisoning from apple seeds or almonds is extremely unlikely. In 1924, Laetrile was synthesized from amygdalin and promoted as a cancer treatment. By 1978, it was estimated that more than 70,000 Americans had tried it—despite its being banned in the US since 1963. Most people obtain Laetrile from Tijuana clinics, as the agent is still legal in Mexico. DR. SUGIURA’S RESEARCH: Dr. Kanematsu Sugiura spent most of his career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, authoring more than 250 papers and receiving numerous awards, including the highest honors from the Japan Medical Association for outstanding contributions in cancer research. While studying Laetrile, which was previously written off as “quack medicine,” Dr. Sugiura discovered Laetrile to have very positive effects in preventing the spread of malignant lung tumors in laboratory mice. In control groups, which received only plain saline, the lung tumors spread in 80 to 90 percent of the animals. But in those given Laetrile, the tumors spread in only 10 to 20 percent. THE COVER-UP: By 1974, the findings were so positive that Sloan Kettering had signed off on clinical trials—but suddenly everything changed. The center began shifting their Laetrile experiments away from Dr. Sugiura to other scientists. But every time new experiments even hinted at a positive outcome, the research was scrapped, for ridiculous reasons. Even the scientists at Sloan Kettering who had previously been supportive of Sugiura’s studies began to characterize Laetrile as a fraud — yet nothing had changed scientifically to negate Sugiura’s findings. Despite the opposition, Dr. Sugiura stood firmly by his work. Ralph Moss had befriended Dr. Sugiura from the beginning of his employment at Sloan Kettering, and Sugiura had excitedly shared his findings about Laetrile with Moss. When things went south, Moss was suddenly caught in a dilemma. His only choices were to lie, in order to support his employer, or tell the truth and sacrifice his job and potentially his career. He tried leaking the documents of Sugiura’s work to the editor of the New York Times, but they never saw the light of day. Ultimately, Moss chose to come clean at a press conference in July 1977, which ended up being the final day of his employment at Sloan Kettering. He was admonished to never set foot in the facility again. What happened to cause this sudden, drastic shift about Laetrile? Just prior to the Laetrile controversy, Sloan Kettering was already reeling in embarrassment from research fraud, courtesy of dermatologist William T. Summerlin. In 1974, Summerlin was supposedly studying transplantation immunology and claimed to have successfully performed the first skin transplant from a black mouse onto a white mouse — quite a scientific feat, as they were genetically unrelated animals. Shortly thereafter, technicians noticed that the black “pigmentation” on the white mice wiped off with a cotton swab, tipping them off that Summerlin had merely colored the skin patch with a black permanent marker. Further investigation revealed that many of Summerlin’s prior studies were equally bogus. Sloan Kettering did not want to be in the spotlight for anything else even remotely resembling quackery, and Laetrile was considered too controversial. The problem was compounded by the fact that the pro-Laetrile movement had been commandeered by the extreme right wing John Birch Society, with whom the center did not want to be associated. And then, you must consider
the individuals comprising Sloan Kettering’s Board of Directors. According to Ralph Moss, the Laetrile cover-up really only makes sense when viewed through the lens of “the politics of cancer.” According to Moss: “The individuals on Sloan Kettering’s Board of Directors were a ‘Who's Who’ of investors in petrochemical and other polluting industries. In other words, the hospital was being run by people who made their wealth by investing in the worst cancer-causing things on the planet.” The Board was dominated by CEOs from top pharmaceutical companies that produce cancer drugs, whose interest was in promoting chemotherapy and undermining natural therapies. For example, both the Chairman and Vice President of Bristol-Myers Squibb (the world’s leading manufacturer of chemotherapy drugs) occupied high positions on the Board. Of the nine members of the hospital’s powerful Institutional Policy Committee, seven had ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Even the hospital itself invested in stock of these drug companies. The Board also included directors of the biggest tobacco companies in the US — Phillip Morris and RJR Nabisco. Moss writes: “With this background in mind, it should come as no surprise to learn that Sugiura’s findings did not please his employer. What goes on inside the laboratories is generally of little interest to board members. It is assumed that, whatever it is, it will result in a new patented drug that will keep the cash flow moving in their direction. They were slow to pick up on the implications of Sugiura’s work, but when they did, all hell broke loose in the board room. If a cure for cancer were to be found in an extract from the lowly apricot seed, it would be a terrible economic blow to the cancer-drug industry.” Related to this is one very telling quote that comes near the end of the film, attributed to William W. Vodra, the former Associate Chief Counsel for Drugs at the USFDA: “Nobody is going to pay $70,000 for a new cancer drug if they can buy Laetrile for 75 cents.” The Sloan Kettering Board likely realized that Laetrile offered no hope as a profitable cancer treatment—so it had to be squelched. Despite contemporary research findings, you will find no retraction (or apology) by Sloan Kettering, and sadly, the vast majority of cancer information sites claim that Laetrile is useless as a cancer treatment. Laetrile was a lost opportunity. This type of misinformation is rampant in the industry, and the people who really suffer are those battling cancer and denied access to treatments that could potentially save them or extend their lives. The facts show that Dr. Sugiura was both competent and honest, but instead of accolades, he received nothing but grief because he just happened to step into the middle of a political hornets’ nest.
“Nobody is going to pay $70,000 for a new cancer drug if they can buy Laetrile for 75 cents.”
ALTERNATIVE CANCER STRATEGIES
DR. MOSS IS OFFERING VETERANS A HALF-PRICE DISCOUNT FOR THE MOSS REPORTS which contain approximately 500 pages of comprehensive, up-to-date information on conventional, integrative, experimental, complementary, dietary, and alternative cancer treatments. The Moss Reports provide a very readable, yet detailed, explanation of 36 particular cancer diagnoses. The normal price of a report is $297, but veterans are entitled to the half price of $145. To order: www.newcancerfoundation.org In each Moss report the veteran will find analysis of standard treatments, such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, their effectiveness, pluses and drawbacks Information on conventional, integrative, experimental, complementary, CAM, dietary, and alternative cancer treatments that have been scientifically validated. There is also a listing of which treatments lack scientific credibility. A discussion of major dietary changes that are associated with decreasing the aggressiveness of cancer cells, stimulating the immune system, and killing cancer stem cells. Diet that helps to prevent and suppress cancer description of the newest conventional and alternative methods of cancer treatment details and analysis of conventional and alternative cancer treatment centers in the US and worldwide. Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D also offers one-hour telephone consultations to help patients and their caregivers individualize their cancer treatment. In the phone consultation, he will draw on his 40 years of experience in visiting innovative cancer treatment centers and clinics around the world to make individualized suggestions for your particular situation. Veterans are advised to visit www.cancerdecisions.com to order your report. For more info contact Evelyn Rose at: evelyn@cancerdecisions.com “If cancer specialists were to admit publicly that chemotherapy is of limited usefulness and is often dangerous, the public might demand a radical change in direction — possibly toward unorthodox and nontoxic methods, and toward cancer prevention. The use of chemotherapy is even advocated by those members of the establishment who realize how ineffective and dangerous it can be.” — Ralph W. Moss
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ARIZONA VETERANS MAGAZINE
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VA ART SHOW WINNERS — HEALING THROUGH ART
2017 COMPLETE WINNERS LIST
MUSIC: Earl Kelly, William Roberts DRAMA: Richard Lane, Garden Club DANCE: Miriam Rosa-Cummo CREATIVE WRITING: Stacy King, Warner Scott, John Zielinski, Chad Fortna Warner Scott, Michael O’Gwynn, Charles Tharp, Lucy Wong, John Sullivan ART: Katherine Mayora, Stan Parker, Jacquelyn Ricker, Sonny Lane Larry Maennche, Stan Parker, Tegan Willden, Michael Rioux, Chad Fortna Paul Beasley, Marshall Richardson, Ted Stong, Mitchell Caviness John Shackter, Robert Shelton, Terry Green, Charles McKinney Harrison Gilbert, Gina Ruggiero, Ross Edson, Michael O’Gwynn Gina Ruggiero, Katherine Mayora, Mabeline Morgan, Anthony Canyon Katherine Mayora, Debra Hopkins, Doug Lott, Eyvan Warren, Mitchell Caviness, Steve Kostiw, Bert Marley, Darlene Odeen, Charles Anderer Julie Cole-McCarter, Darlene Odeen, Michael O’Gwynn, Cynthia Hutto Tofe Eslava, Ross Edson, Barbara Jeter, Steve Garza, Elmer Roehler Paul Navarro, Jacquelyn Ricker, Tofe Eslava, LeManuel Tsinajinnie Easaw Williams, Paul Navarro, Steve Kostiw, Julie Cole-McCarter Barbara Jeter, Julie Cole-McCarter, Cecil Vallejo
VA SEXUAL ASSAULT ART SHOW Emotional Healing through Self-Expression
WORDCOMMANDOS: VETERANS HEAL FROM WRITING
by Rachel Mindell Robert Morgan Fisher is a writer, musician and teacher whose father served as a naval flight officer. Twice per week, Fisher meets with veterans for two hours in a VA conference room. Fisher is dedicated to teaching both creative techniques and professional skills — he supports writing in all genres, teaches editing and shows veterans how to send out work for publication. Writing has therapeutic significance for veterans with PTSD The VA has demonstrated a dedication to programs like the Wordcommando class. Other offerings focused on creative expression have included visual art, jewelry-making and Tai Chi. The VA acknowledges the importance of providing for creativity and a sense of accomplishment. “There’s something about articulating on a page what you’re feeling or what you went through, even indirectly. PTSD impacts self-confidence and confidence in the world,” said Fisher. One therapeutic approach to PTSD, exposure therapy, is naturally related to writing, whereby the patient revisits and retells a traumatic memory to strip it of power. What people can’t talk about, they may be willing to write down, but this can take time. He wouldn’t even talk about those things but now he’s writing about them. It’s giving him power over this trauma,” said Fisher. Although many of his students write about war experiences, Fisher encourages them to write about other topics as well. Not only is this a great escape, but their writing affords readers a unique perspective. “The world needs to hear from you,” Fisher tells them. “They need to hear conventional stories through your eyes, because your eyes see things theirs don’t.” Fisher also emphasizes humor – in fact, he’s about to teach a course dedicated to that topic. “I have a strong belief that even in the most dramatic and dark stories, humor plays a very strong part. Wordcommandos respond to this really well. There’s something highly honorable about maintaining your sense of humor in battle.” Editor’s note: The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE is seeking to establish a WordCommandos class at the Phoenix VA.
ARIZONA CAPITOL MUSEUM
GEORGE BUSH PAINTS PORTRAITS OF COURAGE
“Over the past several months, I've painted the portraits of 98 wounded warriors I've gotten to know — remarkable men and women who were injured carrying out my orders. I think about them on Veterans Day and every day. Their paintings and stories will be featured in PORTRAITS OF COURAGE — a book and special exhibit next spring, and I am donating all my proceeds to the George W. Bush Presidential Center and our Military Service Initiative's work to honor and support them.” — George W. Bush Learn more at www.georgewbushbooks.com
THE ARIZONA ART ALLIANCE veteran art program continues to grow in scope and size. Primarily because creating art is fun, relaxing and therapeutic. The 10 valley locations, have provided fine art instructions to 1,080 men and women veterans in 2016. The monthly art classes allow a continuing bond and friendship between Veterans, art instructors and their helpers is an additional benefit to the fine art instructions. This relationship has helped veterans to “open-up” communications by sharing many of their daily struggles. Many of the conversations are about how art has helped to control and cope with issues of anger, anxiety, frustration and loneliness. Meeting other Veterans with similar issues in a non-clinical, non-judgmental and in a warm and friendly environment is a big part of the programs’ benefits. The program is designed with an open-ended participation, no stress, no set number of lessons, evaluation or judgement to achieve a passing grade. Students regularly remind us of our motto “Enriching Veterans’ Lives through Art”, has helped them to integrate more comfortably within their community. More info: 602-870-7610. www.azartalliance.com
If you’ve been to the State Capitol grounds recently, you may have noticed some changes under the copper dome. The Arizona Capitol Museum, a division of the Secretary of State, has experienced quite the transformation since Secretary Michele Reagan assumed office in January of 2015. It started with an enhanced mission to “celebrate Arizona’s vibrant cultural heritage through history.” The new direction has enabled museum staff to expand their efforts beyond Arizona’s governmental past. Last fall, the museum welcomed a temporary exhibition of documents and artifacts from the town of Tombstone’s earliest days in local collector, James Melikian’s, Legends of the West. In October, a permanent installation on the history and work of the Arizona Judicial Branch, complete with a replica judge’s bench built and donated by the Arizona Supreme Court staff. This project completed the Arizona Capitol Museum’s goal of equally representing the three branches of state government. In December, the museum commemorated the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with a one-day-only popup display of rarely seen USS Arizona artifacts including mementos belonging to the crew and items retrieved from the ship. The artifacts complimented the ship’s silver service and a section of the superstructure which are on permanent display. In addition to refreshing the exhibit experience, the historic building now features a full coffee shop — cleverly named Common Grounds — and an expanded Museum Store, freshly stocked with Arizona beer and wine just in time for the holiday season. The Surreal Life of Fife Symington opened in February and chronicles the former Governor’s family life, campaign for Governor, indictment, and eventual pardon by President Bill Clinton. The exhibit is located in the Arizona State Library and will run through the end of May. The Arizona Capitol Museum also expanded a program of traveling art and history exhibits fulfilling their mission to explore the broad scope of the Arizona experience. Recent seasonal exhibits include Get Out the Vote: An Exhibition of Design for Civic Engagement, featuring posters encouraging voting for election season, and At Work in Arizona: The First 100 Years, a photographic retrospective of a century of Arizona business sponsored by the Alliance Bank of Arizona. The museum continues to work with Phoenix’s Sister City, Taipei, to host the work of Taiwanese artists with annual exhibits. This year the museum plans for a new exhibit on voting rights, representation of the 22 Tribal Nations located in Arizona, as well as expansions to the historic Governor and Secretary of State offices, to include current news and information. The Arizona Capitol Museum is also collaborating with other state agencies to highlight their important history. The Arizona Capitol Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturdays (September through May) from 10am to 2pm. Admission is free and tours are available by online reservation for groups of 10 or more. The museum features four floors, more than 20 exhibition areas, and a store showcasing some of Arizona’s finest products. Visit the Arizona Capitol Museum at 1700 W Washington St., Phoenix, 602-926-3620. Shop the Arizona Capitol Museum store: www.azcapitolgifts.com Visit their website: www.azlibrary.gov/azcm BERT MARLEY HAS STARTED A PHOTOGRAPHY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM through Recreational Therapy Department at the Phoenix VA Medical Center. US Navy veteran Bert has been a Freelance Photographer since the early eighties. He has used, everything from 35mm film cameras, digital cameras(point and shoot to DSLR), Medium Format film cameras and 4x5” film cameras. He has shot weddings, portraits, advertising, architectural and landscape photography. To sign up contact Recreational Therapy or Bert directly at: skihikephoto@hotmail.com.
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DES PROVIDES MEANINGFUL WORK TO SUPPORT VETERANS
by Vance Phillips The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is grateful for the bravery of our men and women in uniform. For many, the desire to serve did not stop after they completed their military service. DES is honored to have GREAT active-duty, and military veterans, serving as part of Our GREAT DES. They are able to use the skills they learned in the military to adapt to a new mission, and help those in need overcome their challenges. One of those serviceman is Ronald Enoch. “Adapt to overcome” is a motto that he has lived by his entire life. Enoch is a supervisor for the Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME). He learned how to adapt at an early age. “I was born in Arizona, and then [when I was six] we moved to Omaha, Nebraska,” he said. “A few years later we returned to Arizona.” After graduating from Westwood High School, he enlisted in the Navy, where his brother served. “He would tell about all the different places he visited,” said Enoch, “and I wanted to see the world.” Enoch would serve his country for the next 24 years. He credits his military success to one simple philosophy: “adapt to overcome.” For Enoch, adapting meant serving on a variety of ships. He started on patrol ships and finished on an aircraft carrier, where he performed duties ranging from submarine tracking to search and rescue. After leaving the Navy, Enoch worked briefly for
AutoZone. After deciding that wasn’t the career path for him, he applied for a position with the Department of Economic Security (DES). Enoch’s strong work ethic allowed him to advance from a PSE I to his current position of PSE IV as a supervisor. Asked what is most challenging about his position Enoch said, “Having to sometimes tell people they don’t qualify for services.” He added, “We still do whatever we can to help their situation.” Despite his success, Enoch knows there is more to be done. “The diversity of the people we serve means we need to continue to train [current and new staff] to better serve [our clients],” he said. “The Navy taught me the importance of training for all situations.” Ronald Enoch personifies a commitment to helping others both in his service to his country and his state. His strong work ethic, combined with a humble spirit, serves as an inspiration for others and embodies the DES philosophy of People First, People Always.
Glendale — May 31 Mesa — June 21 Phoenix — June 26, August 14 Scottsdale - June 14 Tempe — July 18 Tucson — June 6, August 29
Greater Phoenix Veterans Job Fair Glendale — June 8, 2017 Phoenix Veterans Job Fair Phoenix — Sept. 21, 2017
Get Out of Town
Did you want to be a flight attendant? Contact the Flight Attendant Prep Academy at 480-599-1123 or at www.flightattendantprepacademy.com
W H AT A M E S S
Emily Nielsen is a US Air Force veteran who opened a dog grooming shop in Apache Junction. She served 7 years in the Air Force and has 13 years dog grooming experience. Help support a veteran-owned business and visit her at 1990 Apache Trail #22, Apache Junction, 480-983-4090.
HIRING MORE THAN A HERO: 5 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HIRING VETERANS
by Christine Gannon Employers around the country continue to express sincere and heartfelt interest in hiring veterans. Not in short supply are programs, initiatives, and non-profits standing up around the country to help employers hire veterans. This begs the question: Why do we still have veterans with employable skills actively seeking employment still unemployed, and why do we have veterans a staggering number underemployed? After spending 18 months consulting with the U.S. Department of veterans Affairs, I’ve ascertained that employers are no longer uninformed about the benefits of hiring veterans. In fact, most—if not all—agree that a veteran is a valuable resource to their organization. Furthermore, employers recognize that our service women and men receive extensive levels of training that teach them how to successfully: • Hold careers in leadership and management •Handle significant challenges, resolve issues, multitask and work successfully in a team environment • Handle pressure and oftentimes intense stress, all the while maintaining composure and focus • Do more with much less, use limited budgets and aging equipment • Live in close quarters with a variety of people and learn cultural sensitivities without specific training Most agree and see the value, so why are veterans still grappling with the issues of employment and underemployment? With talent shortages across the country, and recruiting and hiring happening at record speed in many industries, why aren’t employers showing higher numbers of veterans in key positions? Based on my research and observations, here are several key facts for your consideration. Fact 1: Limited transition preparation and training means obtaining meaningful employment is a challenge. Veterans are not always provided extensive education to adequately translate their skills, abilities, and talents into civilian language. Oftentimes, without a mentor or coach to help with military-to-civilian career translation, veterans are unprepared to engage effectively with a recruiter at a job fair or career summit or interview for a position for which they’ve applied. Should the inability of a veteran to translate their military career for a job fair environment, or the inadequate training of a recruiter to translate a resume, be a deterrent to hiring? Absolutely not. Hiring managers, HR personnel, and recruiters can look at the following tool—and others like it—to match civilian opportunities with a military career: www.careerinfonet.org/moc. This tool and many others are available at no cost and easily accessible online 24/7 to employers, recruiters and HR personnel. Aside from these tools, there are organizations whose sole purpose is to meet employers where they are and provide skill translation training, staffing, and placement. They provide access to the thousands of highly qualified candidates available to fill key positions that have the potential to meet, exceed, and amplify an organization’s key objectives. Fact 2: Veterans transition into communities with limited information on how to successfully integrate back into the civilian world. Whether it’s been one year or ten, it’s no secret that there are veterans who are still struggling—and not always because of mental illness or physical disabilities. Without a clear roadmap to integrate successfully into the civilian community, daily living is difficult at best. Imagine traveling to a foreign country and trying to exist without knowledge of the culture or language. Quite the barrier to a productive and fruitful life, is it not? Often time veterans have been given responsibilities that far outweigh a typical civilian career. For example, at the ripe age of nineteen, service members are often times placed in charge of an arsenal of multi-million-dollar equipment. Others may be appointed to serve in civic roles for villages in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle East locations without any prior training to prepare them for such responsibility. Therefore, navigating life as a civilian often proves challenging as they transition from a role where they were
awarded positions to serve their country rather than asked what they would like to do. This is especially true in our society that lauds taking charge of your own destiny. Fact 3: Not every veteran suffers from post-traumatic stress (PTS), has experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or has spent time in combat. In fact, only about 10 percent of the military serve in combat. As employers consider a veteran for employment and weigh the positive contributions they will potentially make within an organization, they must consider the qualities versus the risk. While PTS may indeed accompany a veteran, it’s fair to say that it manifests in civilian employees as well. The answer to this challenge is to insure the appropriate resources are in place to support the civilian or veteran employee as they navigate trauma. Taking time to understand what the appropriate resources are for veterans and putting them in place will allow the employer to move ahead confidently, hopefully mitigating potential bias related to PTS and TBI as they seek to hire highly qualified veterans. Fact 4: Asking veterans questions using only civilian language will provide a less-than-promising interview. Thoughtful questions can lead to a meaningful dialogue and rich conversation. Tailoring an interview to highlight military service will provide insight, uncover knowledge, and give the opportunity to better understand the crossover into civilian territory. Some questions to consider: • Were you drafted or enlisted? • What was your reason for choosing that particular branch of service? • Tell me about a memorable experience. • Did you receive an award or medal? • How has your service and experience affected your life? • What was your job/assignment? • Describe the type of specialized training you received. • Did you supervise or have responsibility for a group of individuals? • Were you responsible to track or analyze data? • What type of technology skills did you learn (if not classified), and how did you use technology in your daily efforts? • What strengths do you now possess based on your years of service? FACT 5: Most military experiences translate into civilian careers, and not all result in an entry-level position, a security officer, or customer service representative. While not specifically tracked with confidence, the statistics for underemployed veterans could be staggering. Due to limited training during transition, veterans tend to accept the first opportunity they find available to ensure a source of income for themselves and their families. This is a key consideration in a veteran candidate interview, as a veteran’s current or last job may not be representative of their true abilities, talents, and skillset. When reviewing the resume of America’s heroes, it is important to take time to ask thoughtful questions, reduce bias, and learn about military occupations. These steps will increase the chance of hiring a highly capable veteran whose unique set of experiences, leadership capabilities, and technology expertise will translate well into any organization. Veteran employees have the ability to bring specialized talent, skill, training, and expertise to any organization. Although no longer wearing the uniform, they maintain the privilege, obtained through their time of enlistment, to continue serving as a contributing member of society. Providing meaningful employment empowers them to continue their service as strategic advisors and highly competent contributors for companies and organizations of all sizes. Christine Gannon, sister and daughter of three family members who are veterans, is the Founder and CEO of Brightworks Consulting, where she provides consulting services in the public and private sector. Drawing from the experience and success of recent VA contracts, she is part of the national collaborative, veteransNCommand™, providing training, staffing and placement of veterans in support of the corporate community. The collaborative is committed to promoting the economic mobility of veterans and their families. Ms. Gannon is the author of The 7 Steps to Business Excellence™ and contributes her knowledge and experience to the community by volunteering, board memberships, and mentoring. The author can be reached at christine@brightworksconsulting.com
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"I work in the oil fields of North Dakota making great money, all thanks to Southwest’s amazing Job Placement Staff.” — Kevin, US Army veteran
“I looked at three different driving schools before walking into Southwest. I knew immediately, it was the place for me. Solid training and the respect you deserve.” — Shelly, US Air Force, ret.
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THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A CAREGIVER
Because caring for someone with cancer can be emotionally and physically challenging, it is possible for a caregiver — who may be a spouse, son or daughter, friend or neighbor — to become tired, rundown, or even depressed. “The healthcare system today places a heavy burden on the designated family caregiver,” says Dr. Jimmie C. Holland, Wayne E. Chapman Chair in Psychiatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “The caregiver is the person who keeps the family’s ’body and soul’ together, the trusted companion for the patient, the advocate in the healthcare system, and the one who ensures that the family’s finances remain adequate.” “On a more mundane level,” she continues, “being a caregiver means getting the children to school, shopping, cleaning, going to doctor appointments, answering the phone, and snatching sleep whenever possible. The term ’multitasking’ must have originated from the concept of today’s caregiver.” When Minna Immerman’s husband Bob was diagnosed with high-grade glioblastoma in 1996, the focus of her life became his battle with cancer. (Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. It tends to grow and spread aggressively and is probably the most resistant of all brain cancers to treatment.) As Bob’s primary caregiver, Minna spent "It takes a village to get through her days multitasking. She gathered cancer," reflects Minna Immerman, the his test results, scheduled caregiver to her husband, Bob, who appointments, monitored his was diagnosed with a brain tumor . medications, kept family and friends up-to-date with his medical condition, and worried that he might not survive his cancer. She also worked full-time, teaching children who have autism. And throughout, she tried to maintain an upbeat, positive attitude. Over the years, caring for Bob took a tremendous toll on Minna. When Bob reached the five-year mark following his original cancer diagnosis, Minna was diagnosed with severe depression. “It was almost five years to the day,” she recalls. “I’d been teaching for over twenty years, and then one day I had a panic attack. I came home, took to the couch, didn’t eat, and didn’t sleep. I collapsed.” Minna immediately took medical leave from her job and began seeing a therapist, who prescribed antidepressants. Bob also started to see a therapist — to talk about his cancer and about the impact his disease had had on Minna. “Through all of this, I’ve had lots of people to talk to — my children and a wonderful circle of friends,” she says. “But talking to a therapist is different. In retrospect, I should have been seeing one much sooner than I did.” Although Minna had relied heavily on the support of her daughters, family, and friends, she was always prepared for the worst, fearing that Bob’s cancer would return. Remembering how this felt, she says, “In our situation, I felt that a lot of the worrying was done by the caregiver and not as much by the patient.” But once the cancer seemed to be under control, she was no longer in a panic. Instead, she felt overwhelmed and became paralyzed by the gravity of the events of the last five years. “I was so focused on Bob that I just wore myself out. I kept thinking that I had this wonderful family and friends, that Bob was doing so well, and the doctors were and are so supportive. But in retrospect, I was just holding it together.” One of their daughters described it this way — that Minna had held the family together for five years, and once Bob was “in the clear,” she needed someone to take care of her for a change. It took Minna about a year to get back on her feet. Once she did, she started a new career training the next generation of teachers at New York’s Bank Street College of Education. “It takes a village to get through cancer,” she states. “You can’t do it on your own. We had the support of friends and family and community, and I should have had therapy to support me, too.” Minna’s advice for other caregivers feeling stress? “You have to save your energy for yourself. I worried about Bob’s mom, I worried about my kids, I worried about Bob,” she says. “But as the caregiver, you really have to save that energy for yourself. You need to protect yourself.” “Minna’s story outlines the problems of ’caregiver burden’ very well, which can become overwhelming,” says Dr. Holland. “A question or two about her welfare might have elicited her pain, and help could have been offered to her at an earlier point, when a ’meltdown’ could have been avoided. A simple statement like, ’This must also be hard on you. How distressed are you today?’ might have opened up the area for discussion.” “The amazing thing is that there is often little acknowledgment of the caregiver’s burden,” continues Dr. Holland. “One woman I know said, ’People call all day long asking how my husband is, but nobody ever asks how I am doing.’ All caregivers want to know that someone cares, someone acknowledges just how hard it is to be in that role.” Awareness of the emotional needs of caregivers and their families has risen in recent years, and an increasing number of hospitals, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, are offering support services to address these needs. Some institutions also offer respite services, which is when a substitute nurse/helper is sent to the patient’s home to give the caregiver a day off. “Despite these hardships,” Dr. Holland says, “most caregivers look upon the caregiving experience as extremely gratifying — it is an opportunity to help someone you love. Those periods of closeness and tenderness are long remembered.” THE SENIOR ADVOCACY GROUP OF AHWATUKEE (SAGA) is hosting the Senior & Family Conference and Expo for older adults and their families on Saturday, October 28th, from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, at the Pecos Community Center at 17010 S. 48th Street in Phoenix. The free event will provide education on important topics and local resources for seniors and families, vendor exhibits, raffle prizes, snacks and beverages. The 2017 SAGA Symposium will feature educational sessions for seniors and families. The 2017 symposium theme is “How to Combat Loneliness and Isolation” and will feature educational sessions presented by industry experts and information on critical services available to older adults and families in Arizona. The organization is seeking speakers, vendors and sponsors. For more information, call 480-220-6902 or email admin@sagaseniors.org.
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SENIOR ADVOCATES AGAINST VOUCHERIZED MEDICARE
Senior advocates in the Grand Canyon State are speaking out against proposals in Congress to replace Medicare with a voucher system. AARP Arizona is part of a national campaign opposing Speaker Paul Ryan's plan to provide seniors with a fixed monthly subsidy with which to buy health coverage rather than guaranteeing their existing level of benefits. Dana Kennedy, AARP Arizona state director, said a voucher program would lead to reduced access and higher out-of-pocket medical expenses for anyone who can't afford to buy a costly comprehensive plan. "The voucher system would force people with fewer financial resources to enroll in less expensive plans with more limited benefits and restrictive provider networks,” Kennedy said. Ryan has not yet introduced the bill, but has said his aim is to bring down costs in order to extend the lifetime of the Medicare program. AARP's campaign will include TV and digital ads; and they are meeting with political leaders, circulating petitions and encouraging volunteers to write letters to their Congressional representatives. Kennedy said she hopes President Trump will follow his campaign promise to protect the program, which is a lifeline for tens of millions of seniors. "President Trump said that he would make sure that seniors continue to receive the benefits that they already have. So he was crystal clear about his position on Medicare during the election,” she said. "He said that it's a deal made with the American people and he intends to honor that deal. So we want to make sure that Congress honors that deal as well." AARP estimated that the average American senior lives on less than $25,000 a year and spends $1 of every $6 on health care. Seniors in particular also depend on certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act that forbid lifetime caps on medical benefits and guarantee that no one can be turned down for coverage because of a pre-existing condition. More info: www.aarp.org
AARP LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS FOR 50+ ADULTS
AARP Arizona pursues an agenda that includes protecting retirement income, helping those needing long term care people stay in their homes , helping with out of pocket costs and easing stress for family caregivers and protecting seniors from financial exploitation. AARP’s non-partisan Arizona policy priorities also include a focus on eliminating surprise medical bills, and utility services are affordable and dependable. The Arizona Legislature addresses a host of major budget and policy considerations that are sure to have significant impact on older Arizonans. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership of nearly 38 million, including nearly 880,000 Arizonans age 50 and older. AARP Arizona Director Dana Marie Kennedy and Advocacy Director Stephen Jennings leads a team of policy experts who know their way around the Capitol. Among them are: Jan Lindsey, Marquetta White, Dr. Leonard Kirschner and Dan Martinez, the AARP Arizona President. “Arizona lawmakers will have enormous opportunities in 2017 to make meaningful and enduring improvements to the lives of older Arizonans,” said Dana Marie Kennedy. “AARP will be a strong voice for consumers and older Arizonans as we work with legislators and Governor Doug Ducey on a host of issues that matter most to Arizonans.” HERE’S AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE ISSUES AARP SUPPORTS • Caregiver tax credit: Family caregivers typically spend thousands of dollars of their own money on caring for loved ones. AARP supports enactment of an annual tax credit to help caregivers better afford the vital care they provide. • Respite Programs: AARP Arizona supports ongoing funding for programs that give caregivers a break to visit the doctor themselves, go to the store or attend a child’s school program. Respite funding provides caregivers with brief breaks or “respites” are an important and cost effective way to help family caregivers look after their own physical and emotional health. • Home and Community-based care services: These services enable seniors and those with disabilities to get the care they need in their own communities without being forced into a costly nursing home. Ongoing funding of home and community care services helps older Arizonans age in place, staying in their own homes longer. More than 804,000 Arizonans are caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one as an unpaid caregiver. AARP Arizona is working with Arizona Hospitals on state regulations that ensure caregivers receive demonstrations at discharge of necessary medical tasks to better know how to safely look after a loved one as they transition home from a hospital stay • Retirement Security: To encourage individual responsibility in saving, AARP Arizona supports a legislative “work and save” proposal that would create a website to connect employers and workers with low-cost savings plans that allow voluntary payroll deduction and let workers take their savings to their next job. Action is needed because about 60% of Arizonans don’t have access to a workplace savings plan. • Elder Financial Exploitation: Arizona lawmakers can reduce this growing type of elder abuse in the state by strengthening adult protective services , and training and empowering financial professionals to better identify and stop potential exploitation before it happens. • Surprise Medical Bills: AARP Arizona seeks to protect people from surprise medical bills because the unexpected costs can drive even insured families into financial hardship. The Legislature can work to keep consumers out of medical billing disputes between insurers and doctors, and it can allow patients of neighborhood emergency clinics the right to challenge surprise medical bills.
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CONGRESS PROTECTS VETERANS CREDIT RATINGS Bill Helps Veterans Wrongly Penalized by Delayed VA Payments
by Mark Field
US Representatives Randy Hultgren, John K. Delaney, Jackie Walorski and Kyrsten Sinema have introduced legislation to protect the credit rating of veterans and prevent them from unnecessary financial hardship due to delayed payments associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Choice Program. The slow disbursement of Veterans Choice Program payments has meant that potentially thousands of veterans have been adversely affected, having large and inaccurate medical debts wrongly listed in their name while the VA and private providers work through billing. This error can Arizona US make it more difficult and more expensive for veterans to buy a Representative home or car, rent a place to live or be hired for a new job. Kyrsten Sinema The Protecting Veterans Credit Act (H.R. 5593) creates a one year credit reporting grace period for the resolution of debt from medical services received through the VA’s Veterans Choice Program. The legislation is supported by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the National Patient Advocate Foundation. “Enough veterans have faced collateral damage from delays at the VA—their credit score shouldn’t be another casualty of this bureaucracy,” said Congressman Hultgren. “Veterans and their families deserve accurate and timely billing and reimbursements from the VA. They should not be held liable for the VA’s problems. We need quick action on this legislation to ensure our veterans aren’t held responsible for bureaucratic ineptitude.” “No veteran should have their credit rating hurt because of delayed Veterans Choice Program payments, that’s completely unacceptable to me. In many cases, veterans are already using the Choice Program because they’ve endured a long wait time to be treated. We shouldn’t destroy their finances on top of that,” said Congressman Delaney. “Credit ratings fundamentally impact the cost of major purchases and can alter a family’s financial trajectory. The Protecting Veterans’ Credit Act creates the time needed to protect a veterans financial health while the actual parties responsible for the payments process and pay their medical bills.” THE PROBLEM: Because of delays and incorrectly assigned bills, veterans have received adverse actions on their credit reports and inappropriate debt collection efforts. • Adverse credit action makes it more difficult and more expensive for a person to get a home mortgage or an auto loan or even to rent an apartment. • To address these issues, the VA set up a call center for veterans to contact the VA to resolve debt collection and adverse credit reporting. As of the end of May, the VA handled more than 7,100 inbound telephone calls. • While the VA is actively trying to reform the Choice Program, veterans need immediate and retroactive relief from erroneous credit reporting actions and debt collection efforts. No veteran should have their credit score hurt or be harassed by debt collectors because of a delay in the VA or their private contractor paying the bills. THE SOLUTION: The Protecting Veterans’ Credit Act delays medical debt from medical services received through the Choice Program from being reported to credit reporting agencies for one year. This delay provides adequate time for the VA and its contractors to resolve the issues, while retaining a route for resolution of any co-payments or other obligations. • The bill provides a mechanism for veterans to easily dispute adverse actions already on their reports. Additionally, the bill requires debt collectors to provide the veteran with written information of their rights and who they can contact to resolve an issue.
VETERAN STATUS ADDED ON HOME LOANS
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement after the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop a new universal loan application dataset (ULAD) that will capture information about a borrower’s current and prior military service. FHFA will use the ULAD as the basis for an updated uniform residential loan application (URLA). The move comes after Rep. Grijalva led 45 of his Congressional colleagues in calling for a veteran status identifier to be included on the URLA to ensure more veterans are aware of VA home loan options, and to obtain vital data on how many veterans obtain VA home loans. “I commend FHFA for their swift action to ensure veterans are informed of every option available to them, and for collecting the data needed to analyze the effectiveness of our veteran outreach,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Veterans earn benefits like the VA home loan through their service to our nation, yet without this data, we cannot ensure that veterans are even aware that benefits like zero down payments were available to them. This small step will change that, and make a huge difference for veterans looking to buy a home.” For more information on VA home loans contact: 800-405-2310.
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SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PENSION DISPUTE
by Alexis Egeland, Cronkite News When John and Sandra Howell divorced in 1991, they decided Mrs. Howell would get half of her ex-husband’s Air Force pension. That lasted until 2005, when Mr. Howell gave up a cut of his retirement to qualify for disability pay, costing Mrs. Howell a significant portion of her monthly income in the process and leading her to sue. The Arizona Supreme Court ultimately sided with Mrs. Howell, ruling in 2015 that she had a right to half of his total benefits, pension and disability, angering some veterans groups, who said his disability should be his alone. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday will be asked to consider who is right, and whether state or federal law should determine the answer in the future. Attorneys for the Howells declined to comment on the upcoming arguments, but veterans groups that filed a friend of the court brief in the case said it’s important for the high court to settle the argument between states, several of which have split on the issue. That uncertainty leaves veterans in the lurch, they said. “When state courts disregard this authority, they take from disabled veterans the benefits which are specifically purposed to supplement the veteran’s inability to achieve equally gainful employment in society after he or she has served this country,” said John Muckelbauer, assistant quartermaster general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He said “military disability and retirement benefits have been a staple of the veteran’s rewards for service to his or her country since this nation was established.” Former spouses have been able to lay claim to half of a veteran’s pension since 1982, when Congress passed the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act. But the Supreme Court said in a 1989 case, Mansell v. Mansell, that disability benefits were not up for grabs under that law. But in the Mansell case, the veteran had forfeited some of his pension prior to his divorce in order to get disability. For the Howells, that trade came well after the divorce was final. Mr. Howell filed for disability pay for degenerative joint disease in his shoulder that was a result of his time in the military. In order to claim his disability, Mr. Howell had to waive 20 percent of his pension, or about $250 a month, according to court documents. That cost Mrs. Howell $125 a month, money that she depends on to live, according to court filings. She saw the change as a breach of their original agreement and went to court in 2013, arguing that she was entitled to half of her ex-husband’s total pension, “notwithstanding any waiver on his part.” Every court in Arizona agreed with her, right up to the state Supreme Court, which said that because Mr. Howell’s disability pay agreement came after the divorce agreement had been made, he has to reimburse his exwife for the money the waiver cost her. Arizona is one of five states, along with Maine, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, that have decided ex-spouses can claim a share of a veteran’s disability. Five other states — Vermont, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska and Nebraska — have ruled the opposite. Carson Tucker, an attorney who wrote the friend of the court brief for the VFW and a group called Operation Firing for Effect, said a veteran’s disability pay should be protected. That money is needed to support disabled veterans who cannot work, he said. “There have been millions of veterans coming back from serving overseas in recent years, and around 70 percent of them can’t go back to work,” Tucker said. “Retirement pay helps with that, but with disability pay, they get to keep more.” He said the ruling in Mansell is clear, that the former spouse protection act only gives state courts the power to divide retirement pay after a divorce, not disability pay. “In Mansell, they decided that there can’t be an exception,” Tucker said. “Regardless of the amount of retirement or disability pay, the ex-spouse still only gets half of the retirement pay.” Mrs. Howell’s attorneys said in court filings that Mr. Howell can still keep all of his disability pay – but he has to make up for her loss somehow. Her filing said that compensation does not have to come “from any particular source of funds,” adding that, “as John admits, indemnification orders can be satisfied out of the veteran’s ‘general assets.'” Muckelbauer and Tucker said they hope the Supreme Court can settle the question for all states. “I hope this sets and settles the standard and makes the determination of what that standard is,” Muckelbauer said. “The VFW has previously testified on the need to clarify the law on government VA compensation and spousal support. This case may provide that needed clarity.”
VETERANS MOBILITY SAFETY ACT OF 2016
by Chip Stoecker As a member of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Associations “Minutemen” a group charged with assisting veterans tonavigate the VA system in regards to automotive grants and adaptive equipment, I am very pleased to announce the passage into law of HR3471, “THE VETERANS MOBILITY SAFETY ACT” The resolution was introduced on Sept 10, 2015 by Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana and was cosponsored by 51 congressmen, 27 Republicans and 24 Democrats, proving they can work together to assist veterans. Thanks to Krysten Sinema and Martha McSally from Arizona for cosponsoring this bill. The bill was signed into law on Dec 14, 2016, Moving quickly through the legislative process. This bill insures that the VA uses certified and trained installers of mobility equipment and devices, keeping veterans and all users of our highways safe. THE SUMMARY OF THIS BILL STATES: (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance. (Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program. Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third
party organization or manufacturer, (4) manufacturer certification of a provider, (5) education and training of VA personnel, (6) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (7) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice. The VA shall approve a manufacturer as a certifying manufacturer if such manufacturer demonstrates that its certification standards meet or exceed the quality standards provided for by this bill. The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance. The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider. About the Author: Chip Stoecker is a former US Navy Corpsmen, who specialized as a surgical technician. He was involved in many surgical procedures that involved amputations, spinal cord injuries, gunshot wounds, explosions, and multiple trauma injuries. Chip spent 25 years in health care. He currently is the Business Development Manager of the Arizona Ability Center Stores located in Phoenix, Tucson, and Goodyear www.abilitycenter.com. Chip now lives in Chandler, AZ with his wife of 43 years and near his 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He can be reached at 623-208-8945.
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GROWING NEED FOR CAREGIVERS IN USA
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, currently in the United States we have approximately 50 million residents over the age of 65. That number is expected to soar over 72 million by the year 2025. In addition to rising numbers, Americans are living longer. As the average life expectancy continues to climb, new and growing industries are being created to meet the needs of our senior citizens. One of those emerging markets is in home health care. While many industries nationwide are seeing job growth declining, the need for Caregivers is forecasted to grow by almost 70% between 2010 and 2020. More than 34 million unpaid Caregivers provide care to someone age 18 and older who is ill or has a disability (AARP, 2008). An estimated 21% of households in the United States are impacted by caregiving responsibilities (NAC, 2004). Unpaid Caregivers provide an estimated 90% of the long-term care. Many of us have provided unpaid care for a loved-one and in doing so we have gained valuable caregiving experience. With the forecasted need for Caregivers in the United States, ResCare HomeCare, the nation’s largest human services provider, feels it is important to share what it means to be a Caregiver. Many of our Caregivers worked in other professions and found their way to our care team based on their life caregiving experience. Whether you are looking for rewarding work or perhaps retired and looking for a way to give-back, caregiving might be the perfect fit for you. Arizona provides home care agencies that have state contracts with a Direct Care Workers (DCW) curriculum to train their employees. ResCare HomeCare provides DCW training, skills training, CPR, 1st aid and Article 9 training. Below you will find some testimonials from some of our Caregivers. Judy G. — I grew up as the oldest girl in a family of six children. Taking care of my younger siblings and homemaking was part of my daily routine. I was an administrative assistant for many years. I have worked as Caregiver for 8 years. One of the biggest reasons I decided to become a Caregiver is because I love making people happy and being able to fill their special needs. It is just wonderful to help others remain independent. Samantha B.— I’m a second generation Caregiver and like my mom, I love what I do. Working as a Caregiver lets me do what I do best – help clients at home. I love my job! Ashley Z. — I was inspired to join the Caregiver profession by the nurses and aides who cared for my ailing mother during her battle with cancer. As a Caregiver my most important reward is knowing I have helped improve my client’s quality of life. Dan R. — I was a mechanic at a plastics factory before I became a Caregiver. I have always been active in the community and being a Caregiver felt like the right fit for me. It’s more than a job - it's a way to give-back. Judy H. — Previously I worked in finance industry and now I have been a caregiver for over 20 years. I became a paid Caregiver for my mother. Over time, I realized that I really love everything about caregiving and began providing service for other clients. Getting to know new people, helping make sure they feel safe and know they’re going to get the highest quality care andsupport provides me with great satisfaction. Caregiving keeps me active and in good health. When I go home, I feel good about my day.
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Betty C. — Over the last ten years I have been a Caregiver which allows me to make a difference in the lives of the people I serve. During my career I have been able to meet many different types of people from different places and different cultures. I believe helping each other makes for a better world. We are hoping by sharing some of our Caregiver stories that they might inspire someone with life experience, who has never considered being a Caregiver, enter into the caregiving field. By becoming a professional Caregiver, one can help the United States keep up with the demand for these much needed in-home care services which support our aging population. More info: www.ResCareHomeCare.com or call 866-434-4050.
VETERAN RESOURCES — HOW TO CONNECT
Did you know Arizona is home to more than 625,000 service members, veterans & their families? More than likely it’s a challenge for them to find the right resources. To help provide a solution to this challenge the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF) has designed their website www.arizonacoalition.org with links to Navigation Guides and Military/Veteran Resource Network Partner Organizations. This article will focus on several key resources for aging veterans. ResCare HomeCare is a proud Resource Network Partner Organization. The www.arizonacoalition.org Navigation Guide for Aging Veterans provides links to topics specifically for veterans, their family members or persons who are helping them. The guide helps connect them to information on health care, support services and benefits. One will find healthy aging articles, information about volunteering and can view on the Make the Connection page stories of other veterans who might have the same worries and concerns about health issues, access to care, finances and retirement. On the website you will also find a Military/Resource Network link that will provide information about public and private sector organizations that have taken proactive steps to provide services and support to Arizona’s service members, veterans and their families. An additional resource is the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). This program provides eligible veterans the option to receive non-VA health care from approved providers in their communities. ResCare HomeCare is an approved VCP provider for in-home care and support services. To learn more about the Veterans Choice Program visit www.va.gov/opa/choiceact Another valuable resource is the VA Aid and Attendance Program. Did you know wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, 65 years and older, may be entitled to a tax-free benefit called Aid and Attendance provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs? The Benefit is designed to provide financial aid to help offset the cost of long-term care for those who need assistance with the daily activities of living. ResCare HomeCare can help connect you with a VA Aid and Attendance expert who can assist with the application process. For more info contact ResCare HomeCare: 866-434-4050, Military/Veteran Resource Network Partner Organization. www.ResCareHomeCare.com
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HONORING SFC (R) BRIAN MANCINI, A LIFE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS
About: Brian Mancini, Sergeant First Class United States Army (retired) In 1998, Brian Mancini enlisted in the United States Army where he began his Army Medical Career as a ground ambulance driver with the 1st Calvary Division, Ft. Hood, TX. From 2001 to 2002, Brian served as a flight medic assigned to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. He provided emergency medical evacuation support throughout Central and South America. From 2002-2005, he worked as a medical NonCommissioned Officer (NCO) in support of the Soldier Readiness and Processing Center at Ft. Hood, TX preparing and assisting soldiers to deploy into theatres of combat operations. From 2005-2006, he was the Medical Section NCO for the Arizona National Guard 860th Military Police Company in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2007, Brian served as the NCO in charge of a Battalion Aid Station with the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS and Baghdad, Iraq and as a Medical Treatment Squad Leader for the 1st Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Medical Team at Fort Riley, KS. In July of 2007, Brian sustained extensive injuries during combat operations in Iraq. While recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was heavily influenced by outdoor recreational therapy through Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. In 2009, he worked with the Potomac Workforce Education and Reintegration Program helping wounded Veterans transition out of the military into government jobs at Indian Head Naval Facility, MD. In April of 2011, Brian was medically retired from the United States Army. Brian was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, Flight Medic Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. In 2012, Brian co-founded the Honor House, an organization whose mission is to provide a complete transitional package that utilizes the resources from the community to meet the therapeutic and transitional challenges of our veterans affected by combat. Through Honor House, he works to create awareness, advocating the needs of our returning Veterans and this generation's combat experience and transitional challenges. Speeches include the Arizona Governor's Council on Wounded Warrior Care, The Military Order of the World Wars, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Behavioral Health Clinicians from Maricopa County, Phoenix Police Department, Arizona FaithBased Council and numerous other agencies and businesses. He assisted the Phoenix Fire Department in development of a training video for first responders. His media outreach includes documenting his transitional journey and his vision for Honor House on "Shift Happens by Jonas Elrod," aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network and "Operation Proper Exit" a documentary aired on 60 Minutes. He was featured in the film "Healing Waters" by SJ Hasty Creative Media. Brian has been interviewed for local newspapers and radio and was featured in an article in Reader's Digest "Combat Support" by Monica Soladay. Brian is a founding member of the R4 Alliance, national organization working to ensure that Alternative and Complementary Medicine providers serving our Veterans meet set criteria of excellence. He was recognized by the City of Phoenix when asked to represent our returning Veterans as one of the Grand Marshall's for The Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. www.gofundme.com/brian-mancini www.azpbs.org/horizonte/detailvid.php?id=1201
REMEMBER CHAD RESTING IN PEACE NOW, THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN. THE STORY OF CHAD, THE WILD HORSE.
by Salt River Wild Horse Management Group I was born free, in Nevada. I lived wild, without costing anyone a dime. I became a powerful stallion, but then one day was rounded up by a helicopter, separated from my family and kept in a holding pen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). After a while of being there, I got lucky and was adopted out. But after that, no one knew how I was doing or how people treated me for 18 years of my life. I was found scared and alone in my old age in the desert, someone had abandoned me. Then the BLM came out to rescue me, the same BLM who took my Chad photo by Deb Saari freedom and my family. But I was old and sweet and the BLM had compassion and asked the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group to fix me up and give me a good retirement, so that I didn't have to go back to holding pens. For the last 2 years of my life I've been treated with love and kindness and I got lots of freedom and a new family back. I was fed three times a day. Nothing was asked of me because they thought I had given enough. I am now over 20 years old and my liver failed, probably from eating bad weeds when I was abandoned. Today it was time for me to say goodbye. I was lovingly laid to rest and crossed the rainbow bridge at the SRWHMG. "I don't want no one to cry, but tell them if I don't survive, I was born free." Please don't abandon horses, please don't send them to slaughter, please give them their deserved retirement and treat them kind, please leave them in the wild where they have a legal right to live and manage them humanely with birth control. For they harm no one, they give us their everything and we owe them so much. Rest in peace, sweet old Chad. Hugs from all of us, Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.
Our family at R4 and a much larger military community was rocked today to learn of the passing of our good friend Brian Mancini. Our board and staff share our deepest sympathies for all in our family effected by this tragedy. Brian served two tours in Iraq as a combat medic. During his second tour he was severely injured and was medically retired. For his service and sacrifice in the US Army he was rewarded two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge and Flight Medic Badge. Many people would call Brian’s surviving wounds as severe as his a miracle. We believe it was sheer tenacity and power of will. Brian knew God had greater plans for him. After an unimaginable endeavor recovering at Walter Reed, Brain went on to continue fulfilling his destiny. Returning home, Brian ran into countless barriers to his recovery and reintegration. He was processed through a system that didn’t effectively take care of his needs. Faced with such adversity, many would become defeated. Not Brian, he persevered with a vision to be the agent of change for his fellow veterans. Brian worked tirelessly to found The Honor House. Through this amazing non-profit Brian served countless other veterans in his community and across the country. Brian’s vision was to establish an infrastructure nationwide where non-profits, the VA, and other resources could work in harmony with Veteran peer mentors to truly give guidance and healing to our returning wounded. His vision was to provide the healing our veterans needed rather than simply sending them home with a fistful of pills. When Brian and R4 first pioneers’ first met, he told us of the vision for the Honor House and we told him about the dream of R4 Alliance. Together we pledged our allegiance to each other’s efforts. Brian played a key role in the development of R4 Alliance. All of the core objectives R4 set out to achieve were established with his insight. Brian Mancini was the rock for so many others. He was always the one giving support making sure those around him were taken care of. After all of these years, it’s heartbreaking to learn he succumbed to his post-traumatic stress. Brian is loved by countless people more than he could ever know. As a veteran, someone to look up to, and as a dear friend, he will be missed. May this serve as a harsh reminder to all of us charged with helping our returning service members and their families. The best way to honor Brian’s life is to continue. We will continue to march forward as a family achieving our mission collectively in ways we cannot alone. While we keep the bigger picture at hand, we must also remember these things. Never be too busy to reach out. Never lose sight of why we do what we do. Most of all be tireless in our pursuit, and never never never give up. LOIS WOODELL passed away this weekend. She enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II, took basic training in Des Moines, Iowa in 1944. She met her husband Woody in the service and they were married for 66 years. She eventually became a business school professor. She was a classy lady who always kept busy. She could still fit in her Army uniform at a Veteran's Day Parade 70 years later. I was honored to write a feature story about Lois which I've attached below. She said of her life, "God always took care of me."
REMEMBERING CRYSTAL REZZONICO
It is with deep sorrow we announce the tragic passing of Phoenix Fire Captain Crystal Rezzonico who died on Feburary 18, 2017 as a result of injuries she sustained from an on-duty traffic accident on August 10th, 2009. As Captain Rezzonico was responding to a reported structure fire, an inattentive driver traveling at a high rate of speed struck the Fire Engine she was traveling in. The impact of the collision resulted in Captain Rezzonico being ejected from the truck onto t...he street. A total of eight vehicles were involved in the collision and 14 people were injured Captain Rezzonico’s injuries were prolific and eminently fatal: A traumatic brain injury, two broken legs and two broken shoulders were just some of the challenges she faced as a result of the accident. She spent two weeks in a coma, underwent multiple surgeries (including 5 brain surgeries) and endured 8 grueling weeks of Neurological rehab just to be able to walk and talk again. Over the course of the next seven years, Captain Rezzonico would fight a heroic and monumental battle of survival to overcome the demons that would relentlessly haunt her from that fateful day. Her will was unstoppable, her courage undaunted as she clawed her way back, day by day from what were seemingly insurmountable odds. At one point she was even able to don her gear once again and return to one of her greatest passions: being a Firefighter. The complications from her extensive injures were sadly merciless, presenting challenge after challenge despite her amazing display of courage and strength. Notwithstanding Captain Rezzonico’s super-human efforts, the fallout from her injuries would ultimately prevail as she passed peacefully last night in the presence of her many beloved friends and family. Captain Rezzonico’s death will be memorialized by the Phoenix Fire Department and City of Phoenix as a Line of Duty Death with full honors of which the details are still pending. Her loss brings us great pain but also great peace to know that our beloved sister and her family suffer no more. She will be forever held in the hearts of our membership and her legacy shall serve as inspiration to continue our mission of protecting the public, even to our own demise. Rest in Peace Captain Crystal Rezzonico, you are now home and will be greatly missed.
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LyNN BeNNett ReALtoR ®
16 yeARS ReAL eStAte exPeRIeNCe Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Seniors Real estate Specialist (SReS)
LYNN BENNETT HAS HELPED MANY VETERANS
SoLd foR A veteRAN
SoLd foR A veteRAN
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“Lynn pays special attention to your every need to provide the best possible options in homes.” — terri Shoop, Goodyear
Lynn Bennett and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton working together on the USS Phoenix SSN-702 Cold War Submarine Memorial in Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix.
“Lynn Bennett did an exceptional job helping me find my first home! Lynn's high level of professionalism and extensive knowledge of the home buying process helped me feel at ease the entire time. I would highly recommend Lynn.” — Stephanie Lee, Litchfield Park
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER
Sgt. Adam Burke made a promise to God. Bleeding out from a mortar hit in Iraq, Adam promised God that if he could live to see his family one more time, he would do something to make his life worth saving. Two years later he started the Veterans Farm, a place of emotional solace and job training in organic blueberry production for disabled vets like himself. Adam is just one of the inspiring and compelling veterans featured in GROUND OPERATIONS: Battlefields to Farmfields. Follow our ensemble of combat men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as they share their truth: Why they joined the military, how the war experienced changed them, what the daunting return to civilian life has been, how they struggled to find a positive pathway forward and ultimately, when they found organic
www.LynnBennett.com
Lynn Bennett enlisted in the US Navy and served 22 years, retiring as a Lt. Commander for Public Affairs.
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farming and pasture-raised livestock to be an answer to a dream. Their stories are as inspiring as they are pragmatic as they find their next mission, food security for America. Paradoxically, our veterans are looking for new challenging careers at the same time that the USDA is calling for one million new farmers and ranchers in the next ten years to replace the 50% of American farmers who are at retirement age. Agriculture’s problem is the veterans’ solution. Citizens are clamoring for access to more affordable, locally grown, fresh food in their communities, from the urban core to the suburban and rural countryside. The Cavalry coming over the hill is just that — it’s the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and National Guard. In a world full of problems, GROUND OPERATIONS is a story about solutions. www.groundoperations.net
US NAvy SeAL BeCoMeS GoveRNoR of MISSoURI
Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL whose military awards include the Bronze Star, has become the Governor of Missouri. Greitens, a Republican, defeated Democrat Chris Koster with 51 percent of the vote on Tuesday to 45% for the state’s attorney general. “We did more than win an election; we restored power to the people and we took our state back!” Greitens told supporters at a hotel in Chesterfield. Greitens, 42, grew up in the Maryland Heights suburb of St. Louis and attended the town’s Reform synagogue. He attended Duke University, where he become a Rhodes Eric Greitens as a Navy SEAL in Iraq. scholar. After earning a degree at the University of Oxford, he joined the Navy SEALS and won seven military awards, including the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He later started The Mission Continues, a nonprofit that offers veterans volunteer opportunities. Greitens is likely to make Missouri a “right-to-work” state by decreasing the power of its unions. A key tenet of his campaign was promising to “clean up” corruption and “bad ethics” in Jefferson City, the state’s capital.
“The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.” ― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World
More info: USDA.gov
The Mission of Farmer Veteran Coalition is Mobilizing Veterans to Feed America They cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders, and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. they believe that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems. They believe that agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits. www.farmvetco.org
AMeRICA NeedS oNe MILLIoN NeW fARMeRS
www.veteransfarm.com 45 percent of armed service members are from rural America. The agricultural industry is a logical solution to fill the economic gap veterans face. USDA is committed to assisting veterans start or continue farming and ranching operations in order to strengthen the American economy and provide livelihoods to our returning veterans.
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THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
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Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Lee Greenwood gave one of the highlight performances at a concert to celebrate the inauguration of Donald President Trump. in the 1970s, Greenwood moved to Las Vegas, where he worked as a blackjack dealer during the day, and as a singer at night.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
God bless America, Land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her Thru the night with a light from above; From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, My home, sweet home. God bless America, My home, sweet home.
MILITARY SONGS
FREE ART CLASSES FOR VETERANS
The Rock Teen Center inspires teens to grow through music, dance and art. We provide vocational training in sound and recording, lighting and staging, video production, as well as a computer lab and a cool, supervised facility for the teens to engage with their peers. In a time where public schools are cutting funding for empowering programs like music, dance and art, The Rock cultivates a love of the arts to inspire and challenge teens to embrace artistic excellence and avoid drugs, guns, or gangs. At The Rock, kids discover a safe place to express their emotions through the art of dance. Dance instruction is an ideal outlet for young people with signs of low selfesteem and stress. These are teens that may never have the opportunity to take dance lessons elsewhere, but appreciate an outlet to dance, make new friends and enjoy improved physical fitness along with the fun. All classes for guitar, bass, drums, and vocals are free and must be scheduled in advance by contacting Mark Savale at 602-334-5674. Solid Rock and The Rock Teen Center, 13625 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. www.alicecoopersolidrock.com
AMERICAN HEALING ARTS FOUNDATION, INC., (AHAF) is a non-profit organization that promotes art classes at no cost to our veterans. Our mission is to give veterans new hope, offer them our support, friendship and additionally give them an art career opportunity. Art is proven to be therapeutic for the mind body and soul.We are organized exclusively to promote the use and application of art as therapy for the benefit of the Public, and particularly to provide a health and spiritual benefit to U.S. Veterans who offer service to their country and community; to promote research, educate the Public, and to encourage and enable generally the use of art as a creative and restorative tool. American Healing Arts Foundation provides free art classes (all supplies included) and therapists for our great veterans of all wars, conflicts, peace time service and all eras. We hope to expand this program to First Responders — Law Enforcement & Firefighters — who work in and are often disabled the same type of traumas. Art is proven to be a great form of physical, psychological and spiritual therapy for veterans especially those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is nonverbal in nature and the ability to integrate and express past experiences is trapped below the level of conscious thought. Our organization will never discriminate against the homeless, povertystricken, jobless, disabled, wealthy, poor, working or retired veteran. AHAF is open to any veteran ever wearing our country’s uniform to serve our great country. Special efforts are being made to fund and provide benefits to veterans who are now financially and physically distressed, may be unemployed, and who may not be responsive to traditional treatments. AHAF has their way of saying “THANK YOU” by offering free art classes including all art supplies with award-winning professional instructors. Available classes are acrylic painting, oil painting, sculpting, creative writing, abstract illusionism and silk painting. No art experience is necessary. “I signed up for three classes: Wood Working, Rock Carving, and Sculpting. I enjoyed the camaraderie of my fellow veterans and felt the appreciation of the artists for our service to our country. I have taken classes in Drawing, Painting, Harmonica playing, Photography, and of course more Sculpting. In all of the classes I felt encouragement, camaraderie, and the artistic ability within. One of the most important experiences I witnessed is how the Art Classes provided therapy for my fellow veterans. I have seen those who were crippled, suffering PTSD, stroke victims, and those who needed to experience their talent as I did. One veteran had use of only one hand was able to sculpt a bear which he had bronzed, another told us all that he has not been able to focus on anything until he worked on his sculpture (he was able to coordinate his hands for the first time), others were able to focus on what they were doing without the disruption of their lives. The Art classes have the ability to reach the inner core in each of us, and provide a personal therapy to our everyday life.” — Steve Smigay, US Navy veteran More info call 480-837-5637 www.AmericanHealingArtsFoundation.org
A friend has two tickets for the Super Bowl. They are box seats plus airfares and hotel accommodations. He didn't realize when he bought them that this is the same day as his wedding — so he can't go. If you're interested and want to go instead of him, it's at St. Peter's Church in New York City at 5pm. Her name is Donna. She will be the one in the white dress. A ROOM WITH A VIEW A Submarine Rack
Steven Powell proudly sings The National Anthem & God Bless America.
THE AGONY OF DA FEET Relaxing at the Beach
ARMY
Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail And the Army goes rolling along. In and out, hear them shout Counter march and right about And the Army goes rolling along. Then it’s hi! hi! hey! The Army’s on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong; For where’er we go, You will always know That the Army goes rolling along! And the Army goes rolling along!
MARINES
From the halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land and sea; First to fight for the right and freedom And to keep our honor clean We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine.
AIR FORCE
Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun; Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, Off with one helluva roar! We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
NAVY
Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day Ay-ay-ay! Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
COAST GUARD
We’re always ready for the call, We place our trust in thee. Through howling gate and shot and shell, To win our victory. “Septer Paratus” is our guide, Our pledge, out motto too, We’re “always ready” do or die! HEY! Coast Guard we fight for you!
MERCHANT MARINES
Heave Ho! My Lads, Heave Ho! It's a long, long way to go. It's a long, long pull with our hatches full, Braving the wind, braving the sea, Fighting the treacherous foe; Heave Ho! My lads, Heave Ho! Let the sea roll high or low, We can cross any ocean, sail any river. Give us the goods and we'll deliver, Damn the submarine! We're the men of the Merchant Marine!
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VEGGIES FOR VETERANS
“I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” — Genesis 1:29
THE GOAL • Provide homeless veterans, recently moved off the street into supportive housing, with easy access to fruits and vegetables. • Teach better nutrition habits for a healthy lifestyle. THE CHALLENGE • Previously homeless vets have a larger number of health problems than the overall population. • 23% of homeless vets have high blood pressure. • Nearly 1 in 4 veterans has diabetes. • VA patients also tend to be older, have lower incomes, and have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Veggies for Veterans program is a collaboration between the community (Diana Gregory Foundation – 501C) and the Phoenix VA HUD/VASH program. This is a program to help our newly housed homeless veterans by giving them an opportunity to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables with a mobile farmers market that will be brought on site to Victory Place ( where we house at least 100 VASH veterans). We will also provide a nutritionist on site during market hours to provide training on cooking/ vegetable selection/ and produce preparation and storage- this is the critical element of our program- to teach veterans lifelong eating habits towards a healthier lifestyle as they rehabilitate. WITH YOUR DONATION: • Phoenix VA case managers will provide $10 monthly vouchers to 200 veterans in the VA Supportive Housing program. Donate to help provide fresh fruits & vegetables for veterans Send your check to: Diana Gregory Foundation 1934 E Camelback Road, Suite 120-223 Phoenix AZ, 85016 Donations are tax deductible. 100% of your donation goes to fresh fruits and vegetables.
NEARLY 100,000 VETS ENROLLED IN BURN PIT REGISTRY
by Stephanie Green Eber Join VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry VA launched the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry in June 2014 to better understand the long-term health effects of exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards during deployment. The number of new participants in this registry is climbing steadily, and will soon reach the milestone of 100,000 participants. As of December 9, 2016, the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry includes 95,593 Veterans and Service members. An estimated 3 million veterans and Service members are eligible to join the registry. The benefit of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry for participants is that they can document their exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards in an online questionnaire and print a copy of their questionnaire to discuss with their health care provider. Also, veterans can get a free medical evaluation from VA.
WAR STOLE HIS EYESIGHT, BUT NOT HIS VISION
Major Scott Smiley has a vision, even after losing the power of sight. Smiley is one of roughly 17 percent of wounded service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who suffered an injury to their eyes, many of them left in partial or total blindness. Though not the first service member to suffer this injury, he is the first to remain on active duty, serving for an additional decade. Early in his Army career, while leading his platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Smiley came face-to-face with a suicide bomber. The blast killed the bomber and sent shrapnel through Smiley’s eyes. That was in 2005. In the course of the next 10 years, Smiley’s achievements showed that losing his vision certainly did not deter him from contributing extraordinary service. Since his injury, Smiley has earned his M.B.A. from Duke and taught at West Point; he has received the Army’s MacArthur Leadership Award, an honorary Ph.D. from Mount Saint Mary’s University and the Christopher Award for affirming “the highest values of the human spirit.” He’s even taught the Army Reserve Officer Training Course at Gonzaga University. Smiley was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service before he began the work that fills his days now: giving back to the veteran community by setting an example and working with a range of veteraninspired nonprofits, including the Carrington Charitable Foundation, Veterans Airlift Command and many others. The war might’ve stolen Smiley’s eyesight, but it did not steal his vision. In “Seeing Blind,” Smiley experiences a new kind of sight thanks to cutting-edge technology and the generosity of his family and a new friend:
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MIKE CHAMBERLIN — MUSIC THERAPY
Mike Chamberlin brought you the news and sports on Phoenix TV, and 10 years with ESPN. But five years ago he traded his TV microphone for a Singing microphone. “I've been a musician all my life so this is not a stretch,” said Chamberlin. With over 2000 concerts to his musical credit, he now travels to senior centers and retirement homes all over the valley performing a show he calls “Music Through The Decades.” Chamberlin noted “I have the power, as a musician, to transport my elderly audience to a different a time and place in their lives. Music is magical, it can bring a smile or a tear if delivered properly.” But beyond all this Mike feels music is therapy. “It (music) can move their spirit as well as their feet, so to see their faces light up when I sing Over The Rainbow or Til There Was You is very rewarding.” He continued, “I believe that music touches a place in our soul that the spoken word cannot penetrate. Some seniors cannot hear words but they can feel the beat. Some cannot see well, but the songs I sing touch a place in their memory. Smiles that can melt your heart. And I have found that many seniors treasure a gentle touch , a smallest act of kindness, a wee bit of attention that most of us involved in the day to day wouldn't even notice. But you can see in their eyes that they are savoring every ounce of life. And if I can give them a few minutes of joy then I am deeply honored.” Mike Chamberlin, who served a tour of duty in Viet Nam (1968-60), always pays tribute to veterans in his concerts, especially WWII veterans. “I truly believe it’s because of those that served and died in WWII that we have all the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy today,” said Chamberlin. Mike is available for booking. More info: www.singingtvguy.com
MESA DONATES VEHICLE TO VETERAN
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VETERANS HONORED IN ARIZONA
by Scott Hanson Do you know who your high school football stadium is named after? Or the gym? Or the school itself? If not, don’t worry because Gym has all the answers — or more specifically “Who is Gym?” a new book focused on telling the fascinating stories about the names behind Arizona’s high schools and their sports venues. Written by Arizona native and 30year high school football and baseball official Scott Hanson, “Who is Gym?” is the result of three years of research and interviews with Arizona’s high school athletic directors, administrators, alumni, librarians, local historians, long-time school employees, relatives of those honored, the honorees themselves and others who may have known the people whose names adorn the buildings and fields across Arizona. Dozens of amazing local vets are spotlighted in the magazine, including, but not limited to: • WINSLOW HIGH SCHOOL — Vargas Field, named after war hero and standout athlete Jay R. Vargas, a highly decorated, now-retired United States Marine Corps colonel who earned a Medal of Honor in Vietnam. • ST. JOHNS HIGH SCHOOL — Verl Heap Gym, named after long-time coach Parley Verl Heap, who played collegiately at Arizona State University in the 1942-43 season and from 1945-48. His ASU career was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a B-17 pilot. • KOFA HIGH SCHOOL — Ernie Rillos Gym, named after Ernest F. Rillos, M.D. A 1974 Kofa graduate, he received the Navy Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with a Bronze Star and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. • GLOBE HIGH SCHOOL — Harbison Field, named after James "Jim" Maurice Harbison, a World War II Air Force veteran and long-time owner/operator of Globe Hardware. • FORT THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL — Elden Randall Stadium, named after long-time superintendent Elden Hakes Randall who served in the Navy in World War II. More info or to get your copy: www.whoisgym.com. Scott Hanson is a former long time TV reporter in Arizona. He is an avid baseball fan and umpire, graduated from Northern Arizona University and has run HMA Public Relations for the past 31 years.
FORMER UK PRISON HOUSES VETERANS
US Air Force veteran William Velovich served his country during the Vietnam War. He lost his car after a crash when the Mesa Chamber of Commerce's Veterans Program stepped up to help him. The Chamber teamed up with Valley Express Towing along with Mesa Mayor John Giles and Congressman Andy Biggs to donate a car to William and his family. He said he plans to use the new car to lend a hand to other veterans. “And maybe I can help some other veterans get a leg up and get some justice,” Velovich said. Velovich also got a truck full of presents and free dental care. “I had to do without dental care because of the expense. The dental care, the car, I have a car to get dental care,” Velovich said. The Mesa Chamber of Commerce's Veterans Program does this every year. The only one of its kind in the United Kingdom. A place where ex-servicemen and women can go to for help, with all the relevant services housed under one roof. Whether it's debt or drug and alcohol problems, this is a one-stop shop designed to provide support for veterans trying to re-adapt back to civilian life. It was officially opened by Lord Dannett the former head of the British Army. For more than 60 years, it was an Army Barracks in Norwich. Soldiers trained here before the first and Second World Wars. Closed as a barracks in 1959, The building's owned by Norwich Prison and was converted to support the needs of veterans.
SEVERELY WOUNDED ARMY RANGER RECEIVES "SMART HOME" BY GARY SINESE FOUNDATION
The home was made possible by Building for America's Bravest - a partner program of the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation Yesterday, severely wounded SFC Michael Schlitz and his family were handed the keys to their new specially adapted Smart Home at a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the home in Columbus, Georgia. The specially adapted Smart Home is designed and built with each individuals needs in mind and can come customized with a variety of features that ease daily challenges and helps restore independence, including retractable cook tops, cabinets and shelving, elevators and more, all accessible via an iPad. The home was made possible by Building for America's Bravest, a partner program of the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "I met Mike Schlitz and his mother Robbie for the first time in 2010 when they visited me on the set of CSI NY," said Sinise, Founder of Gary Sinise Foundation (www.garysinisefoundation.org) "There is a great sense of pride that comes from completing this Smart Home and handing over that iPad. Thanks to our donors and partners, Michael Schlitz's new home will enable both of them to live more independent lives and I am proud and honored to have supported this project." "We are so pleased that Mike is receiving his home today," said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation (www.tunnel2towers.org) "As a 9/11 organization we are committed to making sure that our injured service members, who were placed in harm's way as a result of the attack on the World Trade Center, are taken care of when they return home, after having fought so courageously in the War On Terrorism."
Schlitz is a 14-year U.S. Army Ranger who medically retired in 2010 after injuries sustained in Iraq. He and his team were in the southern Baghdad area doing a basic road-clearing mission when they came upon Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which destroyed Schlitz's truck killing his driver, gunner and medic. The blast threw him from the vehicle and suffered burns over the majority of his body along with the loss of both his arms as well as impairment to his vision. "I have so much respect and admiration for everyone who contributed to the building of our new Smart Home," said Schlitz. "There are no words that can express how it feels to be on the receiving end of such generosity. I am truly humbled." The following donors also contributed to make Schiltz's home a reality Marcus Foundation, CMG Foundation, Home Depot Foundation, CMC Commercial Metals, The Carrington Companies, Carrington Charitable Foundation, Shubert Design Furniture, CORE Brands, Qmotion, Carpet One, Mohawk Flooring, General Electric, CORD Moving and Storage, North American Moving Services, General Electric and more, will join the Columbus, Georgia community in dedicating a custom designed, specially adapted "Smart Home" for SFC Michael Schlitz (Ret). www.garysinisefoundation.org
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ARIZONA LOTTERY SUPPORTS VETERANS AND TRANSPORTATION HOW THE LOTTERY BENEFITS ARIZONA Gregory Edgar, Executive Director of the State Lottery, told our audience that lottery ticket GREGORY EDGAR proceeds fund a Executive Director variety of AZ State programs about $3.4 million per week.
ARTS & EDUCATION — $38.8 MILLION University Bond Fund & Tribal College Dual Enrollment Fund HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES — $25.7 MILLION Homeless/Transitional Services, Problem Gambling, Victims’ Rights ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — $15.0 MILLION Arizona Commerce Authority & Local Transportation Assistance Fund II ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION — $10.0 MILLION Heritage Fund (Game and Fish)
ARIZONA LOTTERY HELPS VETERANS
by Brian Sodoma Alexis Jacquez had a plan. Entering the Army in 2002, he wanted to make the military his career and eventually become a Green Beret. But in November of 2003, at 20 years of age, his life changed forever. Jacquez, a rifleman in the Army’s 101st Airborne Unit at the time, sustained a combat injury in Iraq. Unfortunately, it would also take another five years before physicians could clearly understand his health problems. “When that (the Army career) was taken away, things got extremely hard,” he said. Like many other veterans, he entered the civilian world hopeful but feeling uncertain. He worked retail and restaurant jobs, quickly rising to management positions. But he experienced blackouts and seizures that worsened over time. It became difficult to drive a car, forcing him to resign some positions. By 2010, a military medical retirement was his only option. Life did not get easier. His wife is his primary caregiver and receives a minimal monthly VA stipend, but the situation makes it difficult for her to get a job for additional income. Money was always tight. Bills racked up and by the end of 2015, the couple was in jeopardy of losing its car. Jacquez reached out to the Arizona Military Assistance Mission (MAM). The organization made him current on his car loan and even provided a Christmas for his two children. Since then, he has worked to increase his wife’s VA stipend and has gotten a better handle on his finances. “Once they helped out, everything started to click and fall into place,” he added. THE ARIZONA LOTTERY’S HELPING HAND Every year, like Jacquez, thousands of veterans fall between system cracks and agencies like MAM, the Veteran’s Medical Leadership Council (VMLC) and other veterans service organizations step in to help. Funding for these nonprofits is limited. That’s why the Arizona Lottery has prioritized veterans in its community sponsorship giving efforts. In Fiscal Year 2017, the Arizona Lottery contributed to 18 different veteran-related programs. “I appreciate the lottery. They’re very generous and we couldn’t do it without them and other organizations that care about our veterans,” said VMLC President, Sam Young (pictured left). Lottery donations go primarily to the VMLC Returning Warrior program, which helped almost 900 veterans and their family members last year. VMLC donations help with expenses not covered by the federal and state governments. The nonprofit works primarily with VA Medical Center case workers to identify veterans who have fallen on hard times and need financial assistance. By assisting with rent, car payments and utility bills, the VMLC can help a vet get back on his or her feet. Young has seen his share of unique circumstances through the years. He recalls modifying one veteran’s vehicle with a rear backup camera because he sustained a neck injury while deployed. This enabled the veteran to take his kids to school and keep his job. Lottery sponsorship funds also support groups like: The Honor and Remember Arizona Chapter’s AZ Run for the Fallen; the City of El Mirage’s Salute to Veterans event; MAM’s 9-11 Freedom Breakfast fundraiser and the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations - Arizona American Indian Veterans Town Hall, among many other veteran-related agencies. ACTIVE DUTY, OTHER SUPPORT MAM also supports active duty military and their families. CEO and founder, Margy Bons, whose son, Michael, lost his life in combat in 2005, saw firsthand some of the challenges active military members and their families face. “My son would have to come to me to ask for gas money to get to drill camp,” she said. “It’s that food, electric bill, wherever there is that emergency dire financial need where we can help. It’s the families that take the hit as well.” She says the support helps military members stay focused on the task at hand while deployed instead of worrying about matters at home. “You want them to be able to focus on training and not worrying about the electricity being shut off,” Bons added. “Worrying while on your mission can be deadly. The same with Reserves. When they train, we want them to focus on what they need to learn.” MAM also recently created the GI Gap Grant (GIGG) program, which helps veterans going to school on the GI Bill gain financial assistance while they wait for their GI Bill financial aid checks, which can sometimes take up to eight weeks to arrive. “We learned about that issue, so we wanted to incorporate that into MAM,” Bons added. More info: www.azmam.org. To learn more about how the Arizona Lottery supports Arizonans in need, visit www.arizonalottery.com. Reprinted courtesy of Republic Media
DOUG DUCEY Arizona Governor
LOTTERY SUPPORTS PUBLIC TRANSPORT
by Brian Sodoma For the many Valley residents who use automobiles to get to work each day, transit services probably rarely, if ever, cross their minds. But for 250,000 Valley riders who rely on transit daily, the system is critical to their livelihood and well-being. Each year, the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Agency (RPTA) receives about $11.5 million from the Arizona Lottery. The funds support Valley bus routes, like the 685, which brings service from Ajo all the way to Gila Bend, Buckeye and Phoenix, Dial-A-Ride services in the East Valley where bus routes are limited, among other Valley para-transit and bus offerings. The contribution, brings important service extensions that help thousands in Maricopa County lead healthy, productive lives. “It’s easy to forget that for a lot of these people, this is their connection with their job, school, their opportunity in life, their future,” said Scott Smith, Valley Metro CEO (pictured right). LIFE ON THE 685: Jose Garcia graduated with honors from Gila Bend High School. In 2008, when he committed to going to college, Garcia opted for Estrella Mountain Community College in the West Valley. He had a challenge, however. He is epileptic and unable to drive. Garcia relied on Valley Metro’s 685 rural route, which extends from the far West Valley to Gila Bend and Ajo. He took the hour-and-a-half ride every single day for three years between 2008 and 2011 when he matriculated at Estrella Mountain, at times not arriving home until 9 PM. He graduated from Estrella Mountain Community College in 2011 and immediately transferred to ASU where he completed a degree in Spanish by 2013. While at ASU, he relied on numerous Valley Metro bus routes to get from ASU’s west campus to downtown and Tempe campuses. Today, Garcia is pursuing a career as an interpreter for the justice court system. “If I didn’t have this (transit system) I would’ve been stuck at home working dead-end fast-food jobs. I would have still been searching for answers,” he said. OVERCOMING DISABILITY: In 2008, Susan Williams lost her eyesight. After years of living a seemingly normal life in the Valley suburbs, Williams’ life now brought considerable emotional and physical challenges. She was encouraged to start a rehabilitation program at the Foundation for Blind Children in the central Valley, where she could acquire new, necessary, life skills. Living in Gilbert where bus routes are sparse, Williams turned to Valley Metro’s Dial-A-Ride program for her transportation needs. With the service she was able to regularly and successfully engage in her rehabilitation efforts. “You have to give them (Dial-A-Ride) 24-hour notice. You have to plan ahead, but I’d hate to think of my life without it,” Williams said. Once she completed her rehabilitation program, she had the opportunity to attend ASU. Dial-A-Ride enabled her to do that as well. Then, she was approached by the Foundation for Blind Children to oversee a program that supports the state’s visually impaired on their college journey – and, yes, DialA-Ride now allows her to enjoy the life of a working professional overseeing that program. “Dial-A-Ride has helped me function and now I’m able to have a successful life,” she added. “Without it, I would not have had the opportunity to go to college, the opportunity to be employed and start this program.” A WIDOWER KEEPS MOVING: Michael Kelley is 75 years old, but he’s not slowing down. The retired tradesman relies on the lottery-supported Avondale ZOOM route six days a week to keep him connected to his friends and support system. When Kelley’s wife passed away, financial constraints took away his access to an automobile. A neighbor informed him of the ZOOM routes near his Avondale home. The service allows him to get to grocery stores and most importantly the gym, where he stays active and connects with friends. “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do much. I couldn’t afford to catch a cab to go to all these places and it’s too far to walk,” he said. “Without it, I’d just be stuck at home.” These few examples show how the Valley transit system connects members of society to their world, workplaces and so much more, adds Smith. As in Williams’ case, the system can be critical to one’s ability to be a productive working member of society, instead of feeling isolated at home, possibly creating reliance on social services and the healthcare system. “Keep in mind, with cities, you’re budgeting on the fringe. Once you pay for police and fire and all those things, you don’t have a lot left over. Many communities, if they didn’t have these lottery funds, wouldn’t be able to provide the level of service they do,” he said. Reprinted courtesy of Republic Media
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HELMETS TO HARDHATS
Helmets to Hardhats is a national, non-profit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry. The program is designed to help military service members successfully transition back into civilian life by offering them the means to secure a quality career in the construction industry. Most career opportunities offered by the program are connected to federallyapproved apprenticeship training programs. Such training is provided by the trade organizations themselves at no cost to the veteran. No prior experience is needed; in fact, most successful placements start with virtually no experience in their chosen field. All participating trade organizations conduct three to five year earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship training programs that teach service members everything they need to know to become a construction industry professional with a specialization in a particular craft. And, because these apprenticeship programs are regulated and approved at both federal and state levels, veterans can utilize their Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to supplement their income while they are learning valuable skills and on the job training. In 2007, Helmets to Hardhats supplemented its existing program with a disabled American veteran program known as the “Wounded Warrior” program, which serves to connect disabled veterans with employment opportunities in the construction industry and the careers that support construction. More info: www.helmetstohardhats.org
AMAZON APPRENTICESHIP TRAINS VETERANS
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has signed an agreement with Amazon to establish a registered apprenticeship program to train veterans for in-demand technical careers at the online technology giant. Deputy U.S. Secretary of Labor Chris Lu and Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition at Amazon Web Services Ardine Williams joined in a ceremony. “We are pleased that Amazon is joining the remarkable group of forwardlooking organizations that are pursuing innovations in apprenticeship for the 21st century,” Deputy Secretary Lu said. “Partnerships like this one have reinvigorated our nation’s apprenticeship system, creating opportunity and pathways to prosperity for hundreds of thousands of Americans that will last for years to come.” In May 2016, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced the company’s goals of hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years and training 10,000 more in cloud computing skills. The first cohort of apprentices under the new agreement will be trained for AWS’ Cloud Support Associate role. To date, more than 200 employers, colleges, and labor organizations have signed on to be ApprenticeshipUSA LEADERS by starting or expanding their own work-based learning programs and encouraging their peers to follow. Employers in the LEADERS program have pledged to work together to create nearly 20,000 new apprenticeship positions. In fiscal year 2016, more than 206,000 individuals entered the apprenticeship system. Nationwide, there are over 505,000 apprentices currently obtaining the skills they need to succeed while earning the wages they need to build financial security. Apprenticeship can play a vital role in addressing many of today's skills challenges. More info: 202-693-2796, Apprenticeship.USA@dol.gov.
CHALLENGES FOR RURAL VETERANS
by Philip D. Cushman Rural Americans still form the majority of our armed forces and many veterans return to their rural roots after their service. They are often joined by their urban counterparts who are attracted to the benefits of living in rural America: selfreliant neighbors, independent culture, you know everyone, not a lot of hassles with traffic, and access to the outdoors lifestyle that many veterans cherish. Furthermore, there is the calming effect that a slower lifestyle has for the veterans overcoming their PTSD, Depression, and other medical challenges. Unfortunately, much of the support structure and services for veterans resides in the big cities, sometimes over 100 miles away. La Paz County Arizona is one of the most rural and remote regions in the United States with a high Veteran per capita to population. In the winter months, our Veteran population expands to over 40,000 due to the winter visitors seeking respite from the cold and stormy North. La Paz County is at the intersection of several veterans Administration Health Districts. Depending upon whom you speak at the veterans Administration, La Paz County is either attached to the Phoenix or Northern Arizona VA Health System. However, we have veterans that travel hundreds of miles to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Loma Linda, San Diego, and Tucson for their routine, acute, and chronic health care needs. Our winter visitors often travel back to Washington, New York, Chicago or other distant locations. Local health care systems are very keen assist veterans but run into significant administrative obstacles. For a period of two years, I was making weekly, 130-mile, one-way trips to the Phoenix VA Hospital (13,420 total miles). The compensation for travel ($5,610 at $0.415 per mile) helped some but the taxpayer could have saved a lot of money if the VA and Tricare health care administrators were more energetic in seeing that my health care needs were provided closer to home. Although the veterans Choice program is an improvement since many VA facilities are greater than 45 miles from rural veterans, a physician must be credentialed with the program before the Veteran can “choose” those services. Retired veterans who are eligible for Tricare simply cannot find a credentialed physician in the same county. Most rural physician are very excited to care for veterans and do their part to get credentialed. Unfortunately, I have heard some health insurance companies say, “we have up to five months to make a determination if that physician can be credentialed”. Well, some veterans don’t have five months to wait. In conclusion, the benefits of living in rural America far outweigh the detriments of complicated health care due to geography. Sometimes it seems easier for we rural veterans to take care of our own. At other times, the frustration is palpable and the collective anger at a dysfunctional administration must be borne stoically. At any rate, rural veterans are very much involved in their communities, their veteran service organizations, and small businesses and can only do so because they have the opportunity to live in rural America. Philip D. Cushman enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served 22 years, retiring as a Major. He currently serves as the President of the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce and is a Service Officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 769.
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APPRENTICESHIP GIVES REAL-LIFE WORK EXPERIENCE From the US Army to an Electrical Apprenticeship
by Diana Petterson When he was young, Indiana native Timothy Loy enjoyed helping his father, a carpenter, make things. “I always liked working with tools and working with my hands,” said Timothy. “I always knew I could not sit behind a desk because I like to build things and see them grow from the ground up.” So Timothy went into the Army. While stationed in Fort Polk, Timothy Loy, right, stands on the roof Louisiana, he earned his GED and of the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake met his future wife Lakyn. After he Charles, Louisiana. Left, are father and had served for three years, including son Richard and Dale Johnson, both a year in Afghanistan, they decided to electrical journeyman. make Lake Charles, Louisiana, their home. Timothy found work as a satellite TV installer but wanted a career that could provide more of a future. When he heard about an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers apprenticeship program through the “Helmets to Hardhats,” program that helps military veterans get jobs in the construction industry, Timothy applied for a job with the IBEW 861 union. Two short weeks later, he began training through the National Joint Training Apprenticeship Committee chapter in Lake Charles, a Labor Department registered apprenticeship program. The program has given him real-life work experience at the Golden Nugget Casino and with local company Chiasson Electric, and he is currently working at a local Lake Charles hospital putting in new generators for emergency power. Along with his on-the-job training, he also receives classroom training twice a week. He is on track to complete the apprenticeship in May 2018 and earn his journeyman status. “I get paid to learn and to work so the apprenticeship program has helped me to support my family while providing me with a trade, a marketable skill,” said Timothy, who has a newborn and a 3-year-old. “Four years of college isn’t for everyone but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good career and make a good living. Plus, through the IBEW, I have friends and people I now consider as family.”
GRAND OPENING OF NEW VET CENTER IN CASA GRANDE
318 N. Florence St., Casa Grande. 520-431-5663.
ARMY VETERAN IS LEADING TV PERSONALITY JESUS HERNANDEZ, US Army — Vet Biz Journey
The Vets Biz Journey is a TV program that celebrates the new journey of veterans as they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. It’s our way of honoring the men and women who served to protect our freedoms and who are now making new contributions to America as business owners. The VA estimates that veterans account for 13.5% (or 3.7 million) of all small businesses in the United States. These businesses employ 5.8 million Americans; pay wages in excess of $210 billion; and contribute $1.7 trillion to the U.S. GDP or Gross domestic product. Jesus Hernandez, a US Army Vietnam veteran, is the host and executive producer of the Vets Biz Journey. “This program is about advancing the dreams and possibilities of veteran. Through their stories we discover their passion, their pride and love of country. They share their tips for success and provide words of encouragement for veterans starting their new journey.” For more info call 602-565-9510, email: VetsBizJourney@gmail.com www.VetsBizJourney.com Jesus Hernandez is a pioneer in the broadcast television industry in Phoenix, Arizona with over 30 years of experience as a journalist, producer, editor, public relations professional and fundraiser. He’s an Army veteran who served in Vietnam from December 1967 to March 1969. He served with the 1st. Signal Battalion 578 Signal Company. He is presently a television producer at Maricopa Community Colleges TV, promoting the services and program offered by the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. He is a founding member of the East Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He helped establish three annual events that continue to generate revenue for the chamber. Those events include: Adelante y Exito, Hispanic Business Media/Marketing Report and STEM Scholarship Project. At Friendly House Jesus was the Special Events, Fundraising and Public Relations Coordinator. He was the President and CEO of MegaHertZ Mediaworks, a marketing and media production company he started. He was the publisher of the Arizona Hispanic Newspaper. It was Arizona’s only English language Hispanic newspaper. Hernandez is a pioneer in the broadcasting industry in Arizona. He was one of the first Latino television reporters on English television in Phoenix. During his many years in the field of communications and marketing Jesus has garner numerous local and national awards for writing, producing documentaries, television programs and directing. Jesus has work for CBS News in Los Angeles, KAET Channel 8, Univision, Phoenix Channel 11, and Channel 10.
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SECOND CHANCE GRANT TO SUPPORT RE-ENTRY
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APPRENTICESHIP CHANGED MY LIFE
Governor Doug Ducey announced that the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) has been awarded two federally-funded Second Chance Act grants to conduct projects that will support his priority of reducing recidivism. In August, Governor Ducey formally supported the grant request from ADC, emphasizing the need to bring grassroots and governmental stakeholders together to create a comprehensive approach to reentry and recidivism reduction. “We’re committed to continue everything that we can to reduce recidivism and reverse the growth of Arizona’s prison population,” said Governor Ducey. “These grants will help provide our state with the vital resources we need to protect public safety while being accountable to taxpayers.” “Finding new ways to reduce recidivism and custody rates is a top priority for the state of Arizona,” said ADC Director Charles Ryan. “We appreciate Governor Ducey’s leadership in the process of receiving these major grants.” “Securing employment upon release is one of the key ways to reduce the likelihood of recidivism,” said Karen Hellman, ADC Division Director for Inmate Programs and Reentry. “The training and assistance made possible through this grant project will prepare individuals to earn industry-recognized certifications and will give them a second chance to contribute to society.” GRANT #1: RECIDIVISM REDUCTION STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Under this program, ADC is awarded a one-year grant (with two potential one-year extensions) in the amount of $162,287 to implement recidivism reduction strategies developed through a 2015 Statewide Recidivism Reduction Strategic Plan Grant. Arizona is one of only four states in the nation to receive funding for this program. ADC’s grant project will target individuals determined by the agency’s in-house validated risk/needs assessment as likely to recidivate. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO: • Provide leadership and technical assistance to state and local reentry coalitions to help increase their capacity to serve released offenders and to develop a comprehensive, cohesive approach to reentry programming that will promote successful outcomes; • Implement extensive skill development training for correctional case managers, emphasizing evidence-based case management processes that address criminogenic needs of high-risk offenders; • Conduct a process-and-outcome evaluation of the grant project through Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in order to review the effectiveness of the agency’s reentry efforts as funded through the grant. The evaluation and research component will follow 250 high-risk offenders who are released during the project period and placed under ADC community supervision. GRANT #2: TECHNOLOGY-BASED CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM Under this program, ADC is awarded a three-year grant in the amount of $742,528 to provide technology-based career training to 135 moderate to highrisk to recidivate adult inmates at the ASPC-Florence/North Unit. Completion of training can lead to industry-recognized certifications that are stackable toward additional certifications. Released participants may enroll in Central Arizona College to achieve other certifications or an associate’s degree.
by Rhonda Burke, Dept. of Labor Two decades ago Joe Gomez was sitting in a federal cell block after being convicted of selling drugs. He never could have imagined that in 20 years he would be sitting in the gallery of the Iowa Capitol as a guest of the governor. This is his story: The East Moline, Illinois native and high school dropout said years of hanging with the wrong crowd and making bad choices caught up to him when he was sentenced in 1996. Determined to make a better life for himself and his children, he started Joe Gomez cooking in the cooking behind bars for 18 cents an kitchen of his restaurant. hour and discovered a passion for food. When he was released after seven years, he signed up for Eastern Iowa Community College’s Registered Apprenticeship Culinary Arts Program. Through the program, he was paid to work in local restaurants while pursuing an associate degree at Scott Community College. In the program, he found his mentor — culinary instructor and Chef Brad Scott — who helped Joe channel his passion into the drive to excel over the next three years. “Chef Scott got me where I wanted to be,” Gomez said. “I loved competing in the cooking contests and working with great chefs. It gave me a chance to work in the food industry and make a name for myself.” It took time to save up for it, but Joe finally opened his own restaurant, Los Primos Mexican Grill, in Davenport, Iowa, with his cousin in 2014. He now employs 14 people at the booming business and loves going to work each day. Joe also spends time mentoring others, and says he is honest with his own six children, his employees and those he meets. “I want young people to see the example of what I did, the price I paid, and to make good choices,” he says. “Good choices equal good results, bad choices equal bad results. You have to do it for yourself and work to make it better.” Last year Joe was invited to sit on a panel discussion for Governor Terry Branstad’s Future Ready Iowa initiative to discuss the impact of apprenticeship. The governor also asked him to be a guest at the 2016 Condition of the State address to the Iowa legislature in January, where Joe received a standing ovation for being an example of the power of apprenticeships to grow Iowa’s workforce. “If it had not been for registered apprenticeship, I don’t know where I would be, probably another statistic in and out of prison,” Joe added. “It changed my life.” More info: www.dol.gov/apprenticeship
Three employers — Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona, Hickman’s Egg Ranch, and Televerde — have already committed to working with graduates. ADC has also developed partnerships with ten communitybased public and private agencies committed to assisting program participants with career counseling and job readiness; job referrals and placement; life skills and mentoring; housing; health, mental health, and addiction treatment resources; and case management. ADC will track and assess the program’s effectiveness and each inmate’s success, pre- and post-release. Second Chance Act grants are administered under the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The US Department of Labor announced today that it has signed an agreement with Amazon to establish a registered apprenticeship program to train veterans for in-demand technical careers at the online technology giant. Deputy US Secretary of Labor Chris Lu and Vice President, Amazon Ardine Williams joined in a ceremony at Amazon. “We are pleased that Amazon is joining the remarkable group of forward-looking organizations that are pursuing innovations in apprenticeship for the 21st century,” Deputy Secretary Lu said. “Partnerships like this one have reinvigorated our nation’s apprenticeship system, creating opportunity and pathways to prosperity for hundreds of thousands of Americans that will last for years to come.” In 2016, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced the company’s goals of hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years and training 10,000 more in cloud computing skills. The first cohort of apprentices under the new agreement will be trained for AWS’ Cloud Support Associate role. To date, more than 200 employers, colleges, and labor organizations have signed on to be ApprenticeshipUSA LEADERS by starting or expanding their own work-based learning programs and encouraging their peers to follow. Employers in the LEADERS program have pledged to work together to create nearly 20,000 new apprenticeship positions. In 2016, more than 206,000 individuals entered the apprenticeship system. Nationwide, there are over 505,000 apprentices currently obtaining the skills they need to succeed while earning the wages they need to build financial security. Apprenticeship can play a vital role in addressing many of today's skills challenges. More info call: (202) 693-2796, email: Apprenticeship.USA@dol.gov.
MESA’S BRIDGE TO EMPLOYMENT
The Soft Skills Training Course is open to all US veterans interested in improving work related soft skills and increasing employability. The class will also include assistance on resumes as well as referrals to free services for those with no resume. Veterans will connect with a service that provides work attire, free of charge, to those who need it. Mesa United Way will assist participants seeking employment by connecting them with potential Mesa/East Valley employers. The class will be taught by Joanna Sweatt, Chief Operating Officer of The Veterans Directory. Joanna is a 10-year Marine Corps Veteran and is an Associate Instructor for a successful Career Readiness course offered through www.Fourblock.org. More info contact: Troy Baker troy.baker@mesaunitedway.org 480-834-2123
APPRENTICESHIPS TRAIN VETERANS
‘REGAINING HONOR’ PROGRAM HELPS INCARCERATED VETERANS
The Arizona Department of Corrections is implementing a new inmate program for those who previously served our nation in uniform. The Regaining Honor program will be located at ASPC-Tucson and initially serve up to 125 minimum-custody male inmates who previously received an honorable, general, or medical discharge from a branch of the armed forces prior to their incarceration and currently are within six to 24 months of release. “This program will give these men a chance to earn back the pride and honor they achieved while serving our country,” explains Charles Ryan, Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections. The Regaining Honor program will offer veteran-specific groups, classes, workshops, and release planning. It is hoped that, through these specialized services, incarcerated veterans will address the issues that contributed to their incarceration and successfully reenter society as law abiding citizens,
and thus reduce recidivism for this population. Regaining Honor will utilize a variety of partnerships to provide services to support the program, including such groups as the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, the Department of Economic Security’s Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, the Tucson chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, and local 12 Step volunteers. Inmate participation in the new program is voluntary and requires the veterans to agree to adhere to a strict code of conduct. Participants will have opportunities to engage in community betterment projects, flag handling classes and ceremonies, and a physical training regimen. “This is an exciting opportunity for both the veteran inmates and my staff at the Whetstone Unit,” said Deputy Warden Dionne Martinez, who has been instrumental in implementing the Regaining Honor program.
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U.S.VETS Helps Veterans Households Through Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing SUPPORTIVE SERVICE FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) is a grant program operated by U.S.VETS that helps low income veteran households find affordable housing, or provides assistance to help them stay in their current home. The SSVF program focuses on homeless prevention and housing stability, as well as rapid re-housing of homeless veteran households. The program offers case management services, rental assistance, utility assistance, transportation in the form of bus passes, legal assistance, and moving costs.
U.S.VETS GRAND VETERANS VILLAGE
HOW THE U.S.VETS PROGRAM WORKS Bridge Housing: Designed to assist veterans, male and female, who are homeless, we set up building blocks for self-sufficiency through employment, increased benefits and family reunification. On-site residents live in a therapeutic community that includes intensive case management focusing on employment, budgeting, life skills, sobriety, and relapse prevention skills. Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF): SSVF helps prevent veteran homelessness and facilitates rapid re-housing of homeless veterans. SSVF assists single veteran households through case management, rental assistance, moving expenses, transportation, security deposits and emergency supplies. Disabled Veteran Permanent Housing: Housing provided to disabled, homeless veterans to empower them to live as independently as possible in a permanent, veteran-friendly community. Services offered include case management, referrals to needed services, and benefit coordination assistance. Grand Veterans Village — Long Term Supportive Housing: We lease affordable housing units in order to reduce the number of veterans at risk for homelessness. Workforce: We provide assistance for veterans returning to employment or looking to enhance their careers. Structured employment activities include CV preparation and resume writing, career development, education and training referrals, computer training, and skills testing. Outreach: Our U.S.VETS outreach team is the first point of contact for veterans, providing veterans with resources and referral services valley-wide, and welcoming them into the U.S.VETS Programs and Facilities. The Phoenix outreach phone number is 602-757-9723 and the Prescott outreach phone number is 928-583-7200.
VETERAN TESTIMONIAL My name is Daniel Calandro and I was born in 1980 and raised in South Carolina. I served in the US Army from 2008-2011 as an OIF veteran. I came to Arizona to live with my sister, but she moved to Tampa, Florida to be closer to our mother. That is when I asked for the help of U.S.VETS. I was interviewed by TIP staff and placed in a one bedroom apartment. Since being in the program I have found employment that enables me to take over the lease and to purchase a vehicle. I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your help and support. Without the USVETS TIP program I do not know where I would be today, Homeless, most likely. Because of the TIP program I went from no idea of where I was going to live — to having a place I call my own. I now have hope and a future which actually looks very bright. I would personally like to thank U.S.VETS staff members Mr. Hernandez and Tera Calhoun for all they have done for me. Their support and guidance helped me achieve the goals I had set for myself. Thanks to all of you, the U.S.VETS TIP program can be very beneficial to the individual veteran if they are willing to follow the rules and apply themselves. By using all the tools they provide, one can be successful. I sincerely would like to thank all of you for helping me achieve my goals.
Your generous tax-deductible donations help veterans with needed services. You can mail contributions to the Phoenix site at 3507 North Central Avenue, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85012 or contact Michelle Jameson at 602-501-5548.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
U.S.VETS–Phoenix provides housing for over 200 homeless, disabled and low-income veterans daily. More info at: www.usvetsinc.org/phoenix U.S.VETS Initiative began providing services to veterans in October 2001 and has six locations in Phoenix and Prescott, Arizona. The non-profit organization provides transitional, permanent and long term housing to 260 veterans, and financial assistance to more than 400 veteran families every day. U.S.VETS–Phoenix serves nearly 1500 veterans every year, though outreach, case management, housing services, individual and group counseling, and workforce related activities. U.S.VETS welcomes you to join our mission, to ensure the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT U.S.VETS Arizona Charitable Tax Credit! The Arizona State Legislature recently enacted A.R.S. 43-1088, which is a dollarfor-dollar reduction in the actual Arizona State Tax you owe. You can donate up to $800* for a joint return and up to$400* for an individual return, then subtract those amounts from your Arizona State Tax bill. Your contribution means everything to our veterans in need. All donations will benefit homeless veterans in our communities.
PLEASE Donate to U.S.VETS – Phoenix TODAY *These amounts are increased by the AZ State Legislature for 2016. Always consult your tax professional and the Arizona Department of Revenue Guidelines.
v U.S.VETS worked with the Experience Matters non-profit organization to bring in two volunteers to assist their programs. Welcome Dawn Vukadinovich and Lloyd Mehr who both recently retired from Intel Corporation. Dawn will be working as a Program Assistant and Lloyd as a Program and Activity coordinator. v Planning has started for the 2nd Annual: STEPS for VETS event. The event is scheduled for May 12, 2017. We are looking for Sponsors, Volunteers and participants. If interested contact Lloyd Mehr at: Lmehr@usvetsinc.org or visit www.usvetsinc.org/phoenix. v Local Denny’s restaurants conducted a fundraiser during the Veterans Day week to aid U.S.VETS. Many thanks to the organization and their support of the U.S.VETS organization v Applebee’s restaurant volunteered to cater to over 100 veterans and staff members locate at the Grand Avenue facility. U.S.VETS believes that every veteran should have a home. We accomplish this by following the agency’s core values: Veteran Success: The success of our agency is based on the success of the veterans we serve. Excellence: We are committed to increasing our expertise to better serve veterans. Loyalty: Steadfastness to our veterans and to our mission. Dignity: We treat every veteran with respect. Hope: It is critical to convey hope to the veterans we serve and guide them to self-sufficiency. Community Inclusion: We are committed to developing quality external partnerships to increase our ability to serve veterans. Service: Our job is not done until every veteran is served.
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YOUR DONATIONS HELP VETERANS IN ARIZONA U.S.VETS, Grand Veterans Village, 3400 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix, 602-291-2893 U.S.VETS, Transition in Place Program, 1110 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-677-5902 U.S.VETS, SSVF Program, 3507 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, 602-441-0612 MICHELLE JAMESON Executive Director, U.S.VETS
U.S.VETS is a 501c3 non-profit organization and welcomes support & tax-deductible donations.
If you are a veteran in need of assistance, please contact our Outreach Team at 602-757-9723.
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RESCUING PEOPLE, REBUILDING LIVES, REALIZING DREAMS Our Vision: To become an inner city resource that will help distribute hope to the hopeless, food to the hungry, clothes for the naked and restoration to the broken.
PHOENIX DREAM CENTER 3210 Grand Ave., #314 Phoenix, AZ 85017 phxdreamcenter.org
The Phoenix Dream Center is a volunteer driven nonprofit organization, which exists to serve the homeless, low-income, at risk youth and struggling individuals and families by providing resources, opportunities and supportive services to help them realize their dream of living a self-sufficient life. Founded in 2006, the Phoenix Dream Center currently serves over 36,000 people each month. We have become best known for 2 things in our City; Our Community Outreaches and Our Housing Programs. Each week through the various Dream Center Programs, we conduct 120 Street and Nursing Home Outreaches to people in need. At each Outreach, Food, Clothing and a message of Hope and God's Love is shared. Our Programs provide housing to over 450 people each night. The Housing Programs at the Phoenix Dream Center include a Christian-based Life Recovery Program, A Program for Young Women out of Sex Trafficking including Crisis Pregnancy, An Emergency Family Housing Program, An Affordable Housing Program and A Foster Care Age-Out Program.
PASTOR TOMMY BARNETT, FOUNDER Tommy Barnett is the Senior Pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America, Phoenix First Assembly of God, in Phoenix, Arizona. The church is known as The Church with a Heart, because of its 260 outreach ministries. In September 1994, Tommy Barnett, with his son Matthew Barnett, launched the Los Angeles Dream Center as a home missions project. Beginning with a church averaging 48 people on a Sunday morning, the ministry is now reaching over 50,000 per month. Located in the heart of the inner city of Los Angeles at the former Queen of Angeles Hospital. The Dream Center is rescuing and rehabilitating people from addictions, homelessness, and abuse, including victims of human trafficking. Reaching out to gang members, unwed mothers, and emancipated youth, as well as feeding the hungry and needy, the “Dream Center”, gives people hope and an opportunity to “Dream Again”. The Dream Center epitomizes Pastor Barnett’s quote, “Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.” Pastor Tommy Barnett copastors with his son Matthew Barnett in providing the vision, leadership skills, training, and financial management for the ministry.
PASTOR BRIAN STEELE works as the Executive Director of the Phoenix Dream Center, but started in 2007 as a volunteer After spending time on the mission field in the Middle East. He and his wife Skye-Cherie have been instrumental in implementing various programs at the PDC. Brian and Skye have served together with a passion for ministry for 10 years and enjoy life with their son Levi Daniel.
THE NEW ARIZONA HOUSING COALITION
The Arizona Housing Alliance merged with the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness to form the Arizona Housing Coalition. This combines the affordable housing and homeless advocacy organizations to expand their impact.
Grand opening for the new Halle Healing Medical Center specially designed for human trafficking survivors. Thank you to the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Dignity Health, Jokake Construction and McCarthy Nordburg Construction.
DREAM CENTER PROGRAMS Currently the Phoenix Dream Center serves over 40,000 people each month through a variety of transitional housing and community-based outreach programs such as the following: SEXUAL EXPLOITATION RELIEF Nestled in the safety of the Hope Wing, our Crisis Pregnancy and Sexual Exploitation programs were established to address the specific needs faced by victims of the growing sexual exploitation industry. This program offers safe refuge and specialized counseling so that the young women can be restored as functioning members of our community. This program is for single women and girls who are typically between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, and is designed for both pregnant and non-pregnant women. This is a free program to individuals who need it. LIFE RECOVERY SCHOOL: Within a highly structured format and Christian-based curriculum, residents in this program are taught to overcome addictions, abuse and emotional struggles, while helping them to mend broken or strained relationships with the goal of reuniting them with their families. This program is for single men and women over the age of 18 who are not working. This Program is a sober living environment which the man or woman will have 2-3 roommates and share a 500 sq. ft. room at the Phoenix Dream Center. This is a free program to individuals who need it. INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR YOUTH & SINGLE ADULTS: The Phoenix Dream Center is now a point of light in not only providing housing for single adults, but also a dedicated program and life skills training to young people "aging out" of foster care. Our mission is to provide a place of rest that feels like home for each of these young adults. This program is for single men or women between the ages of 18 and 21 who have aged out of the foster care, Child Protective Services or other orphaned situation. This program is a sober living environment in which the man or woman will have 1-2 roommates and share a 500 sq. ft. room at the Phoenix Dream Center. This Program offers both fee-based and free services to individuals who need it. HUNGER RELIEF COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH: The Phoenix Dream Center serves over 10,000 meals weekly, by operating an onsite cafeteria and delivering bagged groceries to the homeless, low-income and food insecure families at over 20 sites throughout Phoenix. Recipients include single mothers, families living below the poverty level, disabled individuals, the unemployed, and the elderly. This outreach program helps to alleviate hunger in some of the most impoverished communities in Phoenix.
UMOM: KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER USING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES
UMOM is located in Phoenix, Arizona and is the largest provider of services for homeless families in the state. Keeping families together, UMOM provides multiple interventions to end homelessness for any and every family. Services include coordinated entry, emergency and extended shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent affordable and supportive housing and workforce development. Families at UMOM have the opportunity to gain the skills, medical care, quality child care and education they need to rebuild their lives and succeed when they leave. UMOM’s mission is to prevent and end homelessness with innovative strategies and housing solutions that meet the unique needs of each family and individual. Arizona ranks 46th in the nation for overall child well-being and 42nd nationally for economic well-being. Finally, 34% of Arizona children live in a home with a high housing cost burden, meaning more than 30% of monthly income is spent on rent, mortgage payments, insurance and related expenses. Arizona has a higher overall rate of poverty and has more children living in poverty when compared to national statistics. Approximately one in four Arizona children lives in poverty. In Maricopa County, 23% of children live in poverty. In 2016, the Arizona Department of Economic Security reported on the impact of rapid re-housing in Arizona: The rapid re-housing and homeless prevention programs in Arizona made significant impacts in the 2014-15 funding year. More than 1,900 individuals statewide were assisted through either rapid re-housing services or homeless prevention. A successful exit is one where the client is established in safe, permanent housing at the time case management and financial support are ended. For the 229 households with a successful exit from rapid re-housing services between July 2010 and October 2015, 212, 93% had not re-entered emergency shelter as of October 2015. “The idea of standing idle while a waitlist for affordable housing grows is
simply not an option,” said Bob Parsons. “There are families in this community who need a leg-up and a second chance at becoming first-class citizens. Renee and I have every intention to help make a long-term difference in the fight to end homelessness in the greater Phoenix area and we believe that UMOM’s new housing community is a great next step.” The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is a long-time supporter of UMOM New Day Centers. In 2012 the Foundation awarded UMOM $5 million to enable the center to pay off their mortgage on the 7.2 acre main campus, which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing, and dramatically expand the programs and services available. UMOM’S MISSION: to prevent and end homelessness with innovative strategies and housing solutions that meet the unique needs of each family and individual. UMOM is located at 3333 E. Van Buren St. in Phoenix. 602-275-7852, www.umom.org
THE BOB & RENEE PARSONS FOUNDATION: The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation inspires hope by providing critical funding at critical times to communities striving to make a difference. The foundation primarily focuses on issues in the greater Phoenix area. The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation believes every person is entitled to an education, good nutrition, medical care, a stress-free, happy environment and the hope that they too, will share in the American Dream. Find out more about the foundation at www.TBRPF.org.
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AMERICAN LEGION COLLEGE POST 36 TUCSON
VET-SEC PROTECTION AGENCY HIRES VETERANS
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
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HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES “I am so impressed with your service from begining to end”. — Phillip G.
“Goettl has been wonderful. I really appreciate all Goettl’s hard work”. — Marlene G.
Vet-Sec is a veteran owned professional security company that services Phoenix, Las Vegas and Tucson areas providing guard services, alarm response, and mobile patrols. Vet-Sec employs over 500 highly trained security officers. They offer several services to include Alarm Response, Traditional Standing Officers, Mobile Patrol and Temporary Security. Contact them at 800-909-3628. 7206 N. 55th Ave., Phoenix.
“Goettl’s team are honest and knowledgeable professionals”. — Ray Lockhart, Sun City
Meet Geddy James Nible, who enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in May of 2008 to serve as an 89B MOS code for Ammunition Specialist. His first deployment was to Joint Base Ballad, Iraq with 1st platoon of the 452nd Ordnance Company serving under the command of the 103D ESC Then a second tour back shortly after 2 years returning from his first. He started Americans Saving Veterans also known as A.S.V. is an organization of ex-military and civilian Americans with a passion and dedication for reaching out into the communities. Providing various forms of support along with suicide prevention awareness for America's veterans and their loved ones.
These are Some of the Veterans with Goettl Air Conditioning who is Proud to Hire Veterans.
CONGRATULATIONS
Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell named Arizona Chief of the Year at the Arizona Chiefs of Police.
Chief Mary Cameli named the leader of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.
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Rocky Stone has been battling the effects of Agent Orange passed on from his father who served in Vietnam. Rocky is writing a book about his experiences. Rocky Stone is a survivor. Writing about your experiences is a good way to heal the soul. US Army veteran and former Congressman from California Frank Riggs is running for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction. As a Member of Congress and Chairman of the House K-12 education subcommittee, he authored the Charter School Expansion Act to provide start-up grants to newly formed charter schools and legislation that would have converted the federal funding program for disadvantaged, low-income students into a voucher program. The Heritage Foundation said, "Representative Riggs spearheaded many cutting edge initiatives like school choice and charter schools."
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YOU MATTER: SUICIDE AWARENESS & PREVENTION — IN TRIBUTE TO ANDY HULL
by LeAnn Hull Four years after my son, Andy died by suicide, my family is still reeling from the trauma. My other children are Mike, who is a US Army veteran suffering from severe PTSD, my daughter Beth, who is a Nurse with three children, and my son Josh who is currently the NCOIC of Base Honor Guard in the US Air Force and currently not talking to any of the family. Suicide in and of itself is a terrible tragedy to recover from, let alone all of the continued fallout in the rest of the family from the grief and loss. So many unanswered questions and strangling guilt surrounds all of the family and friends. I have always said that it is extremely difficult to receive help from your own family in a situation like this because they are all struggling to survive. So where do you get your help from? Well, I have found some very special friends who have been willing to walk this difficult journey with me, as well as obviously feeling the need to be healthy for my other kids and grandkids. But where does someone who is in the military find their help? My experience with the response of the military for my boys has not been a very positive one. In addition, the voice and grief of the siblings are not validated or heard as much as the parents are. What do you do with all this pain that feels like it is going to eat you alive? My oldest Army son “chose” alcohol as his coping tool. As you can imagine, this has been an ugly journey which caused me to anguish about his mere survival many days. He was an active duty serviceman when his brother died. No counseling was offered or provided, just back to active duty oversees two weeks later. Three years later he is finally in a new VA program for severe PTSD and seems to be doing well. My daughter seemed to have found a purpose, like me, in making healthy choices for her children but it is still a daily struggle. My other son who is active duty is not speaking to any of the family. He had a breakdown of sorts in and was chastised by his
commanders for his inability to cope. So much for the mantra about wanting to help our servicemen deal with suicidal thoughts and grief! Right after that he separated from his wife and hasn’t spoken to any of us for the last five months. I think that in his mind, if he removes all of us from his life then he won’t have to process the loss of his brother, because clearly, if he wanted to maintain his status in the military, he would have to buck up and keep his mouth shut. So much pain in our family. No one really talks about suicide in the first place, let alone all of the ramifications to the family. Until we bring this subject out of the darkness and begin to talk about and deal with mental illness, we will continue to loose our men and women to suicide. In tribute to her son, LeAnn Hull started the Andy Hull Sunshine Foundation. LeAnn lectures to school children, active duty military and legislators at the Arizona State Capitol. www.andyssunshine.com.
LeAnn Hull and the Andy Hull Sunshine Foundation at the Arizona State Capitol.
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THE RIPPLE EFFECT PROVIDES HOPE & VISION Healing the Warrior Heart Workshop
We bring veterans and community together to offer HOPE and VISION for SUCCESS after military service, using a variety of TOOLS and RESOURCES to guide the journey. Presentations that share personal experience, education, tips and tools are given followed by a personal round table discussion to answer any questions, concerns and to allow attendees the opportunity to share experiences and resources. SPEAKERS INCLUDED: WENDY SHACKLEY: Gold Star Mom, Founder/Director of The Ripple Effect — Helping Veterans and Famiilies Heal, Author of Living It Is Loving It ANDREW JONES: USMC Combat Veteran (Iraq '03), Project Manager of The Ripple Effect — Helping Veterans and Families Heal, Author of Healing the Warrior Heart SANDE ROBERTS, MA: 25+ years in crisis intervention, Suicide Prevention Trainer of Trainers, Psychology Professor at Phoenix College and Author of We Need To Talk About Suicide. www.the rippleeffectaz.org. ANDREW R. JONES is a US Marine Corps combat veteran of the Iraq War, best-selling author and Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the Arizona Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Andrew participated in combat operations with the 1st Marine Division during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and finished his time in the Marines in 2006. He spent many years enduring the struggles of PTSD and a TBI and found healing in writing and helping others along their journey of healing using creative outlets and undying faith in Jesus Christ. He currently resides in Chandler, Arizona with his wife and two sons. “Dear Lord, I thank You for never leaving my side, even during the times I was convinced You forgot me. Thank You for being a forgiving God and a loving Father. Thank You for having enough love for me to allow me to fall and to walk the dark alley of despair. For I truly believe, without having felt true pain, one will never understand the worth of true joy. Thank You for showing me Your awesomeness the day I fell to my knees. For even after cursing You, my heart opened and received Your love and Your voice. My faith is strong and I have turned my control over to Your care. May You find the words in this book worthy of praise and may You distribute these words to all of the men and women in need of healing. In the Lord’s Name I pray, Amen.” Thank you to Betty Merritt and the entire staff of The Merritt Center of Arizona. I never knew what true hope and healing was until you touched me. An unexplainable energy flows through your hands and no doubt exists in my mind, The Universe guided me to you. Attending your Bootcamp for Life program for combat veterans changed my life. I was in a dark place and desperate to find light. I not only found it; it consumed me and made me a different man. A man with a future, not afraid to accept true joy into my heart. You are a miracle worker. www.merrittcenter.org
“As a veteran, I have been working on overcoming my own struggle with severe chronic depression. I believe what Andrew Jones has done with this book is a miraculous project. I have recommended it to many veterans who struggle with PTSD, TBI, and other injuries from war. Andrew shows that there are many means through which injured veterans and others can take that will help with their issues. Andrew writes. I know others who paint. I know many who have rescued a dog and that act of "rescue" saves both the animal and the veteran. Thank you Andrew for fighting through your trials, so that you can help others. Truly one of the best books I have read lately.” — David W
“Service members and veterans do not die by suicide because they can't handle it or because they aren't strong enough. They die by suicide because they have endured much more pain and suffering than most of us have ever experienced. These veterans deserve compassion and support, not disparagement.” — National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah
NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
Suicide is a serious and preventable public health problem. It does not discriminate and can affect people without regard to age, income, education, social standing, race or gender. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans, the second leading cause of death for adults ages 25 to 34 and the third leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24. As the largest facilities-based behavioral health provider in the country, UHS behavioral health facilities treat patients of all ages and offer specialized programs dedicated to suicide. In 2013, UHS became an affiliate of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The alliance is a public-private partnership dedicated to advancing a national strategy for suicide prevention by championing suicide prevention as a national priority and cultivating resources to sustain progress in reducing the number of lives lost to suicide. Working together with the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, we will look to implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to accomplish the ultimate goal of eliminating suicide. Learn more about the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: www.actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org
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My name is Wendy Shackley and I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. The ongoing creation of my non-profit The Ripple Effect - Helping Veterans and Families Heal was born when my son died. It was created to honor the great man he was and help others to overcome what he could not. My son Joel served two tours overseas with the Army. The first tour was in Iraq — Iraqi Freedom in 2008, and he served one year. My son saw many horrible things during this time and came back with PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was treated with drugs and continued to train for the next year. Joel’s unit was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He went back into combat, while still having PTSD. This war was different from Iraq and when he came home to Colorado Springs in 2011 he was an E5 and had served his country well, yet there was a part of him he left behind. There were many things my son had to overcome to reintegrate back into society. He had lost comrades overseas, lived through mortar attacks and seen many horrible things. Joel wanted to be with his family, yet it was difficult to overcome the sleepless nights and flashbacks. He committed himself to a number of Behavior facilities after experiencing suicidal thoughts and actions. Joel was heavily drugged and prescribed ECT, Electroconvulsive Therapy. This procedure took his short term memory away. He had to use a GPS to get around town. Joel wanted to go back to school. He had paid for extra years of schooling to get into the field he desired. The loss of memory made him doubt his abilities. Joel started to drink, which dulled the pain. In 2013, my son was medically retired from the Army, after making his third attempt at suicide. He was reassigned to the Wounded Warrior program at Fort Carson, although he still lived off base. Joel became a recluse, not wanting to participate in life. The drinking became worst and his wife and 2 month old son left to visit family. She asked Joel to come with them but Joel remained in Colorado Springs for 3 more months. Joel chose not to spend the holidays with anyone and became more and more secluded. The medications made him sleep so heavily at times he would not wake up until 1pm in the afternoon. It was hard for him to think and take care of his expenses or keep any appointments for his health. The apartment complex towed his vehicle a few times when he could not keep it running. Everything was coming to a head and Joel was spiraling out of control. I did not find out what happened to Joel until January 17th 2014, but here is how it happened. Joel lost hope and on January 14, 2014 he overdosed on medications and said goodbye to this world. Joel’s wife, myself, his sister and his advocate tried to contact him by phone for 3 days and were unsuccessful. I called the police, his apartment complex, the VA, even the Governor of Colorado. No one would open his door. The police said unless there was a complaint or a bad smell, there was nothing they could do. Joel had a scheduled VA appointment on Friday January 17th, which he missed, so his wife called the VA and they agreed to call the police to do a well check. The policewoman told me when she arrived for the well check, “She looked through the window and saw my son laying face down on the floor. The dog was barking and was in a panic. She turned the knob and the door was unlocked.” NO ONE HAD EVEN TRIED TO TURN THE KNOB FOR 3 DAYS! My son died because there was NOT a reintegration system in effect that worked. My whole family has suffered and lost a son, husband, father, and brother because of this. My commitment with The Ripple Effect — helping veterans and families HEAL is to have a system in place that Educates, Collaborates and Follows through using veteran helping veteran to get through this process. My son fell through the cracks and I do not want this to happen to any more families.
VETERANS HAVE HIGHER RISK FOR SUICIDE
by Kelli Donley Williams, MPH A new report from the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System (AVDRS) found from January 1, 2015-June 30, 2016, the rate of suicides among Arizona veterans was significantly higher than non-veterans. Specifically, the suicide rate among non-veterans was 21.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 74.9 veterans per 100,000. The AVDRS is housed at ASU, and this report is the first examining veteran violent deaths, including suicide, in detail. During this time frame, researchers found 393 suicides and 38 homicides of veterans, both male and female. Female veterans had higher rates of both suicide and homicide than non-veteran women. Suicide prevention among veterans is a critical component to the 2017 Arizona State Suicide Prevention Plan. The plan details goals and objectives staff at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System are working on to prevent suicides among all citizens of the state. Veterans are one of several targeted populations. If you or a loved one is considering suicide, or if you are concerned about someone’s mental well-being, please do not hesitate to contact the national suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255. There are resources available. Together, we can prevent suicide. Kelli Donley Williams, MPH, is the state suicide prevention coordinator for Arizona and a project manager at AHCCCS. She can be reached at: kelli.donley@azahcccs.gov
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SOUL THERAPY HEALS VETERANS
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UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Mural project dedicated to disabled children at the UCP by our Vietnam veterans Jose Andres, Roman Reyes and Veterans Communities. Buddha Maitreya Shambhala Planetary Monastery in Lake County, California
Free Pyramid Meditation and Shambhala Healing Tool for Veterans
Buddha Maitreya is providing free private healing treatments for Veterans, called Soul Therapy. Everyone who experiences Soul Therapy will also receive a free Shambhala Healing Tool to take home, along with a Soul Therapy Music meditation CD or download card. Soul Therapy helps to heal mental, physical and emotional issues. It is a private, relaxing meditation inside a room-sized Buddha Maitreya Shambhala Pyramid System. Relax on a comfortable chair sitting on a Metatron Magnetic Mat while holding two crystal tools and listening through headphones to Buddha Maitreya’s healing and transformative Soul Therapy Music. Shambhala Healing tools are for personal and planetary healing that apply magnetic, crystal therapy and geomancy with the energetic reality of transmission in order to help heal people, dissolve past issues, and give a feeling of Love and harmony of mind, body and emotions. Buddha Maitreya’s Soul Therapy music CD’s can be used on their own, and for maximum effect when using any of the tools. As a person relaxes and listens to the ancient universal prayers and invocations in the meditation music, emotions naturally calm down and the mind begins to clear, creating a balanced energetic exchange that results in regeneration and revitalization. Buddha Maitreya Shambhala Monastery, Lake County, CA, 877-444 7685. AZ Contact: Urban Wellness, 2024 N. 7th St, #201, Phoenix, 602-596 1254.
JOSE ANDRES GIRON, US Army — Los Veteranos De Arte
Jose Adres Giron joined the Army and served in VietNam with the 101st Airborne Division and received the purple heart for wounds received in action and recuperating in the hospital, drawing became as natural as breathing. He then made a promise to himself that if he was to survive this war he would make a solid commitment to becoming an artist. Using his G.I. benefits he attended Art School in Hollywood, California, Phoenix College, and ASU in Arizona where he majored in Art Education. Working with other artists he soon began showing at parks, community events or wherever there was an audience. He was a founding member of MARS & ARIZTLAN, which started a Latino Arts movement in the seventies and eighties in Phoenix, Arizona. He met Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the mid eighties and offered his services as an artist and supporter of the civil rights movement in Arizona. His encounters with Cesar Chavez left an impression of great respect and admiration for him and also a source of inspiration for his art. The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce awarded Jose as the New Business of The Year in 1984. His art is part of the collection of the Latino Art Archives of the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Jose has led the effort to successfully establish Arizona’s first Latino Arts & Cultural Center in Downtown Phoenix.
ROMAN P. REYES, US Army — Arte Suavecito
An international artist, Roman is well known for his work on the Trilogy; The Lord of The Rings. The Trilogy garnered 13 Academy awards and Roman’s work as a special effects artist contributed to that effort. As a guest of His Highness Sheik Nayan of United Arab Emirates he was recognized for his cutting edge mural done with computer graphics. Another milestone was his illustrative work as Artist-in-Residence at Charleville Castle, Ireland. Roman has created numerous murals, paintings, sculpture, and computer art piece locally, and his international art can be found in New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Cuba, China, Brazil, Ireland, and Mexico. He’s painting “ Change “ was recently accepted by Barack Obama. Roman earned a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art from ASU and an MBA, International from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He completed the majority of course work leading to a Ed.D degree at Nova University. He is a Professor Emeritus from Phoenix College.
NAVY PILOT IS LEADER IN UFO RESEARCH
Dr. Fred Lee Aeilts BSEE, LLD, studied Quantum Physics at the University of Utah and discovered that our personal orbs are insideous and diabolical quantum computers that we take with us between lives. Read Cosmic Mechanics to find out how you can get rid of the demon orb that disables you and ruins your lives. discover the world of beings flying around us that our cameras and trifield meters can "see" but our eyes cannot. Read Broadband Optics to discover the critters, UFOs and beings that are monitoring us. Find out about the between lives recycling stations which set us up for failures in life.
ARIZONA WINGMAKERS CLUB Meets Every Sunday 11am FREE 1. Paranormal Orbs and the Sovereign Integral; 2. The Role of Earth 3. The Anatomy Of The Human Mind Workshop; 4. The Rehabilitation Of The Sovereign Integral; 5. Workshop For Raising The Awareness, Perceptions and Tone Level Of Wingmakers Club Members; 6. When-Which-How Practice Meet at The Blissful Body behind Coco’s Restaurant on 7th St. in Phoenix 2024 N. 7th St., Suite 103, Phoenix. Call Dr. Fred Lee Aeilts: 323-373-6921. www.wingmakersaz.org
United Cerebal Palsy is committed to creating possibilities and nurturing opportunities for those with disabilities. They provide therapies, life skill and independent living services, inclusive and integrated educational based programs, innovative social outlets, and basic research.
Circle K has been a sponsor of UCP for over 30 years collecting money to support many programs that that benefit adults and children with disabilities in Arizona. The Desert Klassic Golf Tournament sponsored by Circle K raised over $850,000 for UCP. The support of Circle K allows UCP to serve over 3,500 children and adults a year.
UCP AND CIRCLE K CELEBRATE A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS
UCP has commissioned local artists from the Veterans Community Health and Wellness Center to paint murals that embrace inclusion and a life without limits for people with disabilities. In an effort to celebrate and recognize the extraordinary relationship between UCP and Circle K, UCP has commissioned Jose Andres Giron and Roman Reyes from the Veterans Community Health and Wellness Center to paint four murals on UCP’s downtown location and Circle K’s neighboring location. The murals will be located on the east wall of 712 East Roosevelt (UCP Downtown Community Room) and on the eastern walls of the Circle K located across the street to the south, at the intersection of 7th Street and Roosevelt. Painting will begin early May and will be completed by August, 2017. The murals will represent the children and adults who receive services from UCP, while evoking a sense of neighborhood, providing excitement for the community, and celebrating the rich heritage of the neighborhood. “Circle K has gone above and beyond to support children and adults with disabilities. They have demonstrated remarkable community support and exemplify corporate responsibility by partnering with UCP and the Veterans Community Health and Wellness Center on this significant project. Partnering with the Garfield Neighborhood, we wanted to represent the beautiful kids and adults we serve through these mural paintings, which is why we commissioned the murals”, said Armando Contreras, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona. “Not only will these murals embody the relationship between UCP and Circle K, they also compliment the vibrant Roosevelt Row art community.” “We are thrilled to be painting something that represents all of the great work these organizations do and we are excited for the local community to embrace this project”, said Roman Reyes, artist from the Veterans Community Health and Wellness Center. “I think highlighting the adults and children that UCP serves will generate awareness and pride in the community. We are delighted to have the opportunity to be painting this mural in Downtown Phoenix. ” adds Jose Andres Giron. ABOUT UCP: At United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona (UCP), our name does not tell our entire story. We serve people with cerebral palsy, but we also have highly experienced and compassionate experts who have experience helping children and adults with a wide array of disabilities including autism, sensory processing disorder, genetic disorders, orthopedic disabilities, birth defects, effects of in-utero drug or alcohol exposure, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), developmental delays along with other diagnoses that affect the ability to live life without limitations. Through our array of programs and services, we are confident we can help your newborn baby, your child, your teen, even your adult family member who is ready for independence.
NAVY VETERAN LEADER IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
Richard K. Sutz served in the US Navy, where he invented a new valve for fighter pilot's oxygen breathing systems that prevented fatal accidents caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen at high attitudes). It is still in use by military pilots today. In the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics he was the Project Officer for the first American installation of the MartinBaker rocket powered ejection seat; enabling pilots to eject from the runway on landing or takeoff. He was awarded a Letter of Commendation from the Chief of Naval Operations. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the research, development and manufacture of renewable energy technologies. He is an internationally acknowledged expert in the development of multiblade wind machines for water pumping (windmills) and electrical generation (wind turbines.) Sutz is the Founder and CEO of Low Wind LLC. Low Wind’s technology is the result of more than $5.5 million of R&D. Sutz’s background and experience span executive roles in both the private and public sector. Sutz served as the Assistant Director for Europe and the Middle East for Grumman Aircraft where he was responsible for marketing military aircraft. After Europe he served as Deputy Director of the Arizona Energy Office, with joint responsibility for Arizona Energy Conservation Programs. He then joined the US Department of Energy (DOE) as Director of the Energy Related Inventions Program. He left DOE to form a company where he developed a new class of wind machines that pump water (windmills) and generate power (wind turbines) in wind speeds beginning at 5 MPH. Mr. Sutz has a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a graduate degree in International business from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. More info: www.low-wind.com.
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DEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP: I write to draw your attention to recent reports that US military veterans are being deported. The United States is home to 21,369,602 veterans and I represent close to 40,000 of them. Deporting our veterans, many of whom are highly decorated and fought to save American lives, is a shameful and avoidable act. I am working with my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to address this, and I call on you to issue an Executive Order expediting the citizenship process for honorably discharged veterans with no criminal history prior to joining the military. As you know, the vast majority of our current military members are US citizens; however, some of those serving have not completed the citizenship process. There are veterans from all eras who entered military service as lawful permanent residents that, despite their eligibility, did not obtain citizen status during or after completing their service. Under our current laws, a lawful permanent resident veteran who is convicted of a non-violent offense or minor infraction could face deportation. Even more troubling, these veterans may be subject to removal from the US for conduct directly related to their service in combat. Honorably discharged veterans, who risked their lives to defend and protect this country, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-connected conditions that lead to behaviors that put them at risk of being deported. It is clear that by leaving these illnesses untreated, we are doing a disservice to our service members and to our country. Further, once these veterans are deported, they lose access to VA home loans, education, healthcare and other benefits they have properly earned through their service to our country. One of the impediments to solving this problem is that the federal government has not kept an official record of how many of these veterans fit this criteria. By directing the Department of Homeland Security to identify lawful permanent resident veterans who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions; not including individuals who have been convicted of voluntary manslaughter, murder, or rape as well as individuals whose enlistments or appointments in the Armed Forces were procured in a fraudulent manner. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security should expedite the processing of citizenship applications and allow for veterans' citizenship status to be considered during removal proceedings. While we may not agree on every aspect of immigration policy, changing this policy is an important first step in uniting our country and supporting our veterans is something we can all agree on. When you ran for president, you promised to take care of our veterans. This Executive Order would keep with those promises. Freedom isn't free. I encourage you to take immediate action and I look forward to working with you to bring our heroes home. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact me through my Chief of Staff, Jose Borjon, at (202) 225-2531 with further questions. I stand ready to be a resource to you and your staff. Sincerely, Vicente Gonzalez, Member of Congress
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CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PARDONS DEPORTED VETERANS
California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has granted 72 pardons and seven commutations. Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the Governor for a pardon. All applicants for a pardon who were eligible obtained a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated. Those granted pardons all completed their sentences and the majority were originally convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes. A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned. The pardons granted include three individuals who, in addition to meeting all of the requirements noted above, served in the United States military. These individuals report that they were honorably discharged and promised citizenship for their service but were nonetheless deported after completing sentences for individual crimes committed after their service. When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant. The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State and the Legislature, and it is a public record. The California Governor also granted seven commutations to current inmates. In six of these cases, inmates have earned a chance to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings, which will determine whether they are ready to be released from prison. In the meantime, inmates will remain incarcerated. In one case, the Board of Parole Hearings has already found the individual suitable for parole and she will be released without further delay.
ERASMO APODACA served in the US Marines and was deployed during Operation Desert Storm and was convicted in December 1996 of stealing about $500 worth of goods from an ex-girlfriend’s house. Apodaca served 10 months in prison and was deported in 1997 after serving his sentence, according to the ACLU of California, which was part of a coalition of groups that submitted the pardon requests on behalf of the deported veterans. MARCO ANTONIO CHAVEZ was enlisted in the Marine Corps. and served honorably for four years. In 1998, he was convicted of animal cruelty. He was deported in 2002 after serving 10 months in prison and parole for another year. HECTOR BARAJAS, 40, served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army during Operation Desert Storm and was convicted of shooting “at an inhabited vehicle” in 2002. The California Governor said Barajas served about a year in prison and another year parole before he was deported in July 2004. He is the most outspoken of the three deported veteran and has been the subject of dozens of news stories, including a 2014 article published by Fusion. He is the founder of Deported Veterans Support House, a resource center and shelter in Tijuana.
Hector Barajas receives his pardon from the Governor of California.
Help support the deported veterans, www.deportedveteranssupporthouse.org
THE VETERANS VISA AND PROTECTION ACT
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) re-introduced legislation he originally brought to the House Floor in 2016 to establish a veteran visa program which would permit eligible deported veterans to permanently return to the United States as Lawful Permanent Residents eligible for naturalization. Rep. Grijalva’s legislation comes as President Trump is taking extraordinary measures to make it easier to deport anyone not born in the United States. A 2008 report issued by the Pentagon estimates that approximately 8,000 noncitizens enlist to serve our nation in uniform every year. While robust data does not exist on the number of service members who are deported for crimes as trivial as marijuana possession, advocates estimate that at least 2,000 veterans are now living in Northern Mexican border towns. Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union of California released a report entitled “Discharged, Then Discarded,” which highlights how veterans who served as far back as the war in Vietnam were later deported over punitive offenses, largely as a result of two draconian immigration laws passed in 1996: the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. As a result of these laws, veterans who are eligible to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery once they die, are prohibited from entering the United States as long as they are alive. Rep. Grijalva is re-introducing this bill to reunite our veterans with their families and ensure they have access to their earned benefits. “The idea that we would so carelessly deport veterans who have put themselves in harm’s way for our nation’s safety is utterly appalling,” Rep. Grijalva said. “To deport these brave men and women who have clearly demonstrated their patriotism and love for this country is to ignore the tremendous sacrifice they have made for each and every one of us. We should all be thanking these veterans for their service, not deporting them from the country they fought for.” The Veteran Visa and Protection Act has been previously endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Drug Policy Alliance and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE is proud to fight for our forgotten soliders, deported veterans. When the government turns on its own people, we will be there to fight for them and to fight for change. Our first international distribution location of the National Veterans Magazine is at the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana, Mexico. Thank you Rob Welch who donated a computer. Terry Araman and myself were honored to have brought the computer, sleeping bags, tolietries, snacks and socks to support deported US military veterans living in Tijuana, Mexico. The US government has deported thousands of military veterans who served the United States of America honorably.
Hector Barajas and Terry Araman.
BILL TO PREVENT DEPORTATION OF VETERANS
Following reports that the Trump administration is moving to deport immigrants who served in our Armed Forces, Arizona Congessman Ruben Gallego reintroduced legislation that would prevent the removal of service members and veterans. The Restoring Respect for Immigrant Service in Uniform Act would also help deported veterans to reunite with their families in the United States. Specifically, the bill limits the current grounds of deportability to prevent the removal of a service member or veteran who has served at least 6 months in the military and who has not committed a serious crime. It would also affirm the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to use his powers under current law to readmit veterans into the United States who have been deported and who have not committed a serious crime. “President Trump’s anti-immigrant bigotry knows no bounds,” said Rep. Gallego. “Under his administration, immigrants who have put their lives on the line for our freedom are now facing deportation. That’s outrageous and unacceptable and should deeply trouble every American – Republican or Democrat. Congress must act before brave veterans are separated from their families and expelled from the country they love and have fought to defend.”
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MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS (MOWW) APACHE TRAIL CHAPTER 207
Top Row: LTC Craig Cummins, Chapter Adjutant; Robert L. Freed, Chapter Chaplain; LTC Carol McKnight, Chapter Legislative Liaison; LTC Edward McDowell, Chapter Commander; CW04 Douglas Grey, Perpetual Member. Front Row: CW04 Robert L. Delker, Chapter MOAA Liaison; COL Karl Kohlhoff, Past Chapter Commander; MAJ Craig Reed, Past Chapter Commander and Past Region XIII Commander; COL Daniel Germond, Perpetual Member; RADM James A. Symonds, Perpetual Member.
Tomb Of The Unknown Sentinel continues to stand guard with honor and without complaint. God Bless Our Heroes.
Laura Hardy of Mesa found a soldier’s Purple Heart in a Goodwill bin for $4.99 and she launched a mission to return the medal to the serviceman’s family. “This is one of the highest military honors you could get. This is something the family will cherish for a lifetime,” said Laura Hardy. The purple heart was engraved with the recipient’s name, Eual H. Whiteman. Veteran Buddy Finder was able to find Whiteman’s former sister-in-law, Phyllis Lawson who lived in Missouri. “She wanted to repay me $4.99!” Hardy said of her phone call with Lawson. “I said, ‘No, this is my good deed for the day.’” Whiteman, who died in 1991 and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery in Oregon, was a decorated war veteran.
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LETTERS FROM WORLD WAR II
After inheriting a box of 100 love letters written by her father to her mother during World War II, Jan Krulick-Belin sets out on a five-year journey to discover the father that died of cancer in the fall of 1960 when she was just 6 years old. All her life, she struggled to keep Bill Krulick’s memory alive, but her mother kept most details of their married life private, unable — or unwilling — to share them. Through the letters and painstaking research, however, she discovers details about her parents' great love story, unravels family secrets, and learns about the war in North Africa and the horrific fate of the Jews in Morocco, Germany and France, bringing her even closer to her own Jewish roots. Her poignant journey takes her to Paris, Morocco and upstate New York as she traces her father’s footsteps during the war years. The adventure comes full circle when Jan actually finds the Jewish-Moroccan family that provided the lonely soldier a feeling of home, fulfilling a wish she unearthed in one of his letters. In this extraordinary new book released by Dog Ear Publishing, Ms. KrulickBelin shares those letters, published in chronological order, and places them in their historical context. They are interspersed with both family history and military and cultural details. Family and historic photos bring the era to life, and a helpful list of resources for researching military records closes out the book for any readers inspired to begin their own search for answers. Love, Bill: Finding My Father through Letters from World War II stands as a testament to the power of determination, love, family and the unbreakable bond between fathers and daughters. More info: www.jankrulick.com
In 1968, a Soviet submarine, K-129, sank in the North Pacific Ocean at a depth of 16,000+ feet. Six years later, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) attempted to salvage the sunken Soviet ballistic missile submarine. The audacious effort was undertaken with the cover of an undersea mining operation sponsored by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. Learn more in PROJECT AZORIAN. www.usni.org/store/books/audiobooks/project-azorian
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PETS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Pets are often a key part of our families. We form strong emotional bonds with our companion animals and they provide friendship, laughs, and even sometimes headaches — like when they have chewed up a favorite sweater. For many of us, coming home for the holidays means embracing our muchloved and missed pets. At the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), we believe that everyone should have a safe and peaceful holiday season — including our beloved pets. Offenders harm pets as a tactic of domestic violence — to hurt victims, to gain power and control, and to intimidate or coerce victims to stay. In many cases, perpetrators of domestic violence may kill, harm, or threaten pets in order to assert their dominance and “emotionally blackmail” victims into complying with and remaining silent about the abuse victims are experiencing. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), seventy-one percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters reported that the abuser threatened, harmed, or killed the family pet. Animal abuse can also be an indicator of domestic violence and is an early warning sign of concurrent or future violence. Victims of domestic violence may be reluctant to disclose abuse that they have experienced but may be more willing to seek help for their pets, which can open the door for ensuring their own safety and well-being. Neighbors are often more likely to report suspected animal abuse than domestic violence, making local humane societies and other animal protection professionals the first point of social services contact for some families in crisis. Once animal protective services become involved, they may recognize signs of domestic violence and have the opportunity to provide resources and referrals to victims. Increasing awareness of the link between domestic violence and animal abuse can provide an opportunity for collaboration between animal protective services and domestic violence programs. As many as one in four survivors have reported returning to an abusive partner out of concern for their pet. In order to address this issue, some domestic violence programs are forging partnerships with animal welfare groups to find innovative solutions to keep survivors – and their pets – safe. This can include modifying shelters to accommodate both survivors and their pets, so that survivors and their children can access safety without being separated from their pets. Likewise, many animal shelters allow survivors to have their pets fostered out to homes during their stay in the domestic violence program. This arrangement often allows victims to still visit their pet while they are accessing services. Increasing options for survivors and their pets is an important strategy toward increased safety. Every home should be a safe home, and every member of a family should be able to live in peace and safety – including our furry friends. Until that day, NNEDV will work to create a social, political, and economic environment in which gender-based violence no longer exists. More information: www.nnedv.org
VETERINARY HEALTH BENEFITS FOR VETERANS
The VA is piloting a program to implement veterinary health benefits for mobility service dogs approved for veterans with a chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility associated with mental health disorders. “We take our responsibility for the care and safety of Veterans very seriously,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. Implementing the veterinary health benefit for mobility service dogs approved for veterans with a chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility associated with mental health disorders may prove to be significantly beneficial for some veterans. VA has been providing veterinary benefits to veterans diagnosed as having visual, hearing or substantial mobility impairments and whose rehabilitation and restorative care is clinically determined to be optimized through the assistance of a service dog. This benefit is being provided to veterans with a chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility associated with a mental health disorder for whom the service dog has been identified as the optimal way for the veteran to manage the mobility impairment and live independently.
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HEARING LOSS COMMON AMONG VETERANS
Joining the United States Navy was something of a tradition in Ron Tallman’s family. His father and two brothers served in the Navy so it was the natural choice for Tallman when he registered for the draft at 18. Now 66, Tallman served 22 years in the Navy, fighting overseas in the Vietnam War and achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After retiring in January of 1992, Tallman acquired an electronics degree and began working at Intel in Chandler, Arizona. Having been discharged from the Navy, Tallman believed that his days of fighting were long over. But it wasn’t until after he retired from Intel in 2012 that Tallman realized he was about to face one of the toughest struggles of his life. At the time of his discharge from the Navy, a doctor had told Tallman that he had profound hearing loss in his left ear. In fact, a United States Department of Veteran Affairs study reported that hearing problems are by far the most prevalent service-connected disability among American Veterans. “I retired from Intel mainly because of my hearing loss,” explained Tallman. “My wife, Peggy and I were doing all that we could to prepare ourselves for it. Knowing what I know now, you can never really prepare for it. I woke up one morning and my hearing was completely gone. I couldn’t hear my dogs bark or my wife calling my name. It was a very traumatizing experience.” Thinking back on it, Tallman said he was constantly exposed to the loud noises that accompany military service. On one ship in particular, he was a telephone talker for gun fire support which required him to have one ear covered by the phone at all times to pass communications between the gun control and the captain. Without any ear protection, he was positioned in close proximity to the gun that was being fired from the ship. He held this job for three years and believes this likely attributed to his hearing loss. According to the VA, as of 2014, more than 933,000 veterans were receiving disability compensation for hearing loss. In addition, many veterans may score “normal” on hearing tests but have difficulty understanding speech. This condition, called auditory processing disorder, is often associated with blast exposure. To help combat this, most veterans with hearing loss, including Tallman, qualify under new and expanded VA criteria to receive top-of-the-line hearing aids, cochlear implants and other assistive communication devices, like special telephones, at no charge. After having gone through a variety of hearing aids, Tallman began looking into other options, so he began researching cochlear implants. After meeting with several people who had them, he made an appointment with his audiologist to get the procedure. Three years later, Tallman has 70% of his hearing back and has since become involved in the hard-of-hearing community to help others like him. Tallman now serves as a member on the Hard of Hearing Task Force at the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing and is on the board of his local Hearing Loss Association of America chapter in Sun Lakes. Having also been an avid half marathon runner, Tallman now serves as the co-chair of the Arizona Walk4Hearing event, held each November at Riverview Park in Mesa. May is Better Hearing & Speech Month and this year’s theme is “Communication: The Key to Connection.” Those who develop hearing loss can begin to feel very isolated, but it is up to the individual to seek out the help they need and stay connected. Think of Tallman, a veteran who has never stopped communicating with his family, his doctors and the VA about what his options are and who continues to remain an advocate for Arizona’s hearing loss community. “My hearing loss has changed my livelihood but not in a negative way,” said Tallman. “Sure there are things that I can no longer do but I wouldn’t change my life at all. I had a great support system and no one ever gave up on me. If there is one thing I’d want to tell someone who is experiencing hearing loss it is that they don’t have to live like that. It may be scary but take the initiative to consult with an audiologist and learn what your options are. It has done a world of good for me.” More info: www.hearingloss.org
VA HELPS MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS — I AM A VICTIM NO MORE
by Timothy Lawson This Navy Veteran stands on his story of military sexual assault. Seaman Timothy Jones was out at a club in Iwakuni, Japan, when he received an eerie phone call. “I’m watching you,” the voice said. This is a phone call he had gotten several times before. Jones was spooked, so he returned to his barracks and fell asleep. When he awoke, there was a 6-foot-5-inch Marine on top of him. Scared and unsure how to defend himself, Jones went along with what was happening. Timothy Jones was stalked and raped by a fellow Servicemember. “I can still see him. I can still smell the cologne. I can still feel the sheer terror of that night,” said Jones. The following day, he was encouraged by a friend to report what happened. He was hesitant. It was 1999, and “don’t ask, don’t tell” was in full effect. He was worried about his career and the implications that reporting would have on it. But Jones found the courage to report. The man that assaulted him was eventually identified, and charged, with sexually assaulting Jones and four other Marines. The assailant’s penalty was six months in the brig and a dishonorable discharge. Jones knows he did the right thing when he reported the crime committed against him, but he suffered a year of hazing and harassment from others around him. His peers would ridicule him and claim he must have been asking for it if it happened. When he was promoted, some refused to address him by his new rank. He went through counseling, avoided his peers and finally discharged from the Navy. After leaving the service, Jones began using drugs, abused alcohol and became homeless. “I was told to go to the VA, but I didn’t trust that system,” said Jones. Jones survived three suicide attempts during his 10-year stretch of personal despair. His road to recovery finally started when he was jailed for a felony charge. While in jail, Jones was introduced to a VA representative. VA sends specialists into the justice system to provide direct outreach, assessment and case management for Veterans in local courts and jails where they serve as a liaison with local justice system partners. Jones’ meeting was set for 45
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minutes, but he opened up to his outreach worker for nearly four hours. He told her his story explaining everything he had been through. That’s when Jones was first told that he may be dealing with PTSD. For the first time since his incident, he trusted someone. When he was released from jail, Jones’ family decided to no longer support him in the effort to empower his own recovery. Left homeless, he enrolled in a Grant and Per Diem Program sponsored by the VA. The program gave him two years to get back on his feet. “The VA does their part. I have to do mine. They give me the tools. I apply it.” Jones then turned to the VA for mental health treatment. He has been receiving treatment at the Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic in Pensacola since 2011. For the first six months, he avoided talking about what happened to him. His doctor just let him talk about what he was comfortable with. That’s when the Navy Veteran began to realize the VA was enabling him to take control of his own recovery. “The VA does their part. I have to do mine. They give me the tools. I apply it.” Jones now uses his story as a way to reach other veterans and survivors. Even though he says he still has nightmares, “Going to the VA now, I have a feeling of hope,” said Jones. “I have a sense of healing. I feel there’s an actionable step I have to take.” It took Timothy Jones over a decade to get back his life, but with personal motivation, assistance from VA and a strong support system, he stood on his story and made it a platform for his recovery. Timothy Lawson graduated from American University's School of Communications with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Tim is a US Marine Corps veteran having served as a Marine Security Guard posted at embassies in Algeria, Russia, and Peru.
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SURPRISE VETERANS COMMEMORATIVE PLAZA wwwww
The Surprise Veterans Commemorative Plaza (VCP) was dedicated recently. After four years of some generous donations and several fundraising events, the construction of the Veterans Commemorative Plaza (VCP) is finally finished. The VCP is the only veterans memorial in Phoenix’s Northwest Valley honoring all veterans of all military branches. The plaza is located at the Southeast corner of Founders Park Blvd. and Pershing St. (one block North of 15210 W. Sweetwater Ave.), Surprise, Arizona. Veteran pavers surround the base of the flagpole which is the Circle of Honor; sponsor pavers line the pathway leading to it. Veteran pavers can be purchased for any person who served in any branch of the U.S. military at any time. The cost $75 and can be inscribed with the veteran’s name, branch of service and dates of service. Sponsor pavers can be purchased for any person, family or business who would like to support the VCP. The cost $200 and can be inscribed with the name of the family, company, organization or person. Since the VCP is a ‘living’ memorial, there are over 2,000 pavers still available for engraving. More info: www. marleypark.com/vcp
CITY OF SURPRISE PARTNERS WITH VA & DES
The City of Surprise has partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Arizona@Work Department of Economic Security to expand the assistance services available to veterans and their families through the Surprise Resource Center. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE EVERY TUESDAY AT THE RESOURCE CENTER EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: Meet one-on-one with a workforce development expert to go over career opportunities, resume assistance, interview tips and more. • HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE: Veterans can connect to resources through the VA Community Resource and Referral Center, which offers assistance to Veterans who are homeless and at risk of homelessness by providing connections to permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development and VA benefits. The city also has a Surprise Veteran Job Club that meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. at the Surprise Resource Center. The center is located at on the AZ TechCelerator campus at 12425 W. Bell Rd, Bldg. A, Ste. #124 in Surprise. All programs and services are available to the public at no-cost. More info: www.surpriseaz.gov/resourcecenter, or call 623-222-1600.
VETERANS REACH TO TEACH INITIATIVE wwwww
The Veterans Reach to Teach initiative is a resource for local school districts affected by the large number of teacher vacancies, also serving as a bridge for veterans looking to serve their local communities through education. A recent survey found 52 school districts anticipating nearly 1,700 vacancies for the 2016-2017 school year; a drastic increase from the 1,200 vacancies reported by 85 school districts in August 2015. The program kicks off with special guest, veteran and former principal/substitute teacher Dr. Robert Pipkin, and key supporters Arizona Rep. Reginald Bolding; Executive Director of Teachers On Call Arizona Dan Nienhauser; Founder of Purposely, Aaron Bare; President/CEO of Black Chamber of Arizona Kerwin Brown and Powell. Veterans will be able to meet school district leaders, learn more about the substitute process and even apply for an IVP Fingerprint card. “When a teacher is absent, without a substitute available, classes are frequently combined or other teachers lose their preparation period. This can impact multiple classroom learning environments,” said Rep. Bolding. “Quality substitute teachers can have a direct impact on underserved student populations.” The program will assist veterans who have a bachelor's degree in securing their substitute teaching certificate. Teachers On Call Arizona will provide veterans a wide variety of Professional Development courses, including Arizona State specially developed coursework and will work closely with Representative new veteran Guest Teachers to ensure they are well Reginald prepared for success in the classroom. Bolding For more info contact: www.veteransreachtoteach.com
EL MIRAGE VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA
The El Mirage City Hall site includes a Veterans Memorial Plaza which is dedicated to the five branches of the armed services and public safety personnel. The memorial reflects the cultural diversity and showcases contributions made by Navajo Code Talkers, Buffalo Soldiers, and Latino men and women heroes who served on the Home Front. The memorial plaza will be the centerpiece for future community events honoring veterans.
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WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS
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THE MOVIE ‘CASINO’
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Elvis Presley introducing the NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE in Las Vegas.
VIVA LAS VEGAS!
Oscar Goodman & Tony Spilotro.
Oscar Goodman and friends welcome you to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman at the grand opening of The Mob Museum.
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the Mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. True stories of Mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and more than 600 artifacts, the largest collection of
Mob and related law enforcement memorabilia under one roof. Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine, “Las Vegas’ Best New Attractions for 2012” by Travel + Leisure magazine, “9 Reasons to Visit Las Vegas” by CNNgo, a finalist for the “Best Wider World Project Award,” by the British Guild of Travel
Writers and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Admission is $19.95 for adults ages 18 and over with special pricing for children, seniors, military, law enforcement, Nevada residents, and teachers. Museum hours Sunday through Thursday: 10am-7pm. Friday & Saturday: 10am-8pm. More info: 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org.
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AMERICAN LEGION POST 140 SHINES AS VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER
by Henry Howard As a new facility assisting disabled people was launched in Prescott Valley, Arizona, American Legion Post 140 finally had a place to call home. “The concept of getting this post together was to purposefully not have a bar, or restaurant, and to not have a Legion post that our fathers and grandfathers grew up in,” said Sean Kriner, commander of Post 140 Veterans Resource Center, as it’s known. “With that concept in mind, we reached out to our community and our partners who have things to offer to veterans and those with disabilities to foster those relationships and work together. That’s where the title ‘Veterans Resource Center’ comes in after Post 140.” The post, now in its fifth year, worked with New Horizons Disability Empowerment Campus on a 16-month project to provide the community a place where disabled people, including veterans, could find the services they need. On April 6, more than 100 people attended the grand opening of New Horizons in rural northwest Arizona, about a 90-minute drive from Phoenix. “This was a perfect fit for us,” said David Seigler, executive director of New Horizons and a disabled veteran. “It’s going to give post members a comfortable home. It’s going to bring in a lot of traffic for us. Veterans — a lot of whom are disabled, and also those who aren’t — come in contact with those who are. An American Legion group comes in contact with people in need. And we can satisfy a lot of those needs.” Seigler describes the 9,400-square-foot facility as an independent living center, but it is not residential. “It is run and organized by those with disabilities to help others with disabilities to live the most independent lives possible,” he said. “Independent living means living independently.” New Horizons provides assistance to disabled people by matching them with staff and volunteers who coach them on computer classes, physical therapy, nutritional guidance and more. “We don’t have staff and volunteers to do things for you. But we do have staff and volunteers who can teach you how to do things for yourself.” The nonprofit center also connects disabled persons with in-home health care, transportation assistance, job searches and peer support groups. “If you had a stroke today, tomorrow you would be confused about what your future holds,” Seigler said. “Your doctors would tell you all kinds of things. But what you really need is peer perspective — somebody who has walked down the same exact road recently. They can tell you what to expect. That will help illuminate a lot of dark corners.” Legion Post 140 has been a strong supporter for New Horizons, working with Seigler and others to make it a communitywide project. “The partnership is a win for the Legion,” he said. “It’s a win for us. But best of all, it’s a win for the clients we serve.” Kriner said the post sees its mission as a way to serve its community. “We firmly believe our mission is not only veterans and their families, but interacting with this community,” he said. “That’s the primary goal. This community is extremely patriotic and extremely supportive of all veterans. We’re very lucky to live where we do and fundraise and form partnerships because they are so receptive.” Post member Sherie Mercier said the post’s involvement is part of its commitment to the Legion's four pillars. “I want to see the continuation of this,” said Mercier, who left a nearby post to join Post 140 and the project with New Horizons. “We are about the four pillars. We probably have one of the youngest American Legion posts in Arizona. We are very young, service-oriented.” Mercier is a member of the post’s Auxiliary unit and Riders chapter; a Sons of the American Legion squadron is progressing. The post’s community presence “not only recruits younger members, but it attracts older members who want to get involved but don’t want to get involved in a place where alcohol is served,” she said, noting the post is only a couple of members shy of its 100 percent goal. “You find that people with the problems of PTSD, TBI, etc. really don’t need to be in the presence of a bar. Yet they want to contribute something to the community, to the veterans, to the veterans families. Our post is focused in that direction.” The post’s involvement in New Horizons began with volunteer hours for tasks like ripping out drywall. The hours were counted and given to the post as credit toward its rent. Now with the center fully operational, the post’s work is far from done. “Success would be for other people to step up to the plate, carry on the vision,
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continue the post growth as far as membership goes, and continue to work in the community on the four pillars,” Mercier said. “Those programs that are so important. I am looking to see our family, the American Legion Family, grow and continue to do everything we need to do for our community.” Other community participants included the Prescott Valley office of US VETS. Students in the culinary program prepared and delivered all the food at the grand opening ceremony. Full Throttle Biker Church, now in its 10th year, was also instrumental in bringing New Horizons to reality. Joe Dugan is a Full Throttle pastor, New Horizons board member and Post 140 chaplain. Dugan calls the New Horizons teamwork a 99 percent plan. “If a veteran walks in with a problem, between all of our groups, we have a 99 percent chance of being able to provide the support that veteran needs,” he said. “You’re not going to find that at any one veterans service organization. But by working together, we can create that here.” Roughly 85 percent of those who attend Full Throttle Biker Church are veterans. Dugan says they are more comfortable attending his church than others where they may be stereotyped because of their choice of dress and transportation. And by connecting with them at his church, the veterans may be more likely to see help they need from New Horizons. “A lot of the guys who come here have reservations about VA and veterans service groups," Dugan explained. “But we can help persuade them to go to the places they need to go. We are there with them. And for a lot of these guys, that’s what it takes.” Jaye Lene Long is co-founder and director of Hope Fest Arizona, another community organization that assisted New Horizons. Hope Fest helps connect organizations such as New Horizons and Post 140 with those who need assistance. “Our veterans are important,” said Long, who recently became a Gold Star Mother. “We have an investment too. While our kids are off serving and being deployed. With my family and three boys deployed, it was always one deployment after another.” Her son’s suicide has emboldened Long to become even more driven to help veterans. “We’re even more passionate about getting information and resources out,” she said, adding that while Hope Fest is a one-day annual event, it serves as a springboard to providing help year-round. “Our connection with The American Legion has been that we have a face in the community for them. We serve alongside them. “We have to be there for each other today because we don’t know what tomorrow holds.” American Legion Post 140 is located at 9400 East Valley Road in Prescott Valley.
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national VETERANS MAGAZINE
neW MilitaRY PaRk in Sedona
The Sedona Military Service Park at Jack Jameson Memorial Park honors those citizens of the greater Sedona area who have honorably served in the United States Military. All five branches of the Military are represented. The Sedona Military Service Park is located within the existing Jack Jamesen Memorial Park. Names of veterans who have lived in Sedona will be engraved onto granite walls within the park. Contact the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department at 928-204-7111 for application information.
VeteRan FuRnituRe centeR
Bruce Pagel reported that the United for Change Veteran Furniture Center, a volunteer-based 501©(3) nonprofit corporation, is alive and well and continues to serve transitioning veterans. Two of its partners are the VA and Luke AFB. The volunteers collect donated furniture and other goods (no appliances), and deliver items to 6 veterans every Friday. On Saturdays, the volunteers pick up donated furniture items. 450 veterans were served in 2016. Beginning 2016, a new Board of Directors was organized operating with two models: a donation model and a funding model. Operational costs: a warehouse, trucks, and gasoline. A new truck is needed. Contact Col. Bruce Pagel, USA, JAG, Ret., email: bapagel@asu.edu, www.unitedforchange.org
VeteRan StatuS added to MoRtGaGe aPPlication
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement after the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop a new universal loan application dataset (ULAD) that will capture information about a borrower’s current and prior military service. FHFA will use the ULAD as the basis for an updated uniform residential loan application (URLA). The move comes after Rep. Grijalva led 45 of his Congressional colleagues in calling for a veteran status identifier to be included on the URLA to ensure more veterans are aware of VA home loan options, and to obtain vital data on how many veterans obtain VA home loans. “I commend FHFA for their swift action to ensure veterans are informed of every option available to them, and for collecting the data needed to analyze the effectiveness of our veteran outreach,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Veterans earn benefits like the VA home loan through their service to our nation, yet without this data, we cannot ensure that veterans are even aware that benefits like zero down payments were available to them. This small step will change that, and make a huge difference for veterans looking to buy a home.”
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Va HoMe loanS FoR VeteRanS
by Curtis L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary US Department of Veterans Affairs Since 1944, VA has backed over 22 million home loans for veterans and their families. The program provides a guaranty for mortgage loans made by private lenders to eligible veterans. The guaranty backing effectively eliminates the need for a down payment, helping veterans afford homeownership. No other major no-down mortgage program exists in the market today, and typically around 90% of VA loans are obtained with no down payment. As of September 30, we reached the milestone of over 700,000 home loans guaranteed for the fiscal year 2016. That 700,000+ figure is the most home loans guaranteed in one fiscal year in the history of the program. VA continues to modernize the program, reducing time spent in the loan approval process while also improving the accuracy of benefit delivery, veteran outreach and communication. These improvements have allowed VA to maximize opportunities to promote the attractiveness of the program to lenders, builders, real estate agents and most importantly to our active duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and surviving spouses. The VA Home Loan program benefit is not a one-time benefit — it’s reusable. VA loans can be obtained for up to the full appraised value of the home (100% loan-to-value). In addition, there is the potential for these loans to include up to $6,000 towards improvements for energy efficiency, AND the loan funding fee can be rolled right into the loan balance. VA waives that funding fee for veterans who receive VA compensation benefits, those who are serviceconnected disabled, but serving on active-duty, or those drawing retirement pay. Some surviving spouses are also exempt from the funding fee. We are proud to say that our VA Home Loan program can also help veterans who are current homeowners. Many borrowers are now looking to take advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance their homes. Just 5 years ago, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6%; today that same rate is around 3.5%. Veterans can reuse their VA benefit to streamline refinance an existing VA loan, often with no money out of pocket. On these streamline refinance loans, VA requires no appraisal and no credit underwriting, which can be of great assistance to veterans who may have suffered a minor credit setback, or whose home values may have declined during these past few years. Last year, a streamline refinance decreased the average veteran’s interest rate 1.4%, and saved $202 a month in mortgage payments. Cumulatively, our veteran borrowers saved over $300M last year! For veterans with FHA or conventional loans, VA can also assist with the ‘regular’ refinance program. Since VA does not charge borrowers upfront or monthly mortgage insurance premiums, refinancing from an FHA loan into a VA loan can save Veteran borrowers a significant amount of money. We encourage veterans to seek the advice of a financial professional to determine what mortgage decisions are in their best interest, but wanted you to know that the VA Home Loan program stands ever-ready to serve them, providing the opportunity to purchase or refinance a home. In addition, VA stands ready to assist veterans who have already obtained a VA home loan. If you already have a VA loan and are facing financial difficulty, please call to speak to VA loan representatives at 877-827-3702. In FY16, of all loans that defaulted, 84% were saved from foreclosure. More information on VA home loans contact: 800-405-2310.
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SLAMS, SPAMS & SCAMS: BE ON THE ALERT
SCAM ALERT: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans to beware of the “Can You Hear Me?” robocall scam. Concerned Arizonans have contacted the Attorney General’s Office to report suspicious calls from someone asking “Can you hear me?” Here’s how it works: You get a call from someone and there may be some static on the line or fumbling around. The caller then says something like, “I’m having trouble with my headset” and asks “Can you hear me?” Their goal is to get you to answer “Yes.” Scammers use the recorded response to place unauthorized charges on phone, utility, or credit card bills. “It’s a new twist on an old scam and we need to put an end to it immediately,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. "Answering 'Yes' to any question can later be used to make it sound as though you authorized a major purchase.” Previously, scammers have also asked other questions to get a consumer to say “Yes” such as “Are you the lady of the house?” or “Are you the homeowner?” In reports to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, consumers say the calls appeared to come from a local phone number. AG Brnovich offers the following tips to avoid the “Can You Hear Me?” robocall scam: • Hang up if you receive a suspicious call. If you don’t recognize a phone number, let the calls go to voicemail. • Don’t reply or interact in any way especially if someone asks “Can you hear me?” Don’t talk to a live person which can lead to more calls. Don’t give details if asked for your personal information. • Check your utility bill and your bank and credit card statements regularly. If you find suspicious charges, immediately report them to your provider. If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. To do so online, CLICK HERE. Consumers may contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 5425763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431. To sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry: www.donotcall.gov MARK BRNOVICH was inaugurated as Arizona’s Attorney General in 2015. He previously served as Director of the Arizona Department of Gaming, as an Assistant US Attorney for the District of Arizona, and as an Assistant Attorney General with the state. He has also been a Judge Pro Tem of Maricopa County Superior Court, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney, Command Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army National Guard, and Director of the Center for Constitutional Government at the Goldwater Institute. Brnovich is known for restoring public confidence in the office of “Arizona’s Top Cop” and for assembling some of the nation’s most talented public servants for his administration. He argued at the United States Supreme Court regarding voter redistricting, was featured on the CBS talk show 60 Minutes in defense of capital punishment, and appeared on Times Square’s billboards to combat human sex trafficking.
MILITARY AND VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Arizona Attorney General is dedicated to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned. The office provides numerous resources and guides, including a hotline devoted to those who have served, useful pre- and post-deployment information and valuable tools aimed at helping veterans. The Attorney General knows that veterans and military families comprise an important and growing part of Arizona’s population. To ensure that the Attorney General’s Office remains abreast of existing and emerging issues that impact veterans, active duty military and their families the Attorney General has a Military and Veterans Advisory Council. Input from the Military and Veterans Advisory Council serves as an important source of guidance to ensure that the Attorney General’s Office continues to deliver high quality, innovative and practical solutions in areas related to military and veterans. These areas include consumer protection; enhancing/strengthening programs designed to promote the safety of veterans and military families; and educational initiatives of the Office. The Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Advisory Council is a non-statutory group of independent, highly respected and informed community leaders that provides an important source of objective knowledge, experience and information to help guide and advise the Attorney General on Military and Veterans issues. Members of the Attorney General’s Military/Veterans Advisory Council John Aldecoa, Robert Barnes, Margy Bons, Brad Bridwell, Chris Deschene, Jeff Dollins, Ken Fields, Gary Fredricks, David Hampton, Joey Strickland, Ted Jarvi, Dawn Lake, David Lucier, Bob Madden, Gregg Maxon, Henry Ong, Dennis McComb, Kathy Pearce, Frank Schmuck, Joan Sisco, Art Sloane, Phil Hanson
LAWSUITS TARGETING SMALL BUSINESSES DISMISSED
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich recently announced that a judge dismissed more than 1,000 frivolous lawsuits filed by a serial litigator against Arizona small businesses. Advocates for Individuals with Disabilities (AID) flooded state courts with more than 1,700 lawsuits against Valley businesses in 2016. The copy-and-paste lawsuits alleged that businesses’ parking lots did not comply with regulations related to persons with disabilities. Many of the issues were minor and easily fixable, but the lawsuits sought thousands of dollars in damages and attorneys’ fees. “Arizona is not going to tolerate serial litigators who try to shake down small hardworking businesses by exploiting the disability community,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law.”
VA WARNING OF VETERANS CHOICE LINE SCAM
A Veterans Choice Program imposter line has recently been established by an unknown party to mimic the Choice line and potentially scam veterans. Choice Line: 1-866-606-8198 —"Mimic" Line: 1-800-606-8198 The "mimic" line may be intended to reach veterans who inadvertently dial the Choice line incorrectly. •It has been reported the "mimic" line offers callers a $100 rebate if the caller provides a credit card number. •The "mimic" number does not state callers have reached the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Choice line. •Callers have reported the "mimic" line incorrectly confirms callers have reached the Choice Program if the caller asks the question. The VA has reported the other line to the Office of Inspector General for a possible civil or criminal investigation. Under no circumstances should you provide credit card information over the phone for the Veterans Choice Program.
NIGERIAN LETTER OR 419”FRAUD
Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter mailed, or e-mailed, from Nigeria offers the recipient the “opportunity” to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author—a self-proclaimed government official—is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a fax number given in the letter or return e-mail address provided in the message. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a “propensity for larceny” by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons. Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist, and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances. While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will along with losing large sums of money. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label “419 fraud.” TIPS FOR AVOIDING NIGERIAN LETTER OR “419” FRAUD: ◾If you receive a letter or e-mail from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter or message to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can also register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant. ◾If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible. ◾Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. ◾Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation. ◾Guard your account information carefully. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
SCAM ALERT: THERE’S A NEW TWIST TO THE
IRS IMPOSTER SCAM: IT’S NOW COMING THROUGH THE US POSTAL SERVICE HOW IT WORKS:
You receive an official-looking letter from the IRS saying you owe taxes related to the Affordable Care Act. The notice is labeled CP2000 for tax year 2015. The letter instructs payment be sent to the “IRS” care of an Austin, Texas post office box.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
If the IRS issues a notice under CP2000, it’s when income or payment information doesn’t match the information reported on your tax return. A legitimate notice will provide a number for you to call and a way to resolve the issue. Also, payments wouldn’t be to “IRS” but rather to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
If you get a notice like this but doubt its integrity, contact the IRS at 800-366-4484. This same scam runs through email. If you get an IRS notice by email, delete it immediately; IRS will not reach out to you by email, nor will they call demanding payment. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission’s complaint center. If you receive the fake IRS letter, report it on the Fraud Watch Network’s scam-tracking map. Please share this important alert with friends and family. — Kristin Keckeisen, Fraud Watch Network SCAM ALERT: We’re hearing of a new twist to the IRS imposter scam: it’s now coming through the US Postal Service. HOW IT WORKS You receive an official-looking letter from the IRS saying you owe taxes related to the Affordable Care Act. The notice is labeled CP2000 for tax year 2015. The letter instructs payment be sent to the “IRS” care of an Austin, Texas post office box. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: If the IRS issues a notice under CP2000, it’s when income or payment information doesn’t match the information reported on your tax return. A legitimate notice will provide a number for you to call and a way to resolve the issue. Also, payments wouldn’t be to “IRS” but rather to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: If you get a notice like this but doubt its integrity, contact the IRS at 800366-4484. This same scam runs through email. If you get an IRS notice by email, delete it immediately. The IRS will not reach out to you by email, nor will they call demanding payment. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission’s complaint center. If you receive the fake IRS letter, report it on the Fraud Watch Network’s scam-tracking map: www.aarp.org/money/scamsfraud/fraud-watch-network/?intcmp=LNK-BRD-MC-REALPOSS_SFN
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US NAVY BLUE ANGELS 2017 SCHEDULE
August 5-6 - Seafair Boeing Air Show - Seattle, Washington September 23-24 - MCAS Miramar Air Show - San Diego, California September 30-October 1 - Durango, Colorado October 7-8 - San Francisco Fleet Week - San Francisco, California October 14-15 - Kane'ohe Bay Air Show - Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii October 21-22 - Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show - Fort Worth, Texas
USAF THUNDERBIRDS 2017 SCHEDULE
May 6-7: Travis AFB, California June 1: USAF Academy, Colorado June 3-4: Grand Junction, Colorado July 22-23: Great Falls, Montana July 26: Cheyenne, Wyoming July 29-20: Fairchild AFB, Washington Sept 23-24: Colorado Springs, Colorado Oct. 7-8: Minden, Nevada Oct 14-15: Phoenix (Speedway), Arizona Oct 21-22: Houston, Texas Nov 4-5: Joint Base San Antonio Lackland-Kelly, Texas Nov 11-12: Nellis AFB, Nevada
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VETERANS CAN SHOP ONLINE AT MILITARY EXCHANGES
The Department of Defense announced a policy change that will extend limited online military exchange shopping privileges to all honorably discharged veterans of the military. While shopping privileges exclude the purchase of uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products, it includes the Exchange Services’ dynamic online retail environment known so well to service members and their families. This policy change follows careful analysis, coordination and strong public support. “We are excited to provide these benefits to honorably discharged veterans to recognize their service and welcome them home to their military family,” said Peter Levine, performing the duties for the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “In addition, this initiative represents a low-risk, low-cost opportunity to help fund Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in support of service members’ and their families’ quality of life. And it’s just the right thing to do,” Levine added. The online benefit will also strengthen the exchanges’ online businesses to better serve current patrons. Inclusion of honorably discharged veterans would conservatively double the exchanges’ online presence, thereby improving the experience for all patrons through improved vendor terms, more competitive merchandise assortments, and improved efficiencies, according to DoD officials. “As a nation, we are grateful for the contributions of our service members. Offering this lifetime online benefit is one small, tangible way the nation can say, ‘Thank you’ to those who served with honor,” Levine said.
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These are Some of the Veterans with The Sunny Plumber who is Proud to Hire Veterans.
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FISH THERAPY FISHING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
get into fish
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national VETERANS MAGAZINE
Arizona State Representative Jay Lawrence enjoys fishing to balance out a hectic schedule at the Arizona Legislature.
VA & NON-PROFITS TAKE VETERANS FISHING
by Michiko Riley Barracuda, mackerel and calico bass are a sampling of the fish veterans from the VA caught during a deep sea fishing trip. Fishing, for this special group of veterans, is not always about catching the big one. The sport can have a lasting impact on their mental health and physical well-being. Larry M. Brown, saw an opportunity to share his passion for fishing with local wounded veterans. Two years ago, he corralled non-profit fishing organizations to team up with the VA’s physical medicine and rehabilitation staff on a veteran fishing program. “I suggested taking veterans on fishing trips,” said Brown. “I am partnering with these great organizations and their generous members to organize and conduct these trips.” According to VA recreational therapist Louisa Mendelsohn, fishing is a therapy sport. Putting bait on a hook, learning to adjust tangled fishing lines and balancing on a rocking boat helps veterans with fine motor control. Fishing also teaches veterans new coping skills that can replace unhealthy options like alcohol and drugs. For veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, fishing emboldens them to step out of that bad experience so they can concentrate on the moment. “Wind, temperature, how long their line has been in the water and if they have a fish; keeps them focused,” said Mendelsohn. Veterans also profit from fishing’s Veteran Richard Pineda communal benefits with the catch of the day. “When we’re moving, we’re not fishing, so we’re socializing, talking, making connections with other people,” said Mendelsohn. “Depending on what program, especially rehabilitation, you meet people going through similar things so you can help find support. There is a sense of comradery.” “I remember one veteran telling me this was one of the nicest things that has happened in his life since he got back from active duty in Iraq,” said fisherman Phil Bell, coordinator of the veteran fishing program. “It is a blessing and a privilege for me to honor our veterans.” Licenses, live bait, tackle, rod and reel, as well as breakfast, lunch and water are provided to veteran patients free of charge thanks to the Veteran fishing program donors. “I hope these trips help our veterans progress with their recreational therapy and social development skills and move them closer to full integration into productive society,” said Brown. “It warms my heart when I hear that one of my veterans was able to go on vacation with their family instead of being shut up in their room isolating themselves. They were able to put the tools in place and just get out there and be able to reintegrate,” said Mendelsohn. Michiko Riley is a public affairs specialist at the VA. She is also an Air Force reservist serving in Public Affairs for US Forces Japan.
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Jeff Foley served in the US Army and now works at Ft. Huachuca. He loves his country but he really loves to fish. Jeff is an active member of the Army Bass Anglers and TheBassHoles.com and will be serving as our Fish Editor.
www.armybassanglers.com
ARMY BASS ANGLERS consists of 18 Pro Staff Anglers and over 200 Coalition Anglers all of whom are active duty or retired US Military from all branches of service. The group currently fishes Bass Champs on the World Fishing Network, numerous grass roots events and Fishing for Freedom events to raise awareness for the SUPPORT pillar of the Army Bass Anglers Mission Statement. Join ArmyBassAnglers in SUPPORTING the following nonprofit organizations in their FIGHT to SUPPORT our veterans — HOOAH! A SOLDIER'S CHILD FOUNDATION: As citizens of the United States of America, A Soldier's Child Foundation is forever indebted to the men and women who so unselfishly protect our freedoms. It is our objective to communicate through A Soldiers Child to the children left behind that the memory of their parent will not fade away. We want them to know that there are many Americans that are forever grateful for their parent's sacrifice. www.asoldierschild.org RETURNING HEROES HOME: The Warrior & Family Support Center, Army Bass Angler’s original non-profit support organization, is a 12,000 squarefoot rehabilitation center funded solely by private donations. The center provides a home-like environment for wounded soldiers undergoing treatment in San Antonio, allowing them to spend private time with their friends and families when they are not actively participating in rehabilitative treatment. www.returningheroeshome.org HEROES ON THE WATER: Heroes on the Water is a National non-profit 501c3 that focuses its efforts on kayaking and fishing as a rehabilitative outdoor activity for wounded veterans recovering from their combat injures. HOW is an incredible alternative to powerboat fishing and outdoor recreation that has provided very inspiring results both in physical and emotional rehabilitation. www.heroesonthewater.com WARRIOR CANINE CONNECTION: Where servicemembers and veterans with combat stress take on the critical mission of training service dogs for fellow Wounded Warriors—HOOAH! www.warriorcanineconnection.org
ODYSEA AQUARIUM IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA is a marine aquarium, and the largest aquarium in the Southwest United States. It holds more than 2 million gallons of water and spans over 200,000 square feet. There are over 30,000 animals and 500 different species in 50 exhibits. The aquarium offers an educational, interactive and entertaining experiences for guests of all ages. More info: 480-291-8000, www.odyseaaquarium.com
PRESCOTT VETERAN HONORED WITH CAR BY DAISY MOUNTAIN VETERANS
by Jessica B. Jacobsen The Daisy Mountain Veterans gave Prescott VA National Cemetery employee Ryan Ockomon a car during a presentation at the Anthem Veterans Memorial. Ockomon served nine years with the Army National Guard as a tanker and also served on active duty with his unit, securing the United States’ border with Mexico. He has worked at the Prescott National Cemetery since April 2016 through the VA’s compensated work therapy (CWT) program. “Ryan has been a dedicated employee at the Prescott National Cemetery since last April,” said Jerry Rainey, director of Prescott National Cemetery and National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. “We are grateful for his service to our country and his continued service to his fellow Veterans by helping ensure dignified burials at our national cemetery here in Prescott.” Ockomon will graduate from the CWT program in April 2017 and is hoping to obtain permanent employment at the VA. The vehicle, donated by the Daisy Mountain Veterans, will provide Ockoman with dependable work transportation. Daisy Mountain Veterans president Dennis Hider presented the automobile at a ceremony that was attended by Ockomon’s family, representatives from Texas Roadhouse, Prescott National Cemetery, members of Crossroads Church, Veterans First Ltd. and Daisy
Mountain Veterans members. The presentation was the 8th made by the organization in the last three years. “I am extremely honored and grateful for the support of the Prescott community, Daisy Mountain Veterans, Prescott National Cemetery and many others who have helped me throughout my career as a soldier and civilian,” said Ockomon. “I am very humbled to be the recipient of such a great gift.” This could not have happened without the generosity of Texas Roadhouse, patrons of Texas Roadhouse, The Crossroads Church, American Legion Post 128, and VFW Post 12031. “The Veteran Vehicle Campaign is one of our signature programs. Nominees are considered and reviewed by the Board through an ongoing process. In the past three years, the Daisy Mountain Veterans have presented eight vehicles to local Veterans in need. We greatly appreciate the support and generosity of everyone involved with this program,” said Dennis Hider, President of the Daisy Mountain Veterans.
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MARTIN SEPULVEDA TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF CHANDLER
Martin is a seventh-generation Arizonan with deep ties to Chandler and the surrounding East Valley communities. He graduated from Arizona State University, enlisted in the Marine Corps and later received a commission in the Navy. He led Americans in combat operations, in the first Gulf War, Kosovo, multiple tours in the Middle East and in Afghanistan. In 2015, he retired from the US Navy as a Commander, after more than 35 years of reserve and active service. Martin has lived in Arizona for his entire life and raised his family in Chandler. He and his wife Sheree have been married for 33 years and have a son, a daughter and three grandchildren. He served two terms on the Chandler City Council. He founded the Sepulveda Group in 2000 and has engaged in real estate and development projects throughout Arizona. Martin has 30 years of public and private sector experience expanding economic development efforts.
YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW
Did you know the Arizona Diamondbacks provide veterans, military and first responders a 50% discount for all Sunday home games all season. www.dbacks.com/military
Lee Hanna served in the US Army in Vietnam. Lee serves as our Publishing Advisor. He spent over 40 years working in the Publishing industry and was the driving force to bring together Time and Warner is one of the major mergers in publishing history. Lee Hanna helps with distribution in the Scottsdale area.
GEORGE LOPEZ SUPPORTS ORGAN DONATION
The NATIONAL VETERANS MAGAZINE is proud to work with the George Lopez Foundation to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children, adults and military families confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation. More info at www.georgelopezfoundation.org
Lt. Col. David Clukey (left), Commander, Phoenix Recruiting Battalion, administers the oath of enlistment to 50 future soldiers. The mass enlistment ceremony took place before the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cleveland Indians baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix. Some of the future soldiers had never been to a baseball game before. photo by Alun Thomas
10% VETERANS DISCOUNT
VETERANS AND MILITARY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
10% DISCOUNT
for Boat Club membership and boat and jet ski daily rentals. Scott Strey served 21 years in the US Navy on submarines as a Yoeman on the USS Hawkbill. Scott is an avid sports fan and can be seen at the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers and Arizona Diamondbacks games.
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MASS ENLISTMENT AT AZ DIAMONDBACKS GAME
Sgt Closs and the future soldiers of Gilbert Center.
Peter Quinn, Executive Director of Arizona Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Anthony O'Clair at the Arizona State Fair.
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John McCain US SENATOR 602-952-2410
Tom O’Halleran US Rep. CD 1 520-316-0839
Martha McSally US Rep. CD 2 520-881-3588
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Jeff Flake US SENATOR 602-840-1891
Raul Grijalva US Rep. CD 3 623-536-3388
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CALL AND TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL
Paul Gosar US Rep. CD 4 928-445-1683
Andy Biggs US Rep. CD 5 480-699-8239
David Schweikert US Rep. CD 6 480-946-2411
Ruben Gallego US Rep. CD 7 602-256-0551
Trent Franks US Rep. CD 8 623-776-7911
Kyrsten Sinema US Rep. CD 9 602-956-2285
FRAUD, WASTE & ABUSE BY THE US GOVERNMENT This Money Could Help Homeless Veterans, Prevent Veteran Suicides, Veteran Job Assistance and Better Healthcare
1. $486 million for 'deathtrap' aircraft that were later sold for $32,000 The Pentagon spent close to half a billion dollars on 20 Italian-made cargo planes that it eventually scrapped and sold for just $32,000, according to SIGAR. “These planes were the wrong planes for Afghanistan,” Sopko told NBC News. “The U.S. had difficulty getting the Afghans to fly them, and our pilots called them deathtraps. One pilot said parts started falling off while he was coming into land.”
2. $335 million on a power plant that used just 1 percent of its capacity The Tarakhil Power Plant was fired up in 2009 to “provide more reliable power “ to blackout-plagued Kabul, according to the United States Agency for International Development, which built the facility. However, the “modern” diesel plant exported just 8,846 megawatt hours of power between February 2014 and April 2015, SIGAR said in a letter to USAID last August. This output was less than 1 percent of the plant's capacity and provided just 0.35 percent of power to Kabul, a city of 4.6 million people.
3. Almost $500,000 on buildings that 'melted' in the rain U.S. officials directed and oversaw the construction of an Afghan police training facility in 2012 that was so poorly built that its walls actually fell apart in the rain. The $456,669 dry-fire range in Wardak province was “not only an embarrassment, but, more significantly, a waste of U.S. taxpayers' money,” SIGAR's report said in January 2015.
4. $34.4 million for soybean program for a country that doesn't eat soybeans “Afghans apparently have never grown or eaten soybeans before,” SIGAR said in its June 2014 report. This did not stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture funding a $34.4 million program by the American Soybean Association to try to introduce the foodstuff into the country in 2010.
5. One general's explanation why 1,600 fire-prone buildings weren't a problem The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built some 2,000 buildings to be used as barracks, medical clinics and fire stations by the Afghan National Army as part of a $1.57-billion program.
6. A $600,000 hospital where infants were washed in dirty river water Despite the Department of Defense spending $597,929 on Salang Hospital in Afghanistan's Parwan province, the 20-bed facility has been forced to resort to startling medical practices.
These funds could be used to develop affordable housing, better healthcare, suicide prevention and job development for American veterans. US GOVERNMENT FOREIGN AID PROGRAM
No money to help veterans, seniors, disabled & others? But, over the last several years, they have provided direct cash aid to the following countries. A total of $14.933 BILLION — WASTE OF MONEY!
Hamas — $351M Libya $1.45 Billion Egypt — $397M Mexico — $622M Russia — $380M Haiti — $1.4 Billion Jordan — $463M Kenya — $816M
Sudan — $870M Nigeria — $456M Uganda — $451M Congo — $359M Ethiopia — $981M Pakistan — $2 Billion South Africa — $566M Senegal — $698M
Mozambique — $404 M Zambia — $331M Kazakhstan — $304M Tanzania — $554M Iraq — $1.08 Billion, + 1.5 Trillion & counting
US REPRESENTATIVE MARTHA MCSALLY has introduced a measure that would prevent Members of Congress from exempting themselves from the American Health Care Act (AHCA). “In America, lawmakers are not above the law. Members of Congress should be treated no differently than other Americans struggling to afford healthcare,” said Rep. McSally. “Representatives should have to abide by the very same options for coverage as their constituents, and anything short of that is simply hypocrisy. Congress must live by the rules it creates.”
7. $36 million on a military facility that several generals didn't want The so-called “64K” command-and-control facility at Afghanistan's Camp Leatherneck cost $36 million and was “a total waste of U.S. taxpayer funds,” SIGAR's report said in May 2015.
8. $39.6 million that created an awkward conversation for the U.S. ambassador A now-defunct Pentagon task force spent almost $40 million on Afghanistan's oil, mining and gas industry — but no one remembered to tell America's diplomats in Kabul, according to SIGAR, citing a senior official at the U.S. embassy in the city. It was, “a real disaster.” 9. $3 million for the purchase — and then mystery cancellation — of eight boats that were bought in 2010 to be used by the Afghan National Police, and that they were intended to be deployed along the country's northern river border with Uzbekistan. “The order was cancelled — without explanation — nine months later,” SIGAR said. The boats were still sitting unused at a Navy warehouse in Yorktown, Virginia, as of 2014. “We brought in a navy for a landlocked country”.
10. $7.8 billion fighting drugs — while Afghans grow more opium than ever Despite the U.S. plowing some $7.8 billion into stopping Afghanistan's drug trade,” Afghan farmers are growing more opium than ever before,” SIGAR reported in December 2014.
11. $7.8 million on a nearly-empty business park The USAID-funded Shorandam Industrial Park in Kandahar province was transferred to the Afghan government in September 2010 with the intention of accommodating 48 business and hundreds of local employees. Four years later, SIGAR inspectors found just one active company operating there.
12. $81.9 million on incinerators that either weren't used or harmed troops The DOD spent nearly $82 million on nine incineration facilities in Afghanistan — yet four of them never fired their furnaces, SIGAR said in February 2015. These four dormant facilities had eight incinerators between them and the wastage cost $20.1 million. Source: Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
SHOULD THE MILITARY BE ADVERTISING?
The US ARMY plans to spend $300 million in a blitz of bonuses and advertising over the next eight months to recruit 6,000 additional soldiers. The US NAVY to spend $85 Million in advertising for 1 year. Total value of the contract to 2020 is $457.4M. The US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE budget for advertising — on TV, radio, print, web, mail campaigns, pamphlets, and movie theaters — was projected to be $667 million dollars this year. The US ARMY spends $8.9 million dollars a year to sponsor a NASCAR car. The US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD spent $54.5 million dollars in 2012 on sports sponsorships and they requested another $24.5 million for 2013. The US POSTAL SERVICE spent $31.9 million to sponsor Lance Armstrong. The US STATE DEPARTMENT spent $5 million to purchase 12,000 crystal glasses for embassies all over the world.
AnnualCreditReport.com — This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
PATRIOT RADIO ad F2016_Layout 1 11/4/2016 11:15 AM Page 1
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THE PRAIRIE DOG WARS VS. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
by Dr. Jeffrey J. Harsh Dr. Mehmet Oz, probably the most famous medical doctor of our time, has said, “The Next Big Frontier in Medicine is Energy Medicine.” I have a doctor’s degree in Pastoral Counselling and Naturopathic Medicine and I am a researcher in Energy Medicine for rape victims. I discovered that trauma-based women rape victims had amazing recoveries simply by touching a large lion or a tiger. To help finance my research, I personally built a motel in Western Kansas, now paid for. (www.freebrekfastinn.com) In the movie The Lion King, the artists used two barbary Lions. Sepagway, one of the two, I owned. The last barbary lion in the wild was killed in Morocco in 1917. These animals could grow to be over 17 feet long, though Sepagway was only 12 feet long since he was a half breed. I could go on and on about how superior, intelligent, and useful through history and why they worked for my research. More info is found on the website: www.theamericantrail.org. PETA, who raised 20 million dollars in 2008 for protection of animals, came after us and the animal refuge. They also had the support of the state game wardens. USDA could not touch us because we were private and not for commerce. Yet, PETA Killed 95% adoptable pets in its care that year in 2008.dr I accumulated over 1.5 inches of courtroom motions and pleadings from fighting these hypocritical scum bags, who eventually brought the local swat team, equipped with shot guns and double out shells and destroyed my western Kansas project. As chickens attack the one wounded chicken, so did the Logan County Commissioners. With an adrenaline rush and a taste for blood, they took an ordinance, over a hundred years old, and declared war on the Prairie cat dogs. Logan County is now enforcing a 1909 Kansas state statute which gives the county permission to come on a property in Logan county, and poison Prairie cat dogs and then give the property owner the bill for labor and poison. (80-1202) Commissioner Carl Urich said, “Prairie cat dogs are the same as termites.” Now, these Rhino bureaucrats, with the vengeance of hell, are demanding that every rancher has to poison their prairie cat Dogs or face stiff fines and high bills from the contractors doing the poison for them. The commissioners did this to a friend of mine, Larry and Elizabeth Haverfield, a large rancher who devised a program of grazing using the prairie cat dogs to increase cattle production by 35% per acre. Here is another reality, more bizarre that fiction. Black Diamond paid the state of Kansas for a $140.00 license to poison prairie cat dogs. Then, Black Diamond took a few tests and got a license permitting them to poison Prairie cat dog holes. Black Diamond then hired a bunch of locals, and gave them four wheelers. I went on to find the recruits dumped the poison in and around the holes and anywhere else to make them look like they were doing their job. Well, other animals found the poison, and eventually these recruits were busted and had to pay a fine of $2800.00. They were sent back to Wyoming to muck up another state’s food chain. The ranchers are being jack-booted by the County into paying $20 or $30 dollars per acre, when the rancher can buy said poison in Winona, Kansas, and spread it himself to keep the County off his back. Being forced to poison their own land, and being billed for this action by the county has caused the farmers to become annoyed with the system. They then created bait stations, which are PVC pipes filled with poison grain. Can one imagine what can happen to the 200 other animals and cattle, when we know these pipes are open to any animals that can get near them? Through ignorance, this has been going on in several states for years. Before December 1906, the pets just died and it was diagnosed as joint weakness. Sometime between December 19 and December 29 of 1906, the Pet food poisoning really commenced. Kansas had two of the worst blizzards in its history in the 1980’s. Because the snow did not melt, the cattle were kept from grazing for 90 days. The hungry cows found one of many bait stations filled with poisoned grain. Like the Prairie cat Dogs, they ate and were filled and fell over dead, or were very sick. When the snow melted, the rendering trucks picked up the dead cattle and took them to their rendering plant. Then the resultant product was sold to Menu Foods of Emporia, Kansas. Menu Foods made the frozen cattle into 95 different Dog foods which resulted in the recall of 60 million cans of dog and cat food and a nation filled with grief over the death of thousands of pets. Then, I filed a Pesticide Complaint report with Jerry Wilson of Kansas Department of Agriculture on at least eight different bait stations of Boot Hill, Gun slinger and Pozol. Jerry Wilson personally told me that unless
a complaint is personally signed, no investigation will be done with the Department of Agriculture. What about the cattle that did not die and just got sick? The cattle are doctored up with antibiotics. This meat, after slaughter, does not goes into pet food but into the Safeway meat section. They are making a down payment on a kidney transplant because the poison This is a common sight in prairie dog destroys the kidneys. In the year towns. They know God and they love 2000, nearly 47000 people in the US him and are telling him so. were waiting for a kidney transplant. This makes the Globalists happy because it is helping their projected goal of reducing future population by 5%. I am seventy miles from the border of Colorado. A large auction was being held in Stratton, Co. They could no longer afford to irrigate because their water Aquifer had dried up. Along with the sale of irrigation equipment, large propane tanks, and equipment for filling the prairie cat dogs’ holes and then blowing them up, were auctioned off. The ranchers did all the right protocol in removing the prairie cat dogs from eating any grass. They won all the prairie cat dog battles, but lost the war and their water. “History does not repeat itself but rimes” Mark Twain. Rimes or repeating itself, It’s happening to the Ogallala Aquifer and here is why we are again being blindsided like the dust boil days of the 1930’s. It is very difficult for water to pass through the Vadose Zone beneath the earth. The Prairie Cat Dogs’ tunnels penetrate the Vadose Zone and allow the water to pass back into the Ogallala Aquifer, plus or minus 120 feet deep, and replenish the pumped irrigation water. While all species necessitate respect from humans, prairie dogs present a unique characteristic that places them in an even more sophisticated category of evolved consciousness; it is because of their intelligences as well as their niche in an ecosystem that The American Trail Foundation seeks to secure and preserve their numbers. The animal behaviorist Dr. Con Slobodchikoff of Northern Arizona University has found, “Prairie dogs can talk” (Albuquerque Journal 12/3/2004). He presents field research noting that prairie dogs convey complex information. They have a time when they lift their hands and worship God. This is just the tip of the iceberg of information I have in my files and research. Under the Trump Administration I believe we can turn the tide and drain the swamps for the animals also!
For more information contact: The American Trail Foundation. Prairie Cat Animal Refuge, 499 US Hwy 83, Oakley KS 67748, www.theamericantrail.org, Jeffrey J. Harsh Director, 785-672-3141
Don’t send your money — keep your money. The Prairie Dogs don’t need your money. They need your prayers! The Dark Side Deep State recognizes their spirituality and want to erase them from the earth. You can also help by sending this article to President Donald Trump — and urge that existing laws be enforced — to protect Prairie Dogs and other endangered species. President Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500
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30 UNIT MOTEL FOR SALE — EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR RETIRED COUPLE
This great investment property is located on the corner of two major US highways: I-70 which runs from New York to Los Angeles and US Highway 83 which runs from Canada to Mexico. This motel and convention center has great potential for a number of different possibilities. For instance, it could become a training institution for certification because of the extra classrooms along with living quarters. It has majestic landscaping beauty with large Greek pillars brought over from Italy. It enjoys mild weather conditions with beautiful sunsets stretching clear across the sky from the south to the north. The sun shines 360 days every year. With zero humidity and few bugs or mosquitoes, the picnic table makes for great meditation time in the evening. You can visit this property on www.freebreakfastinn.com. Check out the great ratings on google under free breakfast inn of Oakley Kansas. But this is more than just a prosperous motel. It is extremely well constructed, reducing constant repair, low labor operations, and giving time for leisure. The living quarters and office has 1850 square feet and is attached to a 400 square foot laundry room. Living and dining room feature cathedral beam 16 foot ceilings. Connected to the living quarters is a three story building which was used for a television production studio, heated with hot water boiler system. This could be converted into a restaurant or convention center meeting rooms. Total square feet is 2500 sq. ft. Not including motel rooms, the total sq. ft. is 4750 sq. ft. Total land acreage is 4.6 acres. The motel has all new carpet in the rooms, just a year old. Amana heat
pumps & cool units were put in the rooms within the last nine years. The motel owns its own laundry system, phone system, Television satellite receiving system, and water well system. The property has 2X6 wall construction and is heavily insulated. It is covered then with white bricks and has life-time Spanish tile roofing. Unlike the city, there are no gangs and very little crime. Just 3.5 hours east of Denver, the property sits on 4.6 acres and features spacious cathedral ceiling living quarters. Appraised at $695,000.00. The Oasis. Heart of America. Enterprising opportunity. We experience really good weather here, similar to Denver, only less snow. This Kansas property is located 70 miles east of Colorado, & intersects Interstate 70 & U.S. Highway 83. 500,000 vehicles pass by the property daily. 30 unit motel and training center with classrooms. Majestic landscaping beauty with large Greek pillars, brought over from Italy. The location enjoys mild weather conditions plus beautiful sunsets. Extremely well-constructed, cathedral ceilings 4000 sq. ft. living quarters on 7 acres, with expansion, truck stop & several fast foods. We are in our 70’s and 80’s and have no problem being over stressed running this business. Appraised between $495,000 and $695,000. Be our guest and come visit us for a couple of days with a free room. We will even buy your breakfast. For Sale by Owner for $495,000. More info: Jeffrey Harsh, 785-672-3141 499 US Highway 83, Oakley, Kansas 67748. www.freebreakfastinn.com
Buffalo Soldiers of America MC, Arizona Chapter with Oscar Rodriguez in Coolidge at Veterans Memorial.
Goat Yoga is the hottest trend. www.azgoatyoga.com
PRESIDENT
Donald J. Trump Barack H. Obama George W. Bush Bill Clinton George H. W. Bush Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter Gerald Ford Richard Nixon Lyndon B. Johnson John F. Kennedy Dwight Eisenhower Harry S. Truman Franklin D. Roosevelt Herbert Hoover Calvin Coolidge Warren G. Harding Woodrow Wilson William Howard Taft Theodore Roosevelt William McKinley Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland Chester A. Arthur James Garfield Rutherford B. Hayes Ulysses S. Grant Andrew Johnson Abraham Lincoln James Buchanan Franklin Pierce Zachary Taylor James K. Polk John Tyler William Harrison Martin Van Buren Andrew Jackson John Quincy Adams James Monroe James Madison Thomas Jefferson John Adams George Washington
SERVICE
RANK
DATES SERVED
No Military Service No Military Service Texas Air National Guard First Lieutenant Stateside service during Vietnam War (1968–1973) No Military Service US Naval Reserve Lieutenant World War II (1942–1945) Distinguished Flying Cross US Army Reserve, Army Air Corps Captain Stateside service during World War II (1942–1945); Army Reserve US Navy Lieutenant World War II at the United States Naval Academy Sea duty and stateside service during the Korean War US Naval Reserve Lt. Commander World War II (1942–1945; combat on USS Monterey, discharged in 1946) US Naval Reserve Commander World War II (1942–1945) Earned two Service Stars US Naval Reserve Commander World War II received Silver Star after an observation mission when his aircraft came under Japanese attack US Navy Lieutenant World War II received Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Purple Heart US Army General of the Army Stateside service in WWI. Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II US Army, Reserve, National Guard Colonel Stateside National Guard service in Missouri (1905-1911); World War I (1917–1918) No Military Service Assistant Secretary of the Navy in World War I No Military Service Helped guide US Marines in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion No Military Service No Military Service No Military Service Connecticut Home Guard United States Secretary of War 1904-1908. Enlisted in Connecticut Home Guard for World War I US Army Colonel Spanish – American War – Posthumously received Medal of Honor in 2001. Asst. Secretary of the Navy US Army Brevet Major American Civil War. fought in Battle of South Mountain & the Battle of Antietam US Army Brigadier General American Civil War; Commanded Infantry Brigade in many battles including Sherman’s March to the Sea No Military Service Paid George Benninsky $150 to take his place after Cleveland was drafted during Civil War under Conscription Act of 1863 New York State Militia Brigadier General Served as Quartermaster General before and during the American Civil War (1858–1865) US Army Major General American Civil War (1861–1863; commanded an Ohio Infantry Brigade at the Battles of Shiloh & Corinth US Army Major General American Civil War. Served in the 23rd Ohio Infantry and wounded at the Battle of South Mountain US Army General of the Army Mexican-American War and American Civil War; served 1843-1854 and 1861-1868 US Army Brigadier General Served in Tennessee Militia in 1830s. American Civil War; Military Governor of Tennessee in 1862 Illinois State Militia Captain Black Hawk War (served three months in 1832); see Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War Pennsylvania State Militia Private War of 1812 US Army Brigadier General New Hampshire Militia, 1831-1846; Mexican-American War; commanded Infantry Brigade War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War; career spanned 1808 - 1848 US Army Major General Tennessee State Militia Colonel Captain in cavalry unit in Tennessee Militia. Appointed a Colonel on the staff of Governor William Carroll US Army Captain War of 1812 US Army Major General Northwest Indian War, War of 1812 No Military Service Tennessee State Militia, US Army Major General American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War, First Seminole War No Military Service Continental Army Major American Revolutionary War; wounded at the Battle of Trenton; Virginia militia Colonel American Revolutionary War, did not see action. Virginia militia Colonel Commander of Albemarle County Militia at start of American Revolution, did not see action Chairman of the Continental Congress’s Board of War (1776–1777), making him the equivalent of today’s Secretary of Defense Virginia militia, Virginia Regiment, Continental Army, United States Army, General of the Armies, French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War
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