Monthly Archives: January 2014

Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/22/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Wednesday, January 22 2014:

Good news story of the day

Garden will help veterans in need  (NewBernSJ.com)  A program being launched this spring in the Duffyfield area intends to help veterans find employment and provide the community with fresh vegetables.

Transition

Enlisting Companies To Invest In Veterans  (The Wall Street Journal)  With the drawdown of America’s major post-9/11 overseas engagements, nearly a million of the country’s finest men and women will be leaving the armed forces and joining the economy. With that in mind, we want to focus on the long-term futures of our veterans.

Job drive created for soon-to-be veterans  (The Tennessean)  The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce has launched a new program to connect job seekers exiting the military and employers trying to fill many of the high-skilled jobs available across the county.

Vice chief discusses 3,000-man brigades, HQ cuts  (Army Times)  Soldiers could be in store for significantly smaller, more technically advanced brigade combat teams, according to Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Campbell, who discussed the service’s future in an interview with Army Times this month from Fort Hood, Texas.

Veterans unemployment may be OK’d  (GuamPDN.com)  Calvin Coolidge once said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Sears Holdings To Hire 6,500 Veterans And Military Spouses In 2014  (Yahoo Finance)  Sears Holdings Corporation announced today that it anticipates hiring 6,500 veterans and military spouses in 2014.

Veterans

World War II Marine gets overdue funeral in Chowchilla  (Fresno Bee)  Seventy-five-year-old military veteran Kevin Johnson fought back tears Monday standing over his father’s grave as his colleagues handed him a folded flag.

Veteran puts Army skills to work in new career as a fitness trainer  (The Washington Post)  After a 23-year career in the U.S. Army, Valetta SuRae Stewart was concerned that the primary skills she could bring to the private sector were “breaking things and killing people.”

Veterans Left Behind on the Battlefield: A New Form of Veteran Discrimination Emerging  (The Huffington Post) U.S. Navy Adm. (ret.) Mike Mullen coined the term “sea of goodwill” to describe the positive attitudes in the United States toward veterans and the military in general.

Programs help war veterans transition to civilian life  (MassLive.com)  The wounds of war are not always visible.

Homeless Veterans Laid To Rest At Cemetery Of The Alleghenies  (CBS Pittsburgh)  A pair of veterans were laid to rest Tuesday at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

Veterans Affairs

VA Medical Center Seeks Help to Shelter Veterans from the Cold  (Your4State.com)  The Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center is asking for the public’s help in getting veterans off of the street during this latest snow storm.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Online application for duplicate driver license, ID card with veterans identifier now available for eligible veterans  (WisPolitics.com)   The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced today that a new online application system is in place for veterans who are requesting a duplicate driver license or identification card with a “VETERAN” identifier.

‘Defect’ on VA benefits site shares vets’ personal details online  (Fox News)  Thousands of veterans may have had their personal information broadcast online following a major “defect” on a popular benefits website run by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.

Benefits

Senate could vote to restore $6B military pension cut next week   (The Hill)  Senators may consider a new proposal to restore cuts to military veteran pensions as early as next week, according to a Senate aide.

Lawmaker: Congress crying ‘crocodile tears’ over military pension cuts  (The Hill)  Rep. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.) criticized Congress over the weekend by saying members are talking about restoring a $6 billion cut to military pensions, but aren’t doing anything to actually restore those benefits.

Former top military officer sees national debt as biggest threat to country  (The Washington Examiner)  Retired Adm. Mike Mullen on Tuesday went well beyond his traditional area of expertise, military affairs, and held forth on issues ranging from the national debt to K-12 education.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/21/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Tuesday, January 21st 2014:

Good news story of the day

Fort Bragg projects set to break ground  (FayObserver.com)  Two national nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping troops and their families will break ground on Fort Bragg projects this week.

Transition

Study: Marine vets from non-combat jobs more likely to draw unemployment  (Marine Corps Times)  A new study offers surprising insights about Marines’ use of unemployment compensation and education benefits once they leave the Corps, and has inspired creation of a calculator that can help determine who may need greater assistance transitioning to civilian life.

Michigan Values Veterans Conference  (Crain’s Detroit Business)  The conference is for employers who would like to learn more about hiring veterans can help build a strong workforce.

No end in sight for Marines’ Wounded Warrior Regiment as war winds down  (Marine Corps Times)  The war in Afghanistan may be ending, but the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment isn’t going anywhere.

AlliedBarton Security Services Hires 5,000 Veterans in 2013  (Market Watch)  AlliedBarton Security Services, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel, hired more than 5,000 military veterans and reservists in 2013, fully supporting their Hire Our Heroes(SM) initiatives.

Student veterans one step closer to in-state tuition  (Tallahassee.com)  The transition to college could get a little bit easier for student veterans in Florida.

Aegis hires over 600 Military Veterans and their spouses in USA  (IIFL)  Aegis Limited, a global outsourcing and technology services company, announced today that it has hired more than 600 US military veterans and spouses during 2013.

US Army Studying Replacing Thousands of Grunts with Robots   (DefenseNews.com)   The postwar, sequestration-era US Army is working on becoming “a smaller, more lethal, deployable and agile force,” according to Gen. Robert Cone, head of the service’s Training and Doctrine Command.

Defense Industry Ponders Where It Goes From Here  (National Defense)  The Pentagon was declared the big winner of the massive federal budget bill that Congress passed for fiscal year 2014.

Veterans

Disabled veterans would be given preference for state contracts under bill proposed by Sen. Ritchie of Heuvelton  (North Country Now)  Disabled veterans would be given preference for state contracts under a measure supported by Sen. Patricia Ritchie of Heuvelton, who represents western St. Lawrence County.

New York law gives preference to vets for state temp jobs  (StaffingIndustry.com)   A new New York State law gives military veterans preference for state temporary jobs normally filled by employees from for-profit temporary staffing firms, New York State Sen. Greg Ball’s office announced.

Veterans can earn a reduction in their property tax through new new Veteran’s Work-off Program  (WickedLocal.com)  Veterans who have served their country honorably can apply for a reduction in taxes if they are willing to work for it.

Foreclosed-on Veteran Sues Bank Over ‘Dual Tracking’  (SCVNews.com)  Sixteen months after Habitat for Humanity volunteers rehabbed his Stevenson Ranch home, a military veteran is suing JP Morgan Chase over what he claims was an illegal foreclosure.

Veterans cemetery nears completion  (SFGate.com)  Muddy roads will soon give way to asphalt and bare ground transformed with sod and landscaping as construction of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery near Slidell enters its final stages.

Fighting for each other; veterans band together  (The Chippewa Herald)  Garth Johnson of Stanley has lots of experience fighting with the Veterans Administration to get medical benefits.

Veterans Affairs

Kognitio CEO Steve Millard Named to Executive Board of Xavier University’s Center for Veterans Affairs  (Financial Content)  Steve Millard, president and chief executive officer of Kognitio, has been named to the board of the Center for Veterans Affairs at Cincinnati’s Xavier University.

Next Leader of Pittsburgh VA Must Implement Significant Reforms Following Deadly Legionnaires’  (Politicalnews.me)  U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to Robert A. Petzel, M.D. Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, calling for a fresh vision as the VA seeks a new director of the VA Health Care VISN4, which includes the VA Pittsburgh Health System.

SD kicks off Reaching All Veterans, aims to locate 75,000 vets in state  (The Daily Republic)  The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs has kicked off one of the most aggressive outreach campaigns in the history of the department: Operation RAV (Reaching All Veterans).

Benefits

What Will Congress Cut to ‘Support Our Troops’?  (National Journal)  Congress undid some of its planned cuts to veterans’ benefits in the latest spending bill, but it also left the vast majority of the reductions in place.

Senate to hold hearing on pending COLA cuts  (Military Times)  Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., has scheduled a hearing to examine the impact of the pending cost-of-living adjustment cuts for military retirees.

N.D. vets eye Pentagon’s pension cuts; Congress trying to undo change  (Grand Forks Herald)  North Dakota veterans are watching, but not yet pounding on doors, over recent cuts to military pensions for some veterans.

Lawmaker’s plan would offer tax credits for hiring vets  (AZDailySun.com)  A Lake Havasu City lawmaker wants to add some teeth to the concept that it pays to hire a vet.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/20/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military/Veteran Transitionnews for Monday, January 20th 2014:

**Update:  The title of Transitionnews has changed to Military/Veteran Transitionnews at the request of readers who share the daily posts via their tablets because the subtitle is not depicted, and as a result those who receive the shared link may be unsure of its content.  It will be the same daily update, though, so don’t despair!**

Good news story of the day

Wrestlers support wounded veterans  (Amarillo Globe News)  Local athletes have raised $3,050 for wounded veterans, to be distributed by Jack Barnes of the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation to various organizations in the area.

Transition

Veterans’ employment act signed into law  (MidHudson News)  A bill that will give veterans preference for temporary state jobs that the state normally fills with employees from for-profit temporary services company has been signed into law by the governor.

Job fair for military veterans planned in Omaha  (Associated Press)  Another job fair for veterans and their spouses will be held in Omaha.

After Army And Creative Careers: MBAs Talk Business Jobs  (Business Because)  Non-traditional career paths are increasingly common on MBA programs across the globe.

Convergys to Participate in Veteran Recruiting Virtual Career Fair  (Market Watch)  Convergys Corporation, a global leader in customer management, is proud to partner with Veteran Recruiting, the recognized leader of virtual career fairs for the military community, to help veterans find meaningful employment.

Force reductions: Your questions answered  (Army Times)  With the Air Force preparing for the deepest force cuts since the end of the Cold War, airmen across the service are asking how the various force management programs might apply to them.

Military cuts force wounded O’Fallon soldier to end his career  (BND.com)  Wounded Iraq veteran Sgt. Charles “Chas” Shaffer went through a lot to keep his Army career alive.

Veterans

Veterans commission meets Tuesday  (Boston.com)  The Veterans Services Advisory Committee on Tuesday will meet to discuss a range of issues, including planting memorial trees for women veterans and an update on the city’s work-off tax program for veterans launched last year. The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., in the downstairs conference room at City Hall.

Number of young homeless vets triples in past 2 years  (Q13Fox.com)  Between 2007 and 2010, Nick McCallon served two tours in Iraq. Transitioning back into civilian life was one of the most difficult things he’s had to do.

Court seeks volunteers to mentor fellow veterans  (The Journal Times)  The Veterans Treatment Court of the 2nd Judicial District is looking for volunteers to become veteran mentors.

Veterans deported for crimes banished for life  (KHOU.com)  About 35,000 non-citizens are in the U.S. military, but some of those who served proudly have been deported to Mexico and other countries because they broke the law.

Sen. Young joins colleagues in urging passage of ‘Jobs for Heroes’  (The Observer)  Businesses owned by disabled veterans would achieve preference for procuring state contracts in a bill cosponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R, C, I-Olean).

Congressman Bishop Statement on Supporting Military/Veterans Through the Federal Budget  (WebRTCworld.com)  Rep. Sandford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga. (2nd CD), issued the following news release:

Edmonds Military Wire: Veterans face uncertainty in 2014  (Edmonds News)  The New Year is proving to be interesting for veterans and their families.

State Veterans’ ID Makes Accessing Benefits and Services More Convenient  (Hamlet Hub)  overnor Dannel P. Malloy today joined military veterans, local business leaders and state officials to promote the Connecticut Veterans’ ID program, a joint initiative between the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) that gives veterans an option to place an American flag symbol on a state-issued license or identity card to designate his or her veteran’s status.

Veterans’ entries sought for creative arts festival  (Chillicothe Gazette)  Veterans who want to show off their artistic side can do so by submitting entries for a local festival at the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Veterans Affairs

Pataskala man pleads to federal charges in 2011 VA theft  (Mansfield News Journal)  A Pataskala man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to charges connected with the 2011 theft of nearly $90,000 worth of equipment from the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

VA will begin publicly announcing available Punchbowl gravesites  (Star Advertiser)  The Department of Veterans Affairs said it plans “to further notify the public” of available in-ground gravesites at Punchbowl cemetery after veterans groups said they were never told about an unprecedented number of open burial spots.

VA Says Facility Falls Short  (Valley News)  Six disabled veterans living at Hanover Terrace have a little more than a month to find someplace else to live after the Department of Veterans Affairs decided to void its contract with the nursing home, saying that it had fallen below the VA’s standards of care.

Veterans’ website privacy breach under investigation  (WEARTV.com)  A breach that may have exposed the private information of thousands of veterans is under investigation.

Veterans affairs officer donates flags to Ansonia to dot downtown landscape  (New Haven Register)  Old Glory will proudly wave throughout downtown, thanks to a donation from a resident and state veterans affairs officer.

Benefits

Tricare centers closing soon  (Army Times)  The hospital- and clinic-based offices that handle Tricare patients’ claims and billing questions in the U.S. are closing April 1.

Military Update: Lightning-quick fix stilll leaves military retirees with trimmed COLAs, officials say  (NJ.com)  Congress has rushed to protect the medically retired and survivor benefit recipients from the cap on annual cost-of-living adjustments it approved only a few weeks ago for all “working age” military retirees.

DOJ faces renewed call to provide benefits to gay veterans  (Washington Blade)  Pressure is increasing on the Obama administration to ensure gay veterans have access to spousal benefits everywhere they go in the country as additional U.S. senators are joining others in a call for action.

Veterans’ groups press Congress to undo cuts to benefits  (Washington Times)  Lawmakers say they have plenty of time to repeal a cut to military retiree pay that takes effect in 2015, but veterans’ groups are warning Congress it must get it done soon before members get distracted by their own re-election campaigns later this year.

Veterans Group Backs Bill to Restore COLA Cuts  (National Journal)  Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation Thursday that would roll back the pension cuts included in the budget agreement, and he’s already getting some key support.

Don’t turn away from reforming military retirement benefits  (The Hill)  The U.S. military is at a crossroads.

CBO: Bar younger retirees from Tricare Prime, save $90 billion  (Military Times)  Pushing working-age military retirees out of Tricare Prime could save the Pentagon nearly $90 billion over the next 10 years, a measure that would generate the most savings of the various options recently considered by the Congressional Budget Office to trim the defense health budget.

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Transitionnews for 1/17/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Friday, January 17th 2014:

Good news story of the day

Gary Allen’s Maine to Super Bowl Run Begins January 24  (The Free Press)  Gary Allen, founder and race director of the Mount Desert Island Marathon, has run over 100,000 lifetime miles

Transition

U.S. Chamber Foundation and Goodwill Industries® Partner to Provide Career Services to Veterans and Military Spouses  (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program and Goodwill Industries announced today a collaborative effort to offer comprehensive vocational services to veterans and military spouses who participate in Hiring Our Heroes job fairs and programs.

ACAP sponsors workshop highlighting higher education  (Belvoir Eagle)  Servicemembers learned about different methods for researching colleges during a two-day Army Career and Alumni Program workshop at Barden Education Center, Jan. 7 and 8.

Young veterans transition to civilian life  (KVIA.com)  The 1st Armored Division Army Band rocked the UTEP Union Plaza Monday afternoon in honor of Veterans Day.

ACAP: Think outside the box  (Army.mil)  Do you have tunnel vision when it comes to thinking about what jobs you could do when you transition out of the military?

Fort Bliss a winner in warrior transition program restructuring  (El Paso Times)  With the war in Afghanistan drawing down, the Army is restructuring its warrior transition units which care for wounded, injured and ill soldiers.

Free career counseling for vets  (News4Jax.com)  If you or someone you know is a veteran looking for that next career move, there’s an event Thursday that can help.

Job fair for veterans hosted in City of Milwaukee  (Fox6News.com)  There are nearly a half million veterans living in our state and many of them are unemployed. To change that, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Goodwill hosted a job fair for vets and their spouses on Thursday, January 16th.

Job Expo for Veterans in Bay Minette  (Local15TV.com)  Dozens of local veterans came out Thursday looking for work. The city of Bay Minette, the Alabama Career Center System and the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce put together a job fair Thursday at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center.

Veterans

Up to 48,000 Afghan, Iraq vets homeless  (USA Today) Nearly 50,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were either homeless or in a federal program aimed at keeping them off the streets during 2013, almost triple the number in 2011, according to numbers released Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Help for homeless Alabama veterans: Nonprofit Family Endeavors working to get soldiers off the street   (AL.com) For the past three months, the staff members of the San Antonio-based nonprofit Family Endeavors have been conducting what they call a “recon mission,” searching for homeless veterans under Birmingham bridges, trying to connect them with government services that could get them off the streets.

Veterans, dog trainers in Hampton Roads are pushing to recognize service dogs for PTSD  (The Los Angeles Times) Marine Sgt. Matthew Miller paid a high price for three combat tours in Afghanistan.

Korean War veterans joining World War II veterans in Senior Bowl program  (AL.com)  Veterans of World War II and the Korean War will be honored on the field before the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 25 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Program teaches veterans how to maximize remaining sight, maintain independence  (The News Tribune)  At 101, Carl Paul still likes to do things for himself.

Slidell veterans cemetery slated to open in April  (The Times Picayune)  Muddy roads will soon give way to asphalt and bare ground transformed with sod and landscaping as construction of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery near Slidell enters the final stages.

Auto auction drives to benefit veterans  (Cinicinnati.com)  The 43rd Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., will feature film and television stars, famous singers, celebrities, race car drivers and retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Sam Deeds.

Veterans Affairs

5 More Ways VA Is Helping Out Vets   (The Huffington Post)  The Department of Veteran Affairs doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

Vets get look at new VA clinic  (Mansfield News Journal)  Veterans who toured the new $14 million Veterans Affairs clinic Thursday night during a private reception marveled at the building’s design and, in particular, the massive skylight above the spacious central waiting area.

VA benefits briefings part of revamped transition program  (MyGuidon.com)  The Department of Veterans Affairs  new VA Benefits I and II briefings are  now available at Fort Leonard Wood as part of the revamped Transition Assistance  Program.

Keeping veterans healthy  (Mining Gazette)  Local and regional Veterans Affairs officials and about two dozen of the veterans they serve gathered for a town hall meeting at the National Guard Readiness Center in Calumet Township Wednesday for a town hall meeting aimed at helping veterans understand the services available to them.

Golden Hammer: VA hit for waste, lack of oversight on medical implants  (The Washington Times)  The Veterans Affairs Department wasted more than $3 billion over 10 years on medical implant purchases — and is now losing track of those implants once they’ve been put into patients, potentially putting veterans’ health at risk, according to a new watchdog report that’s drawing attention from members of Congress.

Gates skewers Congress, VA backlog on ‘The Daily Show’  (Military Times)  Congress has made it virtually impossible to cut the time it takes for veterans to get the services they need from the Veterans Affairs Department, said former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Benefits

Veterans Advocate: Budget Bill a ‘Total Betrayal’  (NewsMax.com)  The House’s $1.1 trillion spending bill, passed Wednesday, cuts most veterans’ retirement benefits and is a “total betrayal” of those who served in the military, says the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Senate Sends Omnibus, Pentagon-Funding Measure to Obama’s Desk  (Defense News)  The US Senate on Thursday evening passed a government-wide spending measure that would give the Pentagon nearly $600 billion to buy new weapons, address readiness problems and fight America’s wars. The final vote tally was 72-26.

VA bill offers chance to repeal military pension cut after passage of spending bill  (The Washington Post)  Congress on Thursday gave final approval to a massive spending bill that will trim pensions for younger military retirees, but lawmakers still have a chance to end the controversial provision before it takes full effect in 2015.

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Transitionnews for 1/16/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Thursday, January 16th  2014:

Good news story of the day

Military veterans aim to save marine environment  (The Miami Herald)  Retired Army Sgt. Chris Maddeford is in pain nearly all the time after being hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan about a decade ago.

Transition

Fighting the Battle to End Veteran Unemployment  (Yahoo finance)  Veteran Recruiting, the recognized leader of virtual career fairs for the military community, and dozens of America’s best companies rally together to help veterans find meaningful employment in the January 21 virtual career fair.

Troop Cafe offers hearty meals, and restaurant training for veterans  (Sioux City Journal)  | If the restaurant’s name isn’t a tip-off, the menu of sandwiches reveals that this dining establishment is unusual: B-52 Meatball Bomber, Cuban Pickle Crisis, Buffalo Soldier Chicken Wrap.

Military Matters: HOT Goodwill Helps Vets Get Back to Work  (KCENTV.com)  It can be tough for veterans to transition from military back to civilian life. And unfortunately, that leaves far too many of our nation’s heroes unemployed.

Virtual career fair brings employers to job seekers  (Army.mil)  The Army Career and Alumni Program will host the first ever European Virtual Career Fair, Feb. 25.

100k Jobs Mission Employer Profile: Accenture  (Military.com)  As a global management consulting, outsourcing and technology services company with approximately 266,000 people working around the world, Accenture is constantly seeking the world’s best talent.

Altria Group Awards Hire Heroes USA $550,000 Grant  (Benzinga.com)  In their continued dedication to support programs that enrich communities,  Altria Group has awarded Hire Heroes USA a three year $550,000 grant to fund its  veteran career transition  programs and services.

Fighting the Battle to End Veteran Unemployment  (Financial Content)  Veteran Recruiting, the recognized leader of virtual career fairs for the military community, and dozens of America’s best companies rally together to help veterans find meaningful employment in the January 21 virtual career fair.

Veterans

Program to End Homelessness Among Veterans Hits Milestone in Arizona  (The New York Times)  Their descent into homelessness began almost as soon as they had closed a dignified chapter in their lives: their military service.

Marine finds new career after combat  (ABCLocal.go.com)  A non-profit founded in Philadelphia has helped a local Marine wounded in Iraq find a new career back home.

Wounded Iraq veteran sentenced to 5 years  (Daily Press)  An Army veteran wounded in Iraq during two combat tours was sentenced Tuesday in Gloucester County Circuit Court to serve almost five years in prison for nine daytime burglaries.

Veterans Affairs

Operation Reaching All Veterans Kicked Off Tuesday by Department of Veterans Affairs  (DRGNews.com)   South Dakota’s Department of Veterans Affairs will be working in the coming months to reach out to all 75,000 veterans in the state-as part of an outreach project called “Operation Reaching All Veterans” (RAV).

VA riles veterans with push to change disability claims process  (Fox News)  The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to change the decades-old way in which veterans file for disability claims — and it has veterans advocacy groups outraged.

Veterans Got Medical Care From Salesman at U.S. Hospital  (Bloomberg News)  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has allowed product vendors to participate in medical procedures for veterans in at least one hospital system, a federal auditor told lawmakers today.

VA Denies Vendors Assisted in OR Procedures  (Military.com)  A Department of Veterans Affairs official on Wednesday denied claims made by  government investigators that representatives for companies doing business with  the VA assisted in medical procedures at a VA medical facility.

VA purchase, tracking of surgical implants is flawed, report says  (Military Times)  Veterans are facing a deadly new threat that is coming not from faraway battlefields, but from stateside hospital rooms, according to the results of a Government Accountability Office investigation released Wednesday.

Benefits

Military Pension Fight Rages On  (Government Executive) Some military retirees scored a small victory this week.

House Passes Mammoth Omnibus With $572B for Pentagon  (Defense News)  The US House on Wednesday approved a mammoth spending bill that funds the Pentagon and America’s overseas conflicts through Sept. 30. The vote tally was 359-67.

Vets Hit Retired Generals Supporting Pay Cuts  (Military.com)  Veterans groups are taking aim at a group of retired generals and admirals who support the budget deal passed last month that cuts military retirement payments.

Veterans retirement benefits an issue in jobless bill  (Winnipeg Free Press)  Republicans and Democrats are both pledging to renew efforts at resurrecting jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, even though immediate compromise prospects are dim one day after the Senate deadlocked on the issue.

Veterans Service Organizations Concerned About Omnibus Appropriations Bill  (Business Wire)  Today, the co-authors of The Independent Budget—AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars—expressed concern with the funding provided for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill being considered in the House and Senate.

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Transitionnews for 1/15/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Wednesday, January 15th 2014:

Good news story of the day

Returned letters, Purple Heart open book on deceased WWII vet’s life  (Air Force Times)  Nancy Cederman knew this much about her uncle’s life: Kendall Morrow was born in 1915 in Canada, the first of five children and the only son of Edwin and Mable Morrow.

Transition

Hire a Hero begins staffing effort to create path to construction, trade jobs for veterans  (Equipment World)  Hire a Hero, a program designed to transition former U.S. soldiers to the civilian workforce, has not been enough to get veterans into jobs such as those in construction, says the Armed Forces Support Foundation. which runs the program.

Transition GPS helps Airmen navigate civilian life  (28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs)  Many Airmen who are preparing to separate or retire from the Air Force struggle as they transition back into civilian life. As a way of making sure they are ready for any challenges they may face, the Air Force offers a workshop designed to set them up for success.

Paying Veterans To Give Back  (The National Journal)  Tristan Williamson didn’t cut his hair for three years after being discharged from the Navy.

RIF board to convene June 16; will consider captains, majors  (Air Force Times)  The Air Force will convene a reduction- in- force board June 16 to consider separating some captains and majors in overmanned career fields, according to an internal memo obtained by Air Force Times.

Changes to come for Army warrior transition units  (Fort Hood Herald)  The Army is restructuring the specialized units designed to assist ill and wounded soldiers through the process of assimilating back into the Army or transitioning out of service.

Transition program navigates military to civilian move  (50th Space Wing Public Affairs)  Transitioning back to the civilian world may be daunting to many Airmen, especially those who have grown accustomed to military life.

Veterans

New battles for student veterans require fresh strategies from colleges  (The Hechinger Report)  In 2008, the 9­11 G.I. Bill was signed into law, giving college­bound veterans the most comprehensive education benefit ever. As a result, veterans are choosing a collegiate path in record numbers.

Wright State selected as a top military-friendly school  (Fairborn Daily Herald)  Military Advanced Education (MAE) has awarded Wright State University the designation of a Top Military-Friendly University in its 2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities.

Veterans Job Retention Survey  (Examiner.com)  Yesterday, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University launched a nationwide Veterans Job Retention Survey.

Can Legal Services Lead To Better Health Outcomes For Veterans?  (The Hartford Courant)  In 2009, Edward La Pointe’s life hit bottom as he endured divorce, eviction, and homelessness. His earnings as a cab driver didn’t pay the bills and mental illness overwhelmed him. La Pointe, a Marine Corps veteran, was informed that he was no longer eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

46 years on, Vietnamese helmet returned (AP)  In 1968, young American soldier John Wast was scouring a battlefield in central Vietnam for weapons and intelligence when an enemy helmet with an image of a dove scratched onto it caught his eye.

Lawmakers push for veterans’ incentives  (Courier-Journal)  State lawmakers Tuesday pushed the Legislature to pass a bill that would give state contract preference to service-disabled veterans who own businesses.
Center for female veterans opens in Old City  (Philly.com)  Citing the growing number of women in the military, officials on Tuesday opened Philadelphia’s first center to provide services specifically for women veterans.

Agent Orange townhall meeting held to help veterans (WCYB.com)  The Tennessee State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, along with co-sponsors Kingsport VVA Chapter 979, Johnson City Chapter 824 with support from Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council hosted the Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting.

Veterans Affairs

VA Extends Homeless Veterans Program  (The Wall Street Journal)  The Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday it is extending a grant program designed to help reduce homelessness among veterans, making $600 million available over the next two years for community-based programs and nonprofits providing services to very low-income veteran families.

Veterans Affairs committee orders review on Christmas carols ban  (Atlanta Business Chronicle)  The House Committee on Veterans Affairs has ordered a review of all VA policy prohibiting guests from wishing patients a “Merry Christmas” after four VA hospitals – including Augusta’s Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center – prevented letters, gifts and carols that contained religious phrases from being sung or delivered, reports The Augusta Chronicle.

Smartphone users access veteran’s Social Security numbers  (Examiner.com)  Early last month it was brought to the attention of many U.S. military veterans that their Social Security numbers are embedded in a bar code on their VIC, or Veteran’s Identification Cards, and can be clearly seen by scanning the card with a smartphone.

American Legion: Obama administration pushes false numbers on veteran benefit  claims  (The Daily Caller)  The American Legion disputed the veracity of numbers promoted by the Obama administration touting its success in judging benefit claim applications from  veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma  and other complex disabilities.

VA still dragging feet in answering congressional inquiries  (FCW)  The Department of Veterans Affairs’ pattern of selective responsiveness – and sometimes total unresponsiveness – to oversight inquiries from the House Veterans Affairs Committee has continued into 2014.

Delayed care has one Augusta VA patient fearing for his life  (Augusta Chronicle)  Michael Newton had an appointment at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center last week to have as many as 12 small tumors removed from his bladder.

Veterans initiative is ‘centerpiece’ of agenda  (Des Moines Register)  Gov. Terry Branstad is calling an initiative aimed at attracting military veterans to Iowa and matching them with jobs the “centerpiece” of his 2014 legislative agenda.

Benefits

VA Loans Reached a Record High in 2013  (US Finance Post)  In 2013, the number of home loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans  Affairs reached a record high as the loans gained popularity after the housing  bubble burst.

Disabled veterans get back pension raises  (CNN)  Disabled veterans will get a pass from military pension cuts in a bipartisan budget deal expected to pass Congress later this week.

Advocates: COLA fixes miss the mark  (Miliary Times)  The massive omnibus spending bill unveiled by congressional appropriators Monday night includes restoration of the full annual cost of living adjustment for medically retired service members and eligible survivors.

Most Military Pensions Would Still be Cut Under Omnibus Bill  (Newsmax.com)  Veterans and their friends on Capitol Hill say that the $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill leaves in place most of the $6 billion in military pension cuts.

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Transitionnews for 1/14/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Tuesday, January 14th 2014:

Good news story of the day

Wounded Warrior receives canine companion  (Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs)  Usually what comes to mind when people think about dogs are your family pet, but there are some dogs out there that go beyond the norm

Transition

Deployed, deactivating units targeted in early-outs  (Army Times)  Early-outs of up to 12 months have been authorized for thousands of Regular Army enlisted soldiers assigned to units scheduled for deployment or deactivation.

Job Fair for Veterans in Baldwin County  (Local15TV.com)   The Alabama Career Center System, the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bay Minette are proud to host a Veteran Job Expo on January 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center located at 301 D’Olive Street, Bay Minette, Ala.

Career Opportunities for Ex-Military  (Examiner.com)  As you leave the military, you have vast opportunities to utilize those specialized skills you developed during your military service. Resettlement training is available to all ex-military members based on the amount of time you spent in the military.

Veterans can again use benefits for police training at ACC  (The Times News)  Military veterans can again use their government benefits to pay for police training at Alamance Community College.

Veterans

Veterans Groups Look To Replenish Ranks  (The Huffington Post)  As a veteran of the Gulf War some 20 years back, Rosemary Morales-Vargas said she didn’t think she initially fit in at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Montezuma Avenue in Santa Fe.

Northeast Ohio hospital group creates $15 million charity  (IdeaStream)  When the Center for Health Affair’s Chief Executive Bill Ryan opened an e-mail in October, he paused.

Vietnam veterans and gay groups campaign to march in South Boston Parade  (Irish Central)  An Irish American gay and lesbian group and a Vietnam Veterans association have  called on organizers to allow them to march in the South Boston St Patrick’s Day parade.

SolarCure Announces Reseller Program; Benefits Businesses, Environment, U.S. Veterans  (TMC News) SolarCure, a “cause marketing” firm dedicated to the promotion of environmental conservation and veteran causes, is offering a unique opportunity for resellers nationwide.

Justice for the Atomic Veterans  (Huffington Post)  In 1955 the U.S. detonated a nuclear weapon. Men nearby huddled in fear, praying for their lives.

Chris Christie spectacle obscured report on veterans’ suicides  (Chicago Tribune)  Political scandals enthrall us and pettiness blinds us and real problems pass us by, often unnoticed.

Veterans Affairs

Number of veterans eligible for exemption uncertain  (The News-Herald)  How many disabled veterans in mid-Michigan will receive a property tax exemption approved by the state Legislature last month is anyone’s guess.

Veterans’ Hospital makes changes after fatality  (ABC17News.com)  A report says Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital failed to provide a safe environment for a 78-year-old man beaten to death last year at the Columbia facility.

Schuyler couple seek $21M over VA care  (Star Gazette)  A Schuyler County man and his wife are suing the federal government for medical malpractice, claiming the Bath Veterans Affairs Medical Center waited two years after a biopsy to tell him he had skin cancer.

Ex-congressional staffer pleads not guilty to lying to get VA benefits  (Deseret News)  A man who worked for a Utah congressman through the Wounded Warrior Project pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he lied about being injured in the Iraq War to collect disability benefits.

Veterans’ tuition bill advances  (The News Herald)  Honorably discharged veterans wouldn’t have to worry about paying out-of-state tuition in Florida if the rest of the Legislature takes the same view as a state House panel did Monday.

Benefits

Data Predict Spike in Female Troop Injuries  (Military.com)  As the military prepares to allow female troops in ground combat units,  studies show the Department of Veterans Affairs can expect more female veterans  will suffer from the kinds of injuries that go with being a ground-pounder.

Retired generals, admiral embrace pay reductions  (Military Times)  Four retired general and flag officers with a collective 14 stars among them — including an outspoken advocate for military compensation reform — have expressed support for the 1 percent reductions in annual military retired pay increases approved by Congress.

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Transitionnews for 1/13/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Monday, January 13th 2014:

Good news story of the day

‘Night of Champions’ to benefit homeless veterans  (Times-Georgian)  A Carrollton business will host a fundraiser next month to support a program that helps veterans “off the streets” and into safe housing.

Transition

AT&T Investment Leads To 116 Jobs Available In Kentucky; Military Veterans Sought   (The Wall Street Journal) AT&T* today announced that the company will hire workers for 116 jobs in Kentucky, including 34 new jobs. The positions to be filled are technicians, retail support and call center representatives and are a result of AT&T’s continued investment in Kentucky.

State approves firms for construction of veterans training center in Warner Robins  (The Telegraph)  The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has approved companies to build a veterans training center.

RecruitMilitary hosts job fairs in San Antonio, Dallas  (Dallas News)  More than 800 military veterans and their spouses attended a job fair in San Antonio yesterday, according to organizer RecruitMilitary, a military-to-civilian recruiting firm.

Career fair for veterans at National College in Stow on Jan. 16  (Record Courier)  National College will host a career fair for veterans on its campus at 3855 Fishcreek Road in Stow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

Recently returned Soldiers transition into civilian life through Veterans Opportunity to Work  (readMedia) Many National Guard Soldiers face the difficult task of finding a job and transitioning into the civilian world after a deployment. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Battalion in Peoria, returned in December after nearly one year in Afghanistan and many face challenges finding and applying for civilian jobs.

VETERANS’ CORNER: 10 tips to help ease the transition into civilian life (Weatherford Democrat) Recently discharged veterans can ease their transition from active duty into civilian life in 2014 by following 10 simple tips.

Coffman: Helping veterans land jobs  (The Denver Post)  With the Iraq War over and our involvement in Afghanistan winding down, the military is getting ready to downsize.

IMCOM helps Soldiers, Families transition into civilian employment   (United States Army)  The U.S. Army Installation Management Command is committed to helping Soldiers and Families transition smoothly into civilian employment and America’s communities.

Veterans

Young Veteran Suicides Rise in San Diego  (NBC San Diego)  On Friday, the Department of Veteran Affairs released data showing the number of suicides by veterans ages 18-24 receiving some form of VA health care nearly doubled between 2009 and 2011.

More young veterans committing suicide, data show  (Los Angeles Times)The rate among 18- to 29-year-old men climbed 44% over 3 years, a new analysis shows, although it declined among older male veterans.

U.S. veterans despondent over al-Qaeda’s resurgence in Iraq  (The Washington Post)  The towering former three-star general keeps a wooden box on his desk with the photos of 257 service members who died in Iraq under his command, sorted by date.

Task force asks for improved health care access for South Jersey’s veterans  (NJ.com)  The state senate approved a measure Thursday that urges federal officials to expand health care access for veterans living in South Jersey.

Veterans targets of scams  (McPherson Sentinel)  Veterans and employees of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have been targeted by scammers recently.

Helping war veterans deal with PTSD  (San Jose Mercury News)  Countless military veterans return from the battlefields traumatized by their experiences.

‘Lone Survivor’ Helping Fundraise for Veterans Charities  (The Hollywood Reporter)  When the credits role on Lone Survivor, real photographs are shown of the men who died in the Navy SEAL mission depicted in the film.

Out-of-work colonel grateful for outpouring  (Philly.com)  Retired Air Force Col. Robert Freniere says he is considering dozens of offers for housing and jobs after an outpouring of responses from Inquirer readers who learned of his story of unemployment and homelessness last Sunday.

Former Fort Carson soldier follows acting dream  (The Gazette)  A former Fort Carson soldier who used his GI Bill to attend acting school is hoping to catch a lucky break this year.

Bureaucracy, communication stall memorial to Tampa veteran  (The Tampa Tribune)  Hillsborough Commissioner Mark Sharpe didn’t expect any problems when he proposed a memorial on Bayshore Boulevard dedicated to Paul R. Smith, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Veterans Affairs

VA Under Fire for Proposed Disability Filing Rule  (ABC News)  For veterans seeking disability compensation, the application process is supposed to be so easy that a handwritten note on a napkin will initiate a claim or an appeal. A proposed rule from the Obama administration would change that, and veterans groups are sounding the alarm.

VA administration use of implants target of federal probe, report says  (CNBC)  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be the focus of a congressional hearing, which will address how the VA purchases and administers its surgical implants, CNBC has learned.

Veterans Slam Obama Administration’s Proposed VA Disability Rule  (Fox News)  For veterans seeking disability compensation, the application process is supposed to be so easy that a handwritten note on a napkin will initiate a claim or an appeal. A proposed rule from the Obama administration would change that, and veterans groups are sounding the alarm.

Obama administration’s backlog of veteran benefit claims increased over holidays  (Daily Caller)  The Obama administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) saw its backlog of unprocessed veteran benefit claims increase at the end of the year, according to documents obtained by The Daily Caller.

State makes final push for Ohio Veterans bonus  (Dayton Daily News)  Thousands of Ohio’s veterans rushed to make a final deadline last month to sign up for an Ohio bonus program that rewards service members for their active duty in war.

Benefits

Senate Democrats Block Amendment to Restore Military Pensions  (The Washington Free Beacon)  Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a Republican attempt to restore military pensions cut in last month’s budget deal, denying a vote that would save up to $20 billion by closing a loophole that allows tax refunds to go to illegal aliens.

‘A Promise Broken’: Budget Deal Hits Military Retirees’ Pensions  (Fox Business)  Last month’s congressional budget deal delivered a particularly hard hit to military retirees with at least 20 years of service, cutting their cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments by 1 percent a year until age 62.

Lawmaker eyes high military pensions  (The Tennesseean)  Pensions for three- and four-star generals and admirals should be rolled back to pre-2007 levels, before Congress approved increases of as much as 63 percent to those retirement packages, according to a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Military officers group helps veterans in filing for benefits  (Stars and Stripes)  For the first time in four years, a new national advocacy group has stepped up to help veterans prepare their benefits paperwork and reduce the VA’s still problematic claims backlog.

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Transitionnews for 1/10/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Friday, January 10th 2014:

Good news story of the day

Leesburg Hoopsters Raise $16K For Wounded Warriors  (Leesburg Today)  Loudoun County High School’s second annual Hoops for Heroes Wednesday night raised $16,688 to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Transition

PacMtn gets $5.5M Grant to Aid Transitioning  (Nisqually Valley News)  In the midst of cuts by the Department of Defense that will cause an estimated 8,000 troops to leave Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2014 to transition into civilian life, the Department of Labor awarded local nonprofit Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (PacMtn) a $5.5 million National Emergency Grant in December.

National Veterans Work Survey Launched  (Military.com)  The fact that many veterans ultimately leave their initial post-military job is well known, but the reasons behind this attrition and the ways employers can best increase retention have yet to be quantified.

Veterans Corner: Ten tips to transition to civilian life  (Lake Country Sun)  Recently discharged veterans can ease their transition from active duty into civilian life in 2014, by following 10 simple tips.

Fort Carson to gain warrior transition unit under restructuring plan  (The Gazette)  This fall, Fort Carson’s Warrior Transition Battalion will gain a unit to remotely oversee the care of as many as 100 out-of-state ill and injured soldiers, a Fort Carson official said Thursday.

New training assists transitioning troops  (The Fort Campbell Courier)  Beginning a new career as a civilian employee when leaving the military can be filled with exciting opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

Numbers of Wounded Down; Care Units to Close  (ABC News)  With the number of seriously wounded and ill soldiers at a six-year low, the Army is closing down some of the special units set up to care for troops and reorganizing the program.

Veterans

Veterans’ Brain Injury Examined By Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine  (PR Newswire) Roadside bombs and other blasts have made head injury the “signature wound” of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Most combat veterans recover from mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion, but a small minority experience significant and long-term side effects.

Muskegon veteran would benefit from registry for McClellan veterans possibly exposed to chemicals  (MLive.com)  It’s been nearly a year since a bill was introduced in the U.S. Congress making it easier for veterans once stationed at Fort McClellan to claim medical benefits.

Veterans Affairs

Suicides rise among youngest veterans, VA says  (AZCentral.com)  There has been a sharp increase in the suicide rate among the youngest male veterans, and a smaller but still significant jump among women who served in the military, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday.

Veterans cemetery in Union Grove to get $1.5 million grant  (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal)  A $1.5 million federal grant will expand and beautify the Southern Wisconsin Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, the fifth busiest state veterans cemetery in the U.S., the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday.

VETERANS: VA Loma Linda offers patient orientation sessions  (The Press Enterprise)  The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System will begin hosting veteran orientation sessions on the third Friday of the month from January to April.

Veterans Affairs hosting ‘Welcome Home’ event in Colton  (Redlands Daily Facts)  Veterans Affairs and the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System is hosting a “Welcome Home” event for military veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the San Bernardino Vet Center in Colton.

Benefits

Some lab fees soon will be billed to Tricare patients  (Stars and Stripes)  Tricare beneficiaries soon will have to pay out of pocket for certain diagnostic genetic tests that their civilian physicians order, but that the Defense Health Agency doesn’t view as appropriate or medically necessary.

Hagel: COLA cuts won’t impact disabled vets  (Military Times)  Speaking to amputees and burn victims at a military hospital in San Antonio, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the new law that will slash future retirement benefits for veterans will be changed to exempt those with disabilities.

Cut benefits for military retirees? Your Say  (USA Today)  Last month’s federal budget deal included a 1 percentage point reduction in cost-of-living adjustments for working-age military retirees. 

Pay and benefits should match hardships of military life  (The Washington Post)  Regarding the Dec. 27 Associated Press article, “Veterans aren’t giving up the fight over their benefits”:

Military Benefits Likely to Remain Sacred to Congress  (National Journal)  For Washington lawmakers who measure the national debt in trillions, $6 billion is a pittance.

Military Benefits Are the Real Third Rail of American Politics  (U.S. News and World Report)  Here we go again.

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Transitionnews for 1/9/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Thursday, January 9th 2014:

Good news story of the day

Sport Clips Haircuts Announces $500,000 in Scholarships for Veterans  (Yahoo News)  Sport Clips Haircuts’ mission to provide active-duty military and veterans support for their post-military career goals was accomplished today when the franchise announced 43 scholarships for the spring semester.

Transition

Technology Industry Leaders and Monster.com Launch USTechVets.org to Connect Veterans with Careers in the U.S. Technology Sector  (Business Wire News Releases)  Today, at the 2014 International CES®, leaders from top U.S. technology industry trade associations announced the launch of USTechVets.org, an online community to connect the one million service members who are transitioning back into civilian life to employment opportunities within the technology industry.

NSA Washington-JBAB Fleet Family and Fun  (DCMilitary.com)  Military and Family Support Center (MFSC) located on Joint Base Anacostia Bolling introduces a comprehensive centralized scheduling service for your individual appointment needs. 

Nonprofits Help Veterans Find Green Jobs  (Green-Buildings.com)  According to the San Mateo County Times, former Marine Jarom Vahai founded Green and Gold Careers in 2011 – a nonprofit dedicated to placing veterans in green jobs.

Veterans

Laying veterans to rest in the watery graves at Pearl Harbor  (Yahoo News)  The world is on the verge of losing the last living links to the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, but one man has dedicated his life to ensuring the memory of that “day of infamy” will never be extinguished.

Iraq War veterans feel sting of reversals in hard-won Fallujah  (Fox News)  The image of two charred American bodies hanging from a bridge as a jubilant crowd pelted them with shoes seared the name Fallujah into the American psyche. The brutal house-to-house battle to tame the Iraqi insurgent stronghold cemented its place in U.S. military history.

Teaneck woman falsely claimed business was owned by disabled veteran, U.S. Attorney says  (NJ.com)  A Teaneck woman pretended her company was owned by a service-disabled veteran to win more than $1.2 million in government contracts, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Local Veterans and Senators Support Proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument  (The Huffington Post)  They do a lot of things well in New Mexico. It is truly a Land of Enchantment.

Air Force Wounded Warriors hone skills while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam  (Pacific Air Forces)  More than 120 wounded warriors arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to prepare for the  2014 Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational.

Ticker-tape parade puts local vet, Winter Park on big stage  (Orlando Sentinel)  Downtown Winter Park took on the feel of a miniature Manhattan on Wednesday as well-wishers filled the streets and confetti streamed to welcome home a local veteran.

Veterans Affairs

Veterans assist 90 with medical claims  (The Norman Transcript)  This week, we are recognizing a husband and wife team who spend many of their Thursday mornings volunteering at the Goldsby Community Center.

Veterans Affairs apologizes for Cheltenham cemetery damage  (Southern Maryland Newspapers Online)  Officials said damage done Dec. 30 to the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham was “inadvertent.”

Coatesville VA celebrates new addition  (The Times of Chester County)  At the Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, cause for celebration occurred on Tuesday, Jan. 7, as VA leadership and employees, veterans, community members, and representatives of elected officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the addition of a new, world-class hospice unit.

Benefits

Disabled Veterans to Be Exempted From Pension Cuts  (ABC News)  A massive spending bill taking shape on Capitol Hill is likely to repeal a recently enacted pension cut for disabled veterans.

What the New Qualified Mortgage (QM) Regulations Mean for VA Loans  (The Huffington Post)  A new era for the mortgage industry is about to begin.

MilitaryTimes.com Launches VA Loan Center  (Market Watch)  Military Times has launched VA Loan Center on MilitaryTimes.com  to help members of the military understand how to finance a home using VA loans.

Republican senators look to merge fights over military pensions, jobless benefits  (The Hill)  Republican senators are trying to combine their efforts to offset the cost of a three-month unemployment benefits extension with a repeal of $6 billion in cuts to military pensions.

Hagel discusses military benefits, Iraq and Gates’ new memoir  (Stars and Stripes)  Wounded warriors implored Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel during a town hall meeting Wednesday not to cut health care and other benefits for servicemembers and veterans.

CBO suggests tough defense spending cuts  (Military Times)  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has proposed six ways to reduce defense spending ranging from deep cuts to the military services to controversial reductions in pay and benefits.

VIRGINIA BRIEFS: New Rates for Compensation, Pension Benefits in 2014  (The Washington Informer) Veterans, their families and survivors receiving disability compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs began receiving a 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase in their monthly payments Jan. 1.

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