Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/12/14

Good news story of the day

Miles of Smiles Fundraiser benefits veterans suffering with PTSD  (Naples News)  Chef Shannon Yates of Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery in Cape Coral co-hosted a Kobe Beef “Backyard BBQ” fundraiser to benefit the Miles of Smiles Foundation.

Military transition

Army IDs More Than 500 Senior NCOs for Separation  (Military.com)  The U.S. Army has identified hundreds of senior noncommissioned officers for involuntary separation as the service advances toward reducing 80,000 soldiers from its ranks by 2018.

Airmen to face force-shaping review boards starting in May  (Stars and Stripes)  Airmen who fail to make the cut under this year’s force-reduction measures will likely be told between May 14 and Sept. 14, and be out of the service no later than Jan.15, according to Air Force officials.

Business-minded vets may want to attend this conference  (NWF Daily News)  As the military downsizes, a conference will be held this weekend to encourage veterans to start their own businesses.

Training program helps veterans transition  (The Journal)  For veterans, making the transition from military service back to civilian life, especially entering the workforce, can be a challenge.

Veterans

Student veterans strive to find voice  (UWire.com)  Until December, the UH veteran community voiced complaints that they had no real group or organization representing them.

Veterans Organization Plans to Buy Hotel  (PAHomepage.com)  An advocacy group for veterans is one step closer to opening a place for homeless veterans to live. Wednesday a judge ruled the Valor Clinic Foundation can legally buy the Hotel Jonas building.

Oysterponds school board considering veterans tax exemption  (Suffolk Times)  The Oysterponds school board decided Tuesday it needs more information before voting on the approval of a new veteran tax exemption proposal.

Sen. Udall Targets Better Care for Veterans in Rural NM   (Public News Service)  U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is co-sponsoring a bill that could improve access to health services for veterans living in rural areas.

QuickChek raises funds for military veterans  (NJ.com)  QuickChek Corporation, a market leader in food services with an exceptional fresh coffee and fresh food program, has raised $124,875 in just six weeks to help support military veterans living in New Jersey and New York communities through a recent in-store donation program.

Small Business Administration lends hand to veterans  (Gateline.com)  Our nation’s veterans have served our country proudly and bravely. They are true American heroes, and we must make sure we’re doing everything possible to support them once they re-enter civilian life.

Dozens gather to honor Marine who died alone  (Santa Fe New Mexican)  The streets of downtown Santa Fe shut down temporarily Tuesday to make way for the funeral procession of a reclusive former Marine who died alone in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Moore tornado victim learns to live with injuries  (NewsOK.com)  One night recently, military veteran EH Pittman accidentally hit himself in the mouth, busting his lip open.

Veterans affairs

Veterans home is on time and budget  (Albany Democrat-Herald)  The 154-bed Edward C. Allworth Veterans Home complex under construction on the edge of the Samaritan Health Sciences Campus is ahead of schedule and on budget, Linn County and Lebanon city officials were told Tuesday afternoon during a behind-the-scenes tour of the $40 million project.

Marco Rubio and Jeff Miller Tackle Veterans Affairs Reform  (Sunshine State News)  Two Florida Republicans teamed up on Tuesday to launch an effort to reform the federal Veterans Affairs Department.

Veterans Affairs disability claims backlog on the rise, hovers around 400K  (The Washington Times)  The Veterans Benefits Administration announced that 1,000 new backlogged cased — those that have been pending for more than four months — have been added to its list.

Senate confirms Obama nominees at State and Veterans Administration  (The Washington Post)  The Senate voted 90-8 Tuesday evening to confirm former Time Magazine managing editor Richard Stengel to be undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.

Proposal by Rep. Jeff Miller would make firing failing Veterans Affairs bosses easier  (Washington Examiner)  Top career civil service executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs could be fired more easily for failing to deliver quality medical care to patients or timely decisions on disability benefits, under legislation proposed by the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

R.I. Veterans Affairs Associate Director and FMF Reservist Retires After 26 Years Service  (Naval Station Newport Public Affairs)    A Reservist who serves as associate director, Rhode Island Division of Veterans Affairs (VA), retired from military service to her country, Feb. 8, in a ceremony at the Statehouse.

Veterans Advocacy Group Endorses VA Management Accountability Act of 2014  (PR Newswire)  Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a national organization representing U.S. military veterans and families, announced today its support for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Management Accountability Act of 2014.

Governor Corbett Encourages Pennsylvanians to Take Part in National Salute to Veteran Patients Week  (The Sacramento Bee)  Governor Tom Corbett today encouraged every Pennsylvanian to participate in National Salute to Veteran Patients Week at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers across Pennsylvania.

Veterans to Get Clinic Closer to Home  (WNEP.com)  By the middle of this year, veterans in Wayne and Pike counties should not have to travel as far to see a doctor.

Benefits

Reid opts to help out vulnerables restore military pensions  (The Hill)

Senate Democrats on Tuesday cast aside legislation from the House to repeal a controversial cut to military pensions and pressed ahead with a rival plan from their most vulnerable incumbents.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-appropriations/198108-reid-opposed-to-house-pension-cut-bill#ixzz2t7HIgzAa
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fit Cuts  (The Wall Street Journal)  Momentum is growing in Congress to repeal or roll back a recent pension reduction for younger military retirees, in a sign of lawmakers’ continuing struggle to reduce soaring costs of retiree-benefit programs.

Senate Republicans in a Box on Veterans Benefits  (National Journal)  Senate Democrats are determined to get a bill reversing $6 billion in controversial cuts to veterans benefits through the chamber this week without offsetting the cost. Their message: Veterans have “paid in full” their debt to the nation and shouldn’t be used as budget pawns.

House Votes to Repeal Cuts to Vets Benefits, Extend Sequester  (National Journal)  The House voted 326-90 Tuesday to reverse a controversial $6 billion cut in veterans benefits included in last year’s budget deal.

House votes to cancel cuts to military benefits  (The Washington Times) Acting to appease furious veterans’ groups, the House passed a bill Tuesday to undo about $6 billion worth of cuts to military retirement benefits.

Snow, ice doesn’t deter 50 veterans, surviving spouses  (The Norman Transcript) We are recognizing Harold Harvell as the Veterans Corner volunteer of the week.

Unanimous approval in U.S. House for in-state tuition for vets  (Military Times)  Lawmakers in a deeply divided House of Representatives can’t agree on much anymore, but they’re unanimous on at least one thing: Veterans shouldn’t be stuck with out-of-state tuition costs at public universities.

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