Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/13/14

Good news story of the day

Veterans at Togus making fly rods, building friendships  (Kennebec Journal)  Linwood Brayall and his grandson, Jordan Meunier, have spent a lot time casting for fish in the lakes and streams around Kennebec County, but it could be that some of their best times will come as they prepare for their next big trip.

Military Transition

Majors, colonels most at risk when retirement board meets in June  (Air Force Times)  As many as 596 officers could be involuntarily retired under a broadened selective early retirement board that will meet this summer.

Scott prepares for force reduction measures  (375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)  In December, the Air Force announced several force management programs aimed to cut 25,000 Airmen during the next five years and the first phase of that has begun with applications for voluntary separations.

ACAP makes transition to civilian life easier  (KSWO.com)  Service members at Ft. Sill getting ready to retire, or get out of the army, are working hard to prepare for their next career.

AW2 provides resources to those in need  (Fort Riley Post)  Navigating the medical or physical evaluation board process can be a daunting task. In addition to working toward recovery from an illness or injury, Soldiers are faced with a pile of paperwork, numerous appointments and question after question.

Finding the right fit leads to success after military  (The Redstone Rocket)  There are many things about military life that service members can count on – the uniform, dining facilities, drill sergeants and chain of command, to name a few.

Veterans job fairs to be held in Lincoln, Omaha  (The Washington Times)  State officials are hoping to help Nebraska veterans and their spouses find jobs through two upcoming Hiring Our Heroes job fairs.

New Franchise Opportunity Designed To Help Veterans Become Entrepreneurs  (NJ.com)  There is good news for veterans.

Veterans

Veterans Service officer looks out for those who served  (Dayton Daily News)  Jeff Stapleton says he’s a walking billboard for the local Veteran’s Service Office.

Fla. attorney who led gambling ring tied to veterans charity sentenced to 6 years in prison  (Fox News)  An attorney convicted of leading a $300 million gambling ring that used a veterans charity as a front has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Veterans to graduate from Hamilton County Municipal Court Treatment Program  (Examiner.com)  Veterans from the Tri-State area will graduate from the Hamilton County Municipal Court Veterans’ Treatment Program this Thursday.

Veterans affairs

VA reaches out to female veterans, salutes women’s service  (The Valley Dispatch)  After more than 700 flight hours in and out of Vietnam, Air Force Lt. Joyce Massello was back on a commercial plane, headed home to the United States, her deployment over.

Wisconsin Legislature considers $80 million for nursing unit at King veterans home  (Wisconsin State Journal)  A new 200-bed nursing unit at Wisconsin’s largest veterans home would replace existing facilities, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Veterans Affairs said.

Veterans sought for Black Veterans Summit Feb. 24  (Ventura County Star)  The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) is co-hosting a California Black Veterans Summit Monday, Feb. 24, in Los Angeles in an effort to develop lines of communications between the black veterans’ community, black military history organizations, CalVet and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA may expand medical services in Las Cruces  (Las Cruces Sun-News)  An increasing number of area veterans has prompted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to consider expansion of its medical clinic and services in Las Cruces.

Republicans Look to Help Obama Clean House at Veterans Affairs  (National Journal)  The Veterans Affairs secretary could directly fire or demote a senior career civil-service official under legislation proposed by Rep. Jeff Miller on Tuesday.

Investigators: VA sexual abuse allegations unsubstantiated  (Omaha World-Herald)  Federal investigators say allegations of staff-on-patient sexual abuse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Omaha were unsubstantiated.

Benefits

Around the Army: Scam website targeting Soldiers  (Bayonet & Saber)  The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command wants former and current service members to know there is a false website that is targeting the Army benefits website.

West Genesee School Board rejects veterans tax break, for now  (Syracuse.com)  The West Genseee School Board Wednesday rejected a proposal to offer veterans a partial break on their school taxes until board members have more information about how it will impact the district.

Senate Democrats Pull Surprise Flip on Sequester, Veterans Benefits  (National Journal)  Senate Democrats abruptly reversed course Wednesday morning, announcing they would vote on the House bill to undo $6 billion in cuts to veterans’ benefits later in the day.

Senate votes to restore military COLA benefits  (The Washington Post)  Shortly after passing a suspension of the limit on federal borrowing Wednesday, the Senate voted 95-3 to pass a bill restoring military retiree benefits that were cut last year, choosing to adopt the House’s solution of extending automatic cuts to Medicare to accompany the pension increase.

Senate votes to restore benefits to veterans  (The Washington Post)  Senators voted 95 to 3 Wednesday to restore military retiree benefits cut last year as part of a compromise budget deal, adopting a House bill that covers the move by extending reductions to Medicare.

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Have a great day!