Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/21/14

Good news story of the day

Stand Down for Veterans an Annual Success  (WHBF.com)  Helping homeless vets get back on their own two feet.

Military Transition

Veterans Affairs counselor supports transitioning Airmen  (31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs)  To assist eligible separating or retiring service members in answering benefits questions, the Airman and Family Readiness Center provides a counselor from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to inform members on benefits they are entitled to apply for.

Dr. Biden Speaks at Summit Focused on Post-9/11 Veterans at The Bush Institute  (Whitehouse.gov) Yesterday, Dr. Jill Biden joined President Bush at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas for a Summit focused on how Americans can support post-9/11 veterans as they transition back to civilian life.

New Arts Program for Veterans Helps Ease Transition to Civilian Life  (Greenpoint Gazette)  For Army veterans seeking to transition to civilian life, a New York City management company is offering a creative outlet for expression.

The Statehouse File: Soldier-to-teaching program passes House  (Herald Times) The transition to civilian life can be difficult for military veterans.

Veterans

Sandbox Veterans: Who they have/haven’t helped  (WANE.com)  Despite concerns in the community, the director of the Sandbox Veterans wouldn’t share financial records or name any veterans he’s helped.

Belding Veterans Park moving forward with WWI monument  (The Daily News)  On a cold, snowy day, Belding Mayor Ron Gunderson pulled his truck up to the Veterans Park, stepped outside, and grabbed himself a shovel.

Wells Fargo Celebrates Military Saves Week; Offers Free Financial Education Webinars  (The Street)  In an ongoing effort to support military members, veterans and their families, Wells Fargo is celebrating Military Saves Week by offering three free financial education webinars focused on home buying, credit, and budget and saving.

Restaurant refuses to seat Marine veteran because of his service-dog-in-training  (Marine Corps Times)  A Marine Corps veteran says he was told to leave a Texas restaurant because he brought his dog in training to be certified as his service animal.

Study: Soil dust suspected in illnesses among Iraq vets  (Military Times)  When Army Sgt. Jayson Williams deployed to Iraq in 2003, he was a healthy 33-year-old who enjoyed the outdoors, running and playing with his son.

Experts: Data lacking on long-term IED effects  (Military Times)  Troops injured by bomb blasts — who absorb the full brunt of a shock wave, are hit by flying debris or even exposed to bomb-making chemicals — are at higher risk for developing long-term health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, persistent headaches and some skin conditions, a panel of top scientists says.

JBLM deserter who lied about combat service sentenced to one year in jail  (The News Tribune)  An Army deserter’s nearly 10-year run from Fort Lewis ended this week when Kevin Shakely of Sacramento pleaded guilty to abandoning his military post and lying about his service in combat in a recent TV interview.

Veterans Affairs

Secure Veteran Health Identification Cards being introduced by VA  (Examiner.com)  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the phased roll out of newly designed, more secure Veteran Health Identification Cards. The new cards will have additional security features as well as look and feel different.

VA data breach ‘practically unavoidable,’ memo says  (CNBC)  The online privacy of veterans and Veterans Affairs employees—including their health-care and financial information—is at risk, according to an internal draft of a VA report obtained by CNBC.

More younger military veterans are committing suicide despite available VA programs  (BorderZine)  As he sits at a faded-black dining room table, a man in his mid-twenties stares at the front door, his reflection visible from the dirty tabletop where a brown paper bag holding his lunch rests.

Rubio, Miller would take away employee rights in name of serving veterans  (The Washington Post)  The latest in a series of moves against top civil servants in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would eliminate key employment protections.

Grieving widow looks for answers from Veterans Affairs after delay in receiving husband’s pension  (KJRH.com)  The 2NEWS Problem Solvers are getting answers for a woman who recently lost the love of her life.

Veterans pitch their needs for new clinic  (Gloucester Times)  Local, state and federal officials employees heard from a number of Gloucester veterans who shared their thoughts on what they would like to see in a new Veterans Affairs clinic planned for the city.

Tribal Health hires veterans advocate to assist vets signing up for VA health care benefits  (Char-Koosta News)   The recently created and filled position of Veterans Health Care Representative is another cog in the health care delivery machine that the Tribal Health and Human Services Department is fine tuning to make health care more accessible to more people as well as to recoup funds expended for treating veterans at its clinics.

Bipartisan legislative group wants to change VA funding  (USA Today)  A quiet backdrop to Washington’s government shutdown last October was the anxiety rippling through 3.9 million disabled veterans who rely on government compensation for wounds and injuries, their advocates say.

VA Accused of Obstructing American Legion’s Review of Claims Backlog  (Fox News)  The Department of Veterans Affairs is accused of obstructing the efforts of the American Legion, which reviews the processing of veterans’ claims.

Military Update: VA, Congress shrug as sleep apnea claims ‘surge’  (Stars and Stripes)  Last June the VA Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation privately recommended to Allison A. Hickey, under secretary for benefits, that the Department of Veterans Affairs consider four steps to address a “recent surge” in VA compensation awards for sleep apnea.

Benefits

Troop Advocates Prep for Future Benefits Battles  (Military.com)  Fresh off a lobbying victory to undo military pension cuts, an officers’ group is preparing for more legislative battles over the upcoming Defense Department budget.

Warning: Website Scam Targets Military  (Better Business Bureau)  BBB Military Line is sharing information from the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CIC) warning about a new website scam in which criminals are attempting to take advantage of soldiers and their families.

Hampton man gets five years for falsely claiming military benefits  (Inside Tidewater)  For one man, “Be all you can be” included being other people.

Troops prefer cash over in-kind benefits  (Military Times)  Proposals to front-load military compensation with more cash now rather than back-loading it with deferred, in-kind benefits later on are gaining traction with the commission tasked with recommending reforms to the current system.

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