Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 3/6/14
Good news story of the day
Sources: Marine Kyle Carpenter will receive MoH for heroism in Afghanistan (Marine Corps Times) William Kyle Carpenter, a Marine Corps veteran who was severely wounded during a November 2010 grenade attack in Afghanistan, will receive the nation’s highest combat valor award later this year, Marine Corps Times has learned.
Military Transition
Veterans, Disabled Hiring Requirements Looming (Human Resources Executive) A significant number of affirmative-action requirements go into effect for federal agencies and contractors March 24 that experts are concerned might blindside more than one employer.
Free career programs for veterans, spouses available through Syracuse University (Army.mil) The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University is currently enrolling eligible veterans and their spouses in an online program to enhance their career skills and job marketability.
Federal agencies partner to help protect veterans, servicemembers, Families using GI Bill Education Benefits (Belvoir Eagle) The Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education and Justice, along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced the launch of a new online complaint system designed to collect feedback from veterans, servicemembers and their Families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions receiving funding from federal military and veterans educational benefits programs, including benefits programs provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the DoD Military Tuition Assistance Program.
Intel seeks three wounded military veterans for one-year trainee jobs (Oregon Live) John Reschar wants to make sure the word is heard: Intel Corp. has made it a priority to identify and recruit three wounded military veterans to fill one-year, fully paid jobs as project management analyst trainees.
Job conference set up specifically to help veterans (The Daily Gazette) Saratoga County will sponsor a hiring conference geared specifically to veterans next Wednesday at Empire State College in Saratoga Springs.
Air Force halts voluntary separation pay, 15-year retirements (Air Force Times) The Air Force Personnel Center has halted processing of early retirement and voluntary separation applications for both officers and enlisted.
Building a U.S. Army of 125,000 Spartans (Real Clear Defense) Defense cuts are coming. The only question is how much. As it has grappled with the fiscal realities of sequestration, the U.S. Army has sought to define its mission in a post-war environment.
CivilianJobs.com Announces the 2014 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military® Finalists (North Fork Vue) CivilianJobs.com, where America’s military connects with civilian careers, announced the finalists for the Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military today. Marking the sixth year of its publication in 2014, the MVE recognition serves to help military-experienced job seekers and veterans identify the top employers to target for civilian careers.
Veterans
Veterans fair offers counseling, budget advice (The ShortHorn) Lance King was just starting college after most people he knew in high school had already earned a degree.
Framingham could house next veterans court (Wicked Local) Framingham District Court could soon house the state’s next veterans court, offering specialized attention to MetroWest veterans who face criminal charges and are dealing with substance abuse and mental illness.
Veterans share stories of hope, discover resources at Lovell FHCC Homeless Veterans Summit (My Suburban Life) Navy Veteran Joseph Yadron, dressed smartly in a suit and tie, hesitantly approached the podium, looked out at the supportive crowd of more than 150 people Feb. 26 in Bourke Hall at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, and shared his story of homelessness and recovery.
Maj. Kurt Lee, Korean War hero, dies at 88 (Marine Corps Times) Marine Maj. Kurt Chew-een Lee, a legendary hero at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, and the Corps’ first Asian American regular officer, died Monday at his home in Washington, D.C., according to multiple sources. He was 88.
Veterans Park to benefit from Macy’s “Heart Your Park” program (KAGSTV) College Station’s Veterans Park and Athletic Complex is among 550 parks across the country that will benefit from Macy’s “Heart Your Park” program this spring.
Veterans now can be recognized on Pa. licenses (WFMZ) Pennsylvania’s military veterans now can get a special designation on their driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Veterans Affairs
VA Boosts Funding to Expiring Training Program (Military.com) The Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday announced that veterans enrolled in training programs that extend beyond when program funding expires on March 31 will be provided the money needed to complete their courses.
Art exhibit showcases talents, records history, helps veterans heal (Navajo Times) Confronting the impact the Vietnam War had on him, combat veteran James Yazzie, Diné, sought help from Albuquerque’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center about eight years ago.
House to ask for autonomy for Gulf War Illness board (USA Today) The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is putting together legislation to give autonomy back to a Gulf War illness advisory committee that has been stripped of its independence over the past year.
Texas congressman joins calls for Veterans Affairs’ Eric Shinseki to explain mass medical test purge exposed by Examiner (Washington Examiner) A Texas congressman joined demands that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki explain the mass purge of medical appointments disclosed last week by the Washington Examiner.
Reports show conflicting statements about patient deaths at Atlanta VA Medical Center (WSBTV) One of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ highest ranking executives is under fire because of what he told a congressional subcommittee about a patient death scandal exposed by Channel 2 Action News.
Report: VA official in Nashville ran up expenses, delayed veterans’ benefits (Shreveport Times) An unnamed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official stationed in Nashville not only violated federal rules and ran up thousands of dollars in unauthorized expenses, but also caused an unknown number of benefits delays for area veterans, a new report has found.
Benefits
Sen. Warner opposes cuts to military commissaries in Hampton Roads (The Orlando Sentinel) Sen. Mark R. Warner wants to block proposed cuts to commissaries, a popular option for military families in Hampton Roads, because a high-level commission has yet to issue a report on the larger issue of compensation and benefits.
Gates: Compensation, benefits more than a third of DoD budget (Federal News Radio) In the newly released 2015 budget proposal, President Barack Obama is asking TRICARE participants to pay more out-of-pocket for their health care.
VFW to Congress: Scrap sequestration (Military Times) Veterans of Foreign Wars members have spent most of this week lobbying Congress on a fix for sequestration spending cuts, calling it their top legislative priority this year.
Tricare won’t pay for genetic tests; labs left with bills (Military Times) A change in medical classifications last year has left clinical laboratories across the U.S. carrying a $10 million tab for Tricare.
Veterans Benefit Fair (Rochester Home Page) Kevin Doran sits down with Monroe County Veterans Agency outreach coordinator Ken Moore about the upcoming Veterans Benefit Fair.
Orders to Nowhere... 