Good news story of the day
Wounded Army vet ‘almost speechless’ as he takes keys to mortgage-free home (Orlando Sentinel) Rashe Hall was a soldier in Afghanistan in 2006 when his Army platoon came under attack while on patrol.
Military Transition News
90 lieutenant colonels, 131 colonels selected for early retirement (Air Force Times) Ninety lieutenant colonels and 131 colonels were selected for early retirement by the Selective Early Retirement Board that met Dec. 9, according to data provided to Air force Times on Wednesday by the Air Force Personnel Center.
Coalition Hosts HIRING FAIR for Service Members and Veterans (CNBC) The Coalition for Alaska’s Service Members, Veterans and Families is joining forces with the Alaska National Guard and Army OneSource to host a HIRING FAIR, a one-day event with interactive workshops, job fair booths and transitional advisor stations.
PowerPathway Program Gives Veterans a Leg Up on Job Search (ABC Local) An innovative partnership is helping military veterans find work. The Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board, Fresno City College and PG&E’s PowerPathway, are joining forces to literally give students a “leg up” when it comes to finding employment.
Veterans job fair at Rider on Thursday (The Trentonian) Rider University has partnered with veteran friendly organizations to give America’s bravest a second chance to start a new career.
Program leads to 500th Wisconsin National Guard member getting hired (Journal Sentinel) Jim Reynolds was ready to retire from the Wisconsin National Guard and get a civilian job, but with high unemployment among the ranks of guardsmen he wasn’t sure he could find one.
Veterans News
Why Hiring Veterans Is Good for Business—and for America (The Wall Street Journal) America’s wartime heroes and their families need our help.
Michigan starts new effort to hire military veterans (MinBC News) Veterans say trading in their camouflage for a suit and tie is a difficult transition. The new initiative coined Hiring our Hero’s Vet States Program, is trying to draw attention to veterans with invaluable experience right here in Michigan.
Vets could get college credit for service (Dayton Daily News) A state proposal could allow veterans returning home with valuable military experience to have an easier time getting college credit or professional licenses in Ohio.
Children of wounded ‘hidden casualties’ of war (U-T San Diego) Children of seriously wounded combat veterans are “the hidden casualties of war,” according to a study released Wednesday.
APNEWSBREAK: NYC INMATE ‘BAKED TO DEATH’ IN CELL (AP) Jerome Murdough was just looking for a warm place to sleep on a chilly night last month when he curled up in an enclosed stairwell on the roof of a Harlem public housing project where he was arrested for trespassing.
Movement grows to honor fearless Irish immigrant killed while Marine in Vietnam War (NY Daily News) In the predawn hours of July 18, 1966, Lance Cpl. Patrick (Bob) Gallagher was a long way from County Mayo, Ireland, which he had left a few years earlier to live with an aunt in Lynbrook, L.I., and seek new opportunity in America.
Missing U.S. service member from Vietnam to be laid to rest (Military Times) The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced March 18 that the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Lawrence Woods of Clarksville, Tenn., will be buried as part of group on March 21 at Arlington in a ceremony honoring the servicemen who were lost in an aircraft crash on Oct. 24, 1964.
Benefits News
Lifelong Pensions for Vets Could Be Whacked Under Pentagon Proposal (Yahoo Finance) Twenty years of service for a lifelong pension.
Free tax filing available for veterans (The Courier) The Military Veteran Resource Center will provide free income tax filing assistance for military veterans until April 15.
Manchester VAMC to host open house (New Hampshire Union Leader) The Manchester VAMC, 718 Smyth Road, is hosting an open house for new enrollments into VA Health Care on Monday, March 24, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
More veterans taking advantage of Post-9/11 GI Bill (Independent Mail) In the year since Clemson University launched its Student Veterans Success Center, its volunteer staff has worked to transform the small alcove in the School of Computing into a place where those transitioning from military to civilian life can connect with their peers.
Hayward veterans resource fair March 22 (Mercury News) Veterans can get help with benefits claims and job information at a resource fair Saturday.
DiNapoli: Veterans services are underutilized (Times Union) This sounds like a classic governmentalese case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing: Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has found that lots of veterans in New York State rely on Medicaid for health care services rather than the federal Veterans Affairs organizations.
Senate bill would provide free treatment to veterans with traumatic brain injury (The Oklahoman) When Capt. Matt Smothermon came home from a deployment to Afghanistan with the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, he wasn’t the same person.
Dem bill fixes death benefits for fallen soldiers (The Hill) Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would allow the Defense Department to continue making $100,000 “death gratuity” payments to the families of fallen soldiers, even during a government shutdown.
Orders to Nowhere... 