Good news story of the day
One hero at a time, benefit for wounded Afghanistan veteran (St George News) From noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, veterans and friends gathered at the Casa Blanca Event Center in Mesquite, Nev. to pay tribute to Afghanistan Veteran Sgt. Travis Wood and his family.
Military Transition and Jobs News
Years of war leave veterans facing unfamiliar challenge: the civilian workforce (The Dallas Post) Sgt Maj. Chris Fletcher was a teenager the last time he had a civilian job.
Dept. of Veteran Affairs: VetCon, a veteran employment and services conference (WisPolitics.com) Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John A. Scocos today announced VetCon: A Veteran Employment and Services Conference will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee.
PTSD affects veterans jobs, recent shooting could make it worse (KXXV) A local soldier says his PTSD is making it hard for him to get a job, and the recent Fort Hood shooting could make it worse.
Fort Hood Shootings Could Stymie Veteran Hiring (Yahoo Finance) In late 2012, Harry A. Croft, a psychiatrist and former Army doctor who specializes in veterans’ post-traumatic syndrome disorders, was approached by a human resources specialist for a Fortune 500 company.
Ohio bill would protect businesses favoring veterans in hiring (The Columbus Dispatch) To help those who served their country, Ohio lawmakers are moving toward granting legal protection to private-sector employers who prefer to hire and promote military veterans.
Commentary: Defense Civilian Layoffs Won’t be Pleasant, But They Are Necessary (Government Executive) Against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable world, including the Russian invasion of Crimea, the ongoing conflict in Syria, an agitated Iran, aggression from the North Koreans and a militarized China, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently announced that he would seek further cuts to our uniformed personnel.
Veterans News
With suicides way up, Treasure Valley group works to aid veterans (Idaho Statesman) In the summer of 2012, U.S. Army veteran Reed Pacheco had his suicide all planned out.
Veterans’ tax exemptions have LI school boards struggling (Newsday) School districts across Long Island are struggling with whether to enact a new property tax exemption to assist veterans and in the process put a greater burden on nonveteran taxpayers.
Isle lab moves to ID sailors from USS Oklahoma (Star Advertiser) The embattled Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command says it’s getting closer to gaining Pentagon approval to disinter and identify for return to families nearly 400 crew members of the battleship USS Oklahoma buried as “unknowns” at Punchbowl cemetery.
Large numbers of vets with PTSD live near military bases (McClatchy DC) The Army specialist who killed three soldiers at Fort Hood last week isn’t the only person from the neighborhoods that surround the massive military base near Killeen, Texas, who’s been evaluated or diagnosed with mental illness.
Combat vets battle an enemy within: Addiction (Philly.com) The first time Pearson Crosby went to the methadone clinic at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in early 2013, he asked his father to go with him.
Why Are So Many Older Veterans Committing Suicide? (National Journal) The Fort Hood shooting reignited the national debate over the surge of suicides among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Benefits News
Bill would aid Ohio veterans (The News-Messenger) The Ohio House of Representatives has passed House Bill 488, which will assist Ohio’s veterans in furthering their education.
Veterans Corner: VA removes annual income reporting requirements (Sawyer County Record) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is eliminating the annual requirement for most veterans enrolled in VA’s health care system to report income information beginning in March 2014.
Soldiers stuck in backlogged disability system can’t go forward, can’t go back (The News Tribune) Sgt. Chris Peden is stuck.
White House unveils expanded support for military, vets’ caregivers (Military Times) The White House continued its focus on veterans and military families by announcing new programs Friday to expand support and services available to those who care for injured or ill troops.
Orders to Nowhere... 