Good news story of the day

Longmeadow Veterans Circle event to benefit Wounded Warriors Project  (MassLive)  The author of a World War II novel and an Air Force veteran are joining forces to help raise money for the Wounded Warriors Project, a national organization that provides programs and services to veterans wounded during service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military Transition and Jobs News

VIP Program to Help Veterans Find Jobs  (WTOK)  Local counties are implementing a new program that helps veterans transition into civilian jobs. It’s called the Veterans Internship Program, or VIP.

Operation Hire to create jobs for veterans  (MyEasternShoreMD)  Gov. Martin O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced Monday, May 26, the start of Operation Hire: Maryland’s 100 Day Veteran Hiring Challenge.

Job fair for veterans planned Wednesday in east Tulsa  (Tulsa World)  More than 40 local and national companies plan to be at a Tulsa job fair Wednesday looking to hire veterans and military spouses.

Award-Winning Veterans Employment Program Opens in Chicago  (Business Wire)  The Chicago regional office of Paralyzed Veterans of America’s national employment assistance program—Operation PAVE (Paving Access for Veterans Employment) will officially open its doors on May 28.

Veterans News

The VA Crisis Says ‘Opportunity’ To Entrepreneurs  (Forbes)  The VA crisis was big in the news and the President Obama’s messaging last week.

Advocates for homeless vets prepare to do more with less  (Military Times) It took only about $1,000 to keep T.J. Smith from becoming homeless.

In VA crisis, a general’s deliberate style clashes with impatience of young veterans  (The Washington Post)  In other wars, in other eras, Eric K. Shinseki might have been an ideal fit to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs through a crisis.

Sister wants Vietnam pilot’s remains returned  (Tri-City Herald)  A Kennewick woman who finally learned the circumstances of her brother’s death in the Vietnam War last year is now running into obstacles bringing him home.

Quadruple amputee Travis Mills stuns Mike Rowe: ‘I’m not a victim’  (CNN)  Travis Mills has no arms or legs. He is an American hero who served three tours in Afghanistan and lost all his limbs when a bomb exploded under him.

Ohio jail offers help to incarcerated veterans with new program  (Fox News)  A jail in northeast Ohio is reaching out to incarcerated military veterans through a new program.

Benefits News

Veterans’ Benefits and Well Health Information Fair planned Thursday  (Chinook Observer)   Veterans, family and spouses of deceased veterans are invited to the Raymond Elks Lodge for a program in appreciation to all U.S. military veterans.

Benefits cut for Watervliet World War II veteran  (WNYT)  Michael Teson got on the phone to call Rep. Paul Tonko’s Albany office, looking for help for his 89-year-old father.

VA disability backlog in Buffalo near the bottom  (WBIV)  The Buffalo Regional Office for the Department of Veterans Affairs is coming under fire for delaying benefits for veterans with disabilities.

Bill would ensure access to VA hospice care  (The Hill)  Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) has introduced legislation to give all veterans access to hospice care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

A details efforts to speed vets’ access to health care  (Military Times)  A new Veterans Affairs Department effort to shorten wait times for veterans needing health care could include extended hours and overtime at VA health facilities in addition to increased staffing at some VA primary care clinics.

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Good news story of the day

Marine coming home after 63 years  (The Toledo Blade)  On Nov. 29, 1950, an artillery shell blasted a Marine unit near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, killing Cpl. Harold W. Reed two days shy of his 24th birthday.

Military Transition and Jobs News

Job fairs a sign of improving market  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)  As the unemployment rate continues to drop and companies compete for more workers, expect to see more announcements about job openings and job fairs around metro Atlanta.

Annual Job Fair for Veterans  (ArkLaTex)  The 9th annual Veteran Job Fair at the Bossier civic center welcomed in more than 800 veterans looking for new career paths in the ArkLaTex.

Why is joblessness for veterans so high?  (CBS)  Veterans of America’s most recent wars are having a tougher time finding work than their civilian counterparts, a situation that’s likely to worsen as the military continues to shrink.

Senate committee: $320M from personnel cuts could keep A-10 flying  (Air Force Times)  The Senate Armed Services committee wants to put $320 million saved from cutting personnel to pay for flying the A-10 another year, the committee’s chairman said Thursday.

Veterans News

VA’s Shinseki vows to stay on the job  (The Washington Post)  Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said Thursday that he intends to remain on the job to address allegations of mismanagement and delayed care for military veterans, adding that he has not offered his resignation to President Obama because of the recent controversy

White House fears VA reform bill could mean ‘significant litigation’  (The Hill)  The White House on Thursday provided a little — but only a little — clarity on the administration’s objections to a House Veterans Affairs reform bill, saying provisions of it could result in litigation against the government.

‘Never the Same’ details POWs’ severe experiences  (FayObserver)  Bill Richardson was a prisoner of war in Korea from 1950-53.

VETERAN HEALTH CARE WOES BECOME CAMPAIGN ISSUE  (AP)  The growing furor over veterans’ health care moved to the political campaigns Thursday as congressional candidates from both parties called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to be fired.

Senate joins effort to simplify firing VA executives  (Military Times)  Lawmakers furious over the growing Veterans Affairs Department care delay scandals scrambled Thursday to keep the pressure on top department officials.

Benefits News

AAFES asks DoD to expand online exchange store to veterans  (Military Times)  Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials have submitted a formal proposal to defense officials asking for authority to expand exchange online shopping privileges to all honorably-discharged veterans, according to AAFES director Tom Shull.

Injured veterans program faces the ax  (The Hill)  Hundreds of veterans with traumatic brain injuries will get kicked out of assisted living facilities this fall unless policymakers in Washington soon extend an expiring pilot program.

4 Things Washington Could Do Right Now to Fix the VA  (National Journal)  The worst news: A government bureaucracy is standing between veterans and their health care, and veterans are dying because of it.

‘Culture of Deceit’?: VA Office in N.M. Investigated Phony Wait Times in 2013  (NBC)  Accusations at a VA hospital in Phoenix that patient records were falsified by staff are emerging in other facilities, including a New Mexico medical center where alleged bookkeeping misrepresentations were investigated last year.

Ch. 2 investigation uncovers hundreds of deaths, injuries over delays in care at VA hospitals  (WSB-TV)  Within the last 24 hours, two Georgia congressmen ramped up the pressure on President Barrack Obama to fire the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

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Good news story of the day

Arlington at 150:  Celebrating America’s Heroes  (Military Times)  Among the rows of headstones blanketing Arlington’s rolling hills, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates sees one common theme.

Military Transition and Jobs News

A five-part battle plan to hire more veterans  (CNN Money)  “Hiring veterans is one of those can’t-miss things, like motherhood and apple pie,” says Harley Lippman, CEO of IT consulting and staffing firm Genesis10. “Everyone’s strongly in favor of it. But how much of that is just lip service?”

RIVERSIDE: Job fair Thursday for veterans, spouses  (Press Enterprise)  A job fair for veterans and their spouses will be held Thursday, May 22, at American Legion Post 79, at 2979 Dexter Drive in Riverside.

Veterans to get priority at May 29 Spring job fair  (WSMV)  Veterans will get top priority at the Spring Job Fair hosted by the Mayor’s Baton Rouge Business and Career Solutions Center on Thursday, May 29 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium, 103 France Street.

Job fair for Upstate veterans Friday  (Independent Mail)  A job fair for all Upstate veterans, spouses, National Guard and Reserve members will be held from 9 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Anderson Readiness Center at 3111 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Anderson.

Next on the chopping block: generals?  (Army Times)  At a time when tens of thousands of rank-and-file airmen are seeing their jobs endangered and facing voluntary and involuntary force reductions, one group has remained noticeably untouched: generals.

Veterans News

Anatomy of a Veterans Affairs scandal  (Politico)  CNN’s nonstop coverage of the vanished Malaysian plane was widely mocked, but not by the network’s investigative team.

Obama: Any VA misconduct will be punished  (Military Times) President Obama on Wednesday spoke publicly of the growing scandal over questionable scheduling practices at Veterans Affairs medical centers, saying the allegations, if true, are “dishonorable and distasteful” and pledging to punish those responsible.

House Dems call for Shinseki’s sacking  (The Hill)  Two House Democrats broke ranks with the White House on Wednesday and called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

Amid VA scandals, House eases rules for firing top department executives  (Military Times)  Spurred by allegations of mismanagement and scandal at numerous Veterans Affairs facilities, House members on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a measure giving the department’s secretary more power to fire underperforming employees.

Benefits News

Nonprofit Fills In Gaps To Help Children Of Fallen Veterans Attend College  (Forbes)  With the VA’s treatment of veterans benefits under tremendous scrutiny today, one area still flying under the radar is the education of fallen Veterans’ children.

American Veterans: Culture Change Needed to Fix Broken Health Care System  (Voice of America)  As Americans commemorate Memorial Day to honor the country’s fallen soldiers, a scandal is unfolding that highlights the federal government’s failure to properly care for veterans. Fraud and neglect at the Veterans Administration reportedly have forced thousands of veterans to wait months to see a doctor and reportedly even caused some to die because of a lack of treatment.

Tricare Prime still out of reach for thousands of beneficiaries  (Military Times)  Retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Rytkonen was not happy last October when he was dropped from his Tricare Prime military health program.

Veterans’ claims for sleep apnea soar  (USA Today)  Veterans’ claims for sleep apnea — a common, treatable ailment often associated with obesity and aging — have spiked nearly 150% since 2009, driving compensation for the disorder likely over $1 billion per year, according to government data and interviews.

Bill would reimburse veterans waiting for housing grants  (The Hill)  Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill that would reimburse veterans waiting for housing grants to be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senate panel approves 1 percent pay raise, BAH cuts  (Military Times)  A Senate panel on Wednesday rejected Pentagon plans to cut commissary benefits and overhaul the Tricare system, all but ending defense officials’ hope to make those changes next year.

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Good news story of the day

Indiana’s Military Employment Discrimination Law  (Military.com)  Governor Mike Pence has signed a military employment discrimination bill into law–the first of its kind in the country.

Military Transition and Jobs News

Job fair for Las Vegas veterans to be held Thursday  (Las Vegas Review-Journal)  The city of Las Vegas will host a job fair targeting veterans on Thursday and more than 45 employers are expected.

Why veterans have more money problems  (Market Watch)  Service members are almost twice as likely to carry some credit card debt from month-to-month (58%) than civilians (34%), according to a new survey carried out by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Pioneer Services, a division of MidCountry Bank in Bloomington, Minn.

Walmart Celebrates More than 40,000 Hires in First Year of Veterans Commitment  (Market Watch)  During the first year of Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment it hired more than 42,000 veterans.

Kilmer introduces two amendments to defense bill to help veterans looking for jobs and civilian shipyard workers  (KBKW)  On Tuesday, Representative Derek Kilmer introduced two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help servicemembers find jobs and authorize overtime for civilian shipyard workers overseas.

Rockville nonprofit prepares vets for tech jobs  (Gazette.net)  Testoni said he heard a lot of lip service about employing returning veterans — but he also saw unemployment rates upward of 40 percent among them.

Fifth BCT this year shuts down on Wednesday  (Army Times)  Third Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division will case its colors during a ceremony Wednesday at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Veterans News

2010 VA memo targeted ‘inappropriate’ patient scheduling practices  (Military Times)  A memo sent to all Veterans Affairs Department health directors in 2010 warning them against using “gaming strategies” to improve scores on patient appointment reports has resurfaced as part of the ongoing probe of scheduling failures at some VA medical centers.

Shinseki, Hagel Make Quiet Visit to Congress as VA Scandal Intensifies  (National Journal)  Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made a quiet trip to Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon amid the growing scandal engulfing veterans affairs hospitals across the country.

IG: VA investigations expanded to 26 facilities  (AP)  The number of VA facilities under investigation after complaints about falsified records and treatment delays has more than doubled in recent days, the Office of Inspector General at the Veterans Affairs Department said late Tuesday.

SC law criminalizes lying about military service  (The State)  A new South Carolina law makes it a crime for someone to falsely claim military service for personal profit.

Miami VA Whistleblower Exposes Drug Dealing, Theft, Abuse  (CBS Miami)  When asked why he would risk his job and speak publicly, Detective Thomas Fiore considered the question carefully before answering.

Benefits News

Bustos to host veterans benefit workshop  (Quad-City Times)  With criticism of the Veterans Administration mounting across the country,  Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., said Tuesday she will hold a two-hour workshop in Rock Island, where veterans will get the chance to get their questions answered from claims administrators.

Harford veterans connect, honor men and women who served  (Sun-Sentinel)  Harford County held a veterans’ muster in Bel Air Saturday, an event designed to get Harford and Cecil County veterans connected with the appropriate services, as well as to honor veterans of the Vietnam War era and women who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War eras.

Cold Calculations  (The Washington Post)  It had taken a while, but Army Staff Sgt. Sam Shockley had meticulously compiled a list of all of his war wounds, including his diminished memory, only to leave it sitting in his bedroom as he went rushing off to his appointment.

Idaho Navy veteran has one goal is to be interred beside her wife  (McClatchy DC)  Leaning on a sturdy walker for support, Madelynn Lee Taylor walked into the office of the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with one simple goal.

Poland man sentenced for stealing VA benefits  (SF-Gate)  A Poland man has been sentenced to three years of probation, six months of which must be served in home confinement, for stealing about $10,000 in mileage reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Good news story of the day

It’s official: Medal of Honor for Marine Kyle Carpenter  (Marine Corps Times)  Retired Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, 24, will receive the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan in 2010, the White House announced today.

Military Transition and Jobs News

AF secretary: 18,700 more airmen cuts before it’s over  (Army Times)  The Air Force’s goal is to complete the bulk of its force management cuts by the summer of 2015, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said May 13.

Employment-focused Stand Down for Homeless Veterans in Colorado Springs  (Colorado Springs Business Journal)  Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS) will be hosting a Stand Down for Homeless Veterans in the Colorado Springs area Wednesday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium, 221 E Kiowa St.

Veterans’ Job Fair will feature more than 90 employers  (ArkLaTex)  If you’re a veteran and you’re out of work then you may find an employment at the 9th Annual Northwest Louisiana Veterans’ Job and Resource Fair.

Veterans’ Job Fair in Muskegon attended by 400  (MLive)   In May 2012 — the first year that a Veterans’ Job Fair was held in Muskegon – Robert Wells was an attendee hired to sell insurance.

Veterans News

Dempsey to Retired Generals: Shut Up When it Comes to Politics  (Intercepts)  Like former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, does not like it when he sees retired generals making political statements.

When will Obama address VA scandal?  (The Hill)  President Obama will publicly address allegations the Department of Veterans Affairs used falsified data to hide delays in care for veterans soon, the White House said Monday.

Veterans owed medals for service can apply online  (Stars and Stripes)  Last week, Vietnam veteran Sgt. Ken Duncan received the Purple Heart along with several other decorations more than 46 years after serving his country.

Congress moves to honor famed World War II aircrew  (Air Force Times)  The House is expected to pass a bill Monday night honoring some of the nation’s most distinguished and revered military aviators.

Benefits News

Veterans’ Benefits Workshop (Trib Local)  Wartime veterans who sacrificed for our country in its time of need have access to a little-known pension benefit

Homeless veterans can get help at stand-down event in Florida  (Stars and Stripes)  More than 200 veterans live on the streets in Broward County. On Memorial Day weekend, volunteers hope to provide them housing, jobs and other help.

Possible VA failures magnify families’ grief  (Military Times)  Darrell Richardson doesn’t know how long his brother, Dennis, may have lived if he had received faster treatment from the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system.

Combat head trauma figures suspect in Iraq, Afghanistan wars, study finds  (TribLive)  Up to five times as many active-duty troops endured head trauma during the early stages of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars than was recorded by the Pentagon, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

VA Grants Benefits to Lesbian Widow of Fallen Soldier  (Advocate)  Nearly two years after her wife died in Afghanistan, an Iraq veteran and National Guard member says the Department of Veterans Affairs will recognize her rights as a widow.

VA whistleblower: I was suspended for 2 weeks  (Military Times)  A Veterans Affairs whistleblower says she was put on unpaid leave after she refused to falsify appointment records at a Colorado clinic.

Newfields Woman Sentenced for Stealing $251,534 in Veteran’s Benefits  (Portsmouth Patch)  A Newfields woman was sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison for using $251,534 of her father’s veterans benefits for her personal benefit.

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A Soldier’s War on Pain (The New York Times)  Four years and a lifetime ago, a new war began for Sgt. Shane Savage.

Military Transition and Jobs News

Connecting our veterans to jobs: Opinion  (NJ.com)  American industry values workers who perform well under extreme pressure — the kind who help a company grow and succeed.

Excelsior Medical to Host Innovative Job Promotion Event for Military Veterans  (Yanoo Finance)  Marine veteran Kevin Callahan was growing desperate.

Package aims to persuade veterans to live, retire in Iowa  (Omaha.com)  One of Gov. Terry Branstad’s main goals for the Legislature this year was to make Iowa more attractive to veterans returning home from military service.

Job fair for veterans set for Tuesday in Temple Terrace  (BayNews9)  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is hosting a job fair for veterans in the Bay area this week.

Veterans’ Success At Home: More Than Just Landing Any Job  (NPR)  The federal government has spent billions helping veterans get the training and education they need to re-enter the civilian workforce.

Bill Aims to Help Veterans Find Jobs  (CBS2News)  At the urging of Gov. Terry Branstad, lawmakers approved a bill last session aimed at making Iowa more attractive to military veterans and help them find jobs.

Veterans News

Bradenton man to hike trail to spotlight military veterans issues  (Bradenton Herald)  Christopher Davis’ dream was to one day hike the Appalachian Trail to bring awareness to a cause closest to his heart — returning veterans.

Ceremony marks additions, status changes on Vietnam Wall  (Stars and Stripes)  When Henry John Drozdowski was honored Sunday as one of 13 casualties of the Vietnam War whose names were recently added to the wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, there were plenty of relatives on hand for the historic occasion.

Fundraiser will benefit Middleboro Veterans’ Honor Guard  (Middleboro Gazette)  The Middleboro Veterans’ Honor Guard is raising money for the care and upkeep of their uniforms, equipment, and normal operating costs that they incur over the year.

VA appoints interim director for Phoenix VA Health Care System  (Military Times)  The Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed an interim director for the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

Benefits News

Medical care for U.S. veterans ‘not good enough’: Pentagon chief    (Reuters)  Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel said on Sunday the care given to U.S. veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs is “not good enough” but offered support for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who has rejected calls to resign.

Hagel Backs Shinseki But Cites Accountability  (Military.com)  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gave only lukewarm support Sunday to retired Gen. Eric Shinseki in his struggle to stay on as the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs following allegations of secret waiting lists at VA hospitals.

Budget ax hovering over the military  (The Hill)  House lawmakers have rejected most of the Pentagon’s proposed cost-saving measures for next year, raising serious questions about how the military will stay under budget limits once sequestration returns in 2016.

Agent Orange’s Long Legacy, for Vietnam and Veterans  (The New York Times)  Britain was the first to use defoliants as a war tactic in Southeast Asia.

Building cultural bridges between doctors, troops  (Military Times)  Dr. Christopher Nelson was working as a psychiatrist in New York four years ago when he met a dynamic — some might say slightly pushy — Army doctor named Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie.

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