Category Archives: Military Transition

Military Transition

Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/11/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/11/14

Good news story of the day

Wounded Warriors set sights on Sochi gold  (Army.mil)  Three wounded warriors who recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center, are aiming to glide to gold in Sochi, Russia, next month.

Military Transition

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair Set for Feb. 13  (San Diego Business Journal)  A job fair for veterans and military spouses will be held Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at University of Phoenix campus, 9665 Granite Ridge Road in San Diego

Construction industry pledges to hire 100,000 veterans  (The Washington Post)  First lady Michelle Obama and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez on Monday will announce a pledge from construction companies to hire 100,000 veterans over the next five years as part of an initiative seeking to encourage non-government support for former troops.

St. Louis aldermen pass veterans jobs bill  (Fox2now.com)  A veteran’s jobs bill is one step closer to reaching the St. Louis City ballot in time for Veterans Day 2014.

Big business: Vets should start transition process early  (Military Times)  Bigwigs at some of America’s largest corporations agree: Troops need to start planning much earlier to have a smooth and successful transition from the military to the private sector.

Job fair aims to get more military into workforce  (WISTV.com)  Military leaders in the Midlands are putting the finishing touches on a huge event Tuesday aimed at reducing the unemployment rate when it comes to our nation’s veterans and their spouses.

Veterans

Fake ‘My Army Benefits’ Site Scams Service Members  (Mashable)  Military investigators are alerting members of the Army about an unofficial benefits site that purports to offer users unclaimed benefits and then bags their credentials.

MI Social Workers Bridging the Gap Between Veterans and Civilians  (PublicNewsService.org)  While it’s good to come home to family and friends after military deployment, getting back into the swing of daily life can be difficult for armed services members, and social workers in Michigan are helping to ease the transition for many veterans.

After War, a Failure of the Imagination  (The New York Times)  “I COULD never imagine what you’ve been through,” she said.

SFC pitches idea for ‘Army Retirement Medal’  (Army Times)  When Sgt. 1st Class Steven Janotta first floated his idea for a retirement medal, some of his peers thought he was joking and wasting their time.

Veterans Affairs

VA national cemeteries continue to lead country in satisfaction survey  (Army.mil)  For the fifth consecutive time, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration has bested the nation’s top corporations and other federal agencies in a prestigious, independent survey of customer satisfaction.

Progress stalls on cutting VA claims backlog  (Army Times)  Veterans Affairs Department officials expected to see significant progress in
the effort to reduce their disability claims backlog again this month.

Congress Is Getting Tougher on the VA  (The Wall Street Journal)  Congress is poised to tighten its leash on the Department of Veterans Affairs over its response to what lawmakers say are management and medical errors, just as VA facilities are flooded with a new generation of injured troops.

Surgical problems at VA hospital in South Carolina leave veterans at risk  (The Washington Times)  Care at one Veterans Affairs hospital was so disorganized that officials didn’t  inform some patients they were scheduled for surgery, while doctors planned for  surgeries they knew would never take place.

Helping the VA help L.A.’s homeless vets  (Los Angeles Times)  For years, the effort to establish housing for chronically homeless veterans on  the VA’s sprawling West Los Angeles campus has been painfully, shamefully slow,  as mistrust and inertia have impeded progress at the same time that two wars  have dramatically increased the need for action.

Benefits

Congress moves to reverse budget cuts to veterans’ benefits  (Los Angeles Times)   The House could vote as early as Wednesday on a bill that would raise the  nation’s debt  ceiling and reverse a cut made to some veterans’ benefits as part of the  recent budget deal.

Last-Minute Flip Opens Window for Veterans’ Benefits Bill  (National Journal)  Just hours before a sure-to-fail vote to restore more than $6 billion in funding for military benefits, Senate Democrats and Republicans now appear ready to move the measure forward.

Downstate assemblyman says state should reimburse school district taxes lost to new veterans exemption  (Syracuse.com)  Update: Legislators did not look at the impact a law expanding property tax breaks to veterans would have on school districts before passing the legislation last year, a Downstate assemblyman said Monday afternoon.

House GOP homes in on debt-ceiling plan tied to military pension benefits  (The Washington Post)  House Republican leaders spent Monday trying to finalize a plan to increase the Treasury’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default by urging GOP lawmakers to rally behind a proposal that ties a debt-ceiling increase to a plan to restore full pension benefits for some military veterans.

Hill report puts dollar figures on military retiree COLA limit  (The Washington Post)  The average military enlisted person retiring in the future would lose $69,000 in lifetime benefits and the average future retired officer would lose $87,000 if a recently enacted limit on military retiree payments is left in place, according to a new analysis done for Congress.

House Republicans Seek to Trade Debt Deal for Repeal on Military Pensions  (The New York Times)  The House is likely to vote Wednesday on a plan to extend the government’s borrowing authority into 2015 in exchange for reversing a cut to the pensions of working-age military veterans that Congress approved just two months ago to try to trim the budget deficit.

GOP Leaders in New Push to Reach Debt Deal  (The Wall Street Journal)  House Republican leaders tried Monday to build support for raising the federal debt limit by linking it to a reversal of planned cuts in some military pensions, working to overcome vocal opposition from conservatives in hopes of bringing it to a vote Wednesday.

Budget deal needs real Pentagon reforms: Column  (USA Today)  magine a combat infantryman with 25 years of military service, through times of war and peace. Now retired, this veteran struggles with back pain and arthritis, warranting a disability rating and modest compensation for decades of grueling service.

House GOP looks at longer sequester  (The Hill)  House Republican leaders are thinking about extending the sequester to pay the $6 billion cost of reversing a cut to military pensions.

House Republicans Seek to Trade Debt Deal for Repeal on Military Pensions  (The New York Times)  The House is likely to vote Wednesday on a plan to extend the government’s borrowing authority into 2015 in exchange for reversing a cut to the pensions of working-age military veterans that Congress approved just two months ago to try to trim the budget deficit.

Bill to restore COLA for military retirees clears Senate hurdle  (Military Times)  The Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle Monday on a bill that would undo the cuts to military retirement pay introduced by the Bipartisan Budget Act.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/10/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/10/14

Good news story of the day

Fallen soldier’s stepmom mounts Veterans Home drive again  (WCFCourier.com)  The stepmother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2007 is once again raising donations of supplies for residents of the Iowa Veterans Home.

Military transition

Lost in the crowd: Transition to university life poses challenges for student veterans  (Daily Orange) Drew Shapiro slept on a mattress on the floor of a Columbus Avenue “slum house” for half of his first semester at Syracuse University.

Air Force cuts to hit Scott Air Force Base  (St. Louis Business Journal)  Nearly 40 percent of the active duty military at Scott Air Force Base could face separation — either voluntary or involuntary — as the Air Force plans to cut 22,500 airmen this year.

Conference supports vets  (The Battalion Online)  Stepping out of the line of duty and into civilian life is a transition that Operation Veteran Success hoped to make a little easier Friday and Saturday.

Veterans job fair set for March 1 at VA hospital   (The Buffalo News)  The third annual “Hire a Hero” job and education fair for veterans will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 1 in Freedom Hall in the Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3495 Bailey Ave.

St. Louis aldermen pass veterans jobs bill  (KLPR11.com)  A veteran’s jobs bill is one step closer to reaching the St. Louis City ballot in time for Veterans Day 2014.

Construction Companies Step Up to Hire Veterans  (The Wall Street Journal)  On Monday, more than 100 construction companies—many of whom are direct competitors—are coming together to announce that they plan to hire more than 100,000 veterans within the next five years.

Veterans

Simi Valley gala honors Korean War veterans  (Ventura County Star)  Simi Valley resident Sal Ayala was in his early 20s when he joined the Army as a demolition specialist during the Korean War.

Malloy’s ‘no homeless vets’ pledge mirrors Jewett City home’s mission  (The Bulletin)  Sandwiched between the much-discussed minimum wage and universal kindergarten sections of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s State of the State address last week was a pledge to end homelessness for veterans by the end of 2015.

Doctor to release findings on toxic dust from Iraq  (CBS News)  There are new developments coming this week in a story CBS News has been reporting on since last spring.

A General in a Classroom Takes On the Ethics of War  (The New York Times)  Three years after Robert H. Latiff received his star as a brigadier general in the Air Force, the United States prepared to invade Iraq.

Equine-assisted therapy helps soldiers deal with PTSD  (FayObserver.com)  It’s not your typical therapist’s office.

Valentines for military veterans  (KRMG.com)  More than 2,500 handmade valentine cards will be distributed to military veterans in Northeastern Oklahoma starting on Monday, February 10th.

Tax break for veterans poses dilemma for schools  (lohud.com) School districts in the Lower Hudson Valley are mulling a new law that allows them to grant property-tax exemptions to eligible veterans, who until now have only been able to get breaks on municipal tax bills

WWII Vet cashes in on benefit thanks to Team 5 Investigates  (KMBC.com)  Team 5 Investigates first reported the story of a 91-year-old WWII veteran who was supposed to get a new car courtesy of the federal government, but ended up with a massive car payment instead.

Veterans Affairs

Week for salute begins at the VA  (The Abington Journal)  Standing at a podium in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Lynott commended the family and community surrounding U.S. military veterans, calling them the “backbone of the country.”

Blount Veterans office commended  (The Daily Times)  The Retiree Activities Office (RAO), a part of the 134th Air Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson ANG Base, is a volunteer group endeavoring to help survivors of deceased military veterans, military retirees, and civil service retirees during difficult times.

SBA working to get business tools and capital to veterans  (Cumberland Times-News)  Our nation’s veterans have served our country proudly and bravely.

Congress Is Getting Tougher on the VA  (The Wall Street Journal)  Congress is poised to tighten its leash on the Department of Veterans Affairs over its response to what lawmakers say are management and medical errors, just as VA facilities are flooded with a new generation of injured troops.

Cicilline to deliver Valentine’s cards to RI vets  (The Washington Times)  Cicilline is set to travel Monday to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence and the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol to deliver Valentine’s Day cards prepared by elementary school students for local veterans.

Area vets seek behavioral hospital  (The Citizen)  The Coweta Commission of Veterans Affairs (CCVA) hosted a meeting Wednesday that brought representatives from Coweta and Fayette counties and a number of interested parties together to address the recent state denial of the proposed Newnan Behavioral Hospital. Veterans were adamant that such a facility is needed locally.

Model can aid homeless veterans across U.S.  (AZCentral.com)  Few things are more important than properly caring for those Americans who have put themselves in harm’s way to protect our way of life and defend our nation from enemies.

Legislation would put VA in baby business  (The Washington Times)

The number of veterans who have their reproductive organs damaged in combat is growing, leading a top senator to propose legislation that would make fertility care a bigger part of Veterans Affairs hospitals’ missions — including paying for surrogate pregnancies.

Benefits

New legislation will help veterans  (KCPNews.com)  As Hoosiers, we understand how important it is to support our veterans. It’s no secret that returning to civilian life brings about challenges for many veterans. That’s why the General Assembly makes it a priority to remove roadblocks veterans face.

Senate to vote Monday on repeal of COLA caps for retirees  (Military Times)  Legislation that would repeal caps on annual cost-of-living adjustments for military retirees under age 62 will be considered next week by the Senate.

Veteran groups: ‘Billions of dollars are needed to address veteran issues’  (Examiner.com)  Spending to meet veteran needs in healthcare and benefits will fall short by billions of dollars in the coming years if Congress does nothing to resolve the issue, Matthew M. Burke of the Stars and Stripes reported on Friday.

Parallels to ObamaCare site woes seen as vets try to get benefits online  (Fox News)  The glitches and other problems with the ObamaCare website that sparked a national firestorm are similar to those military veterans using the federal government’s online benefits system have routinely faced for about the past 18 months.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/7/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/7/14

Good news story of the day

Veterans attend school museum opening in Korea  (Army.mil)  Veterans from the California National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division returned to the school they helped to build here for the opening of a museum that chronicles the 62-year relationship between the school and the division.

Military transition

Alleged scheme targets military students’ free tuition assistance  (CBS News)  For those serving in the U.S. military, one benefit is free tuition assistance for college courses, but that money may have made them the target of scam artists.

Military Vets Bring Talent, Leadership To The Workforce  (Forbes)  More and more military veterans are re-entering the civilian workforce each year.

Helping Transitioning Servicemembers Find Jobs Before Becoming Veterans  (Huffington Post)  You’ve heard it said countless times: “It’s easier to get a job if you already have one.”

Military to College Transition Tips  (US News)  Attending college after being in the military can prove difficult. After engaging in hands-on work and combat, switching to completing homework assignments and taking tests is a hard change for many.

Spouse Career Services Expand as More Troops Exit  (Military.com)  After years of using the Defense Department’s military spouse employment program primarily as a troop retention tool, the Pentagon is now using it as an aid to help troops and their families transition out of the military.

MoH recipient Petry ponders future after retirement  (Army Times)  On May 26, 2008, Petry and his fellow Rangers from 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, flew by helicopter to capture a high-profile, high-value target in Paktia, Afghanistan.

Veterans

$9 million veterans’ housing development proposed for former site of World War II bomber plant village  (mLive.com)  At the peak of the Willow Run Bomber Plant’s production during World War II, the Willow Run Village temporarily housed a large portion of the 22,000 workers that assembled B-24 Liberators in the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

4 veterans to share affordable city home  (Poughkeepsie Journal)  Four female veterans facing homelessness will soon share a newly renovated home in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Veterans Conservation Corps members work to restore Dick Young Forest Preserve near Batavia  (Kane County Chronicle)  To U.S. Marine Corps veteran Ben Haberthur, a country worth protecting is a country worth preserving.

Soldiers visit veterans in Tuskegee  (Army.mil)  From sergeants major to young NCOs, a group of Fort Rucker Soldiers went the extra mile Jan. 31 to make sure a group of veterans had a little extra to get them through the weekend — by lending a helping hand and providing a listening ear.

VFW offers help for Veterans  (Fox43.com)  Last year Service Officers from the Department of Pennsylvania VFW helped file claims for 4,400 veterans.

Former Marine remembered by family  (The Daily News)  April Bay-McManus is still coming to terms with the death of her husband, a Marine battling cancer, PTSD and TBI who died unexpectedly in what she called “a tragic accident.”

Veterans affairs

Technology Helps VA Disability Claim Decisions, Official Says  (American Forces Press Service)  A new initiative between the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments has produced technology to help VA expedite disability claim decisions, a Defense Health Agency senior official told a House panel yesterday.

VA launches online tool to calculate post-9/11 GI Bill benefits  (DCMilitary.com)  The Veterans Affairs Department today launched a new online tool to make it easier for veterans, service members and family members to calculate their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and learn more about VA’s approved colleges, universities and other education and training programs across the country.

eBenefits PII glitch potentially affected about 1,300 says VA  (Fierce Government)  A software defect that caused a joint Veterans Affairs and Defense Department self-service benefits portal to display personally identifiable information to other users accessing the system affected no more than 1,362 individuals, a VA officials told a House panel.

VA official: Half of Nevada’s disability claims sent out of state  (Las Vegas Review-Journal)  The Veterans Affairs regional benefits office in Reno was so overwhelmed with disability claims last year that it sent half of them to out-of-state VA offices for decisions, according to a letter Rep. Dina Titus released Thursday from a top VA official.

Committee Advances 9th District Bill to Benefit Veterans’ Spouses  (TheSandpiper.net)  Legislation sponsored by Sen. Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to require the $750 annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans to be payable from the date of the veteran’s death was advanced today from the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Ahead of Higher Ed: Veteran benefits just got easier to reap  (The Daily Cougar)  Veterans were given a new federal tool this week to reap their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and find appropriate educational and training institutions.

Hot Springs woman named to SD veterans commission  (The Washington Times)  A southwest South Dakota woman and retired lieutenant colonel has been appointed to the state’s Veterans Commission.

After 19-year pursuit, World War II Marine gets disability benefits  (Army Times)  Millard Sells saw some of the fiercest combat of his life in 1945 on Iwo Jima, but for most of the past two decades he has been engaged in a different, more bureaucratic battle.

Old VA site named to historic registry  (The Washington Times)  The old Veteran Affairs property on U.S. Highway 90, now known as Centennial Plaza, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Groups call for increased VA spending in advance of Obama’s 2015 budget  (The Washington Post)  Four of the nation’s leading veterans organizations this week proposed a budget plan that calls for increased spending on veterans programs in 2015 and beyond.

Vancouver Veterans Affairs shooting: $1 million bail set for woman suspected of shooting ex-boss  (The Oregonian)  A judge has set bail at $1 million for a woman suspected of shooting her former supervisor at the Veteran Affairs campus in Vancouver.

Report notes more problems at Dorn VA Medical Center  (The State)  The management of the Dorn VA Medical Center did a lousy job of keeping its operating rooms staffed and reacting to infection problems, according to a report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

Benefits

Military phases out its service centers for Tri-Care clients  (Florida Today)  Military retirees and others with questions about Tri-Care enrollment or benefits will soon lose the option of meeting face-to-face with a service representative.

Boehner urges allies to consider linking military benefits to debt limit  (The Washington Post)  A new break in the GOP’s debt-ceiling strategy emerged at a private lunch on Wednesday, where House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) encouraged his allies to consider linking a restoration of recently cut military benefits with a one-year extension of the federal government’s borrowing authority.

Lawmaker seeks funds to expand Arizona’s veterans supportive campuses  (Cronkite News)  As soon as Ammon Rowley separated from the Navy, he wanted to start his education.

Senate Bill Seeks Honorable Discharges for Gay Veterans  (Business Week)   Since World War II, more than 100,000 gay members of the U.S. military were expelled with dishonorable or other less-than-honorable discharges, says Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii.

Benefits for Veterans Falling Behind Food Stamps, Welfare  (Fox Nation)   Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. was on Fox and Friends this morning to take on President Obama’s comments about government assistance.

Adam Smith’s lonely military pension fight  (The Hill) The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee is in an increasingly lonely position in Congress fighting against repealing the $6 billion cut to military pensions.

Defense Spending After 2015: It’s Anyone’s Guess  (National Defense Magazine)  The powers-that-be must soon make a decision on how to cut military spending before sequestration returns in 2016.

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A recareering opportunity for transitioning military and veterans

Posted by Mike Grice on

I have been fortunate to be able to help transitioning military and veterans since I made the jump from active duty back to the civilian world both through writing and in person.  It has been tremendously rewarding to help make the confusing and challenging journey that is transition less daunting, and now I am thrilled to be in a position to help literally thousands more find rewarding and meaningful career opportunities in the Life Sciences industry as was announced this week:

Medical Technology Veterans Program is renamed the MedTech and BioTech Veterans Program (MVP) and Expands Nationwide

– Offers Advanced Educational Resources and Training for Veteran Recruits

– New Web Portal Address: http://www.mvpvets.org

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Medical Technology Veterans Program, renamed the MedTech and BioTech Veterans Program (MVP), has expanded nationwide and to industries across the life sciences. MVP is a career-training and mentorship program, designed to help veterans transition into jobs in the medical technology (medtech), biotechnology (biotech), life sciences and diagnostic industries. This successful program has expanded nationwide to offer customized educational programs aimed at preparing veterans for impactful and meaningful employment as professionals in the life sciences. As part of this expansion, the new MVP web portal will now be located at http://www.mvpvets.org.

Foundational partners of MVP, including heart pump manufacturer, Abiomed, Inc., and medical device trade association AdvaMed, will also welcome a new partner, BioCollaborative, to assist in reaching additional veterans from around the country and providing cutting edge industry-focused training. With its expertise in developing and administering customized eLearning platforms, BioCollaborative is an ideal partner to assist in equipping job-seeking veterans with pragmatic learning solutions necessary to succeed in the job market.

“This expansion and new partnership will enable us to reach more veterans and mentors from all over the country and provide quality training and mentorship for our service men and women who are looking to build a career in the life sciences and medical technology industries,” said Michael Minogue, Chief Executive Officer of Abiomed and MVP Chairman. “I am also excited to introduce MVP’s new President, Mike Grice, a veteran with a 27-year career in the United States Marine Corps. and a former professor at National University, a great fit for the program.”

MVP, which launched in 2012, recognizes the strong correlation between the mission of the medtech and biotech industries and those veterans who wish to pursue careers in the life sciences. The program applies to all military veterans, with special recognition to those who have served since 9/11 and those wounded overseas.

Participants interact with mentors, who are industry professionals and veterans that have already transitioned into successful civilian roles at medtech or biotech companies. Mentors represent job functions ranging from sales and customer support to operations, human resources, manufacturing and R&D, as well as C-level executives at leading medical device and life sciences companies who will provide advice and guidance throughout the transition process. The United States is a global leader in both the medical device and biotech industries, which directly and indirectly supports millions of jobs across the United States and overseas.

“We look forward to increasing the number of veterans and mentors registered on the MVP web portal, with the goal of reaching 5,000 veterans by 2018,” said Mike Grice. “The program’s increased sophistication and customized training will enable more touch points and hands-on training for MVP veterans to learn real-world skills in our industries, including the implementation of regional and state-based training programs.”

In addition to the web portal and online educational programs, which result in industry-recognized certifications, MVP will also host regional events for veterans and mentors to connect, mentor training and networking. Members will also gain access to the online learning and collaboration community for jobseekers known as JobFastPass. The new web portal (www.mvpvets.org) includes a database of veterans’ resumes that are exclusive to partnering companies, as well as a series of webinars which are free to veterans and mentors. The webinar topics include careers in the medtech and biotech industries, social media networking, personal branding, as well as creating high-impact resumes.

To register for the MVP program as either a mentor or veteran jobseeker, please go to http://www.mvpvets.org. If you are already a member of the MVP program and have questions about this new expansion, please contact Mike Grice at mgrice@mvpvets.org.

You can access the press release here.

If this looks like something that you would be interested in, please check out the website: www.mvpvets.org or shoot me an email!










			

	
	



				
					


	

		
Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/6/14


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/6/14


Good news story of the day


Nashua firm helps get veterans back in the workforce  (New Hampshire Union Leader)  Ed O’Neill was having breakfast at Nancy’s Diner Monday morning with two guys in the crew of Veterans Mowing and Plowing when a light snow started blowing.


Military transition


Medical Technology Veterans Program is renamed the MedTech and BioTech Veterans Program (MVP) and Expands Nationwide  (The Wall Street Journal)  The Medical Technology Veterans Program, renamed the MedTech and BioTech Veterans Program (MVP), has expanded nationwide and to industries across the life sciences.


‘Hiring Our Heroes’ job fair coming to Kauai for Hawaii veterans and spouses  (Pacific Business News)  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has partnered with several national and local partners to bring its national Hiring Our Heroes job fair to the Garden Isle on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Kauai Veterans Center.


Free conference to help vets find lasting employment  (The Eagle)  Student veterans from around the nation will travel to College Station this week to take part in an innovative networking and career fair for servicemen and servicewomen.


Veterans learn organic farming at Pa. program  (The Altoona Mirror)  With his burly physique and woolly beard, Brandon Barnhart looks every inch the laid-back country kid from tiny West College Corner, Ind.


Still Serving Veterans Seeks Businesses To Join Job Fair Feb. 19-21  (WHNT.com)  Our veterans stepped forward to preserve our American way of life by putting their lives on the line with their military service.


Veterans


Veterans advocate Michael Charter dies at 69  (UT San Diego)  Instead of maintaining a comfortable distance from the homeless people he encountered, Michael Charter chatted them up and recruited them for beach cleanups and other community events he supported while on the Ocean Beach Town Council board.


Veterans art therapy featured in exhibition at Tri-C gallery  (Cleveland.com) You or a loved one went through the wringer of war and got hung out to dry.


Veterans group seeks new members  (The News Herald)  Although Burke County is home to a large number of military veterans, the population of those who served in World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam dwindles every day.


Masco Gives More Than $1 Million In Support of Military Veterans; 11 Michigan Organizations Among Recipients  (The Wall Street Journal)  Masco Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, and its Foundation have partnered — through a combination of products and cash grants — to award over $1 million in support of its veteran initiative: “America’s Heroes: A Million Thanks”.


Kendall veterans group gets new vehicle  (The Beacon-News)  The Kendall County Veterans Assistance Commission will get a sorely needed new vehicle.


Wounded Warrior Project Actively Transitioning Returning Veterans Foremost Into All Areas of Transport & Logistics Sector  (Yahoo Finance)  Last month marked a milestone for Wounded Warrior Project and the cold chain logistics industry.


Veterans affairs


WIP veteran benefits late, backlogged  (Times-Georgian)  I put this paragraph into the column I wrote on Aug. 8, 2013, using information directly from one of the VA websites, but how has it actually worked out for us?


House passes bill to give veterans in-state tuition, halt VA executive bonuses  (The Washington Post)  The House this week unanimously passed a bill that would expand veterans’ educational benefits and end bonuses for the senior executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs for five years.


House hearing to review veterans claims processing  (Stars and Stripes)  A hearing to review new technologies aimed at updating federal claims processing and erasing the massive Veterans Affairs disability claim backlog has been scheduled for Wednesday by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, according to a statement from chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla.


WWII vet granted benefits after long battle with VA  (USA Today)  Millard Sells saw fierce combat in 1945 on Iwo Jima, but for most of the past two decades he has been engaged in a different, more bureaucratic battle.


Veterans Affairs employee indicted for gambling, buying gun, drinking on the  clock  (KOCO.com)  Judge Ray Elliott unsealed a grand jury indictment Wednesday against Johnny  Lloyd Surles for two criminal counts: false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim  against the state and obtaining property by false pretense.


Not enough parking is provided for patients and employees at Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center  (TheDenverChannel.com)  “The worst is, there are no spots, first off,” said 15-year Army veteran Lynn Stuart, who recently had knee replacement surgery at the VA Medical Center.


Police investigate shooting at Veterans Affairs campus in Vancouver  (Oregon Live)  Sheriff’s officials in southwest Washington were saying little as they try to determine why a Veterans Affairs  worker was gunned down and wounded inside a public health building in  the second workplace shooting in Vancouver in as many days.


VA still fighting paper war  (Politico)  On the battlefield, Washington is racing to equip its soldiers on the front  lines with the most high-tech weapons and warplanes.


Benefits


Commissaries won’t close, but prices may increase  (Military Times)  Pentagon proposals to reportedly slice $1 billion from the annual commissary budget may not hinge on closing stores, but on raising prices for patrons, sources said.


CBO: Military pension growth to fall 5 percent by 2023 with cut  (The Washington Post)  A controversial new pension cut for younger military retirees will help reduce projected growth for the retirement payments by about 5 percent by 2023, according to congressional number crunchers.


MacDill glitch exposes transfer woes for gay military couples  (The Tampa Tribune)  Monday afternoon, Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Carney had just wrapped up a meeting at MacDill Air Force Base to go over the final details of her move to Turkey, where she and her wife would become one of the first gay married military couples transferred to a Muslim country.


Boehner proposes linking debt-limit hike to a restoration of recent cuts to military benefits  (The Washington Post)  House Speaker John A. Boehner scrambled to sell a new debt-ceiling solution to his Republican colleagues on Wednesday, encouraging them to demand a restoration of recently cut military benefits in exchange for a one-year extension of the federal government’s borrowing authority.


Castricone Proposes a NY Veterans Payroll Tax Exemption to Promote Veteran Employment  (Rockland County Times)  NY Assembly Candidate Dan Castricone this week released his plan to encourage employers to hire military veterans.


Bill would require Tricare to cover breast-feeding expenses  (Military Times)  Tricare would cover the cost of breast-feeding equipment, support and counseling for new moms who want to nurse their babies under a bill introduced by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.


Defense Cuts Remain Off Table in Debt-Ceiling Talks – For Now  (Defense News)  House Republicans have yet to settle on a plan to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, but it appears using defense cuts as a bargaining chip is not an option.


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What employers are really looking for


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
I have been fortunate to participate in no small number of veteran employment panels in which human resources professionals and corporate recruiters share their insights with veterans.  Time and again the same question invariably is posed to the panel:


“What are employers really looking for?”


That really is the million dollar question, and it is invariably answered with a single word:


“Skills.”


It sounds simplistic, but it’s true.  Employers are seeking to fill holes in their organizational chart, and those holes must be filled by people who are qualified to perform the tasks and assume the responsibilities that come with the job.  Those who have served in the military are certainly ready to assume the responsibility that comes with a position within a company; after all, responsibility is what wearing a uniform is all about.  Responsibility to protect and defend the nation and its citizens, responsibility to  comrades in arms, and the responsibility to effectively lead others with both compassion and professionalism.


A sense of responsibility and commitment is part of being in the military, and it doesn’t vanish once they hang up their uniforms.  It is a part of their character.


What veterans and transitioning military lack, however, are skills.


Let me back up a moment to explain what I mean.  In the military each and every man and woman is expected to master not just one, but two sets of skills: those skills that define their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS – such as artillery, administration, maintenance, etc.) and those skills that define their military service.  They can learn everything from how to drive a tank to how to fly a stealth bomber through their technical training regimen, but before they get the keys to an M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tank those who sign up must first begin the acculturation and training process that brings them into the martial fold.


They get to go to bootcamp.  Or OCS.


Whether as a recruit or an officer candidate, the privilege of wearing the uniform must be earned through the successful completion of an intense entry level training program.  Regardless of which service a person joins, he or she must go through the crucible of acculturation that forever changes them from a civilian to a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.  Once the right to wear the uniform is earned the newly minted graduate ships out to their MOS school, which is where they learn how to perform their specific job.


It doesn’t end there.  Throughout  a person’s military career (whether it be three years or thirty), he or she is continually learning about leadership, reinforcing a committed work ethic, and being a member or leader of ever growing teams in addition to increasing their technical expertise.  In short, military professionals are developing their skills continually from the day they join until the day they leave.  The skill sets of those in uniform don’t stop expanding until they get out.


It is the skills that come from being in the military that employers are looking for.  In the words of an army veteran and CEO of a multimillion dollar medical technology company:


“I want to hire people who were just like I was when I left the military.  Eager to learn, eager to work, and eager to be part of a team that is out to accomplish something.  I want to hire veterans because I know they will work hard and I don’t need to teach them how to work with other people.”


In short, the business world is looking to hire people with the skills that come with being a military professional.


The problem is that so many veterans only identify themselves by their MOS skills and as a result they sell themselves short.  They only see themselves as an infantryman, an truck driver, or a bulk fuel delivery specialist, and they present themselves as such.  I don’t know how many times I have heard “I’m just a dumb grunt.  Nobody is hiring grunts in the civilian world!”, but it’s somewhere in the thousands.  And that is the problem.


Veterans need to present themselves to employers as solutions to their manpower problems, and a big part of being the solution are the “soft skills” that those in uniform possess.  Things like commitment, sense of responsibility, work ethic, and leadership.  The corporate executives and hiring managers I speak with are unanimous in their desire to hire people with those qualities, and those are qualities that all veterans (except for the knuckleheaded few) possess.


Veterans and those transitioning out of the military will be more successful in their search for a new career if they can present both the soft skill set that the acquired while in uniform and the skills that meet the needs of the company. The rub, however, is how to learn the specific skills that the employer is looking for.


Those are the skills that I referred to earlier.  Job- or industry-specific skills.


There are many ways that veterans can build their specific skills set, and a great many of those ways are completely free.  Veterans can research the requirements for a job or industry that they like through websites like careerbuilder.com and monster.com.  They can meet with people already in the industry through networking events such as the Marine Executive Association, NavNet, or social networking groups such as meetup.com.  They can participate in local company and industry sponsored programs such as the Business 101  or nationwide programs like the MedTech and BioTech Veterans Program (MVP).  By conducting research, networking with others, and taking advantage of free industry sponsored training a veteran can tangibly begin to fill the gap in their skills and make themselves more competitive for the great jobs and careers that are out there.


There are a lot of ways to build the skills that employers are seeking.  All you need to do is get started.




			

	
	



				
					


	

		
Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/5/14


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/5/14


Good news story of the day


Helping wounded vets move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’  (Stars and Stripes)  Back when Michael Baker was a nuclear submarine technician in the Navy, he was a triathlete who spent as much time as he could exploring the Hawaiian outdoors near his naval base.


Military transition


Helping Transitioning Servicemembers Find Jobs Before Becoming Veterans  (The Huffington Post)  You’ve heard it said countless times: “It’s easier to get a job if you already have one.”


New website launches to help Montana veterans  (KXLF.com)  Lieutenant Governor John Walsh announced the launch of a new website to help military personnel transition to civilian life.


The 10 Best Jobs For Veterans  (Forbes)  Many veterans returning to the U.S. from stints overseas have years of job experience under their belts, yet they feel daunted by the challenge of making the transition into the civilian workforce.


Military veterans graduate from Boston Fire Academy  (The Daily Free Press)  After 20 weeks of grueling training, 51 military veterans were inducted into the Boston Fire Department on Tuesday with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh in attendance.


Texas A&M Students Launch New Program To Help Aggie Veterans  (TAMU Times)  A new branch of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Texas A&M University, with the specific purpose of helping Aggie veterans, plans the first national military veteran conference in higher education  Friday and Saturday (Feb. 7-8) at the university.


Veteran students meet with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs John Scocos  (University of Wisconsin Superior)  Fifteen UW-Superior students with military experience were able to connect one-on-one with the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs John Scocos on Monday.


Veterans


Veteran Groups Launch Pre-Emptive Strike on Federal Budget  (The Wall Street Journal)  Four major veterans advocacy groups called for more veteran health-care spending in the next federal budget and changes to a number of Department of Veterans Affairs policies, in their annual outline of legislative goals released Tuesday morning.


New UC panel to aid military veterans  (Fox 5 San Diego)  The University of California on Monday announced the formation of an advisory  group to help military veterans address specific issues and succeed in earning  degrees.


Villa Park VFW Bringing Veterans Welcome Home Back Home  (Chicago Tribune)  The popular and effective Veterans Welcome Home and Benefits event is coming back to the VFW Post in Villa Park.


Despite progress, VA still has 400,000 backlogged claims  (UPI)  The Department of Veterans Affairs cut its backlog of hundreds of thousands of  disability claims by nearly one-third last year but is still struggling to  modernize an outdated processing system, a report released Monday by the Iraq  and Afghanistan Veterans of America found.


Veteran Hopefuls Use Bravery, Heroics in Bids for Congress  (Roll Call)  Veterans regularly run for Congress, but this cycle features candidates armed with particularly impressive biographies involving escapes, captures and military adventures that Tom Clancy would have struggled to dream up.


Veterans affairs


VA Launches Online Tool to Calculate Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits  (Department of Veterans Affairs)  The Veterans Affairs Department today launched a new online tool to make it easier for veterans, service members and family members to calculate their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and learn more about VA’s approved colleges, universities and other education and training programs across the country.


Feinstein bill pushes housing for homeless vets at West L.A. VA campus (Los Angeles Times)  Sen. Dianne  Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced a bill Tuesday to smooth the way for the U.S.  Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with private agencies to develop  housing for homeless veterans on its West Los Angeles campus.


VA Offers New Tools to Ensure Post-9/11 GI Bill Beneficiaries Are Informed Consumers  (The White House)  What’s the first thing you do when shopping for a big-ticket item?


Report: Rocky Hill veterans’ housing goes unused  (The Washington Times)   Five houses in Rocky Hill that state officials set aside and renovated for  Connecticut military veterans have sat mostly empty for several years, while  statistics show one in 10 homeless people in the state is a veteran, according  to a published report.


Report: No ‘evidence of planning’ from Obama administration to help veterans  receive benefits  (The Daily Caller)  The Obama administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has no long-term  plan to correct the errors that have left hundreds of thousands of veterans  waiting months to receive benefits, despite President Obama’s State of the Union  vow to fix the problem.


Government concedes negligence in Legionnaires’ lawsuit  (TribLive.com)  House legislation that would make it illegal for veterans hospitals nationwide to conceal disease outbreaks won passage on Monday evening with bipartisan approval.


Senators want answers on veterans records breach  (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)  Both U.S. senators from Missouri are seeking answers about the potential fallout for veterans and their families after a former clerk admitted misfiling hundreds of military records at a St. Louis warehouse.


Former fighter pilot named new director of Punchbowl  (Star Advertiser)  A former Air Force fighter pilot and onetime inspector general for Pacific Air Forces will become the new director of Punchbowl Cemetery March 9, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced.


Benefits


Tax break for young military retirees stirs debate, clears House committee  (The Spokesman Review)  Idaho doesn’t charge its state income tax on military retirement pay for those age 65 or older, but it does tax pension benefits for military retirees who are younger than 65.


In new pitch to pass jobless pay, Harry Reid sweetens deal with measure to restore military pension cuts  (Washington Examiner)  The Senate this week will make another attempt to pass an extension of federal unemployment insurance by tying the effort to a plan to restore military pension benefits.


Senate to take up comprehensive veterans reform bill Thursday (The Washington Times)  Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont  independent, said Tuesday a comprehensive veteran’s reform bill could be brought  up on the Senate floor as early as Thursday.


Florida Legislators aim to increase veterans benefits  (First Coast News)  Lawmakers are debating new programs that will impact the more than 1.6 million veterans who live in the state of Florida.


Veterans Service Organizations Urge $72.9 Billion Investment in Veterans’ Health Care and Benefits  (Boston.com)  Four of the nation’s leading veterans service organizations—AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)—are urging the Administration and Congress to provide $72.9 billion to sufficiently meet veterans’ health care and benefits needs.


Senate panel to mark up bill repealing military pension cuts  (The Hill)


The Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up a bill next week to repeal the $6 billion military pension cuts included in last month’s budget deal.


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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 2/4/14


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 2/4/14


Good news story of the day


Wounded veteran gets the keys to mortgage-free home   (The News Tribune)  A combat-wounded Army veteran got the keys to a mortgage-free home in Federal Way Monday through a Wells Fargo military affairs program.


Military transition


22,500 face cuts this year  (Marine Corps Times)  The Air Force is planning to cut roughly 22,500 airmen this year alone through its massive force management programs.


Job fair for military members, veterans set for Tuesday  (Los Cruces Sun-News)  A free job fair for veterans, is scheduled for Tuesday at Fort Bliss in El Paso.


Veterans given tools for civilian job hunting  (Sun Sentinel)  They came out of the Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy more skilled than they went in, and many thought employers would welcome them with a job.


Interstate compact aids transition of students in military families  (Great Falls Tribune)  Senior Brandon Brooking transferred to C.M. Russell High School from Texas in the middle of his junior year, and he said it was the easiest transition he’d experienced as the son of military parents.


New UC panel to aid military veterans in university  (Los Angeles Times)  The University of California on Monday announced the formation of an advisory group to help military veterans address specific issues and succeed in earning degrees.


Programs aimed at veterans go into motion  (The Scribe)  Last month The Scribe reported on two planned programs to benefit the campus veteran community: Boots to Suits and Peer Mentorship.


Veterans


Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and combat-related challenges  (Medical Press)  Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have found that among traumatic brain injury-diagnosed veterans treated by the Veterans Health Administration between 2009 and 2011, the majority had a clinician-diagnosed mental health disorder and approximately half had both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain.


World War I Portland veteran’s Purple Heart returned to his family  (Morning Sentinel)  A military medal awarded to a Portland man wounded in World War I was returned to his family in Pittsfield on Sunday.


Simi Valley gala to benefit troops  (Ventura County Star)  Auction items at the Military Tribute Gala in Simi Valley will include a weeklong stay at a Maui resort and a sailboat cruise in Newport Beach.


Genesee County veterans’ military records dating to WWII damaged by mold, document restoration set  (mLive.com)  Thousands pages of damaged military papers belonging to Genesee County veterans are boxed and bound for Livonia, where document recovery specialists will try to salvage them from water, mildew and mold damage.


Military sniper links his string of armed robberies to PTSD  (Los Angeles Times)


As an Army sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gabriel Brown craved danger. Combat satisfied what he called his “adrenaline addiction.”


Veterans have mixed feelings about Budweiser’s ‘A Hero’s Welcome’ Super Bowl ad  (PRI)  One told the story of a relationship between a puppy and the Anheuser-Busch signature Clydesdales. The other, however, looked at a celebration for an American veteran, returning home from battle. The ad, according to several veterans, tried to walk a delicate line between celebrating and pandering.


Marine intelligence officer busted in $235,000 sting, FBI says  (Sun Sentinel)  A U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer complaining of money and marriage woes may have thought his troubles were over when he pulled into a Dania Beach parking lot to pick up a duffel bag stuffed with $235,000 in cash.


Army program helps soldier choose life over suicide  (USA Today)  The demons rushed in during the months after Levertis Jackson returned from Afghanistan in 2011. “I felt like I was losing complete control of my mind and my sanity,” says the former Army specialist.


Veterans affairs


Veterans hospital finds ways to tame MRSA super bug  (USA Today)  Before 2007, the potentially deadly super bug MRSA stalked patients at the Louisville Veterans Affairs Medical Center — with infection rates 20 times higher than they are today.


Veterans Affairs to hold information forum for patients  (JournalStar.com)  Veterans who receive health care services at the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Lincoln are invited to attend an information forum Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.


VA reduced benefits backlog, but needs to get back in gear, say veterans  (The Christian Science Monitor)  Despite having made good progress to reduce a backlog of disability claims that peaked last March, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts have lost momentum in recent months, according to a new report from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).


VA lacks control over own data, leaks could occur: audit  (The Washington Times)  The Veterans Affairs Department doesn’t have solid controls over its own financial reporting or computer data, leading to the possibility that the agency could leak information or mistake just how much it is spending, an investigation found.


Report: Veterans Affairs Backlog Shrinking, But Still Daunting  (National Journal)  The Department of Veterans Affairs has made a dent in its mountain of backlogged disability compensation claims, but it still has a very long way to go, according to a report released Monday.


Benefits


Lawmakers seek in-state tuition rates for veterans  (The Washington Post)  The House overwhelmingly passed legislation Monday that would require public universities around the country to charge veterans in-state tuition rates or face financial penalty.


IRS offers special benefits for military  (The Tennessean)  The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2014 tax-filing season Jan. 31, so filers who have their tax returns done can send them in now.


Raises, BAH are likely targets of 2015 defense budget  (Military.com)  The Pentagon’s 2015 budget is likely to contain such belt-tightening proposals as reducing active-duty pay raises and housing allowances and instituting fees for Tricare for Life, officials told a Senate panel Thursday.


Reid readies bill repealing pension cuts  (The Hill)  The Senate is gearing up to vote on a bill as early as next week that would repeal the $6 billion cut to military pensions as part of a larger veterans package, according to Senate aides.


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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/23/14


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for Thursday, January 23 2014


Good news story of the day


Islandia mayor hopes to build more houses for veterans  (Long Island News Day)  Islandia has built several houses for returning members of the armed forces in the village — and the mayor has his eye on building more homes for veterans on county-owned land.


New beach house will help wounded warriors heal invisible wounds  (KFDM.com)  A beach home on the Bolivar Peninsula, could become a place for wounded warriors to heal invisible wounds.


Military transition


Premier transitioning now available to Soldiers, but command support required  (Army News Service)  Soldiers now have the military’s best career transition program, which the Army began re-engineering about three years ago, said the program’s director.


Coastal Flow Fulfills Veterans Training Commitment  (Yahoo Finance)  Coastal Flow Measurement today announced that they’ve successfully reached their initial commitment to fully train 15 returning veterans for careers in hydrocarbon measurement.


U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to hold job fair for military veterans, spouses in Montgomery  (AL.com)  A job fair for military veterans and their spouses is slated for Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery.


Shaheen Promotes Job Creation During Nashua Stop  (Patch.com)  .S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, visited Monument Construction, LLC on Jan. 21 in Nashua to tour the company’s building and showcase their efforts to hire New Hampshire veterans.


Veterans


Military veterans: Natural born CEOs?  (Fortune)  For decades, former generals or officers frequently found high-flying new careers in corporate executive suites, and their leadership was almost universally lauded.


ParkeBank Donates a Mobile Home to the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans Association (SJVVA)  (PRNewswire)  ParkeBank, headquartered in Sewell, Gloucester County, New Jersey, has recently donated a Mobile Home to the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans Association (SJVVA) located in Glassboro, New Jersey.


Batavia man named Illinois Veteran of the Month  (The Beacon-News)  John Carr of Batavia didn’t just look out for veterans from a desk tucked away in an office in Geneva.


Veterans affairs


VA’s software bug exposes personal info of more than 5,000 veterans  (Washington Business Journal)  A Jan. 15 software glitch exposed personal data of as many as 5,351 veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs says, according to FedScoop.


Nine veterans recently received 100 percent rating for disabilities  (The Norman Transcript)  Our volunteer of the week is a lady all of those who visit Veterans Corner will know.


Feds push to enroll underserved Native veterans  (The Taos News)  The Department of Veterans Affairs officials who traveled from Washington, D.C. last week to visit tribes across New Mexico had hoped to reach former service members like Eloisa Apachito.


Benefits


Pentagon Proposes Plan to Gut Commissary’s Budget  (Military.com)  The Defense Department is discussing a $1 billion cut over  the next three years to the commissary’s budget in a move that could lead to a  widespread closure of stores, Pentagon and industry officials said.


Broad VA bill would repeal military pension cut, cost $30 billion  (Washington Post)  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday discussed details of the massive Veterans Affairs bill he introduced last week, saying he is open to paying for the measure with savings from overseas contingency operations (OCO), formerly known as the global war on terror.


Sanders: Veterans bill will get bipartisan support, despite few details on how to pay for it  (Stars and Stripes)  Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is confident that lawmakers from both parties will support the initiatives in his wide-ranging legislative package for veterans if it comes up for a chamber vote next week.


Veterans issue on fast legislative track  (Quad-City Times)  State lawmakers are marching at double time to move bills designed to induce returning veterans to live or relocate in Iowa.


Veterans Benefit Seminar  (Tri-State Media)  Boonville American Legion Post 200 will host a Veterans Benefit Seminar Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m.


Senate bill would restore COLA reduction for military retirees  (Navy Times)  The Senate is poised to consider a massive veterans bill that not only would improve education, health and employment benefits for former troops, it would restore the cost-of-living adjustment reduction for military retirees set by the Bipartisan Budget Act.


CJCS’ top enlisted advisor speaks to DOD initiatives  (Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs)  On the cusp of one of Team Minot’s most demanding inspections this year, Airmen here welcomed the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia.


Senate to take up major overhaul of VA benefits  (Federal News Radio)  The chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee said Wednesday he has been assured the full Senate soon will take up a massive omnibus bill that veterans groups say is the most sweeping update to veterans’ benefits in modern memory.


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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/20/14


				

			Posted by Mike Grice on 					

			


		

		
Military/Veteran Transitionnews for Monday, January 20th 2014:


**Update:  The title of Transitionnews has changed to Military/Veteran Transitionnews at the request of readers who share the daily posts via their tablets because the subtitle is not depicted, and as a result those who receive the shared link may be unsure of its content.  It will be the same daily update, though, so don’t despair!**


Good news story of the day


Wrestlers support wounded veterans  (Amarillo Globe News)  Local athletes have raised $3,050 for wounded veterans, to be distributed by Jack Barnes of the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation to various organizations in the area.


Transition


Veterans’ employment act signed into law  (MidHudson News)  A bill that will give veterans preference for temporary state jobs that the state normally fills with employees from for-profit temporary services company has been signed into law by the governor.


Job fair for military veterans planned in Omaha  (Associated Press)  Another job fair for veterans and their spouses will be held in Omaha.


After Army And Creative Careers: MBAs Talk Business Jobs  (Business Because)  Non-traditional career paths are increasingly common on MBA programs across the globe.


Convergys to Participate in Veteran Recruiting Virtual Career Fair  (Market Watch)  Convergys Corporation, a global leader in customer management, is proud to partner with Veteran Recruiting, the recognized leader of virtual career fairs for the military community, to help veterans find meaningful employment.


Force reductions: Your questions answered  (Army Times)  With the Air Force preparing for the deepest force cuts since the end of the Cold War, airmen across the service are asking how the various force management programs might apply to them.


Military cuts force wounded O’Fallon soldier to end his career  (BND.com)  Wounded Iraq veteran Sgt. Charles “Chas” Shaffer went through a lot to keep his Army career alive.


Veterans


Veterans commission meets Tuesday  (Boston.com)  The Veterans Services Advisory Committee on Tuesday will meet to discuss a range of issues, including planting memorial trees for women veterans and an update on the city’s work-off tax program for veterans launched last year. The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., in the downstairs conference room at City Hall.


Number of young homeless vets triples in past 2 years  (Q13Fox.com)  Between 2007 and 2010, Nick McCallon served two tours in Iraq. Transitioning back into civilian life was one of the most difficult things he’s had to do.


Court seeks volunteers to mentor fellow veterans  (The Journal Times)  The Veterans Treatment Court of the 2nd Judicial District is looking for volunteers to become veteran mentors.


Veterans deported for crimes banished for life  (KHOU.com)  About 35,000 non-citizens are in the U.S. military, but some of those who served proudly have been deported to Mexico and other countries because they broke the law.


Sen. Young joins colleagues in urging passage of ‘Jobs for Heroes’  (The Observer)  Businesses owned by disabled veterans would achieve preference for procuring state contracts in a bill cosponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R, C, I-Olean).


Congressman Bishop Statement on Supporting Military/Veterans Through the Federal Budget  (WebRTCworld.com)  Rep. Sandford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga. (2nd CD), issued the following news release:


Edmonds Military Wire: Veterans face uncertainty in 2014  (Edmonds News)  The New Year is proving to be interesting for veterans and their families.


State Veterans’ ID Makes Accessing Benefits and Services More Convenient  (Hamlet Hub)  overnor Dannel P. Malloy today joined military veterans, local business leaders and state officials to promote the Connecticut Veterans’ ID program, a joint initiative between the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) that gives veterans an option to place an American flag symbol on a state-issued license or identity card to designate his or her veteran’s status.


Veterans’ entries sought for creative arts festival  (Chillicothe Gazette)  Veterans who want to show off their artistic side can do so by submitting entries for a local festival at the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


Veterans Affairs


Pataskala man pleads to federal charges in 2011 VA theft  (Mansfield News Journal)  A Pataskala man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to charges connected with the 2011 theft of nearly $90,000 worth of equipment from the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


VA will begin publicly announcing available Punchbowl gravesites  (Star Advertiser)  The Department of Veterans Affairs said it plans “to further notify the public” of available in-ground gravesites at Punchbowl cemetery after veterans groups said they were never told about an unprecedented number of open burial spots.


VA Says Facility Falls Short  (Valley News)  Six disabled veterans living at Hanover Terrace have a little more than a month to find someplace else to live after the Department of Veterans Affairs decided to void its contract with the nursing home, saying that it had fallen below the VA’s standards of care.


Veterans’ website privacy breach under investigation  (WEARTV.com)  A breach that may have exposed the private information of thousands of veterans is under investigation.


Veterans affairs officer donates flags to Ansonia to dot downtown landscape  (New Haven Register)  Old Glory will proudly wave throughout downtown, thanks to a donation from a resident and state veterans affairs officer.


Benefits


Tricare centers closing soon  (Army Times)  The hospital- and clinic-based offices that handle Tricare patients’ claims and billing questions in the U.S. are closing April 1.


Military Update: Lightning-quick fix stilll leaves military retirees with trimmed COLAs, officials say  (NJ.com)  Congress has rushed to protect the medically retired and survivor benefit recipients from the cap on annual cost-of-living adjustments it approved only a few weeks ago for all “working age” military retirees.


DOJ faces renewed call to provide benefits to gay veterans  (Washington Blade)  Pressure is increasing on the Obama administration to ensure gay veterans have access to spousal benefits everywhere they go in the country as additional U.S. senators are joining others in a call for action.


Veterans’ groups press Congress to undo cuts to benefits  (Washington Times)  Lawmakers say they have plenty of time to repeal a cut to military retiree pay that takes effect in 2015, but veterans’ groups are warning Congress it must get it done soon before members get distracted by their own re-election campaigns later this year.


Veterans Group Backs Bill to Restore COLA Cuts  (National Journal)  Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation Thursday that would roll back the pension cuts included in the budget agreement, and he’s already getting some key support.


Don’t turn away from reforming military retirement benefits  (The Hill)  The U.S. military is at a crossroads.


CBO: Bar younger retirees from Tricare Prime, save $90 billion  (Military Times)  Pushing working-age military retirees out of Tricare Prime could save the Pentagon nearly $90 billion over the next 10 years, a measure that would generate the most savings of the various options recently considered by the Congressional Budget Office to trim the defense health budget.


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