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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/31/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 1/31/14

Good news story of the day

Wounded Warriors Remain Undefeated  (WFUV.org)  The Wounded Warriors defeated the 9/11 First Responders in their annual football game, 32-14.

Military transition

Warriors in Transition Benefit Banquet  (KULR8.com)  It’s all to raise money for wounded soldiers and their families.

Hiring Orlando vets  (Winter Park/Maitland Observer)  When veterans leave the military, they face the very real challenge of finding work again.

Securitas Security Services USA Adds 6,706 Military Veterans To Its Employee Base  (PR Newswire) As a member of the 100,000 Jobs Mission coalition that was launched in March 2011, Securitas Security Services USA is proud to announce that it has added 6,706 veterans to its employee base in the year 2013.

Veterans job fair set for Feb. 6 in Glendale  (KPHO.com)  Local and national companies will be looking for qualified military veterans to fill thousands of positions at a veteran job fair in Glendale on Feb. 6.

Defense, DHS, VA drive rise in federal employment  (FCW.com)  GAO Report on Recent Trends in Federal Civilian Employment and Compensation.

Military Spouse Transition Workshop  (KIROTV.com)  The Military Spouse Transition Workshop is available to our spouses of military service members and veterans who are currently going through their Transition Assistance Program (TAP) or have been out of the military for some time.

Commission: Move Manpower Into Air Reserve, National Guard Components  (Defense News)  The US Air Force should look at moving as much manpower into the Reserve and Air National Guard components as possible, according to a new report from a congressionally mandated panel.

Veterans

PepsiCo holding benefit for veterans  (AP)   PepsiCo Inc. is making a $1 million donation and streaming a live concert Friday to benefit injured military veterans and their families.

Fresno teen accused of robbing, beating 92-year-old WWII vet to be tried as adult  (The Fresno Bee)

Found unfit to be tried as a juvenile, a 16-year-old Fresno boy made his first appearance Wednesday in Fresno County Superior Court in connection with the home-invasion robbery of 92-year-old World War II veteran Josef Martin.

A Troubled Marine’s Final Fight  (Time)  David Linley’s last night as a free man began, like so many others before it, in his dark basement, watching Band of Brothers.

Veterans group says military suicide rate is ‘out of control’  (Military Times)  Suicide prevention is the No. 1 legislative priority this year for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says Paul Rieckhoff, the group’s founder and CEO.

Veterans fight the organic fight at Delaware Valley College training program  (Philly.com)  With his burly physique and woolly beard, Brandon Barnhart looks every inch the laid-back country kid from tiny West College Corner, Ind.

Veterans Honored at Gala Valentines Concert  (Market Wired)  National nonprofit organization Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) in cooperation with Soldier’s Wish and the Yavapai County Community Foundation will host a gala Valentines for Veterans Salute to America’s Veterans Concert on February 13, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Yavapai College Performance Hall in Prescott, Arizona.

Veterans affairs

Navy Yard Shooting: Gunman Aaron Alexis Convincingly Lied To Doctors At Veterans Affairs  (Huffington Post) The gunman who killed 12 people in last year’s rampage at Washington’s Navy Yard lied so convincingly to Veterans Affairs doctors before the shootings that they concluded he had no mental health issues despite serious problems and encounters with police during the same period, according to a review by The Associated Press of his confidential medical files.

Veteran Affairs Releases Book  (KMOT.com)  For anyone looking to reflect on their days of service, the North Dakota Department of Veteran Affairs is giving out a book called, “Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veteran for 60 Years of Growth.”

Federal Agencies Partner to Protect Veterans, Service Members and Their Families Using GI Bill Education Benefits, Launch New Online Complaint System  (Defense.gov)  The Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education and Justice, along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced today the launch of a new online complaint system designed to collect feedback from veterans, service members and their families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions receiving funding from federal military and veterans educational benefits programs, including benefits programs provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the DOD Military Tuition Assistance Program.

Veterans dying because of health care delays  (CNN.com)  U.S. veterans are dying because of delays in diagnosis and treatment at VA hospitals.

Veterans Center Aids EFSC Students  (Space Coast Daily)  For Rob Ganoe, it means an opportunity for veterans to “find enrichment and complete our education.”

Benefits

Repeal military pension cuts now, Sen. Jeff Sessions says, as Pentagon asks for commission study  (AL.com)  Sen. Jeff Sessions said he’s glad Pentagon leaders are joining lawmakers to call for changes to planned pension cuts for working-age military retirees.

Push for new national cemeteries, as veteran deaths bring sites near capacity  (Fox News)  National cemeteries across the country are starting to reach capacity amid an increase in the number of veterans dying — fueling a push for the government to approve new sites, particularly in states that don’t have any.

Senate panel approves bill to extend in-state tuition to veterans  (NJ.com)  Just over a month after New Jersey extended in-state college tuition to unauthorized immigrants who grew up here, the state Legislature is looking to expand tuition breaks to another group of people.

No Plans In The Works To Close Base Commissaries, Says Top Military Official  (KPBS.org)  The rumor mill has been circulating the same piece of information for months – that the Department of Defense plans to close all stateside base commissaries.

Military-pensions hearing raises alarm on cost of pay  (PilotOnline.com)  The uproar last month over changes to military pensions may have worked – senators from both parties indicated Tuesday they want to repeal the measure and put money back into the pockets of working-age retirees.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/30/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 1/30/14

Good news story of the day

Thousands on hand for inspiring Wounded Warriors game  (The New York Post)  Take notice, take a stand and take heart.

Military transition

Corps help Wounded Warriors transition back into work  (US Army Corps of Engineers)  Wounded Warriors from the Operation Warfighter Program employ job internships to ease their transition from military service to civilian life.

June officer RIF board to offer voluntary separation pay  (Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs)  The Air Force will convene an officer reduction in force board June 16 to evaluate eligible officers for retention, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 27.

Army, veterans groups focus on reintegration for Soldiers  (KTSM.com)  As the Army draws down in Afghanistan and reduces its overall force strength, Army leaders and veterans groups remain focused on ensuring Soldiers have the support to be successful in the civilian world.

Warrior Transition Command launches website providing direct access to information for wounded and ill Soldiers  (Army.mil)  To provide wounded, ill and injured Soldiers greater ownership of their recovery and transition, the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) launched a new public website that provides robust, detailed information on the Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP).

Financial aid, peer support drawing veterans to Catholic universities  (Catholic Philly)  Catholic colleges and universities across the United States are attracting military veterans of recent wars with a combination of financial aid, individualized assistance and opportunities for peer support.

NEW: Job fair to help veterans, military spouses  (Herald-Tribune)  If you are a veteran or military spouse trying to get back into the civilian workforce or improve on your current job, a coalition of Southwest Florida groups has an event coming up with you in mind.

Job fair for veterans, military personnel set for Feb. 5  (The Wichita Eagle)  A job fair for military veterans and the spouses of military personnel is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Wichita.

JPMorgan Chase Announces $1 Million Investment In Higher Education Programs For Military Veterans  (FinChannel.com)  JPMorgan Chase & Co. will invest $1 million to fund higher education programs for  U.S. military veterans including grants to Florida State College at  Jacksonville, University of South Florida, The University of Texas at  Arlington and San Diego State University, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Four lessons learned by JPMorgan Chase in hiring veterans  (Tampa Bay Business Journal)  University of South Florida is in line for a $240,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co. as part of the financial service firm’s $1 million investment in higher education programs for U.S. military veterans.

Bridge program helps veterans transition to the classroom  (Eastern Progress)  Eastern prides itself on being a military-veteran friendly campus. One of the ways Eastern likes to keep its veterans in mind is by giving them the opportunity to be in classes with other vets through a bridge program.

Veterans

PepsiCo holding benefit for veterans  (Washington Post)  PepsiCo Inc. is making a $1 million donation and streaming a live concert Friday to benefit injured military veterans and their families.

Tennessee veterans gather for education, employment and entrepreneurship  (Examiner.com)  The Tennessee Veterans Business Administration sponsored the Fourth Annual Business and Education Expo at the Knoxville Convention Center on January 28, 2014.  The purpose of the expo is to provide veterans with the employment, education and entrepreneur opportunities.

Marina organization aims to help end veteran homelessness by 2015.  (Monterey County Weekly)  A possum saved Robert Jurado’s life.

Marine wounded warriors guests of News America Marketing for Super Bowl XLVIII  (Examiner.com) Staff Sergeant John Detamore and Corporal Chad Ohmer, of the U.S. Marines Corps, will attend Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, February 2 and the weekend-long festivities leading up to the game as guests of News America Marketing.

Veterans affairs

Start VA claims before end of active service  (Camp Lejeune Globe)  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mission at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is to administer the joint Department of Defense (DOD)/VA Pre-Discharge Programs.

State officials reach out to meet every veteran in South Dakota  (Rapid City Journal)  The Capitol is a very busy place this time of year. Not only are legislators and lobbyists in town, but also interested citizens from all across the state – people who want to know more about the process or have a say in what’s being done in the Legislature. It’s like the indoor state fair.

Survey will identify homeless vets in Riverside County  (CBS Local)  The Department of Public Social Services will deploy personnel into multiple communities beginning at 6 a.m. to identify homeless veterans.

Cumberland County in top three for State Veterans Cemetery  (Crossville Chronicle)  Crossville and Cumberland County made the short list of one of the top three sites being considered for locating the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery.

Agent Orange linked to increased risk of skin cancer  (Examiner.com)  A new report adds to past evidence that risk of non-melanotic invasive skin cancer (NMISC) is increased even four decades after Agent Orange exposure, with at least some exposed veterans having unusually aggressive non-melanoma skin cancers.

Closer to home  (The Pueblo Chieftain)  Southern Colorado veterans have been lobbying for more than a decade to establish a new national cemetery in these parts.

Gastrointestinal backlog reported at second east Georgia VA hospital  (The Augusta Chronicle)  The Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta isn’t the only hospital of its kind in east central Georgia to delay consultations for gastrointestinal patients.

County works with Department of Veteran Affairs to get valley vets off the streets  (KESQ.com)  Mark Weber, the economic development manager for the city of Coachella, spent the day visiting parts of the city many people turn a blind eye to.

Senator Asks Veterans Agency to Review How Financial Advisers Are Accredited  (New York Times) Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri is asking the Department of Veteran Affairs to examine its process for accrediting thousands of financial advisers in the face of concerns over abuses of veterans’ benefits.

Benefits

Veterans’ groups disappointed in Obama on veteran benefits  (The Washington Times)  While President Obama talked about many initiatives to help veterans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, veterans’ groups criticized him Wednesday for not demanding a full repeal of cuts to military retirement benefits.

State funded program mentors El Paso veterans  (KFoxTV.com)  The Department of Veterans Affairs recently released a report that shows suicides among young veterans just getting out of the military are three times higher than active-duty soldiers.

The Veterans-Benefits Bandwagon Is Getting Mighty Crowded  (National Journal)  Congress’s effort to repeal its own $6 billion cut to veterans benefits has a bizarre problem: It has too much support.

Automation Speeds Benefits Processing for Post-9/11 GI Bill Students  (Press Release Point)  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decreased the time it takes to process requests for GI Bill benefits for returning students by nearly 50 percent compared to fiscal year 2012.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/29/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 1/29/14

Good news story of the day

Man running from Maine to Super Bowl to benefit Wounded Warriors  (Boston.com)  Gary Allen grew up on Great Cranberry, a small island off the coast of Maine.

Military transition

Board targets colonels for early retirement  (Navy Times)  Colonels who are pilots, combat systems officers, special tactics officers, intelligence officers, among other career fields, could be retired under a broadened selective early retirement board the Air Force will convene between June 16 and July 4.

An aggressive voice for the newest vets  (The Hill)  Ten months after leaving the Army, Tom Tarantino could not find a job.

RIF-eligible captains, majors can apply for voluntary exit Feb. 6  (Air Force Times)  Some captains and majors who are eligible for a reduction-in-force board can apply for voluntary separation between Feb. 6 and May 1.

Career Resource Center hosts job expo for EASing Marines  (Camp Lejeune Globe)  Marines and Sailors serving on active duty get a paycheck every two weeks to pay their bills, buy groceries and shop for personal items.

Life Wireless To Participate In “Hiring Our Heroes” Job Fairs  (The Street)  Life Wireless, a cellular provider offering free phone service to income-eligible customers through the federal Lifeline program, is seeking to hire military veterans, military spouses, active duty military members, and guard and reserve members as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s “Hiring Our Heroes” initiative.

Veterans

Man fined $1K for not removing Wounded Warrior flag  (News4Jax.com)  Controversy is brewing between a Palm Coast man and his homeowners association after he said they told him to remove a flag from his own backyard or else pay a hefty fine. The flag is for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization designed to help the nation’s heroes.

Retired Air Force, Army vet worked with Jonas Salk  (TribLive)  Terry Goldner’s parents made her wait until she was 21 before enlisting in the Army.

Meet a Marine Vietnam veteran who creates busts of fallen warriors  (Marine Corps Times)  A former lance corporal who served in Vietnam is using his artistic skills to honor Marines and Navy corpsmen who’ve been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

President Obama concludes State of the Union with powerful story of wounded warrior  (Washington Examiner) President Obama concluded his State of the Union address Tuesday evening by sharing a story of wounded Army Ranger Cory Remsburg, who was present for the speech.

Fleet and Family Support Center and Other Services  (DCMilitary.com)  The Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), located in Building 11, offers helpful programs and professional services to assist you in meeting the unique challenges of military life

Veterans Museum is a jewel in Germantown  (Dayton Daily News)  A jewel of Germantown is the Veterans Memorial Museum Foundation (VMMF).

Veterans in the SOTU: Ending the Mindset That Got Us Into War  (Huffington Post)  In a debate with Hillary Clinton in January 2008, now-President Barack Obama said about ending the war in Iraq:

Veterans affairs

Margie Risseeuw works to provide veterans with benefits they deserve  (CapeGazette.com)  To meet Margie Risseeuw, you’d never guess that, in addition to enjoying beach life, she’s one of two highly qualified, accredited claims agents in Delaware for the office of the U.S. General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Survey to Help Veterans Find Better Jobs  (Military.com)  Veterans often find it difficult to find a stable first job right out of the military.

Military affairs beat: Needs of women veterans surveyed  (Star Tribune)  A national survey of women veterans points to a greater need for access to community-based medical care and a need to integrate traditional veterans services with primary care, reproductive care and mental health care.

House Veterans Affairs chairman: We’ll be forced to take legislative action if Obama won’t fix veteran issues  (The Daily Caller)

The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee slammed President Obama’s record on veteran issues ahead of Obama’s sixth State of the Union address Tuesday, declaring that Congress “will be forced to take legislative action” to hold the administration accountable.

Benefits

Democrats’ Plan to Pay for Veterans Benefits? Do It Later.  (National Journal)  Democrats and Republicans have agreed: They made a horrible mistake when they jointly agreed to slash $6 billion in veterans’ benefits as part of December’s bipartisan budget deal.

Fox Says DOD Must Slow Growth of Military Compensation  (American Forces Press Service)  The Defense Department must slow the rate of growth in military pay and compensation or the organization will not be able to fight and win the nation’s wars, Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Christine H. Fox said here today.

Ayotte tweaks proposal to repeal military pension cuts  (The Hill)  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) is trying to win over Democrats to back her proposal repealing $6 billion in military pension cuts.

Grandfather current troops, retirees on COLA cuts, DoD urges  (Military Times)  The Pentagon opposes the pending reductions in annual retirement pay increases and believes changes in the military retirement system should come not from Congress but from a commission convened to study benefits modernization, senior officials told lawmakers Tuesday.

Budget Cuts Are Sending the Wrong Message to Veterans  (Defense One)  Troops, veterans, and military families are used to being roughed up – by deployments, frequent moves, visible and invisible injuries, combat deaths, and so on.

Begich Pushing To Restore Veteran Benefits  (Alaska Public Media)  Veterans and military members in Alaska and around the country have been outraged at Congress since December, when lawmakers passed a budget that would trim their retirement benefits, starting in 2015.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/28/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 1/28/14

Good news story of the day

Glendale Heights collecting valentines for veterans  (Daily Herald)  Do you remember how fun Valentine’s Day was in elementary school?

Military transition

JPMorgan Chase Announces $1 Million Investment in Higher Education Programs for U.S. Military Veterans  (Business Wire)  JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced today it will invest $1 million to fund higher education programs for U.S. military veterans including grants to Florida State College at Jacksonville, University of South Florida, The University of Texas at Arlington and San Diego State University.

Veterans still fighting for survival in tough job market  (CNN Money)  The transition from soldier to civilian is rough.

Protecting Our Veterans From Domestic Enemies  (The Huffington Post)  The nation has changed dramatically since I returned from World War II in 1946.

Corporate jobs initiative meets 100,000 vet hiring goal  (USA Today)  A coalition of companies that vowed in 2011 to hired 100,000 veterans within a decade has made its goal seven years early, announcing today that 117,439 former service members have since been provided jobs.

Solar jobs attracting industry veterans  (Fierce Energy)  The Solar Foundation (TSF) has released its fourth annual National Solar Jobs Census, which found that the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 Americans in 2013, including the addition of 23,682 solar jobs over the previous year — a 19.9 percent growth in employment since September 2012.

Veteran job fair Tuesday at Temple VA  (KWKT.com)  On January 28, Veterans are invited to a job fair from 9 a.m. to noon at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center, part of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Fort Bliss summit to teach businesses and military veterans about jobs  (El Paso Times)  How companies can hire military veterans and how veterans can find jobs will be covered at the two-day Fort Bliss Veterans Jobs Summit Feb. 3-4.

Veterans Corner: Veterans Job and Resource Fair on April 10  (The Sentinel)  Mark your calendars.

Veterans fair offers help with housing, jobs, benefits  (The Record Searchlight)  North State veterans struggling to make ends meet may be eligible for a variety of essential services and benefits unknown to them.

Veterans

Are U.S. Veterans Selfish?  (Time)  It’s an impudent question, but one that naturally surfaces given the outrage rolling in from assorted veterans’ groups as Congress and the Pentagon seek ways to trim government spending that sometimes affect those who have volunteered to fight America’s wars.

HOA wants Palm Coast man to remove wounded warriors flag from home  (WFTV.com)  A Palm Coast man said he’s racking up hundreds in fines for refusing to take down a flag that supports America’s wounded warriors.

UM Brain Injury Research to Benefit Athletes, Military  (ABCFoxMontana.com)  Professional athletes and members of the military could soon benefit from traumatic brain injury research at the University of Montana.

Connecting Veterans To Capital (The Street)  Pan American Bank today announced the “Connecting Veterans to Capital” workshop scheduled for February 5, 2014.

Afghan war vets, St. Louis researchers seek answers on head injuries  (St. Louis Post Dispatch)  For hours on route clearance missions in southern Afghanistan, Sgt. Michael Ritchey crammed his short body into a Husky, a single-seat vehicle that loosely resembles an armored road-grader.

It’s wounded amputee team, with Wisconsin native, vs. ex-NFL players  (Journal-Sentinel)  Sure, Jeremy Stengel loves the camaraderie of flag football.

For injured veteran, war continues even at home  (PilotOnline.com)  Chuck Rotenberry can talk about the virtues of others, both man and dog, at length.

Veterans affairs

ANN ARBOR: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System honored for patient care  (Ann Arbor Journal)  VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) celebrated being the first healthcare organization to be awarded Planetree Silver Merit recognition for Significant Advancement in Patient-Centered Care with a special award ceremony featuring presentations by veterans and their loved ones who have received health care at the Ann Arbor VA.

Want to know why Wilmington’s VA compensation case backlog keeps growing? So would we (Delaware Online) Today marks the 38th day since I asked the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., for an on-the-record official to discuss why disability compensation cases were being transferred from Baltimore and Philadelphia to Wilmington and other northeast Veterans Benefits Administration offices last year, increasing Wilmington’s backlog – which continues to grow despite an overall national trend in the opposite direction.

VA closes community-based health care clinics Tues. and Wed. for weather  (The Times-Picayune)  The New Orleans office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will close 10 community-based health care clinics Tuesday and Wednesday due to predicted snow, sleet and ice.

Latest breach at VA has Congress asking more questions  (FCW)  The latest data breach at the Department of Veterans Affairs — this one exposing thousands of veterans’ personally identifiable information in a mid-January software glitch — has Congress again questioning the agency about its IT security practices.

At VHA, Doctors, Nurses Clash on Oversight  (Wall Street Journal) The Veterans Health Administration is taking heavy fire from doctor groups over a proposal to let nurses with advanced training practice medicine without physician supervision throughout the VHA system—even in states where laws require more oversight.

Xerox Helps Department of Veteran’s Affairs Automate Healthcare Claims Pricing  (Business Wire)  Xerox has been selected to improve the healthcare claims pricing strategy for the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.

Benefits

Omnibus VA bill would repeal pension reductions, ensure benefits during future  shutdowns  (Fierce Government)  An omnibus veterans affairs bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) would  fully repeal pension reductions, ensure veterans benefits if the government  shuts down again and introduce new veteran hiring goals.

TRICARE military centers closing walk-in services in April  (Standard-Examiner)  A personal touch looks to be disappearing from the military health benefits system.

Iowa Senate passes tax exemption for military retirement pay  (The Gazette)  The Iowa Senate voted Monday to exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes – a move that backers hope will encourage more veterans to stay, return or move to Iowa.
Top enlisted retirees push back on COLA cuts  (Military Times)  Chip Hoynes retired from the Coast Guard in 2007, landing a high-paying job with a defense contractor in the same field he worked in on active duty.

Hearings: Senate panel to examine military pension cut  (The Washington Post)  Lawmakers are off to a busy start after returning from a week-long break, with some notable congressional hearings taking place on Tuesday.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/27/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for 1/27/14

Good news story of the day

Veterans five months into trek from Milwaukee to Los Angeles  (Fox6Now.com)  For the past five months, two Milwaukee-area Iraq war veterans have been walking nearly every day.

Military transition

1,700+ Ga Vets Registered on Operation:Workforce  (CoosValleyNews.com)  Operation: Workforce, an online one-stop shop portal for all veteran employment issues in Georgia, is currently serving more than 1,700 veterans and 730 Georgia employers.

SEMO helping develop guide for schools to assist veterans  (The Daily Statesman)  Southeast Missouri State University has joined in a statewide effort that will create a guide to assist Missouri’s colleges and universities in becoming more “military friendly.”

AlliedBarton in Conshohocken helps keep veterans, retirees employed  (The Reporter)  Jerold Ramos chuckled when he recalled his first security job that paid $3.35 an hour back in the ’70s.

Transitioning to Civilian Life Through Higher Education  (The Flathead Beacon)  Barely a few years removed from serving as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, Robert Daniels was an alcoholic living in the streets.

Pro athletes share with military veterans how to get back in the game  (The Gazette)  Former NFL wide receiver Chris Sanders has never experienced combat.

100,000 Jobs Mission Reaches Goal Seven Years Early; Companies Hire 117,439 U.S. Military Veterans  (Market Watch) The 100,000 Jobs Mission announced today that its coalition members hired a total of 117,439 U.S. military veterans by the end of 2013 – surpassing the coalition’s original goal seven years early.

Veterans

Veterans Help People Sign Up for Insurance Plans Under ACA  (Philly.com)  U.S. military veterans are serving on a new mission at Cape Regional Medical Center.

Retired colonel homeless after 30 years in military  (Military Times)  Retired Air Force Col. Robert Freniere unintentionally became the public face for homeless veterans after a Philadelphia newspaper wrote about his struggle to find work.

Local nonprofit delivers quilts to wounded veterans  (The Oakland Press)  Miracle Quilts delivers quilts to wounded veterans at the American Legion Wilwin Lodge near Trout Lake and to veterans at the Michigan Veterans Foundation in Detroit.

Helping veterans overcome travails, Town of Lockport woman offers hope through SERV Niagara  (The Buffalo News)  Jennifer O. D’Andrea-Terreri spent most of her childhood on the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., so she knows all about the military mindset.

Veterans group recognizes those who help the military  (The New Hampshire Union Leader)  For those who served, both at home and abroad, it’s such a relief when someone can help fix a broken car or even a broken spirit through acts of generosity.

Records belie Pike County vet’s claims  (Pocono Record)  Newly obtained records tell a story profoundly different than the one supporters of Pike County Army veteran Timothy Flaherty have told about how he was injured in Afghanistan.

Veterans affairs

Therapy options grow for wounded veterans  (Orange County Register)  Sin’s department commissions a study every other year to identify the needs of female veterans.

Vietnam vet a symbol of overcoming VA delays  (Orlando Sentinel)  A Vietnam War veteran from Fort Lauderdale who suffered severe burns in combat and financial hardship back home will be watching from the House gallery Tuesday night when President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address.

Rising demand drives up cost of Scituate veterans programs  (Boston.com)  Scituate officials are grappling with high veterans’ costs for the fourth year in a row, but it’s a trend administrators don’t expect to last into the long-term.

Veterans’ service directors struggle to catch ‘double dippers’  (WCPO.com)  Some Ohio veterans are purposefully double dipping into pools of taxpayer cash set aside to support military families in crisis.

Louisiana’s Sen. Vitter touts work on ‘essential’ needs of veterans  (The Advertiser)  U.S. Sen. David Vitter wants to see local community clinics built, the national Veterans Affairs backlog reduced and retired military personnel protected in the budget.

Clinton County Veterans Affairs Office welcomes public with open house  (The Express)  The new Clinton County Veterans Affairs office is a real hit.

Veterans exposed to cadaver parts from contaminated lab  (The Chicago Tribune)  he Department of Veterans Affairs ordered $241 million of cadaver tissue and other material derived from human and animal bodies in the last three years, some of it from vendors warned by federal regulators about contamination in their supply chain.

House Veterans Committee adds latest VA cyber breach to ongoing investigations  (Federal News Radio)  The House Veterans Affairs Committee continues to press the Veterans Affairs Department over its struggle to secure its systems and the data of tens of millions of veterans.

Benefits

Iowa politicians line up to support veterans  (The Palm Beach Post)  Gov. Terry Branstad and state lawmakers are billing an effort to enhance services for veterans as a way to attract new residents to Iowa, but it’s tough to gauge if this push will really have an impact on the state population.

The last salute: Veterans can expect specific funeral protocol  (PNJ.com)  Retired Army. Col. Allan Ford of Pensacola is planning for his eventual funeral to include horses pulling his remains in a caisson to the grave site.

Vet Groups Vow to Fight Commissary Cuts  (Military.com)  Military family and benefits advocates said they plan to fight a new Pentagon proposal to gut the commissary program by slashing its funding.

Elder Law: Congress likely to change Veterans Affairs benefits this year  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) While only a small percentage of the millions of veterans and their families use the Aid and Attendance benefit offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is clearly a vital program for those in need of medically related assistance with their daily activities.

In State of the Union, military often takes a back seat  (Stars and Stripes)  Military watchers are hoping the president’s State of the Union speech Tuesday will feature lengthy passages about the war in Afghanistan, the recent reductions in military retirement pay or the veterans claims backlog.

Veterans’ group cautiously optimistic about DOD’s new directive  (One News Now)  Last week the DOD announced changes in its regulations that relax its rules regarding religious items like turbans and beards and religion-based physical attributes for its military personnel.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/24/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Military transition and veterans affairs news of the day for Thursday 1/24/14

Good news story of the day

Verizon to fund hospice care for veterans  (Southern Maryland Newspapers Online)  With U.S. Census Bureau figures showing that 1 in 10 Charles County residents and 1 in 4 terminally ill Americans have served in the armed forces, Hospice of Charles County will expand its hospice services to provide care for veterans.

Military transition

Ready to get out? Army ramps up transition help  (Army Times)  Regulations require that separating soldiers receive transition services no later than one year before departing active duty, but Army is moving toward a strategy that will initiate those services much earlier in a soldier’s career.

Hired! For Veterans   (Fox News)  While unemployment levels are down overall, younger veterans, female veterans and older veterans are still struggling. Here are company’s looking to hire America’s heroes and their spouses.

Exelis, Korn Ferry and Points of Light Train Veterans to Apply Military Experience to Leadership in Civilian Careers  (WSJ Online)  Through its corporate volunteer service program Exelis Action Corps, defense and aerospace company Exelis Inc. has partnered with global talent consultancy Korn Ferry and nonprofit organization Points of Light to launch the Leveraging Military Leadership Program.

Veterans

Bitter cold affects agency that helps veterans, donations needed  (Fox6Now.com)  The frigid temperatures are affecting so many things — utility bills, car batteries and the homeless. One agency has experienced an influx of homeless veterans and their families seeking shelter — and that is causing a problem.

Disabled Veterans National Foundation Reflects on 41st Anniversary of Vietnam War’s Conclusion  (Yahoo.com) The Disabled Veterans National Foundation, a nonprofit veterans service organization that focuses on helping men and women who serve and return home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom, is reflecting upon the importance of the coming anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. January 27th will mark the 41st year since the war came to an official end.

Congressmen join Veterans Lobby Day at statehouse  (WCF Courier)   A pair of Iowa’s U.S. House members were at the State Capitol Wednesday talking about better treatment of military veterans.

Shumlin promotes programs for vets and military  (Bennington Banner)  Gov. Peter Shumlin promoted programs for veterans and military personnel at his weekly news conference Wednesday.

Veterans affairs

Bill would give O.C. a veterans cemetery  (Orange County Register)  Orange County could become home to a veterans cemetery if a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva passes through the legislature.

Veterans get physical with Saginaw’s Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center program  (MLive.com) Military veterans are used to carrying 65 or more pounds in a rucksack, but some could use help to lose weight they put on after leaving active service.

VA Medical Center opening delayed until December  (Orlando Sentinel)  After a long standoff over when the Orlando VA Medical Center would officially open, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the contractor for the new medical center have agreed on a date: December, more than two years later than promised.

Editorial: Too many veterans’ advisers cheat the government  (Tampa Bay Times)  Aging military veterans are being used by a growing coterie of unethical benefits advisers who see an opportunity to rip off a pension program and veterans alike.

Biloxi VA aims to be more patient-oriented  (SunHerald.com)  The times are changing and the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System aims to change with them.

U.S. Vets Exposed to Contaminated Cadaver Parts From Labs  (Bloomberg.com)  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ordered $241 million of cadaver tissue and other material derived from human and animal bodies in the last three years, some of it from vendors warned by federal regulators about contamination in their supply chain.

Benefits

Is COLA cap relief tied now to a rocket or a falling star?  (Stars and Stripes)  Senate Democrats have tied repeal of the COLA cap for working-age military retirees to a mammoth veterans’ health and benefits bill that they aren’t sure yet how to pay for or whether Republicans will support it.

Senate to Vote on Veteran Benefits Reform Bill  (Executive Gov)  The Senate is set to decide on legislation that would extend various veteran privileges and create new benefits for former military service members, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

Sanders touts bill that will benefit vets  (Berkshire Eagle)   Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spoke with reporters across the country via teleconference Wednesday, describing and praising his most recently proposed bill.

VA Benefits may help your parents afford assisted living  (Examiner.com)  Assisted living costs can easily creep upwards of $4,000, making it very difficult for some seniors to get the assistance they need.

Veterans fair offers help with housing, jobs, benefits  (Redding.com)  North State veterans struggling to make ends meet may be eligible for a variety of essential services and benefits unknown to them.

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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 1/22/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Wednesday, January 22 2014:

Good news story of the day

Garden will help veterans in need  (NewBernSJ.com)  A program being launched this spring in the Duffyfield area intends to help veterans find employment and provide the community with fresh vegetables.

Transition

Enlisting Companies To Invest In Veterans  (The Wall Street Journal)  With the drawdown of America’s major post-9/11 overseas engagements, nearly a million of the country’s finest men and women will be leaving the armed forces and joining the economy. With that in mind, we want to focus on the long-term futures of our veterans.

Job drive created for soon-to-be veterans  (The Tennessean)  The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce has launched a new program to connect job seekers exiting the military and employers trying to fill many of the high-skilled jobs available across the county.

Vice chief discusses 3,000-man brigades, HQ cuts  (Army Times)  Soldiers could be in store for significantly smaller, more technically advanced brigade combat teams, according to Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Campbell, who discussed the service’s future in an interview with Army Times this month from Fort Hood, Texas.

Veterans unemployment may be OK’d  (GuamPDN.com)  Calvin Coolidge once said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Sears Holdings To Hire 6,500 Veterans And Military Spouses In 2014  (Yahoo Finance)  Sears Holdings Corporation announced today that it anticipates hiring 6,500 veterans and military spouses in 2014.

Veterans

World War II Marine gets overdue funeral in Chowchilla  (Fresno Bee)  Seventy-five-year-old military veteran Kevin Johnson fought back tears Monday standing over his father’s grave as his colleagues handed him a folded flag.

Veteran puts Army skills to work in new career as a fitness trainer  (The Washington Post)  After a 23-year career in the U.S. Army, Valetta SuRae Stewart was concerned that the primary skills she could bring to the private sector were “breaking things and killing people.”

Veterans Left Behind on the Battlefield: A New Form of Veteran Discrimination Emerging  (The Huffington Post) U.S. Navy Adm. (ret.) Mike Mullen coined the term “sea of goodwill” to describe the positive attitudes in the United States toward veterans and the military in general.

Programs help war veterans transition to civilian life  (MassLive.com)  The wounds of war are not always visible.

Homeless Veterans Laid To Rest At Cemetery Of The Alleghenies  (CBS Pittsburgh)  A pair of veterans were laid to rest Tuesday at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

Veterans Affairs

VA Medical Center Seeks Help to Shelter Veterans from the Cold  (Your4State.com)  The Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center is asking for the public’s help in getting veterans off of the street during this latest snow storm.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Online application for duplicate driver license, ID card with veterans identifier now available for eligible veterans  (WisPolitics.com)   The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced today that a new online application system is in place for veterans who are requesting a duplicate driver license or identification card with a “VETERAN” identifier.

‘Defect’ on VA benefits site shares vets’ personal details online  (Fox News)  Thousands of veterans may have had their personal information broadcast online following a major “defect” on a popular benefits website run by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.

Benefits

Senate could vote to restore $6B military pension cut next week   (The Hill)  Senators may consider a new proposal to restore cuts to military veteran pensions as early as next week, according to a Senate aide.

Lawmaker: Congress crying ‘crocodile tears’ over military pension cuts  (The Hill)  Rep. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.) criticized Congress over the weekend by saying members are talking about restoring a $6 billion cut to military pensions, but aren’t doing anything to actually restore those benefits.

Former top military officer sees national debt as biggest threat to country  (The Washington Examiner)  Retired Adm. Mike Mullen on Tuesday went well beyond his traditional area of expertise, military affairs, and held forth on issues ranging from the national debt to K-12 education.

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Military/Veteran Transitionnews for 1/21/14

Posted by Mike Grice on

Transitionnews for Tuesday, January 21st 2014:

Good news story of the day

Fort Bragg projects set to break ground  (FayObserver.com)  Two national nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping troops and their families will break ground on Fort Bragg projects this week.

Transition

Study: Marine vets from non-combat jobs more likely to draw unemployment  (Marine Corps Times)  A new study offers surprising insights about Marines’ use of unemployment compensation and education benefits once they leave the Corps, and has inspired creation of a calculator that can help determine who may need greater assistance transitioning to civilian life.

Michigan Values Veterans Conference  (Crain’s Detroit Business)  The conference is for employers who would like to learn more about hiring veterans can help build a strong workforce.

No end in sight for Marines’ Wounded Warrior Regiment as war winds down  (Marine Corps Times)  The war in Afghanistan may be ending, but the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment isn’t going anywhere.

AlliedBarton Security Services Hires 5,000 Veterans in 2013  (Market Watch)  AlliedBarton Security Services, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel, hired more than 5,000 military veterans and reservists in 2013, fully supporting their Hire Our Heroes(SM) initiatives.

Student veterans one step closer to in-state tuition  (Tallahassee.com)  The transition to college could get a little bit easier for student veterans in Florida.

Aegis hires over 600 Military Veterans and their spouses in USA  (IIFL)  Aegis Limited, a global outsourcing and technology services company, announced today that it has hired more than 600 US military veterans and spouses during 2013.

US Army Studying Replacing Thousands of Grunts with Robots   (DefenseNews.com)   The postwar, sequestration-era US Army is working on becoming “a smaller, more lethal, deployable and agile force,” according to Gen. Robert Cone, head of the service’s Training and Doctrine Command.

Defense Industry Ponders Where It Goes From Here  (National Defense)  The Pentagon was declared the big winner of the massive federal budget bill that Congress passed for fiscal year 2014.

Veterans

Disabled veterans would be given preference for state contracts under bill proposed by Sen. Ritchie of Heuvelton  (North Country Now)  Disabled veterans would be given preference for state contracts under a measure supported by Sen. Patricia Ritchie of Heuvelton, who represents western St. Lawrence County.

New York law gives preference to vets for state temp jobs  (StaffingIndustry.com)   A new New York State law gives military veterans preference for state temporary jobs normally filled by employees from for-profit temporary staffing firms, New York State Sen. Greg Ball’s office announced.

Veterans can earn a reduction in their property tax through new new Veteran’s Work-off Program  (WickedLocal.com)  Veterans who have served their country honorably can apply for a reduction in taxes if they are willing to work for it.

Foreclosed-on Veteran Sues Bank Over ‘Dual Tracking’  (SCVNews.com)  Sixteen months after Habitat for Humanity volunteers rehabbed his Stevenson Ranch home, a military veteran is suing JP Morgan Chase over what he claims was an illegal foreclosure.

Veterans cemetery nears completion  (SFGate.com)  Muddy roads will soon give way to asphalt and bare ground transformed with sod and landscaping as construction of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery near Slidell enters its final stages.

Fighting for each other; veterans band together  (The Chippewa Herald)  Garth Johnson of Stanley has lots of experience fighting with the Veterans Administration to get medical benefits.

Veterans Affairs

Kognitio CEO Steve Millard Named to Executive Board of Xavier University’s Center for Veterans Affairs  (Financial Content)  Steve Millard, president and chief executive officer of Kognitio, has been named to the board of the Center for Veterans Affairs at Cincinnati’s Xavier University.

Next Leader of Pittsburgh VA Must Implement Significant Reforms Following Deadly Legionnaires’  (Politicalnews.me)  U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to Robert A. Petzel, M.D. Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, calling for a fresh vision as the VA seeks a new director of the VA Health Care VISN4, which includes the VA Pittsburgh Health System.

SD kicks off Reaching All Veterans, aims to locate 75,000 vets in state  (The Daily Republic)  The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs has kicked off one of the most aggressive outreach campaigns in the history of the department: Operation RAV (Reaching All Veterans).

Benefits

What Will Congress Cut to ‘Support Our Troops’?  (National Journal)  Congress undid some of its planned cuts to veterans’ benefits in the latest spending bill, but it also left the vast majority of the reductions in place.

Senate to hold hearing on pending COLA cuts  (Military Times)  Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., has scheduled a hearing to examine the impact of the pending cost-of-living adjustment cuts for military retirees.

N.D. vets eye Pentagon’s pension cuts; Congress trying to undo change  (Grand Forks Herald)  North Dakota veterans are watching, but not yet pounding on doors, over recent cuts to military pensions for some veterans.

Lawmaker’s plan would offer tax credits for hiring vets  (AZDailySun.com)  A Lake Havasu City lawmaker wants to add some teeth to the concept that it pays to hire a vet.

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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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