VA to Begin Recovery of Post-9/11 GI Bill Advance Payments
[1/26/2010]
The Department of Veterans Affairs is beginning the process of recovering advance payments made available during the fall 2009 semester to servicemembers who applied for education benefits.
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Veteran Gives Insight on Suicide Prevention
[1/13/2010]
When retired Army Maj. Ed Pulido was medically evacuated from Iraq in August 2004, he knew tough challenges were ahead, as he’d have to learn to live without his left leg.
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A Word About Veterans’ Preference
[1/7/2010]
Since the time of the Civil War, veterans of the Armed Forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Recognizing their sacrifice, Congress enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking Federal employment from being penalized for their time in military service.
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Federal Officials Pledge Support for Hiring Veterans
[11/13/2009]
On November 12, senior federal officials pledged their support of President Barack Obama’s directive to increase the hiring of military veterans.
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Nation's Capital Hosts Throngs for Veterans Day Memorials
[11/12/2009]
On Veteran's Day, the nation’s capital hosted throngs of people paying tribute to men and women who currently or previously wore the uniform of the U. S. military.
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Program Allows Wounded Veterans to Continue Service
[11/5/2009]
“The Mission Continues” allows wounded or disabled veterans from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan to become fellows. Once a fellow, the veteran is awarded a monetary grant to cover cost-of-living expenses during a fellowship working with a charitable organization, to provide 40 hours of service weekly for an average of 14 weeks.
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Chairman Honored for Efforts to End Homelessness Among Veterans
[10/30/2009]
The Soldier On award was created as an annual recognition of a person who has made a significant contribution to ending homelessness among veterans. Mullen received a bronze statuette created by internationally acclaimed sculptor Andrew DeVries, who will create statuettes for future honorees, as well.
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Pentagon, VA Team Up to Improve Mental Health Care
[10/27/2009]
Defense officials have gradually realized that care for psychological wounds must have the same focus, initiative, and standards as the care for physical injuries, Gates said, noting the past two years have seen significant improvements in mental health care.
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Obama Signs Veterans Health Care Legislation
[10/25/2009]
The Veterans Healthcare Reform and Transparency Act fundamentally changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs receive health care funding. The reform calls for appropriations a year in advance after more than two decades of regular budget delays.
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First Lady Notes VA’s Road of Change
[10/21/2009]
First Lady Michelle Obama expressed gratitude for Veterans Affairs employees and their dedication during a visit to the department on October 20. She also encouraged them not to waiver in their dedication to the country’s veterans.
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Picatinny Veterans Recognized for Selfless Service
[10/20/2009]
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — "These are the times that try men's souls," said retired Army Col. Stephen G. Abel, state deputy commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to more than 100 veterans from Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties who were recognized at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall in Rockaway Sept. 22.
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Outward Bound Opportunities Still Available This Year To OEF/OIF Veterans
[10/18/2009]
Outward Bound, an international non-profit outdoor education program, is still offering fully funded outdoor adventure excursions to all OEF/OIF veterans.
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Shinseki Pledges Better Support for Veterans
[10/14/2009]
Among the nation’s 23.4 million living veterans, nearly 8 million choose to access Veterans Affairs-provided services and benefits. The department of Veteran Affairs will work diligently every day to provide those services “faster, better, and more equitably.”
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VA Goes Green
[10/13/2009]
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced a new “Green Routine” campaign to kick off Energy Awareness Month at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The campaign is designed to increase the awareness among VA employees of their environmental impact as individuals and as members of the federal government.
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Remains of Civil War Soldier Return Home on Anniversary
[10/5/2009]
SHARPSBURG, Md. (Sept. 17, 2009) - The remains of a Union Civil War Soldier found at the Antietam National Battlefield here were buried September 17th in his home state of New York on the 147th anniversary of the battle, the Civil War's bloodiest day.
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VA to provide emergency checks to students awaiting benefits
[9/29/2009]
Checks for up to $3,000 soon will be available to students who have applied for Veterans Affairs educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment.
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Saluting Former POWs, Missing in Action
[9/18/2009]
A group of senior U.S. officials paid homage to servicemembers who have been prisoners of war or are listed as missing in action during an observance ceremony on the Pentagon’s River Terrace parade field on September 18.
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WWII Veteran Warms Wounded Soldiers
[9/13/2009]
Support to Soldiers comes in many forms, and few things are more tangible to wounded warriors than the quilts that warm their recovery. One group's mission is to cover all wounded and injured servicemembers from the Global War on Terror, whether physical or psychologically, with wartime quilts called Quilts of Valor (QOV).
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Monument Honors Forgotten Korean War Heroes
[9/5/2009]
A monument was unveiled Sept. 2 to recognize the forgotten heroes who helped to capture the critical Hwachon Dam hydroelectric plant during the Korean War.
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VA Suicide Prevention Campaign Expands With On-Line Chat Service
[9/1/2009]
Veterans Chat enables Veterans, their Families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If the chats are determined to be a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the chatter to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken.
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VA to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules
[8/24/2009]
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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DoD, VA Work to Create Lifetime Electronic Records
[8/16/2009]
WASHINGTON (Aug. 14, 2009) — For servicemembers who still remember hand-carrying their medical records back and forth to appointments, the new virtual lifetime electronic record will help prevent misplaced paperwork and help providers maintain and offer quality health care.
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VFW Collects Wheelchairs for Disabled Vets
[8/15/2009]
FORT BENNING Ga. (Aug. 13, 2009) — Named for the medical evacution choppers who lent aid and mobility to wounded Soldiers in Vietnam, Operation Dust Off gives mobility through the gift of an electric wheelchair to disabled veterans.
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Web Site Features Jobs for Disabled Veterans
[8/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 15, 2009) — With more than 3,000 job openings, the creators of a new Web portal are hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment.
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Defense, Veterans Affairs collaborate on brain injuries
[7/24/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 20, 2009) — More than half of U.S. servicemembers seriously injured in Iraq or Afghanistan and admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center suffer from traumatic brain injury, according to Defense Veterans Brain Injury Center officials.
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Veterans compete in wheelchair games
[7/14/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 13, 2009) — A wide range of disabilities cannot stop more than 500 of America's wheelchair athletes, all U.S. military veterans, who are competing in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games being held July 13-18 in Spokane, Wash.
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Fort Jackson welcomes World War II veterans
[7/13/2009]
FORT JACKSON, S.C. (July 10, 2009) — A group of World War II veterans got a taste of modern Basic Combat Training and shared memories of their own experiences during a July 2 tour of Fort Jackson with Honor Flight South Carolina.
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Ceremony commemorates Vietnam War’s first combat casualties
[7/8/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 8, 2009) — Bright blue skies above the National Mall belied the solemnity of the ceremony commemorating the first two American combat casualties of the Vietnam War.
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VA Secretary announces opening Alabama National Cemetery
[7/8/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 6, 2009) — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officially opened its 129th national cemetery June 25 with the first burials at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.
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Leaders of veterans discuss issues facing Soldiers
[7/5/2009]
WASHINGTON (July 2, 2009) — The Army's fourth annual leadership conference for veterans' and military-service organizations was held June 26 at the Pentagon and although a number of issues were discussed, one echoed throughout the day: suicide prevention.
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Tiger Woods honors troops
[7/2/2009]
BETHESDA, Md. (July 1, 2009) — World-class golfer Tiger Woods honored U.S. military servicemembers by hosting the Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am golf tournament at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., during the Fourth of July weekend.
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VA begins stimulus payments to veterans
[6/26/2009]
WASHINGTON (June 25, 2009) — The first $250 payments to veterans as part of President Obama's recovery plan were sent June 22, and officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs said all payments will be distributed by June 30.
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Amputee combat vets return to Iraq for 'proper exit'
[6/24/2009]
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq (June 23, 2009) — Six amputee combat veterans put their uniforms back on and returned to Iraq Sunday for the first time since sustaining their injuries in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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VA launches 10-year health study of 60,000 new Veterans
[6/23/2009]
WASHINGTON (June 22, 2009) — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a large, long-term study to look carefully at a broad array of health issues that may affect Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans and their counterparts who served during the same time period.
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Soldier-musicians take 'Time Out' for veteran retirees
[6/18/2009]
WASHINGTON (June 17, 2009) — Golf, fishing, tours, recreation and live entertainment. Sounds like a vacation. It is ... sorta.
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Medal of Honor recipient to be honored at new museum June 12
[6/9/2009]
FORT BENNING, Ga. — Medal of Honor recipient Spc. Ross McGinnis, who was killed Dec. 4, 2006, in Iraq, when he covered a grenade with his body to save the lives of four others, will be honored at a ceremony at 5 p.m. June 12 at the National Infantry Museum.
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Yongsan honors hidden heroes
[6/9/2009]
YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea (June 9, 2009) — Just as President Barack Obama and European leaders were descending on Normandy, France, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day, U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Commander Col. Dave Hall and an entourage Soldiers and civilians recently visited the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery in Seoul, June 5, on a goodwill mission to honor American veterans buried here.
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Veterans take center stage in D-Day commemoration
[6/8/2009]
NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, France (June 7, 2009) – For nearly a week Department of Defense civilians and servicemembers from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines have been deployed to the small French town of Sainte Mere Eglise and this memorial beside Omaha Beach supporting events in honor of the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
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Obama joins heads of state to honor D-Day veterans
[6/8/2009]
NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, France (June 7, 2009) — U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prince Charles of Wales, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke here today at a ceremony honoring the servicemembers who fought and died during the allied invasion of Normandy 65 years ago.
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Wounded Soldier seeks to fulfill long-time dream
[6/5/2009]
WASHINGTON (June 4, 2009) — Before he was wounded in Iraq while serving in the Army as a special operations Soldier, Matt Nyman’s life revolved around family and outdoor activities. Now, despite having lost his right leg below the knee, he’s planning on fulfilling a long-time dream as he tries to conquer North America’s highest peak.
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Army publishes first National Guard retirement guide
[6/2/2009]
WASHINGTON (June 1, 2009) — The Army has published a 56-page retirement guide for National Guard Soldiers and their Families which covers subjects ranging from retirement point credits to how to apply for retirement pay.
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Senior veterans set to compete in Golden Age Games
[6/1/2009]
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 1, 2009) — Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf war arrived here today to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games.
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VA web site helps college counselors aid veterans
[5/27/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2009) — The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new web site to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts studying on their campuses.
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Obama honors servicemembers' ultimate sacrifices
[5/26/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 25, 2009) — President Barack Obama today hailed U.S. military members' unselfish service and willingness to lay down their lives on behalf of their fellow citizens during the annual Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Rolling Thunder roars through nations' capital
[5/25/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 24, 2009) — Pam Crane sat peacefully in a patch of freshly mowed grass along Highway 27 here in the nation’s capital, remembering her husband, his patriotism and his cause.
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Secretary Shinseki Addresses the National Coalition for Homeless
[5/22/2009]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2009) — Yesterday, the Secretary of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric K. Shinseki addressed the
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans National Conference (NCHV) at
the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.
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VA recognizes military sacrifices on Memorial Day
[5/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 22, 2009) — From parades to somber ceremonies and a
moment of silence, Americans will recall the sacrifices of military
members who paid the ultimate price for freedom on Memorial Day, Monday,
May 25.
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Joint services place 'Flags In' at Arlington National Cemetery
[5/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 22, 2009) — Every Memorial Day since 1948, Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) have made their way through Fort Myer's Selfridge Gate, rucksacks filled with American flags.
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D-Day survivor: Memorial Day for remembering heroes
[5/20/2009]
WEST POINT, Miss. (May 18, 2009) — Charles William Eubanks, a resident of West Point, Miss., wants to be remembered — not as a hero, but as a survivor of D-Day.
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Turning Hope Into Reality-Traumatic Brain Injury Research at the VA
[5/14/2009]
Washington, DC (April 29, 2009) — Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a complex type of injury to the brain's structure, is common among Veterans and has been called one of the "signature injuries" of modern combat.
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Regional recruiters help disabled veterans find Veteran Affairs jobs
[5/14/2009]
ATLANTA, Ga. (May 13, 2009) — With today's economic challenges, many people are looking for work. One advantage veterans have is there's help available, especially for those seeking employment within the Department of Veteran Affairs.
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Assistant Secretary Duckworth honored at Women to Watch awards
[5/6/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 6, 2009) - The Department of Veterans Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, L. Tammy
Duckworth, was honored by Running Start at their annual Women to Watch
Awards in Washington, DC. She spoke to a crowd of 300 young women at a
ceremony at the National Press Club.
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Army veteran invents Bleeding System For Wound Training
[5/5/2009]
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Tx. (May 1, 2009) - Up to 50% of casualties who die on the battlefield do so as the result of severe blood loss, the treatment of which requires the administration of red blood cells, plasma, and platelets or their substitutes.
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Gunnery Sergeant’s name to be added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial
[5/2/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 1, 2009) – The name of an American serviceman who died as a result of wounds suffered in combat in the Vietnam War will be inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial next week, the founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced.
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Program makes high-cost schooling accessible to troops, vets
[5/2/2009]
WASHINGTON (May 1, 2009) – Servicemembers and veterans who enroll in the new Post-9/11 GI Bill will be able to attend some of the country’s most prestigious – and high-cost –universities, thanks to a new program that’s gaining momentum in academic circles.
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Health care, communication top retiree concerns
[5/1/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 30, 2009) - Health care continues to be the single greatest issue for both current and future retired Soldiers, according to the Chief of Staff of the Army Retiree Council.
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Korean War hero receives Distinguished Service Cross
[4/29/2009]
FORT MYER, Va. (April 24, 2009) - Fifty-eight years after Sgt. 1st Class William T. Miles parachuted into North Korea, he was awarded the military's second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
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WWII veteran receives Bronze Star after 65 years
[4/22/2009]
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (April 21, 2009) - Pfc. Clarence Wallaert was shot in the hip by a German sniper while fighting against the German Winter Line in Italy Dec. 30, 1943. Wallaert bandaged his own wound and provided 12 hours of automatic rifle support for his Army comrades advancing into the Liri Valley-the "gateway to Rome."
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VA welcomes veterans home with new web site, blog
[4/20/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 20, 2009) – The Veterans Affairs Department has launched its new “Returning Veterans” Web site at http:// www.oefoif.va.gov to welcome home veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, veteran-centric Web site that focuses on their needs and questions, VA officials announced on April 20.
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Bronze Star awarded to Vietnam veteran
[4/17/2009]
FORT LEE, Va. (April 16, 2009) - More than 38 years after his actions during the Vietnam War, retired Master Sgt. Marvin L. Caldwell received the Army's fourth highest honor, the Bronze Star medal, during a ceremony at Virginia Tech on April 4.
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Group joins Branson, Mo., in saluting Purple Heart veterans
[4/16/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 16, 2009) – The Military Order of the Purple Heart, a Virginia-based troop-support group, will join the city of Branson, Mo., April 24 and 25 in a special “Hand in Hand” weekend honoring Purple Heart veterans across the country.
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Support group helps veterans navigate federal job application process
[4/15/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 14, 2009) – Navigating the federal job application process can be mindboggling, but veterans can have a personal guide thanks to a new Military Order of the Purple Heart Web site.
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Ceremony to recognize vets not eligible for Vietnam Wall inclusion
[4/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 9, 2009) – One-hundred twenty-three American heroes from the Vietnam War era will be honored posthumously this month during the annual In Memory Day ceremony, according to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
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Obama announces joint virtual lifetime electronic record
[4/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 9, 2009) - President Barack Obama announced plans today to create a joint virtual lifetime electronic record that will improve care and services to transitioning veterans by smoothing the flow of medical records between the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.
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VA budget adds mental-health services for returning combat vets
[4/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 9, 2009) – The proposed Department of Veterans Affairs funding request will provide more post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury services to combat veterans, as well as other mental-health care and services for wounded warriors, President Barack Obama said today.
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VA Secretary embraces ‘personal calling’ of serving veterans
[4/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 10, 2009) – Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki is a no-nonsense leader who wants veterans to measure his performance and that of the department he leads through concrete results, not rhetoric. “Veterans have been given a lot of promises over a bunch of years, and I have assured them that they should measure us by our accomplishments, not just the promises,” Shinseki told American Forces Press Service. “We have some things to deliver.”
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VA Nursing Academy expands to 15 universities, medical facilities
[4/10/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 10, 2009) – Five collegiate nursing programs became the newest partners in a Veterans Affairs Department initiative to bring more nurses into the national work force and improve the quality of health care veterans receive, the director of the VA’s Nursing Academy pilot program told American Forces Press Service on April 10.
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Uniform registration process to promote seamless military-to-veteran transition
[4/9/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 8, 2009) – The best way to ensure servicemembers transition seamlessly from the Defense Department to the Department of Veterans Affairs when they leave the military is to start the process at the swearing-in ceremony, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told American Forces Press Service.
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Oldest WWII vet embodies spirit of 'Year of the NCO'
[4/7/2009]
MILFORD, Conn. (March 31, 2009) - Army Secretary Pete Geren commemorated the Army’s Year of the NCO and Women’s History Month by visiting a 110-year-old World War II veteran and enlisting seven future Soldiers by her side in Milford, Conn., on March 31.
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Medical journal praises VA electronic health record
[4/6/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 6, 2009) – A recent study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine singles out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system of electronic health records.
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VA Secretary expects big impact from post-9/11 GI Bill
[4/3/2009]
WASHINGTON (April 3, 2009) – All systems are on track for this summer’s rollout of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said he expects to have as monumental an impact as the original World War II-era GI Bill of Rights.
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Bataan Memorial Death March honors World War II Soldiers
[4/3/2009]
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (April 2, 2009) – The resounding boom of cannon fire broke the sound of thousands of participants talking as they waited in anticipation March 29 for the start of the 2009 Bataan Memorial Death March.
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Vets bring encouragement, example to newly disabled comrades
[3/31/2009]
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. (March 31, 2009) – Someone who has lived with a disability for more years than he cares to count knows exactly what newly disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are going through.
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VA Secretary opens Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
[3/30/2009]
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. (March 30, 2009) – Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki opened the 23rd annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here last night, encouraging more than 400 participants he said had found their way “to the top of the mountain in search of miracles.”
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Vietnam vet unveils new project to honor the Fallen
[3/27/2009]
Actor Tom Selleck, Ernie Quintana, acting deputy director for the National Park Service, and Lisa Quiroz, senior vice president of corporate responsibility for Time Warner, react to one of the speakers at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund ceremony on the National Mall, March 26, 2009. DoD photo by Linda D. Kozaryn
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Obama salutes Medal of Honor recipients at Arlington National Cemetery
[3/27/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 25, 2009) – President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery today, surprising about 35 of the 98 living Medal of Honor recipients attending a wreath-laying ceremony.
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Obama drops proposal to bill insurance for vets' combat injuries
[3/20/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2009) – President Barack Obama has dropped a proposal to bill veterans’ private health insurance for combat-related injuries, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday.
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Center for Women Veterans hosts 'Lioness' documentary screening
[3/20/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 20, 2009) – In April 2004, at the height of the insurgency in Iraq, five female Soldiers unwittingly found themselves fighting alongside Marines in the battle for Ramadi and Fallujah.
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Troop support group helps vets, military families find jobs
[3/19/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2009) – Military veterans and spouses in the New Jersey area are getting help finding jobs from a troop support group.
The G.I. Go Fund will join forces with New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and the city of Newark to host its first Veterans and Military Family Job Fair on March 21 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
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VA to build stand-alone replacement hospital in Denver
[3/18/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 18, 2009) – Fulfilling President Obama’s pledge to “stand with our veterans as they face new challenges,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will build a stand-alone replacement hospital for its existing facility in Denver. The new facility will be located on the grounds of the Army’s former Fitzsimons hospital in Aurora.
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An open letter to veterans from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
[3/19/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 13, 2009) – Following is an open letter to Veterans from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki:
“My name is Ric Shinseki, and I am a Veteran. For me, serving as Secretary of Veterans Affairs is a noble calling. It provides me the opportunity to give back to those who served with and for me during my 38 years in uniform and those on whose shoulders we all stood as we grew up in the profession of arms.
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Former hostages honored with Defense of Freedom medal
[3/13/2009]
MIAMI (March 12, 2009) – Three U.S. defense contractors held captive for more than five years by Colombian narcoterrorists were presented the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart award during a ceremony at U.S. Southern Command headquarters on March 12.
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Web site updates, helps veterans after deployment
[3/19/2009]
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (March 11, 2009) - Since launching Aug. 5, 2008, Afterdeployment.org has grown to provide more information and resources for service members returning from deployment - as well as for their families.
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Army publishes first Reserve Retirement Guide
[3/5/2009]
WASHINGTON (March 4, 2009) -- The Army has created a Retirement Guide just for Army Reserve Soldiers and their families. The 26-page Army Reserve Non-regular Retirement Information Guide was written specifically to cover the unique circumstances of Reserve retirement.
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Tank that helped end Battle of the Bulge takes place in Army history
[3/3/2009]
VILSECK, Germany (Feb. 25, 2009) - One day after Christmas 1945, "Cobra King" battled its way into World War II history. One day before Christmas 2008, it officially began a new journey to its rightful place as part of the Army's heritage.
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Airborne legacy passed from grandfather to grandson
[3/3/2009]
(FORT BENNING, GA, March 2, 2009) - Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Mullen grew up with "about a million" Airborne stories. When he graduated from Airborne School Friday, he reminisced about some of the anecdotes his grandfather, Darrell Branstetter, a former Fort Benning paratrooper, told him when he was younger.
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Combat vet gives voice to military musicians
[2/24/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 24, 2009) – Music is considered by many to be a universal language, and for some military veterans, it is the only language that allows them to describe their experiences in combat and their struggles afterward.
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Servicemembers more realistic about retirement than civilians, survey shows
[2/24/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 24, 2009) – Servicemembers are more practical about their retirement needs than their civilian counterparts, according to a survey conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, Investor Education Foundation, in cooperation with the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
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Defense, VA reform evaluation system for seriously injured vets
[3/19/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 23, 2009) – Two years is much too long to determine service disabilities, especially when the injuries obviously qualify a servicemember for full benefits and compensation, a senior Defense Department official said on February 23.
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Face of Defense: Vietnam vets serve again in Iraq
[2/19/2009]
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq (Feb. 19, 2009) – Two deployed Soldiers who served in the Vietnam War are serving again -- this time in Iraq. Army Staff Sgt. Louis J. Swift and Army Chief Warrant Officer Steven M. Derry serve here with the 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, a National Guard unit from Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
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Suicide prevention hotline saves veteran's lives
[2/13/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 13, 2009) – Help is only a phone call away for military veterans considering suicide. Nearly 100,000 veterans, family members or friends of veterans have reached out for help by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. The hotline was launched July 2007.
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Face of Defense: Guardsman jumps back into service after near-fatal accident
[2/13/2009]
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq (Feb. 13, 2009) – How soon after a traumatic accident would you put yourself back in the same circumstances that nearly ended your life? For one fearless jumpmaster now closing in on his fourth consecutive year serving in Iraq, the answer is “right away.”
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Organization plans ‘Valentines for Veterans’ concerts
[2/12/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 11, 2009) – A nonprofit organization and officials from four Veterans Affairs hospitals joined forces to plan four free “Valentines for Veterans” concerts to show appreciation to veterans and their families.
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New Fisher House to serve southern California Veterans, families
[2/9/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 9, 2009) – It was pouring liquid sunshine as the Fisher House Foundation and the Veterans Affairs Department prepared to dedicate the 43rd Fisher House in Brentwood, Calif., on Feb. 6, but the significance of the event wasn’t lost on Mother Nature.
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African-American 'firsts' key to Army history, Part II of II
[2/9/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2009) - Each February, communities across the nation celebrate African American History Month, using this annual observance as an opportunity to honor the contributions of African Americans and create greater awareness regarding the richness of African-American culture.
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African-American 'firsts' key to Army history, Part I of II
[2/9/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2009) - Each February, communities across the nation celebrate African American History Month, using this annual observance as an opportunity to honor the contributions of African Americans and create greater awareness regarding the richness of African-American culture.
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Year of the NCO: Retired NCOs remember
[2/7/2009]
FORT MYER, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 6, 2009) - The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer is well underway and NCOs are being honored Army-wide, but Fort Myer Military Community Command Sgt. Maj. Jefferson Varner III wants to ensure that the year-long celebration of enlisted leaders isn't limited to those currently serving.
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Buffalo Soldier statue rededication opens Black History Month observance
[2/6/2009]
WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2009) – The Army reservist grandson of a Buffalo Soldier joined Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. in Washington on February 5 to rededicate a statue honoring the Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, all-black units made up of former slaves, freedmen, and black Civil War Soldiers.
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Vietnam vet, former Steeler shares lessons with Guard
[1/28/2009]
BISMARCK, N.D. (Jan. 28, 2009) - A Vietnam War veteran, who overcame great odds to become a successful National Football League player, shared his message of strength, attitude and optimism during the North Dakota National Guard's 2009 Safety Conference Jan. 24.
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Retired Gen. Wickham recalls Army Family Action Plan
[1/27/2009]
WASHINGTON (Jan. 26, 2009) - Ahead of this week's Army Family Action Plan Conference, a former Army chief of staff who initiated the plan a quarter century ago said the Army is doing a good job of taking care of families, but added that leaders can't take their eyes off the ball.
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Defense Department announces expedited Disability Evaluation System process for combat wounded
[1/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (Jan. 22, 2009) - The Department of Defense announced today, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a process designed to expedite a service member seriously injured in combat from military to veteran status, by waiving the standard Disability Evaluation System (DES), resulting in receipt of benefits in three to four months, compared to a recovery and standard DES process that would normally take much longer.
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Administration sets agenda for Veteran care
[1/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (Jan. 21, 2009) – President Barack Obama has promised to deliver the care and benefits the nation’s military veterans deserve while transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs into a 21st century organization, according to an administration agenda posted on the White House Web site.
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Shinseki sworn in, vows 21st century service to Veterans
[1/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (Jan. 21, 2009) – Retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki took the oath of office today as the Nation’s seventh Secretary of Veterans Affairs, assuming the leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs following Tuesday's confirmation by the Senate.
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Defense Department, VA Host Suicide Prevention Conference
[1/13/2009]
SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 13, 2009) – More than 750 people from the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and private enterprise -- including social workers, chaplains, researchers, and family members – are gathered here this week for a suicide-prevention conference.
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VA data show home health technology improves access to care
[1/22/2009]
WASHINGTON (Jan. 5, 2009) – Veterans with chronic conditions can manage their health and avoid hospitalization by using special technology provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in their homes, according to a recent study.
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