To better ascertain and monitor the health effects of the exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have announced an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed new collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

Now is your chance to get in on the discussion and be heard….

The comment period for the  Open Burn Pit Registry Airborne Hazard Self-Assessment Questionnaire ends 08/05/13

Related articles

• VA researcher quits over burn pit studies (stripes.com)
• Veterans say burn pits caused health problems // DOCUMENT (newsherald.com)
• U.S. military faulted for burn-pit use (gogreennation.org)

The four championing ARM13982, a bill to reform the currently flawed Military Justice System are:

• Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri: Senate Armed Services Committee
• Senator Susan Collins, Maine: Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
• Congressman Mike Turner, Ohio: Armed Services Oversight and Government Reform
• Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, MA:Co-Chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus

The bill seeks:

To amend title 10, United States Code, to make certain improvements in
the Uniform Code of Military Justice related to sex-related offenses
committed by members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

“The problems the U.S. military have had dealing with this issue-whether it’s aggressively prosecuting perpetrators or effectively protecting survivors-are well chronicled and have gone on far too long,” said U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a former county prosecutor and a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “It’s time for the reforms contained in this bill, and I’m going to work with my colleagues in both chambers and in both parties to ensure that they’re enacted.”

“The Department of Defense has a no-tolerance policy towards sexual assault, but the culture does not match that policy,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who supported the 2011 DEFENSE STRONG act. “Individuals who commit acts of rape or sexual assault have no place in the United States Armed Forces, an institution that depends upon the high standards, ethics, and character of its service members. This is an unacceptable situation and we must work together to address it.”

“With more outrageous revelations regarding sexual assault in the military, it’s clear further action is needed on this issue. By updating the BE SAFE Act (Better Enforcement for Sexual Assault Free Environments), which we have included in this year’s House NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), we will be taking  those additional steps. Specifically, enhanced rights for victims provided in this bill will ensure they not being re-victimized and are treated with respect through the judicial proceedings,” said Congressman Mike Turner, Co-Chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus.

While it is clearly felt by virtually everyone in the United States that no person should ever have to endure the physical suffering and mental trauma of Sexual Assault, it has also become very clear in recent years that, left alone, the Military Justice System reflects neither public opinion nor religious sentiment in their judicial processes.  Military judicial efforts have repeatedly shown to promote and retain those military members who commit rape, by systematically demoting and stigmatizing either the victim or any other military personnel who reports it.

Americans should all pray for guidance and support Congressional efforts to put a stop to the growing nightmare.  It is our moral, civil and civic duty to protect every last member of our United States Military from the current Military Justice System’s “Good old boy” practice of burying these traumatic injustices.  Sweeping these crimes under the rug is an unconscionable act that simultaneously encourages and rewards the sexual predators thriving inside the Military because of it.

-VFWlady, Laurie Cox

Related articles

• Women in Congress Confront the Military on Sexual Assault (rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Army Sergeant Said to Get Soldier to Work as Prostitute – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Senator: Fire commanders allowing sex assault (stripes.com)
• Sexual assaults in US military up 35% (rinf.com)
• Women Senators Vow No Tailhook Repeat on Sexual Assaults (bloomberg.com)

Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort 

30904 State Highway 225
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 Construction Completed: 2013

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Alabama National Cemetery

3133 Highway 119
Montevallo, AL 35115
Phone: 205-665-9039

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Alabama Fort Mitchell National Cemetery

553 Highway 165
Fort Mitchell, AL 36856
Phone: (334) 855-4731

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Alaska: Fort Richardson National Cemetery

Bldg. 58-512, Davis Hwy;
P.O. Box 5-498
Fort Richardson, AK 99505
Phone: (907) 384 – 7075

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Alaska: Sitka National Cemetery

803 Sawmill Creek Road
Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 384-7075

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Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery

1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail
Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635
Joe Larson, Director
Phone: 520-458-7144

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Arizona – Tucson Monte Calverio Tribal Veteran Cemetery

5149 W. Omokol
Tucson, Arizona 85757
Letticia M. Baltazar, Manager
Phone: 520-879-6317

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Arkansas Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock

1501 West Maryland Avenue
North Little Rock, AR 72120
Bill Wussick, Director
Phone: 501-683-2259

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Arkansas Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye

3600 Highway 163
Cherry Valley, Arkansas 72324
Mark Frank, Director
Phone: 870-588-4608

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California Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery

Veterans Home of California
Yountville, California 94599
Stephen Jorgensen, Administrator
Phone: 707-944-4600

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California Bakersfield National Cemetery

30338 East Bear Mountain Boulevard
Arvin, CA 93203
Phone: (661) 867-2250
Phone: (866) 632-1845

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California Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 553-2084

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California Miramar National Cemetery

5795 Nobel Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
Phone: (858) 658-7360

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California Riverside National Cemetery

22495 Van Buren Boulevard
Riverside, CA 92518
Phone: (951) 653-8417
Open Daily 8 am to Sunset

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California Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

5810 Midway Road
Dixon, CA 95620
Phone: (707) 693-2460

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California San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery

32053 West McCabe Road
Santa Nella, CA 95322
Phone: (209) 854-1040

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To find more National Cemeteries in the U.S.,

visit the National Cemetery Administration’s…

Cemetery Locations page HERE.

The House VA Committee cleared six Veterans bills this week. The following bills will now move to the House floor for consideration and debate:

• HR 671, The Ruth Moore Act

This bill was amended to include more stringent reporting requirements for VA which the committee hopes will pressure VA to update and improve its sexual trauma regulations. Unfortunately the bill still does not require a much-supported law change that would align Military Sexual Trauma claims with combat PTSD regulations.

• HR 357, The GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act

This bill included the original provision which requires public universities to charge only what is equal to in-state tuition for veterans, and includes a controversial new amendment banning bonuses for senior VA executives for the next five years. It also contains provisions of 6 other bills including:

• HR 1405, To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought.

• HR 1305, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide clarification regarding eligibility for services under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

• HR 844, The Vet Success Enhancement Act

• HR 631, Servicemembers’ Choice in Transition Act

• HR 562, The VRAP Extension Act seeks to provide for a three-month extension of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

• HR 1453, Work-Study for Veterans Act seeks to extend the authority to provide work-study allowance for certain activities by individuals receiving educational assistance by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Search and track all government legislation and bills in Congress at govtrack.us

So, the VA launched a new hotline,

• 1-855-VA-WOMEN or
• 1-855-829-6636, to help respond to questions from women veterans, families and caregivers about the many VA services and resources available to women veterans.

Even though the number of women using VA healthcare has doubled over the past decade to more than 350,000, “Many women who served don’t self-identify as veterans and therefore don’t think they qualify for VA benefits,” said Irene Trowell-Harris, director of VA’s Center for Women Veterans. “We need to correct existing misinformation and misperceptions so we can serve more women veterans with the benefits they’ve earned.”

The new hotline joins numerous other VA hotlines that provide critical information and assistance to all veterans, such as those in crises or in danger of becoming homeless. Learn more at www.eBenefits.va.gov and MyHealtheVet.va.gov.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the American Legion, the Student Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) the Senate passed an amendment to the Defense Continuing Resolution, H.R. 933, that will keep efforts alive to reinstate the TA program in all branches.

The amendment, S. Amdt. 72, was introduced by Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C.  The Inhofe/Hagan amendment will require each military branch to continue operating their respective TA programs proportionate to the sequester.

Recent exiting Military Veterans knowingly face the worst unemployment statistics due to an extremely limited number of employment possibilities in those areas where they possess the most skills.

So it stands to reason that more and more veterans are increasingly utilizing TA programs in order to obtain skills necessary for civilian employment.   What is already an extremely high veterans unemployment percentage would prove to be much higher if these TA programs are suspended.  Why? Because the Government Bureau of Labor and Statistics does not generally count Students in the Labor Force, meaning they are often not counted among the unemployed.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Who is not in the labor force? Labor force measures are based on the civilian non-institutional population of U.S Citizens 16 years old and over. Excluded are persons under 16 years of age, all persons confined to institutions such as nursing homes and prisons, and persons on active duty in the Armed Forces.

The labor force is made up of the employed and the unemployed. The remainder—those who have no job and are not looking for one—are counted as “not in the labor force.” Many who are not counted in the labor force are either currently attending school or are retired.

When compiling their reports, a series of questions are asked each month of persons not in the labor force to obtain information about their desire for work, the reasons why they had not looked for work in the last 4 weeks, their prior job search, and their availability for work. These questions include:

1. Do you currently want a job, either full or part time?
2. What is the main reason you were not looking for work during the LAST 4 WEEKS?
3. Did you look for work at any time during the last 12 months?
4. LAST WEEK, could you have started a job if one had been offered?

These questions form the basis for estimating the number of persons who are not in the labor force but who are considered to be “marginally attached to the labor force.” These are persons without jobs who are not currently looking for work (and therefore are not counted as unemployed), but who nevertheless have demonstrated some degree of labor force attachment. Specifically, to be counted as “marginally attached to the labor force,” individuals must indicate that they currently want a job, have looked for work in the last 12 months (or since they last worked if they worked within the last 12 months), and are available for work.

“Discouraged workers” are a subset of the marginally attached. Discouraged workers best describe most U.S. veterans, who report they are not currently looking for work for one of four reasons:

1. They believe no job is available to them in their line of work or area. (try finding your MOS in the workforce!)
2. They had previously been unable to find work. (because most entered the service after high school)
3. They lack the necessary schooling, training, skills, or experience. (but they do know how to clean a rifle, load a pack, fire a weapon and safely carry a grenade)
4. Employers think they are too young or too old, or they face some other type of discrimination. (no explanation needed here…)

Cutting Military Tuition Assistance would do more than worsen unemployment statistics, it would serve as a shot in the back to all Military Armed Forces personnel; especially the thousands who are desperately attempting to reintegrate into American society.  Keeping TA programs alive in all branches of the United States Military requires the support of your voice.  Tell your legislators in the House to reinstate TA and thank your Senators for their support.  YOU can do it all in one step by clicking here.

Related articles

• 296,000 Americans Drop Out of Labor Force in February (cnsnews.com)
• Senate votes to restore funding to military Tuition Assistance programs (al.com)
• Sign the Petition to Reinstate Military TA (Tuition Assistance) (americanlivewire.com)

ALPHARETTA, Ga. March 20, 2013 – Building on the outstanding success of the Hire Heroes USA (Hire Heroes) and Call of Duty Endowment collaboration since 2010, Hire Heroes today announced that they will be the recipients of a $260,000 grant from the Call of Duty Endowment in order to establish a permanent presence in Southern California. Hire Heroes is a national nonprofit organization that is committed to serving our nation’s veterans through personalized employment training and corporate engagement.

The hallmark of the Hire Heroes program is a personal approach where each veteran receives dedicated assistance from a highly-trained staff member in order to help them overcome barriers to employment. The additional funding from the Call of Duty Endowment will allow Hire Heroes to open an office in the veteran-heavy San Diego area; conduct 24 additional workshops to previously unreached installations in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest; increase periodicity of visits to installations in southern California; and allow Hire Heroes to hire 4 new Veteran Transition Specialists to conduct online assistance. Additionally, this funding will allow the organization to grow their annual number of impacted participants by up to 600 wounded, ill, or injured service members and 1,600 job-seeking veterans.

“The Call of Duty Endowment has been a long-time supporter not only of Hire Heroes USA, but also of many other top veteran service organizations around the country,” said Nathan Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Hire Heroes USA. “This grant marks a departure from previous funding, in that it will facilitate our permanent presence in San Diego so that we can increase the frequency and quality of services to veterans west of the Rocky Mountains. The Call of Duty Endowment recognizes that veteran employment services are most effective when provided in person and we are extremely grateful for their generous funding that makes the establishment of our San Diego office possible.”

“The Call of Duty Endowment is excited to continue our support of Hire Heroes USA by helping them expand their exemplary veterans’ employment services to San Diego,” said Dan Goldenberg, executive director of the Call of Duty Endowment. “This new office will serve an immense concentration of veterans in the area and is a direct example of what the Endowment is trying to achieve through our new ‘chapterization’ strategy. At the Endowment, we believe that the skills and qualities that veterans gain during their service make them a unique, but highly under-valued asset in the job market. It’s thanks to organizations like Hire Heroes USA that prospective employers are beginning to recognize the skill sets returning veterans have to offer that will improve their organizations.”

About Call of Duty Endowment

The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit, public benefit corporation conceived by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. The organization seeks to help organizations that provide job placement and training services for veterans. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please visit www.callofdutyendowment.org.

About Hire Heroes USA

Founded in 2007, Hire Heroes USA is a national, nonprofit organization headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga. Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. Hire Heroes USA has gained national-recognition for its comprehensive “recruitment to placement” continuum of veteran assistance and corporate engagement, resulting in one veteran confirmed hired every day.

For more information visit www.hireheroesusa.org 

The new policy includes an extra step designed to help Veteran Owned Small Businesses; specifically, those applying to VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program opportunities for the first time.

By giving new applicants the opportunity to fix easily correctable errors prior to final determination, both offices think the process is an extra step in the right direction.

The goal of the change is to increase the number of verified Veteran-owned Small Businesses involved in the Vets First program by providing email and phone notifications of initial application errors.  Both offices hope these notifications will help eliminate the large percentage of verification denials that, according to them, are currently issued due to “single points of failure that can be easily and quickly corrected.”

The program is scheduled to begin on May 1st, 2013, but the pilot program is already in place.  During the pilot program, feedback is important as the process may be improved by lessons learned.  Here is the step-by-step of how the new process will work initially:

1. Firms that have easily corrected issues will receive an email notification identifying issues (Preliminary Findings) before the official determination letter of eligibility is issued.
2. The Findings Letter will be sent via email and followed up by a telephone call within 24 hours to confirm receipt.
3. The sixty (60) day initial processing “clock” will stop at the point that the Veteran Owner notifies CVE of the applicant’s intent to participate in the Pre-Determination process.
4. The applicant will have 48 hours to inform CVE via email, of the firm’s intent to participate in the Pre-Determination process.  Within five (5) business days from receipt of the Preliminary Findings, the Veteran is required to submit amended documentation and other information in response to the Preliminary Findings.
5. If additional issues are discovered as a result of the changes made by the applicant or the issues identified in the Preliminary Findings are not adequately addressed, the Veteran will be notified that the applicant has two business days to withdraw its application or CVE will proceed immediately to determination and the applicant will have the opportunity to request reconsideration.
6. If the applicant submission is not made within five (5) business days, CVE will issue a determination letter on the issues identified in the Preliminary Findings.
7. If an application is withdrawn, all previously submitted documents will remain in CVE’s secure case management system and need not be  resubmitted when initiating a new application.
8. All Veteran-owned companies receiving Preliminary Findings are encouraged to work with a Verification Assistance Partner counselor to address the issues identified in the Findings Letters.

Here is a list of the types of errors that will be eligible for correction notification as part of the Pre-Determination Program.  Applicants with points of failure (singularly or combined) regarding these issues are eligible for the Pre-Determination process.  These issues are typically found in a company’s business and organizational documents.

• Quorum 38 CFR 74.4(f)(2) read more….
• Weighted Voting 38 CFR 74.4 (f)(2)(i) read more….
• Serve as general partner for partnership 38 CFR 74.4(d) read more….
• Serve as a management member of limited liability company 38 CFR 74.4(e) read more….
• Community Property 38 CFR 74.3(f) read more….
• Living Trust and direct ownership 38 CFR 74.3(a) read more….
• Highest compensation for Veteran 38 CFR 74.4(g)(3) read more….
• Highest officer position 38 CFR 74.4(c)(2)  read more….
• Ownership 51% Unconditional 38 CFR 74.3(b)  read more….

According to DOD, the policy change could potentially open up 53,000 unit positions and 184,000 MOS positions to women by the January 2016 implementation date. The military services will be required to set the MOS standards and some specialties could still remain closed to women, but SECDEF must approve all exceptions.  A determination whether women should be required to register with the Selective Service System will also be made.

In a Statement on Women in Service, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta stated, “Every time I visited the warzone, every time I’ve met with troops, reviewed military operations, and talked to wounded warriors, I’ve been impressed with the fact that everyone – men and women alike – everyone is committed to doing the job.  They’re fighting and they’re dying together. And the time has come for our policies to recognize that reality.

According to a USA Today Report, the military has different physical standards based on age and sex for the Army and Marines. In either service, the standards for both sexes would be the same for those trying to get into the infantry and other combat arms specialties.

“The department’s goal in rescinding the rule is to ensure that the mission is met with the best qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender,” Panetta said.

“I’m not talking about reducing the qualifications for the job — if they can meet the qualifications for the job, then they should have the right to serve,” he said.

According to VFW National Commander John Hamilton, “there is no question that women have and will continue to serve our nation in uniform with great valor and sacrifice. We fully recognize that not everyone volunteers for the combat arms career fields, but the VFW wishes all who apply much success in meeting the arduous physical and demanding performance standards.”

Related articles

• Mary Sanchez: Women are ready for combat … are men ready for change? (kansascity.com)
• Md. Female Soldiers Welcome Opportunity To Fight On The Frontline (baltimore.cbslocal.com)

Walmart U.S. is also planning an expansion in domestic products that will include categories like sporting goods and apparel, saying it hopes to bolster onshore U.S. production in high potential areas like textiles, furniture and higher-end appliances.  In doing so, Wal-Mart hopes to boost sourcing of US products by $50 billion.

“At the heart of our national political conversation today is one issue: creating jobs to grow the economy,” Simon said. “We are meeting with our suppliers on domestic manufacturing and are making a strong commitment to move this forward.”

Hooray!  In a 2012 Article, I (VFWLady) thoroughly expressed my feelings about Wal-Mart, and strongly encouraged them to focus on hiring Veterans (Read: What Unemployed Veterans, Walmart and Arizona Have in Common) 

I’m personally very glad that William S. Simon, the president and chief executive of Wal-Mart U.S., has absorbed those feelings and responded in the interest of veterans and the citizens of the United States.

Want to hear what others think?  Here is a great read from The Value of A Veteran