Veterans Report - Week of December 29, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of December 29, 2014

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Veterans Choice Program
The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act is a new law designed to improve health care for veterans. Many veterans will now have the option to receive non-VA health care rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility. For more information, visit the Veterans Choice Program webpage at (http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/) www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


New Support Center Debuts
The American Legion has grouped all of the various resources and services that it offers these servicemembers and their families into its new Troop and Family Support Center at (http://www.legion.org/family) www.legion.org/family, which provides links to apply for the Legion's Family Support Network (FSN), Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) and scholarship opportunities. The webpage also provides useful external links to helpful military resources, such as Hero Miles, which provides free airfare to military families, Soldiers Angels, a resource for wounded veterans and their families, and Cell Phones for Soldiers, which gives free calling cards to deployed servicemembers. For more information, visit the Troop and Family Support Center.
For more veteran and family support resources, see this (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) Military.com Spouse Channel article.


The Music of Military Service
Operation Encore is a veterans music project that brought singers and songwriters together to translate their military experiences into song and verse. The result is a compilation CD featuring songs written and performed by active-duty servicemembers, veterans and a military spouse. The project's founders say their goal was to not only provide a therapeutic outlet for performers, but to also help bridge the civilian-military divide. The CD is currently available through iTunes and CD Baby at (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/operationencore) www.cdbaby.com/cd/operationencore. Proceeds first go toward unpaid production costs, and any profits are donated to various veterans charities and organizations.
For more military-related entertainment news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


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The Top 16 Military Stories of 2014
It was an eventful year for the U.S. military in 2014, with everything from a transition to a new Secretary of Defense, to controversies over veteran healthcare to sexual assault, to new global dynamics and regional conflicts. The editorial staff at Military.com has selected what it believes are the top 16 stories of 2014 -- (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014 ... -2014.html) click here to see the video and read the top military stories of 2014.


FDA Okays New Head Injury Diagnoses App
A new app that diagnoses head injuries, (http://www.anthrotronix.com/index.php?o ... Itemid=396) Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment, recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance. DANA is designed to help medical providers identify cases of traumatic brain injury in almost any setting, which may help clinicians diagnose a patient in as little as five minutes. The app will operate much like a video game. Servicemembers will perform a baseline series of on-screen exercises during which both their speed and accuracy will be recorded. Afterward, a clinician will review the results. Some of the factors that may affect reaction time include concussion, dementia, post-traumatic stress, depression and fatigue, among others. The DANA software can run on a variety of platforms and is currently being tested on tablet devices as well.
For more on military apps, visit the (http://www.military.com/topics/best-apps) Military.com App page.


Explore VA
Learn about the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits you may be eligible for at the Explore VA webpage at (http://explore.va.gov/) explore.va.gov. You can also visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits section for more on VA benefits.


Battle of the Bulge Remembered
Seventy years after the cold, snowy, bloody fight that led to victory in World War II, Battle of the Bulge veterans continue to find each other. Read the story on the (http://www.legion.org/magazine/225538/battle-remembered) American Legion website. For more information on the Battle of the Bulge, including instructional materials, visit the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge) Wikipedia website, the (http://www.army.mil/botb/) U.S. Army Battle of the Bulge webpage, the (http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo46222/4078.pdf) U.S. Army Europe Battlebook: Battle of the Bulge, the (http://www.euregio-thingstodo.eu/en/bat ... ge-museums) Battle of the Bulge webpage, and view the (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksv05DMsAkg) American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge video.
For Army news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Road Dates for the Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys, which partners with the American Legion to support veterans, have updated their schedule of touring and performances. Legionnaires are encouraged to come out and show their support. A schedule of performance dates is available on the American Legion (http://www.legion.org/publicrelations/2 ... ridge-boys) website. At recent shows, the group has publicly pointed out members of the audience who are part of the American Legion family; this is obviously easier to do if attendees are wearing their Legion caps or other gear. So, remember to bring those to the show. More details and ticket information for each show are available on the Oak Ridge Boys website at (http://www.oakridgeboys.com/tour) www.oakridgeboys.com/tour.
For more military-related entertainment news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


Legal Clinic in Albuquerque
Enrolled Veterans of the New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) with legal questions on civil matters have an opportunity to receive free consultation with licensed New Mexico attorneys and other legal professionals the second Tuesday of each month, except for federal holidays. The local of the Civil Justice Clinic is the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 100 Louisiana Blvd. SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Veterans are encouraged to bring with them any documents relating to their legal issues. The clinic does not handle wills or estate planning. For questions, contact Lisa Anderson, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, at (505) 908-0383, or Camila Lopez, at (505) 265-1711, ext. 3434.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Not Too Late for a Flu Shot
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a Flu Vaccination Pledge to encourage everyone to get the flu vaccine. There are two forms of flu vaccine in the U.S., and TRICARE covers both, the flu shot and flu mist. Visit the TRICARE Flu Vaccine webpage to see which is best for you and to find out how to get the flu vaccine at no cost. Take the CDC's Flu Vaccination Pledge on the CDC website at (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/pledge/index.html) www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/pledge/index.html. A complete list of who should and who should not get an influenza vaccination is available at (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldvax.htm) www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldvax.htm.
For more on TRICARE, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE section.


Hiring Program in Virginia
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday that companies participating in the Commonwealth's Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program have hired 1,451 Veterans between July 1, 2014 and September 30, 2014. Through the V3 Program, these companies have made public commitments and goals to increase employment opportunities for Virginia's Veterans. With over 550,000 Veterans in Virginia's labor force, the Commonwealth boasts the highest labor force participation rate (68.1%) among veterans in the United States. For more information, visit the Virginia Values Veterans website at (http://www.dvsv3.com/) www.dvsv3.com and Virginia Department of Veterans Services website at (http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/education-e ... oyment-v3/) www.dvs.virginia.gov/education-employme ... oyment-v3/.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker
On March 21, 1918, the Germans struck the British 5th Army hard along a 45-mile line from La Bassee to La Fere on the Somme in northern France. Foul weather prevented either side from getting aloft until March 24. By then, a German assault had driven the British back 14 miles in full retreat, which astounded them with its force and speed. The events of World War I that followed put Eddie Rickenbacker on the path to becoming the flying ace of aces. To learn more about Eddie Rickenbacker, read the book excerpt on the (http://www.legion.org/magazine/225536/first-blood) American Legion website and visit the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker) Wikipedia website.
For military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Nebraska Veterans' Registry
The Nebraska Veterans' Registry authorizes the word 'veteran' to be placed on driver's licenses and state issued identification cards. The Registry will also allow the issuance of Military Honor License Plates starting in 2016. Once in the Registry, veterans can request the veteran indicator on their operator's license or state issued identification card at the time of renewal with no additional fee. To enroll in the Registry, veterans can contact the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (NDVA) online, in person or via email: phone 402-471-2458, email (mailto:ndva@nebraka.gov) ndva@nebraka.gov, or visit the NDVA website at (http://www.veterans.nebraska.gov) www.veterans.nebraska.gov.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.


Report Looks at Depression, Suicides
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides inconsistent treatment to veterans with depression and may be underestimating the number of vets who suffer from the condition. The report also says VA needs to do a better job monitoring veterans who are prescribed antidepressants and in tracking suicides. The report is available on the GAO website at (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-55) www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-55.
For mental health guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Vet Business Start-up Support in Austin
The Bunker Austin, a program geared to help veterans become entrepreneurs, has launched at the University of Texas at Austin. The program is going to be a one-stop place for veterans to plug into all the resources available in Austin. Other cities with similar 'Bunker' programs include Chicago, Los Angeles, Tacoma, Colorado Springs, Kansas City, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. At the Bunker Austin, veteran-led startups will have access to mentorship, a network of veteran entrepreneurs and help to find venture capital. The program is accepting application for its first cohort through January 10th. For more information, visit The Bunker Austin website at (http://www.thebunkeraustin.com/) www.thebunkeraustin.com.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


American Legion World Series
In preparation for the 2015 American Legion Baseball World Series in Shelby, N.C., Aug. 13-18, a blind drawing was recently conducted for the division pairings and game times. Once again, the 14 games leading up to the championship game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the championship game will be televised live on ESPNU. Once again, the 14 games leading up to the championship game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the championship game will be televised live on ESPNU. The 2015 ALWS tournament schedule is available (http://www.legion.org/documents/legion/ ... 5_alws.pdf) online.
For more on military-related entertainment and sports news, visit the (http://www.military.com/off-duty) Military.com Off-duty section.


Study Says Veterans Losing Ground
A new report by Stanford University economist Mark Duggan has found that that the significant rise in disability coverage for veterans may be hurting them in making employment gains. The study found that U.S. Military veterans are more likely to file for disability compensation and less likely to find employment than ever before. Nearly one in four veterans serving in the 1990s or later is currently receiving disability benefits versus just one in seven veterans from earlier service eras. Professor Duggan's report is available (http://siepr.stanford.edu/?q=/system/fi ... Duggan.pdf) online.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.