Veterans Report - Week of March 02, 2015

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Veterans Report - Week of March 02, 2015

New Vet Peer Center in Texas
A new center in Lufkin, Texas, operated by the Military Veteran Peer Network offers veterans camaraderie as well as peer counseling, mental health awareness and other services. The center, at 3003 N. Medford Drive in Lufkin, is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays and to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The center is closed on Wednesday and Friday. The Military Veteran Peer Network is an affiliation of service members, veterans and family members dedicated to providing a safe and understanding network of support with those who have "been there and done that" and developing trusted relationships with others by shared life experiences. For more information on the network, visit the Military Veteran Peer Network website at (http://milvetpeer.site-ym.com/) milvetpeer.site-ym.com.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Guidebook for Veterans
The nonprofit organization Service to School has released a free guidebook to help undergraduate veterans find the right college. The guidebook offers advice on finding the right college, recommendations on standardized testing and a Q&A with a Yale admissions officer, in addition to information about whether to attend community college or a university. Download the Service to School Undergraduate Application Guide on the Service to School website at (http://service2school.org/resources/) service2school.org/resources/.
For more on military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education section.


Legion: Choice Card No Substitute for Veterans Hospitals Long Term
The country's largest veterans' service organization told Congress last week that it supports giving veterans access to private sector care when necessary, but will not accept any move to privatize Veterans Affairs Department healthcare. "The American Legion applauded emergency legislation to allow veteran patients to use non-VA providers if they were waiting a month or longer to see a doctor or if they lived far from VA facilities," Legion National Commander Michael Helm said. "But let me be clear ... We oppose privatization or vouchering out of VA care as a long-term solution." A program established last year created a veterans (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... -get-care/) Choice Card, enabling veterans facing long appointment wait times, or those who live far from a VA hospital or clinic to go to a private provider. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015 ... itals.html) this Military.com article and (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015 ... ealth.html) VA Secretary's Bob McDonald's response.


Survey: "How do veterans learn online?"
Online learning classes, courses, certifications and training are everywhere. With online learning veteran entrepreneurs can get a lot of great information not otherwise available. But not everyone prefers to learn the same way. In less time than it takes pop some popcorn, veterans can complete a short survey to help (http://vetlaunched.com/) VetLaunched provide veterans with information to help veterans launch their own small business. Veteran owned businesses and organizations worked together to put this survey together in an effort to better understand how veterans view online learning. (http://vetlaunched.com/) VetLaunched is asking veterans to (http://eSurv.org/online-survey.php?surv ... N_72cbecf9) take a short survey and automatically be entered to win a free survival bracelet from OscarMike.org!


$1 Million Life Insurance Protection from $41 a Month
Family Protection for less. Get up to $1 million coverage from just $41 a Month, or build a plan right for your needs. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rvr0302.nl) Could your family survive if something happened to you?


Oscar for 'Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1'
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald recently issued a statement on the Oscar win for the HBO documentary 'Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1,' which highlights the life-saving work of the Veterans Crisis Line. The statement is available on the VA website at (http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2679) www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2679. For more information on the Veterans Crisis Line, visit the Veterans Crisis Line website at (http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/) www.veteranscrisisline.net. If you are in crisis, or know someone who is, call the Veterans Crisis Line toll-free at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY toll-free 1-800-799-4889. Or chat online at (http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatT ... rvice.aspx) www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx, or send a text message to 838255. Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
For more details on the film 'Crisis Hotline,' see this (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015 ... oscar.html) Military.com news article.


Marriage Retreat for Veterans
The W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC is offering its "Warrior to Soul Mate" marriage enrichment retreat April 17-19, 2015. The primary purpose of the retreat is to strengthen the veteran's relationship with their significant marriage other through the teaching of communication skills. Anyone interested in attending the marriage retreat needs to have a consult placed either through their primary care provider, their mental health provider or social worker. There is no cost to veterans unless they decide to spend money during the Saturday night "date night," where couples are encouraged to spend some quality time with one another. For more information, contact Chaplain Services at 704-638-3330.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Legion Offers Tips for Job Seekers
The American Legion's Employment & Empowerment Summit recently featured a corporate panel that answered questions about the hiring of veterans in the private sector. Here are several tips: (1) tailor your resume to match 100 percent of the qualifications for a particular job; (2) know how to translate your military skills into civilian job qualifications; (3) go after jobs that will satisfy you; (4) the details of a position and use key words in your resume that relate to it; (5) keep your resume to two pages; (6) Make sure you meet the basic qualifications of the job ? the core competencies; (7) Take the time to read your own resume and correct your errors; and (8) sell yourself. Veterans need to explain their skill sets to potential employers, then ask what job openings would best fit those skills.
For more veteran job tips, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


MIA Airmen from WWII Identified
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has announced that the remains of U.S. servicemen missing in action from World War II have been accounted for and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. A list of the airmen accounted for is available on the (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... d-for.aspx) U.S. Air Force website. For more information on the Department of Defense's mission to account for missing Americans, who went missing while serving our country, visit the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website at (http://www.dpaa.mil) www.dpaa.mil or call 703-699-1169.
For more military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


NYC Vet Resource Event
The Legion has announced their participation in the inaugural NYC Veteran Resource event that will take place on March 5th 2015. The list of event partners is wide and diverse to ensure there will be resources for all veterans during the event. The most important reason for this free event is to provide veterans with great support and resources. We encourage vets to forward this message to other veterans in the NYC area to ensure maximum participation in this exciting event. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-vetera ... 5490500504) Veterans can register online.


Help Fund Desert Storm Memorial
The organization developing a memorial honoring veterans of Operation Desert Storm is holding a fundraiser with 100 percent of proceeds going to the project. Three different T-shirts, all commemorating the 24th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War, are available for $20 each plus shipping. Orders must be placed by March 15; the shirts will begin shipping March 20. Purchase a shirt at (http://design.goteez.com/desert_storm/) design.goteez.com/desert_storm/. For more information, visit the National Desert Storm War Memorial website at (http://www.nationaldesertstormwarmemorial.org/) www.nationaldesertstormwarmemorial.org.
For more military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Guide to Helping Lawful Immigrants
American Legion posts often host naturalization orientation sessions to help teach proficiency in the English language and lessons in U.S. History and civics. To encourage other posts help lawful immigrants assimilate into our society and become naturalized citizens, The American Legion has created the "Citizenship Outreach Guide." The guide can be downloaded for free from the (http://www.legion.org/publications/2260 ... each-guide) American Legion website. The guide provides resources on how posts can promote citizenship and immigrant integration in their local communities. It also provides several examples of how posts can collaborate with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to celebrate and honor lawful immigrants.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Your VA Loan Benefit: Up to $417k Financing with $0 Down
Now is the time to use your VA Loan. Rates are near historic lows and you don't have to pay PMI or have a large down payment. Plus you can get financing up to $417,000. (https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... rvr0302.nl) Use your VA Loan Benefit today.
(http://www.military.com/money/va-loans?ESRC=mrvr0302.nl) Want more information about this great benefit?


PTSD Treatments Should be Individualized
Dr. Ronald Poropatich recently told members of The American Legion's TBI/PTSD Committee that treatments for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder needed to be more individualized and tailored to the specific symptoms of each patient. Poropatich, executive director of the Center for Military Medicine Research at the University of Pittsburgh, said important imaging advancements have been made that go beyond a regular MRI scan. Broken nerve fibers in the human brain, caused by an IED explosion or some other force, can now be seen. "It allows us to treat that individual, knowing where those fibers are broken," he said. More of Dr. Poropatich's remarks are available on the (http://www.legion.org/veteranshealthcar ... treatments) American Legion website.
For more veteran mental health and wellness guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Bureaucratic Roadblock Behind New Painkiller Rules At VA Clinics
New federal rules governing narcotic painkiller prescriptions have taken a toll on veterans relying on them to treat pain from missing limbs and other conditions. Over the past six months, many veterans have stated that they have had problems getting refills for their controlled painkillers. New opioid prescription rules from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are said to be behind the roadblock. DEA created the new rules to curb perceived abuses of opioids nationwide. Instead of helping, veterans claim the new rules have caused a dramatic uptick in depression due to increased pain, panic attacks, and other problems associated with sudden withdrawals that result when the refills are suddenly stopped. For more details, see (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... a-clinics/) this Military Advantage blog post.


Veterans' Group Wants Non-Profit Corporation to Oversee VA Healthcare
A veterans' organization says it wants to end Veterans Health Administration healthcare as it has long been known, turning oversight of the operation over to a non-profit government corporation and letting veterans relying on VA healthcare go where they like for it. Concerned Veterans for America detailed its proposal in "Fixing Veterans Health Care." "Our proposal puts veterans in control of their health care," the organization states in the introduction of the 100-page report. "This approach is not anti-VHA. It is pro-veteran. The VA should be given every opportunity to compete for veterans' healthcare dollars. But it can no longer take veterans for granted as customers." For more details, see (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015 ... hcare.html) this Military.com article.


A Look at the All-Volunteer Force
A new "Population Representation" report on the U.S. military affirms that the four-decade-old volunteer force is a healthy cross-section of America, if just a little smarter, a little better educated and with a deeper southern drawl than the nation as a whole. The percentage of female enlisted members has declined slightly and the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic mix is not too different from America itself. However, the study found that black service members are underrepresented among junior enlisted pay grades (relative to whites) but overrepresented in the senior pay grades.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... ern-drawl/) Read the latest Military Update for the full story.


Fairways for Warriors
The nonprofit charity Fairways for Warriors in Florida provides golf equipment, instruction, and outings to wounded warriors and their family members. The organization provides golf and golf instruction for wounded personnel, ranging from beginners to those with prior golf experience, who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. The organization helps combat wounded warriors, anyone who has served in combat, to overcome the obstacles associated with their military service-related disabilities. For more information, visit the Fairways for Warriors website at (http://fairwaysforwarriors.org/) fairwaysforwarriors.org.
For more wounded warrior news, see (http://www.military.com/topics/wounded-warriors) this Military.com section.


Office Depot Hiring Veterans
We understand that joining the Military wasn't an easy decision, and we're honored that you're considering Office Depot as a place to take the next step in your career. We're committed to strengthening our organization by hiring men and women who have served in our Military. We need strong leaders in our organization that are ready to take our Supply Chain, Retail, Technology and other teams to the next level. (http://www.military.com/veteran-employe ... rvr0302.nl) Apply today and use your skills, experience and values to help us become even more successful together.


Video: That Which I Love Destroys Me
Visit Military.com to (http://www.military.com/helpingvetsheal?ESRC=mrvr.nl) watch a documentary of two elite warriors' firsthand accounts of their struggles with PTSD and returning home from the longest combat campaign in U.S. history.


Service Dogs for Veterans
The nonprofit Battle Buddy Foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio provides service dogs to veterans. The organizations strategies are to (1) provide trained psychiatric and mobility service dogs and therapy dogs to veterans at no cost; (2) connect veterans to employment and housing opportunities; and (3) build a community of peer support for veterans and their families. For more information, visit the Battle Buddy Foundation website at (http://www.tbbf.org/) www.tbbf.org.
For more military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Remembering Our Fallen
San Diego's military servicemen and women, veterans and spouses, are invited to visit the "Remembering Our Fallen" Memorial Photo Exhibit. This California exhibit focuses on the 710 California service men and women who were killed in battle since 9/11 (in the War on Terror, wearing our country's uniform in a war zone). The exhibit opens on Monday 3/9 and runs through 3/20, weekdays only, 9am-4pm. The opening ceremony is Monday 3/9, 9am-11am, followed by a tour of the photos. Additional information can be found at (http://www.rememberingourfallen.org/california) http://www.rememberingourfallen.org/california. For additional information, call (858) 859-4547 or (858) 859-4643.