Veterans Report - Week of June 10, 2013

[boardman]

Veterans Report - Week of June 10, 2013

Less Drugs, More Pain Management
14,800. That's the number of people who die every year from unintentional overdose of opioids, commonly known as painkillers -- it's higher than the number of overdose deaths from cocaine and heroin use combined and higher than the number of automobile deaths. Read at VA's VAntage Point blog at (http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/9528/le ... anagement/) http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/9528/le ... anagement/ what a writer recently learned touring the Minneapolis VA Medical Center to learn more about (http://www.va.gov/painmanagement/) pain management. And, visit VHA's Pain Management webpage at (http://www.va.gov/painmanagement/) http://www.va.gov/painmanagement/.


Top 10 Military Employers
Forbes, with a research assist from Payscale.com, analyzed companies that employ a large number of veterans and also have jobs available that match military skills and experience -- specifically, skilled labor positions. Top 10 include: Booz Allen Hamilton, Northrop Grumman, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Department of Defense, BAE Systems, CSC, CACI International and Boeing. (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... RC=mrvr.nl) Get the full report on Military.com.
Security Clearance Wanted: Companies across the nation want your military skills and are paying top salaries for them. (http://content.military.com/newsletters ... rvr0610.nl) Search for Security Cleared Jobs on Military.com.
(http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Search for Jobs on Military.com with employers seeking military experience.


House Committee Balks at TRICARE Hikes
On June 5, the House Armed Services Committee voted on the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act mark up - their edited version of the bill to authorize funding the DoD in FY 2014. The full committee voted 59 - 2 to forward their marked up version of the NDAA to the House floor for a final vote. The HASC version omits the DoD proposed TRICARE fee hikes. The FY2014 NDAA now heads to the floor for House vote. Once the bill passes the full House the ball will be in the Senate's court.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... are-hikes/) Get more details on the Military Advantage Blog.


VA Hires Professionals
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it has met the goal to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals. VA is also expanding the use of innovative technology to serve Veterans in rural or underserved areas. VA's national public awareness campaign called Make the Connection is aimed at reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health care and informing Veterans, their families, friends, and members of their communities about VA resources. For more information, visit the Make the Connection website at (http://www.maketheconnection.net/) www.maketheconnection.net . Mental health professionals interested in seeking employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs can obtain information at the VA Careers website at (http://www.vacareers.va.gov/) www.vacareers.va.gov. Veterans and their families interested in learning more about the mental health services provided by VA at VA's Mental Health website at (http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/) http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/.


State Veteran's Benefits
Many states offer veterans benefits. These benefits may include educational grants and scholarships, special exemptions or discounts on fees and taxes, home loans, veteran's homes, free hunting and fishing privileges, and more.
Each state manages its own benefit programs. (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... RC=mrvr.nl) Visit Military.com to see a list of links to the websites for each of the individual states that offer veterans benefits.
Your VA Loan Benefit is worth $417,000 and can be used to buy a home with $0 down or to streamline refinance. (https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... rvr0610.nl) Search for lenders who can help you use your benefit.
(http://www.military.com/benefits?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Visit the Military.com Benefits Channel to get straight forward info on Military Pay, TRICARE, GI Bill, VA Loans, BAH, Survivor Benefits, Veteran Health Care and More.


Deal of the Week: Kay Jewelers
Kay Jewelers honors the men and women of our armed forces with (http://www.kay.com/en/kaystore/citizen- ... gn=Citizen) Citizen watch discounts.


Memorial Marks WWII Lost
Nineteen members of the United States Army Air Force 95th Bombardment Group who lost their lives 70 years ago were recently honored during the dedication of a memorial plaque in their honor at Alconbury Airfield, United Kingdom. The event commemorated the day when, at about 8:30 p.m. May 27, 1943, USAAF ground personnel were arming B-17 Flying Fortresses and a 500-pound bomb detonated on the flightline. The sky rained debris from the blast. The shockwaves travelled hundreds of feet in every direction, and in an instant, 19 Airmen were killed and 21 others were injured. The explosions destroyed four B-17 Flying Fortresses and damaged 11 others. A list of those airmen killed is available on the U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Air Forces Africa website at U.S. Air Forces in Europe at (http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123350951) http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123350951. For more history of the Group, visit the 95th Bomber Group (H) Memorials Foundation website at (http://95thbg.org/95th_joomla/) http://95thbg.org/95th_joomla/.


Reduced-Age Retirement for Guard, Reserve
More reserve-component Soldiers may now be eligible to receive retirement pay before 60, if they meet certain criteria. Soldiers can now count 90 days of their tour toward 90 days earlier retirement for each fiscal year deployed. The new categories include reserve-component Soldiers who are activated to respond to national emergencies and those in warrior transition units who were hurt while mobilized for such responses. Soldiers should check their mobilization orders or their DD-214 discharge paper and see if it lists any one of the following Title 10 or Title 32 U.S. Codes annotated: 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(h), 12302, 12304, 12305 or 12306. Soldiers can receive eligibility information by calling the Army's Human Resources Command at 502-613-8950.


Stolen Valor Act Becomes Law
On June 3, President Barack Obama signed into law The American Legion-backed Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which now makes it a "federal crime for an individual to fraudulently hold oneself out to be a recipient of any of several specified military decorations or medals with the intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit." Violators could face up to a year in prison. The U.S. Supreme Court had overturned the original Stolen Valor Act of 2005, deeming it unconstitutional because it was, in the justices' opinion, too broad in scope and violated the right of free speech. A summary and the text of the Act are available on the Congress.gov website at (http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-con ... e-bill/258) http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-con ... e-bill/258.


Navy Benefits for Domestic Partners
According to a recent Navy News report, the Navy will begin training leadership and support elements to be ready to provide military benefits to same-sex domestic partners of servicemembers and their children. Domestic partners will be eligible for benefits in August August 31.
(http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... x-couples/) Read the full story on the Military Advantage blog.


Veteran eMentor Program
The Veteran eMentor Leadership Program provides an information sharing, learning and support community for Veterans including career guidance, advice, support and inspiration from more experienced Veterans, career mentors and Veteran-friendly employers. For more information, visit the Veteran eMentor Leadership Program website at (http://ementorprogram.org/p/veteran/about) http://ementorprogram.org/p/veteran/about.


Exchanges Change Airmen Uniforms
As the Air Force transitions from the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) to the Rip-Stop Airman Battle Uniform (RABU), the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) will no longer be able to order the ABU once the Defense Logistics Agency's stock is depleted and will sell only the RABU. While the ABUs will still be authorized for wear, they will not be carried in Exchange Military Clothing Stores. Military members can access the Exchange's Military Clothing Store at (http://www.shopmyexchange.com/) www.shopmyexchange.com by clicking "Military Clothing Store" under the Store Locator link at the bottom of the page or locate the nearest Military Clothing brick-and-mortar-location through the Store Locator link at (http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeStores/) http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeStores/.


Rent vs. Own with a VA Loan
Rock-bottom home prices and low interest rates help make owning a home with a VA loan more affordable than renting. (http://www.military.com/money/home-owne ... mrvr.nl%20) Read More.


Hertz Committed to Hiring Veterans
Start your civilian career with a company that can provide endless opportunity and a career path that lets you choose where you want to be. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... mrvr.nl%20) Read More.


Preparing for Hurricane Season
As hurricane season begins, take a few minutes to review guidelines on what to do (http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type ... hurricanes) before, during, and after a hurricane at the Ready.gov website at (http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes) http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes. If you live in certain regions of the United States--including Hawaii and coastal areas along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico--preparing for a hurricane may be especially critical. The high winds and heavy rainfall of hurricanes can lead to flying debris, flooding, landslides, and other dangerous situations. For easy access to hurricane information on your phone, download the free (http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type ... ross.shtml) Hurricane App at (http://apps.usa.gov/hurricane-by-americ ... ross.shtml) http://apps.usa.gov/hurricane-by-americ ... ross.shtml from the American Red Cross (iPhone and Android). It will help you track storms, prepare your family and home, get help, and more. Find additional (http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type ... s.usa.gov/) mobile apps, including a Tornado App, visit the USA.gov Mobile Apps gallery at (http://apps.usa.gov/) http://apps.usa.gov/.


Some AF Civilians Exempt from Furloughs
The Air Force has announced that civilian employees whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the recent Oklahoma tornadoes will be "excepted" from administrative furlough. Air Force leaders made the decision to invoke Alternate Safe Haven Authorities, which prohibits furlough by law. The Department of Defense intends to start up to 11-days of civilian furloughs July 8 to address budget cuts forced by sequestration.


Hackers Steal VA Data - Again
The VA database includes the names of veterans and their dependents, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and protected health information. At a June 4 hearing of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, VA official Stephen Warren claimed that only one nation ? which he did not identify ? has penetrated VA's computer network in the past year. That claim was contradicted by another panelist. Auditors in VA's Inspector General office have reported that, in addition to taking data, hackers also took control of domain controllers, which allowed them to have full access to VA's network. Statements from the June 4 hearing and a webcast are available on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs website at (http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/how-s ... nformation) http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/how-s ... nformation.


VA Improving Mental Health Care Access
President Barack Obama recently announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs is improving access for veterans to mental health services. In response to a presidential executive order, VA has hired 1,600 mental health providers and more than 300 peer-to-peer veteran specialists. The department also has enhanced the capacity of its crisis line by 50 percent and established 24 pilot projects in nine states where VA is partnering with community mental-health providers to help veterans more quickly access mental health services. VA is also directing 151 of its health care centers nationwide to conduct mental health summits with community partners. The administration also recently launched the new MentalHealth.gov website at (http://mentalhealth.gov) http://mentalhealth.gov that provides users with the basics of mental health and the signs of mental illness, and show them how to talk about mental health and how to get help.