News
Sexual Assault in Military Tied to Veterans' Homelessness
Thursday, April 21, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
JAMA Psychiatry published new study results finding that military service members who are sexually assaulted are at a higher risk for homelessness. Males were found to be in greater jeopardy than females. In earlier Department of Veterans Affairs research, more servicemen than servicewomen who were sexually assaulted on active duty more frequently expressed suicidal thoughts and behavior. Department of Defense officials shared that ""Men are less apt to engage in care for sexual assault. And in therapy, it's something you address way down stream. It's not an initial presenting problem." Experts emphasized it is imperative to eradicate sexual assault in the military and that reporting sexual assault be "facilitated, supported and encouraged.”
Senators Call on Obama to Investigate Sexual Assault Cases
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Two U.S. senators, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., are urging President Barack Barack Obama to investigate whether or not "the Pentagon misled Congress with information about sexual assault cases in an effort to undercut support for a Senate bill that senior military officials steadfastly oppose." Both the Associated Press investigation and a "Protect Our Defenders" report "found inaccuracies and omissions in military records that summarized the outcomes of cases prosecuted in military courts."
Center for Women Veterans Partners on eMentoring for Women Veterans
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | Category: Employment - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans is partnering with the AcademyWomen’s eMentoring program to empower women veterans the opportunity to reach their full personal and professional potential. Women veterans now have access to online, web-based mentorship support from veteran and non-veteran mentors.
Why is this so important? Women veterans represent one of the fastest growing segments of the veteran population, but they often do not self-identify as a military veteran and others do not ask ask if they served in the military. They could lose out on seeking available veteran employment preferences, which could adversely impact their competitiveness in the job market. The eMentor program could give them "an edge" by building confidence and knowledge.
Pingree Again Fights to Protect Survivors of Sexual Assault Who Seek Security Clearance
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Drafters of the final version of the national security clearance questionnaire apparently considered the Director of National Intelligence'sil 2013 changes to Question 21 of the Standard Form 86 as provisional. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) is again asking the Director not to force survivors of sexual assault to disclose whether or not they pursued counseling, just as military personnel counseled for combat-related PTSD have long been exempted.
'Women in Uniform Also Guaranteed Their Freedom'
Monday, April 18, 2016 | Category: Department of Veterans Affairs - Indiana
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the all-women's American Legion Post 431 co-hosted the Indiana Women Veterans' Conference for more than 200 women veterans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Along with guest speakers, women could participate in workshops on VA benefits, health care, art therapy, and resume writing and also be pampered with massages and beauty makeovers.
Appeals Court Finds the VA Wronged Vets by Ignoring 2010 Law
Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Category: Department of Veterans Affairs - National
A unanimous ruling by a 3-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims found that the Department of Veterans Affairs "ignored plain language of a 2010 statute meant to protect VA-enrolled veterans from out-of-pocket costs when forced to use non-VA emergency medical care." This case sets precedence for hundreds of other VA-enrolled veterans with alternative health insurance who paid for some of their outside emergency care costs since Feb. 1, 2010.
Senator pushes to fund fertility services at VA
Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
Washington State's Senator Patty Murray is again introducing legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) isn't "denying veterans their dream of starting a family." Since 2012, she has introduced similar legislation. She believes that her proposed amendment is necessarily more far-reaching than House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller's legislation. Senator Murray's bill language would require VA to cover or provide the services whereas Congressman Miller's would pay "$20,000 in special compensation payments--over and above the disability compensation the veteran receives--to be used at the veteran's discretion."
UCLA’s Operation Mend to Help Veterans with Hidden Wounds of War
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Category: Health Care - California
In the past, UCLA’s "Operation Mend" helped heal service members' visible wounds. Now, the program will Veterans suffering from invisible wounds including mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. UCLA’s experts in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and others will collaborate. The six-week program, focused on post-9/11 veterans and their families, will help them with their psychological needs through healing arts, working with horses, and an ancient Chinese practice focusing on breathing and movement. Two organizations, Warrior Care Network and the Wounded Warrior Project, have committed $100 million over three years to fund the program. The Warrior Care Network includes programs in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago as well as California.
Former Conowingo Resident Claire Starnes Compiles Stories of Women who Served in Vietnam
Sunday, April 10, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - Maryland
Clair Starnes, now living in New Hampshire, published a book in November 2015, "Women Vietnam Veterans: Our Untold Stories." It shares first-person stories from women, not in the nursing profession, who were stationed in the Republic of Vietnam between 1962-1973. More than 860 women are spotlighted in this first volume. Ms. Starnes hopes to publish a second volume with the stories of the other 200-400 who served in Vietnam during this time period.
'This Man's Army': A Woman's Perspective'
Saturday, April 9, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - Arizona
During the March Women's History Month events, a woman veteran who served during the 1970's was often asked "What was it like being a woman in 'This man's Army'?" She shared that most women would likely say it was "challenging, exhilarating, frustrating, rewarding and demanding."