News
Perspectives: PBS Stories of Service
Sunday, February 23, 2020 | Category: History/Heritage - International
"Stories of Service" is an initiative by public media sources to "unite powerful stories and conversations around one of our country's most resilient communities: our military veterans." The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) offers published and upcoming shows and films, educational resources, and transitional information for the military and veterans.
ALS News Today (Higher Rates of ALS Amongst Military Servicemembers & Veterans)
Thursday, July 4, 2019 | Category: Health Care - National
This site offers past and current Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALS) news, inclusive of military veteran-specific news.
Research indicates that there is a higher rate of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALS) amongst individuals who served in the military. In 2008, laws passed making ALS a presumptive compensable illness. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans are rated at a minimum of 100% with access to other supportive benefits to assist them and their families/caregivers with the veteran’s daily care. Veteran families should expect ALS claims to be processed expeditiously. Families can benefit from assistance from veteran service organizations, particularly the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) who have extensive training in working claims for complicated illnesses.
Veterans in the 116th Congress, By the Numbers
Thursday, July 4, 2019 | Category: Legislation - National
When the 2015-2017 114th Congress opened, 101 members (4 women/97 men) had military experience, a steady decline since 2005. The 2018 elections (116th Congress) halted this decline with more than 150 veterans running for the U.S. House of Representatives, more than 75 elected,16 serving their first terms 3 of whom are women joining the House. The 116th congress will include 95 total veterans (6 women),18 in the Senate (2 women) and 77 (4 women) in the House. In 2012 and 2014, 12 and in 2016 14 veteran first-termers were elected. Read this article for more details.
New Congressional Caucus to Focus on Servicewomen, Female Vets
Thursday, July 4, 2019 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
A new Congressional initiative, the House Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, was launched on Capitol Hill to address long-standing issues impacting the fastest growing military cohort. They plan to focus on “growing issues facing female servicemembers and veterans today, from concerns of reports of increased sexual assaults in the ranks to more women serving in combat to health care.”
The caucus is chaired and co-chaired by women veterans.
June is PTSD Awareness Month: Resources for Veterans
Saturday, June 1, 2019 | Category: Mental Health - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs hosts the “National Center for PTSD,” a national resource for research, treatments and connections to assist individuals experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other traumatic stress. This site offers information for veterans, caregivers, family and friends.
33 Fallen Service Members June 2018-May 2019
Monday, May 27, 2019 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Thirty-three volunteer service members lost their lives in overseas conflicts June 2018-May 2019. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) invite all to join them in a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. local time every Memorial Day. The IAVA “#GoSilent” campaign began in 2011.
Memorial/Decoration Day Remembrance
Monday, May 27, 2019 | Category: History/Heritage - International
Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.
22nd Annual Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues & Women in the Military Wreath Laying Ceremony
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
The “22nd Annual Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues Women in the Military Wreath Laying Ceremony” will be hosted at “the Women’s Memorial,” Arlington Cemetery, Washington D.C.
As information becomes available, it will be posted on this site.
ALS Awareness Month: ALS in the Military...Unexpected Consequences of Military Service
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | Category: Health Care - National
On April 11, 2019, the ALS Association released a report, “ALS in the Military: Unexpected Consequences of Military Service,” including reviews of numerous studies, reports, and other evidence demonstrating the link between ALS and military service. In summary:
‘Existing evidence supports the conclusion that people who have served in the military are at a greater risk of developing ALS and dying from the disease than those with no history of military service. As outlined in this paper, study after study continues to demonstrate this to be true: If you serve in the military, regardless of the branch of service, regardless of whether you served in the Persian Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea, or World War II, and regardless of whether you served during a time of peace or a time of war, you are at a greater risk of dying from ALS than if you had not served in the military. The questions we are asking today are these: Why is there a greater risk of ALS with military service? And what are we, as a nation, going to do about it?
It is the goal of The ALS Association that this paper raise awareness of the important work that so far has been done on the relationship between ALS and military service. In this effort, we hope to impress upon the Congress, the Administration and the American public the seriousness of this issue and the need to act now.’
In 2008, the VA implemented regulations to establish a “presumption of service connection” for ALS. Under the regulation, the VA presumes that ALS in military veterans was incurred or aggravated by a veteran’s service in the military. Veterans diagnosed with ALS are rated 100% disabled by the VA through an expedited claims process, understanding the fast progression of the disease and the need for medical equipment and services. The disabled veteran and their survivors are eligible for “service connected” benefits.
The month of May is “ALS Awareness Month,” providing an opportunity to better understand what is known about the disease and how to help afflicted veterans and others as well as their families. A reputable starting point is the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/search/search.jsp?query=ALS+Military&Image2.x=0&Image2.y=0).
Conference Sparks Dialogue on Preventing Sexual Violence at Service Academies, Colleges
Thursday, April 4, 2019 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Military service secretaries and service academy superintendents along with other higher education academic leaders and experts met at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland this week. The intent of the conference was “to find ways to prevent sexual violence and to share initiatives that have shown promise.” This “National Discussion on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at America’s Colleges, Universities, and Service Academies” is the first-ever national meeting addressing this subject. Over 300 attended, about 10 percent of the 1200 invited universities were represented.
In January 2019, the results of a survey showed a 50 percent rise in claims of sexual assault and harassment at the military service academies.