News
Thousands of .mil Addresses Potentially Leaked in Ashley Madison Hack
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 | Category: Department of Defense - National
Numerous military and government e-mail addresses were used to sign up for the Ashley Madison affair-seeking web service. According to a report first published in Wired, substantial personal information, including sexual fantasies, was leaked online after the extramarital affair web site Ashley Madison was hacked in July. An initial analysis revealed 6,788 army.mil, 1,665 navy.mil and 809 usmc.mil, including addresses linked to every destroyer and amphibious assault ship in the U.S. Navy.
Stratasys’ 3D Printing of Prosthetic Devices Spurs Innovation for Veterans at VA Make-a-thon
Friday, August 7, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
125 designers, engineers, students, teachers and veterans attended "The VA Innovation Creation Series: Prosthetic and Assistive Technologies Challenge" make-a-thon event held in Richmond, Virginia during summer 2015. Fourteen Stratasys FDM-based 3D printers, ranging from MakerBots to the Fortus 450mc produced contestants’ designs over the course of two days. The focus of the challenge was to develop a device or solution to improve prosthetics to meet the differing needs of male and female veterans.
Togus Gives Progress on Caring for Maine Veterans
Monday, August 3, 2015 | Category: Health Care - Maine
Maine Department of Veterans Affairs (Maine VA) administrators stated that the needs of Maine veterans continue to be met nearly a year after the national scandal rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide. Maine VA currently has 50,000 veterans enrolled of which 85% will receive care in 2014. More staff and updated technology are critical to meet patient demand. Medical Center Director Ryan Lilly stated: "Our access is very good here in the state of Maine. It is not perfect."
Silent Warriors: Can Tompkins Help Surging Number of Female Vets?
Monday, August 3, 2015 | Category: Health Care - New York
In Part VI of "Hope on the Homefront," the Ithaca Voice's 10-part series on the struggles of the area's veterans, Jenny Pacanowski, a combat medic who served in Iraq in 2004, shared how she essentially managed her recovery without any help from the community. Today in New York's Tompkins County there are projects for returning veterans focused on giving assistance and making sure others do not have to "go it alone" like Jenny did.
VA's Make-a-thon Produces 'Game-Changing' Device for Leg Prosthetics
Thursday, July 30, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Innovation hosted their first-ever Make-A-Thon focused on prosthetics. Lisamarie Wiley, a 10th Mountain Division soldier who lost much of her lower left leg to a land mine, was one of many veterans who explained everyday problems they face with missing limbs. With their feedback, students and engineers brainstormed design ideas for two days, utilizing 3D printers to manufacture prototypes. Google, a corporate sponsor, donated $20,000 for the competition's first prize.
British MoD Anti-rape Campaign Launched with Shocking Posters of 'Army Sex Attacks'
Friday, July 24, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
The British Ministry of Defence anti-rape campaign photographs depict men and women who have been raped by soldiers and warn service personnel that consent is always required before they have sex. Posters including the slogan ‘Don’t kid yourself! Without consent it’s RAPE’ will be displayed in army barracks and training centres across the country.
Statement from Paralyzed Veterans of America on the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 | Category: Legislation - National
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs withdrew S. 469, the “Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015" from legislative markup. The bill "would lift an antiquated ban on VA providing fertility services to veterans who have incurred a severe injury to their reproductive organs." Many female veterans with grievous injuries from explosive devices are unable to conceive a child naturally. Assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are provided by the Department of Defense. The Paralyzed Veterans of America believes that political ideologies overshadowed "the needs of veterans with catastrophic disabilities, particularly those with spinal cord injury or disease."
Two Former Army Officers Criticize Pentagon's Sexual Assault Strategy and Send President Obama a Proposed Foundation for Vital Transformational Change
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Two former Army officers of the Northern Virginia law firm of Jordan Patrick & Cooley LLP urged President Obama via letter to consider their 7-step proposal to strengthen the Pentagon's anti-sexual assault plans. They believe the remedies inclusive of an executive order would promote 'robust relief for women servicemembers that is beyond the control of the conventional command structure and thwarts efforts by commands to cutoff women servicemembers from access to powerful assistance.'
Protect Our Defenders Working to Eliminate Bias in Military Justice
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Don Christensen, a retired Air Force Judge Advocate General, now serves as the President of Protect Our Defenders. The group's mission is to end what it calls "the epidemic of military rape." Accusing a fellow service member of sexual assault in the military can hurt the victim career-wise, socially and administratively as current Department of Defense statistics reveal. Two-thirds who report experience retaliation. Mr. Christensen notes that "The odds are astronomically in your favor that if you conduct a sexual assault that you'll never be held responsible."
DoD to Study Link Between Sex Assault Claims, Career Retaliation
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The Department of Defense (DOD)Office of Inspector General plans to examine the types of separation servicemembers had after filing sexual assault and rape reports since 2009 and then, determine if they were improperly forced out of the military due to mental health issues. The OIG will then review if those who were separated for non-disability medical conditions, including personality and adjustment disorder, were discharged according to DOD rules.