By Debbie Gregory. For many years, the U.S. military has conducted yearly joint training exercises with South Korea, also known as the Republic of Korea (ROK). The yearly maneuvers have been named Foal Eagle, and are basically staged to strengthen the cohesiveness of the U.S. and ROK militaries. Additionally, the exercises are a deterrent to […]
By Debbie Gregory. On February 28th, Russian forces entered Crimea, the Ukrainian southern peninsula on the Black Sea. Russian ground and naval forces have successfully and non-violently blockaded Ukrainian ground forces and navy ships in their bases. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the world that his country’s military is merely protecting the lives of […]
By Debbie Gregory. In December, the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans fell to 7.3%, the lowest that it has been in years. The rate saw a slight increase in January, as it rose to 7.9%. Previously, the unemployment rate for Post-9/11 Veterans was consistantly around 10%, among the highest unemployment demographic in the […]
By Debbie Gregory. Beginning in April, the U.S. Army is expected to be conducting a wear-test campaign of new Army Combat Uniforms (ACU). Multiple new uniforms will be worn and reviewed by the wearers and Army leadership to determine if the function, durability and style of the uniforms is suitable for replacing the current ACU. […]
By Debbie Gregory. Last week, President Obama proposed his fiscal year 2015 budget for the VA. The president’s proposal included a 6.5% increase over the FY 2014 budget, allotting $163.9 billion for the VA. Included in the budget are $68.4 billion for discretionary spending and $95.6 billion for mandatory programs. The discretionary spending will mostly […]
By Debbie Gregory. Since 2004, The Soldiers Project has been helping Veterans cope with mental wounds. The idea for the organization originated after founder Judith Broder M.D., attended a live theater production about the war in Iraq that was written and performed by Veterans. The performance left Dr. Broder thinking that something must be done […]
By Debbie Gregory. On March 7, 2014, the VA announced the launch of a new tool designed to help Veterans identify Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The tool comes in the form of a mobile phone application (APP) that has been dubbed the “Concussion Coach”. The Concussion Coach is the result of a collaborative effort by […]
By Debbie Gregory. Sleep apnea has become a major health concern in the Veteran community. The VA’s Veterans Health Library claims that as many as 30 million Americans may suffer from varying types of sleep apnea. The VA says that as many as 24% of men and 9% of women between the ages of 30 […]
By Debbie Gregory. Practically since their completion of boot camp, service members are told to prepare for their transition back into civilian life. Veteran advocacy groups and civilian business strategists recommend that Veterans should start preparing for their transition one year to eighteen months before separation. They recommend having a job lined up before separating […]
By Debbie Gregory. There is great news for Veterans in California. Collaborative efforts between the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the VA are resulting in great progress handling the backlogged VA claims. The collaboration, known as the CalVet/USDVA Joint Claims Initiative, has already helped thousands of California Veterans receive healthcare benefits and financial […]
