Military Connection Archives

Gay Navy SEAL Tells His Story: Military Connection

June 21, 2015/in Military, Military News, Military Veteran

Brett Jones was born into a military family, spending his childhood traveling around the world. He continued the tradition through service as a Navy SEAL, all the while knowing he was gay. Jones served during the era of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the policy that prohibited discrimination against gay service members but also barred them from disclosing their sexuality.

For years, Jones lived this double life, holding his secret so close that even his SEAL teammates, who were his closest friends, never knew. His lover, a Navy sailor, was referred to as his roommate.

Jones accidentally outed himself when he left an “I love you” phone message for his lover. A woman in the same office as Jones’ boyfriend heard the message and reported it up the Navy’s chain of command.

There was an investigation, which was eventually dropped. But in 2003, Jones decided to get out of the Navy. He felt that too many people knew he was gay, and it would have been a matter of time before they found another way to try and dishonorably discharge me.

But this story has a happy ending. More than a decade later, Jones, now with a husband and son, decided to break his silence to the world about his sexuality The first openly gay SEAL has built a new life with this family, the one that has replaced the two families he lost — the family that raised him and the one he built with fellow SEALs.

Jones said writing his self-published his memoir, “Pride: The Story of the First Openly Gay Navy SEAL” helped heal the pain of the scorn and rejection he experienced.

“I’ve known that I’ve been gay since I was probably about six years old,” he says. “I knew going in [to the Navy] that I was going to have to do a lot of lying.” But the time finally came to tell the truth.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Gay Navy SEAL Tells His Story: Military Connection: by Debbie Gregory

Resources for PTSD Awareness and Treatment: Military Connection

June 20, 2015/in Military News, Military Veteran, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

By Debbie Gregory.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 11 to 20 percent of OEF or OIF active duty service members and Veterans have symptoms of PTSD. There is a plethora of articles regarding awareness, diagnosing and treating PTSD, as well as a wealth of resources available.

The Real Warriors Campaign is a multimedia public awareness campaign designed to encourage help-seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds. Launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) in 2009, the campaign is an integral part of the Defense Department’s overall effort to encourage warriors and families to seek appropriate care and support for psychological health concerns. The website provides numerous resources, including articles, apps and tools, to name a few.

Physician Advocates for Veterans (PAVE) has a network of retired physicians who volunteer to help military Veterans and their caregivers better understand their healthcare conditions and options. They also assist in managing the interactions between the patients and their healthcare providers. PAVE physicians will spend the time Veterans and their families need to be sure you comprehend your choices. This empowers veterans to make more informed decisions and obtain improved outcomes. All PAVE’s services are provided free of any costs.

Psych Armour is a not for profit company that provides education and support to the civilian community, in order to teach them how to best work with military members and Veterans. PsychArmor Institute is the nation’s leading organization in providing innovative training and effective support to all civilians, arming them with everything they need to work confidently and effectively with military and veteran populations. While they do charge for membership, members have access to an extensive library of online courses and continual support through their Civilian Support Center. Additionally, members have the opportunity to interact with other civilians who are serving those who served.

Give an Hour is dedicated to assisting those facing mental health issues created through the military service of those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their volunteer providers donate free, easily accessible confidential counseling to military members and their loved ones. They can quickly respond to those who don’t have access to military or VA facilities, and give help to those who seek confidential care separate from the military environment.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Resources for PTSD Awareness and Treatment: Military Connection: by Debbie Gregory

“Paralyzed” Vet Walks After Getting Free Home: Military Connection

June 19, 2015/in Military Veteran, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Veteran News

By Debbie Gregory.

In December, 2013, Army Specialist Justin Perez-Gorda was given a home, free of charge, by Homes for Our Troops. The Veteran had experienced a traumatic brain injury while serving a tour in Afghanistan in January, 2011. The injury reportedly left him paralyzed from the waist down, the repercussions of the IED explosion.

However, Perez-Gorda is now under investigation, after footage was released showing him unloading lumber in his garage. His wife, Jose, stated that the non-profit knew for years that he could walk, despite them building a wheelchair accessible home for the couple.

Despite interviews given by the couple in 2012 in which they express Perez-Gorda was permanently paralyzed, Mrs. Perez-Gorda claimed that just months after her husband was injured, he regained his ability to walk.

When Jose Perez-Gorda was reportedly asked why they didn’t reveal his miraculous recovery before or at the time of the home’s gifting, the mother of two clammed up.

Shortly after the couple moved into the home, neighbors claimed they saw the Veteran walking around his property, and soon there was photo and video evidence. The couple reportedly became withdrawn and angry when approached with the subject.

Shocked by the reports, Homes for Our Troops Executive Director Bill Ivey said the non-profit are continuing to assess the situation and is weighing their options, adding repossessing the home would be a “last resort.”

Ivey said that after suspicions arose about his handicaps his organization repeatedly tried to contact them last year but without success.

Homes for Our Troops has built over 180 homes for injured Veterans, and currently have 49 home-build projects underway throughout the United States.

The organization’s mission statement reflects its desire to provide quality assistance to qualified Veterans by offering free homes.

“Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury. These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives.”

So, what do you think?

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

“Paralyzed” Vet Walks After Getting Free Home: Military Connection: by Debbie Gregory

Dallas To Host 35th National Veterans Wheelchair Games : Military Connection

June 18, 2015/in Military Veteran

By Debbie Gregory.

Co-Presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the 35^th National Veterans Wheelchair Games will take place June 21–26, 2015 in Dallas, TX.

The sports program empowers Veterans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, amputations and other neurological injuries to live more active and healthy lives through wheelchair sports and recreation. This year, more than 600 of America’s best wheelchair athletes will be participating.

“The Wheelchair Games are a great example of courage and athleticism,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “These Veterans have overcome obstacles, they’ve trained, they’ve persevered, and now they’re ready to compete on the world’s stage.”

While physical activity is important to maintaining good health, speeding recovery and improving overall quality of life, there are precautions that need to be taken. For many injured Veterans, the Games provide their first exposure to wheelchair athletics. And this year’s game will see temperatures in the 90s. The high temperatures, combined with the potential for high humidity, could make wheelchair athletes – particularly those with high-level quadriplegia and paraplegia – susceptible to Poikilothermia, or the inability to regulate core body temperature.

Because of the high temperatures, the coordinators of this year’s games have scheduled the outdoor events from roughly 8 a.m. to noon, when temperatures will typically be lower, and the indoor events during the hotter temperatures in the afternoon.

Veterans at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games will compete in 18 events: air guns, archery, basketball, boccia, bowling, handcycling, a motorized wheelchair rally, nine ball, power soccer, quad rugby, slalom, softball, swimming, table tennis, track and field, trapshooting and weightlifting. This year’s Wheelchair Games will also feature a rowing exhibition. Athletes compete in all events against others with similar athletic ability, competitive experience or age.

For a complete schedule of events and additional information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games visit www.wheelchairgames.org.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Dallas To Host 35th National Veterans Wheelchair Games : Military Connection: by Debbie Gregory

Airstrikes Deliver Blow to al-Qaida: Military Connection

June 18, 2015/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

While U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have been heavily hyped in the media, efforts against al-Qaida have continued in multiple countries. As part of these efforts, two high-profile al-Qaida leaders have recently been reported to have been eliminated by U.S. airstrikes in Yemen and in Libya.

The U.S. reported that a June 12^th airstrike conducted in Yemen has eliminated al-Qaida’s second most powerful figure, Nasir al-Wahishi, the terrorist group’s commander of its presence in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. For several years, al-Wahishi served as Osama bin Laden’s personal aide before taking command of al-Qaida in Yemen in 2002. In 2009, al-Wahishi also absorbed control of al-Qaida operations in Saudi Arabia, forming the group al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The deceased is responsible for calling for violence in and against western countries, especially the United States. He was listed as one of the most wanted fugitives listed by the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as well as the U.S.

Al-Wahishi’s death is being heralded as a huge blow to al-Qaida. Not only will a-Qaida suffer the loss of his experience and leadership in Yemen, but losing al-Wahishi also creates a big hole across the entire terrorist organization across the globe.

Also last week, the U.S. carried out airstrikes in Libya, reportedly targeting Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian terrorist who was once an al-Qaida senior leader. He left the group in 2012 to form his own organization called the al-Mulathameen (“The Masked”) Brigade. Belmokhtar’s group is responsible for the January, 2013 Algerian hostage siege. Thirty-nine of the hostages were executed.

On June 15th, Libya’s government announced that Belmokhtar had been killed in the airstrike along with seven others. The U.S. has not yet confirmed Belmokhtar’s death. On June 16th, an Islamist militant group issued a statement denying the claims of Belmokhtar’s demise. No proof of life, or death, has yet been reported, as of this writing.

While similar in the minds of most Americans, al-Qaida and the Islamic State are two vastly different organizations, with differing goals and ideologies. While both are Islamic extremist terrorist groups, the similarity ends there. The two organizations are actually in competition with each other for recruits and other resources. Al-Qaida has declared a Jihad against the west, and the Islamic State is bent on cleansing the world of non-believers and Islamic hypocrites.

Let us continue to hope for success in the ongoing efforts to degrades and ultimately defeat both al-Qaida and the Islamic State in all countries around the world.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Airstrikes Deliver Blow to al-Qaida: Military Connection: By Debbie Gregory

Revamped Education for Kids of Service Members: Military Connection

June 18, 2015/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

Starting this fall, the Department of Defense (DOD) will be launching its new initiative to better prepare the children of active duty military and DOD civilians for work and college. The College and Career Ready Standards initiative will be administered by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA). Serving more than 78 thousand students in 181 accredited schools in 14 districts, the facilities are located in 12 foreign countries, seven states, as well as in Guam and Puerto Rico.

The College and Career Ready Standards initiative, also referred to as the CCRS program, is intended to help DOD students grasp the skill sets they’ll need when they graduate, whether they are continuing their education or entering the workforce. This task could prove difficult, as every individual student has different goals, needs and levels of experience with the material. However, common denominators do exist, such as résumé writing, filling out college applications, and practice admissions/employment interviews. But the prime focus of the program will be on helping DODEA students become sought after, independent thinkers and workers.

The CCRS program will be introduced gradually so that students, teachers and parents aren’t overwhelmed. CCRS education will make its debut for the 2015-2016 school-year in math classes for DODEA students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. For grades 6-12, the CCRS math classes will begin in the 2016-2017 school-year. The DODEA hopes to have CCRS education in place for all subjects and grade levels by the end of the 2019-2020 school-year.

The new initiative is very much in-line with the standards-based education known as “common core” that is currently used in 46 states around the country. Performance assessment for students and teachers using tests and multiple evaluations will show how the standards are being met under the CCRS program.

The DODEA will rely on the parents of their students to help implement the system. After all, parents are partners in their child’s education. The DODEA will issue handbooks, implement a website and hold multiple conferences to help educate parents on the CCRS program.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Revamped Education for Kids of Service Members: Military Connection: By Debbie Gregory

Soldier Turned Away From Hotel Due to Age: Military Connection

June 17, 2015/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

Old enough to serve your country in the military, but not old enough to rent a hotel room? That’s what happened to Cpl. Hayden Harrington, who was returning to his base in Oklahoma after a short visit with his family in New Hampshire. Harrington was stranded in Charlotte, North Carolina, after his flight was cancelled.

With the assistance of the USO, Harrington reserved a room at the Baymont Inn And Suites near the airport. Unfortunately, upon his arrival, Harrington, wasn’t allowed to check in due to the fact that he is under 21.

Apparently, unbeknownst to the desk clerk, exceptions are made in certain circumstances, including members of the military.

The hotel’s general manager has issued an apology. Nita Shah wrote, “Please accept our sincerest apologizes for this inconvenience. The employee that declined your request was following our company policy, but he is new and was not aware of the permitted exceptions.”

Harrington’s mother, Pamela LaPrell, said the SpringHill Suites Hotel nearby made an exception to their policy, and allowed him to book a room for the night in its hotel.

A representative for the Wyndham Hotel Group said that 30,000 reward points will be provided to Harrington for the hassle. LaPrell says while the reward points are nice, she just wants to policy to be changed so that no other military member has to experience what her son went through.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Military Connection: Soldier Turned Away From Hotel Due to Age: by Debbie Gregory

OSCAR Combat Stress Program Ineffective: Military Connection

June 16, 2015/in Government, Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

A Rand study found that the Marine Corps’ stress control and readiness program — while popular with commanders — has no positive impact on Marines’ mental health. However, Marine officials say they plan to continue using an improved version of the program into the post-Afghanistan era.

More than 1,300 Marines who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq between March 2010 and December 2011 took part in the study. The study compares the outcomes for Marines who received training from the Marines’ Corps-wide Operational Stress Control and Readiness Program — or OSCAR — against a control group of Marines who did not receive the training.

During the week-long class, Marines and sailors trained to receive their team-member and team-trainer certification. Team members work one-on-one with Marines and sailors to help them with stress. If they’re unable to resolve the issue, the service members are instructed to escort their stressed comrades to seek help from the chaplain or a medical facility.

Questions asked were:

How did OSCAR affect Marines’ attitudes toward stress response and recovery?
How did OSCAR affect Marines’ mental health?
Did Marines perceive any stigma around seeking help for mental health?
What were Marines’ general mental health and alcohol use like pre- and postdeployment and with and without OSCAR training?
What were Marine leaders’ perceptions of whether OSCAR training improved attitudes toward stress response and recovery, unit cohesion and morale, and the stigma of mental health and health seeking?
How did leaders perceive their abilities to prevent, identify, and manage combat stress problems in the unit?

While the study did find Marines in OSCAR-trained battalions to be more likely to report seeking help from fellow Marine unit members and corpsmen to deal with personal stress, they were not more likely to seek help from outside medical providers. Moreover, the study found, the prevalence of stress-related conditions or mental health outcomes — such as major depression, post-traumatic stress, and alcohol and substance use — were unaffected by OSCAR participation.

The report makes four primary recommendations:

That the Corps review its stress control programs to reduce duplication of efforts and training that one Marine described as “overkill.”
That officials identify changes to the design and implementation of training to increase its effectiveness, including pushing training down to the squad leader level.
That the service conduct pilot test changes to the existing OSCAR program in efforts to impact Marines’ behavior and reactions in real-world scenarios.
That the Corps expand the evidence base regarding operational stress management to learn what really works.

Future improvements planned for the program include bio-feedback mechanisms, which measure neurological responses to stressors and improvement to the program’s review of mental health, first aid, and tools to combat negative thinking and regulate emotions.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Military Connection: OSCAR Combat Stress Program Ineffective: by Debbie Gregory

VA Wasted $6 Billion: Military Connection

June 15, 2015/in Government, Military Veteran, Veteran News, Veterans Benefits

By Debbie Gregory.

At a hearing on Capitol Hill, a senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs accused his agency of waste, fraud and mismanagement in the way it purchases medical care and supplies.

Jan Frye, the VA’s deputy assistant secretary for acquisition and logistics, wrote a 35-page memo to Secretary Robert McDonald in about the spending. He decided to air the information publicly after his memo went completely unanswered.

“I can state without reservation that VA has and continues to waste millions of dollars by paying excessive prices for goods and services due to breaches of Federal laws,” Frye wrote.

Frye said that for years, employees at the VA have failed to engage in required competitive bids, or sign contracts that would control costs for supplies in health care services. One of the most egregious methods designed to skirt federal rules is the use of purchase cards for large-scale purchases totaling billions. These purchase cards are normally intended to make it easier to acquire small items conveniently. Instead, employees used the cards to subvert contracting rules, bringing in $1.2 billion in prosthetics that were purchased without contracts during an 18-month period that ended last year. Frye said the VA has paid at least $5 billion in fees for specialized procedures, tests and surgeries, which violated federal rules.

Frye was appointed to his VA position on September 4, 2005. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary of one of the largest acquisition and logistics programs in the Federal government, Mr. Frye is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures for department-wide acquisition and logistics programs supporting all VA facilities

McDonald finally issued a response, thanking Frye for bringing the allegations to his attention and promising the inspector general would examine his claims.

If any evidence of harm is found, the government watchdog will forward the information to the Department of Justice, and criminal charges may follow. But in getting the last dig in, McDonald planted responsibility for the scandal on Frye’s shoulders, saying, “It’s Jan’s responsibility to fix it.”

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Military Connection: VA Wasted $6 Billion: by Debbie Gregory

Mil Sexual Assault Victims Face Retaliation: Military Connection

June 14, 2015/in Military, Military News

By Debbie Gregory.

Military sexual assault survivors are still experiencing retaliation for reporting sexual assaults, this according to a report issued by Human Rights Watch. The international organization focuses on defending human rights around the world.

Victims who report military sexual assault are 12 times more likely to experience retaliation than to see their attacker convicted of a sex crime, according to the report.

Many survivors suffered bullying and isolation. Many experienced damage to their careers, such as being subjected to poor performance evaluations, punishments for petty infractions, assignments to demeaning jobs such as picking up garbage. What’s worse is that in many cases, the attacks never stop.

The report, entitled “Embattled: Retaliation against Sexual Assault Survivors in the U.S. Military,” found that retaliation had an effect on a victim’s willingness to come forward to report the assault. Furthermore, the report found that ending retaliation plays a critical role in addressing the problem of sexual assault in the military.

The statistics are staggering; the Pentagon’s latest report on sexual assault found there were about 18,900 sexual assaults in the military last year, of which only 6,131 were reported.

Troops who suffer sexual assault have complications civilian survivors do not. Service members commit to the military for several years and cannot simply quit their jobs to get away from their perpetrators or co-workers who harass them. And because troops pride themselves on looking out for one another, the trauma that comes from a sexual assault is compounded, the report said.

Among the report’s recommendations are:

Congress strengthening the Military Whistleblower Protection Act to give servicemembers the same level of protection as civilians.
Expanding initiatives like the Special Victims Counsel program, to reward those who take retaliation seriously and hold accountable those who do not.
Congress establishing a ban on criminal charges or disciplinary action against victims for minor collateral misconduct that would not have come to light if the victim had not reported a sexual assault.
Improving outreach to make military sexual assault survivors aware of special victim counsels and victims’ legal counsel.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.