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Military Connection: Planning a Successful Transition

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By Debbie Gregory.

The skills that Veterans gain while they are in the military, such as organization, discipline and problem-solving, should translate well into the private sector. So then why do they face employment obstacles and civilian disconnect after they transition?

One of the main barriers to employment for Veterans include lack of preparation for finding civilian jobs, and unrealistic expectations for the kind of work and salary for which they qualify. For those in supervisory positions, having led troops in battle, often on multiple deployments, doesn’t always translate to a similar civilian position. Many of the boots on the ground service members are trained just for the jobs they do in the military, which don’t translate well in the civilian job market.

Another barrier is unaddressed mental health issues, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many employers are wary of hiring veterans with mental health disorders, viewing them as “broken.” Although many civilian employers want to do the right thing and reward those who have served, they struggle to understand them.

So how do we fix this? According to a report produced by the University of Southern California and Volunteers of America “civilian basic training” is needed as troops transition out of the armed services.

Study co-author Anthony Hassan, an Army and Air Force Veteran, feels that an honest discussion regarding the challenges Veterans face and what they need to succeed needs to be had. While the DoD had put the focus on training troops for war, civilians need to help our troops after they leave the military.

Hassan, the director of the University of Southern California’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families said, “I don’t say veterans are all broken but I don’t say all Veterans are employment ready, either.”

Perhaps what is needed is an expansion of the Transition Assistance Program, aimed at giving troops a crash course in the civilian world. Because the program is the last step between exiting the military and entering the civilian world, many of those participating are just looking to get it over and done with as soon as possible. If the program was expanded, elongating the process so that it wasn’t something to just rush through, it just might prove to be more beneficial, with a better outcome.

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: Planning a Successful Transition: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Study Ties PTSD to Premature Aging

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By Debbie Gregory.

None of us want to grow old before our time. Many of us do what we can to slow down the aging process. And that goes beyond just wanting to look good; we also want to feel good. So it is troubling that a new study has found that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients may be at a high risk for premature aging and for medical conditions normally associated with old age.

Writing in the online issue of American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System suggest that there is a link between PTSD and premature aging.

In recent years, public health concerns about PTSD have risen significantly, driven in part by military Veterans returning from conflicts that have been diagnosed with the disorder. PTSD is associated with a number of psychological issues, including chronic depression, anger, insomnia, eating disorders and substance abuse.

Researchers focused on three potential signals of faster-than-normal aging — biological signs like shortened telomeres or markers of inflammation, higher rates of medical conditions linked to advanced age, and early death. Out of 64 potential studies, the researchers identified 22 that were suitable for determining the link between PTSD and the biomarkers and 10 others that could be examined for the condition’s connection to early death.

Although the researchers attempted to combine the findings of several studies, there was still a large amount of variability among the research. This makes it difficult to compare the results.

What this new information reveals is that treatment for PTSD may now need to include anti-aging therapies, not just mental health treatments. PTSD, which is caused by external, traumatic stress, apparently has an effect on a basic biological process such as aging. These studies suggested that PTSD patients may be at higher risk for conditions like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, ulcers and dementia.

PTSD could be due to other risk factors — many of which occur alongside PTSD — such as smoking, higher alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

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: Study Ties PTSD to Premature Aging: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Jon Stewart Training Vets to Work in the “Biz”

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By Debbie Gregory.

Jon Stewart is running a five-week industry training session for Army Veterans who want to get into the television business.While the pop-culture comic is a constant critic against the Iraq war, he is unwavering in his commitment to help Iraq Veterans.

Stewart is winding down his hosting duties on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Accused by some of misinforming its core audience of young adults about international news, The Daily Show doesn’t hide the fact that it’s not a news program, and only uses newsworthy stories as a jumping-off point to satire.

Stewart and The Daily Show, which has been on the air since 1996, have been working on this training program for three years, albeit under the radar.

Nathan Witmer was one of the Veterans who joined Stewart’s boot camp. The former leader of an Army scout platoon during the 2008 troop surge in Iraq went on to work at Fox News. He was then hired by The Daily Show as an associate field segment producer.

“We hear ‘Thank you for your service’ all the time, but here was concrete action, people working to really make a difference. And it changed lives. I’m proof of that,” said Witmer.

At the same time that Stewart has been serving up pointed satire against the war in Iraq, he’s been a supporter of Veterans, making hospital visits and doing a stand-up tour of bases in Afghanistan.

Now he’s trying to help them get into an industry traditionally hard to break into. Stewart is also encouraging others in the industry to follow his lead, encouraging others to “franchise” his idea.

“Please steal our idea,” Stewart said. “It isn’t charity. To be good in this business you have to bring in different voices from different places, and we have this wealth of experience that just wasn’t being tapped.”

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: Jon Stewart Training Vets to Work in the “Biz”: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Hanks Will Head ‘Hidden Heroes’ Campaign

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By Debbie Gregory.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation hosted the 2015 Hidden Heroes Coalition Summit: Progress and Promise at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The event featured a special video-taped message from Tom Hanks, announcing his leadership of “Hidden Heroes.” This is a national awareness campaign to call attention to the service provided by loved ones caring for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans.

These caregivers “live all across America, and in all of our communities,” Hanks said

First Lady Michelle Obama also pledged her support. While our nation has made great progress on behalf of military and veteran caregivers, more needs to be done to provide these “hidden heroes” with the support they need and deserve.

With Hanks’ leadership, the campaign will raise public awareness of the service, needs and value of caregivers who tend to these injured troops and veterans.

“They never had any real preparation for the job as caregiver, but they became so in an instant with little warning other than a phone call or email that changed their lives and defined the great challenges that had been thrust upon them,” Hanks said.

The awareness campaign was one of several announced initiatives that is looking to strengthen military and veteran caregivers, who often feel frustrated and overwhelmed with their multiple responsibilities.

“It’s truly inspiring to see America come together around the loved ones of our wounded, ill and injured warriors in the ways they need and deserve,” said Elizabeth Dole, whose namesake foundation launched the National Coalition for Military Caregivers a year ago.

The most powerful moments of the event came from the caregivers themselves. Nine of them spoke from the stage, sharing their personal stories. More than 60 others were in attendance, representing the 5.5 million loved ones caring for America’s wounded warriors.

“This is America’s new normal,” Dole said. “For too long, they’ve traveled this road alone.”

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: Hanks Will Head ‘Hidden Heroes’ Campaign: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Adjusting to the “New Normal”

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By Debbie Gregory.

A program that aims to is showing signs of success. Johnson & Johnson, which has supported the Rosalynn Carter Institute’s (RCI) caregiving programs for many years, will support the program’s expansion to three new sites this year.

Operation Family Caregiver (OFC), the Rosalynn Carter Institute’s (RCI) signature military caregiver program, will be expanding, thanks to the generous support of Johnson & Johnson.

The program, which assists the caregivers of returning service members and veterans, provides one-on-one support and training for caregivers for service members and veterans with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, and/or physical disability.

Coming home can be hard, for both service members and their families. The transition home is jarring and it requires a huge effort, by both those who have been injured and the loved ones who take care of them. Whether the injuries are physical or psychological, visible or invisible, service members must learn how to rely on loved ones for help.

Caregivers who have completed the program having experienced reduced depression, fewer health complaints, greater confidence in problem solving, and improved ability to take care of

Piloted in Johnstown, Pa., the program has rapidly expanded, with caregivers receiving in-person support in San Diego, CA.; Killeen, TX; Buffalo, NY; Houston, TX; Augusta, GA; and Tallahassee, FL.

Located in Americus, Ga., the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is a division of Georgia Southwestern State University. RCI was established in 1987 in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a GSW alumna who serves as president of the Institute’s Board of Advisors. RCI supports caregivers – both family and professional – through advocacy, education, research, and service. It establishes local, state, national, and international partnerships committed to building quality, long-term, home and community-based services

Operation Family Caregiver helps the families of returning service members and veterans by teaching them the skills they need to better manage their challenges as they adjust to a “new normal.”

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: Adjusting to the “New Normal”: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: The Role of Service Dogs in PTSD

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By Debbie Gregory.

As a life-long dog owner, I can attest to the fact that dogs bring great comfort to us humans. Now research is under way to identify the role that service dogs can play in alleviating the symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.)

Leading a study at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Marguerite O’Haire, an assistant professor of human-animal interaction, is working with 100 Post-9/11 Veterans with PTSD. The study is looking to see if a specially trained dog can influence medical symptoms, social anxiety, relationships and more.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has yet to provide service dogs to those struggling with mental health disorders. But many non-profit groups, such as K9s For Warriors, Sam Simon Foundation, Patriot Paws, Hero Dogs, and many more, have been stepping up to fill the need.

For her study, O’Haire is working with K9s For Warriors. Executive Director Rory Diamond said 92 percent K9’s graduates report that they are able to reduce their medications or stop taking them altogether within six months of graduating from the three-week dog pairing course.

Up to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD and combat-related depression.

Dogs trained to assist people with PTSD learn a range of tasks, such as standing in front of or behind them to fend off crowds or approaching people, waking a person from a nightmare or “sweeping” a room for other people before a handler enters. Some dogs can be taught to recognize early signs of anxiety in their partners and to give an alert, thereby re-focusing their partner, who can then use strategies they have been taught to cope with the situation.

An emotional support dog is a very well behaved pet that provides love, companionship and affection. But an emotional support dog is not trained to handle tasks related to PTSD.

Hopefully, the study will reveal what most dog lovers already know; there is no better medicine than a cold nose and a warm, furry friend.

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: The Role of Service Dogs in PTSD: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Under-reported Sexual Assaults Go Unpunished

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By Debbie Gregory.

In a scathing critique of the Defense Department’s efforts to curb sexual assaults, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has accused the Pentagon of covering up some sexual assaults by underreporting many of the cases. Most of these cases involve civilian women living near bases, and non-military spouses of service members. Gillibrand, an outspoken critic of the military’s leniency in regards to sexual assault, continues to champion the cause of the victims.

Gillibrand’s request for the case files followed a February, 2014 AP investigation into the U.S. military’s handling of sexual assault cases that occurred in Japan. These instances revealed a pattern of random and inconsistent judgments.

To determine whether the same thing was happening at bases in the United States, Gillibrand asked then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel for the case files of sexual assault cases that were investigated and adjudicated from 2009 to 2014. These instances took place at the Fort Hood, Texas, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Marine Corps Camp Pendleton in California and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

When Gillibrand’s staff examined these sexual assault casess at the military’s four largest bases, they found that 107 of the sexual assault punishments were too lenient, with the word of the alleged assailant believed more often than that of the victim. Less than 25% of the cases went to trial, with only eleven cases ending in a conviction for the sex crime. In more than 50% of the cases, female civilians were the victims.

Laura Seal, a Defense Department spokeswoman, said the department does not have authority to include civilians in its surveys.

To prevent the fox from guarding the henhouse, so to speak, Gillibrand has backed legislation that would remove commanders from the process of deciding whether serious crimes, including sexual misconduct cases, go to trial. That judgment would rest with seasoned military attorneys who have prosecutorial experience. The Pentagon is opposed to the change.

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: Under-reported Sexual Assaults Go Unpunished: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Donation Will Restore Iwo Jima Memorial

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By Debbie Gregory.

A $5.37 million gift will be used to restore a symbolic treasure that depicts the bravery of U.S. Marines who gave their lives to defend freedom.

Philanthropist David Rubenstein, the son of a Marine who served in the Pacific, announced that he will give the National Park Foundation the funds needed to wash, wax and restore the Iwo Jima sculpture, which honors all who have given their lives in the U.S. Marine Corps. The depiction memorializes a famous World War II scene, inspired by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by photographer Joe Rosenthal. The picture was taken after a bloody battle when the Americans moved to capture the island of Iwo Jima, which ultimately helped bring an end the war.

“Iwo Jima was one of the most brutal battles in our country’s history,” said Rubenstein, who made his fortune as a co-founder of The Carlyle Group investment firm. “Whenever something is restored or made better, it tends to attract more visitors. When you attract more visitors, more people learn about history and about the things that led to the memorial.”

The donation will also cover the cost of re-gilding the engravings and refurbishing the surrounding plaza and landscape. Improvements are also planned for the memorial’s signage and access for visitors, which number approximately 230,000 people each year.

The project is expected to take about two years, with a completion date estimated as summer of 2017. The memorial site, at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, will remain open to the public.

Dan Wenk, interim president of the National Park Foundation, said “Mr. Rubenstein’s transformative gift is an inspiring example of the unique connections individuals have with their national parks and the important role that public-private partnerships play in ensuring that the places honoring our history and heritage are protected and preserved now and for future generations.”

Mr. Rubenstein’s gift is part of a larger capital campaign as the Park Service approaches its 100th anniversary in 2016.

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: Donation Will Restore Iwo Jima Memorial: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: USERRA Law- Employees Who Serve and Promotions

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By Debbie Gregory.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA/USERRA Law) of 1994 is in place to protect the reemployment rights of service members and Veterans. When they return from a period of service, including when they are called to active service through the Reserves or National Guard, USERRA Law prohibits employer discrimination based on military service or obligations connected to military service. The law states that employers cannot refuse to hire, reemploy, retain or promote or deny any benefits of employment because of an individual’s military duty.

USERRA Law has established that the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and still retain reemployment rights is five years. The previous law provided four years of active duty, plus an additional year if it was for the convenience of the Government. USERRA clearly establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual’s service, as long as the basic eligibility criteria is met.

Disabled Veterans and their employment rights are also protected under USERRA Law. Employers are required to make reasonable efforts to accommodate a disabled Veteran’s disability. The law also provides protection to service members convalescing from injuries received during service or training, allowing them up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.

Another function of USERRA is to make major improvements in protecting service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, and by assessing and improving the systems of enforcement for USERRA Law.

One of the main rights protected by USERRA is that returning service members be reemployed in the job that they would have attained, had they not been absent for military service. This means the same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA Law also requires that reasonable efforts, including training or retraining, be made to support returning service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. The law clearly provides for alternative reemployment positions if the service member cannot qualify for the position. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, he or she is deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence, and is entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.

Under rights protected by USERRA Law, an employer cannot legally pass over Reservists or members of the National Guard for promotions due to concerns over how their military obligations have impacted or will impact their attendance. Ordinarily, employers are allowed to use past or anticipated absenteeism when considering a candidate for promotion. But under USERRA Law, such resolutions are deemed illegal when the prior or expected absences are military-related.

Employees who think they were passed over for promotion because of their military service or obligations should immediately consult with a military law attorney. Depending on the circumstances, the attorney could show that the employee’s military duty was a motivating factor behind the adverse personnel action, and in violation of USERRA Law.

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: USERRA Law- Employees Who Serve and Promotions: by Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Military Career Derailed by Tattoos

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By Debbie Gregory.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for Marine Corps leaders to change the tattoo policy in order to save the career of a Marine whose body ink ran head-on into the Corps’ regulations.

Sgt. Daniel Knapp got a new tattoo on his forearm, a pair of crossed rifles and the numbers 0311 — the Corps’ designation for Marine riflemen — to commemorate his 2011 deployment to Afghanistan. This action caused a major hiccup in his career, as he was denied re-enlistment by Marine Corps headquarters, despite a policy waiver endorsed by leaders within his parent command

While Knapp acknowledges that he violated the Corps’ tattoo regulations, he said many Marines don’t understand the complicated and lengthy policy. But no matter how this plays out for him personally, even if he can’t save his own career, Knapp said he wants his story to be a cautionary tale for others.

Marine leaders argue that excessive tattoos detract from the neat appearance that sets Marines above all others, hence their support of tighter restrictions. In 2011, when the last updates were finalized, changes included limiting the size of tattoos visible in PT uniform to the size of a wearers hand and the number visible in PT uniform to just four for officers. Also, the width of band tattoos was limited to 2-inches maximum for officers and one-quarter of the body part they cover for enlisted Marines.

Although the tattoo that derailed Knapp’s career is Marine Corps-themed, its size and placement are in violation.

“A Marine with tattoos doesn’t mean you’re a bad Marine,” said Sgt. Maj. William Wiseman. “However, since tattoos are a visual reminder of your personal thoughts, feelings and ideas, a Marine with visible tattoos may not be the best candidate for a high-profile assignment. Since the Marine Corps has the most recognizable uniform in the world, this makes the Corps a high-profile assignment. … You joined the Corps; the Corps didn’t join you.”

While “grandfathering” provisions were made for Marines who already had tattoos that didn’t meet the new guidelines, these Marines were no longer eligible for certain special duty assignments, such as recruiting posts.

Knapp feels that the Corps needs to rethink this policy. “Decisions should be made based on what is good for Marines, to fight wars and be ready.”

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: Military Career Derailed by Tattoos: by Debbie Gregory


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