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Broadway Musical “Bandstand” About Real Struggles of War

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By Debbie Gregory.

For more than three months, Broadway’s  Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre has been home to Bandstand the story of what happened to some of the Greatest Generation after they came home from war.

In Cleveland, Ohio, Private First Class and singer/songwriter Donny Novitski tries to rebuild his life with only the shirt on his back and a dream in his heart.

When NBC announces a national competition to find the nation’s next great musical superstars, Donny enlists four fellow veterans, each an astonishing musician, to start a band and enter the competition. Together, they discover the power of music to face the impossible, find their voice and finally feel like they have a place to call home.

Donnie also meets Julia Trojan, the widow of his best friend who died in the war in a friendly-fire incident. The emotions of the show’s characters run from grief over the loss of fellow soldiers to survivor’s guilt for being able to come home while others didn’t; and nostalgia for their pre-war lives and dreams.

Showrunners Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, along with choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, used song and dance to portray the real struggles that soldiers face when they leave the battlefield.

To make sure they were being authentic, Oberacker and Taylor reached out to Got Your 6, which unites nonprofit, Hollywood, and government partners to empower veterans and certifies that portrayals of veterans in pop culture are accurate.

Through their association with Got Your 6, Oberacker and Taylor were able to introduce the entire cast to veterans whose stories helped inform the actors on how best to portray a former service member or a Gold Star wife.

“At the end of the day, our show is about taking an adversity, whether it’s having been in a war, or getting cancer, or losing a loved one, or whatever it may be …. and turning it into the very thing that gives your life a purpose,” Oberacker said. “The way they learn how to take this adversity and give their life purpose is by telling the truth.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Here’s What You Need to Know About the Forever GI Bill

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By Debbie Gregory.

The “Forever GI Bill,” a sweeping expansion of GI Bill education benefits, is on its way to the Oval Office.

Passed by both houses of Congress, the bill will increase veteran’s benefits by more than $3 billion over the next decade.

One important change, reserved for those who become eligible after January 1, 2018, is the removal of the 15-year limit on using their GI Bill benefits, which offers them more flexibility.

Additionally, the Forever GI Bill boosts education assistance for National Guard and Reserve troops, Purple Heart recipients and for the dependents of fallen troops.

Reservists called to active duty under sections 12304(a) and 12304(b) are now eligible. Previously, only reservists called to active duty by presidential order as a result of a national emergency were eligible. This applies to all reservists mobilized after Aug. 1, 2009, but reservists can receive payment only for classes that start after Aug. 1, 2018.

Reservists who were receiving REAP payments may now be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Currently, there are less than 4,000 people eligible for this benefit.

Purple Heart recipients will get the full GI Bill amount, regardless of how long they served on active duty.

For veterans who were caught up in the collapse of for-profit schools Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech, the legislation would fully restore their GI Bill education benefits.

Of course, all of this comes with a price tag, and the expansion will be paid for by reducing the increases in housing allowances paid under the GI Bill to new beneficiaries. As of January 1, 2018, the GI Bill housing allowance will decrease an average of $100 a month. Active-duty BAH is also affected, decreasing each year by 1 percent every year from 2015 to 2019,  so that by 2020, BAH will only cover 95 percent of a military member’s housing cost.

The housing allowance for GI Bill students will now be based on the campus location where classes are attended, not necessarily the main campus.

Effective August 1, 2018, Dependent’s Education Assistance (DEA) monthly payments will increase by about 50 percent, but the maximum number of months that a dependent can get DEA decreases from 45 to 36.

Also effective August 1, 2018, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs are eligible for the “Edith Nourse Rogers Scholarship” which will pay veterans up to $30,000 if they have used up all their GI Bill benefits and have at least 60 semester/90 quarter hours credit toward a STEM degree. It also will pay those who already have a STEM degree and are working on a teaching certification.

The High Technology Pilot Program, scheduled to start in the spring of 2019, covers the full cost of high technology training offered by a company versus a school.

MilitaryConnection.com has a comprehensive education area, and we invite you to check out the numerous education resources at https://militaryconnection.com/education.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

NASA Looking to Hire Earth Defender- For a Six-Figure Salary

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By Debbie Gregory.

No, this is not a headline ripped from the tabloids…

NASA has a job opening for “planetary protection officer.” But if you want the job, you’d better hurry-applications are only being accepted through August 14th.

Your job duties will include defending Earth from alien contamination and helping Earth avoid contaminating the alien worlds we’re trying to explore. That’s a simplified way of saying you would be promoting the responsible exploration of the solar system by implementing and developing efforts that protect the science, explored environments, and Earth.

As the planetary protection officer, you can expect a compensation packet from $124,406 to $187,000 a year, plus benefits.

The position was created after the U.S. ratified the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

Oh, and as NASA’s planetary protection officer, you will have the opportunity to travel to space centers around the world and analyze planet-bound robots. You will also help establish the equipment, protocols, and procedures to reduce contamination risks.

So, at this point you may be wondering what qualifications a successful candidate would need to possess to get the gig.

The candidate must have at least one year of experience as a top-level civilian government employee, plus have “advanced knowledge” of planetary protection and all it entails.

You would also need to have “demonstrated experience planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space programs of national significance.”

You would also need to have “demonstrated skills in diplomacy that resulted in win-win solutions during extremely difficult and complex multilateral discussions.”

And last, but not least, you should have an advanced degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics.

The job comes with a “secret” security clearance, so noncitizens aren’t technically eligible. But they probably aren’t the only ones who don’t qualify!

To apply to the NASA Planetary Protection Position go to USAJOBS.gov.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Free Tickets for Vets

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By Debbie Gregory.

The Veteran Tickets Foundation (VetTix) is a national 501(c) 3 nonprofit founded by veterans dedicated to support and honor the U.S. military community, veterans and their families.

Since 2008, Vet Tix has provided veterans, service members, caregivers and the family members of those killed in action with more than three million free tickets to major sports games, concerts and a diverse mix of other ticketed events. And because they’re a non-profit, individual ticket holders and businesses can receive tax deductions for their donated tickets.

So, if you’re looking for some fun things to do before summer is officially over, check out Veteran Tickets Foundation.

Here are some of the events remaining for August:

August 15: Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros – MLB

August 16: Washington, DC: Washington Mystics vs. Los Angeles Sparks – WNBA

August 16: Portland, Maine: Goo Goo Dolls’ Long Way Home Summer Tour with Phillip Phillips

August 18: Rochester, New York: Nitro Circus Live

August 19: San Diego, California: Fleet Science Center

August 24: Evansville, Indiana: An Evening with Olivia Newton

August 23: Anaheim, California: Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers – MLB

August 24: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB

August 31: Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals – MLB

To become a Vet Tixer and request tickets to these and hundreds of other events, visit VetTix.org to create a free account. Once you’ve verified your military service, you can review hundreds of upcoming events across the country. Other than a very small delivery fee, all the tickets are free! If you have tickets to donate, click here.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

D’Youville Veteran Student Michelle Greene Rides for a Cause

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You could call Technical Sergeant Michelle Greene a bit of an overachiever.

The  27-year-old has already completed nine years of military service, while taking on a full time course load to complete her undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science at D’Youville College, a Veteran School Salute awardee and Yellow Ribbon Program Participant.

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A natural at athletics, Greene took up road biking four years ago, and it quickly became her favorite hobby. So when you love to ride, and you have a generous spirit, what better to do then combine the two and ride for a cause?

“Simply put, I want to do this ride for those who can’t,” said Greene.

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Greene connected with Mission 22, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and enlists support to end veteran suicide in America. She has volunteered to complete a 22 day bike trek traveling from Buffalo, NY to Keesler AFB, Mississippi during the month of September, 2017.

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“If by me riding 1250 miles on my bike can help even one soul overcome the mental battle or depression and thoughts of suicide I would do it 100 times over,” Greene said.

On top of her studies and military service, Greene also volunteers at a local gym as a trainer, specializing in teen and young adult athletic development.

“I myself have known many people who have struggled with PTSD, depression, and a never ending mental battle with the outcome often times leading to suicide,” Greene shared. “I want people, vets and civilians alike, to become aware of the resources out there to help. I want them to know they are not alone in this mentally crippling battle and that there is help, there is a light, and there is a chance to become healed from the stressors military life puts on not only the member, but their family, friends, and cohorts.”

Greene’s long term plan is to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

It’s time to replace the words, “Thank you for your service” with an action that demonstrates the sentiment. If you would like to support Michelle Greene’s great cause, you can do so by either purchasing a shirt or through a direct donation.

Marine Veteran Restoring Helicopter He Flew During Vietnam

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By Debbie Gregory.

Bob Fritzler, now 82, served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years. In Vietnam, he flew a Sikorsky H-34 helicopter during Operation SHUFLY, a Marine helicopter operation that primarily ferried troops in Vietnam between 1962 and 1965.

In 1962, Fritzler was a Marine aviator flying a H-34 Choctaw helicopter to support the South Vietnamese military as they battled the Viet Cong forces. At first he operated down south below Saigon then his unit relocated up to the DaNang area.

Today, his mission is to restore the H-34 that sits on his property in a large garage. His eventual goal is to have it in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C

The Keenesburg, CO resident paid homage to the helicopter, saying it was a huge game changer for the Marines. Pilots could now drop soldiers off anywhere instead of relying on ships.

Fritzler came by the big bird after attending a Marine reunion where he met Gerald Hail, who restored old planes back to flyable conditions. Hail invited Fritzler out to fly, and that’s where Fritzler noticed his H-34, the one he had flown eight combat missions in.

Even though most of the paint was gone and Fritzler’s old squadron number had been painted over with a different squadron’s number, he still recognized the helicopter as the one he flew.

“I had a real love affair with it,” Fritzler said.

Hail agreed to transfer the helicopter to Fritzler as long as Fritzler was willing to put in the work to fix it up.

Fritzler’s restoration project has already taken him a few years, but it’s a lengthy process. He has purchased two other helicopters for parts.

Even though his flying days are over, this may be the next best thing.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

App Creators Hope to Help Veterans through Peer Support

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By Debbie Gregory.

Community support is often the most powerful tool for overcoming the psychological injuries of war and military service. Objective Zero, an app that should be launching later this summer intends to do just that by connecting veterans experiencing mental distress with other veterans who can talk them through it.

The name Objective Zero is a reflection of the sentiment that VA Under Secretary for Health, David J. Shulkin said in a statement: “We as a nation must focus on bringing the number of veteran suicides to zero.”

Objective Zero grew from a six hour phone conversation between Army soldier Chris Mercado and his buddy, Justin Miller. A few months after leaving the Army, Miller was considering suicide. Living in constant pain, jobless, and unable to sleep because of his terrible nightmares, Justin had reached the lowest point in his life. The conversation became an article that was published in 2015 on Medium.com. Mercado’s Georgetown classmates formed a team that researched the issue of veteran suicide and began designing the app.

It would act as a conversation platform between veterans, but also direct users to other resources and services they could pursue on their own.

Through the app, a veteran in distress can open the program, select voice, video, or text, and broadcast what Mercado calls a “distress signal” to those veterans signed up as ambassadors.

“It’s kind of like texting 10 people at the same time, saying you need help,” Mercado says.

Joining Objective Zero in their goal is Headspace, a popular subscription-based meditation app, which is offering its services at no cost to veterans registered through Objective Zero, as well as Comeback Yoga, which will make their videos available through the app.

“What we found is by increasing social connectedness among veterans, providing access to resources, and improving access to care, we can lower suicide rates,” said Mercado.

The Objective Zero team will be coordinating with the VA to help get veterans registered on the app once it’s available later in the summer.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Nineteen New Marines & Naturalized Citizens

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By Debbie Gregory.

They hail from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Brazil, Canada and Vietnam, Ecuador and Guatemala, China and Jamaica, Haiti, Peru and Tanzania. Nineteen young adults, all newly minted Marines, and all brand new U.S. Citizens!

During a July 13 naturalization ceremony at Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, the 16 young men and young women became U.S. citizens.

In order to take that final step of raising their hand to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution, they had to demonstrating their knowledge of the English language and American civics, as well as show good moral character.

The following day, the 19 graduated with 457 of their fellow Marines of Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, and November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, achieving their dreams of becoming U.S. Marines.

In a statement, Brenda Washington of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said, “For these Marines, today’s naturalization ceremony represents their final step in their journey to American citizenship.” She added, “Their path to citizenship is especially remarkable because they first pledge themselves to support and defend the United States before choosing to become American citizens.”

The 19 double celebrants are: Pfc. Ambar N. Zaiek Parades, Dominican Republic; Pfc. Dulce F. Manriquez, Mexico; Pvt. Annalice M. Daley, Jamaica; Pvt. Julian R. Torres, Peru; Pfc. Serdjhy Leger, Haiti; Pfc. Dang H. Doung, Vietnam; Pfc. Daniel A. Guzman, Dominican Republic; Pvt. Kervin Stcyr, Haiti; Pvt. Jhonatan A. Velarde, Ecuador; Pvt. Jean Malhado, Brazil; Pvt. Yongchang Gao, China; Pvt. Khalid M. Ngwegwe, Tanzania; Pvt. Daniel Ramirez Rodriguez, Mexico; Pvt. Juan C. Rosales Guerin, Mexico; Pvt. Carlos L. Espana Palencia, Guatemala; Pvt. Waylon F. LaFrance, Canada; Pfc. Rodrigo M. Malpartida, Peru; Pvt. Zetian Ni, China; and Pfc. Ariel Castillo, Cuba.

We congratulate them all on their achievements!

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

White House Undecided as to the Future of Troops in Afghanistan

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By Debbie Gregory.

Despite his displeasure at the current state of affairs in Afghanistan, President Trump has backed away from an option to pull all remaining U.S. forces from the region, days after reports claimed the administration was seriously considering the move as part of its pending plan of action for the 16-year-old war.

Contrary to recommendations from the Pentagon, the Trump Administration had been considering withdrawing all 8,400 U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, rather than increasing troop presence, the White House had considered scaling back U.S. presence there, exposing a fundamental divide between the Oval Office and top military officials as to how to proceed in the region.

White House officials have found themselves hindered in the effort to forge a new strategy in a conflict where the U.S.-backed Afghan government is struggling to regain the initiative from insurgent groups, and to find the right level of U.S. military commitment.

In April, U.S. military officials said that 1,500 soldiers would be deployed to Afghanistan in response to attacks by the Islamic State militant group (ISIL or ISIS) as well as the Taliban. ISIS has claimed responsibility for a recent attack on the Iraqi Embassy in Kabul that began with a suicide bomber blowing himself up at the main gate, which allowed the terrorists to enter the building.

On August 2nd, the Pentagon confirmed that two American service members were killed after a Taliban suicide bomber struck a NATO convoy traveling through Kandahar province. The two soldiers were the eighth and ninth Americans killed in Afghanistan this year.

The U.S. military personnel currently in the region are there to “advise, train and assist missions, including counter-terrorism and air support” for local security forces, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Congressman Seeks Second Chance for Vets Facing Deportation

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By Debbie Gregory.

One path to U.S. citizenship is through military service. In fact, joining the U.S. military has always been one of the fastest ways to become a U.S. citizen. The American Civil Liberties Union reported last year that many servicemembers don’t realize their naturalization is not automatic. And unfortunately, veterans who get in trouble prior to completing the process can be deported.

Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), who serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is seeking a second chance for veterans who were convicted of crimes and face the possibility of deportation.

Takano introduced legislation that would have the Department of Homeland Security consider a veteran’s moral character and honorable service above a criminal conviction when reviewing their application for citizenship.

The Second Chance for Service Act provides the Department of Homeland Security with flexibility to approve a veteran’s naturalization application despite criminal convictions in their record. It excludes veterans convicted of aggravated felonies, such as murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child pornography, human trafficking and treason.

The bill, the “Second Chance for Service Act,” would only apply to honorably discharged veterans.

Veteran and immigration advocates have confirmed more than 3,000 veteran deportation cases.

A 2016 ACLU report, “Discharged, Then Discarded,” found that deported veterans were in the U.S. legally, but had sustained physical wounds and emotional trauma in conflicts as far back as the war in Vietnam. Deportation is a lifetime punishment that never would have happened if the government had ensured their right to be naturalized.

“America is a country that believes in second chances, and few deserve a second chance as much as these veterans,” Takano said on his website. “Treating people who risked their lives for freedom so callously violates the respect and gratitude we owe to all who have served.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.


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