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Military Connection: Wounded Warrior Project Survey: By Debbie Gregory

September 29, 2014/in Veteran News

On September 16, 2014, the Wounded Warrior Project released the results of their 2014 Annual Alumni Survey. The organization surveyed more than 21,000 wounded Veterans in an effort to determine the areas where these Veterans struggle after they separate from the Military. The intention is that the data provided by the survey can be used to improve support and benefits for wounded Veterans.

The survey found that the two most common problems in accessing both physical and mental healthcare were 1. Difficulty in scheduling appointments, and 2. Inconsistent treatment due to canceled appointments and switches in providers. The survey found that this was not just among VA healthcare patients, but among Veterans seen by private providers as well.

The survey revealed that the primary type of current health insurance or coverage cited included Veterans Affairs at 59.2%. This stat was up from 52.7% in 2013.

The percentage of Veterans receiving VA disability benefits is 72%, which is up from 62.8% in 2013.

The number of Veterans with a VA disability rating of 80% or higher rose to 42.6% in 2014, up from 36.2% in 2013.

The study also found that the top five reported injuries and health problems experienced during post-9/11 service were:

Sleep disorders (75.8%)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (75.2%)
Back, neck, and shoulder problems (72.3%)
Depression (67.1%)
Anxiety (64.2%) or

Other important findings from the survey include:

The unemployment rate for respondents in the labor force is 13.9%
82.3% of warriors are overweight or obese
75% of warriors reported the memory of an upsetting military experience has haunted them in the past month.
59.2% of warriors say talking with another veteran is in their top five ways for coping with stress
43.2% of warriors report having a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This is the fifth consecutive year that the Wounded Warrior Project has conducted this survey. The data will allow the organization to identify trends and compare this data with surveys from other military populations.

Download Survey Here.

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: Wounded Warrior Project Survey: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Robert Gates on Obama’s Plan: By Debbie Gregory

September 28, 2014/in Archived Blogs

On September 10^th, President Obama addressed the nation and offered his official stance on the Islamic State, and American involvement in Iraq and in Syriagoing forward. In his address, the president vowed to degrade and ultimately destroy the Islamic State. In order to accomplish this, the president called for the continuation of airstrikes, while at the same time saying that he would not send ground forces back into Iraq.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, stated his belief that the use of American ground forces would be necessary to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates weighed in on the topic, and appeared to agree with Gen. Dempsey. In an interview with CBS News on September 17^th, Mr. Gates said that he believed that President Obama will need to send Americans boots on the ground to combat the Islamic State.

“The reality is, they”re not gonna be able to be successful against ISIS strictly from the air, or strictly depending on the Iraqi forces, or the Peshmerga, or the Sunni tribes acting on their own,” Gates said in the interview. “So there will be boots on the ground if there”s to be any hope of success in the strategy. And I think that by continuing to repeat that [the U.S. won”t put boots on the ground], the president, in effect, traps himself.”

While the former defense secretary admitted that he thinks the president’s plan is sound, Mr. Gates says that he feels that the president’s promise to destroy the Islamic State is unrealistic.

“I”m also concerned that the goal has been stated as degrade and destroy, or degrade and defeat ISIS,” Gates told CBS. “We”ve been at war with al Qaeda for 13 years. We have dealt them some terrible blows, including the killing of Osama bin Laden. But I don”t think anybody would say that after 13 years we’ve destroyed or defeated al Qaeda.”

Mr. Gates continued his point by saying:

“And so I think to promise that we”re going to destroy ISIS, or ISIL, sets a goal that may be unattainable, as opposed to devastating it, or whereas the vice president would put it, ”following ”em to the gates of hell”, and dealing them terrible blows that prevent them from holding territory. Those are probably realistic goals.”

For now, Americans watch with growing concern as American pilots continue their airstrikes against I.S. forces. As the conflict continues in Iraq and in Syria, many current service members face the possibility of a third campaign in Iraq since 1990.

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: Robert Gates on Obama’s Plan: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: DOD to Review OTH Discharges: By Debbie Gregory

September 27, 2014/in Archived Blogs

Up to 80,000 veterans with “Other Than Honorable” military discharges due to PTSD have been given the opportunity to petition to have their discharges upgraded.

On September 3, 2014, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a memorandum that directed the boards for correction of military records or naval records to “fully and carefully consider every petition based on PTSD brought by each veteran.”

Secretary Hagel instructed the boards to give “liberal consideration” to any language found in medical records describing one or more symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD or related conditions. Liberal consideration is also to be used when veterans’ civilian providers have diagnosed PTSD. And where PTSD is reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, it is to be “a mitigating factor” in the misconduct that generated an Other Than Honorable Discharge.

The generation of veterans who will most benefit from this new directive will be Vietnam Veterans. PTSD wasn’t formally recognized until 1980. Studies have estimated that as many as 30% of Vietnam Veterans suffered from PTSD at some point after the war.

An immeasurable number of Vietnam Veterans came home with PTSD, and were then punished for behaviors that are recognized today as symptoms of post-traumatic stress. With their Other Than Honorable Discharges, these veterans were not eligible for VA benefits and care. Many of these veterans also faced an uphill employment battle because of their type of discharge.

Forty years have gone by, and for many, the damage has been done. But a number of veterans, estimated as high as 80,000, could have their discharge statuses upgraded, which would possibly qualify them to receive benefits, including healthcare.

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: DOD to Review OTH Discharges: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: New Navy Uniforms: By Debbie Gregory

September 26, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The Navy is close to approving several uniform changes that could take place as early as next year.

The first change could be the long anticipated addition of a warm-up suit. The Navy has been testing a moisture-wicking running suit that would be similar to the warm-up suit worn by Marines. A suit of this type would offer sailors better comfort, warmth and protection against exposure. The color scheme has not yet been determined. It is most likely to be a Navy blue color with gold or silver reflective lettering on the back, chest and possibly pant legs, as well as reflective trimming to provide optimum visibility for Sailors who PT early in the morning or in the evening. The suits will likely be made available for personnel to wear with their civilian attire.

The warm-up suits are very likely to get approved. The Navy will be running a test of the new PT gear this fall. If all goes well, the Navy could be adding these warm-up suits to the sea bag by end of fiscal year 2015.

Another possible uniform change would affect female chiefs and officers only, as female E-7 and above are set to start wearing choker collars, similar to the men’s dress whites for these pay grades. Along the same lines as the current wear-test in progress that has female enlisted personnel wearing the iconic “cracker jack” dress blues uniforms and “Dixie Cup” white caps, the Navy is also looking to streamline the uniforms in the wardroom and the chief’s mess.

Currently, female chiefs and officers wear a white coat and black tie. The Navy wants to replace that uniform with the high-collar “choker” worn by men, which clasps at the neck and is not worn with a tie.

A wear-test has been scheduled to hit the fleet in 2016. If approved, the current female dress uniforms could be replaced by the end of that year.

The Navy is also finishing a 60 day wear-test of a lighter version of their Navy Working Uniform. Over 230 Sailors wore lighter versions of the blue and gray camouflage uniforms in locations including Hawaii, Guam and Bahrain. The Navy intends to offer a more breathable option of their NWU for personnel in locations given to heat and tropical climates.

The Navy has also chosen a new cold weather waterproof parka that is similar to those worn by the Coast Guard. The new parkas offer better protection against the elements with its 3-in-1 design. The parka has an outer shell that is waterproof and two zip-in liners. One liner is an insulating fleece liner and the other is a jacket that is lighter and water repellant and can be worn as a stand-alone garment. Both the outer shell and the light jacket have rank tabs on them.

With the Coast Guard already wearing these parkas in blue, the Navy opted for their parkas to be black. Most uniform changes take up to three years to implement. The Navy hopes that because this style of garment is already being used by the Coast Guard, that this change can be applied much sooner.

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: New Navy Uniforms: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Army Looks Ahead to More Cuts: By Debbie Gregory

September 26, 2014/in Military, Military Spouse, Military Veteran

The U.S. Army is expected to make more cuts in personnel in an effort to meet DOD ordered force size reductions.

Back in June, the Army notified more than 1,100 Captains (O-3) that they were essentially being pink-slipped by the military. It was later revealed that 48 of those officers were serving in Afghanistan when they received the news. The dismissals were part of a military-wide effort to reduce the force-sizes of the standing U.S. armed forces. Each branch was ordered to reduce their ranks. Branches first incentivized early retirements for eligible personnel, then they utilized selection boards to determine which of their members they would involuntary separate.

In August, 550 Army majors (O-4) were given similar notices, and the Army has scheduled separation boards for lieutenant colonels (O-5) and colonels (O-6) for next year.

Active duty Army force size is scheduled to go down from 510,000 troops this year to 490,000 in 2015. It is expected to drop to about 450,000 by 2019.

As the Army looks at future personnel cuts, there remains a strong possibility that some of the individuals selected for separation could be notified while serving in combat zones. The Army is expected to have soldiers in Afghanistan for at least another two years, and some of them could be among those selected for involuntary separation.

Once notified of their pending separation, personnel have nine months to transition out of their branch of service. That is why the Army prefers to notify their personnel as soon as possible, even if that means notifying them in a war zone. Deployed personnel who receive separation notices are generally returned state-side within a matter of days. For higher ranking officers, especially those in command positions, it could take up to 30 days to turn over their commands.

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: Army Looks Ahead to More Cuts: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Airstrikes in Syria: By Debbie Gregory

September 25, 2014/in Archived Blogs

This week, a message was sent to the Islamic State (I.S.) that the world is rallying against them. A U.S. led coalition conducted a series of airstrikes against the terrorist group that has seized large parcels of land in Iraq and Syria.

There were two major differences in this latest attack against the I.S. One was that this series of attacks happened in Syria. The second was that multiple Arab nations took part in the airstrikes, solidifying that it isn’t just the U.S. opposing the Islamic State.

The airstrikes began in the early hours of September 23, 2014. Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the U.S. in sending units to carry out attacks on I.S. forces, with Qatar joining them in a non-combatant support role.

This multinational coalition is important for a number of reasons. During the earlier campaigns in the region, it seemed as though it was the Western powers against the Middle East, as U.S. and British forces took on the bulk of the workload. This gave the impression that other world leaders within the Middle East were against, or at least not on board with, the conflicts. Now, with other Arab nations joining in against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, it sends a resounding message that the threat the I.S. poses is real. So is the need to destroy them, regardless of cultural, religious, language and ideological barriers.

President Obama met with the leaders from the five Arab nations that make up the coalition. Each one made it clear that they understood that the mission to destroy the I.S. could be a long and difficult one. But every member confirmed that they would see the mission through to completion.

The airstrikes happened in three waves, all targeting combatants, vehicles, and training camps. The first wave focused on the Khorasan Group, a separate terrorist organization that is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous to Americans, because of its stated mission to carry out operations in the U.S. The wave hit several Khorasan Group targets in Eastern and Northern Syria.

The second wave hit I.S. targets, including its headquarters. The third wave concentrated on I.S. positions in Eastern and Northern Syria.

Let us send best wishes and support to our American pilots who are carrying out the airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. While we don’t have personnel on the ground, we certainly have Americans in harm’s way. Let us keep them and their families in our hearts and minds.

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: Airstrikes in Syria: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: New Look for Armored Units: By Debbie Gregory

September 25, 2014/in Archived Blogs

When most of us think of armor, we imagine the archaic iron suits worn by medieval knights. While extremely limiting the wearer’s speed and mobility, the armor protected the knight from blows and stabs. Modern ground warfare has been dominated by heavily armored, slow moving vehicles that are reminiscent of those immobilizing suits worn by knights. But the U.S. Military is working to change that.

In August, 2014, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced the launch of its Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program. The program is bent on revolutionizing modern armored units.

Attempting to move away from the slower, bulky units that are often limited to roads, the GXV-T program is investigating ways to improve the mobility and survivability of U.S. Military vehicles through means other than just bulking on more armor. Researchers are currently looking into alternatives that include avoiding detection, engagement and hits by enemy forces.

The primary goal of the GXT-V program isn’t to replace one type of vehicle, but rather to overhaul the U.S. military’s entire concept of armored units. GXV-T’s technical goals include reducing vehicle size, weight and crew size by 50%, increase vehicle speed by 100%, improve access to diverse terrains by 95%, and reduce detection signatures.

DARPA plans to develop GXV-T technologies over a 24 month period after initial contracts are awarded. Contracts are expected to be awarded by April, 2015. The GXV-T program intends to pursue research, development, design and testing of new units or major components of them. So far, there are only a few sketched drawings of possible prototypes. But the pictures depict a hyper transformation of unit types that are a far cry from M1Abrams tanks.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard &amp, 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: New Look for Armored Units: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Great News for VA Benefits: By Debbie Gregory

September 24, 2014/in Archived Blogs

A measure has been passed that paves the way for increased benefits for Veterans with disabilities.

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014, referred to the Senate’s Committee on Veterans” Affairs as Senate bill: S.2258, passed by unanimous committee consent on September 11^th. It was then sent to the House. Once in the House, S. 2258 was fast tracked on a motion by Rep. Lamborn from Colorado. The legislation was passed by a voice vote in the House on September 16^th.

Essentially, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014 directs the secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the payments of a number of Veteran benefits. The increased rates will affect benefits such as Veterans” disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowances for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. The measure also requires each increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under Title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.

According to the bill, the changes would go into effect as of December 1, 2014.

Since the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2014 has been passed in both the House and Senate, it now heads to President Obama to either be vetoed or signed into 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: Great News for VA Benefits: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Job Scams Target Vets: By Debbie Gregory

September 24, 2014/in Archived Blogs

For today’s military Veterans, the road to civilian employment can be tough. Competing in a tight job market and convincing civilian employers to hire them has proven to be a struggle. Most Veterans can’t or don’t want to sit and wait for an employer to contact them and offer them a job. It is this eagerness to work that has led to some Veterans being scammed.

The Veteran community has been increasingly targeted by unscrupulous rip-off artists, especially those disguised as employers offering job opportunities.

One such scam recently targeted Mark Blum, a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force. When he separated, Blum intended to use his experience as a logistical advisor to launch a civilian career. But instead, he was duped by an online employment scam.

Like many Americans seeking an edge, Blum created a profile on LinkedIn. His profile led to an email from a woman who identified herself as Betty Blakefrom Blue Line Network. “Betty” said that her firm was interested in hiring former military personnel, and that Blue Line Network was interested in having Blum join their team as a project manager.

Blum researched the global shipping and logistics company, and saw on the their homepage that the company was hiring. Blum was also repeatedly contacted by Blake and her boss, Thomas Wilson, over the next several weeks through emails, phone calls. They even conducted a Skype interview. Blum received training manuals and took weekly tests, on subjects related to the supposed job.

After a few weeks of studying, training and taking tests, Blum said that his contacts offered him a side job. They credited his credit card with funds so that he could purchase computer equipment and ship it overseas. Blum was suspicious of the offer at first. But he received assurances from his credit card banks that the funds indeed were in his account. But after the purchases were made and shipped, the funds disappeared from his credit card accounts, leaving the Veteran $32,054 in credit cad debt.

California’s cyber task force is now investigating Blum’s case, but so far, they have not heard of any other complaints involving Blue Line Network.

All consumers, but Veterans in particular, are advised to use their best judgment when responding to any unconventional employment offers, especially if it’s one that wasn’t applied for. If anything about the person, company or position seems fishy or too good to be true, then it probably is. And it might be a scam.

If you believe you have been contacted by a fraudulent employer, do not respond and report it to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation immediately, via the Chat function on the website: http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/hiring-our-heroes.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard &amp,amp, 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: Job Scams Target Vets: By Debbie Gregory

MilitaryConnection: Vets Find Success at Sullivan U. By Debbie Gregory

September 23, 2014/in Archived Blogs

Sullivan success Sullivan University has a history of commitment when it comes to training and educating veterans and active duty military personnel. The university system, based in Louisville, KY, also has a campus in Lexington, and has operated a campus on base at Fort Knox, KY for more than 30 years. This a testament to Sullivan’s dedication to the military community. The school is also proud of its online division that benefits working professionals, as well as the Dale Carnegie Training Institute.

To further the school’s commitment to the military community, Sullivan formed the Military and Veteran’s Advisory Board, chaired by Brigadier General James Shane (US Army-Retired). The board is tasked with establishing policies and procedures that provide the best educational experience possible for Sullivan’s service members, veterans and their families.

“I, along with other senior military leaders, stress there are no better ‘work ready’ candidates than our veterans,” said General Shane. “But they are not necessarily ‘work-trained’ and our job is to provide necessary education and training that leads to a second career and gainful employment.”

As part of its Veterans Retraining and Re-employment Initiative, the university sponsored a six-week program in Bowling Green, Kentucky for disabled Veterans’ job training. The program was the result of a collaboration with Preeminent Training Specialists LLC, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.

Veterans received Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) training in safety, quality, manufacturing processes and production, maintenance of equipment and machines, and green/environmental production.

General Shane went on to say, “Sullivan University’s partnership with Preeminent Training Specialists and MSSC provides an excellent opportunity for Veterans to seek a new career in manufacturing, one of the fastest growing high-tech industries in the United States.”

Sullivan is proud to report that 75% of the graduates from their Veterans Retraining and Re-employment Initiative have been offered jobs.

“These men and women have sacrificed much for our country,” said Gen. Shane. He added, “At Sullivan, we want to ensure we do everything possible to make their choice of continuing their education a good one.”

Sullivan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The University offers numerous certificate, diploma and degree programs in career-orientated programs. The programs include business, pharmacy, human resources, technology, supply chain management, culinary and baking and pastry arts, hospitality studies, conflict management, nursing, allied health sciences, legal studies and early childhood education. For more information, visit www.sullivan.edu.

Sullivan is proud to have received the very first Military Connection Veteran School Salute. The award recognizes veteran colleges and universities that go above and beyond in their efforts to help military students, veteran students, and their loved ones use the rich education benefits that they have earned, and make the most of their education experience.

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.