FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 18, 2015

         

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 18, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:02:42 -0400

September 18, 2015 In This Issue: 1. VFW Testifies at Senate Committee Hearing 2. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Approves Several Bills 3. VFW Hosts Eisenhower Memorial Commission 4. Gulf War Vets Needed for Research 5. National POW/MIA Recognition Day 6. Train Attack Heroes Receive Medals 7. Four MIAs Identified 1. VFW Testifies at Senate Committee Hearing: On Wednesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss pending legislation. VFW Deputy Legislative Director Aleks Morosky testified, offering the VFW's comments. The bills on the agenda covered a wide range of topics including health care, survivors' benefits, and the GI Bill. The Committee also focused on two bills that would create greater VA employee accountability. To read the VFW's full statement and view a webcast of the hearing, visit: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/pending-legislation09162015. 2. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Approves Several Bills: On Thursday, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs considered and approved seven bills related to programs and policies affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs. These bills include H.R. 677, which would allow for COLA increases to disability compensation to occur without needed action by Congress.  H.R. 2915 would help end suicide by female veterans.  H.R. 3106 would affect construction at VA by shifting larger projects to the Army Corps of Engineers for management and appointing a special Assistant Inspector General for construction related issues. The VFW will continue to monitor all seven of these bills.  For more information on these bills and to watch the hearing, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhb8wcb1fCg&feature=youtu.be. 3. VFW Hosts Eisenhower Memorial Commission: The VFW hosted a meeting on Thursday so the Eisenhower Memorial Commission could update a dozen veteran and military service organizations about the progress of the memorial, which Congress authorized in 1999 as a tribute to the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and the 34th President of the United States. Attending the meeting at the VFW Washington Office were the commission chairman, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.); the finance campaign chairman, retired Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.); and the 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps and advisory committee cochairman, retired Gen. P.X. Kelley. The VFW supports the memorial through the passage of resolution 306 at this summer's 116th National Convention in Pittsburgh. 4. Gulf War Vets Needed for Research: The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center at the VA in East Orange, N.J., currently has several research studies focused on Gulf War veterans who deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm, as well as non-deployed veterans of the same era. If you are a veteran from the 1990-91 era, or if you have a Gulf War illness and would like to know more about the research, please call 1-800-248-8005 or visit their Gulf War Research page at: http://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/research/volunteer/nj-wriisc.asp. 5. National POW/MIA Recognition Day: The VFW Washington Office was present at today's National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon, joining VFW Posts across the nation in honoring and recognizing the service and sacrifice of almost 140,000 former American prisoners of war and the 83,000 Americans who continue to be listed as missing and unaccounted for from World War II forward. Read how one family continues to suffer the pain of unknowing here: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/09/14/list-of-troops-missing-since-wwii-still-tops-83000.html. 6. Train Attack Heroes Receive Medals: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva presented medals to the three Americans who stopped a radical terrorist on a Paris-bound train last month. At the Thursday ceremony, Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone received the Airman's Medal and Purple Heart Medal, Army National Guard Specialist Alek Skarlatos received the Soldier's Medal, and civilian Anthony Sadler received the Department of Defense Medal for Valor. The Airman's and Soldier's Medals rank ninth in the order of precedence, immediately above the Bronze Star. The Defense Medal for Valor was created soon after 9/11 to recognize government employees and private citizens who perform acts of heroism or sacrifice. The three childhood friends were on vacation Aug. 21 when they subdued, disarmed and hogtied a heavily armed gunman on a train heading from Amsterdam to Paris. France awarded all three Americans the Legion of Merit within days of the attack. After the Pentagon presentation, the three young men met with President Obama in the Oval Office. 7. Four MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has identified the remains belonging to two World War II Marines and two Korean War soldiers. Being returned home for burial with full military honors at a time and date yet to be determined are: - Marine Corps Pfc. James P. Reilly and Cpl. James D. Otto, who were both killed in action on Nov. 20, 1943, while fighting on the Pacific island of Tarawa. They were assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. - Army Cpl. Robert E. Meyers, of Franklin County, Pa., was assigned to Company A, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, when he died fighting in North Korea on Dec. 1, 1950. - Army Cpl. George H. Mason, who was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Infantry Division, died while fighting in North Korea on Feb. 14, 1951. To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm. As always, we want to hear your advocacy stories. To share your stories or photos with us, simply email them directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

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FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 11, 2015

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 11, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:37:21 -0400

September 11, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Patriot Day 2. House Holds Hearing on Licensing and Credentialing 3. House Oversight Committee Investigates Army Childcare Program 4. The VFW Attends Warrior-Family Symposium 5. Every Name Needs a Photo 6. Vietnam MIA Identified 1. Patriot Day: Fourteen years ago today radical Islamic terrorists struck America hard, killing almost 3,000 Americans in New York City, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pa. Their intent was to weaken America and dampen our spirit, but the attacks instead united our country. In what has truly become one of our finest hours, America refused to succumb to fear or despair. Today, in honor of Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the VFW pauses to remember the 2,977 Americans who tragically lost their lives 14 years ago, and to offer our gratitude to America's Newest Greatest Generation, who no one could have envisioned being able to fight a two-front war for 14 years with an All-Volunteer Force. The VFW encourages all Americans to take a moment to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families, and to give thanks to all who have and will continue to selflessly sacrifice themselves to ensure our way of life endures. Read more at: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/VFW-Offers-Its-Gratitude-to-America-s-Newest-Greatest-Generation/.                 2. House Holds Hearing on Licensing and Credentialing: On Thursday, the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing entitled, "A Review of Licensing and Credentialing Standards for Servicemembers and Veterans: Do Barriers Still Remain?" In his remarks, Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) made clear that Congress must continue to do all it can to ensure that the valuable skills that service members receive through their military training can be easily translated to civilian credentials necessary to enter many technical fields following service. A recurring theme during testimony, however, is that the federal government is limited in what it can do to facilitate this goal, since credentialing standards are established by individual state legislatures. View the hearing and possible solutions here: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/a-review-of-licensing-and-credentialing-standards-for-servicemembers-and-veterans-do. The VFW will continue to do all we can to support solutions to this complicated problem, and encourage all Action Corps members to contact your state officials to find out what they can do to improve veterans' access to professional licenses and credentials in your state. 3. House Oversight Committee Investigates Army Childcare Program: On Thursday, the VFW attended the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing concerning the program reimbursing Army families for childcare. The program has become wrecked with cost overruns and long wait times and has caused severe financial troubles for families. Nearly 10,000 Army families use the program which funds care when base services are not available. The program was shifted to a new contract shared by the Army and General Services Administration in an effort to save money, but cost an additional $4.4 million beyond its budget, and bad management allowed thousands of email and voicemail complaints to be deleted. For more information on the hearing, go to: https://oversight.house.gov/release/hearing-wrap-up-gsa-army-fee-assistance-program/. 4. The VFW Attends Warrior-Family Symposium: On Wednesday, the VFW attended the Warrior-Family Symposium hosted by the Military Officers Association of America and Wounded Warrior Project. Focusing on the mental health care needs of those who have served our nation and their families, there was intense discussion about the need to have robust VA capabilities connected with the communities where these families live. Senator Johnny Isakson spoke on the need to allow the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act to work without outside influences pressuring the program. VA Secretary Robert McDonald spoke on the impact of an aging veterans population and the strain it can cause on VA as a whole. To watch video of the symposium, go to: http://www.moaa.org/WFS/. 5. Every Name Needs a Photo: Since 2009, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation has been trying to collect at least one photograph of all 58,307 men and women whose names are inscribed on The Wall. To date, 42,000 individual photographs have been submitted for display in the new Education Center at The Wall, as well as online on The Virtual Wall. Six states —North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Minnesota — have found all of their photos, with many states having just a few photos left to find. VVMF can provide lists of names by region so that volunteers can look for photos of service members from their area. For more information or to submit photos, go to http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/. 6. Vietnam MIA Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to Navy Lt. j.g. Neil B. Taylor, 26, of Rangeley, Maine, who will be buried in his hometown with full military honors on Sept. 14, exactly 50 years after the A-4C Skyhawk he was piloting crashed while on a bombing mission over Bac Lieu Province, Vietnam, on Sept. 14, 1965. To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here: http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

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FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 4, 2015

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, September 4, 2015
To: rserge@live.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 14:02:22 -0400

September 4, 2015 In This Issue: 1. The VFW Fills the Room for Field Hearing and Town Hall Meetings 2. Pentagon VSO/MSO Conference 3. Vietnam Wall "In Memory" Program 4. Become a Vietnam War Commemorative Partner 5. Missing Medal of Honor Recipient Identified 1. The VFW Fills the Room for Field Hearing and Town Hall Meetings: The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a field hearing in Michigan this week to hear firsthand about the impact of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. The hearing highlighted the difficulties that remain for those areas which are considered rural and showed that there is continued need to ensure veterans get quality care in a timely manner. The commander of VFW Post 3676, David Pearce, testified at the hearing about the issues that local veterans face.  During the August congressional recess, nearly 300 members of the VFW attended more than 50 town hall meetings, pressing their elected officials on major issues facing veterans today including sequestration, quality of life programs and toxic exposure, setting the tone for Congress to return to town on September 8 and finish important work that affects so many.  2. Pentagon VSO/MSO Conference: Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work hosted the VFW and other veteran and military service organizations at the Pentagon on Wednesday to discuss challenges and threats his department faces during a time of extraordinary budget uncertainty. He was joined by other senior defense officials to discuss people programs, health care, modernization efforts, and the potential impact on every program should Congress allow mandatory sequestration to return in fiscal year 2016, which begins next month. Ending sequestration continues to be DOD's number one priority — as it is the VFW's — as well as the proper care and treatment of wounded, ill and injured service members, the families of the fallen, and outreach efforts to the younger generation to encourage them to serve. Among the department's many concerns is that the force still needs to be "right balanced" for the future, not only through the current downsizing initiatives but possibly in recruitment eligibility changes to give America's best and brightest an opportunity to serve. Health care needs to be simplified. A new retirement program needs to be approved that can be maintained, grandfathered and contributory. Regarding modernization, DOD is looking to better its buying power and to maximize private industry technologies. The Pentagon also wants to merge appropriated fund commissaries with the military's exchange systems, which are nonappropriated fund activities. 3. Vietnam Wall "In Memory" Program: More than 58,000 names meet the Defense Department's criteria to be etched into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but those who survived the war — and who later died as a result of their service — are not. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund acknowledges their service and sacrifice through an online "In Memory" Honor Roll. Causes of death that fit the criteria for inclusion in the program include exposure to Agent Orange, PTSD-related illnesses/events, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. The program is free and the application process is simple. To honor a loved one, you only need to submit the veteran's DD214 to show their proof of service in the Vietnam War, a copy of their death certificate, and a photograph. The application deadline for inclusion in the 2016 ceremony is in March. For information or to submit applications, go to: http://www.vvmf.org/InMemoryProgram. 4. Become a Vietnam War Commemorative Partner: In November 2012, the VFW National Organization became the first veterans' organization to be recognized as a commemorative partner of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration, and today, there are now more than 8,700 Commemorative Partners, including almost 300 VFW Posts and Auxiliaries. The Commemorative Partner Program is designed for federal, state and local communities, veterans' organizations and other nonprofit organizations to assist a grateful nation in thanking and honoring our Vietnam veterans and their families. For more information or to sign up your VFW Department, District, Post or Auxiliary, go to: http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/. 5. Missing Medal of Honor Recipient Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the identification of remains belonging to Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alexander "Sandy" Bonnyman, 33, of Knoxville, Tenn., who would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions fighting on the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, Nov. 11, 1943. He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. His remains, and that of possibly three dozen other Americans, were recovered by History Flight, a Florida-based nonprofit organization that is assisting U.S. government MIA search and recovery efforts through an expanded public-private partnership opportunity. The lieutenant will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined. Read more at: http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Bonnyman_A.aspx. To sign up new veterans' advocates, click here: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm. As always, we want to share your advocacy stories on the VFW Capitol Hill blog. To share your stories, either fill out our online form by clicking here: http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/, or simply email photos and stories directly to vfwac@vfw.org.

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Smith’s to Hold Open Interviews

Smith's to Hold Open Interviews Sept. 15 for

Veterans and Their Families

Nationwide, Kroger Family of Stores Hiring 20,000 Employees

LAS VEGAS (DATE) – Smith's, and the entire Kroger family of stores, will hold open interviews on Tues., Sept. 15, for all veterans and their family members. Smith's is hiring to fill an estimated 250 positions in its stores. Nationwide, The Kroger Co. is hiring to fill an estimated 20,000 permanent positions in its supermarket divisions.

Veterans and their family members need only to fill out on application online at jobs. smiths food and drug. com by Sept. 13, and then return to a store on Sept. 15, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (no appointment necessary). Smith's is asking applicants to input the hashtag #Honoring Our Heroes in the "Search by keyword" field at the top of jobs.smiths.com when applying online.

The online application requests an email address, employment history and education information and takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Kroger hired more than 6,000 veterans in 2014, and has hired more than 29,000 veterans since 2009 as part of its commitment to active duty troops and the nation's 23 million veterans through "Honoring Our Heroes," a multi-faceted program the company designed to show its deep gratitude.  

In addition, Kroger is proud to have helped the "100,000 Jobs Mission" surpass its original goal in January 2014, seven years early. The "100,000 Jobs Mission" is a coalition of more than 130 companies with the common goal of hiring more than 100,000 transitioning service members and military veterans by 2020.

"Smith's is deeply committed to the nation's veterans and their families, and we continue to seek out opportunities to honor heroes through career opportunities," said Peter Barth, vice president of human resources for Smith's. "Smith's is a place where you can come for a job and stay for a career," she said, noting that about 70 percent of Kroger's store managers started as part-time clerks.

Through the Honoring Our Heroes program, Kroger stores have raised more than $11.9 million since 2010 to help support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its nearly 75-year history.

Smith's operates 37 locations and 14 fuel centers in Southern Nevada. For more information, please visit www.smithsfoodanddrug.com.

Smith's is a division of the Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), one of the nation's largest retail grocers. From its division office in Salt Lake City, Smith's 17,000 associates serve customers in 139 stores throughout seven western states.

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Marsha Gilford, Smith's Food & Drug Stores - 801.973.1708

Laura Carroll and Latoya Bembry, The Ferraro Group - 702.367.7771

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