FW: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, October 16, 2015

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From: vva@vva2.talklist.com
To: krrisk@comcast.net
CC: vvachapter842@comcast.net; vva@vva2.talklist.com
Subject: VVA: Fw: VFW Action Corps Weekly, October 16, 2015
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 15:04:12 -0500

some good info to pass along from the VFW news letter.

Ken Riskedahl
Tupelo, MS.

October 16, 2015 In This Issue: 1. No COLA in 2016; Higher Part B Premiums Possible 2. New Medal of Honor Recipient Announced 3. Grants Awarded to Train Veterans as Commercial Drivers 4. VA Launches Mobile App to Answer General Benefits Questions 5. Veterans Day in Washington 6. MIA Update 1. No COLA in 2016; Higher Part B Premiums Possible: The government announced this week that there will be no cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment next year for millions of military and federal civilian retirees, Social Security recipients, and veterans and survivors receiving Department of Veterans Affairs checks. COLA increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index, which has been flat due to low gasoline prices. Even so, some Medicare Part B enrollees — those who delayed receiving Social Security and those who aren't eligible — could see their premiums increased by more than half, from the basic $105 per person per month to $159. Higher earners would pay more. A White House spokesman acknowledged that the potential premium increase was an unintended consequence resulting from calculating COLA adjustments. There have been Part B premium increases in the past, but a 52-percent increase in one year is unprecedented. Congress is working to prevent this from happening. 2. New Medal of Honor Recipient Announced: The White House announced this week that President Obama will present the Medal of Honor on Nov. 12 to retired Army Capt. Florent A. "Flo" Groberg for tackling a suicide bomber in Afghanistan's Kunar province three years ago. He was serving at the time as a personal security detachment commander for Task Force Mountain Warrior, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. According to an Army Times article, the bomber's explosive vest detonated, as did one worn by a second suicide bomber, killing four Americans and wounding several others. But, had it not been for Groberg's quick recognition and reaction to a threat, the planned simultaneous detonations could have caused far more casualties. Groberg, 32, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in France who had spent the past three years recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He was medically retired in July. He becomes the 10th living and 17th overall recipient of the nation's highest award for valor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Read more at: http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/11/embargo-embargo-4th-id-captain-receive-medal-honor-valor-asadabad/73656708/. 3. Grants Awarded to Train Veterans as Commercial Drivers: The Department of Transportation recently announced that it has awarded $2.3 million in grants to 13 technical and community colleges around the country to train veterans and their families to get jobs in the high demand field of commercial truck driving.  The recipients of the largest grants were given to the North Carolina Department of Transportation and to the Central Technical Center in Drumright, Oklahoma. The total grant amount of $2.3 million is double that of 2014.  For more information including a complete list of grant awardees, click here: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/fmcsa-awards-23-million-grants-help-train-veterans-jobs-commercial-truck-and-bus. 4. VA Launches Mobile App to Answer General Benefits Questions: VA has launched "311 Vet," which allows veterans to ask questions regarding VA benefits through a mobile app or text messages. If a veteran's question is in VA's database, the answer will appear instantly. Questions not in VA's database are routed to benefits specialists, who VA says will respond within minutes. For more information, visit: http://www.311vet.com/. 5. Veterans Day in Washington: VFW Posts everywhere will be recognizing Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Visitors to Washington can join in the national salute starting at the World War II Memorial at 9 a.m., at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m., and at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 1 p.m. More updates will be posted on the respective websites at: WWII Memorial, http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/news-and-events/news-events; Arlington, www.arlingtoncemetery.mil; and The Wall, http://www.vvmf.org/2015-veterans-day-rsvp. 6. MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced burial dates for four Korean War soldiers whose remains had been previously identified and returned to their families. To be buried with full military honors are: -- Army Cpl. Grant H. Ewing, 28, will be buried Oct. 19 in his hometown of Fort Lupton, Colo. Ewing was assigned to Battery C, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, which was deployed north and east of the town of Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 25, 1950, his division was attacked by Chinese forces, which forced them to withdraw south through a series of Chinese roadblocks known as "the Gauntlet." Ewing was reported missing in action. It would be later learned he was captured by Chinese forces, but died in a POW camp in February 1951. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/622614/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-ewing.aspx. -- Army Cpl. George H. Mason, 19, will be buried Oct. 20 in his hometown of Byhalia, Miss. Mason was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Infantry Division, which was deployed near Chuam-ni, South Korea, when their defensive line was attacked by Chinese forces and forced to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Mason was reported as missing in action on Feb. 14, 1951. Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/623136/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-mason.aspx. -- Army Cpl. Robert V. Witt, 20, of Bellflower, Calif., will be buried Oct. 24 in Whittier, Calif. Witt was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. The 31st RCT, historically known as Task Force Faith, was deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea when it was attacked by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. Witt was reported as missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950. It was later learned he had been captured, but died in a North Korean prisoner of war camp on Jan. 31, 1951. -- Army Cpl. Robert E. Meyers, 21, of Greencastle, Pa., will be buried Oct. 26 in Arlington National Cemetery. Meyers, who was assigned to Company A, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, was declared missing on Dec. 1, 1950, after his unit was involved in combat operations in the vicinity of Sonchu, North Korea. His remains were among those returned after the war, but unidentifiable at the time, and subsequently buried as an "unknown" in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, also known as the "Punchbowl." Read more at: http://www.dpaa.mil/NewsStories/NewsReleases/tabid/10159/Article/622619/soldier-missing-from-korean-war-accounted-for-meyers.aspx. 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.

FW: VFW Action Corps Weekly, October 12, 2015

 Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, October 12, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:03:04 -0400

October 12, 2015                                                    Columbus Day In This Issue: 1. Senate Holds Legislative Hearing 2. House Hearing on Independent Assessment of VHA 3. "Meet Them in the District" Campaign a Huge Success 4. WWII Marine Identified 1. Senate Holds Legislative Hearing: On Tuesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss pending health and benefits legislation. The VFW submitted testimony for the record supporting several of the bills, including measures that would expand the number of judges on the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, amend the definition of a homeless veteran, and increase the pension amount for Medal of Honor recipients. The VFW also offered suggestions to improve bills that would provide training to non-VA doctors and improve access for rural veterans. National Legislative Committee Member and California native, David Norris, testified in support of a bill that would allow the West Los Angeles VA medical center to lease portions of their unused property for the purposes of supportive housing, vocational training, and other services that principally benefit veterans and their families. The committee was very appreciative to hear his views on this new policy which would impact Los Angeles area veterans. To watch his testimony and read the full VFW statement, visit: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/pending-health-and-benefits-legislation-100615. 2. House Hearing on Independent Assessment of VHA: On Thursday, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss an independent assessment of the Veterans Health Administration. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald testified that the $68 million assessment provided insightful and detailed information regarding the challenges the department faces, and assured the committee he is aware of the problems it highlighted and is in the process of addressing them. Committee members discussed the assessment's recommendation for a VA defense base closure and realignment commission or BRAC, the private sector's role in providing care to veterans and aligning resources with veterans demand for health care. To view a video of the hearing, visit: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hclive14. 3. "Meet Them in the District" Campaign a Huge Success: During the recent congressional recess in August, VFW members and supporters were challenged to attend town hall meetings and schedule individual meetings with their members of Congress. The numbers show that you responded with enthusiasm and pressed your officials to support the VFW's position. More than 300 people attended nearly 70 events around the country. Additionally, two official hearings were held in Alaska and Michigan and local VFW leaders were center-stage testifying about the needs of local veterans. Mobilizing the grassroots to paint the local face on national issues is why the Action Corps exists and we thank you for your push to make this happen! 4. WWII Marine Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to Marine Corps Cpl. Roger K. Nielson, from Adams, Colo., who was killed in action while fighting on the Pacific island of Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943. He was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be announced. 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, October 2, 2015

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Subject: VFW Action Corps Weekly, October 2, 2015
To: rserge1@outlook.com
From: amarkel@vfw.org
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2015 15:17:50 -0400

October 2, 2015 In This Issue: 1. Congress Extends Important VA Programs & Funds Denver VAMC 2. House Passes NDAA 3. Senate Holds Hearing on Toxic Exposures 4. VA Implements Choice Program Expansion 5. Bill for Federal Employees Who Are Disabled Veterans Advances 6. VA Partners with Walgreens to Offer Flu Vaccines 7. Army Hypocritical to Dismiss Green Berets 8. VA Approved Prudential's Profiteering Plan 9. Two Korean MIAs Identified 1. Congress Extends Important VA Programs & Funds Denver VAMC: This week, Congress passed legislation to extend a number of programs and authorities that were due to expire this year, including mental health counseling for women veterans, vocational rehabilitation benefits for severely injured service members, programs to reduce homelessness among veterans and authority to operate the Manila VA Regional Office. The legislation would also authorize VA to spend nearly $1.7 billion on the Denver medical center construction project, which would allow VA to complete construction and avoid a second shutdown. The bill now awaits the president's signature. 2. House Passes NDAA: On Thursday, the House passed the conferenced version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016. The Conference Report sets guidelines for $611.9 billion in national defense spending, including $89.2 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding. The conference report includes a 1.3 percent pay increase for service members along with provisions the VFW has supported, including a reform of the retirement system which would provide a 5 percent government matched Thrift Saving Plan (TSP) for all service members who serve between 2 and 26 years. The Conference Report would also repeal COLA minus one, which would have reduced retirement benefits for working age military retirees. It also includes continuation pay to incentivize service members to serve more than 12 years. The report does not include provisions to reduce the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for married service members, privatization of commissaries and a recalculation of BAH for VA benefits – provisions the VFW has opposed. It still includes a graduated 5 percent reduction of BAH for service members over a five-year period, which the VFW will work to reduce or eliminate. To read a summary of the Conference Report, visit: https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/114/PDF/114-CRHR1735-SxS.pdf. The president has warned that he would veto the Conference Report if it were to clear the Senate because it utilizes OCO spending to fund defense programs above budget caps on federal discretionary spending. The Conference Report now awaits consideration by the Senate, which failed to move a military and veterans appropriations bill earlier this week due to concerns over budget caps. The VFW encourages its members and supporters to contact their members of Congress and urge them to put political differences aside to re-evaluate outdated budget caps and ensure defense and veterans programs are fully funded. The VFW strongly believes that Congress must also end the threat of sequestration which has already reduced our military's operational readiness and negatively impacted America's ability to meet her obligation to the brave men and women who have worn our nation's uniform. 3. Senate Holds Hearing on Toxic Exposures: On Tuesday, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled, "Examining the Impact of Exposure to Toxic Chemicals on Veterans and the VA's Response." The Committee explored ideas to improve the way VA handles various toxic exposures, including Blue Water Navy, burn pits, Camp Lejeune and effects on veterans' descendants. In his remarks, Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) stressed the importance of developing a standardized system that would allow VA to grant benefits for toxic exposures, stating, "It's very important that we have a thorough examination of what it takes to get to a presumptive conclusion that a disease or a disability has been caused by a [toxic chemical] association and that it be as scientific as it can be so it's absolutely, unequivocally clear." Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) spoke in support of their bill, the "Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015." This VFW-endorsed legislation would direct VA to research the effects of toxic exposures on the children and grandchildren of veterans. Ensuring that all veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals in service get the benefits they deserve is a top priority for the VFW. To read the full transcript and watch a webcast of the hearing, click here: http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings/exposures09292015. 4. VA Implements Choice Program Expansion: As a result of recent legislation, VA has expanded eligibility for the Choice Program to any veteran enrolled in the VA health care system. Eligibility was previously limited to veterans who enrolled in VA health care before August 1, 2014. VA intends to make more expansions to the Choice Program in the near future.  Stay tuned to the Action Corps Weekly to learn about changes as they occur. To learn more, visit: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/23201/va-implements-the-first-of-several-veterans-choice-program-eligibility-expansions/. If you have used the Choice Program and would like to share your experience with the VFW, please take a couple minutes to complete our Choice Program Survey. Your participation helps the VFW hold VA accountable for delivering the timely access to high quality care veterans have earned and deserve. To take the survey, please visit: https://www.research.net/r/VFWChoiceSurvey3 or http://www.vfw.org/VAwatch/. 5. Bill for Federal Employees Who Are Disabled Veterans Advances: On Monday, the House passed a bill which would grant disabled veterans hired by the federal government 104 hours of sick leave upon being hired. The leave would be for those who have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, for the sole purpose of attending medical appointments and would expire after 12 months on the job. Veterans benefiting from this law would continue to accumulate sick leave under existing rules, but this extra time would ensure veterans have enough leave as they start their careers to make their medical appointments. The Senate passed a similar version of this bill and differences will need to be worked out before the bill can become law. For updates on this bill, stay tuned to the Action Corps Weekly. 6. VA Partners with Walgreens to Offer Flu Vaccines: This week, VA announced a partnership with Walgreens drugstores to provide flu vaccinations for veterans enrolled to receive VA health care. This is a no-cost program for these veterans as Walgreens will bill VA for services. Family members and those enrolled only in Tricare are not eligible for this program. For more information on the program or to find a local Walgreens, visit: http://www.ehealth.va.gov/immunization.asp. 7. Army Hypocritical to Dismiss Green Berets: One article said the two Green Berets who helped a young Afghan boy who was being sexually abused by a local police commander should receive medals; another called them vigilantes. What worries VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki Jr. is how the conflicting messages are being interpreted by an Army that's still at war­­-- an Army that still needs to recruit and retain soldiers after the fighting is done."The Army made examples out of former Capt. Daniel Quinn and Sgt.1st Class Charles Martland," he said. "The hypocrisy of what happened is had the pedophile been Taliban or Al-Qaida, both would have been applauded for helping the Afghan people, but since it occurred inside the fence by a so-called friendly, the two soldiers were instead accused of overstepping their bounds and putting their team and mission in jeopardy." The VFW is now backing congressional efforts that call for Defense Secretary Ash Carter to overturn the Army's decisions. Read more at: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/Army-Hypocritical-to-Dismiss-Green-Berets/. 8. VA Approved Prudential's Profiteering Plan: Unsealed documents reveal that VA agreed to how Prudential could disperse death payments, and that the insurance giant may have aggressively trained its staff to put company interests ahead of grieving families in the payout of those Servicemembers and Veterans Group Life Insurance benefits. The 3,600 pages were ordered released as the result of a motion filed by the VFW to force Prudential to unseal documents related to a class action lawsuit, which was resolved in December 2014 in a near $40 million settlement that alleged Prudential failed to pay death benefits in the manner required by law. Prudential was required to disclose all but 16 documents, which now makes the VFW suspicious of what's still being kept from the public, because what has been disclosed paints a picture of institutional greed with the government's approval. "Prudential initiated this program for the money that could be gained, not to help grieving military families — and the VA knew all about it," said VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki Jr., who called for an independent investigation and for the SGLI and VGLI contracts to go to another insurance provider. Read more at: http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2015-Articles/VA-Approved-Prudential%E2%80%99s-Profiteering-Plan/. 9. Two Korean MIAs Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to two Army soldiers who had been missing in action from the Korean War. Both will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined. Returned are: -- Pfc. Frank Worley, 21, of New Hanover County, N.C., was declared missing in North Korea on Feb. 12, 1951. It was later learned he had been captured, but died in captivity. He was assigned to Battery A, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. -- Cpl. Robert P. Graham, of San Francisco, was declared missing in North Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. It was later learned he had been captured, but died in captivity. He was assigned to Company A, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. 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 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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