Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Veterans Court: 'It’s Not a Free Ride
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, launched a new Veterans Court diversion program that is designed to address the underlying psychological issues that have led an increasing number of combat veterans into run-ins with the law.
For veterans who find themselves embattled in the Washington County criminal justice system, help has arrived.
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, a Vietnam combat veteran, launched a new Veterans Court diversion program on Monday that is designed to address the underlying psychological issues that have led an increasing number of combat veterans into run-ins with the law.
“We don’t leave any troops on the battlefield," said John Baker, a 22-year Marine Corps veteran and White Bear Lake defense attorney. "We take care of ourselves, and that’s what this program does.”
For the cases that fit the bill for Veterans Court will be heard on the first Friday morning of the month in Washington County District Court in Stillwater.
Before the hearing, members of the county attorney’s office, the defense, Veterans Affairs and community corrections will meet to discuss the case.
“We will do it on our own time,” Orput said. “On our Friday calendars. We don’t need a special set-aside Veterans Court. None of us have the money for it. But we’ve got the time. We’ve got the commitment. And we’ve got the collaboration. And that’s all it’s taken.”
Several years ago when Orput was working at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, he and his colleagues started seeing young veterans coming into the criminal justice system.
“We’re used to seeing people who chose to deal in criminal activity, but these people are different,” Orput said. “They had an outstanding record in the military. Why are they here now?”
Through research, it was determined than a large number of the combat veterans suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries and stress, Orput said. It was pretty clear that those issues were driving them into the criminal justice system.
A Lesson Learned
For the last decade the United States has been a nation at war.
“As we’re winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, preparing for the aftermath here at home, we have to look back at the past conflicts like Vietnam and learn from the mistakes that were made,” Defense Attorney Brock Hunter said during the unveiling of Washington County’s Veterans Court.
About 60,000 soldiers died on the battlefields in Vietnam, Hunter said. More than 100,000 took their own lives after the fact.
“The government’s own statistics confirm more than 1 million soldiers suffered long-term psychiatric injuries and half of those veterans seen by the VA system had contact with criminal justice system. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans remain incarcerated, homeless and chronically addicted 40 years after the war.”
But there is more knowledge about conflict trauma today, Hunter said.
“We’re seeing clear evidence of the effects on warriors emotionally, psychologically and physically," he said.
Looking at the current conflicts, there are a lot of additional issues to deal with, such as fighting with a small force and recycling soldiers back to the battlefield again and again and again, Hunter said.
Then there’s the 25 percent unemployment rate veterans are facing when they come home.
“Unlike other conflicts many veterans have served two or three tours and others that have served four, five, six, seven and even eight,” he said. “When they start coming home in large numbers, be prepared.”
One of those veterans is Hector Matascastillo and another is Dan Hanson.
Both men returned home from service, were diagnosed with mental illness as a result of exposure to what they saw in combat and found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
These two men show why Veterans Court is so important, Orput said.
Logistics
The first logistical obstacle for the Veterans Court is identifying combat veterans.
What was learned years ago, Orput said, is that combat veterans who get involved in the criminal justice system—because they’re trained so well—are a “really tough nut to crack.”
“We’ve made them into supermen so they’re not ones to come in and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a malady,’” Orput said. “They don’t. They’ll go through the whole jail and criminal justice system and not say boo.”
That’s in part because they think if the VA finds out, they will lose their benefits—and “that’s nonsense,” Orput said.
Combat veterans are also not good at admitting they have a weakness or a problem, and that’s where screenings come in to play.
The first questions asked when a person arrives at jail are where do you live, how old are you and are you a veteran, Orput said. But if they lie to the jailer, that’s where the public defender comes in and screens them.
After learning if the person is a combat veteran suffering from, or able to be diagnosed with, PTSD or other combat-related maladies, the veteran will go to the arraignment.
At the arraignment, a request will be made for the next hearing to take place before a Veterans Court judge to explore his eligibility for the diversion program.
“If they have the diagnosis, they’re almost home,” Orput said. “They get the lawyer, admit what they did was wrong and make amends.”
Then they have to decide if they want to go through “Door A” or “Door B.”
“Door B is where you go to jail and play Monopoly, smoke and joke and get out and do it again and again and again,” Orput said. “Door A is the harder one that takes a lot more courage because now you have to face the demons—and that’s a long-term deal.
“It’s not a free ride,” he continued. “There’re lots of people who would rather do 60 days in jail than what we’re asking them to do. It’s a hard, painful program starting with chemical dependency and then getting into the real deep stuff—because it never goes away, you just learn to manage it.
“But if they clean themselves back up, get in the saddle, work with a mentor and get a job to raise their kids, then we’re square. We’re even. I think that’s the moral thing to do. A little redemption, if you will, because I think we all deserve some.”
A ‘Typical Case’ for Veterans Court
But the line has to be drawn somewhere.
A veteran can’t kill someone, say they have PTSD and walk, Orput said.
“You can’t do a serious prison offense and expect to get a walk," he said. "That would be unfair. That would be a two-tiered system.”
A typical case for the Veterans Court would be a veteran who comes home, can’t find a job, starts self medicating, drinking and playing violent video games because that’s the only thing that distracts them, Orput said. Sooner or later his wife comes down and says when are you going to quit drinking and find a job.
“Now he’s in jail on a domestic,” Orput said. “The question quickly becomes, do you want me to put the boots to him or do you want me to try to do something that will get him back—and with his family—but it’s a lot of hard work."
The way the state sentencing guidelines are set up, anyone who would be presumptively going to be sent to prison under the guidelines would not qualify for this program, Washington County Judge Greg Galler said. Exceptions can be made, but it’s designed for folks who would presumptively not be sent to prison.
Galler, who will be one of two judges of the Veterans Court, said he thinks this is a great program.
When looking at the things these people have given so we can have a court system, freedom and all the things we enjoy, there has to be a willingness to do something to help get them back into the society they protected, Galler said. That’s really what this is.
“It’s looking at a situation where there is a guy or gal who was willing to risk everything for us and now they have defects because of the problems they had,” he said. “They come back with PTSD, alcoholism or whatever it is and we’re saying we’ve got to help these folks and get them back to where they are supposed to be.
“It’s not a free pass. They have to take responsibility for what got them into my courtroom, but I’m going to get them out of my courtroom and turn them into productive members of society, rather than shoving them down some rabbit hole and saying we don’t care about you anymore.”
For veterans who find themselves embattled in the Washington County criminal justice system, help has arrived.
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, a Vietnam combat veteran, launched a new Veterans Court diversion program on Monday that is designed to address the underlying psychological issues that have led an increasing number of combat veterans into run-ins with the law.
“We don’t leave any troops on the battlefield," said John Baker, a 22-year Marine Corps veteran and White Bear Lake defense attorney. "We take care of ourselves, and that’s what this program does.”
For the cases that fit the bill for Veterans Court will be heard on the first Friday morning of the month in Washington County District Court in Stillwater.
Before the hearing, members of the county attorney’s office, the defense, Veterans Affairs and community corrections will meet to discuss the case.
“We will do it on our own time,” Orput said. “On our Friday calendars. We don’t need a special set-aside Veterans Court. None of us have the money for it. But we’ve got the time. We’ve got the commitment. And we’ve got the collaboration. And that’s all it’s taken.”
Several years ago when Orput was working at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, he and his colleagues started seeing young veterans coming into the criminal justice system.
“We’re used to seeing people who chose to deal in criminal activity, but these people are different,” Orput said. “They had an outstanding record in the military. Why are they here now?”
Through research, it was determined than a large number of the combat veterans suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries and stress, Orput said. It was pretty clear that those issues were driving them into the criminal justice system.
A Lesson Learned
For the last decade the United States has been a nation at war.
“As we’re winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, preparing for the aftermath here at home, we have to look back at the past conflicts like Vietnam and learn from the mistakes that were made,” Defense Attorney Brock Hunter said during the unveiling of Washington County’s Veterans Court.
About 60,000 soldiers died on the battlefields in Vietnam, Hunter said. More than 100,000 took their own lives after the fact.
“The government’s own statistics confirm more than 1 million soldiers suffered long-term psychiatric injuries and half of those veterans seen by the VA system had contact with criminal justice system. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans remain incarcerated, homeless and chronically addicted 40 years after the war.”
But there is more knowledge about conflict trauma today, Hunter said.
“We’re seeing clear evidence of the effects on warriors emotionally, psychologically and physically," he said.
Looking at the current conflicts, there are a lot of additional issues to deal with, such as fighting with a small force and recycling soldiers back to the battlefield again and again and again, Hunter said.
Then there’s the 25 percent unemployment rate veterans are facing when they come home.
“Unlike other conflicts many veterans have served two or three tours and others that have served four, five, six, seven and even eight,” he said. “When they start coming home in large numbers, be prepared.”
One of those veterans is Hector Matascastillo and another is Dan Hanson.
Both men returned home from service, were diagnosed with mental illness as a result of exposure to what they saw in combat and found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
These two men show why Veterans Court is so important, Orput said.
Logistics
The first logistical obstacle for the Veterans Court is identifying combat veterans.
What was learned years ago, Orput said, is that combat veterans who get involved in the criminal justice system—because they’re trained so well—are a “really tough nut to crack.”
“We’ve made them into supermen so they’re not ones to come in and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a malady,’” Orput said. “They don’t. They’ll go through the whole jail and criminal justice system and not say boo.”
That’s in part because they think if the VA finds out, they will lose their benefits—and “that’s nonsense,” Orput said.
Combat veterans are also not good at admitting they have a weakness or a problem, and that’s where screenings come in to play.
The first questions asked when a person arrives at jail are where do you live, how old are you and are you a veteran, Orput said. But if they lie to the jailer, that’s where the public defender comes in and screens them.
After learning if the person is a combat veteran suffering from, or able to be diagnosed with, PTSD or other combat-related maladies, the veteran will go to the arraignment.
At the arraignment, a request will be made for the next hearing to take place before a Veterans Court judge to explore his eligibility for the diversion program.
“If they have the diagnosis, they’re almost home,” Orput said. “They get the lawyer, admit what they did was wrong and make amends.”
Then they have to decide if they want to go through “Door A” or “Door B.”
“Door B is where you go to jail and play Monopoly, smoke and joke and get out and do it again and again and again,” Orput said. “Door A is the harder one that takes a lot more courage because now you have to face the demons—and that’s a long-term deal.
“It’s not a free ride,” he continued. “There’re lots of people who would rather do 60 days in jail than what we’re asking them to do. It’s a hard, painful program starting with chemical dependency and then getting into the real deep stuff—because it never goes away, you just learn to manage it.
“But if they clean themselves back up, get in the saddle, work with a mentor and get a job to raise their kids, then we’re square. We’re even. I think that’s the moral thing to do. A little redemption, if you will, because I think we all deserve some.”
A ‘Typical Case’ for Veterans Court
But the line has to be drawn somewhere.
A veteran can’t kill someone, say they have PTSD and walk, Orput said.
“You can’t do a serious prison offense and expect to get a walk," he said. "That would be unfair. That would be a two-tiered system.”
A typical case for the Veterans Court would be a veteran who comes home, can’t find a job, starts self medicating, drinking and playing violent video games because that’s the only thing that distracts them, Orput said. Sooner or later his wife comes down and says when are you going to quit drinking and find a job.
“Now he’s in jail on a domestic,” Orput said. “The question quickly becomes, do you want me to put the boots to him or do you want me to try to do something that will get him back—and with his family—but it’s a lot of hard work."
The way the state sentencing guidelines are set up, anyone who would be presumptively going to be sent to prison under the guidelines would not qualify for this program, Washington County Judge Greg Galler said. Exceptions can be made, but it’s designed for folks who would presumptively not be sent to prison.
Galler, who will be one of two judges of the Veterans Court, said he thinks this is a great program.
When looking at the things these people have given so we can have a court system, freedom and all the things we enjoy, there has to be a willingness to do something to help get them back into the society they protected, Galler said. That’s really what this is.
“It’s looking at a situation where there is a guy or gal who was willing to risk everything for us and now they have defects because of the problems they had,” he said. “They come back with PTSD, alcoholism or whatever it is and we’re saying we’ve got to help these folks and get them back to where they are supposed to be.
“It’s not a free pass. They have to take responsibility for what got them into my courtroom, but I’m going to get them out of my courtroom and turn them into productive members of society, rather than shoving them down some rabbit hole and saying we don’t care about you anymore.”
Monday, January 30, 2012
Military Sexual Trauma
In simplest terms MST could be defined as any unwanted sexual advances towards a male or female serving in the military that causes duress or distress. Does MST really exist? The answer is a resounding yes. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs roughly 1 in 5 woman and 1 in 100 men identified with having some form of MST during routine screening when seeking services through the Veterans Administration. However, not everyone who identifies with having MST in some form requires or seeks those services. In 2005 the US Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) indicated that there were 2374 reports of claimed sexual assault of service personnel, of which 2047 were unrestricted and 327 were restricted. In 2010 SAPRO indicated there were 3158 reports of claimed sexual assault of service personnel, of which 2410 were unrestricted and 748 were restricted.
Although these reports may be statistically significant, they also could be misleading. The reports appear on the outset to indicate an overall increase in MST, but this is not necessarily the case. The report indicates an increase of “reporting” of claimed sexual assaults which could be due to a number of factors such as an increase in people joining the military or a decrease in those who were hesitant to report MST. Because many times MST goes unreported due to a lot of different factors, any increase in reporting should be welcomed to help get rid of the problems associated with reporting MST. Within the military, people often rely on each other in various ways and often have to work together for long periods of time. Any type of breakage of military unwritten codes or culture is met with scrupulous resistance due to the high demand for solidarity among and within groups of solders. This is problematic for the victim of MST for it could create anxiety, tension, stress and possibly poor psychological well being which ultimately could result in a trauma related lasting disorder such as chronic Post Traumatic Stress. Regardless, MST is a recognizable and continued problem in the armed forces.
What can those who suffer from MST do about it?
There are treatments and resources available for MST victims. There are some therapeutic treatment options that have been shown to be affective for those who suffer from MST such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure Therapy (EP), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
There are also resources available for services for MST:
Make the Connection
After Deployment
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Medical Facility Finder
My Duty (for active military)
DOD Helpline
Women Veterans Health
Military Sexual Trauma Podcasts
My Military Education
VET WOW
Gift From Within
Although these reports may be statistically significant, they also could be misleading. The reports appear on the outset to indicate an overall increase in MST, but this is not necessarily the case. The report indicates an increase of “reporting” of claimed sexual assaults which could be due to a number of factors such as an increase in people joining the military or a decrease in those who were hesitant to report MST. Because many times MST goes unreported due to a lot of different factors, any increase in reporting should be welcomed to help get rid of the problems associated with reporting MST. Within the military, people often rely on each other in various ways and often have to work together for long periods of time. Any type of breakage of military unwritten codes or culture is met with scrupulous resistance due to the high demand for solidarity among and within groups of solders. This is problematic for the victim of MST for it could create anxiety, tension, stress and possibly poor psychological well being which ultimately could result in a trauma related lasting disorder such as chronic Post Traumatic Stress. Regardless, MST is a recognizable and continued problem in the armed forces.
What can those who suffer from MST do about it?
There are treatments and resources available for MST victims. There are some therapeutic treatment options that have been shown to be affective for those who suffer from MST such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure Therapy (EP), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
There are also resources available for services for MST:
Make the Connection
After Deployment
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Medical Facility Finder
My Duty (for active military)
DOD Helpline
Women Veterans Health
Military Sexual Trauma Podcasts
My Military Education
VET WOW
Gift From Within
New Program for Veterans in Prison
Florida has developed a new program for imprisoned veterans aimed at easing their transition back to society and keeping them out of prison for good. As reported in The New York Times, this program, begun in August, puts honorably discharged veterans, with no more than three years left on their sentences and who volunteer to participate, in separate dorms. While the group eat with other inmates in the prison and must adhere to the same visitation and telephone schedules, their days are very different. For these vets, it’s a return to military life. California and Illinois have similar programs.
Days include formation and flag-raising and retiring ceremonies. Each man’s bunk displays a card with his photo, branch of service, and years served. The beds and dorms are as clean as would be found on any military base. The prisoners must remain drug-free. The military expectation of honesty and respect are demanded of all participants. There is a single warning for infraction. Second offenses mean expulsion from the program.
By putting the veterans together, they return to the military discipline they once knew. They develop a camaraderie of helping each other. They can learn about the services available to them as vets when they are released. They can receive care for PTSD, as well as take classes to prepare them for jobs and the stress of returning to civilian life. As one prisoner explained, “It’s re-instilling some of the values I once had that I hope to have again…[the return to military rituals] are bringing up these old memories, of being an upstanding citizen.” The assistant warden of the prison said of the program’s participants, “You could see the pride come back.”
Veterans who break the law must, like anyone else in our society, pay for their crimes. But if the goal is to rehabilitate prisoners and help them successfully return to productive lives, this program offers a new way of looking at how we treat veterans whose previous service to their country has been treasured.
Days include formation and flag-raising and retiring ceremonies. Each man’s bunk displays a card with his photo, branch of service, and years served. The beds and dorms are as clean as would be found on any military base. The prisoners must remain drug-free. The military expectation of honesty and respect are demanded of all participants. There is a single warning for infraction. Second offenses mean expulsion from the program.
By putting the veterans together, they return to the military discipline they once knew. They develop a camaraderie of helping each other. They can learn about the services available to them as vets when they are released. They can receive care for PTSD, as well as take classes to prepare them for jobs and the stress of returning to civilian life. As one prisoner explained, “It’s re-instilling some of the values I once had that I hope to have again…[the return to military rituals] are bringing up these old memories, of being an upstanding citizen.” The assistant warden of the prison said of the program’s participants, “You could see the pride come back.”
Veterans who break the law must, like anyone else in our society, pay for their crimes. But if the goal is to rehabilitate prisoners and help them successfully return to productive lives, this program offers a new way of looking at how we treat veterans whose previous service to their country has been treasured.
What is the VA Blue Button Iniative
What is the Blue Button Initiative?
VA’s Blue Button allows you to access and download your information from your My HealtheVet personal health record into a very simple text file or PDF that can be read, printed, or saved on any computer. It gives you complete control of this information – without any special software – and enables you to share this data with your health care providers, caregivers, or people you trust.
New to Blue Button? See how you can use the Blue Button by GETTING STARTED
What does the Blue Button look like? Take a look at all our RESOURCES
Or you can check out sample files with All Data, By Date Range, or By Data Class.
DoD Military Service Information on
My HealtheVet and Blue Button
Key portions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information are now available in My HealtheVet. This new feature is available to military retirees and/or Veterans discharged after 1979. To see this they simply need to:
be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
be registered on My HealtheVet
have an upgraded account (In-Person Authenticated)
Viewing DoD Military Service Information in My HealtheVet is simple. It is easy to use, private and secure. Anytime, anywhere the Veteran is, as long as they have Internet access, they can view their:
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes
Pay Details
Service Dates
Deployment Periods
Retirement Periods
Having DoD Military Service Information available in My HealtheVet will give Veterans easy, convenient access to their military employment history. It will let them see their information on demand. They can use the VA Blue Button to print or download their DoD Military Service Information. They can share this information when looking for a new job or considering changing careers. They can also share this with their employer to show past job skills and experience.
VA’s Blue Button allows you to access and download your information from your My HealtheVet personal health record into a very simple text file or PDF that can be read, printed, or saved on any computer. It gives you complete control of this information – without any special software – and enables you to share this data with your health care providers, caregivers, or people you trust.
New to Blue Button? See how you can use the Blue Button by GETTING STARTED
What does the Blue Button look like? Take a look at all our RESOURCES
Or you can check out sample files with All Data, By Date Range, or By Data Class.
DoD Military Service Information on
My HealtheVet and Blue Button
Key portions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information are now available in My HealtheVet. This new feature is available to military retirees and/or Veterans discharged after 1979. To see this they simply need to:
be a Veteran enrolled at a VA health care facility
be registered on My HealtheVet
have an upgraded account (In-Person Authenticated)
Viewing DoD Military Service Information in My HealtheVet is simple. It is easy to use, private and secure. Anytime, anywhere the Veteran is, as long as they have Internet access, they can view their:
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes
Pay Details
Service Dates
Deployment Periods
Retirement Periods
Having DoD Military Service Information available in My HealtheVet will give Veterans easy, convenient access to their military employment history. It will let them see their information on demand. They can use the VA Blue Button to print or download their DoD Military Service Information. They can share this information when looking for a new job or considering changing careers. They can also share this with their employer to show past job skills and experience.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Veterans Sanctuary
Great site! These veterans have started a sort of sanctuary for soldiers returning to the states. They are from upstate New York, and are really great people. Here is their website. Hopefully this helps
http://www.veteranssanctuary.blogspot.com/
http://www.veteranssanctuary.blogspot.com/
"I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it" she said.
"I think that's what he would have wanted".
-Not sure what is more honorable: Being married to this faithful wife to the end or the Marine standing next to the casket watching over them both.
IN HONOR OF ALL OF OUR ARMED FORCES PLEASE SHARE AND RE-POST AS A DECLARATION OF OUR FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The wounded Warrior Project
Did you know Wounded Warrior Project has staff to help OIF/OEF/
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Secretary Shinseki to the Private Sector: Hire our Veterans
This week, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki met with National Franchise business leaders in Atlanta to
promote Veteran employment. The effort was the part of the Obama Administration’s Joining Forces
Initiative, which aims for a simple yet important goal: To connect our Veterans and their families with
meaningful employment.
Secretary Shinseki talked about a win for everyone involved; a win for employers that receive great,
disciplined, and hardworking employees and Veterans, who have the ability to achieve their goals out of
uniform.
It’s all part of a plan to support Veterans, as the President said in the State of the Union, “so that America
is as strong as those who defend her.”
The International Franchise Association has pledged to hire and recruit 75,000 Veterans and their
spouses by 2014. With the example they set, I hope it’s a trend that continues across America.
Secretary Shinseki has made a strong case for Veterans in the workplace. “They make exceptional
employees and business leaders,” he told the collection of business leaders in Atlanta. “Let’s hire them.
Let’s find them work.”
promote Veteran employment. The effort was the part of the Obama Administration’s Joining Forces
Initiative, which aims for a simple yet important goal: To connect our Veterans and their families with
meaningful employment.
Secretary Shinseki talked about a win for everyone involved; a win for employers that receive great,
disciplined, and hardworking employees and Veterans, who have the ability to achieve their goals out of
uniform.
It’s all part of a plan to support Veterans, as the President said in the State of the Union, “so that America
is as strong as those who defend her.”
The International Franchise Association has pledged to hire and recruit 75,000 Veterans and their
spouses by 2014. With the example they set, I hope it’s a trend that continues across America.
Secretary Shinseki has made a strong case for Veterans in the workplace. “They make exceptional
employees and business leaders,” he told the collection of business leaders in Atlanta. “Let’s hire them.
Let’s find them work.”
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friendly Canine Lifts Spirits at VA Community Living Center Inside Veterans Health
The Community Living Center at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center now has a new, full-time staff member. His name is Bruce. He’s two-years-old. He likes to hug.
“When Bruce enters a resident’s room, the first thing he does is lay his head on their bed so they can pet him,” said Bruce’s handler, VA Chaplain Gary Leopard. “If they’re in a wheelchair, he lays his head on their leg. He’s also trained to hug. He puts his paws over the resident’s shoulders, and the resident gets to hug him.”
Bruce the Therapy Dog, a 62-pound black Labrador, started work at the 120-bed VA Community Living Center in December of 2011. He’s already the most popular staff member there.
“Before we had Bruce, I’d walk down the halls here and everyone wanted to see me,” Leopard said. “Now the only one they want to see is Bruce. ‘Where’s Bruce?’ they all ask. ‘Is Bruce with you today?’
“They all want Bruce to ‘shake hands’ with them,” the chaplain added. “They want to shake his paw, but he doesn’t know how to do that yet. We’re working on that.”
“His birthday was Christmas Day. So Bruce is our Christmas present to our Veterans.”
— Chaplain Gary Leopard
Leopard said he also brings Bruce to the 10-bed hospice wing of the Community Living Center. “It’s really something to see, the way Bruce approaches these residents, especially the ones closest to death,” he said. “He senses it. He lays his head on their bed, even if they can’t respond. He tries to get as close to them as he can. He’ll nuzzle them.”
Bruce and Leopard put in a full day at work, punching in a 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and leaving at 4 p.m.
“We visit as many residents as we can,” Leopard said. “Today we saw about 60 or 70. When they see Bruce, they always want to share stories about their own pet dog at home, or pet dogs they’ve had in the past.”
“I had a long-haired dachshund when I was in Germany,” said 78-year-old Charles Filler, a resident at the Community Living Center. “We had that dog for his entire life. I don’t have a dog now.”
But in a way, Filler does have a dog, as do all the other residents at the center. “Whenever we see Bruce, everything changes,” Filler smiled. “That dog just took right to me.”
Dr. Deepak Mandi, Chief of Staff at VA West Palm Beach, confirmed the instant bond that occurred between Filler and the black lab. “Bruce licked his face for almost a whole minute!” Mandi said. “Bruce is definitely improving the quality of life of our residents here at the Community Living Center. He fits right in. He is a very busy dog. And a very loved dog.”
But nothing is ever perfect. Bruce, like everyone else, has an Achilles heel. “We really have to watch what he eats,” Mandi said. “We have to watch his weight. The residents are always trying to sneak treats to him.”
Dr. Michael Silverman, Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care at VA West Palm Beach, said Bruce the Therapy Dog makes the Community Living Center seem less like an institution and more like a home, which is what VA strives for. “Bruce gives our residents something to look forward to,” Silverman explained. “He lifts them up.”
Silverman said the unconditional affection provided by a pet can help alleviate the loneliness and depression that can sometimes overtake someone staying at a Community Living Center, or any nursing home, for that matter. “Everyone here wants to spend time with Bruce,” he said. “He brings them joy, warmth, and companionship.”
Bruce was donated to VA by Vets Helping Heroes, a nonprofit based in Boca Raton that pays to have service dogs trained to interact with disabled Veterans.
The organization’s founder, 89-year-old Irwin Stovroff, is a World War II Veteran who flew Liberator bombers. He started Vets Helping Heroes in 2007 after learning that no funding was available to provide service dogs to disabled Veterans returning from Iraq. His organization has since donated about 65 dogs to disabled Veterans all over the United States.
“When Bruce enters a resident’s room, the first thing he does is lay his head on their bed so they can pet him,” said Bruce’s handler, VA Chaplain Gary Leopard. “If they’re in a wheelchair, he lays his head on their leg. He’s also trained to hug. He puts his paws over the resident’s shoulders, and the resident gets to hug him.”
Bruce the Therapy Dog, a 62-pound black Labrador, started work at the 120-bed VA Community Living Center in December of 2011. He’s already the most popular staff member there.
“Before we had Bruce, I’d walk down the halls here and everyone wanted to see me,” Leopard said. “Now the only one they want to see is Bruce. ‘Where’s Bruce?’ they all ask. ‘Is Bruce with you today?’
“They all want Bruce to ‘shake hands’ with them,” the chaplain added. “They want to shake his paw, but he doesn’t know how to do that yet. We’re working on that.”
“His birthday was Christmas Day. So Bruce is our Christmas present to our Veterans.”
— Chaplain Gary Leopard
Leopard said he also brings Bruce to the 10-bed hospice wing of the Community Living Center. “It’s really something to see, the way Bruce approaches these residents, especially the ones closest to death,” he said. “He senses it. He lays his head on their bed, even if they can’t respond. He tries to get as close to them as he can. He’ll nuzzle them.”
Bruce and Leopard put in a full day at work, punching in a 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and leaving at 4 p.m.
“We visit as many residents as we can,” Leopard said. “Today we saw about 60 or 70. When they see Bruce, they always want to share stories about their own pet dog at home, or pet dogs they’ve had in the past.”
“I had a long-haired dachshund when I was in Germany,” said 78-year-old Charles Filler, a resident at the Community Living Center. “We had that dog for his entire life. I don’t have a dog now.”
But in a way, Filler does have a dog, as do all the other residents at the center. “Whenever we see Bruce, everything changes,” Filler smiled. “That dog just took right to me.”
Dr. Deepak Mandi, Chief of Staff at VA West Palm Beach, confirmed the instant bond that occurred between Filler and the black lab. “Bruce licked his face for almost a whole minute!” Mandi said. “Bruce is definitely improving the quality of life of our residents here at the Community Living Center. He fits right in. He is a very busy dog. And a very loved dog.”
But nothing is ever perfect. Bruce, like everyone else, has an Achilles heel. “We really have to watch what he eats,” Mandi said. “We have to watch his weight. The residents are always trying to sneak treats to him.”
Dr. Michael Silverman, Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care at VA West Palm Beach, said Bruce the Therapy Dog makes the Community Living Center seem less like an institution and more like a home, which is what VA strives for. “Bruce gives our residents something to look forward to,” Silverman explained. “He lifts them up.”
Silverman said the unconditional affection provided by a pet can help alleviate the loneliness and depression that can sometimes overtake someone staying at a Community Living Center, or any nursing home, for that matter. “Everyone here wants to spend time with Bruce,” he said. “He brings them joy, warmth, and companionship.”
Bruce was donated to VA by Vets Helping Heroes, a nonprofit based in Boca Raton that pays to have service dogs trained to interact with disabled Veterans.
The organization’s founder, 89-year-old Irwin Stovroff, is a World War II Veteran who flew Liberator bombers. He started Vets Helping Heroes in 2007 after learning that no funding was available to provide service dogs to disabled Veterans returning from Iraq. His organization has since donated about 65 dogs to disabled Veterans all over the United States.
VA Publishes Regulation on Newborn Care
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs has published a regulation officially amending VA’s medical benefits package to include up to seven days of medical care for newborns delivered by women Veterans who are receiving VA maternity care benefits.
“The regulation change makes formal the commitment VA made to women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik K. Shinseki. “This falls in line with the broad range of services VA is proud to offer women Veterans who have served this nation.”
Newborn care includes routine post-delivery care and all other medically necessary services that are in accord with generally accepted standards of medical practice.
The effective date of the rule is Dec. 19, 2011, but the regulation applies retroactively to newborn care provided to eligible women Veterans on or after May 5, 2011.
VA has women Veterans program managers at every VA medical center to help women Veterans learn more about the health care benefits they have earned with their service. For more information about VA healthcare for women Veterans, visit http://www.womenshealth.va.gov.
“The regulation change makes formal the commitment VA made to women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik K. Shinseki. “This falls in line with the broad range of services VA is proud to offer women Veterans who have served this nation.”
Newborn care includes routine post-delivery care and all other medically necessary services that are in accord with generally accepted standards of medical practice.
The effective date of the rule is Dec. 19, 2011, but the regulation applies retroactively to newborn care provided to eligible women Veterans on or after May 5, 2011.
VA has women Veterans program managers at every VA medical center to help women Veterans learn more about the health care benefits they have earned with their service. For more information about VA healthcare for women Veterans, visit http://www.womenshealth.va.gov.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
VA Launches Acquisition Internship for Returning Veterans
WASHINGTON – A special internship to prepare newly-returned Veterans to become federal contracting specialists was launched recently at the Acquisitions Academy of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Frederick, Md.
“I’m pleased to welcome our new interns to the VA family,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, who gave the keynote address Jan. 19. “These Veterans know the importance of integrity, and have learned to work together in diverse teams to accomplish difficult objectives. Those are skills we value in our professional acquisition corps.”
Called “Warriors to Workforce,” the internship is a three-year program. Participants will earn the 24 educational credits in business required to become contracting professionals. The program includes courses in leadership, technical acquisition training and on-the-job experience.
“This program is possible because of VA’s steadfast commitment to Veteran employment,” said Lisa Doyle, chancellor of the VA Acquisition Academy. “These Veterans have served and sacrificed, and it is our turn to give back by making sure they have gainful employment when they return. We hope this program will serve as a model for other federal agencies and private organizations.”
At graduation, participants will have taken the required coursework to achieve a Federal Acquisitions Certification in Contracting, which is recognized throughout the federal sector as evidence of solid education in the career field. Successful graduates will be eligible for contract specialist positions at the GS-11 level.
In the past two years, the government’s contracting force has shrunk, although the volume and complexity of contracts has increased. VA opened its Acquisitions Academy in September 2008 in response to the growing shortage of contracting professionals, both for VA and other federal agencies.
Twenty-three Veterans are enrolled in the inaugural class of the “Warriors to Workforce” internship. Between them, they have seven Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and over 170 years of military experience.
More information about VA’s Acquisitions Academy is available on the Internet at www.acquisitionacademy.va.gov.
“I’m pleased to welcome our new interns to the VA family,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, who gave the keynote address Jan. 19. “These Veterans know the importance of integrity, and have learned to work together in diverse teams to accomplish difficult objectives. Those are skills we value in our professional acquisition corps.”
Called “Warriors to Workforce,” the internship is a three-year program. Participants will earn the 24 educational credits in business required to become contracting professionals. The program includes courses in leadership, technical acquisition training and on-the-job experience.
“This program is possible because of VA’s steadfast commitment to Veteran employment,” said Lisa Doyle, chancellor of the VA Acquisition Academy. “These Veterans have served and sacrificed, and it is our turn to give back by making sure they have gainful employment when they return. We hope this program will serve as a model for other federal agencies and private organizations.”
At graduation, participants will have taken the required coursework to achieve a Federal Acquisitions Certification in Contracting, which is recognized throughout the federal sector as evidence of solid education in the career field. Successful graduates will be eligible for contract specialist positions at the GS-11 level.
In the past two years, the government’s contracting force has shrunk, although the volume and complexity of contracts has increased. VA opened its Acquisitions Academy in September 2008 in response to the growing shortage of contracting professionals, both for VA and other federal agencies.
Twenty-three Veterans are enrolled in the inaugural class of the “Warriors to Workforce” internship. Between them, they have seven Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and over 170 years of military experience.
More information about VA’s Acquisitions Academy is available on the Internet at www.acquisitionacademy.va.gov.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
DoD studies intimacy issues among combat vets
Brannan Pedersen was 16, attending a young activists meeting in Alabama when she first spotted Caleb Vines, then 19, an enthusiastic organizer who wanted to change the world.
She fell hard: Three years after their first date, they married. Later, when they watched the World Trade Center fall, Caleb pledged to join the fight: He enlisted in the Army infantry.
He deployed twice to Iraq — a 15-month stint extended by the Battle of Fallujah, then a year filled with bomb blasts and small-arms fire. At one point, a rocket-propelled grenade blasted him through the door of a Humvee.
HELP FOR COUPLES
The military’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress is developing information and tools to help military health care providers and couples deal with intimacy issues. Find out more at www.cstsonline.org/tag/intimacy/
But he came home seemingly unscathed. During their first reunion, Brannan recalled, Caleb was distant but affectionate. The couple conceived a child.
After his second deployment, however, Caleb changed from easygoing and enthusiastic to withdrawn, angry and forgetful.
Diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and, later, traumatic brain injury followed. It provided an explanation for his symptoms, but that didn’t ease the emotional — and physical — gulf between the couple, Brannan said.
“Guys with PTSD have a much harder time being physically close, let alone emotionally close. And from a woman’s perspective, you almost require that closeness to be invested in a sexual relationship,” Brannan said.
‘ELEPHANT IN THE BEDROOM’
With an estimated 400,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan thought to have suffered an injury — either physical or mental — in the combat zones, the Pentagon, civilian behavioral health specialists and military couples are starting to talk about what Brannan calls the “elephant in the bedroom”: the fact that both visible and unseen combat injuries are wreaking havoc with the sex lives of service members and veterans.
“So many articles in the popular press tell heartwarming stories of reunion but never mention how these injuries are impacting their sex lives,” said Michael Shelton, a sex therapist in Philadelphia who has begun blogging about the issue for Psychology Today.
Shelton has counseled 14 military couples and hopes to reach more through his blog.
“There’s just not a lot of information out there,” he said.
Sexual dysfunction in wounded warriors stems from various causes. Some troops — nearly 200 in Afghanistan in the past three years alone — have suffered severe or disfiguring injuries to their genitals and groins, making sex a painful physical challenge.
Brain injuries cause some troops to display hypersexuality, expressing inordinate desire and seeking out sex constantly. Yet experts say this often isn’t a sign of drive — it’s more a reflection of an impaired ability to be discreet.
Victims of PTSD often are disconnected emotionally from other people or feel guilty about aggressive feelings or natural urges, said Laurie Watson, a sex therapist in North Carolina.
On the other end of the spectrum, many medications given to service members to treat their injuries hamper desire.
Then there’s the caregiver role. Often, when a spouse shifts from being a partner to caring for and nurturing a wounded warrior, libido drops for both.
“These couples need marital work, and that includes sexual functioning,” Watson said. “We’re talking about young people in their prime.”
RESEARCH UNDERWAY
The issues have military health care experts taking notice. Last year, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress in Bethesda, Md., launched “Courage to Talk,” an effort to help military doctors and patients communicate on this sensitive topic.
Two studies also are underway at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda to help couples with intimacy issues associated with combat wounds, said Dr. Stephen Cozza, CSTS associate director.
Both studies focus on wounded combat veterans. One involves 30 couples, the other 40 couples.
Experts said couples having problems should first talk to a doctor to see whether a physical factor is involved — low testosterone or some other physiological issue.
Then they should consider talking to a therapist who can counsel them about expectations. If a regular therapist doesn’t help, seek one who is a member of the American Association of Sex Counselors and Educators, Watson and Shelton advised.
“Often, men are used to having a sexual urge and satisfying it, while women have to start being intimate before desire kicks in,” Watson said. “After an injury, a man’s reaction is often similar to a woman’s. They need to be taught that they should connect physically and the desire will follow.”
SUFFERING IN SILENCE
Many couples often suffer in silence, a situation that experts find heartbreaking. Watson gave a class Jan. 10 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to 12 therapists, discussing the topic, and said she wishes she could do more such sessions.
Shelton said it’s a tremendous emotional and physical challenge for many young military couples to try to face the problems alone, recalling one particular young couple in their early 20s: “He’ll have a colostomy bag all his life. She didn’t plan to be a caregiver.”
Cozza said he expects data and information from the CSTS intimacy studies to trickle down in the coming year, helping military physicians become better versed in helping their wounded patients develop deeper levels of intimacy.
“Many health care professionals have accessed information from CourageToTalk.org,” Cozza said. “We’re encouraged by that.”
Brannan, founder of FamilyofaVet.com, a website for those who have a family member with TBI or PTSD, urged spouses not to give up.
Now 31, she admits there have been times when she wanted to leave, but she agreed to stay when Caleb, 34, promised to seek help. They’re working on it — and it is getting better, she said.
“You have to give it time,” Brannan said. “Definitely, we have less sex than we used to. But when we do, it’s good sex.”
She fell hard: Three years after their first date, they married. Later, when they watched the World Trade Center fall, Caleb pledged to join the fight: He enlisted in the Army infantry.
He deployed twice to Iraq — a 15-month stint extended by the Battle of Fallujah, then a year filled with bomb blasts and small-arms fire. At one point, a rocket-propelled grenade blasted him through the door of a Humvee.
HELP FOR COUPLES
The military’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress is developing information and tools to help military health care providers and couples deal with intimacy issues. Find out more at www.cstsonline.org/tag/intimacy/
But he came home seemingly unscathed. During their first reunion, Brannan recalled, Caleb was distant but affectionate. The couple conceived a child.
After his second deployment, however, Caleb changed from easygoing and enthusiastic to withdrawn, angry and forgetful.
Diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and, later, traumatic brain injury followed. It provided an explanation for his symptoms, but that didn’t ease the emotional — and physical — gulf between the couple, Brannan said.
“Guys with PTSD have a much harder time being physically close, let alone emotionally close. And from a woman’s perspective, you almost require that closeness to be invested in a sexual relationship,” Brannan said.
‘ELEPHANT IN THE BEDROOM’
With an estimated 400,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan thought to have suffered an injury — either physical or mental — in the combat zones, the Pentagon, civilian behavioral health specialists and military couples are starting to talk about what Brannan calls the “elephant in the bedroom”: the fact that both visible and unseen combat injuries are wreaking havoc with the sex lives of service members and veterans.
“So many articles in the popular press tell heartwarming stories of reunion but never mention how these injuries are impacting their sex lives,” said Michael Shelton, a sex therapist in Philadelphia who has begun blogging about the issue for Psychology Today.
Shelton has counseled 14 military couples and hopes to reach more through his blog.
“There’s just not a lot of information out there,” he said.
Sexual dysfunction in wounded warriors stems from various causes. Some troops — nearly 200 in Afghanistan in the past three years alone — have suffered severe or disfiguring injuries to their genitals and groins, making sex a painful physical challenge.
Brain injuries cause some troops to display hypersexuality, expressing inordinate desire and seeking out sex constantly. Yet experts say this often isn’t a sign of drive — it’s more a reflection of an impaired ability to be discreet.
Victims of PTSD often are disconnected emotionally from other people or feel guilty about aggressive feelings or natural urges, said Laurie Watson, a sex therapist in North Carolina.
On the other end of the spectrum, many medications given to service members to treat their injuries hamper desire.
Then there’s the caregiver role. Often, when a spouse shifts from being a partner to caring for and nurturing a wounded warrior, libido drops for both.
“These couples need marital work, and that includes sexual functioning,” Watson said. “We’re talking about young people in their prime.”
RESEARCH UNDERWAY
The issues have military health care experts taking notice. Last year, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress in Bethesda, Md., launched “Courage to Talk,” an effort to help military doctors and patients communicate on this sensitive topic.
Two studies also are underway at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda to help couples with intimacy issues associated with combat wounds, said Dr. Stephen Cozza, CSTS associate director.
Both studies focus on wounded combat veterans. One involves 30 couples, the other 40 couples.
Experts said couples having problems should first talk to a doctor to see whether a physical factor is involved — low testosterone or some other physiological issue.
Then they should consider talking to a therapist who can counsel them about expectations. If a regular therapist doesn’t help, seek one who is a member of the American Association of Sex Counselors and Educators, Watson and Shelton advised.
“Often, men are used to having a sexual urge and satisfying it, while women have to start being intimate before desire kicks in,” Watson said. “After an injury, a man’s reaction is often similar to a woman’s. They need to be taught that they should connect physically and the desire will follow.”
SUFFERING IN SILENCE
Many couples often suffer in silence, a situation that experts find heartbreaking. Watson gave a class Jan. 10 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to 12 therapists, discussing the topic, and said she wishes she could do more such sessions.
Shelton said it’s a tremendous emotional and physical challenge for many young military couples to try to face the problems alone, recalling one particular young couple in their early 20s: “He’ll have a colostomy bag all his life. She didn’t plan to be a caregiver.”
Cozza said he expects data and information from the CSTS intimacy studies to trickle down in the coming year, helping military physicians become better versed in helping their wounded patients develop deeper levels of intimacy.
“Many health care professionals have accessed information from CourageToTalk.org,” Cozza said. “We’re encouraged by that.”
Brannan, founder of FamilyofaVet.com, a website for those who have a family member with TBI or PTSD, urged spouses not to give up.
Now 31, she admits there have been times when she wanted to leave, but she agreed to stay when Caleb, 34, promised to seek help. They’re working on it — and it is getting better, she said.
“You have to give it time,” Brannan said. “Definitely, we have less sex than we used to. But when we do, it’s good sex.”
Saturday, January 21, 2012
VA Providing Credit Monitoring to Misidentified Veterans
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering free credit monitoring to more than 2,200 Veterans whose personal information, including social security numbers, was posted on Ancestry.com following the mistaken release of data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
“VA places the highest priority upon safeguarding the personal information of our Veterans,” said Jerry L. Davis, VA’s chief information security officer. “When lapses occur, we will immediately take prompt remedial action, such as notification.”
The family history website, which provides access to genealogical and historical information, had requested information from VA about deceased Veterans. Under FOIA, VA is obligated to release requested records upon written request unless they may be withheld. Therefore, VA provided the website with the data on March 18, 2011.
On Dec. 13, 2011, after the information had been posted on the history website, VA learned that it included data about some living Veterans because some of the death reports provided to the website were inaccurate.
“Fortunately, no personal health information was included in this data release,” Davis said. “Ancestry.com has worked with us and immediately removed all the information that we had supplied them.”
There is no indication personally identifiable information of any Veteran has been misused. However, VA is still notifying all potentially affected Veterans so they can be vigilant and take steps to protect against identity theft. VA is also offering credit monitoring for one year at no charge to every Veteran whose name was mistakenly released and posted on the history website.
FOIA requires federal agencies to disclose requested records unless they may be withheld under specific statutory exemptions. Under FOIA, VA was obligated to provide the website with the name, social security number, date of birth, date of death, military branch assignments, and the dates of entry on active duty and release from active duty for deceased Veterans.
VA has launched an effort to determine why information about living Veterans was included in a database about deceased Veterans. The error did not affect the VA benefits of any Veteran. VA is committed to protecting Veterans’ personal information and to improving information processing to avoid erroneous data.
Veterans who believe they may have been affected by this incident who have not been notified by VA may verify whether their information was involved by writing to: Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A), 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington DC 20420, (Attn: Garnett Best).
Affected Veterans can request a free credit report for one year from one or more of the three national credit bureaus by calling 1-877-322-8228 or by visiting http://www.annualcreditreport.com.
Information about this and other protections, including placing a “fraud alert” on credit accounts, is available by calling the Federal Trade Commission at its toll free number, 1-877-438-4338, or by visiting its website, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html
“VA places the highest priority upon safeguarding the personal information of our Veterans,” said Jerry L. Davis, VA’s chief information security officer. “When lapses occur, we will immediately take prompt remedial action, such as notification.”
The family history website, which provides access to genealogical and historical information, had requested information from VA about deceased Veterans. Under FOIA, VA is obligated to release requested records upon written request unless they may be withheld. Therefore, VA provided the website with the data on March 18, 2011.
On Dec. 13, 2011, after the information had been posted on the history website, VA learned that it included data about some living Veterans because some of the death reports provided to the website were inaccurate.
“Fortunately, no personal health information was included in this data release,” Davis said. “Ancestry.com has worked with us and immediately removed all the information that we had supplied them.”
There is no indication personally identifiable information of any Veteran has been misused. However, VA is still notifying all potentially affected Veterans so they can be vigilant and take steps to protect against identity theft. VA is also offering credit monitoring for one year at no charge to every Veteran whose name was mistakenly released and posted on the history website.
FOIA requires federal agencies to disclose requested records unless they may be withheld under specific statutory exemptions. Under FOIA, VA was obligated to provide the website with the name, social security number, date of birth, date of death, military branch assignments, and the dates of entry on active duty and release from active duty for deceased Veterans.
VA has launched an effort to determine why information about living Veterans was included in a database about deceased Veterans. The error did not affect the VA benefits of any Veteran. VA is committed to protecting Veterans’ personal information and to improving information processing to avoid erroneous data.
Veterans who believe they may have been affected by this incident who have not been notified by VA may verify whether their information was involved by writing to: Department of Veterans Affairs, OIT Privacy Officer (005R1A), 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington DC 20420, (Attn: Garnett Best).
Affected Veterans can request a free credit report for one year from one or more of the three national credit bureaus by calling 1-877-322-8228 or by visiting http://www.annualcreditreport.com.
Information about this and other protections, including placing a “fraud alert” on credit accounts, is available by calling the Federal Trade Commission at its toll free number, 1-877-438-4338, or by visiting its website, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html
VA Career Fair Aims to Connect Vets with Jobs
Everybody is talking about jobs, especially Veterans. In today’s economic climate, younger Vets can face
an even tougher time landing a job than other Americans. Some struggle to translate their military skills
into civilian careers while others aren’t sure where to even start looking. And that’s something we’re
working to fix. As VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said this week, “Now more than ever, America needs the
knowledge, skills and abilities of our Veterans, and this generation of heroes is capable of transforming
the Nation at a time when we need their leadership and ingenuity.”
That’s why, on Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs will attempt to break down those barriers
by making over 6,000 job opportunities at the Veteran Career Fair and Expo in Washington, D.C.
If you’re a Veteran, if you serve in the National Guard or Reserve, or you’re close to separating from
active duty—and you live in the Mid-Atlantic area—then grab your DD214 and resume. This could be a
chance to get hired by VA or the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Interior, Agriculture,
Labor, and EPA. And over 20 private-sector partners will be participating as well, like Microsoft,
Citigroup, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Philadelphia Police Department, Johns
Hopkins Hospital, JPMorgan, and many others.
Aside from on-the-spot job opportunities, Veterans can receive advice and guidance on employment and
sign up for VA services. Employees will be on hand to answer questions about the GI Bill, health care,
home loans, and more.
The event is free and prior registration isn’t required. Like my boss has been saying the past few weeks,
“Vets can parachute in that day and leave with a job offer.” And that’s no joke.
Check out VA for Vets to learn more about the career fair and expo. VA staff will be there throughout the
day speaking with Vets and getting updates on the hiring process. Good luck!
Intel Report, January 13
VA will host its first Veteran Career Fair and Expo on January 18 in Washington, DC. The free event
will provide Vets from DC, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and West
Virginia with information on jobs, education, health care, and small business opportunities. Also, Vets
will be able to register for the benefits and services they’ve earned. Register here.
Medical schools will soon have more courses geared toward PTSD and traumatic brain injury in an
effort to prepare doctors for the long-term care of Veterans.
On June 25, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games will commence in Richmond, Virginia.
Participants will compete in 17 events, including swimming, basketball, table tennis, archery, and
more. The registration deadline is April 15, so get started soon if you’re interested.
It’s not just the troops who deal with the consequences of war, but their families as well. My dad
shared what my deployment was like for him back home, and gives advice to parents whose child has
recently returned.
A lot of folks ask, “How can I give back to Vets?” Check out our volunteer page for more information
on how to get involved locally.
will provide Vets from DC, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and West
Virginia with information on jobs, education, health care, and small business opportunities. Also, Vets
will be able to register for the benefits and services they’ve earned. Register here.
Medical schools will soon have more courses geared toward PTSD and traumatic brain injury in an
effort to prepare doctors for the long-term care of Veterans.
On June 25, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games will commence in Richmond, Virginia.
Participants will compete in 17 events, including swimming, basketball, table tennis, archery, and
more. The registration deadline is April 15, so get started soon if you’re interested.
It’s not just the troops who deal with the consequences of war, but their families as well. My dad
shared what my deployment was like for him back home, and gives advice to parents whose child has
recently returned.
A lot of folks ask, “How can I give back to Vets?” Check out our volunteer page for more information
on how to get involved locally.
The Mt. Rainier Shooting and PTSD: How the Media Got It Wrong
The massacre at Ft. Hood two years ago stunned the nation in its cold-blooded calculation. The high body
count was just as shocking as the fact soldiers were killed not in combat, but on the grounds of a military
installation. Before the slain soldiers were buried, many in the media speculated on a link between
combat stress and the shooting, the correlation being that war trauma had driven a soldier to commit
those crimes.
When news reports finally explained that Nidal Hasan hadn’t deployed during his Army career, the
narrative shifted to secondary PTSD. The thought was that his work as a psychiatrist could have caused
it. The reality, however, was that Hasan’s personal beliefs about the United States and the military were
among the chief motivations behind the killings. Taken together, the prevailing narrative from those
early reports—intentional or not—was this: Post-traumatic stress is a strong factor in violent crimes, and
anyone who has deployed to a combat zone is capable of the same.
That narrative—fairly common since John Rambo hit movie screens in 1982—bubbled to the surface
once again with the killing of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson on January 1st by Benjamin Colton Barnes,
a 24 year-old Iraq Veteran. Within hours of the Rainier shooting, journalists and writers clamored to
mention Barnes’ war record, combat stress, and even his duty station in a dizzying effort to find a
connection:
count was just as shocking as the fact soldiers were killed not in combat, but on the grounds of a military
installation. Before the slain soldiers were buried, many in the media speculated on a link between
combat stress and the shooting, the correlation being that war trauma had driven a soldier to commit
those crimes.
When news reports finally explained that Nidal Hasan hadn’t deployed during his Army career, the
narrative shifted to secondary PTSD. The thought was that his work as a psychiatrist could have caused
it. The reality, however, was that Hasan’s personal beliefs about the United States and the military were
among the chief motivations behind the killings. Taken together, the prevailing narrative from those
early reports—intentional or not—was this: Post-traumatic stress is a strong factor in violent crimes, and
anyone who has deployed to a combat zone is capable of the same.
That narrative—fairly common since John Rambo hit movie screens in 1982—bubbled to the surface
once again with the killing of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson on January 1st by Benjamin Colton Barnes,
a 24 year-old Iraq Veteran. Within hours of the Rainier shooting, journalists and writers clamored to
mention Barnes’ war record, combat stress, and even his duty station in a dizzying effort to find a
connection:
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