Military & Veterans News
Military & Veterans News
Vet News: VA Introduces New Weekly Podcast
WASHINGTON - As part of its ongoing effort to engage and reach out to Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a podcast titled “This Week at VA.” The podcast will be produced weekly. Each episode will include information on benefits or products, interviews with Veterans, a highlighted Veteran of the Day and other helpful content. This week’s show features an interview with VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features -- Veterans Day 2016: Nov. 11
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a remembrance ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Gov. Scott Announces Kick-Off of Statewide Paychecks for Patriots Events for Florida Veterans
ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the kick-off of the 2016 Paychecks for Patriots, which matches up veterans with great careers in their communities. In recognition of Veterans Day, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is partnering with the CareerSource Florida network, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and participating Florida employers to connect veterans and their families with job opportunities. Governor Scott has also declared November 7-11th as Paychecks for Patriots week.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Secretary Carter Honors DNI Clapper with Distinguished Public Service Award
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter today honored Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper with the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award, the department’s highest civilian honor.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Navy to Commission Destroyer Zumwalt
The Navy will commission the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), Saturday, Oct. 15, during a 5 p.m. EDT ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Medal of Honor Recipient Richard A. Pittman Passes Away at 71
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announces that Lance Corporal Richard A. Pittman, Medal of Honor recipient, passed away Thursday evening, October 13, 2016, in Stockton, California at the age of 71.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Presidential Proclamation -- National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 2016
Technology plays an increasingly significant role in our daily lives. The rise of the Internet has brought incredible opportunity and new ways of innovating and enhancing our way of life -- but with great potential also comes heightened risk to our data. Keeping cyberspace secure is a matter of national security, and in order to ensure we can reap the benefits and utility of technology while minimizing the dangers and threats it presents, we must continue to make cybersecurity a top priority. Throughout National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we recognize the role that individuals can play in enhancing cybersecurity, and we join to raise awareness of the importance of securing our information against cyber threats.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Eleven Inducted into 2016 Class of the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet inducted eleven individuals into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. The unanimous vote for the Class of 2016 came during the Sept. 20 Cabinet Meeting at the Capitol.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Statement from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the 5th anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
I am proud to report that five years after the implementation of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" our military, drawn from a cross-section of America, is stronger than ever and continues to exemplify the very best that our great nation has to offer. The American people can take pride in how the Department of Defense and the men and women of the United States military have implemented this change with the dignity, respect, and excellence expected of the finest fighting force the world has ever known.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Secretary Mabus Names Two Destroyers for Medal of Honor Recipients
OXFORD, Mississippi (NNS) -- In a ceremony today at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 125, will be named Jack H. Lucas in honor of the Marine Corps hero and Medal of Honor recipient. Mabus also announced that DDG 126 would be named Louis H. Wilson Jr. in honor of the 26th commandant of the Marine Corps who was also a Medal of Honor recipient.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: New Parks Program to Support Post-9/11 Veterans
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has elevated its commitment to veterans across the nation with the announcement of its philanthropic grants to the National Park Foundation (NPF) and The Mission Continues to support a programmatic partnership between The Mission Continues and the National Park Service (NPS). TheVeterans in Parks program, launched during the centennial year for both Boeing and the NPS, supports and expands opportunities for volunteer service and career development for post-9/11 veterans within the hundreds of National Park Service sites and programs nationwide.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Presidential Proclamation -- Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 2016
Fifteen years ago, nearly 3,000 innocent lives men, women, and children who had been going about their normal routines were taken from us, depriving families and loved ones of a lifetime of precious moments. But the acts of terror of September 11, 2001, sought to do more than hurt our people and bring down buildings: They sought to break our spirit and destroy the enduring values that unite us as Americans. In the years that followed, our capacity to love and to hope has guided us forward as we worked to rebuild, more sound and resilient than ever before. With the hearts of those we lost held faithfully in our memories, we reaffirm the unwavering optimism and everlasting strength that brought us together in our darkest hour, and we resolve to give of ourselves in service to others in that same spirit.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Suicide Prevention Month: #BeThere
WASHINGTON – Today marks the start of Suicide Prevention Month and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is asking for the entire nation’s help in reducing Veteran suicide. VA is calling on community leaders, supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family members to BeThere for Veterans and Service members starting with a simple act, which can play a pivotal role in preventing suicide.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: VA Awards $300 Million More in Grants to Help End Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today awarded approximately $300 million more in grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help thousands of very low-income Veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Soldier Takes Olympic Silver After Disqualification is Overturned
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Spc. Paul Chelimo relied on the strength he developed as a Soldier to get through the men's 5,000-meter run at the Rio Olympic Games, where he eventually claimed the silver medal.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Secretary Mabus Names Destroyer for Medal of Honor Recipient
Today, in a ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, DDG 122, will be named John Basilone in honor of the United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Executive Order -- Providing an Order of Succession within the Department of Veterans Affairs
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that:
Military & Veterans News
Vet News: George Washington Would be Proud – Florida Salutes Purple Heart Day
TALLAHASSEE – It was Aug. 7, 1782. The Revolutionary War was still nearly two years from ending and General George Washington wanted a way to recognize the outstanding soldiers who were fighting to achieve our nation’s independence.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: VA Releases Report on Nation’s Largest Analysis of Veteran Suicide
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today released its findings from the nation’s most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the United States in which VA examined more than 55 million Veterans’ records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort advances VA’s knowledge from the previous report in 2012, which was primarily limited to information on Veterans who used VHA health services or from mortality records obtained directly from 20 states and approximately 3 million records.. Compared to the data from the 2012 report, which estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide to be 22 per day, the current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Governor, Cabinet Appoint Sutphin Veterans’ Affairs Director
TALLAHASSEE – Retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin was appointed Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet during the Aug. 2 Cabinet Meeting. FDVA, on behalf of the Governor and three-member Cabinet, is the premier point of entry for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans to access earned services, benefits and support.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Million Veteran Program is Now Largest Genomic Database in the World
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Million Veteran Program (MVP) has reached an important milestone when an Army Veteran from Montgomery, Alabama, became the 500,000th to voluntarily enroll in the research database program – making MVP the largest genomic database in the world.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Obama Administration Announces Nearly 50-Percent Decline In Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) today announced the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has been cut nearly in half since 2010. The data revealed a 17-percent decrease in veteran homelessness between January 2015 and January 2016—quadruple the previous year’s annual decline—and a 47-percent decrease since 2010.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: President Obama’s Remarks Awarding the Medal of Honor to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Kettles
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Please have a seat. Welcome to the White House. Of all the privileges of this office, none is greater than serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the finest military that the world has ever known. And of all the military decorations that our nation can bestow, we have none higher than the Medal of Honor.Military & Veterans News
Vet News: Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips for Military Consumer Protection Month
TALLAHASSEE — July is Military Consumer Protection Month, and Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans and 65,000 active duty military members to protect themselves against fraud. Military Consumer Protection Month is a national effort to raise awareness about common scams and how active duty military, veterans and their families can avoid them.