When folks are wounded in combat, it’s never a single person affected by injuries like gunshots, amputations and traumatic brain injuries. Families are swept up in the process immediately, receiving difficult and constantly updated information about loved ones. They often …
One of VA’s most crucial responsibilities is to help prepare Veterans to enter the workforce after their service. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a vital tool to help Vets prepare for new careers, and the VRAP initiative has helped unemployed …
The Iraq invasion began ten years ago today, and while I’ve seen a lot of news stories and essays looking back over the last decade, I see few looking forward. The Iraq war (and any war) is significant in the …
Earlier this year, VA and Student Veterans America, along with the National Student Clearinghouse, announced a collaborative effort to develop a clearer picture of student Veteran graduation rates. The effort intended to build comprehensive data to show progress and challenges; …
This week’s round-up of Veterans news and resources: Twenty-two years ago this week, President Bush ordered a cessation of ground combat operations during Desert Storm. Here’s a nice timeline recap of the events before and after that moment. Wondering what …
The American Legion‘s annual Washington conference was this week, and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was on hand to deliver a vital message: Veterans are well-prepared to rebuild the middle class, just as they did after World War II. The key …
Out of all the VA services I tell fellow Veterans about, Vet Centers might be at the top of the list. The revolutionary idea of community-based mental health and readjustment counseling began after the Vietnam War, and now over 300 …
Your end of week wrap-up of Veterans news and resources: The Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most iconic and fierce battles in our history, began 68 years ago this week. Check out To the Shores of Iwo Jima, …
When I started college in 2008, not even back a year from Iraq, the process was a little difficult to manage. My school offered GI Bill paperwork support but not much when it came to how to navigate the various …
Good news for Veterans in New York City, whose care was affected by flooding of Hurricane Sandy: the Manhattan VA Medical Center will reopen outpatient clinics in March. From NY Daily News: A date to reopen the 120-bed inpatient department …
Spring is Home Buying Season
15 May 2013
Communications specialist with the Veterans Benefits Administration
It’s finally spring – a time for spring cleaning, dusting off those softball cleats and for some, looking for a new place to call home.
Celebrating One Year of VRAP
15 May 2013
VA Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Opportunity
One year ago today, the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, a program that offers a renewed opportunity for education/training and job assistance to unemployed Veterans, started accepting applications.
Every Body, Every Day: How to Get Fit
9 May 2013
Dietetic Intern at the Memphis VA Medical Center
How many times in one week do we hear about exercising? Eating right? Losing weight? Keeping our heart healthy?
Separate System Ensures Wounded Troops Receive Disability Benefits Quickly
9 May 2013
Director of the Office of Corporate Communications at the Veterans Benefits Administration
The backlog of disability claims for Veterans is getting a lot of media coverage, and everyone throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs, from the Secretary on down, has acknowledged that this is an urgent problem they are working to fix.
Updating Your Insurance Beneficiary Can Bring Peace of Mind
7 May 2013
Chief, VA’s insurance claims division
Life insurance should give you and your loved ones peace of mind that they will have funds available if anything happens to you. Here’s how to update it.
MyPlate: Healthy Eating Made Easy
2 May 2013
Dietetic Intern at the VA Medical Center in Memphis
MyPlate is the nutrition guide that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes as a recommendation for Americans. As seen in the picture below, it depicts a plate with all four food groups—fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein—with a cup of dairy on the side.
VA’s New Hotline Dedicated to Serving Women Veterans
23 Apr 2013
Chief Consultant for Women’s Health Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs
As part of VA’s goal to implement improvements to its health care for women Veterans, we recently launched our new Women Veterans hotline.
VA Expediting Claims Decisions for Veterans Waiting a Year or More
19 Apr 2013
Under Secretary for Benefits; Air Force Veteran
Effective today, every regional office will begin implementing an initiative to ensure that those who have been waiting a year or more for their compensation claim receive a decision quickly.
