In honor of Father’s Day, we here at VA need your help to thank the men who have shaped our lives. Through an essay contest, we will put together a tribute honoring father Veterans. We want to hear from wives, mothers, and children, about why you’re proud of your Veteran. Tell us about his service; stories of deployments; his fondest military memory; lessons you have learned; or perhaps you just want to write your Veteran a “thank you” letter—it’s up to you!

Here’s how you can help: Please send us a photograph of you and your Veteran (we’ll accept family photos too!) and your essay. We will pick a few essays and feature them on the front page of VAntage Point. With each submission, please provide names, branch of service, when and where they served, and what they are doing now. Please send all information to newmedia@va.gov by Monday, June 4, 2012.

My thoughts wander back to my last trip home to Vermont for her birthday in April. My brothers and I went for a hike up Arrowhead Mountain. It was a beautiful day and I’ll never forget the overwhelming feeling of awe and euphoria we all experienced as we reached the top. Below us lay the little town of Milton, but it looked so different. It was as if we were seeing it for the first time. The Champlain Valley lay majestically before us. The blue sky seemed endless and we basked in the spring sun. We all felt like we were kids again on some great adventure in our own back yard.

What was most comforting–most beautiful, really—on top of the mountain was that I knew we were going home to mom’s house. Reflecting on that for two weeks has made me realize that her support throughout my life has kept me going through a myriad of circumstances. Her unwavering belief in me kept me going when I was serving in Iraq. I never wanted to let her down. Her encouragement throughout a long period of unemployment and self-employment ultimately helped me maintain a steady course that led to the most rewarding experience of my life: serving my fellow Veterans at VA.

The most reassuring thought a son can have, I think, is knowing that his mother has always lovingly and freely given to him just by being there. Whether I was fighting in Iraq, working in Washington, or in my own backyard, I always had—and I still have—a home to go back to where I am loved no matter what. Thank you for being home, Mom.

Janny, as I affectionately call my mom, has never questioned my commitment to work for Veterans, even when I have.  Working in a bureaucracy can be crushing and I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days when I just want to pack it all in.  But my mom never lets me give up.  She listened carefully when I stressed about putting pen to paper to explain the civilian guilt I felt , she answered my phone calls and encouraged me to keep toughing it out at the office when my husband moved to the other side of the country (I stayed because I love my job and the work my team does matters to me), and she unwaveringly and unabashedly loves my teammates—all of whom served overseas.

Those closest to me were not directly affected by the wars of the last decade.  My little family stayed out of harm’s way because of the unflinching commitment of my team and the Veterans that we reach every day.  My mom is so proud that I work with—and for—such valiant men and women.  She is the reason that, even though I sometimes feel like I’m using all my energy to push a peanut across the table, I never ever give up on doing my best to serve Vets.

Mom – thank you so much for being such an awesome woman, for pushing me to always do the right thing, finish what I start and fight the good fight.  You inspire me to help others the same way you so selflessly and lovingly help me.  I like to think that the Vets I work with and serve fight for mothers just like you.

After my third tour, I took an assignment training soldiers deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa.  I will not say I found my time in combat comforting, but I knew what my job was.  I was well-trained and had years of expertise.  Ensuring soldiers were prepared for combat was a way for me to stay in the fight.  I had started dating my wife before I took this assignment, and she supported me whole-heartedly. Then, while training for a PT test, I suffered a knee injury and was unable to continue on this assignment.

I came back home to a woman who loved me unconditionally but could not recognize the man she fell in love with. During recovery from knee surgery, I became severely symptomatic with PTSD and was diagnosed with injuries to both shoulders and my other knee, which also would require surgery. I became so depressed I was barely functioning. I was a combat soldier staring down the end of my military career.

I went back to school in the fall of 2009 and found success there, but that is all I could focus on. My wife nearly left me, and it made me realize I had many things to be thankful for. She had seen me through several psychiatric inpatient stays, two surgeries, and two months away at a PTSD clinic. She is the glue that has held our family together, my rock, the reason I am still alive. While life still has its rough patches, she and my daughter are why I haven’t given up. I can’t give up. They are what I have to live for.

James Casey served in the United States Army Reserve and is a Mission Continues Fellow Alumnus. He lives in St. Louis, MO with his wife Rachel and daughter Lucille.

It’s true—my mom is my biggest fan. When you walk into her kitchen she has an 8 X 11 sized photocopy of my VA business card taped to the refrigerator. On her desk, she has two (practically identical) graduation photos placed next to one another. “Katie, your smile is slightly different in this one.” Next to her bed, in a cheap wooden frame, sits a letter I wrote to her in eight grade: “Dear Mom, thank you for being the best mom ever! I love you sooo much!”

The letter is a little embarrassingly generic and at the time I didn’t know how to appreciate who my mom was.  I mean, what 13 year-old really does? Over the years though, it’s become much more apparent that my success as a daughter, friend, girlfriend (this is debatable), an Iraq War Veteran, honor grad student, and coworker is because of her.

I was raised by a woman who has drilled a few things into my head. Our conversations about life would go like this:

“You don’t ever give up,” she’d say. “You’re stubborn like me! And your grandfather.”

Roger that, mom.

When I hit my late teens the conversation veered away from never giving up in math class to taking chances.

“Do what you want to do first. . .no regrets,” she’d say, “None.” She’d pause for a few seconds and chime in with, “And don’t worry about getting married and kids yet. You’re still young.”

My mom has followed all her own rules. When she graduated college, at the age of 22, she took up a job with an engineer consulting firm and bought her first car. She held her own as she was the only woman in the office and refers to this time as “the best years of my life!” Two years later, she began to work for Page Airways at the Albany County Airport. Here, Miss No Regrets, learned how to fly air planes. She was an avid jazz and tap dancer (and singer—just ride in the car with us for five minutes and she’ll belt something out). In the early 90’s she ran Saratoga County’s Meals on Wheels program. We would hop in and out of the car delivering hot meals to seniors. I still remember the smell of the food and the smile my mom put on people’s faces. At the age of 35, she gave birth to me and has kept me smiling since.

Regardless of what life has thrown at my mom she has always kept that Diane Hoit attitude and refused to ever give up. She just keeps pushing—and pushing me to never regret.

My mom supported me when I decided to join the U.S. Army. She showed up to my basic training graduation in a bright red suit and an American flag scarf tied around her neck. She supported me as I packed my bags for Iraq. She emailed me almost daily while I was overseas just to tell me that she loved me. She screamed and cheered and cried as I walked across the stage at my college graduation. She watched as I packed a single suitcase and headed to D.C. to take my first real job. She is the reason why I’m here today.

So, mom. Let’s try this whole letter thing again. Fifteen years later, not only do I still think you’re the best mom ever but I now know why. You’ve taught me how to life live—with no regrets, take chances (no matter how small or big), smile on the worst of days, appreciate what and who I have in life, and never ever (ever!) give up. Failure is not an option, right? Thank you for being you.

Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.

When I first heard about the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a non-profit that connects military Veterans with farming, I thought, “Wow – how random and specific.” Then I found out about the rural nature of today’s military and Veteran population. Many people from small farming communities join the military, leaving their family farms to serve their country and see the world. After their service, many of these Veterans return home to the rural communities they know and love. In addition to returning to rural farms, the Veterans are starting their own farming operations on the borders of big cities and even starting urban gardens in the heart of our greatest metropolises. I also learned that a lot of these Veterans are women…like me.

Female Veterans comprise 15% of today’s military and make up a rapidly growing segment of the US veteran population. More than ever, they are pursuing careers and independent business ventures, often utilizing their diverse skills from military service. Many of these women are starting careers in food and farming – as chefs, ranchers, organic vegetable producers, and even mentors for inner city kids at community gardens. In all honesty, I can’t even keep my tomato plants alive, but I can proudly say that I am joining the effort by working at the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).

This summer we are organizing a conference for women Veterans about business and agriculture. This event is the first of its kind, and it seeks to bring our often dispersed women Veteran population together. With the help of the USDA Risk Management Agency, Annie’s Project and Oxfam America, FVC is hosting the “Empowering Women Veterans: Business, Agriculture & Well-Being” conference in Davis, Ca on July 7-8, 2012. We are hoping to draw a diverse crowd, from both rural and urban communities and from all branches and service eras. At this conference, women leaders in business and agriculture will speak to female Veteran participants about the challenges faced by women, tools to mitigate risk in their agricultural ventures, and available programs to help women farmers succeed. Educational topics will include the RMA five areas of risk (production, price (market), financial, legal, and personal); business structure and farm contracts; an introduction to Quicken Software (with free software); loans, debt & credit; direct marketing; and farm labor. This conference will raise awareness of the attendees’ national and local benefits and resources, and will address their needs both as Veterans and as farmers.

They say there is strength in numbers, so how great would it be to stay connected and to support one another with farming and agriculture advice? It is my hope that this conference will act as a catalyst for that support system.

Tia Christopher is a Navy Veteran.  She speaks nationally on issues facing women Veterans and transitioning military personnel. She serves as Director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund in Davis, CA.

Social media has irreversibly changed the way we communicate and access information, from finding out the latest gossip to fueling revolutions around the world. Now that Facebook reaches nearly a billion people worldwide, we must find innovative ways to reach and connect people who may be in emotional crisis when seconds count.

Facebook, Blue Star Families, and VA have collaborated on an important resource to do just that. On Thursday, Facebook announced suicide prevention resources geared toward the unique needs of active duty troops, Veterans, and their families. If a threat or mention of suicide appears in a timeline, users can flag the user as a member of the military community, which will trigger a message with contact information for the Veterans Crisis Line to be sent to the person in distress.

The page will also urge the concerned parties to contact law enforcement to ensure they know they will be responding to a member of the military community in order to tailor their response accordingly.

“Partnering with the community, families, and friends of troops and Veterans is our primary tool to use against suicide and its devastating effects,” said Jan Kemp, VA’s national mental health program coordinator. “Letting Veterans and service members know there is hope and help is crucial, and we’re proud to work with Facebook and Blue Star Families to get this done.”

The reduction of active duty and Veteran suicide cannot be accomplished with technology and social media alone. We must inform ourselves about the warning signs of mental stress and learn to recognize them in the people that matter to us most. This new notification system is just a tool, but it will play a vital role in matching those in crisis with resources designed to help in their moment of need.

In the video above, shot at Facebook’s studio in Washington, D.C., watch Dr. Caitlin Thompson from VA’s Crisis Line, Dr. Vivian Greentree from Blue Star Families, and Dr. Denise Hamlin-Glover from the Wounded Warrior Project talk about key issues affecting military and Veteran families like PSTD and suicide prevention.

The issue of unemployment continues to impact folks across the country, and while there are promising signs that the newest generation of Vets has seen a downward trend in unemployment lately, much work remains to get Vets into meaningful jobs.

To help do that, we’re rolling out the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program. The program is designed to help provide training and education that will lead to high-demand jobs. Beginning on May 15, you can apply if you meet the following criteria:

• Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
• Are unemployed
• Received an other than dishonorable discharge
• Are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
• Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
• Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

VRAP will offer 12 months of training, with up to 12 months of assistance at the rate of the Montgomery GI Bill payment (currently at $1473 a month).

Participants will enroll in VA approved education programs at community colleges and technical schools that lead to an associate’s degree, non-college degree, or a certificate that will lead to employment. The Department of Labor will assist with job placement once Vets finish the program. The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014.

Come back to this site on May 15 to submit an application if you meet the qualifications.

We know many Veterans are still out of work. VRAP is not a silver bullet, but it’s a step in the right direction to help folks get back into a career.

Years ago companies and small businesses would give priority to veterans for work from their State’s Unemployment Office. Unfortunately for Veterans, things have changed. Interviewers rarely ask about military experience and when Vets bring it up, it seems to be of no real interest to the employer.

My brother David who served in the Iraq War had a similar experience during his job interview. He’d bring up the military experience on his resume, but the employer seemed to just wave off what he had said with an “oh, that’s interesting,” and move on to his civilian work experience. Since he had enlisted at 18, David had very little work experience in a civilian setting, and as a result, didn’t get the job.

Veteran employment is an ever increasing issue in our country for a number of factors. The most pertinent reason is the fact that interviewers fail to see how the 4 to 20 years of military service may have given the potential employee all of the relevant and valuable experience needed to fill that position.

This is improving among larger corporations but smaller, “mom and pop” businesses, the kind that are hiring the most, still have trouble understanding the concept of how Veteran military experience is relevant to the job. The challenge is to show employers that general skills and discipline acquired in the military can be a priceless asset to a company.

A local Deli shop owner in Hollywood, Florida shared his experience with hiring a Veteran in the past:

“One of my best employees when I managed a local supermarket for a little over 5 years was a Veteran who I hired as the Floor Manager. He was basically responsible for walking the aisles and overlooking the cashiers and stockers to keep a good eye on them for employee violations, as well as looking out for shoplifters. Because of his general military experience, he was invaluable to me. Honest to a fault but incredibly disciplined and smart, he saved me and the store a lot of money because of his vigilance and sense of duty.”

In addition, Veterans continue to have a difficult time finding employment because of the issues surrounding their reintegration into society. Every Veteran can probably remember the nervousness, anxiety and perhaps the small hint of fear that they felt on their first day of basic training and the process of transitioning from a civilian to a service member began.  Making the change back into civilian life after years of service can be just as hard to work through, especially when facing higher than normal unemployment rates.

Although many Vets succeed in making the change from the uniform to civilian, the process is hardly ever a smooth and seamless one. So how can we help our men and women in uniform have a less problematic integration into the work environment of civilian society?

“Well after Service” was written by Nancy Berglass and Dr. Margaret C. Harrell as a project of the Joining Forces division of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). This organization concentrates on research and analysis of Veterans and their respective families, and the effects of military service on service members. Nancy Berglass and Dr. Harrell discovered that some recent Vets had service related challenges that no government program, mechanism, or agency sufficiently addressed, putting most of the problem on poorly funded veteran communities across America.

The authors highlighted some of the key issues surrounding Veteran transitions:

Cultural Polarization: Less than 1 percent of the American population serve in some military branch. General civilian society does not understand the needs and unique challenges posed to Vets.  Injuries, effects of military life on social relationships, and emotional trauma experienced during duty all tell the difference between Veteran wellness and that of the general public.

Back to Back Deployments: Frequent deployments of returning Veterans can cause severe fatigue on both physical and mental health.

Missing the “Big Picture”: Although the US Dept. of Defense meets the needs of active duty service members, there currently isn’t an official process to integrate them into the care of the VA or other appropriate organizations. Also, while there have been many initiatives that have focused on helping troops and their families, none have targeted reintegration as a whole entity. They instead look at a single element of the puzzle, like education, healthcare, and employment.

The report proposes at joint cooperation between the Department of Defense, the Department of Veteran Affairs, nonprofit grant makers, and community leaders to develop a reintegration program that would cover all of the specific needs that are unique to veterans.

That’s not to say programs like the Veterans Farm Datil Salt initiative and Catapult Technology have tremendously helped the transition process. What the folks at CNAS are asking for however is a centralized initiative, one that stems from the community, back to the government in a seamless procedure that can help vets who’ve face enough hardships as it is.

Would this be the best solution to help veterans transition back into the workforce and civilian society in general? What do you think of “Well after Service” and their conclusions? Tell us what you think.

Vincent H. Clarke’s brother is an Iraq Veteran. Vincent holds a Bachelors degree in English from the University of Hawaii. He works as a writer with USB Memory Direct

VA has partnered with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to move homeless Veterans and their families into permanent supportive housing with case management and health care services. Called HUD-VASH—for HUD-VA Supportive Housing—the program combines rental assistance from HUD with VA’s proven case management and clinical services. These services are available to eligible homeless Veterans at local medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics across the country.

It’s a two-part program: While HUD provides Housing Choice Vouchers through local public housing authorities, VA hires dedicated case managers who, through intensive support, help homeless Veterans secure and maintain long-term housing. In allowing very low-income families to choose safe, decent, and affordable privately owned rental housing, the program provides a long-term solution for Veterans in need.

Veterans are offered the case management services they need for recovery from homelessness, including referrals to VA primary care as well as mental health or substance use treatment services, income assistance, employment supports, disability benefits, credit repair, and skills for money management.

VA feels that those who served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets. This month, do your part to help promote better lives for the Veterans who have served our country. If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of being homeless, provide him or her with the number to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838). The hotline connects homeless Veterans and Veterans at risk of becoming homeless and their families with the VA services and benefits they have earned.

Lisa M. Pape, LISW, currently serves as the National Director Homeless Programs for the Veterans Health Administration.