Military & Veterans News
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Chrysler Liquidating Trust Commits $750,000 to Support Homeless Veterans
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with Chrysler Liquidating Trust to provide funds to support VA efforts to end Veteran homelessness. The partnership is part of the MyVA Strategic Partnership Initiative, which works with external organizations to improve the delivery and access of care for Veterans.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Veterans Who Need Routine Audiology and Optometry Appointments Will Soon Be Able to Directly Schedule
WASHINGTON – Veterans receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Medical Centers will now be able to schedule routine ear and eye appointments at local VA Audiology and Optometry clinics without a primary care referral – a move that eliminates multiple steps and gets Veterans into appointments quicker.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Secretary of Defense Awards 15 Companies Employer Support Freedom Award
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter awarded today the 15 recipients of the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the Department of Defense gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Vice President Joe Biden and Deputy Secretary of Transportation Victor Mendez Announce New Loan to Amtrak
Washington, DC – Today, at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station in Wilmington, Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden and Deputy Secretary of Transportation Victor Mendez announced a $2.45 billion loan to Amtrak by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Build America Bureau through its Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program – marking the largest single loan in the Department of Transportation’s history.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: VA Provides Service Dog Benefits to Veterans with Mental Health Disorders
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it is piloting a protocol to implement veterinary health benefits for mobility service dogs approved for Veterans with a chronic impairment that substantially limits mobility associated with mental health disorders.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Manhattan's Newest Apple Store Opens at World Trade Center
New York August 16, 2016 Apple’s 10th New York City retail store opened this morning in the World Trade Center's bustling transportation hub. Thousands of customers have already visited Apple World Trade Center, which draws inspiration from the surrounding Santiago Calatrava-designed structure to create a seamless space.
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Benefits News: The Joint Commission Releases Results of VA Health Care Surveys to VA
Note: This release was updated on August 5 and now contains a link to the report.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Remarks by the President at 95th National Convention for Disabled American Veterans
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, DAV! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Please, everybody, have a seat. What an honor to be with you today. (Applause.) Thank you. And thanks to Bobby. I’ll never forget the time Bobby came to the Oval Office -- carrying a baseball bat. (Laughter.) Secret Service got a little nervous. (Laughter.) But it was a genuine Louisville Slugger -- a thank-you for going to bat for our veterans. And I want to thank Bobby for your devotion to our veterans, especially your fellow Vietnam vets. Thank you. Give Bobby a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: JetBlue to Further Expand Its Popular Mint Experience to Position Itself as the Transcontinental Airline of Choice and Grow Its West Coast Presence
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced it intends to further expand its highly successful Mint experience by amending its purchase agreement with Airbus to bring additional A321 aircraft into its fleet. JetBlue believes the additional aircraft will allow it to capture an immediate opportunity to position itself as the transcontinental airline of choice and build west coast frequencies with a targeted approach that leverages its east coast strength.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Secretary Takes Action to Ensure Project ARCH Veterans Continue to Receive Care Closer to Home
Augusta, Maine – As the Project ARCH pilot program comes to an end next month, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald today announced that Veterans enrolled in the program will be able to continue receiving care closer to home. Taking advantage of options available under the Veterans Choice Program, such as the “unusual or excessive burden provision” and Provider Agreements, Veterans receiving care under Project ARCH will continue care without interruption when the pilot program ends August 7.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: VA Schedules 2 Million Appointments Using Veterans Choice Program
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Choice Program (VCP) has reached a key milestone in improving access to health care for Veterans. More than two million appointments have been scheduled through the program.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: VA Conducts Nation’s Largest Analysis of Veteran Suicide
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has undertaken the most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the U.S., examining over 55 million Veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort extends VA’s knowledge from the previous report issued in 2010, which examined three million Veteran records from 20 states were available. Based on the data from 2010, VA estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide averaged 22 per day. The current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: FACT SHEET: First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Announce that All 50 States Have Taken Action On Military Spouse Licensing
As part of the 4th of July Weekend and their Joining Forces initiative, the First Lady and Dr. Biden are pleased to announce that all 50 states have taken action on military spouse licensing. See the First Lady's Q&A with Military Times for more information.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: U.S. Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks to Receive Pat Tillman Award for Service at The 2016 ESPYS
Ever since she was a young girl, Sgt. Elizabeth Marks has idolized her father, a Vietnam War veteran whose valor and service inspired her to enlist in the U.S. Army when she was 17 years old. But when Marks suffered a debilitating injury to both of her hips while deployed as a combat medic in Iraq, her dream to serve her country was threatened. She endured several grueling surgeries, and made a promise to herself that she would regain her strength and return to duty. Now a world-class Paraswimmer currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100-meter breaststroke, Marks won four gold medals at this year’s Invictus Games. For her courage in the face of adversity and her unwavering commitment to her country, Sgt. Elizabeth Marks will be honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at The 2016 ESPYS Presented by Capital One, July 13 on ABC.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Department of Defense Publishes Phased Retirement Program Guidance
The Department of Defense has released a department-wide policy on the Phased Retirement Program. As more employees become eligible for retirement, this program will assist DoD components and agencies with the transfer of knowledge and provide continuity of operations on a short-term basis.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Miller Applauds House Passage of Veterans Bills
Today the House passed three veterans related bills, including:
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Miller Statement on Phoenix VAHCS Firings
Chairman Jeff Miller released the following statement today regarding recent firings at the Phoenix VA Health Care System more than two years after the facility’s wait-time scandal became public.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: VA Secretary Provides Relief for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald has granted equitable relief to more than 24,000 Veterans following a national review of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) medical examinations conducted in connection with disability compensation claims processed between 2007 and 2015.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: American Red Cross Opens New Center of Excellence to Help Military Families and Veterans
Today, the American Red Cross is transforming its emergency communication site in Springfield, Mass., into a Center of Excellence for Financial Assistance where dedicated staff will focus on connecting military families and veterans to financial assistance through military aid societies. The Center will also explore partnerships with national community leaders such as Points of Light and Bank of America to expand financial support services and resiliency with the Financial Opportunity Corps.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Chairman Miller Statement on House Passage of Veterans Bills
Today the House passed eight veterans related bills, including:
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: VA Announces Telemental Health Clinical Resource Centers During Telemedicine Association Gathering
MINNEAPOLIS – As the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) works to improve Veterans’ access to health care, its telehealth services play an integral role in that process, said Dr. David J. Shulkin, VA’s Under Secretary for Health. Dr. Shulkin spoke today to members of the American Telemedicine Association attending the group’s 2016 conference in Minneapolis, where he also announced the establishment of five VA Mental Health Telehealth Clinical Resource Centers to provide enhanced mental health access and services to Veterans in remote locations.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Wyndham Rewards Launches Member Levels, Expands Award-Winning Program with Industry's First Experience Enhanced Redemptions
PARSIPPANY, N.J.,May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The program that revolutionized hotel rewards in 2015 by simplifying free nights with a flat 15,000 point redemption rate is once again turning the loyalty landscape on its head. Now "elite" programs and special member experiences are no longer just for the rich and well-traveled. Member Levels, the newest enhancement to the award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty program and its nearly 8,000 hotels, brings generous and truly unique perks to all.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: JetBlue Takes Off For Tennessee With Flights To Nashville
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced the start of its award-winning service to Nashville International Airport (BNA). The airline’s inaugural flight departed for the Tennessee state capital just after 7 a.m. JetBlue will operate two daily roundtrips from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and one daily roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Military & Veterans News
Benefits News: Improving the Veteran’s Experience through MyVA Communities
WASHINGTON – As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) MyVA initiative, the largest transformation in the history of VA, VA is reporting the progress and growth of the locally led, community-driven initiative, MyVA Communities.