Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Will No Longer Fund Gulf War Illness Studies Based Only On Stress, As Congressional Panel Releases New Results The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, a Congressionally-chartered panel of scientific experts and veterans, has released its first major report on Gulf War illnesses. In response to the report’s findings, Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Anthony J. Principi has announced that VA will no longer fund research studies that focus on stress as the primary cause for Gulf War veterans’ illnesses.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: World War II Vet Cited as Hero Four Times, But Never Wounded Not only is Walter R. Bieder, 83, a true American hero, he’s one of the luckiest men alive.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: The Home Depot Ranks First, Showcasing its Massive Military Recruitment Program PITTSBURGH, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Touting an extensive program to recruit transitioning military troops and military Veterans, The Home Depot, based in Atlanta, GA, was found to be the most "military-friendly" employer in America. The company, which ranked fourth on last year’s list, improved an already excellent program by hiring 52% Veterans into its Store Leadership Program, a regimen that fast-tracks new hires to manage an entire store in about two years. The Home Depot was also recognized for its military spouse hiring efforts.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Bonuses, Education Benefits Increased for Reserve, Guard WASHINGTON, November 5, 2004 -- Increased education benefits and more flexibility in awarding bonuses are among the quality-of-life improvements targeting National Guard and Reserve servicemembers in the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Scholarships for Military Children Program Enters Fifth Year FORT LEE, Va., Nov. 2, 2004 -- The fifth year of Scholarships for Military Children is now underway.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: NFL to Donate $250,000 for Pat Tillman USO Center WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2004 -- The National Football League will donate $250,000 to the United Service Organizations in memory of former Arizona Cardinals player and Army Ranger Cpl. Pat Tillman, the league announced at the annual USO gala here Oct. 14.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: New Employment Initiative for Wounded Vets Unveiled Washington, October 5, 2004 -- Injured servicemembers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan will get individualized job training, counseling and re-employment services, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced Oct. 4.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Administration Expands Benefits for Ex-POWs WASHINGTON – Continuing its commitment to former prisoners of war, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi today announced that the Bush Administration will expand benefits to all former POWs with strokes and common heart diseases.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Active Guard Reserve Recruiter Program Expanding ST. LOUIS, September 28, 2004 -- The Army Reserve is seeking 400 enlisted Soldiers to take active-duty tours to fill new recruiter positions located across the country.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Helping Military Families Achieve the American Dream They Are Defending A nonprofit organization, Military Housing Assistance Fund (MHAF), is offering a solution for our service men and women who want to buy a home but cannot afford the down payment and/or closing costs.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Veterans Group Donates $20K in Support of Wounded Soldiers A late-April visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany prompted the "Forty and Eight" Veterans group to raise $20,000 to benefit the Landstuhl Chaplain’s Fund. The check was presented today during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Health Benefits for Military Families Aren't 'Automatic' WASHINGTON, August 16, 2004 -- Department of Defense TRICARE officials are working to inform military families that non-active-duty beneficiaries must enroll in the health care system before they see a doctor.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Professional Football Honors Purple Heart Recipients CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 9, 2004 -- It was the Deacon’s doing. After visiting troops in Iraq and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, pro football hall-of-famer David "Deacon" Jones looked to his football past to bolster the servicemembers’ morale. The result was a trip here for the 2004 Hall of Fame weekend and game for four Purple Heart recipients.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Accepting Applications for Homeless Program Grants WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is accepting applications from public and nonprofit private groups for $8 million in grants to develop or expand programs that help Veterans recover from homelessness.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Reserve, Guard Can Seek Reimbursement of Medical, Dental Claims National Guard and reserve members who paid their medical and dental bills and saved their receipts may now seek reimbursement from Tricare, officials of the military health care system announced July 23.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Montgomery GI Bill Still Important 60 Years Later Times were tough. The nation was slowly emerging from the Great Depression when World War II flared up in 1941.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Activated Guardsmen, Reservists Qualify Faster for Home Loans There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Department of Veterans Affairs home loans to members of the National Guard and reserves in recent years, according to a top VA official.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Military Families Need Comprehensive and Responsive Support System According to National Military Family Association (NMFA) Research WASHINGTON, In a briefing before Congressional and military leadership and staff today, the National Military Family Association (NMFA) unveiled the findings of its study on military family support. The report, "Serving the Home Front: An Analysis on Military Family Support from September 11, 2001 through March 31, 2004," is the result of a six-month research project conducted by the NMFA.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Soldiers Preparing to Compete in 2004 Olympics When the Olympic torch lights the flame at the 2004 Games in Athens, eight U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit soldiers and four other current and retired service members will be there to see it.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Some Extended Guardsmen, Reservists May Get GI Bill Boost Guardsmen and reservists whose active duty time is extended past the normal 12-month call-up may be eligible for active duty-level benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill under certain circumstances, according to a senior Department of Veterans Affairs spokesman.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Emergency Measures, Not Desperate Attempts, Fill Troop Rotations WASHINGTON, July 7, 2004 -- Pentagon leaders face tough questions on Capitol Hill on issues of deployment and force structure as the military gears up for another round of troop rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: US Family Health Plan Enhances Service Areas, Facilities and Operations WASHINGTON, D.C. - US Family Health Plan announced the implementation of several strategies that improve the availability of health care options to military beneficiaries. The Plan finalized the augmentation of services in several geographic areas, instigated new operational improvements and completed key renovation efforts to answer the needs of active-duty personnel, retirees and their eligible family members.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Special Tribute Honors Unsung Women Heroes A tribute called "Women Are Heroes, Too" was recently held here at the Women’s Memorial to highlight "the unsung heroes of rescue and recover efforts" who happen to be women, according to Susan Brewer. Brewer, founder of America’s Heroes of Freedom, pointed out that most first-response agencies are male-dominated. Still, she noted, women who serve in the military, law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, and as volunteers with other front-line agencies are important contributors to rescue and recovery efforts after a public tragedy.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Major Publishers Revive Free Books For U.S. Troops Serving Overseas WASHINGTON -- Three major book publishers have kicked off a historic revival of the "Armed Services Editions" (ASE).