Military & Veterans News

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: 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: 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: 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).

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Army activates Family Assistance Hotline ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service) -- The U.S. Army has established a toll-free Family Assistance Hotline for Operation Iraqi Freedom at (800) 833-6622.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Army to Call Up 5,600 IRR Soldiers WASHINGTON, July 1, 2004 -- The Army plans to order 5,600 Soldiers in the Individual Ready Reserve to active duty for possible deployment with the next Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom rotations.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Blue Shield of California Begins Service to Nearly 900,000 Military Family Members U.S. military personnel and their dependents will begin accessing health care services through Blue Shield of California from a network that includes more than 26,000 hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, effective July 1, 2004.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Veterans Go for Gold in Wheelchair Games WASHINGTON, June 21, 2004 -- One Iraqi Freedom veteran who lost the use of his legs when his Humvee was sideswiped in Iraqi, has taken home a gold metal at the 24th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, in St Louis, Mo.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DLA Reaches Out to Service-Disabled Veterans Kathy Williams, like the rest of the Defense Energy Support Center -- and the rest of the Defense Logistics Agency -- was stumped. She along with other small-business officers and senior procurement executives throughout the Agency were committed, indeed, mandated by Congress, to help service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses gain contracts in the federal government. Yet, when the DLA group convened their quarterly video teleconference in the fall of 2003, the picture was bleak.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: U.S. Postal Service Unveils World War II Stamp The achievements and ideals of the men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States during World War II will be the focus of attention May 29 in Washington, DC, when the U.S. Postal Service issues a postage stamp depicting the National World War II Memorial.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Former P.O.W. Jessica Lynch and the National Military Family Association Kick Off New Camp Program for Children of Deployed Military The National Military Family Association (NMFA) and Sears, Roebuck and Co. today unveiled a new summer camp program for children of deployed military parents. Announced by Jessica Lynch, former P.O.W. and program spokesperson, Operation Purple is the first camp program of its kind, bringing together children from all branches of the armed forces to interact with each other and address deployment-related stress.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Nine Medal of Honor Recipients Attend Gala ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 14, 2004 – Ten Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars were expected here at the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation’s 10th Annual Invitational Gala June 12, but only nine showed up – the 10th died five days before the event.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: America Remembers WASHINGTON, June 1, 2004 -- Three men who are pushing 80 or who have already passed that milestone of longevity and who were soldierly trim on Memorial Day weekend represented the way that young men served and fought in 19 National Guard infantry divisions during World War II.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Veterans Remember 'Days Before Longest Day' WASHINGTON, June 1, 2004 -- Sixty years ago today, more than 250,000 ground and airborne troops in England anxiously awaited one of the most anticipated events in world history.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: With 1,800 Veterans Dying Each Day, NHPCO Awards Grants Improving Care ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has awarded nine $5,000 grants aimed at improving access to hospice care for Veterans at the end of life. Grant recipients are state hospice and palliative care organizations in the Carolinas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, and New York. These state organizations will work with Hospice-Veterans Partnerships to assess the needs of dying Veterans and provide hospice education and outreach.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Commission to Seek New VA Under Secretary for Health WASHINGTON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi today announced the formation of a 10-member commission to recommend candidates for the post of Under Secretary for Health within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Joint Service Open House at Andrews Honors War's Heroes WASHINGTON, May 14, 2004 -- Although the 54th annual joint Armed Forces Day open house at Andrews Air Force Base has more to do with seeing both old and new generations of aircraft, military technologies and weapon systems, the message of the day from Defense Department officials was one of thanks and gratitude to service members.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Reaches Out to Newest Combat Veterans WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding its efforts to reach Veterans of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure they are aware of benefits they have earned.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: New Small Business Rules to Benefit Service-Disabled Vets WASHINGTON, May 6, 2004 – A new procurement program boosts federal contract opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, Small Business Administration officials here announced May 4.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Nonprofit Group To Build Homes for Disabled Troops WASHINGTON, May 3, 2004 — Concerned about the welfare of troops returning home with disabilities from the war on terror, a new nonprofit group is raising money to build houses adapted to their needs.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: New Program Cuts Red Tape for Severely Disabled Soldiers WASHINGTON, May 1, 2004 -- A new Army program will help severely disabled soldiers and their families cut through red tape so they can more easily tap into services available to them through the military and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Former Football Star Pat Tillman Killed in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, April 24, 2004 – He was so moved by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, that he turned down a $3.6 million professional football contract to become an Army Ranger.