Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Executive Order -- Providing an Order of Succession within the Department of Veterans Affairs By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered that:

Military & Veterans News Vet News: George Washington Would be Proud – Florida Salutes Purple Heart Day TALLAHASSEE – It was Aug. 7, 1782. The Revolutionary War was still nearly two years from ending and General George Washington wanted a way to recognize the outstanding soldiers who were fighting to achieve our nation’s independence.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Releases Report on Nation’s Largest Analysis of Veteran Suicide WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today released its findings from the nation’s most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the United States in which VA examined more than 55 million Veterans’ records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort advances VA’s knowledge from the previous report in 2012, which was primarily limited to information on Veterans who used VHA health services or from mortality records obtained directly from 20 states and approximately 3 million records..  Compared to the data from the 2012 report, which estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide to be 22 per day, the current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Governor, Cabinet Appoint Sutphin Veterans’ Affairs Director TALLAHASSEE – Retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin was appointed Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet during the Aug. 2 Cabinet Meeting.  FDVA, on behalf of the Governor and three-member Cabinet, is the premier point of entry for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans to access earned services, benefits and support.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Obama Administration Announces Nearly 50-Percent Decline In Veteran Homelessness WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) today announced the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has been cut nearly in half since 2010.  The data revealed a 17-percent decrease in veteran homelessness between January 2015 and January 2016—quadruple the previous year’s annual decline—and a 47-percent decrease since 2010.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Million Veteran Program is Now Largest Genomic Database in the World WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Million Veteran Program (MVP) has reached an important milestone when an Army Veteran from Montgomery, Alabama, became the 500,000th to voluntarily enroll in the research database program – making MVP the largest genomic database in the world.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: President Obama’s Remarks Awarding the Medal of Honor to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Kettles THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Welcome to the White House.  Of all the privileges of this office, none is greater than serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the finest military that the world has ever known.  And of all the military decorations that our nation can bestow, we have none higher than the Medal of Honor.  

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips for Military Consumer Protection Month TALLAHASSEE — July is Military Consumer Protection Month, and Commissioner Adam H. Putnam is providing tips for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans and 65,000 active duty military members to protect themselves against fraud.  Military Consumer Protection Month is a national effort to raise awareness about common scams and how active duty military, veterans and their families can avoid them.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients Named Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today the 15 recipients of the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the DOD gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: President Obama to Award Medal of Honor On Monday, May 2 at 12:00 PM Eastern, President Barack Obama will award Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano [KA ho OH hano hano], U.S. Army, and Private First Class Henry Svehla [SUH vay luh], U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.  This event in the East Room will be open press.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Paralympians help to coach, mentor the athletes at the 2016 DoD Warrior Games WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Paralympics are the pinnacle of competition for disabled athletes. At the 2016 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games, a group of Paralympians are helping to coordinate, coach and mentor these wounded warriors to help raise their level of competition and mold some future Paralympians.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Tragedy at Fort Hood During my trip to Asia, I have been constantly updated on the situation at Fort Hood. I am deeply saddened by the loss of nine brave soldiers in this training accident. This tragedy has touched the 1st Cavalry Division, the Fort Hood community, and the entire Department of Defense. It painfully demonstrates, along with the loss of a Blue Angels ‎pilot this week, the risks our men and women in uniform take on behalf of the American people everyday.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Selects New Director of the Center for Women Veterans WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of a new director of the Center for Women Veterans.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Fisher House Foundation Receives 4-Star Rating Under New Rating System Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, recently implemented an updated and enhanced financial rating system, and Fisher House Foundation not only retained its 4-star rating for the 12th year in a row, it’s overall score went from 96.87 to 99.37 out of 100.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Announces Partnership With Non-Profit Organization, Leanin.org WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Center for Women Veterans today announced a partnership with LeanIn.Org, the nonprofit organization founded by Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, to empower women to achieve their ambitions. Building on the successful launch of LeanIn.Org circles within the Department of Defense, VA is following the same model to increase support to women Veterans.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Launches Veterans Legacy Program WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the launch of the Veterans Legacy Program to memorialize Veterans’ service and sacrifice through public educational programming. The program uses the rich resources found throughout VA national cemeteries, Soldiers’ lots and monument sites. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald announced the program yesterday during a Memorial Day ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Names of Three Fallen Service Members added to California Vietnam Veterans Memorial Sacramento – The names of three California Veterans who died as a result of their service in the Vietnam War were added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park today. 

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Now Accepting Online Donations Benefitting the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial HARRISBURG, Pa., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- With Memorial Day quickly approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has added a new opportunity for individuals or businesses to make an online donation to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. Donations via the online application at www.donate.dmva.pa.gov will be used to preserve the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial, located at the federal Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lebanon County.

Discounts & Benefits Vet News: Military Veterans Compete for Franchise Fee-Free 7-Eleven® Store in Video Contest DALLAS, May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The field has narrowed. Seven military veterans are competing for the opportunity to own a 7-Eleven® franchise without the expense of a franchise fee. The video competition for the semi-finalists in 7-Eleven's OPERATION: Take Command franchise giveaway contest starts today and runs through11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 22.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Hundreds of Injured Military Veterans From Around the Globe Come to Orlando to Compete in the 2016 Invictus Games WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proud to support the over 500 ill and injured military Veterans from 15 Nations who have come to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the 2016 Invictus Games taking place May 8 – 12, 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Presidential Proclamation -- Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2016 MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY, 2016

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DoD Releases FY15 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military Today, the Department of Defense released its Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. 

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Miller Statement on Senate Confirmation of VA Inspector General Following the Senate’s confirmation of Michael Missal to head the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Chairman Miller released the below statement:

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa O. Monaco on the Third Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings Three years have passed since two terrorists attacked innocent men, women, and children at the Boston Marathon.  On this day, and every day, we remember the victims of the horrific violence that week. Just as we recall the fallen and continue to rally around the injured, we also hold in reverence those first responders who, despite the risks, so selflessly provided aid and comfort in those first hours. They displayed the best of humanity following a brutal demonstration of its worst. We also give thanks today to the brave men and women who, day in and day out, fight for our freedom and secure our homeland against those who would do us harm. Too often, we think of them only in the aftermath of tragedy, but there is no more important task and no patriots more talented and deserving of our gratitude.