Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News Presidential Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2019 Our American story is filled with countless examples of patriots who have gone beyond the call of duty to defend our precious liberties and cherished freedoms.  National POW/MIA Recognition Day is an opportunity for our Nation to honor the intrepid spirit and admirable bravery of all former American prisoners of war, while also reaffirming our promise never to relent in our quest to locate the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Marines, and civilians who remain missing in action.

Military & Veterans News Department of Defense Establishes U.S. Space Command At the direction of the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper established U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) today as the eleventh Unified Combatant Command. Gen. John W. Raymond is its Senate confirmed commander.

Military & Veterans News VA launches Veterans Legacy Memorial to honor deceased Veterans online The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA) launched the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), Aug. 14, the country's first digital platform dedicated entirely to the preservation of the memory of the 3.7 million Veterans interred in VA national cemeteries.

Military & Veterans News VA hosts initiative that assists in securing financial futures for Veterans, service members and their families The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will host the Economic Investment (EI) Initiative: Puget Sound 2019, Aug. 6 – 8 at the South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington, to help those who serve or have served in uniform find continued success in civilian life.

Military & Veterans News VA, DeepMind develop machine learning system to predict life-threatening disease before it appears The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in partnership with DeepMind Health, published results in the July 31 edition of Nature, on the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can forecast a deadly kidney disease in advance.

Military & Veterans News Remarks by New DoD Secretary Mark T. Esper at Welcome Ceremony at the Pentagon Here is a copy of the remarks by New DoD Secretary Mark T. Esper at Welcome Ceremony at the Pentagon.

Military & Veterans News VA to reduce rates for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance On July 1, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will reduce Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) monthly premium rates from 7 cents per $1,000 to 6 cents per $1,000 of insurance, along with Family SGLI Program (FSGLI) premium rates for spousal coverage at all age brackets.

Military & Veterans News VA and White House launch Veteran suicide-prevention task force As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and White House initiative to curb Veteran suicide, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Joe Grogan will launch a cabinet-level task force June 17 to develop a national roadmap. 

Military & Veterans News VA exceeds hiring goal of mental health providers by the thousands The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently surpassed its original goal to hire mental health providers by more than 1,000, through the Mental Health Hiring Initiative, which aims to achieve higher standards of access and quality care. 

Military & Veterans News Chairman Takano, Senator Tester Demand Secret Waitlists from VA The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester sent a letter yesterday to VA following a whistleblower claim alleging VA has secret waitlists for veterans seeking health care, as reported by the Washington Post. In their letter, Chairman Takano and Senator Tester expressed their shared concern about the allegations and demanded that VA provide a more thorough explanation regarding the two sets of waitlists by the end of the week.

Military & Veterans News Two New Fisher Houses open in New York Rockville, MD – The dedication ceremony for the first Fisher Houses in New York City was May 22. The two new Bronx homes were dedicated by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation, Ken Fisher, and James J. Peters VA Medical Center Director, Dr. Erik Langhoff.

Military & Veterans News VA’s national cemeteries to host Memorial Day ceremonies The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will host Memorial Day ceremonies from May 25 to May 27 to commemorate the nation’s fallen service members.

Military & Veterans News House Passes Legislation to Extend Benefits to Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans WASHINGTON, D.C. – - Today, Chairman Mark Takano (D-Cali.) and Ranking Member Dr.

Military & Veterans News Chairman Takano – H.R. 299 Is Clearest Route to Finally Deliver Benefits to Blue Water Navy Veterans Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered remarks and presented an updated version of H.R. 299, before the first Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs legislative hearing.

Military & Veterans News VA celebrates Women’s Health Week with events at medical centers In celebration of National Women’s Health Week, May 12-18, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers (VAMCs) across the country will host events to support women Veterans and connect them with VA’s health care services.

Military & Veterans News VA publishes Code of Integrity ethical standards for its Health Care Administration employees The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently published a Code of Integrity, which sets the ethical standards and obligations of every employee in VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Military & Veterans News Military Officials Dispute Amnesty International Allegations of Civilian Casualties Allegations by a human rights group that U.S. Africa Command is responsible for civilian casualties in Somalia are not correct, Defense Department officials said.

Military & Veterans News VA on path to cure 100,000 Veterans of hepatitis C Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is on track to eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in as few as two months, in all Veterans willing and able to be treated.

Military & Veterans News Precision health initiative brings genetic testing to Veterans WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that, as part of an innovative partnership, VA and Sanford Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems, will soon provide free genetic testing to some Veterans cared for by VA.

Military & Veterans News VA seeks training providers to ready Veterans for high-tech careers Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is inviting training providers to participate in a new pilot program to prepare Veterans for careers in the high-tech workforce.

Military & Veterans News Registration opens for 2019 National Veterans Wheelchair Games: Event to be held July 11-16 in Louisville, KY Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that Veterans interested in registering for the 2019 National Veterans Wheelchair Games can do so online Jan. 7 through April 15.   

Military & Veterans News VA to provide capability for Veterans to access their VA health data on Apple iPhones The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will release new capabilities this summer providing Veterans who receive care at VA with the ability to access their personal medical data using the Health Records on iPhone feature from Apple. 

Military & Veterans News DOD Releases Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, Academic Program Year 2017-2018 Today, the Department of Defense released the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, Academic Program Year 2017-2018. 

Military & Veterans News VA selects 10 Patient Safety Centers of Inquiry for special funding The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is funding 10 VA Patient Safety Centers of Inquiry (PSCI) over the next three years (2019-2021) to develop innovations to improve patient safety throughout VA.