Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News VA updates disability rating schedule related to hematologic and lymphatic systems Effective Dec. 9, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updated portions of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities(VASRD or Rating Schedule) that evaluates the hematologic and lymphatic systems.

Military & Veterans News Department of Defense Announces Fiscal Year 2018 Recruiting and Retention Numbers -- End of Year Report The Department of Defense today announced recruiting and retention statistics for the Active and Reserve Components for fiscal year 2018.

Military & Veterans News Defense Department Announces Cost of Living Increase to Retired Pay The Department of Defense announced annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during calendar year 2019. Most military retirees will receive a 2.8 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on Jan. 1, 2019. Likewise, survivors of members who died on active or inactive duty, or survivors of military retirees who participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan, will, in most cases, see a 2.8 percent increase to their annuities beginning in January.

Military & Veterans News DOD Expands Tech Talent Initiative to Develop Critical Cyber Capabilities Defense Digital Service Opens ‘Tatooine’ Workspace in Augusta Ga. to Support Growing Partnership with Army Cyber Command

Military & Veterans News End of fiscal year hospital Star rating shows large improvement in overall quality of services of VA medical centers across nation As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to remain transparent and hold VA facilities accountable, VA released end of fiscal year 2018 (FY2018) hospital Star ratings, which evaluate and benchmark quality of care delivery at VA medical centers (VAMCs) across the nation.

Military & Veterans News Presidential Proclamation on Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, 2018 Courageous Americans of every generation have given their last full measure of devotion in defense of our country and our freedom.  The families who stood alongside these heroes have paid a price no family should ever have to pay.  Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day is a solemn reminder that these families ‑‑ the families of our fallen service members ‑‑ bear the burden of their loss forever.

Military & Veterans News Presidential Proclamation on Patriot Day, 2018 On Patriot Day, we honor the memories of the nearly 3,000 precious lives we lost on September 11, 2001, and of every hero who has given their life since that day to protect our safety and our freedom. We come together, today, to recall this timeless truth: When America is united, no force on Earth can break us apart. Our values endure; our people thrive; our Nation prevails; and the memory of our loved ones never fades.

Military & Veterans News VA to fund first national center of excellence for Veteran and caregiver research Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will fund a new center of excellence to expand the department’s capacity to deliver innovative, data-driven and integrated approaches to improve services for Veterans and their caregivers.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Guard members continue Harvey response; 30,000 additional Guard troops ready to respond ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Guard response to Hurricane Harvey will be a long term, sustained effort, said a senior National Guard official, adding that up 30,000 Guard members stand ready to assist with those efforts if needed.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Military Service by Transgender Individuals The Department of Defense has received the Presidential Memorandum, dated August 25, 2017, entitled “Military Service by Transgender Individuals.”  The department will carry out the president’s policy direction, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security.  As directed, we will develop a study and implementation plan, which will contain the steps that will promote military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law.  The soon arriving senior civilian leadership of DOD will play an important role in this effort.  The implementation plan will address accessions of transgender individuals and transgender individuals currently serving in the United States military.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DoD Releases Clarifying Guidance to Veterans Regarding Discharges and Military Records The Department of Defense today released clarifying guidance for discharges and military records reviews. In the past few years, the department has issued guidance for consideration of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) but there remained some questions about how the guidance applied to sexual assault, sexual harassment, or mental health conditions other than PTSD. This guidance fills in the gaps and resolves any confusion that veterans or the review boards may have had, and it ensures a fair and equitable review of separations for all veterans.  The guidance has been forwarded to a number of Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and Military Service Organizations (MSOs) in order to spread the news to as many veterans as possible.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA staffing new White House VA Hotline Principally with Veterans Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that the two-month pilot phase of the new White House VA Hotline that began in June has demonstrated that Veterans calling the hotline respond best when their calls are answered by fellow Veterans and others with first-hand experience on their issues.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Bob McDonald, Former VA Secretary and P&G CEO, Joins Boulder Crest BLUEMONT, Va., Aug. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boulder Crest, a pioneering nonprofit focused on cultivating and facilitating post-traumatic growth amongst combat veterans and family members struggling with PTSD and/or combat stress, announces the addition of Former VA Secretary Bob McDonald to its Honorary Board.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VVA Lawsuit Challenges DoD Website that Leaks Private Information About Millions of Veterans, Facilitates Fraud Today, Vietnam Veterans of America filed a federal lawsuit in order to end the Department of Defense’s systematic violation of veterans’ and servicemembers’ privacy rights. DoD currently operates a website that exposes private details about the military service of millions of veterans to anybody at all, anonymously, for any purpose. The website violates veterans’ rights under the Privacy Act and empowers scammers to perpetrate identity theft, impostor scams, and other frauds.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Remarks by President Trump at Presentation of Medal of Honor to Specialist Five James C. McCloughan, U.S. Army THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Please be seated.  Thank you, Chaplain Hurley.  Secretary Mnuchin, Secretary Mattis, Secretary Shulkin, Senator Stabenow, Congressman Upton, and members of the Armed Forces:  Thank you for joining us as we award our nation’s highest military honor to Specialist Five James C. McCloughan.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: First Lady Melania Trump to Lead the United States Delegation to the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada The Office of First Lady is today announcing that First Lady Melania Trump will lead the United States delegation in support of the 90 American athletes slated to compete at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, from September 23 to 30, 2017.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Bastille Day 2017 On this great day—France’s national day and the 228th anniversary of the French Revolution—Melania and I were proud to stand with the President of France and Madame Macron and to celebrate with the French people.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: VA Honors Outstanding Achievements in Support of Homeless Veterans Programs WASHINGTON — During several award ceremonies across the country in July, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will honor exemplary facilities, employees and civilian providers working to address Veteran homelessness.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Governor Wolf Signs Stolen Valor Bill into Law, Protecting Benefits for Veterans Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today signed the so-called stolen valor bill into law, protecting benefits for Pennsylvania veterans.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: United Airlines announced as official 2017 DoD Warrior Games travel partner WASHINGTON (21 June 2017) - The 2017 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games is proud to announce United Airlines as the official travel partner of this year’s Games, which will take place June 30 to July 8, in Chicago.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Afghanistan Troop Levels Yesterday afternoon, the President directed the Department of Defense to set troop levels in Afghanistan.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Defense Department Launches Retirement System Comparison Calculator The Department of Defense officially launched the Blended Retirement System (BRS) comparison calculator, providing BRS opt-in eligible service members their first opportunity for an individualized comparison of retirement systems.  The comprehensive tool, in combination with the mandatory BRS Opt-In Course, will assist the nearly 1.7 million opt-in eligible service members and their families make an informed decision on whether or not to elect the new retirement system.  The BRS goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. 

Military & Veterans News Vet News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Richard V. Spencer to be Secretary of the Navy President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate Richard V. Spencer to be Secretary of the Navy.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Calling All Race Fans: Help Crown Royal Honor Your Military Heroes at the Indianapolis 500 INDIANAPOLIS, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, thousands of fans will flock to the Racing Capital of the World to watch their favorite drivers qualify for the 101st running of the Indianapolis  500 during Crown Royal Armed Forces Weekend. And starting this year, those fans will have the opportunity to permanently cement the names of their military heroes at the track in recognition of their generous sacrifice.