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VA won’t oust chief of staff over conferences scandal

By Leo Shane III
Published: October 10, 2012
JohnGingrich
VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs said they will not further punish Chief of Staff John Gingrich for his role in the Florida training conference scandal, despite calls from top Republicans for his resignation.

In a statement late Tuesday, the department said that “Mr. Gingrich’s conduct has been addressed by the Secretary” and that a further review of other employees’ actions is underway. Gingrich received a mild rebuke from VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, who called Gingrich’s oversight of the conferences “inadequate.”

Richmond renovation part of nationwide push to help highlight veterans

By Leo Shane III
Published: October 5, 2012

WASHINGTON – Last month, officials from the Home Depot Foundation announced a $50 million pledge to veterans nonprofits and a goal of completing 300 veterans service projects nationwide before Veterans Day next month. Frank Blake Jr., a district manager for the company’s central Virginia stores, said he’s had no shortage of volunteers since then.

“If anything, we’ve had more volunteers than we can fit on our projects,” he said. “It’s great. I think it’s a recognition of the sacrifice that veterans have made for the country, and a chance for our employees to give back.”

To save his family, a Marine fights his war again, from a therapist's chair

By Thomas James Brennan
Published: October 4, 2012

By mid-March, his depression, anger, alcoholism and isolation were affecting his marriage. He had built an emotional barricade and took his anger out on her.

Five months later, sitting alone, Andrew J. Czubai reflected on how he lost what meant the most to him — his family. He realized he saw this coming. It’s not something he wanted, but it’s something that could have been prevented. Many people suggested he get help but he was too stubborn. He thought he could fix himself or cope. He wished he had listened.

House Vets chair says VA has ‘a leadership void’

By Leo Shane III
Published: October 3, 2012
Rep. Jeff Miller
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., speaks at the 2012 Warrior-Family Symposium in Washington, DC on Sept. 13, 2012. Miller has blasted Department of Veterans Affairs officials for multiple failures related to a pair of costly 2011 training conferences.
C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — The head of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday angrily blasted Department of Veterans Affairs officials for multiple failures related to a pair of costly 2011 training conferences.

“It is apparent we have a leadership void at VA,” said Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla.. “Without strong leadership at VA, I am concerned that some of the best ideas we put forth will never realize their full potential.”

Vets group offers voters guide for veterans, military issues

By Leo Shane III
Published: October 2, 2012
IAVAVoterGuide

WASHINGTON – The first presidential debate is set for Wednesday night, so on Tuesday officials at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released their checklist of candidate issues that active and former troops should be tracking closely as the November elections approach.

The online voter guide lists five “critical challenges facing this generation of veterans and the tough leadership choices required to truly support new veterans in the years ahead.” Officials said veterans and military supporters should be looking for answers to each of the topics not only from the presidential contenders but also from their state and local elected officials.

Women vets still don’t call themselves veterans

By Leo Shane III
Published: September 27, 2012
AllisonHickey
Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey speaks to veterans and VA employees at a "Healthy Heart" event in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 27.
Kate Hoit / Department of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON – Even after 11 years of war where female troops have handled unprecedented battlefield responsibilities, many women leaving the service still don’t see themselves as “veterans,” according to the Department of Veterans Affairs top female vet.

While men are generally open about their service, many women are reserved about sharing that information or resistant to seeing themselves in the same category, said Retired Brig. Gen. Allison Hickey, VA’s undersecretary for benefits.

VA processing claims at record pace, but still can’t keep up

By Leo Shane III
Published: September 26, 2012
valogo600px

WASHINGTON – Veterans Benefits Administration processors completed more benefits claims than ever before last month, wrapping up work on a record 107,462 cases. The agency also announced that it topped 1 million completed claims for the third fiscal year in a row, another historic mark.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that the record pace of work barely made a dent in the massive benefits backlog which has plagued the system for years.

VA launches next round of retraining program

By Leo Shane III
Published: September 24, 2012

WASHINGTON – Veterans Affairs officials announced last week that they filled all 45,000 slots for the fiscal 2012 phase of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, and are now opening applications for the 54,000 openings available for next fiscal year.

The program, created by Congress late last year, awards unemployed veterans one year of GI Bill benefits to learn new, high-demand skills. Lawmakers designed the program to be a safety net mainly for mid-career veterans who find themselves in financial trouble, but do not have military education benefits to fall back on like their younger peers.

DOD, VA launch $100M TBI and PTSD effort

By Leo Shane III
Published: September 21, 2012

WASHINGTON – Defense and Veterans Affairs officials will invest more than $100 million in studies to improve diagnosis and treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, the signature wounds of the most recent wars.

The announcement comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s executive order last month calling for better access to mental health services for veterans and active-duty military. Defense studies have shown that about 15 percent of troops who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer “impaired functioning” as a result of PTSD.

Best jobs for vets? Systems analysts and admins

By Leo Shane III
Published: September 18, 2012

WASHINGTON – What’s the best profession for recently separated troops looking for work? A new data analysis by an occupations expert says that the computer systems analyst and network systems administrator fields offer the best mix of high salary, ample openings and “Veteran friendly” hiring practices.

In his new book “the 150 best jobs for the military-to-civilian transition,” author Laurence Shatkin complied data on veterans employment trends and median salaries from the American Community Survey to rank the jobs. He said the best jobs have nationwide openings and “involve skills that are most likely to be learned through military training.”

 
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