U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs242,551 likes · 12,268 talking about this · 5,023 were here
242,551 likes · 12,268 talking about this · 5,023 were here
- AboutInformation brought to you by VA's online communications team. Add to the conversation, but please remember the only secure way to ask personal questions is this VA link: https://iris.custhelp.com/.
More
- Also On
- RecommendationsSee All
Mike McCarthyMy father served for this country back in the 1990s. He now struggles every single day to even get out of bed. He is looking at a very high numbered percentage of disability, yet, when it comes to pain management, The Depaetment of Veterans Affairs is fighting him tooth and nail on what he can take and can't. Now, please bear I mind, that I am aware of possible reasons why, but when you take away the daily life of a veteran so very affected by his service overseas, that's plain wrong. My dad has always struggled with different ailments since and they get progressively worse, Gulf War Syndrome doesn't exist right? Maybe your staff and doctors, as wonderful as they may be, don't believe such things but the millions of families struggling to get by, do, firsthand. Denying medication to someone who fought for your right to do so, I find completely bogus. It is ridiculous to watch my dad slowly become more and more...less him. Pain is a horrible thing and I personally could never go through his situation, I just ask that you think twice when it comes to having appropriate treatment of any ailment, any service member(serving or veterans) available to them. All I'm asking is to get the dad I see, so very few and far between anymore, back and out of bed.11 · 9 hours ago
Judy ReedVeteran Career and Education Symposium sponsored by the US Department of Labor and Excelsior College on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 0930 - 1130 at the US Department of Labor, Cesar Chavez Auditorium, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC. For more information and registration go to:http://vetsymposium.eventbrite.com/#14 hours ago- Judy ReedVeteran Career and Education Symposium - Sponsored by Department of Labor and Excelsior College on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 0930 - 1130 at U.S. Department of Labor, Cesar Chavez Auditorium, 200 Consittution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210. For more information and registration go to: http://vetsymposium.eventbrite.com/#14 hours ago
Raul IpinaFor Veterans that need assistance during this insane backlog, here is some information: http://www.studentveterans.org/news/105802/Post-911-GI-Bill-Backlog-Still-Plagues-Veterans.htm?utm_source=RELEASE%3A+Delayed+Benefits+GI+Bill&utm_campaign=GI+Bill+Backlog+Release&utm_medium=email1 · 15 hours ago
- Last year, more than half a million Veterans received a new or refinanced loan guaranteed by VA, the most since 1994. If you're looking to buy or need to refinance, consider this: Vets saved an average of $202/month when they refinanced. You may save quite a bit of money by using a VA-backed loan, so check out the piece below for more information. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Larry Kunz served in the U.S. Navy from 1980-1987. He is photographed parking an F-18 aboard the USS Midway while underway in the South China Sea. Thank you for your service, Larry!
- Every weekday, we honor and thank Veterans for their service by posting a photo of the day. If you'd like to be a part of it, send us a photo of yourself (or a loved one) in uniform, along with your name, branch of service, and a description of where the photo was taken to newmedia@va.gov -Alex Horton
- The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to Veterans in crisis, as well as their family and friends. Save this number if you ever need to reach out for help: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. You can also chat online at the link below or text professional responders at 838255. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Elie Kachouh served in the U.S. Army from 2003-2007. He’s pictured training in South Korea. Thank you for your service, Elie!
- The issue of Veteran unemployment cannot be solved through government action alone. That's why private companies are stepping up to put Vets into fast track education programs and developing transition guides to help Vets get in the door. Read more below. -Alex Horton
- In case you missed it yesterday, a segment on 60 Minutes focused on courts designed to help Veterans with first time felonies get help from VA instead of prison time. At the link below, check out the segment and read more about these courts. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: James Compton served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years. He’s a Gulf War Veteran and served in the Battle of Mogadishu. Thank you for your service, James!
- Now more than ever, female Veterans are pursuing business degrees after leaving command posts in the military, thanks to the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. One former Signal Corps officer said after leading a platoon in Bosnia: "I came to the corporate world with an advantage because of that experience." Read more below. -Alex Horton
- Life after the military can be challenging, and some Veterans find themselves in trouble with the law for the first time. That's why Veterans treatment courts have popped up across the country to help Vets integrate with VA care to get the help they need. Check out a segment on 60 Minutes highlighting a Veterans court program in Texas at the link below. -Alex Horton
- On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress ordered the construction of two vessels tasked with patrolling for British munition ships delivering supplies to British troops stationed in the colonies. 237 years later, the US Navy is the str...ongest in the world, protecting commerce and defending America's allies. Happy Birthday Navy, and a big thank you to all the Navy Veterans out there. -Alex HortonSee More
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq31-1.htm - The US Chamber of Commerce is holding dozens of hiring fairs for Veterans across the country for their Hire Our Heroes campaign. Check out the events for the rest of October at the link below. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: U.S. Army Veteran Jessie Frank, an attendee of the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, on the therapeutic power of music, “My music is my art. It’s therapy for me because it helps me with my PTSD; it has a soothing e...ffect on my life. I’ve played music my whole life, paid and unpaid. If you put me in front of a group where I hardly know anybody, I’d rather let someone else take the stage. I’d rather be here at the festival around my fellow Vets. It’s priceless.”See More
- Thanks to low interest rates, VA-backed home loans surged by 50 percent in 2012. More than half a million loans were granted this year, the most since 1994. If you're looking to buy a home or refinance a loan, check out our resource page here http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/ -Alex Horton
- Hundreds of Veterans have gathered in Boston to take part in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music will be held. Check out more below. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Dr. Terence Keane, world renowned expert on post-traumatic stress, discusses the ways that people can express emotions through art with Jason Moon, Iraq War Veteran singer-songwriter, and Elizabeth Mackey, Director of the NVCAF at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in Boston, Massachusetts. Have you ever considered writing or another form of art as a therapy mechanism?
- We're committed to ending Veteran homelessness by 2015, and our work isn't over yet. If you're homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, please use the resources at the link below, or contact 1-877-4AID-VET. -Alex Horton
- Sad news to report tonight. Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley, a Veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, died at age 92. His grit at Ia Drang with the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment was legendary, and he was immortalized on the screen by Sam Elliott in "We Were Soldiers." See you on the high ground, CSM Plumley. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: U.S. Army Veteran Lewis Neal and his dance partner Leslie Mallory rehearse their routine for the stage show at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The week-long festival uses creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities.
- Diabetes is a significant issue for Veterans; 24 percent of Vets have type-2 diabetes, which can lead to more serious health conditions if left unchecked. That's why VA created the Diabetes Prevention Program pilot to help folks develop better habits to avoid the disease. More below. -Alex Horton
- Every year, VA hosts a number of adaptive sports and rehabilitative events to help disabled Veterans get out the door and start living again. Check out the different programs below, along with ways you can participate in your own community. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Francis Southcott served in the U.S. Army as an Aviator with Alpha Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalier Division. He went on to fly search and rescue missions with the U.S. Coast Guard and eventually became a pilot for American Airline. He is photographed in Tây Ninh, Vietnam in October, 1969. Thank you for your service, Francis!
- VA is taking part in a study to assess how omega-3 acids can positively impact the brain in an effort to curb mental health issues like suicide. The acids, which are essential for neural function and normal brain development, have already shown promising results in other studies. More below. -Alex Horton
- Sometimes Veterans and their loved ones need information regarding their local VA Medical Centers, and that's why all 152 VAMCs are on Facebook—and many are also on Twitter—to offer updates on local event announcements, extreme weather updates, and more. Find your facility at the link below. -Alex Horton
- One of VA's chief concerns is the unemployment rate for Veterans. In the month of September, the rate for all Vets dropped to 6.7 percent, which is lower than the national average. The unemployment rate for post-9/11 Vets dropped as well, but it's important to remember that much work is left to be done, and too many Veterans are still out of work. Check out our detailed analysis below. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Chris Listermann served in the U.S. Army from 1992-1995 with the 1/27 INF of the 25th Infantry Division. Thank you for your service, Chris!
- The “PTSD Coach” smartphone app can help Veterans learn about and manage their symptoms. The app provides direct links to support and help. Learn more about PTSD Coach below. Also, VA has online PTSD resources available here http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ -Alex Horton
- Did you earn a degree using VA education benefits? If so, we want to honor your accomplishments and show Vets still in school that their goals are within reach. Send us a photo of from your graduation day and we'll put it in a Flickr set alongside other Veterans. Details below. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Meet seven-year-old Eric Smith. This first-grader has a deep appreciation for those who have served our country and wanted to express his gratitude—so he set up a hot-cocoa stand. With the help of his family, Eric raised $500 (donations are still coming in) and he plans to present a check to the Bedford VA Medical Center in Massachusetts. Thank you for your support, Eric!
- In just four years, VA increased its capacity for comprehensive primary care for women Veterans by 60 percent at VA medical centers. It's part of a larger effort to change the culture of VA as more women serve in our military. More below. -Alex Horton
- The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to Veterans in crisis, as well as their family and friends. Save this number if you ever need to reach out for help: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. You can also chat online at the link below or text professional responders at 838255. -Alex Horton
- "A growing number of colleges and affiliated groups are venturing beyond campus borders to try to bridge the military-civilian gap." At the link below, read how universities and companies are working to get Veterans educated and back to improving their communities. -Alex Horton
- VA has continuously raised the bar of quality for female Veteran health care, and now we have data to back it up. We now lead all health care systems in breast cancer screenings. At the link below, read how comprehensive care led to an early detection of breast cancer--and a life saver for one Veteran. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Nichole Noyer served in the U.S. Army from 2000-2008 as a Broadcast Journalist for American Forces Network Europe. She is photographed in Belgium. Thank you for your service, Nichole!
- The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program has received a great response from Vets looking to train in high demand fields. If you're an unemployed Veteran aged 35-60, you may be eligible for retraining assistance. Read more below, and hit our page for more details and links to apply -> http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm -Alex Horton
- Watching the Cowboys take on the Bears? If so, you don't have to be loaded up on pizza and wings. Obesity and diabetes are big threats to Veterans, so it's always a good time to start eating healthy. Check out some helpful tips from a VA dietician below, and if you have any questions, there are dietitians to help at your local VA facility. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: Greg Katzing served in the U.S. Air Force with the 351st Security Police Group. He is photographed at Vandenburg Air Force Base, California, preparing to compete in the 1975 Olympic Arena Missile Combat Competition. Thank you for your service, Greg!
- The VA Medical Center of Palo Alto is conducting innovative research to help find new ways to treat PTSD. Noting that Veterans have car accidents at rates higher than normal, researchers have gathered data to determine what factors contribute to anxiety behind the wheel--and in turn, the best methods to deal with it. More below. -Alex Horton
- The National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic has come and gone, but you can check out photos from all the events below. About 100 disabled Veterans gathered In San Diego for a week of reintegration through adaptive sports and found camaraderie along the way. -Alex Horton
- With the claims backlog making national news, Dr. Tommy Sowers, VA's Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, pulled back the curtain to see how claims are received, processed, and delivered. In his words, it was an eye opening experience. Take a look yourself at the link below. -Alex Horton
- Photo of the day: The Home Depot Foundation, Motorola, and leaders from the Northport VA Medical Center in New York get ready to work on six new projects across the VAMC campus. This effort is part of the Celebration of Service campaign, which will transform the homes and lives of Veterans across the country—one service project at a time. We thank all those involved for their dedicated and support to our country’s Veterans!
- VA Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey spoke yesterday on the prevalence of heart disease in women, but she also mentioned another troubling topic: former female service members not identifying as Veterans. It's a culture change that needs to happen, and it begins here: http://www.womenshealth.va.gov/ -Alex Horton
- ActivityOctoberPeople Who Like ThisVisits1,604103
Foursquare
Earlier in October
Earlier in September
Earlier in 2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2001
2000
1998
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1974
1973
1969
1966
1965
1964
1962
1959
1958
1957
1955
1954
1953
1950
1948
1946
1945
1944
1943
1940
1938
1933
1932
1930
1926
1924
1923
1922
1919
1918
Founded