Posts Tagged Department of Veterans Affairs
Sailor Transitions to Sonar After Navy
Posted by carol.bowers in Family Matters on August 23, 2012
By Lisa Daniel
When First Lady Michelle Obama and her “Joining Forces“ partners talk about service members needing transitioning into commercial work, they’re talking about people like Paul Michael Andrews.
First Lady Michelle Obama announces a major military employment milestone during a “Joining Forces” event on Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 22, 2012, reporting that more than 2,000 companies have hired 125,000 veterans and spouses through the campaign. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ian W. Anderson
Andrews joined the military young and without a college degree. The Navy sent him to school to be a sonar technician, and he spent most of his six-year military career operating the world’s most sophisticated equipment to detect and track foreign submarines from the USS Roosevelt guided missile destroyer.
Andrews had two deployments: one to Somalia, and another to eastern Afghanistan to serve nine months working intelligence for a provincial reconstruction team.
The former petty officer knew he’d had “some awesome experiences” in the Navy, but when he decided to separate, he said, the thought of a civilian job search was filled with anxiety. Like many of his shipmates, he had never written a resume and didn’t know where to begin.
“We don’t spend time tweaking our resumes and building our professional networks,” he said. “Our network consists of the men and women we serve next to. Read the rest of this entry »
Homeless Vets Deserve Our Help
Posted by carol.bowers in Family Matters on November 15, 2010
By Elaine Wilson
Nov. 13, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil
Over the years, I’ve met some amazing veterans: World War II heroes who regaled me with tales of honor and glory, wounded warriors who have devoted their lives to others despite massive challenges of their own, and young troops who have experienced more in a few years than most of us will in a lifetime.
But last week, I met a veteran unlike any I’ve ever met before.
I first spotted Willie sitting on a park bench alongside a busy road in St. Petersburg, Fla., where I was attending a journalism seminar. He was staring off into a cloudless blue sky, mesmerized by the rows of gently bobbing boats anchored to the pier just a few hundred feet ahead. He was dressed in shorts and a blue windbreaker, one knee wrapped in a brace, with an old Army cap perched on his head. A walker stuffed with his possessions was positioned closely by his side, as if to discourage anyone brave enough to dodge between cars and snatch it.
I approached him hesitantly, and asked him if I could film him for training purposes, fully expecting him to shoo me off. But Willie smiled shyly and mumbled something I couldn’t understand, but I took it as a green light for my project. (Listen to the audio of my interview with Willie.)
I squatted in front of him, camera in one hand, microphone in the other, and asked him about his Army service. He told me he’d served for a few years back in the late 70s, but got injured and has been working in restaurants ever since. “I don’t really have an establishment …,” Willie said. Read the rest of this entry »
Blogger Urges Everyone to Thank a Vet
Posted by carol.bowers in Family Matters on November 10, 2010
by Elaine Wilson
Nov. 11, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil
My daughter came home from school the other day and told me she had learned about Veterans’ Day in class.
“I told the teacher my mom is a veteran,” she said proudly.
Her words touched me. I was thrilled that she had remembered my service and proud that she felt the need to share it. I separated from the active-duty Air Force after eight years of service nearly six years ago, and have long since put away my old uniforms and photo albums.
Still, my pride at having served is as strong as ever. I loved being a part of something so much bigger than myself, and still miss the camaraderie and deep friendships a military lifestyle fosters.
And I feel a deep sense of pride to think I’m tied in some way to other veterans, particularly after this past decade of war.
Today, the nation celebrates Veterans’ Day, a day set aside to honor American veterans throughout history for their service and sacrifice.
Only a fraction of Americans choose to serve, but their sacrifice is anything but small. Our servicemembers put themselves in harm’s way –- some paying the ultimate sacrifice — so we can go to bed each night in a free nation. And they’ve been doing so since the birth of our nation. Read the rest of this entry »
VA Eases Rules for Veterans With PTSD
Posted by in Family Matters on July 14, 2010
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
July 14, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil
I wanted to share information about a new regulation by the Department of Veterans Affairs that will ease the claims process and improve access to health care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
I hope our military families help spread the word about this regulation change that can only benefit our veterans bearing the invisible wounds of war.
President Barack Obama called the changes a “long-overdue step” in his weekly address.
“I don’t think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application,” Obama said. “And I’ve met enough veterans to know that you don’t have to engage in a firefight to endure the trauma of war.”
Read the rest of this entry »