Esquire article wrongly claims SEAL who killed bin Laden is denied healthcare

By Megan McCloskey
Published: February 11, 2013

Esquire magazine claims “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden ... Is Screwed.”

The story details the life of the Navy SEAL after the successful raid to take out the No. 1 terrorist, and it asserts that once the SEAL got out of the military he was left to fend for himself.

VA issues new grants to expand female vets care

By Leo Shane III
Published: January 28, 2013

WASHINGTON – Late last week, as the Defense Department’s plans to put women in new combat roles received widespread media attention, the Department of Veterans Affairs quietly announced nearly three dozen new research grants to improve health care access for female veterans.

The flurry of research funds could have far-reaching effects on the care those women receive. Education grants will expand residency training on topics such as gynecology, obstetrics emergencies, military sexual trauma and breast examinations.

Wal-Mart jobs offer draws critics

By Leo Shane III
Published: January 16, 2013

A Walmart store front at night.

Courtesy of Walmart

WASHINGTON – Wal-Mart’s announcement Tuesday that they’ll guarantee jobs for thousands of recently separated veterans drew plenty of praise for the company but also complaints from critics who say the retailer’s offer is more about publicity than helping war heroes.

The advocacy group Veterans for Common Sense labeled the move a “crass publicity stunt” designed to put veterans in “dead-end jobs.” Editors at The Atlantic and the Washington Post note the company’s high employee-turnover rate makes the move less magnanimous.

President again invokes military pay, vet benefits in looming budget fight

By Leo Shane III
Published: January 15, 2013

WASHINGTON – Another big budget showdown is brewing in Washington, and once again veterans’ benefits and troops’ paychecks are being touted as possible casualties of the fight.

On Monday, President Barack Obama said that if congressional Republicans don’t agree to raise the country’s debt ceiling, it could force a government shutdown and deal a crippling blow to the national economy. He said it also could mean “Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed” and “We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small business owners.”

Student vets say anti-military attitudes persist on campus

By Leo Shane III
Published: January 7, 2013

Student Veterans of America

ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the more troubling anecdotes to come out of the annual Student Veterans of America conference this weekend was just how often former servicemembers face anti-military comments on campus. And it's not just from naive 18-year-olds.

Veterans said they still encounter professors and other faculty who blame them for the Iraq War, resent the generous GI Bill benefits and assume the former troops aren't smart enough to make it to graduation. It's not the norm, they said, but it's something nearly every student veteran has had to deal with at least once in the last few years.

Vets unemployment continued rise in December

By Chris Carroll
Published: January 4, 2013

WASHINGTON – The percentage of veterans looking for work continued to rise in December, with younger veterans faring the worst, according to the latest figures released Friday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate for all veterans reached 7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in November and 6.3 percent in October. The last time the overall veterans unemployment rate had been at 7 percent or higher was in July 2012.

Vets bills could fall victim to fiscal cliff indecision

By Leo Shane III
Published: December 27, 2012

WASHINGTON – If lawmakers don’t return to town to finalize a fiscal cliff deal this week, the federal budget won’t be is only political casualty. A pair of veterans bills with broad support are also poised to fail without House action before Jan. 3.

The measures seemed headed for certain passage by the House before the Christmas break. But when Republican leaders abruptly ended session and sent lawmakers home, it left the proposals in legislative limbo.

New survey aims to fix veterans’ sleep problems

By Leo Shane III
Published: December 10, 2012

WASHINGTON – Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the veterans wellness firm VetAdvisor are teaming up to see if they can help returning veterans get a little more rest.

The groups this week launched a new national sleep survey of veterans, looking for ways to battle problems like insomnia or excessive fatigue. The goal of the research is to better map the most common struggles among past and current servicemembers, and find solutions to the sleeplessness.

Vets unemployment up slightly in November

By Leo Shane III
Published: December 7, 2012

WASHINGTON – The overall veterans unemployment rate nudged up slightly last month, but this year remains on pace to be the best for job-seeking veterans since 2008, according to new figures released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The rate rose to 6.6 percent in November, up slightly from the 6.3 percent rate in October. But it was still the fourth consecutive month that the veterans unemployment statistic was below 7 percent, the first time that’s happened since late 2008.

Shinseki worries sequestration still could hurt vets

By Leo Shane III
Published: December 6, 2012

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki speaks about veteran care at the 2012 Warrior-Family Symposium in Washington, DC on Sept. 13, 2012.

C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON – Department of Veterans Affairs funding is exempt from the looming sequestration cuts set for next month, but VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said veterans could still be hurt by the spending reductions.

At a press conference on Thursday, Shinseki told reporters that he was “concerned” budget cuts could hit military transition programs, or servicemember retraining efforts. Both are key to ensuring a smooth progression back to civilian life, and any cuts in those programs could have wide-ranging effects.

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Esquire article wrongly claims SEAL who killed bin Laden is denied healthcare

Esquire magazine claims “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden ... Is Screwed.”