Veterans Update June 2011 _Microsoft Word_

							VETERANS UPDATE (3 Jun 11)
All,

The attached is provided for information and consideration with regards to veterans and their
families. Please feel free to pass on to those you believe interested.

The Veterans Update document is also attached above in Word format should you have difficulties
translating this message through your server/computer.

Semper Fi,

Frank Wickersham III

fgwickersham@vsecorp.com




NAUS www.naus.org

                                 WASHINGTON REPORT


House Begins MilCon/VA Appropriations

Following House passage of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R.
2017) by a 231 to 188 vote, the House turned its attention to consideration of the fiscal year
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill (HR 2055) on Friday.



According to full Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY), “This legislation provides $72.5
billion in discretionary funding for military construction projects, veterans programs and other
agencies that support the quality of life of our warfighters and veterans. This funding level
represents a $615 million cut from last year’s level and a $1.2 billion reduction from the
President’s request.



The Committee Chairman informs that much of the reduction in this bill comes from savings
related to the BRAC process and from rescissions of previous year funding left over from lower-
than-estimated construction costs.
The bill includes 14.0 billion, for the Military Construction programs, $58.3 billion is in
discretionary funding for Veteran Affairs, $69.5 billion is for mandatory VA programs and $205.4
million to fund the Related Agencies under Committee jurisdiction. The related agencies funded
in this bill include the American Battle Monuments Commission, the United States Court of
Appeals for Veterans Claims, Army Cemeteries Expenses (including Arlington National
Cemetery) and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.



House decision on the MilCon/VA bill is anticipated to occur Friday following open consideration
of numerous amendments and debate on the President’s military policy in Libya and the
provisions of law under the War Powers Act. The Senate has yet to consider its version of the
spending bill.



House Defense Appropriations

Thursday, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee approved its fiscal 2012 spending
bill. According to reports, the Defense bill would boost core DOD spending by $17 billion in
fiscal 2012 and provide some $119 billion for overseas contingency operations. The panel's
mark, which trims Obama's request by $9 billion, is in line for full House consideration in the
coming weeks.



In related action, the Senate last Wednesday unanimously rejected 97 to 0 the President’s fiscal
year 2012 budget. Senators also rejected 40 to 57 the House-passed budget sponsored by
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which leaves the chamber without a budget four-months before the
October 1 start of fiscal year 2012. Once again, it’s a slow start in the Senate.



New DoD Leadership Announced

On Memorial Day, President Obama announced new leadership for the Department of Defense,
naming recently appointed Army Chief of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey to replace Admiral
Mike Mullen as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Admiral James Winnefeld as
Vice Chairman. General Raymond Odierno has also been named to replace General Dempsey
as Army Chief of Staff.



Gates Suggests Pay Cuts

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has long avoided using reductions in military pay and active
duty benefits to reduce costs. However pressure from the administration to make $400B in cuts
may have forced a change in his stance. In the past Sec. Gates has sought to squeeze some
excess costs from TRICARE, by asking to increase annual premiums and fees for military
retirees and to tax their employers if retirees opt out of employer provided health care. Although
unwilling to say where any compensation cuts may occur, recently Secretary Gates has put the
possibility of cuts in military pay and benefits on the table. NAUS will be watching any proposal
Secretary Gates may offer before he retires at the end of the month. We will also watch what
Secretary of Defense nominee Leon Panetta will propose in the future. Panetta’s nomination is
expected to come before the Senate next week.



Vote Pending on Libya Operations

A vote is expected today in the House on two different resolutions regarding the US involvement
with NATO in Libya.



The first, H.Con. Res. 51, offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), would demand the total
withdrawal of all U.S. forces within 15 days.



The second resolution, H. Res 291, offered by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) would require the
administration to justify its strategy on Libya within two weeks. This resolution falls short of
declaring the administration in violation of the 1973 War Powers Act or calling for the
administration to end its participation in the NATO-led operation.



Most reports suggest that a majority will favor Speaker Boehner’s proposal as it being more
reasonable and would offer the members a vehicle to “clearly express the will of their
constituents in a responsible way that would reflect commitments to allies and our troops.”



Clearly, the record needs to be straightened out and firmly stated as to what exactly our policy is
in Libya.



                                  HEALTH CARE NEWS


TRICARE Adds Cancer Tests

TRICARE has added coverage for the enhanced cervical cancer-screening test called HPV
DNA. The test is covered as a cervical cancer screening under TRICARE's clinical preventive
services when performed in conjunction with a Pap smear for women aged 30 and older.
Preauthorization for HPV testing is not required, and beneficiaries have no copayments or cost-
shares for routine cervical cancer screening under TRICARE. TRICARE also covers the CDC
recommended vaccine series to prevent HPV infection in girls as well as screening for breast,
colorectal and prostate cancer without cost shares or copays. For more information, visit the
TRICARE website.



TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) receives communication awards

National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) picked TMA Deputy Director
Christine Hunter, RM, USN, for the top award in the speech writing competition for 2010. Rear
Admiral Hunter won for her speech entitled, “Inspiration, Balance and Courage: Military
Healthcare 2010 and beyond.” Admiral Hunter was the keynote speaker at the 2009 NAUS
Annual Meeting.



Awards were also garnered by the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery Communications
Campaign at the Hermes Creative Awards which also honored TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin
podcasts and the publication, “TRICARE and Medicare, Turning 65.” You can read more on the
awards here.



Army Medical Graduate Program ranked “Best in the Nation”

The Anesthesia Nursing Graduate Program at the Army Medical School in San Antonio was
recognized as the top program in the US. The rankings are published every year by the
prestigious magazine, US News & World Report. The school won over stiff competition from
113 other programs throughout the US. The school has been producing nurse
anesthesiologists for over 50 years and graduates receive a Masters Degree in Nursing
Anesthesia from Northeastern University School of Nursing. The school’s physician assistant
program was also highly ranked at 13th.



                                   ACTIVE DUTY NEWS


Navy to Name Next Aircraft Carrier After JFK

The U.S. Navy announced this week that it will name its next aircraft carrier after the late
President John F. Kennedy.
The new carrier is the second such vessel to be named after Kennedy. CV 67 was named in
his honor and was retired in 2007 after serving for 40 years, including during Operation Desert
Storm.



The ship will be built in Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and is scheduled for completion
in 2019. The Gerald R. Ford-class warship is nuclear-powered.



Hero Miles Program

Hero Miles is a program that provides family members commercial airline flights to where and
an injured service member in the hospital or rehabilitation programs by using donated frequent
flyer airline miles. Currently, Air Tran, Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, United - Continental
and US Airways participate in the program. Participants in the frequent flyer miles programs
may donate their miles to Hero Miles through the airline's frequent flyer program. For more
information, visit the Fisher House's Hero Miles Program webpage.


Education for Deployed Soldiers

The Army's Distributed Learning System developed by the Army's Deployed Digital Training
Campus (DDTC) is seeking to provide deployed soldiers with the ability to work on their military
education while overseas. Each DDTC is equipped with 20 laptop workstations, Internet
accessibility, video tele-training, voice over IP or VOIP, designated satellite access, access to
more than 1,200 pre-loaded Army Learning Management System courses, and can be set up in
less than two hours. For more information, visit the Distributed Learning System website.



Thunderbirds Testing Alternative Fuel

The Air Force Thunderbirds flying demonstration team recently performed its first flight using an
alternative fuel. The team flew with camelina-based hydrotreated renewable jet fuel as part of
the nation's overall strategy to use "home grown" alternative energy sources. The Air Force will
continue to test and evaluate biomass fuels derived from camelina, or plant seed oil, beef tallow,
or animal fat, and various waste oils and greases. For more information on the Thunderbirds
and its show schedule, visit the Thunderbirds website.



Military Dogs Honored

Military and civilian law enforcement dogs were honored and remembered during a recent
ceremony at the Military Working Dog (MWD) memorial at the Air Armament Museum at Elgin
Air Force Base, Fla. The ceremony honored MWDs and civilian K-9s for their service, and
remembered those that had fallen. For more information on military working dogs, including
educational materials, visit the United States War Dogs Association website, or the Military
Working Dogs webpage,



Pat Tillman Scholarship

The Pat Tillman Foundation's Military Scholars program supports our nation's active and
veteran servicemembers and their families by removing financial barriers to completing a
degree or certification program of choice. The scholarships cover not only direct study-related
expenses such as tuition and fees, but also other needs, including housing and childcare.. Click
here for more information or to apply for the scholarship.



                                    VETERANS NEWS


VA IG Audit Uncovers Large Discrepancies

A recent audit of 16 Regional Offices, looking at the VA Disability Compensation System, the
VA Inspector General office estimates that 23 percent of the 45,000 claims examined were
incorrectly processed. Of the16 Regional Offices, Baltimore, MD and Anchorage, AK scored the
lowest in compliance with VA standards. Both failed to meet 14 of the 15 process requirements.
Extended management vacancies were cited as one of the linking factors between all poorly
performing Regional Offices. Because of the vacancies, these offices lacked continuity and
proper oversight. As a result, procedures were not developed or implemented to correct
previously identified problems. NAUS Note: Almost one quarter of all examined cases were
wrong. Maybe now the VA will climb down off their insistence on making its claims
personnel work on a quota system and change to a results based system. The fewer
claims done wrong the fewer cases that are added back to the claims backlog. Quality
over quantity always works better for the client.



Who Receives Your Final Pay?

DFAS Press Release

Retired pay earned but not paid in the final month of your life goes to whoever is listed as your
Arrears of Pay (AOP) beneficiary. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will also
contact this person for help with closing your account.
You can choose anyone, from family members to friends to associates, to be your AOP
beneficiary. But if you don't designate someone, it could take many months to locate your
survivors, identify who is legally entitled to your pay, and then make the payment.



To designate or change your Arrears of Pay (AOP) beneficiary, all you have to do is follow these
simple steps:



1. Complete a Designation of Beneficiary Information form (DD 2894). Get the form here.

2. Sign and date the form. (Unsigned and undated forms will not be processed.)

3. Mail or fax the form to:



DFAS U.S. Military Retired Pay

P.O. Box 7130

London, KY 40742-7130

Fax: 800-469-6559



You must notify DFAS of any changes in your AOP beneficiary's contact information. Otherwise
all correspondence will be sent to the wrong address, further delaying closure of your account.



VA Reports Most OIF-OEF Vets May Have PTSD

The VA estimates that as many as 95 percent of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and
Afghanistan have some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms can include
(1) nightmares, (2) feeling numb, (3) having difficulty experiencing love or closeness with others,
(4) feeling jittery or overly alert, (5) having difficulty sleeping, (6) experiencing anger or
irritability, (7) having difficulty concentrating, (8) substance abuse problems, (9) having feelings
of despair or hopelessness. For more information, visit the National Center for PTSD webpage.




MOAA                www.moaa.org


What's Up with the Defense Bill?
At this point in the year, it can be very confusing to keep track of the progress of the various defense bills
circulating in the House and Senate.
To add to the confusion, there are two separate types of defense bills - authorization and appropriation bills.


The defense authorization bill (which is the responsibility of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees)
provides statutory authority for everything from pay raises, health care fees, and weapons procurement. It's the
legislative vehicle for nearly all military personnel and compensation changes in any given year.


The defense appropriations bill (prepared by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees) provides the
funding to pay for the programs specified in the authorization bill. Congressional rules normally bar putting
authorizing provisions in an appropriations bill, to make sure the legislators with the purse strings don't usurp
all the other committees' authority.


The House has already approved its version of the FY2012 defense authorization bill (H.R. 1540), and the
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee approved its draft of the FY2012 defense appropriations bill (as yet
unnumbered). The latter bill is now awaiting action by the full House Appropriations Committee.


The Senate Armed Services Committee and Appropriations Committee are expected to draft their respective
versions of the authorization and appropriations bills later this month.


Technically, the authorization bill is supposed to be finished first, and then the appropriations bills are supposed
to be finished and signed into law by the President by October 1 (the start of the new fiscal year). But that has
rarely happened in recent years.


And with less than four months left in the current fiscal year, it's almost certain that action on both bills will drag
well beyond October 1.




DoD Updates Retiree Data
The FY2010 Statistical Report on the Military Retirement System just released by Pentagon’s actuaries provides a
wealth of information for both stat geeks and everyday observers.


Here are a few highlights of how some selected statistics have changed since FY2001.


        Regular, non-disability retirees:

FY2010: 1.47 million received retired pay of $40.2 billion


FY2001: 1.37 million received retired pay of $28.3 billion


        Guard/Reserve, non-disability retirees:

FY2010: 357,000 received retired pay of $4.89 billion


FY2001: 243,000 received retired pay of $2.61 billion


        Military disability retirees:
FY2010: 93,000 received retired pay of $1.38 billion


FY2001: 98,000 received retired pay of $1.3 billion


        Survivors:

FY2010: 294,000 received annuity payments of $3.65 billion


FY2001: 259,000 received annuity payments of $1.96 billion


        SBP participation rate among newly retiring servicemembers:

FY2010: 81%


FY2001: 68%


        SBP premium receipts vs. SBP benefit payments:

FY2010: Retirees paid $1.14 billion in premiums Survivors received $3.63 billion in annuities


FY2001: Retirees paid $995 million in premiums Survivors received $1.92 billion in annuities




UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE COMBINED VA RATINGS

Published by Shane Ostrom, CFP® at 3:59 pm under VA Benefits

I hear it all the time. We assume when we have several VA disabilities with their associated ratings, to come up with
the combined rating, we should add the ratings together. That’s obviously not how it works because you’ve tried this.

The VA figures your combined disability rating by calculating your non-disability rating first. Actually, the VA calls it
your “efficiency” rating. It goes like this. A person with a disability rating of 30% is considered 70% efficient, able to
function normally so to speak.

To combine your ratings, rack and stack your disability ratings from the most severe rating to the least severe. Let’s
say you have disability ratings of 70% and a 40% rating. That means you have efficiency ratings of 30% and 60%.

Multiply the efficiency ratings together to get an 18% efficiency rating. Subtract this from 100% to get 82%. Round
up or down to the nearest number divisible by 10. 80% in this case.

Have more than two ratings? Factor each additional rating by multiplying the combined ratings before it. Example,
multiply the first two efficiency ratings. Use the result from the first two ratings to multiply by the third efficiency
rating. Use the result of the three ratings to multiply by the fourth rating and so on.

For more information and the chart used to combine ratings, click here and do your own math.
USA TODAY -- Our view: Military's Tricare benefits are too
sweet a deal
Health care costs are "eating the Department of Defense alive," says Defense Secretary Robert Gates, at a
time when the military is under growing pressure to cut spending. So Gates has a range of modest proposals to
trim medical expenses, including one that stirred a hornet's nest of protest: Make military retirees pay a little
more for their coverage.
                 OPPOSING VIEW: Troops already sacrificed for health care
         The emphasis is on "little." The annual amount the Pentagon charges retirees for the military's basic Tricare health
         insurance plan — $460 for family coverage — was set back in 1995. It hasn't changed in 16 years. Can anyone
         else in the USA say that about his health premiums?
         Gates' proposal requires retirees to pay an extra $5 a month for family coverage, or $2.50 a month for individuals.
         Even then, health coverage for military retirees would still be extraordinarily cheap: $520 a year for families and
         $260 a year for individuals.
         Compare those figures with premiums in the civilian world: The average worker with employer-provided insurance
         pays about $4,000 a year for a family plan.
         Health insurance for military retirees was always meant to be inexpensive, as part of the compensation for
         servicemembers' sacrifice: They relocate frequently and must serve at least 20 years to qualify for retiree benefits,
         often away from their families and in harm's way. But the disparity is simply too big to defend at a time of strained
         budgets. The House passed a major defense bill last week that included the fee increases.
         Even if those increases pass the Senate, too, they don't go far enough. Monthly increases the price of a Starbucks
         latte will barely dent the Pentagon's spending on health care, which has nearly tripled in the past decade, to more
         than $50 billion this year. That's about one-tenth of the Pentagon's basic budget.




         There is still plenty of room to pare back health care costs while treating servicemembers fairly. Many retire in
         their 40s after 20 years and join private companies that offer employer-provided health insurance. But some 60%
         keep Tricare because it's so much cheaper, and who can blame them? One useful proposal is to change the rules
         to encourage retirees who can get private insurance to take it. Other ideas include restoring premiums to inflation-
         adjusted 1995 levels and allowing future Tricare fees to rise along with health care costs.
         Contrary to myths spread by opponents of Gates' proposals, active-duty servicemembers and their dependents
         will still get health care for free. That's as it should be. Wounded warriors, low-income veterans, those with
         service-related disabilities, former POWs and others will still qualify for free care from the Department of Veterans
         Affairs.
         The issue is how generous taxpayers should be in giving military retirees insurance that covers treatment by
         civilian hospitals and doctors. Critics act as if almost any change dishonors the sacrifice of servicemembers.
         Hardly. Remember, servicemembers who put in the full 20 years also get generous pensions that are adjusted for
         inflation, a benefit that has nearly vanished for civilians.
         Retired military personnel can be justly compensated without beggaring the rest of the Pentagon budget or
         unnecessarily adding to the national debt.




DEPT of VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA Announces $92 Million in Construction Contract for Bay Pines-New Mental Health Facility to
Expand Care

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the award of a $92 million contract
to construct a new mental health facility at the VA medical center at Bay Pines, Fla., to expand care and
services for Florida’s Veterans.

“A top priority for VA is providing greater access to VA’s health care system and the highest quality care
for our nation’s Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This new facility will help
VA better serve Florida Veterans while also investing in the local economy. America’s Veterans have
kept their promises to our Nation and they have earned the very best this nation has to offer.”

The contract provides $91.9 million to Archer Western/Demaria JV II, of Chicago. The contract calls for
construction of a multi-story 156,000 square-foot addition to the main hospital building at Bay Pines. It
will be a mixed facility that provides residential rehabilitation, acute inpatient mental health services and
outpatient mental health services.

In 2010, the outpatient mental health programs that will be located in the new mental health building had
nearly 150,000 visits (an 18 percent increase over the previous year).

It is estimated there will be 211,784 annual visits by 2029 (42 percent patient increase from 2009). The
mental health building will also allow the facility to increase the number of inpatient acute psychiatric beds
from 33 to 40. In 2010, the facility averaged 125 mental health admissions per month.

VA selected Bay Pines VA Healthcare System as the 2010 recipient of the Robert W. Carey Circle of
Excellence Award, the department’s top honor for quality achievement.

Last year, VA spent more than $8 billion in Florida on behalf of the state’s 1.7 million Veterans. VA
operates eight major medical centers in the state, more than 40 outpatient clinics, 24 Vet Centers and
seven national cemeteries.
George Washington U. Continues Commitment to Vets By Scott Disney June 2, 2011
at 4:25 pm

When I first enlisted in the Army, one of the many reasons I did so included the opportunity to
receive money to continue my education through the GI Bill. At the time that I enlisted, the
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill was still the standard, and I, like many soldiers, paid in my one-
hundred dollars a month that first year, in the hopes that at the end of our service, whenever that
might be, we would receive some financial assistance to help soften the blow of the high costs of
pursuing a higher education. The thought of being able to attend a prestigious university tuition
free, never once entered my mind.

Then along came the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the advent of the Yellow Ribbon Program and
everything changed.

Last month, The George Washington University announced their continued commitment to
Veterans through the new Yellow Ribbon Program agreement. Through the new agreement,
undergraduate Veteran students will be able to attend school year-round, tuition free and most
graduate Veteran students will be able to do the same. As a Veteran student at GW and as
president of GW Veterans, the student Veteran organization on campus, I’m extremely proud in
this renewed commitment by GW to Veterans of our armed forces and their pursuits in higher
education.

I enrolled as a student at GW last year knowing that quite frankly, the ability to attend a school
of GW’s caliber tuition free was too good an opportunity to pass up. I, like many of my fellow
Veterans who are enrolled here, would not have been able to afford the cost of attendance at
GW, were it not for their participation and commitment to the Yellow Ribbon Program. Many
colleges and universities across the country participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to varying
degrees, but GW continues to lead the way in their level of commitment to the Yellow Ribbon
Program and Veteran students.

Thanks to GW’s renewed to commitment to the Yellow Ribbon Program, the over 500 student
Veterans of the armed forces enrolled at GW will continue have the opportunity to pursue a first-
rate education, in the heart of our nation’s capital, at little to no cost to the Veteran student. It’s
only appropriate that a school bearing the name of the first Veteran continue its outstanding
commitment to the Veterans of today and those of the future.

Scott Disney is an Army and Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran, having served as a Human
Intelligence Collector with the 66th MI BDE, USAG Grafenwoehr, Germany , the 513th MI
BDE, Fort Gordon, GA and the 525th BFSB Fort Fort Bragg, NC. He’s a senior student at the
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at George Washington University, majoring in Political
Science. He’s also the president of GW Veterans, the student Veterans organization on campus.

Delta Solutions Wins New Contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PR Newswire
... and Technologies, Inc., a fast-growing provider of federal financial management systems,
business analytics, IT services and consulting to the US Government, has been awarded a new
five-year contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). ...

Legislative briefs for June 1, 2011. 2TheAdvocate The options include the US Postal Service,
a parish office of the state Department of Veterans Affairs where the veteran resides or by the
governor or his designee in a ceremony conducted by Veterans Affairs. HB28, sponsored by
state Rep. ...

Website finds help for injured veterans. East Valley Tribune Interested donors can tailor any
donations to a specific state where veterans are requesting help, or even a specific veteran. By
Mike Sakal, Tribune USA Together is becoming known as the Craigslist for wounded warriors.
And so far, nearly 600 American ...

Vets can enroll for benefits locally. Mail Tribune Standiford is an Iraq War veteran and a
Wounded Warrior Program fellow while Howard is a retired Navy officer. Brian Guinther, a
veterans service representative from the Portland VA Regional Office and a retired Navy senior
chief petty officer, ...

 A simple gesture. Allentown Morning Call Casner, 61, of Bethlehem, isn't a veteran. What
makes him keenly sensitive to these matters is that he spent 21 years as a social worker with
the US Department of Veterans Affairs at the Allentown Outpatient Clinic. He retired last month
with a long ...

Awarepoint Vice President - Government Business Development Chris Doran. PR Newswire
 The conference, which is sponsored by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, will be
attended by approximately 350 individuals representing all of the VA's Veterans Integrated
Service Networks, which are comprised of more than 150 medical centers ...

Construction on state-run veteran cemetery on schedule – News. Keith Gwinn, director of the
state Division of Veterans Affairs, ... the choice of burying them at local cemetery, or, if they
wanted a veterans cemetery, ...

A patriot awarded. His service and support of veterans' affairs is unsurpassed,” the letter
stated. “For 11 years, he has toiled to meet the needs of every person that has ...

Obama To Award Medal Of Honor To Army Sergeant. AP "President Barack Obama will
award the Medal of Honor to an Army sergeant for courage on the battlefield in Afghanistan." In
an announcement, the White House "says Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry will receive the
nation's highest military decoration" during a July 12th ceremony. The White House also
"says Petry will be the second living, active-duty service member to receive a Medal of Honor
for actions in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars."




Walter Reed Doctors Call For Delay In Move To Bethesda. Washington (DC)
Examiner "Doctors and nurses at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are warning that
the region's military hospitals won't be able to properly care for wounded troops
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan unless the Pentagon delays its plans to consolidate
the hospitals this fall." The plan is for the Defense Department to "begin shutting down
Walter Reed in August, transferring patients and staff from the District facility to the
newly expanded military medical center in Bethesda and to a new community hospital at
Fort Belvoir in Virginia. But not all operating rooms and patient services at Bethesda will
be ready by the moving deadline established by law, Sept. 15, according to medical
personnel who spoke on the condition of anonymity."



VA's Post-9-11 Assistance Program Starts Strong. Watertown (NY) Daily Times
"Applications for a program to support family caregivers of post-9-11 veterans opened
with strong response. In the week after May 9, more than 625 families received
assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. VA "partnered with Easter Seals - an
organization that helps the disabled - which will provide training to families who are
caring for a veteran."

VA Studying Whether New Caregiver Benefits Program Can Be Expanded.
Columbus (OH) Dispatch VA's new program is for caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan
vets but the law that gave rise to it "requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to study
the new benefits to see whether they can be extended to family caregivers of all
veterans. 'It is something we will look at closely'...said" Deborah Amdur, the
"department's chief consultant for care management and social work."

Evidence Links PTSD With Heart Disease. Reuters A study in the American Journal
of Cardiology has found that heart disease risk may be elevated for people with post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ramin Ebrahimi of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans
Affairs Medical Center led the study of US veterans. Medical News Today Study
authors "say better interventions are required to prevent" heart disease from developing
in those with PTSD. Reports of vets "returning from active service developing
depression, avoidant behavior and other mental issues are common, and the military
has been under constant pressure to set up a more effective strategy to help those with
PTSD."



VA, DOD Have Slightly Different Views On Role Of Open Source In EHR
Development, VA's Baker Says. Federal Computer Week "Although the Veterans
Affairs and Defense departments are equally committed to deploying a joint electronic
health record system in the next four to six years, the VA is more enthusiastic about the
role of open-source development in the process, according to VA CIO Roger Baker. 'It is
clear the VA is wholeheartedly embracing it [open-source development], while the DOD
views it as an asset,' Baker told reporters in a conference call on May 27." Asked if VA,
"under the business rules, would need approval from DOD for any joint applications to
be developed through the open-source process, Baker said he did not view it that way,"
although he did say there would need to be a "lot of goodwill in doing this stuff, and
there is at this point."

Baker Says IEHR Will Be In Place 4 To 6 Years From Now. FierceGovernmentIT "A
joint, integrated electronic health record between the departments of Defense and
Veterans Affairs should be in place 4 to 6 years from now, said VA Chief Information
Officer Roger Baker during a May 27 press call. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced
an agreement between the two departments to merge their separate EHR systems into
one new system, since dubbed the iEHR, earlier this year." Shinseki and Defense
Department Secretary Robert Gates "are set to discuss" how a single database will be
achieved "during their next scheduled meeting on June 23."

Federal IT Humor Gets A Standing Ovation. Federal Computer Week "I believe we
ought to give credit to executives in the federal technology community who can be
entertaining while delivering important information." For example, Roger Baker,
"assistant secretary for information and technology at the Veterans Affairs Department,
not only gave a rundown on VA's recent major IT initiatives during a Deltek Input
industry conference May 5, but he also entertained the audience with humorous insider
stories about what his job is really like. For one thing, he has to answer to VA Secretary
Eric Shinseki. 'You do not tell a four-star general that you did not execute his major
initiatives,' Baker said," during what Lipowicz calls a "great speech."



Vets Unemployment Higher Than Non-vets, Study Says. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"Veterans of America's post-Sept. 11 wars have a higher unemployment rate than the
general population, a problem that has persisted since the depths of the recession,
according to a congressional report released" on Tuesday. Lawmakers are "considering
a bill that would have veterans take part in the Department of Labor's Transition
Assistance Program, designed to help them translate skills learned in the military into
civilian jobs. The same bill, the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, would start a government
study of which civilian jobs most closely match those in the military."

 Soldier Ride Gets Wounded Warriors Cycling On Adaptive Bikes For Mental And
Physical Health. Chicago Tribune The success of "Soldier Ride, a program of the
Wounded Warrior Project that outfits injured soldiers with adaptive bicycles for a ride to
build awareness, solidarity and hope that life goes on." Founded "in 2004, Soldier Ride
this year is holding 13 events across the country - next up is Chicago, June 3 and 4 -
and is emphasizing community involvement," in the form of donations that "go to the
Wounded Warrior Project."
WWII Vet Praises Lebanon VAMC. Lebanon (PA) Daily News World War II veteran
Andrew Stoppi "speaks highly of the treatment he receives" as a patient at the Lebanon
Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Lebanon "native Sandra Jones, a registered nurse,
and Ken Hamill, a volunteer from Landisville, care for Stoppi and his fellow veterans at
the South Lebanon Township hospital. A captain in the Army National Guard, Jones
was deployed for most of 2009 in Iraq, where she served as a brigade nurse."



VA Outreach Coming To Demopolis. Demopolis (AL) Times The Tuscaloosa
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in "partnership with the Birmingham Vet Center and
Alabama Career Center, will conduct an outreach event for veterans in and around
Demopolis on June 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the 2101st Transportation Company on
Highway 43." The event's purpose is to "provide information to veterans about services
available to them from the Tuscaloosa VA and the other agencies. 'We hope by bringing
information about VA health care to the Demopolis community, those who may have
been interested but have not sought out information before will be able to come visit
with us to learn about the services they have earned through their service to our
country,' said Damon Stevenson, spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa VA," who adds.
"Veterans from Demopolis and the surrounding communities have served our country
with honor, and now it is our turn to serve them."



More Space Available For Military Families. WCCO-AM A "new building has been
built near" the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis. It is designed to "help military ad
veterans' families in their time of need. A second Fisher House opened just last month
in South Minneapolis where the families of those being treated at the VA hospital can
stay free of charge."



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VetJobs Early Eagle
Issue 12:6, Wednesday, June 1, 2011 www.vetjobs.com
VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and
OFCCP compliance support!

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.
This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret and CRI University

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. What Are the Best Jobs for 2011?

3. Impact of Minimum Wage Increases

4. DOD Recruiting & Retention

5. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May XX, 2011

6. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter
and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment,
please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s
Choice Award!

**************
1. Message from the Top

The Department of Defense department called Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
(ESGR) is conducting a National Survey of Employers. This is the largest study of its kind since
the United States entered sustained military operations nearly 10 years ago in the aftermath of
September 11th, 2001. For this survey, a random sample of employers across the United States
from public and private sectors were selected and received ticket numbers to participate.
Therefore, not all employers will be able to access the survey. If you were one of the 80,000
companies selected, please be sure to fill out the survey.

VetJobs supports this survey. In 2007, there were surveys conducted by the Society of Human
Resource Management and Workforce Management Magazine that indicated many employers do
not want to hire active members of the National Guard and Reserve (NG&R) due to the call up
policy. We know that employers are very enthusiastic about hiring veterans that are totally
separated from the military, retired from the military, or are wounded warriors/disabled veterans.
Employer support has been very gratifying. However, employers cannot go broke supporting a
member of the NG&R when they are taken away for 12 to 24 months. It is very difficult to run a
company when employees are taken away for extended periods of time. The National Survey of
Employers will help to gauge the current attitude regarding the hiring of NG&R participants.

So be sure to send in your survey if you were one of the selected companies.

**************
The DOD Retention and Recruiting numbers were released last month and the numbers are still
strong thanks to the recession (See article #4 below). This is a pattern that repeats itself recession
after recession. During the recession, recruiting and retention numbers remain strong due to lack
of jobs in the civilian sector. But once the recession is over and there are ample job
opportunities, recruiting and retention falls. I suspect the same will happen when this recession is
finally over.

While retention in the military is still strong, there is definitely an employment problem for
members of the National Guard and Reserve (NG&R) in terms of finding jobs. The BLS CPS
unemployment report notes that the unemployment rate for veterans 18 to 24 years old has fallen
to 26.8% from a recent high of 31.9%! For the 25 to 29 year old veterans it is 14.5%. Both well
above their civilian counterparts. Yet the CPS April report has the unemployment for ALL
veterans at 7.7%. Why the big discrepancy?

If you are active duty in the military, you are considered to be employed. But if you are drilling
in the NG&R but have no civilian job, you are considered to be unemployed. Most veterans in
the 18 to 24 year old age group are still finishing their 4, 6 or 8 year obligation. Thus, the high
unemployment rates of 26.8% in the 18 to 24 year old age group are primarily members of the
NG&R. This is reflected in the unemployment rate of returning NG brigades. Here are some
examples of unemployment rates when these NG brigades returned:

-Nashville, TN NG Brigade, 320 of 700 unemployed – 45.71% -Jacksonville, FL NG Brigade,
750 of 2,500 – 30% -Rochester, NY NG Brigade – 12% unemployment -Oregon NG – 50%
unemployment -Minnesota NG – 15% unemployment

The high unemployment rate in the NG&R is directly related to the advent of the DOD two year
(now one year) call-up policy implemented in 2007. Companies want to hire veterans due to their
training, leadership skills and a whole host of other reasons. But a company cannot operate with
employees being taken away for 12 to 24 months. That is common sense to anyone in business,
but not to some decision makers at DOD.

There is now a secondary effect of the two year call-up policy. The suicide rate in the NG has
more than doubled from 50 in 2009 to 112 in 2010. Of the 112 NG suicides, financial distress
was one of the leading factors. 43% of Army NG suicides reported insufficient income, civilian
job dissatisfaction or unemployment issues. 62% were between the ages of 17 to 26 years of age.

Another way of looking at this unemployment problem is the number of USERRA complaints
being filed. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DOD agency which
handles USERRA complaints for members of the NG&R, reports the number of inquiries
regarding USERRA violations jumped from 13,090 nationally in fiscal 2008 to 34,612 in fiscal
2010. In fiscal 2010, 3,202 of those turned into cases, up from about 2,664 in fiscal 2008. The
exact number of employment/USERRA problems or potential violations is difficult to determine
as many members of the NG&R are not aware of the legal protections and some opt to seek
private legal help, so they aren’t reflected in the data. The bottom line here is employers are not
so quietly saying they will no longer support the current call-up policy.
I am concerned that some people in DOD are looking at this problem wrong. Their response to
the high unemployment rate among younger veterans is more training to prepare for civilian life.
If the military was an untrained work force, their overall unemployment rate would not be 7.7%!
The real story is that most veterans ARE finding work.

>From our perspective in the field here at VetJobs, the largest group of veterans having a tough
time finding a job are in the NG. Just getting more money out of Congress to fund yet another
training program at DOL, VA or DOD will NOT reduce the high unemployment rate in the NG,
and now the high suicide rate. What is needed is to reduce the use of the NG&R. There are
solutions, but no solution is cheap and many are not politically viable, such as expanding the size
of the active forces or implementing a draft.

I fear we may have to endure many more NG suicides before DOD recognizes that America
cannot sustain the current call up policy. I would be interested in your views. All responses will
be kept confidential. Please send them to info@vetjobs.com.

**************
In June, we celebrate the following special days:

June 6 – D-Day
June 14 – Army Day
June 14 – 236th Birthday of the U.S. Army June 14 – Flag Day June 19 – Father’s Day June 21 –
First day of summer June 25 – 60th Anniversary of the Korean War

D-Day was the turning point in World War II. June 6, 1944 saw the start of the largest air and sea
operation in military history. On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops, of which
73,000 were Americans. The amount of equipment used was staggering. In the airborne landings
on both flanks of the Normandy beaches, 2,395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF
were used on D-Day. Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6,939 vessels:
1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864
merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US,
112,824 British, and 4,988 from other Allied countries. By the end of the 11th of June, 326,547
troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.

There is no "official" casualty figure for D-Day. Total Allied casualties on D-Day are estimated
at 10,000, including 2,500 dead. British casualties on D-Day have been estimated at
approximately 2,700. The Canadians had 946 casualties. The US forces lost 6,603 men. On June
6, take time to reflect on what took place on the beaches at Normandy and appreciate the
sacrifice made by so many to ensure the continuation of our free market economy and our
Federal Republic. Their sacrifices helped give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

**************
Flag Day was first observed in 1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Continental Congress'
adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. In that year, Congress
asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14. The idea quickly caught on and many
people wanted to participate in waving the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed
Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949
when President Harry Truman signed the National Flag Day Bill. Although Flag Day is not
celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the history and
heritage it represents.

**************
Two hundred and thirty-six years ago, the United States Army was established to defend the
United States. From the Revolutionary War to the current worldwide operations, the soldiers of
the US Army remain Army Strong with a deep commitment to their Army’s core values and
beliefs. This 236th birthday commemorates America’s Army – Soldiers, Families and Civilians –
who are achieving a level of excellence that is truly Army Strong. Being Army Strong goes
beyond physical endurance and mental preparedness. It encompasses an indomitable spirit, and
high ethical and moral values. These are not only desirable traits in a person, but in a Nation that
wishes to live up to the ideals and vision of its founders. If you meet a member of the Army this
month, be sure to say Happy Birthday and thank you for serving! For more information, visit
www.army.mil/birthday/236/

**************
This month we also celebrate the creation of the National Committee for Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a department of DOD. Founded in 1972, ESGR has been a
leading advocate supporting members of the National Guard and Reserve. Over 4,500
volunteers, ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators and
military personnel, serve on local ESGR Field Committees. With help and resources from the
National ESGR Headquarters in Arlington, VA, the 56 ESGR Field Committees conduct
employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of
employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve.
By explaining the missions of the National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public
awareness of the role of the employer, ESGR works to develop a dialogue among employers, the
ESGR Committees, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service
members. I strong

 ly recommend that you get involved in your states’ ESGR committee! Visit www.esgr.net and
click on your state to volunteer!

*************
On the economic front, after a disappointing growth rate in Q1, most economists were expecting
a rebound in Q2 but it did not materialize. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index
fell to 60.8 in May from a revised 66 in April due to continuing bad employment news.
Economists had been expecting an increase to 67. But, despite the first decline in employment
activity in all regions in 2011, job prospects remain significantly brighter for 2011 than in 2010.
The average USA Hiring Index for May is 100.5, up 11.5 points from May 2010. The National
Association of Colleges and Employees reports that employers expect to hire more new college
graduates in 2011. To see where the jobs are, read article #5 below.

Pending sales of existing U.S. homes dove 11.6% in April to a 7 month low (economists had
been expecting a 1% drop). The latest housing data continues to be dismal with the housing
market being the worst since 2006. The housing recovery is even more distant as demonstrated
by the Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas that reported home prices fell a
worse-than-expected 3.6% in March from a year ago confirming a double dip recession in
housing. Pending home sales have collapsed and the foreclosure pipelines remain very bloated.
Now would be a great time to buy a house, but a lousy time to be selling a house. Other sectors
of the economy may be improving, albeit anemically. Mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction,
manufacturing, healthcare and utilities continue to improve.

The U.S. Labor Department reported that the economy created 244,400 new jobs in April. This
was the third consecutive month of job growth in excess of 200,000. Manufacturing was one of
the sectors with the largest growth for April. In 2011, 141,000 jobs were added in the
Manufacturing sector.

Healthcare jobs are hot and their demand shows no signs of slowing. As the nation's need for
healthcare escalates, so do the salaries for many of the most in demand positions in the industry.
The 2011 Compensation Data Healthcare survey results found the average base salary for
occupational therapists has increased from $65,600 in 2009 to $69,700 in 2011. This represents
an increase 6.3%.

Physical therapy assistants have seen salary increases of nearly 6% since 2009, while EMTs have
seen a spike in pay of 5.3%. The pay for staff nurses has steadily continued to increase, going
from $55,300 in 2009 to $57,600 in 2011. Staff pharmacist salaries have risen from $106,200 to
$111,400, which is an increase of 4.9%. Medical assistants, though highly in demand, have seen
pay increases of less than 1% since 2009.

**************
Finally, if you do a lot travelling, please remember to stop in the USO at the airport and thank
the veterans for their service. Additionally, feel free to take boxes of store bought cookies, drinks
or paper goods as the USO always needs the donations! Your support is appreciated.

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