Veterans Day has likely birthed more grammatical errors than any other federal holiday. Despite being frequently written as "Veteran's Day" or "Veterans' Day," the Department of Veterans Affairs insists that there should be no apostrophe there to make the noun possessive, "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans."

Yet despite the fact that Veterans Day is meant to be observed by all Americans, a majority of them still confuse the date with Memorial Day.

Even if you are familiar with Veterans Day history, there's no better time for a refresher, as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the holiday's forebear, Armistice Day.

The history of Armistice Day

Armistice Day was born out of World War I, or "The Great War," as it was initially known. The global conflict lasted from 1914 to 1918, and pitted the Central Powers—Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire—against the Allies, or Entente Powers, consisting principally of France, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Russia and the United States. The First World War mobilized over 70 million military personnel, 60 million of whom were European, and the massive scale led many to optimistically, yet wrongly, predict that it would be "the war to end all wars."

After 9 million military casualties, there was finally permanent quiet on the Western Front after an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918. The cessation of hostilities officially took effect at 11:00 that morning, or "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."

Armistice Day commemorated this end to the fighting, and is observed every November 11th by many of the Allied nations. This year's celebration of peace and remembrance of sacrifice will mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Events are planned all over the world, and President Donald Trump will travel to Paris to join French President Emmanuel Macron in honoring the more than 116,000 Americans and nearly 1.4 million French troops who died in WWI.

The history of Veterans Day

In the United States, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11, 1919, as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, which was originally intended to involve parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Congress made Armistice Day a legal holiday in 1938, declaring it "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace."

In 1947, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks organized a "National Veterans Day" in Birmingham, Alabama. His intention was to expand Armistice Day into a holiday that celebrates all veterans, not just those from World War I. This idea was later championed by U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas, who proposed a bill that would officially change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The bill was passed in 1954, and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later that year issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation," which read in part, "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose."

This year, veterans and citizens alike should again unite to appreciate the service of all veterans, with special attention paid to the century that has passed since peace was achieved with an Armistice signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 

Newly created position will play key role in driving legal strategy for growing organization

ALEXANDRIA, Va – The Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) and its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company, announced today the hiring of John N. Haramalis as Associate General Counsel joining the team that handles all legal and compliance matters for the enterprise.

“John’s impressive level of experience in AFBA’s core markets will be an invaluable asset to both our legal team and the organization at large,” said General Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart, USAF (Ret.), Chairman and President of AFBA. “As an accomplished attorney, a retired military officer, and a former law enforcement officer, John will add perspective and depth to our work and our mission – to serve those who serve this great nation.”

“As the organization has grown, the demands on our legal team have also increased. In this newly created position, John’s efforts will focus on litigation, addressing legal matters pertaining to our core markets, and advocating for legal issues critical to those markets,” said Mark Singleton, 5Star Life President. “We are delighted to welcome John to our group of professionals leading this organization into the future.”

Haramalis comes to AFBA and 5Star Life with experience in insurance law, voluntary life insurance programs, and military and veteran affairs. Prior to joining AFBA and 5Star Life, Haramalis was President and CEO of the National Guard Association of California for eleven years where he was responsible for legislative affairs and member benefits for the state association representing the 21,000 members and veterans of the California National Guard, the largest in the nation.

He served in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years starting as an enlisted soldier and retiring as a Colonel. A combat veteran with more than five years of deployment experience, he held senior leadership assignments at high levels in NATO, the National Guard, and the Army. In his last assignment, Haramalis came to the Washington D.C. area to serve in the Joint Intelligence Directorate of the National Guard Bureau as the Chief Liaison Officer to the Intelligence Community. His law enforcement career includes serving as Deputy Sheriff in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in California. In addition to a law degree, Haramalis holds four master’s degrees across several disciplines and earned a doctorate degree in International Legal Studies from Golden Gate University School of Law in California.

“I am excited to join AFBA and 5Star Life,” said Haramalis. “Through my legal work, I look forward to supporting the enterprise strategies and advancing our mission.”

About Armed Forces Benefit Association
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members providing death benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 650,000 members with $40 billion of death benefits in force and has paid nearly $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).

About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

 

The Southeastern United States has recently been battered by two hurricanes in as many months, beginning with the damage done to the Carolinas in September by Hurricane Florence, and escalating with the devastation wrought in Florida and Georgia in early October by Hurricane Michael.

And while many sad stories have come out of these two storms, the aftermath has also had the effect of highlighting the exceptional work done by the thousands of first responders who’ve volunteered or been pressed into service during this tumultuous period.

Region weathers some of the worst storms in recent memory

Though classified as a Category 4 major hurricane during peak intensity in early September, Florence had dissipated to a Category 1 when it made landfall on Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on September 14. Despite the downgrade in severity, Florence still possessed strength sufficient to uproot trees and cause mass power outages throughout the Carolinas over the next several days. The storm also spawned widespread freshwater flooding, producing as much as 35 inches of rainfall in some areas. In all, a total of 53 deaths have been attributed to the storm.

Less than one month after Hurricane Florence had finished its slow yet destructive crawl across the Southeastern U.S., the region was suddenly hit by the historic Hurricane Michael. When the Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, on October 10, it became the strongest storm on record in the Florida Panhandle. With maximum sustained winds of 155 mph – just 2 mph short of a Category 5 designation – Hurricane Michael also gained the dubious distinction of being the most intense landfalling U.S. hurricane in nearly 50 years. The impact was felt not just in Florida, but in Georgia, Virginia and parts of the Carolinas where wounds from Florence were still fresh.

The number of fatalities caused by Hurricane Michael stood at 36 some 10 days after landfall, though many more individuals remained missing and unaccounted for.

Area witnesses some of the best the country has to offer

While it is heartbreaking to reflect upon the loss of life caused by these two storms, the pair of tragedies has also produced many inspirational stories of first responders from both near and far descending upon the affected areas.

Just as the last of Hurricane Michael was finally dissipating on October 16, Forbes contributor Don Yaeger recalled sharing a flight with several dozen first responders on their way to his home state of Florida. When Yaeger asked a Sheriff’s Officer from Iowa if he was going there to help any family or friends living in the panhandle, the man answered, “I don’t know anyone there, I just know this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Fox 29 News Philadelphia reported on a Pennsylvania task force that spent 19 days assisting those in need in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Then, just days after the elite group of urban rescuers and paramedics had returned home to the Keystone State, the arrival of Hurricane Michael had them once again traveling over 1,000 miles south for another two-week deployment.

While the many first responders who came from miles away to lend a hand made truly admirable sacrifices, perhaps even more extraordinary were those who helped out despite being themselves victims.

CNN reports that in Panama City, Florida, one of the towns hit hardest by Michael, many local first responders were dealing with their own property damage and displaced families while still honoring their commitment to the wider community.

“While we’re here at work we’ve kind of got to put those emotions and things that are going on in our personal lives aside, because we have to worry about what’s going on here,” said Panama City Battalion Chief David Collier, whose own home was damaged in the storm. “We have to worry about our own personnel and the citizens we’re trying to protect.”

The full, lasting impact of Hurricanes Florence and Michael is still unknown, and will almost certainly bring more bad news further down the road. But we can all be grateful for the first responders who were on-hand to keep the immediate impact from being any worse.

 

If you’ve spent enough time in the military, you’re probably used to moving from one duty station to another—not to mention taking some extended trips overseas. But once you’ve moved on from your active duty military career and are finally getting to decide for yourself where to go, which location should you choose?

That’s the question a new report from Military Times attempted to answer. The magazine evaluated over 599 American cities based on: employment and population figures obtained from the 2016 Census; military installation locations documented in a Defense Department report; VA health and benefits information taken from the Veterans Affairs website; FBI crime reports; school ratings and area health data drawn from a variety of sources. After synthesizing all of that information, the publication came up with a list of the six best places for veterans to live.

The best big cities for veterans

Among the 83 large cities—defined as those with populations exceeding 250,000—that were examined, there were three cited as particular standouts.

Taking the top spot was Colorado Springs, Colorado, which was also just named “the most desirable place to live” by a 2018 U.S. News and World Report. While U.S. News praised the city’s easy access to mountain hiking and nearby resort skiing, Military Times cited the over 10,000 servicemembers and 53,000 veterans living there, as well as the large number of veteran service organizations present.

The sunny waterfront town of Virginia Beach, where veterans make up 17 percent of the population and earn more on average than nonveterans, was next on the list. Rounding out the top three was San Antonio, the historic home of the Alamo and the current home of Joint Base San Antonio. Last year, the populous Texas city actually trademarked itself as “Military City USA.”

The best medium-sized cities for veterans

Service members who don’t love the overwhelming feel of big cities or the slower pace of life in small towns may feel “just right” in the best cities for veterans with populations of at least 100,000 but fewer than 250,000.

Two of the top cities sit across the river from Washington, D.C. – Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia. The former boasts an unemployment rate for veterans and civilians below the national average, while the latter owes its spot to the Pentagon, the Iwo Jima Memorial and a fantastic area health rating.

Another mid-sized highlight is Olathe, Kansas, where veteran growth has outpaced overall growth by 17 percent to 5 percent, driven in part by the convenience of 16 nearby VA health centers.

The best small cities for veterans

With a population of 95,000, Portsmouth, Virginia, may be a small city, but it is located next to the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk. It’s also near 11 Veterans Affairs facilities and 10 military installations, and on average, former servicemembers make nearly double the salaries of nonveterans.

The Baltimore suburb of Glen Burnie, Maryland, is another diamond in the rough. The town of 69,500 boasts 26 VA health facilities within 25 miles, and although the unemployment rate is 7 percent higher than the national average, veterans make almost $20,000 more a year than nonveterans do.

New Braunfels, Texas, completes the list, thanks largely to having some of the best-rated schools around. With a population under 80,000, available housing, a good economy and small-town charm to spare, this is a great place to raise a family.

Whether you are looking to settle down in a sleepy little town, experience the bright lights of the big city, or do anything in between, there are plenty of great locales ideally suited to veterans excited to start living their life after the military.

In 2013, President Obama issued a proclamation officially recognizing November as Military Family Appreciation Month, marking it as a time to for the country to "celebrate the families who make daily sacrifices to keep our Nation whole."

Though it is far from the largest sacrifice they are asked to make, frequently having to relocate from one duty station to another can be a huge disruption in the lives of military families. Fortunately, there are cures for some of the headaches caused by moving.

If you move to a new location and your household goods aren't delivered on time, you can file an inconvenience claim with your transportation service provider (TSP) to get reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses you incurred while waiting for your stuff to show up. To ensure you're protected, though, it's essential to know which goods and services are eligible for coverage, and how you can file a claim.

What items are covered by inconvenience claims?

Inconvenience claims are simply a way to cover any personal expenditures you may have as a direct result of your TSP missing the required delivery date. That means if your bed hasn't shown up yet and you don't feel like subjecting your family to army cots, you can rent a bed or air mattress for the time being, and then submit your receipts to the TSP for a full refund.

Other types of rental furniture that can be covered by inconvenience claims include cribs, chairs, sofas, tables, appliances and one television per household.

Certain purchases are also covered. Any sheets, towels, paper plates, napkins, disposable cutlery or pots and pans you are forced to buy while waiting for your own stuff to arrive can be reimbursed, as long as you remember to save the receipts.

And if renting furniture and purchasing new cookware seems like too much of a hassle, you can potentially get your hotel bills and Chinese takeout paid for, as lodging and meals are also covered, provided they meet certain requirements.

What items aren't covered?

According to the Department of Defense's official customer moving portal, items expressly excluded from inconvenience claims include groceries and meals if a customer is in a residence, cleaning supplies, toiletries and cosmetics, snacks, military attire and personal clothing, school supplies, toys and any alcohol or drugs. Also, while "laundry service" is covered, dry cleaning is not. And any expenses that occur before the delivery date or out of the local area are also ineligible.

Additionally, the DoD requires that all expenses claimed "must be reasonable," and be directly related to "a definite hardship" caused by the delay in delivery. So while lodging expenses would be covered, a stay in the Plaza Hotel's honeymoon suite would not be. Similarly, although any necessary furniture rental should be eligible for reimbursement, this is sadly not your chance to freely relax on a $5,000 Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. The same goes for any purchases, with the DoD specifically singling out Wal-Mart, Target and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service as "reasonable" retailers.

To put an even finer point on it, the maximum liability for lodging and meal expenses cannot exceed the daily lodging and meal per diem rate, which can be found at the DoD's Travel and Per Diem website. For families, per diems are also based on the number of dependents, and while spouses are expected to share one room in a hotel, children or other dependents may be able to get their own rooms. However, any additional rooms must be pre-approved and authorized in writing by the TSP.

How do you file an inconvenience claim?

Inconvenience claims are handled not by the Department of Defense, but by the transportation service provider that was awarded your shipment. As such, you need to file directly with the claim department of your moving company.

Make sure you know your actual moving company—because TSPs frequently subcontract things like pickup and delivery, it's not necessarily the name you see on the truck. TSPs will typically send you an email with contact information when the shipment is first awarded, so hold onto that info. And because inconvenience claims are not a standardized procedure, you'll need to reach out directly to your moving company to find out how to proceed.

Military Times also notes that the best point of contact for servicemembers with moving-related problems is the personal property/transportation management office at their installation. Contact the office at the current location if you have issues related to pickup and packing, and get in touch with the office at your new location if there are problems settling in.

Move.mil is also a great resource for claim forms and other information, and the military relief society can potentially assist individuals and families experiencing a financial strain.

Nothing can completely alleviate the stress that comes from moving, but understanding how inconvenience claims work can help provide some peace of mind during a turbulent time.

 

To pay tribute to America’s first responders, the annual postseason college football game played at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl Stadium has been renamed the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. The bowl game formerly known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl will be broadcast by ESPN under its new name at 12:30 p.m. C.T., on December 26, 2018.

Police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, search and rescue, dispatchers, federal agents and specialized military personnel will be among the first responders honored at the event, according to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Additionally, game tickets for first responders will be underwritten by corporate sponsors.

“This is an exciting change, and we are humbled by the fact that an actual bowl game has been named exclusively for the first responders of this country,” said Dallas Fire-Rescue Fire Chief David Coatney.

Sentiments echoed by the city law enforcement officials

“We are truly honored to have a bowl game here in Dallas named after the hard working men and women serving and protecting communities across this country,” said Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall. “It always feels great to be recognized, and I know our officers and firefighters are touched by this overwhelming show of support.”

The TicketCity Bowl was played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas as a physical replacement for the Cotton Bowl, which left its namesake arena for nearby Arlington’s AT&T Stadium in 2010. The game was renamed the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank for the 2013 and 2014 contests, and has been known as the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl for the last four years.

The new title is the result of an agreement between ESPN Events and SERVPRO, a fire and water restoration company headquartered in Gallatin, Tennessee.

“We are proud to present the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl dedicated to honoring some of the hardest working men and women in our country” said SERVPRO CEO Sue Steen. “We recognize the dedication and selfless acts of our First Responders and are honored to help highlight and celebrate the commitment of these everyday heroes.”

“We are truly grateful for all first responders’ sacrifice and service,” added Brant Ringler, Executive Director of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. “It is a tremendous privilege to honor these brave men and women who protect our communities 24/7/365.”

The 2018 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be the ninth edition of this bowl game, and yet another entry in the rich, 89-year history of college football at Cotton Bowl Stadium, which also famously hosts the annual State Fair Classic and Red River Showdown. The venue was also the longtime home of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, and became known as “The House That Doak Built” in the 1940s, in reference to the large crowds drawn by SMU running back Doak Walker.

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will join the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on December 22 and the Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman on December 31 as the three college bowl games that pay tribute to our nation’s bravest men and women. Fans interested in attending the Armed Forces Bowl in person can purchase tickets now.

When servicemembers transition to civilian status, they must deliver their medical records from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently, no solution exists to seamlessly transfer this information – a fact that has vexed both the Pentagon and the VA. Because the two medical systems are incompatible with one another, it's possible that important information gets lost in the shuffle.

To remedy this situation, the VA is now undertaking the largest transition to electronic health records ever attempted in the U.S. Its goal is to create a system compatible with the Pentagon's.

Creating a new EHR system: A process that's taken decades

Lawmakers have pressed both organizations to create compatible EHR systems since at least 2000, according to Military.com. The VA has attempted this process many times, but each trial ended in costly failure. 

The latest attempt was an integrated electronic health record (iEHR) system known as the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture Evolution, or VistA Evolution. However, a 2017 audit from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found the VA spent about $1.1 billion between 2011 and 2016 on this project.

Despite the significant investment, former VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin determined VistA wasn't achieving its goals and needed replacement. Before he was removed by President Donald Trump, Shulkin began looking into off-the-shelf solutions, eventually settling on health information technology provider Cerner Corp. of Kansas City, Missouri.

Though Shulkin was never able to complete a deal with Cerner, his replacement, acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, awarded Cerner a 10-year, $10 billion contract. Additional costs could drive these expenses up to $16 billion. 

Monitoring the EHR process

Such an expensive project requires immense oversight to ensure funds are being allocated efficiently – something members of Congress know all too well.

"As the department embarks on the nation's largest overhaul, it is critical that we ensure veterans and taxpayers are protected throughout the transition," said Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee Rep. Phil Roe, R-TN, in a statement, per Military.com. "I know how much potential there is for a project like this to be a costly disruption. Congress has a duty to conduct rigorous oversight every step of the way."  

To maintain this efficiency and transparency, the House created the new Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. One of five such bodies within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, this new group is tasked solely with overseeing the new EHR implementation. 

It's not the only new group doing so, however. Now that the Cerner deal is in place, the DoD, the VA and the IPO are working to establish joint modernization governance bodies. These interdepartmental groups will improve interagency communication, promote sharing of resources and create a more collaborative decision-making process, according to EHR Intelligence. 

"If successful, it will be one of the lynchpins of a more responsive, agile, and efficient VA," said Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Chairman Rep. Jim Banks, R-IN, per EHR Intelligence. "If mismanaged, I fear a daunting and disappointing setback."

Given the amount of money involved, along with a history of failed attempts, it's safe to say that many different parties concerned with veterans' affairs, the DoD and government spending will watch this EHR project closely as it develops. If successful, the new technology will give servicemembers and veterans piece of mind, as they can rest assured that their health records will remain complete as they transition.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time for mental health providers, advocates, survivors and allies to promote suicide prevention awareness. This idea encompasses everything from reducing mental health stigma, promoting treatment and supporting intervention strategies. 

Suicide in America

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Rates have increased by more than 30 percent since 1999. In fact, Nevada was the only state to see a decrease in suicides during this time period.    

Suicide isn't just a mental health issue. Per the CDC, other contributing factors include relationship issues, substance abuse, stress and more. Yet it's important to understand how depression, anxiety and other emotional or behavioral issues contribute to such tragic circumstances. Rates of suicide may finally decrease if the stigma around mental health care disappears for good.

Events like Suicide Prevention Month – as well as Suicide Prevention Day and Suicide Prevention Week – were created to reduce this stigma and offer support to those who may be suffering. 

Veteran suicide statistics

Unfortunately, veterans are more likely to die by suicide than the general population. A report from the Department of Veterans Affairs found that although retired servicemembers make up 8 percent of people in America, they account for 14 percent of all suicides. Overall, nearly 21 veterans die by suicide every day, which translates to a rate that's 2.1 times higher than that of nonveteran adults.

There are numerous possibilities for why veteran suicide rates are higher than civilians'. One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's JAMA Psychiatry, found timing may have an effect. Researchers found that veterans who had little down time between deployment or who were initially deployed within the first year of service were at higher risk of suicide. 

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder are also culprits that may affect veterans more strongly than the general population. As the VA noted, veterans who suffer combat trauma, especially multiple wounds and/or hospitalizations, are at a high risk of suicide. The more times the person was subjected to trauma, the greater that risk increased. Similarly, one study found that PTSD and suicide had a strong correlation – more so than other anxiety disorders.

Resources for friends and family

The VA understands that suicide is a serious problem affecting veterans and servicemembers, and the department knows it's in a position to help. Veterans who receive mental health assistance through the VA are less likely to commit suicide than those who do not.

In 2007, the VA launched the Veterans Crisis Line to help veterans, servicemembers and their loved ones who may be having mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. The Crisis Line offers 24/7 support, 365 days a year, even if the caller isn't registered with the VA or enrolled in its health care services. 

Friends and loved ones should keep an eye out and look for signs of crisis among the veterans in their lives. Vets themselves should also look for these red flags so they can take themselves to treatment. Signs of possible self harm include:

• Continuous sadness or depression.
• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Agitation or mood swings.
• Sleeplessness.
• Excessive guilt, shame or sense of failure.
• Rage.
• Substance abuse.
• Neglecting personal care.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.
• Giving away cherished possessions. 

The Crisis Line, in collaboration with the VA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also created a handy tool called the Veterans Self-Check Quiz to help former servicemembers determine if they need treatment. Users can decide what to do after they take the assessment, whether that would be chatting with a responder, getting a referral for an in-person visit or nothing at all. 

While suicide and mental health issues affect veterans at a higher rate than the rest of the population, it's important to remember that help is available. National Suicide Prevention Month is the time for veterans, servicemembers and their families to spread awareness and end stigma once and for all.

The U.S. Air Force became a distinct branch of the military on Sept. 18, 1947. Yet its roots began decades beforehand. Throughout its history of 71 years, the Air Force has been a remarkable source of innovation and inspiration.

Here, we'll take a look at the branch's history in celebration of the date it was started.

A brief history of the Air Force

While the Air Force didn't become an official military department until after World War II, aviation emerged as a military interest decades earlier. The first group to arise from this interest was the Army Signal Corps Aeronautical Division, which was created Aug. 1, 1907. This organization was developed to oversee anything related to air machines, military ballooning and other related matters.

The Signal Corps began testing the first military airplane at Fort Myers, Florida. One of its original flights ended in disaster; Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, who was flying with Orville Wright, died during a crash on Sept. 9, 1908. Historical records consider Selfridge the first military aviation casualty, per Military.com.

However, on Aug. 2, 1909, the Army formally accepted what it called "Airplane No. 1."

Still, military aviators didn't serve in combat until around 1913. Early that year, servicemembers training in Augusta, Georgia, and Palm Beach, Florida, were ordered to take part in 2nd Division maneuvers. They were sent to Galveston, Texas on March 3 as the 1st Provisional Aero Squadron, led by Capt. Charles DeF. Chandler.

The squadron was the first military unit solely dedicated to aviation, and servicemembers began flying a few days later. It was also the Army's first air combat unit, and it's still active today.

Military aviators during wartime

The 1st Aero Squadron was the U.S. Army's air division during World War 1. By December 1915, the unit had 224 enlisted men, 44 officers and 23 planes, according to Military.com. This was only a fraction of the air power held by European countries, and the discrepancy forced the U.S. to devote more attention to aviation.

However, the U.S. may have been a bit overzealous with its response. At the time, all of the military's aviation power consisted of 24 squadrons, operating under different organizations. 

When World War 1 broke out, the U.S. transferred aviation from the Signal Corps to two other agencies. Having so many different groups made it difficult to coordinate them all. 

Today's Air Force

The National Security Act of 1947 restructured the way the U.S. government approached aviation and military endeavors. The act created the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense. This organization consisted of the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy and the new and improved Air Force. 

It was a long time coming, as aviation in the military had been through six different iterations:

• Aug. 1, 1907 to July 18, 1914: Signal Corps Aeronautical Division.
• July 18, 1914 to May 20, 1918: Signal Corps Aviation Section.
• May 20, 1918 to May 24, 1918: Division of Military Aeronautics.
• May 24, 1918 to July 2, 1926: U.S. Army Air Service.
• July 2, 1926 to June 20, 1941: U.S. Army Air Corps.
• June 20, 1941 to Sept. 17, 1947: U.S. Army Air Forces.
• Sept. 18, 1947 to present: Air Force.

The fact that the branch has lasted this long in its current form is encouraging. Currently, the Air Force has 320,923 servicemembers on active duty, 62,688 officers and 258,235 enlisted, per the Air Force's Personnel Center. As part of the U.S. military, it's one of the strongest forces in the world.

Government contractors – especially those working with the Department of Defense – have recently come under fire for poor data security. These organizations often hold and use sensitive data in their work, and a security breach has consequences not only for the business but the U.S. government as a whole. This statement is especially true for DoD contractors, who may have access to classified weapons plans or military strategies.

Unfortunately, per a report from BitSight Technologies, a significant number of contractors aren't nearly as secure as they need to be. When scored on the tech company's security ratings scale, federal agencies scored an average of 15 points higher than contractors. In fact, more than half of the latter businesses scored a letter grade below C in terms of protective technology. Furthermore, 20 percent of technology and defense contractors work on outdated internet browsers, and more than 8 percent of healthcare contractors have disclosed a data breach since 2016.

Something clearly needs to be done, and thankfully, the government is taking the issues seriously. In December 2015, the DoD published the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) minimum security standards to guide contractors that process, transmit or store Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Contractors had two years (until Dec. 31, 2017) to comply. Those that haven't yet must do so immediately or risk losing their working partnership with the DoD.

Complying with DFARS

DFARS was written to match security requirements set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Its extensive guidelines are available as part of a self-assessment handbook on the NIST website. 

Requirements in the handbook include:

• Limiting access only to authorized users (rather than every employee). 
• Limiting the functions that authorized users can perform.
• Controlling the flow of information so only relevant individuals have access.
• Separating duties so that multiple employees don't have access to the same information, thereby reducing the possibility of malevolent activity. 
• Limiting unsuccessful logon attempts, locking the application after a certain number of failures or after a specific amount of time has passed.  
• Automatically terminating user sessions after a defined condition, such as a certain period of inactivity.

Compliance options

The full DFARS handbook is much more thorough than the few examples shown here. As such, compliance can be incredibly difficult for contractors who don't know what they're doing.

Businesses do have the option of self assessing, as evidenced by the handbook, but leaving assessment to an inexperienced eye can lead to critical oversights or confusions that ultimately cost the company its contract with the DoD. It's best to dedicate DFARS compliance to an experienced security professional.

If contractors have no such employees on their staff, they can hire a third-party consultant – specifically one experienced in government compliance. Doing so can remove a lot of the headaches of evaluating and updating security, especially if the company in question has several improvements to make. 

Regardless of which option they choose, contractors must make certain their processes comply as soon as possible, lest they lose the support of the government and suffer financial consequences.