Senators in Connecticut recently announced a bill that aims to give women veterans more benefits and provide services that they can use as they transition to civilian life. The legislation, Senate Bill 904, is reportedly a top priority in the Senate session on April 8, 2015. 

Female veterans in need of enhanced outreach 
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a total of 20 percent of veterans in the U.S. are women. Connecticut is currently home to approximately 16,545 retired female servicemembers. Many of these veterans feel that it is still incredibly difficult to get jobs after returning from deployment. 

Shannon Lyons of Bridgeport was a U.S. Army veteran who fought in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. She told the Connecticut Post in an interview that she and her friends are still in need of help finding jobs and houses. Lyons currently lives at The PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home, which is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Home for the Brave to house homeless female veterans.

"If people go out and get a job, they're just getting by, but they're spending all their money on rent and cannot hope to save to buy a home," said Lyons. 

Senate President Martin M. Looney pointed out that there are more women home from war than there have ever been in the past. The resources that have been provided for them are no longer sufficient due to the large increase in people who need them. 

A bill long overdue
Democratic members of the Senate noted that the women who have been returning from war are usually younger than their fellow male veterans, but close to 84 percent of retired women servicemembers are old enough to work, according to RepublicAmerican.com.

The vast majority of these women do not know what their benefits are or which services are at their disposal. Improved outreach would make them more aware of what is available to them, explained Jackie Evonsion, the women's outreach coordinator for the American Legion Department of Connecticut. Evonsion is also a veteran herself, having served as a member of the U.S. Air Force. She explained that when she returned from war in her 20s, she too was unaware of the benefits she could have taken advantage of. 

The Senate Bill 904 requires that the Department of Veterans' Services develop a program that increases the number of females aware of their eligibility for state and federal aid. If it is passed, it will also become mandatory for the department to reexamine the needs of women vets, determining which benefits and services are needed but remain unavailable to them. Existing programs will also be assessed to ensure that they have been helpful.

Program members will also have to make recommendations for the commissioner of veteran's affairs each year on how to improve benefits and services. An additional change would include how the state defines a veteran. The bill would consider anyone discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service an eligible veteran.   

A plane crash that occurred on Dec. 8, 2014, took the lives of six people when it struck a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Within minutes of the incident, first responders were at the scene of the crash to put out the fire and save any survivors they could find.

To honor their courage and commitment to protecting the lives of others, Montgomery County presented the servicemen with an award at Montgomery County's 41st Annual Public Safety Awards.

Quick response earns praise
Montgomery County Police Officer Michael Simpson was one of the first responders to arrive at the scene. He told WUSA9 that as soon as they received the call that a plane had crashed into the house, they sent as many units to the address as fast as they could. He noted that they never had a call like that one before and knew they had to act quickly. 

"I went into the garage, cleared out a way for the fire department who was coming very quickly behind me, kicked out the garage door and had to be turned back by intense smoke and flame," Simpson explained to the news source. 

The combination of the intense fumes and smoke released by the jet fuel and the destruction done to the home made it nearly impossible to do anything until a good number of firefighters had made it to the scene. After an hour, the servicemen had extinguished the fire enough to bring victims who were nearby the house when the aircraft struck to safety. 

A team effort 
The officials who were recognized at the ceremony said that they were honored to receive such an award. However, they remained humble and noted that they were only doing their jobs, wishing that they could have done more. 

Those who were honored included members from Paramedic Engine 728 Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, 6th District Station Montgomery County Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, according to WJLATV. 

"If it wasn't for the quick response of fire and rescue, if it wasn't for all the other units there … we couldn't have gotten there as fast as we did. I just wish we could have done more," Simpson told WJLATV.

Ken Gemmel lost his wife and two young sons as a result of the crash. He issued a statement praising the responders for their bravery and efforts on Friday, according to WUSA9.

"I am pleased that the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has recognized the great efforts of the various divisions of Montgomery County Pubic Safety made on the day of the tragedy. I have nothing but respect for what they tried to do that day and I am proud of their outstanding efforts especially considering how dire the situation had become for themselves," said Gemmel in the statement.

The recipients of the award said that it was a team effort that required the courage of every servicemember on site that day and stated that they would like to share the award with all of the first responders involved.

Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Medal of Chevalier of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor is France's highest decoration. Over the past several years, the French government has been searching for veterans who fought in France in World War II to award them with the honorable medal. Recently, the government was successful in finding multiple veterans who deserve the honor. 

Oklahoma veterans receive Legion of Honor
According to NewsOK, the French government recently gave this honor to two soldiers from Oklahoma who helped defeat the Germans in WWII nearly 70 years ago. One of those veterans was 89-year-old Preston Johnson, an infantryman who stepped on a land mine during his deployment and lost part of his right leg.

Earl J. Gonzales, 92, was a member of New Orleans' Washington Artillery Regiment that fought in France and Italy during the battles of Salerno and Monte Cassino. 

"Few generations can say that they changed the world. But your generation, Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Johnson, literally changed the world. All of us who have come after owe you an eternal debt of gratitude," said Grant Moak, the honorary French consul who presented the Legion of Honor to the two veterans, according to the news source.

Johnson and Gonzales sat in the front row in a room in the 45th Division Museum where they were awarded the Legion in the company of fellow veterans and supporters.

A humble hero
Another veteran, George Johnson of South Dakota, did not know he would be given such an honor until he received a letter in the mail asking for evidence that he was still alive. Once he sent proof, he was invited to receive the prestigious Legion of Honor medal in April for his sacrifice during battle.

"Rumors were, the Germans were going to surrender. And then all of a sudden early one morning, we were going across the Moselle River just at sunup and we get down there and we didn't even get our little boats in the water. They were in the mountains, the hills on the east side, and – boom boom – they're with their artillery, just got us all. And that's where I got wounded," said Johnson, according to KSYF.com.

Although Johnson severely injured his left leg, he said he never let that get him down and still enjoys his hobbies. At 90 years old, he gives credit for his positive outlook to the people around him that have made his life worth living.

A major step has been taken toward properly honoring military servicemembers who went missing in action or became prisoners of war. U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Marco Rubio have introduced a bill to the Senate and House that focuses on admiring the incredible sacrifice that these soldiers have made for their country.

Commemorative chair set to honor POW/MIA
The National POW/MIA Remembrance Act will establish a permanent chair on the grounds of the United States Capitol. There are currently 91,662 servicemembers that the commemorative chair will honor. According to eNews Park Forest, the legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by senators Robert Menendez, Sherrod Brown, Pat Toomey, Jeanne Shaheen, Edward J. Markey and Kelly Ayotte. 

Warren has three brothers who served in the military, noting that she knows firsthand how much the loved ones of military servicemembers have to sacrifice. Just as important as it is to honor those who fought and returned home safely to their families, it is crucial that the country remembers those who were never able to return home. The National POW/MIA Remembrance Act will serve as a reminder of the lives of these men and women. 

More than honor
Lynch noted that the U.S Capitol is one of the most powerful symbols of the country's history and accomplishments. The prisoners of war and those missing in action have served the nation with bravery and honor, leaving no better location to remember them. The chair will serve as a long-lasting reminder to their loved ones and the nation as a whole that we will never take their service for granted. 

"I am proud to support this commemorative act to honor the thousands of POW/MIA servicemembers and their families, all of who have made great sacrifices for the protection and freedom of our nation," Sen. Rubio noted in a written statement, according to eNews Park Forest. "While this can't fully express our gratitude to these brave men and women, this small act will serve as a reminder to everyone who visits the U.S. Capitol to never forget the service and sacrifices of our armed forces and their families."

It is more than just honor and remembrance that we owe MIA and POW servicemembers, but a tremendous debt that we must work to repay every day. 

One of the struggles that military veterans face during life after service is mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder. It is difficult for spouses and children to understand the side effects of such mental disorders.

This is the very problem that Army veteran Seth Kastle faced upon returning home after 16 years of active duty in Qatar, Afghanistan and Iraq. To help his wife and 6-year-old daughter, Raegan, understand what he is going through, he wrote a children's book called "Why is Dad So Mad?" 

No matter what, there is love
Kastle's story explains the anger and memory issues that he experiences due to his PTSD. He told NBC News that he decided to write the book after he searched for resources to assist him in communicating his illness to his family and found very few options available. 

After writing the story, he started a Kickstarter fundraiser to get the book illustrated and published. In just eight hours, the campaign achieved its goal of $3,000, eventually reaching $6,000. He was able to hire illustrator Karissa Gonzalez-Othon and designer Lyndsey Dugan to help him get the book ready for publishing. 

The plot includes a family of lions, whose father is experiencing PTSD. Kastle uses a powerful metaphor to describe how his symptoms feel, in which the father lion has a fire that he cannot control burning in his chest. This made it possible for Raegan to understand that although it may be challenging for her father to show it at times, he always loves her and is happy to be home.

"No matter what, when they're mad or sad at you, they still love you," Raegan told NBC News as she read the book in her playroom. "There's always a fire in his heart, but no matter what, I know there's love."

A powerful resource for military families
PTSD is one of the most common conditions experienced by veterans and can have a major impact on the general well-being of those affected and their families. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, up to 20 percent of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD within the first year of returning from deployment in Iraq. Past wars have seen even higher numbers, including the Vietnam War, where 30 percent of active duty members experienced the condition.  

The Huffington Post noted that Kastle wrote the book for his family, but hopes that it will eventually gain enough popularity to help retired military servicemembers across the nation with PTSD explain the condition to their loved ones. 

"I hope that other military families have a chance to sit down and explain to their kids that it's not always going to be easy, but they'll get through it," Kastle explained to NBC News. 

Kastle is currently using the extra funds donated to his first story for a new book that focuses on helping veteran mothers with PTSD. 

The University of Indiana has recently announced that it will be holding the Veterans Interprofessional Case Competition on April 7. The event will focus on introducing 30 USI students training to become health care providers to the unique needs of veterans during life after military service and the post-combat experiences they may face. Military experts from across the country, along with faculty members, will educate students during the workshop. 

The impact of war on servicemembers and loved ones
According to the university, Vaughn DeCoster, Ph.D., associate professor of social work, noted that almost 8 million military servicemembers have been sent to war over the past 50 years. Not only does this impact the servicemen, but their loved ones as well.

Due to the large number of people impacted by war experiences, health care providers are more than likely to treat one of these patients. DeCoster explained that students working toward a career in health care or social service should learn how to care for these patients. In order to deliver high-quality care to veterans and their families, social service and health care employees must work together to remain sensitive to their patients' specific needs and experiences.

Future care providers prepare for patients with war-related issues
The workshop will start with the presentation of the colors by USI's Reserve Officer's Training Corps color guard. The students invited to attend the event will be pursuing a career in social work, occupational therapy, food and nutrition or nursing. 

During the event, veterans will recite case vignettes to interdisciplinary student teams, who will then develop and present an intervention plan to a panel of experts. 

"This activity is unique because it combines essential knowledge of the military, combat and post-war readjustment, along with evidence-based approaches and local resources," said DeCoster, according to a news release by the university. "During this team activity, students will apply what they have learned and interact with care providers and actual representatives from the veteran patient population. This is a great opportunity for the student teams to learn assessment skills, identify key problems, develop a holistic intervention plan and problem solve possible care challenges."

One guest speaker, Tony Sanavria, a retired lieutenant colonel after 25 years of active duty, will educate the students on what it is like to be on tour during wars in Iraq, Korea and Afghanistan and explain the issues that he and his friends had to face once they returned to civilian life. This will reach students on an informative and emotional level.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald recently visited Helena, Montana, to discuss health care with the area's veteran population.

McDonald shows commitment to veterans 
The Great Falls Tribune reported that McDonald engaged in a roundtable discussion at the Montana National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. He was joined by representatives from local veterans groups, universities and state veterans agencies. The meeting was just one of his stops – he will continue to travel around the state all week, speaking with Montana vets and touring area VA facilities. McDonald has been in his position since July, when he took the job after Eric Shinseki resigned amid a public scandal concerning long wait times at VA facilities across the country. Since taking over the seat, McDonald has visited 20 states to speak with local veterans, noted Military Times.

McDonald started his speech by acknowledging the state's vast servicemember community, since Montana has the second-highest per capita veteran population in the country. He explained to local vets that the government is well aware of the sizeable number of soldiers in the region and will continue making health care for Montana vets a top priority. 

Significant changes to come 
McDonald's first order of business is to hire new staff to care for Montana veterans, largely due to a hefty claims backlog that he would like eradicated by the end of 2015. While local VA centers are currently having employees work overtime to sift through these claims, he noted that not only is this unacceptable, but unsustainable. McDonald acknowledged that the nation's veteran population is only growing larger, especially in Montana, and that the VA needs to step up its efforts to deal with the expanding demographic, noted the Great Falls Tribune. 

Military Times explained that McDonald has already started hiring new Montana VA workers, including cardiology nurses and urologists. He hopes to place a bigger focus on bringing in talented mental health workers, responding to a nationwide push for increased attention to the psychological well-being of former soldiers. The source noted that he specifically hopes to bring qualified mental health specialists to rural areas, where local vets might not have easy access to this type of care. The source also noted that the VA is looking into constructing more Montana outpatient surgery facilities, providing increased access to telemedicine services and even creating a transportation program for vets with limited access to cars. 

The recent addition to the VA has also been influential in spearheading investigations at centers across the country where patients reported receiving low-quality care. He has also renewed the organization's commitment to ending veteran homelessness, reported the source. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced it would be granting $30 million to help Los Angeles area homeless veterans in their life after service. The grant comes as part of a larger initiative, explained a VA news release. The department will be giving $93 million in total toward this cause, and the money will be distributed across 15 U.S. cities. The larger initiative is known as the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. 

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the money will be used over the course of three years. It will be invested in both consumer cooperatives and private nonprofit institutions committed to providing veterans and their families with housing. The ultimate goal is to provide low-income and at-risk servicemembers with the resources they need to get off the streets and into permanent residences. 

"This is a program that works, because it allows VA staff and local homeless service providers to work together to effectively address the unique challenges that make it difficult for some veterans and their families to remain stably housed," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. 

On Monday, March 30, the White House and the Pentagon agreed to support a proposed overhaul of military pay and benefits packages. According to USA Today, the change also includes putting servicemembers on a 401(k) retirement plan. 

Military Times explained that the 15 recommendations were created by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission and were officially sent to Capitol Hill in January. If these are all finally approved, they will establish new investment accounts for all military personnel. Additionally, they will reduce service pensions by 20 percent and revamp current insurance offerings to make them resemble typical civilian plans.

All together, the changes would save $12 billion annually. USA Today explained that this cost-cutting is a driving factor behind the adoption of the new plans, especially for the Pentagon. The source explained that the cost of supporting personnel according to the current benefits has gone up by 46 percent over the past 10 years. If it continues to expand at this rate, it will take up the entire defense budget over the next 24 years. 

While no official commitment has been made, President Obama is expected to approve the pay overhaul sometime before April 30. 

The Veterans Affairs department recently announced its plan to loosen one of its policies to make it easier for former soldiers to access quality medical care in their life after service. The current standard dictates that veterans have to live at least 40 miles in a straight shot from the closest VA medical facility in order to qualify for government-funded private health care services. The Washington Post reported that the updated rule will instead measure distance in driving miles, using programs like MapQuest and Google Maps to get an accurate reading. 

Distance rules adjusted 
This change is part of an ongoing attempt to revitalize the VA as a whole and deliver proper health care to former servicemembers. The Wall Street Journal noted that this rule adjustment is being made to the Veterans Choice Act, a piece of legislation that was passed last year after many vets reported medical complications directly linked to long wait times at VA institutions. While the act was a good start, its original method of distance measuring immediately drew criticism from lawmakers and veterans advocates alike. 

According to The Wall Street Journal, the straight-line distance policy was not doing much to help rural vets, who, despite living within a 40-mile straight line, may need to take roundabout routes to access highways and commercial roads, making their actual driving experiences much longer than that. By plugging their home addresses and VA destinations into commercial mapping programs, however, they are able to prove that their health care commute may actually total well over 40 miles, making them eligible to receive VA-funded private care. 

Reactions positive, but more can be done
The adjustment was met with applause by critics who had been pushing to have it changed. The Washington Post reported that House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller described the new rule as "a welcome, commonsense change" to the VA health care system. 

Despite the support for the change, however, some still feel as though the government should be doing more to provide former soldiers with exceptional medical care. The Wall Street Journal explained that the rule does not take into account what type of VA facility the veteran in question lives near, which could contribute to medical issues. For example, a vet requiring special treatments who lives near a VA institution that does not offer them will not be able to take advantage of government-funded private care. Likely, he or she will still have to make a long commute to a far-away VA center that does offer these treatments, or he or she will need to pay for private care by him or herself. This is a major concern for many veteran groups, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, an organization that is continuing its campaign to adjust this policy. 

The Washington Post indicated that the new distance rule will be implemented sometime in the coming weeks.