According to a press release, Kentucky's Gov. Steve Beshear has named 2015 the Year of the Woman Veteran.
The Courier-Journal reported that the Southern state is home to 33,000 female former servicemembers. Women make up 10 percent of the overall veteran population. Over the next 12 months, Kentucky will introduce a number of programs and initiatives specifically geared toward helping this demographic of veterans achieve success in their life after service.
In April, the state will hold a conference to identify the needs of female veterans and to discuss issues of importance. Some of the topics that will be covered include mental health, physical health, employment, housing and education, reported the Courier-Journal.
The source noted that even though Kentucky's overall number of veterans has been declining in recent years, the number of former servicemembers who are women has been steadily on the rise. Female veterans are much less likely to seek benefits and services, however. Currently, less than 6 percent of Kentucky's women soldiers have filed claims with The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Throughout the year, KDVA will reach out to both women veterans and the general public to honor our heroic women veterans and connect them to veteran benefits and services," Beshear stated in the release.
The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center recently raised over $800,000 to build a new memorial, which will be known as the "Ring of Honor."
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the new project will honor all conflicts that have occurred since World War I. It will be located in the center of the building, near the downtown lakefront area. While visitors peruse the new memorial, which will be built from granite, they will also be able to enjoy views of picturesque Lake Michigan.
Significant portions of the funds that were raised came from The Milwaukee Rotary Club, as well as the Bradley Foundation, noted the source.
The Memorial Center is housed in the Milwaukee Art Museum, which was created after World War II with a space devoted to honoring veterans. The center also features a mural commemorating servicemembers. The MCWMC is a nonprofit organization that operates inside the building and is committed to honoring veterans, both after they have passed and continuously throughout their life after service. Some of its current exhibits include a memorial for soldiers who perished during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Milwaukee Business Journal noted that the project is expected to be completed near Memorial Day 2015.
The Coast Guard plans to upgrade its foghorns from its current old-style models to those with newer technology. The change will take place in New Hampshire and Maine communities.
According to the Associated Press, the new horns will be both safer and more effective. They will be activated through marine radios, as opposed to the current horns, which go off automatically when it is foggy. The new machines will most likely result in fewer blasts, noted the source, making them much more cost-effective options.
Community members in the affected regions are not thrilled about the change, reported Stars and Stripes. Because the old systems were going off frequently throughout the day, while the new systems chime only rarely, residents are concerned about their safety and effectiveness. While some residents are happy with the increased silence, most long-time dwellers of towns such as York, Maine, have been banding together in opposition of the switch.
The Coast Guard has decided to implement a year-long educational campaign to teach locals about the benefits of the new horns, which they hope will rally support in the seaside towns.
President Barack Obama announced on Sunday, Dec. 28, that the 13-year war in Afghanistan is officially over, reported NBC News. A ceremony was held in Kabul to symbolize what the president referred to as a "responsible conclusion."
According to Military Times, the ceremony was an exclusive event, with only hand-picked officials present. The International Security Assistance Force's green-and-white flag was taken down, rolled and sheathed. It was then replaced by a new banner meant to represent Resolute Support, the new international mission currently in place in the nation.
Speeches were given, mostly commemorating those whose lives were lost during the war. NBC reported that 2,200 U.S. troops were killed since the fighting began in 2001. Approximately 10,000 civilians lost their lives, while 5,000 Afghan soldiers died this year alone. Military Times noted that U.S. Gen. John Campbell, the current commander of ISAF, gave a speech in memory of the nearly 4,000 international troops who perished during the war as well.
"Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion," President Obama said in a release.
When the first responders of Henrico County, Virginia, heard 3-year-old Tommy Opperman's story, they knew they wanted to make his Christmas extra special.
According to WFSB, the little boy has experienced an incredible amount of loss in his short life. Two years ago he survived an accident that proved fatal for his mother. Tommy was being raised by his single father, Erik, a 44-year-old volunteer firefighter, until he unexpectedly passed from a heart attack only a few weeks ago. When local police officer Doug Trammell responded to the emergency call and realized that Tommy would be facing a life without his parents, he wanted to make sure the young child at least had a chance at a good Christmas.
According to WTVR, Trammell spread the word about Tommy's situation to other first responders, who raised $15,000. The money was given to Gretchen Miller, his aunt and now guardian, so she could purchase plenty of presents for both Tommy and his cousins, and save some toward his future. Miller also purchased clothes and household items for Tommy, who now lives with her family.
"We're going to re-start his life and have some fun," Miller told WTVR.
Veterans looking for employment in Minnesota will now have an edge when it comes to federal, state, county and city positions.
According to KTSP, the recently passed 2014 Veterans' Preference Act makes it easier for former servicemembers to be hired for positions like police officers and firefighters. In Minneapolis alone, the last 53 people hired by the fire department have been veterans. The source reported that civil service employers are largely satisfied with the arrangement, since the skills acquired by soldiers are useful in these types of jobs.
This initiative comes as a large number of troops return home from Iraq and Afghanistan in search of employment. KTSP noted that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans in their life after service sits at about 10 percent in Minnesota – 3 percent higher than the state's jobless rate among non-veterans. Officials hope that the hiring advantage will help close this employment gap, especially among young soldiers returning home.
The law states that servicemembers who served in active duty for 180 days and received general or honorable discharge qualify for the advantage. They must take the standard civil service test, but receive an extra 10 points on their passing grade due to their veteran status. Disabled veterans get an additional five points.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has partnered with Gov. Rick Scott and Building Homes for Heroes in an effort to provide disabled veterans with mortgage-free housing in their life after service. WXLTV reported that establishing this initiative was especially important for the governor, who is a Navy veteran.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, the DEO has approved a $2 million grant that will allow Building Homes for Heroes to construct or update the houses of servicemembers who sustained injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan. The nonprofit organization has already made an impact on the lives of veterans in the Southern state, building 13 mortgage-free homes over the past year.
Each residence is designed to fit the specific needs of the injured veterans, many of whom need special adjustments due to a permanent combat-induced disability. With increased support for state organizations, Homes for Heroes expects to build an additional 20 houses during 2015, reported the Pensacola News Journal.
"The state's support enables us to make a meaningful and memorable difference in the lives of our injured servicemen and women. In addition, we're seeing an extraordinary spirit of patriotism and community support all across Florida," stated Building Homes for Heroes president Andy Pujol.
The Department of Defense revealed on Monday, Dec. 22, that the Military's Basic Allowance for Subsistence will go up 2.9 percent starting next month.
According to Military Times, the BAS rate, which has historically been subject to cuts or only minor increases, is intended to help pay for the meals of servicemembers. It is part of the Military's commitment to providing soldiers with room, board and food while they serve.
The Lemoore Navy News reported that servicemembers receive BAS pay as a nontaxable monthly cash payment. Its rate is directly linked to the cost of food, as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's index. Once the new year begins, enlisted soldiers will receive $367.92 each pay period, up from $357.55 in 2014, according to Military Times. Officers will get $253.38, increased from this year's rate of $246.24.
While these increases are significant, basic pay for servicemembers will only go up by 1 percent, noted the Lemoore Navy News. General and flag officers will maintain their current salaries for 2015. The basic allowance for housing will actually decrease by 1 percent, since a new law requires it to cover 99 percent of living costs when it previously covered 100 percent, noted Military Times.
Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz, a pararescueman with the 22nd Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, was recently awarded the service's second-highest award.
According to Military Times, Ruiz displayed courage and valor during a situation in Afghanistan during December 2013. He was in the Kandahar Province when he and his fellow soldiers came under attack. Things moved quickly, and somehow he and two of his teammates became separated from the larger group. The servicemembers managed to gun down some of the attackers, but were eventually circled by enemy forces.
The source reported that both of Ruiz's colleagues were struck and severely injured. In an effort to save their lives, the solider fearlessly left his relatively safe spot and rushed to his friends. He protected them by expertly firing back at the plethora of enemy forces surrounding the group. Eventually, backup arrived, and Ruiz was able to help drag the wounded soldiers to safety, where he gave them life-saving medical care – all while he was wearing night vision goggles, noted NWF Daily News.
The two men Ruiz helped save were in attendance at the awards ceremony, which took place Dec. 17 at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Scott Schuelke, a retired police officer from Michigan, has a new mission: To educate first responders on how to properly interact with people who have an autism spectrum disorder.
According to the Associated Press, the former Lansing police sergeant now works for the Autism Alliance of Michigan as an autism safety specialist. He hosts seminars and training workshops to educate law enforcement officials about the disorders, which typically involve social and language barriers. Schuelke wants first responders to be able to effectively interact with autistic people they may encounter on the job or elsewhere in their lives.
The source noted that the former cop served on the force for 25 years. In his new role, he has hosted over 300 seminars and educated almost 10,000 people throughout the nation, just within the past three years.
Many cops who have experienced the training seminars feel that the information was extremely helpful. Often, they think back to situations where they had a hard time getting through to someone and realize that person was probably on the autism spectrum. If only they had had the proper communication resources, things could have gone a lot smoother. Some of Schuelke's students have children with autism, and they appreciate the skills they learned from the helpful seminars.
According to the Autism Alliance of Michigan, Schuelke covers a variety of topics throughout his training sessions. He focuses on risks that are close to home, such as people with autism wandering away – particularly to dangerous bodies of water – or having access to toxins. School risks are also highlighted, particularly the effects that bullying can have on someone dealing with autism and the potential for injury.
"The more we know about autism, then the better service that we can provide," stated seminar participant Mark Boody.