On Sept. 21, construction began on a new veteran's home in Chicago. The facility will offer physical and mental health care to 200 Illinois veterans, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The building, which will be five stories and cost approximately $70.5 million, will be the fifth assisted living home for veterans in the state. The Chicago Sun-Times noted that this will be the first one in the Chicago area, which is home to 60 percent of Illinois' vet population.
The new facility will have over 40 beds dedicated to patients suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia in an effort to boost attention to mental health in life after service, reported the Tribune.
According to the Sun-Times, veterans who served in foreign conflicts and are Illinois natives, as well as peacetime veterans who served for a minimum of one year, are eligible to apply. They will pay for their rooms according to their income.
The home is set to open in 2016, noted the Tribune. It has been in the works since 2009, but due to federal support and other funding obstacles the start of the project was delayed.
The construction was kicked off with a ceremony, during which Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn made a speech, noted the Sun-Times.
"Abraham Lincoln, who came from our state, said during the Civil War that it's the duty of all of us on the homefront to take good care of those who have borne the battle," he said.
Chuck Searcy, a Vietnam veteran, has spent the past 19 years working to clean up leftover bombs in the southeast Asian country.
Searcy served doing military intelligence in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. He was stationed in the area currently known as Ho Chi Minh City, reported Military Times. After working government jobs for most of his life after service, Searcy felt moved to return to Vietnam in the 1990s. He joined a group that specialized in giving braces to children affected by bombs, and has devoted himself to assisting bomb victims ever since, noted the source.
According to Military Times, 15 million bombs were dropped on Vietnam during the war. Many of these are unexploded cluster bombs that release smaller explosives known as bomblets. These are small in size and often picked up by curious children. Project Renew's website noted that an estimated 10 percent of those bombs remain unexploded.
Project Renew reported that 100,000 deaths and injuries have been caused by these explosive remnants of war, or ERW, since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975. Most of these are located in the Quang Tri Provence. It is the area previously known as the Demilitarized Zone, and it is where Searcy focuses his work.
According to Project Renew, its initiative is divided into three components. Firstly, ERW survey and clearance. Next, it educates local people on what the explosives look like and what to do if they see any. It also offers assistance to victims.
Searcy returns to his home in Georgia once a year to raise money for the cause, according to Military Times. As of now, he still feels he has work left in Vietnam and has no plans to move home permanently.
Just about 70 years ago, an American B-25 Mitchell bomber plane named "Maybe" crashed into an Italian mountain after sustaining damage from an attack. The two pilots, who were killed in the accident, will be honored by the village of Ronzo di Chienis, according to Military Times.
The pilots, Earl Remmer and Leslie Speer, are being remembered as heroes for multiple reasons. The two men worked hard to steady the aircraft, allowing the five crew members aboard to parachute to safety, before losing their own lives in the crash, reported Military Times. The people of Ronzo di Chienis consider them heroes for not detonating the bombs on board the B-25 in an effort to lighten the plane – an act of mercy they believe saved the town.
According to Townhall Magazine, surviving family members of Remmer, along with relatives of crew member Isidore Ifshin, will attend the ceremony. Military Times reported that current servicemembers from the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, who are based in Aviano, Italy, will also be in attendance.
Townhall noted that the event was set up by a local group that has written a book about "Maybe." A plaque with the pilots' names will be displayed near the area of the crash.
Sept. 18 marks the 67th birthday of the United States Air Force.
The armed forces branch was created in 1947 when President Harry S. Truman passed The National Security Act. According to Military.com, the Air Force has become about more than just flight – servicemembers also work in technical and support roles on the ground.
A celebration was held on Friday, Sept. 12, in Arlington, Virginia, reported CNBC. It featured performances by the U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team.
On the anniversary, current Air Force Secretary Deborah James reflected on past achievements and looked ahead to future obstacles. According to a piece she penned for The Denver Post, a strategic blueprint for the next 30 years was recently laid out, and a large focus will be placed on staying updated with cutting-edge technology.
James wrote in an op-ed for Air Force Times, "In the next three decades, we'll face declining defense budgets, changes in technology, nations and groups acquiring weapons, changing communications, and geopolitical instability. Our Airmen must prepare for a range of missions, and adapt ahead of the rapid pace of change."
Veteran unemployment rates, while improving, are still significantly higher than the national average, according to CBS News.
Veterans face many challenges in their life after service, including finding a steady job.
The mobile-app-based taxi alternative Uber is joining forces with the nonprofit organization Hiring Our Heroes to match 50,000 vets with driving jobs. According to CBS, Uber feels that the partnership will be mutually beneficial – in addition to lowering unemployment rates, the company will gain top-quality servicemembers with mission-oriented mind-sets and strong work ethics.
Politico Magazine published an article written by the CEO of Uber, Travis Kalanick, in partnership with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. In it, they described how the leadership and attention to safety demonstrated by veterans makes them perfect candidates for driver positions.
CBS noted that because Uber drivers use their own vehicles and create their own schedules, it can be a good opportunity for veterans attending school or raising families.
According to Politico, the new hiring initiative will also seek to find jobs for current servicemembers and military spouses. Uber has established an advisory board known as UberMILITARY in order to gain perspective, support and expertise from armed forces professionals.
El Dorado County, California, has been struggling to stop the King Fire since Saturday afternoon.
The forest fire, which now measures 18 square miles, is only 5 percent contained, reported USA Today. Local firefighters have enlisted the help of a Type 1 incident management team to help them face the out-of-control flames. According to source, around 1,555 firefighters are currently working hard to contain and eradicate the disaster.
Fox40 reported that many homes in the area have been forced to evacuate. El Dorado County also canceled school due to the fire's potential displacement of people in the area. The source noted that schools are also being used by firefighters to store equipment and by the Red Cross as emergency shelter.
While the magnitude and severity of the fire is definitely cause for concern, the situation is in the best hands possible. USA Today noted that the Type 1 team is made up of the most qualified and seasoned fire control specialists in the nation. According to The Yakima Herald, they will use their expertise to minimize the flames to a level manageable for local teams.
Kittitas Valley fire chief John Sinclair told The Yakima Herald, "The team typically buttons these things up pretty good. When they hand it back to the locals, they have done significant work."
Sept. 16 marks the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard. The attack was performed by Aaron Alexis, a Navy contractor and former sailor who was speculated to be mentally ill, reported The Washington Post.
The random shooting was eventually stopped by Carl Hiott, a U.S. Park Police Officer, and Dorian DeSantis, a member of the D.C. tactical police team, according to The Washington Post.
Twelve people were killed during the rampage. Their names were read by Vice Adm. William Hilarides during a ceremony at the site of the attack and they were symbolically awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for Valor, according to Military Times.
Additionally, eight servicemembers were honored for their actions during the shooting. They were awarded the highest non-combat honor, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, for acting quickly, evacuating colleagues and offering emergency medical care to those wounded during the attack.
The shooting took place in the former headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command, building 197. The building hasn't been used in a year due to the damage it sustained. Since 197's offices were moved to different offices in the area, many of the Naval employees hadn't seen one another since the attacks. Military Times described the ceremony as a bittersweet reunion.
Today President Obama is set to announce his plan for helping the Ebola crisis in West Africa. He will deliver the speech from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to The New York Times, the U.S. originally planned to send a mobile 25-bed hospital to Liberia, one of the countries struggling to combat the rapidly spreading disease. Due to the increasing severity of the situation, however, it appears much greater action will be taken.
The U.S. Agency for International Development reported that $100 million has already been devoted to fighting the disease, according to CNN. Obama will also ask Congress for an extra $88 million. These funds will be used to construct facilities to treat as many as 1,700 Ebola patients. The New York Times reported that the U.S. will also send 400,000 household medical kits to Liberia. These will contain items for disease prevention such as medicine, masks and gloves.
CNN noted that the U.S. also hopes to be instrumental in launching public health campaigns in areas where lack of information has caused the highly contagious disease to disperse quickly.
Obama will also announce his plans to send U.S. military and medical personnel to the affected region.
The New York Times reported that 3,000 troops will be sent to Liberia. The military will help with the construction of the new health centers, as well as with the training of medical workers. In order to handle the magnitude of the crisis, there are plans to train 500 workers per week.
According to CNN, Ebola has been responsible for an estimated 2,500 deaths already. While it is currently not seen as a threat to the health of Americans, Washington has declared the outbreak an issue of national security.
Today, President Obama will present Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins with the prestigious Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam. Normally these awards must be presented within three years of service, but Congress made an exception for Adkins, noted Military Times.
According to Military Times, Adkins spent 22 years as a servicemember and was deployed to Vietnam three times. He is being recognized for his heroic actions during his second deployment.
Adkins was working with the South Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defense Group at Camp A Shau on March 9, 1966, when Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces attacked, reported Army Times. Adkins sprung into action, taking down an estimated 135-175 enemy fighters. He was wounded 18 times himself, and still managed to fight back and help his wounded colleagues.
Adkins spent a total of 38 hours in battle and 48 hours escaping from the North Vietnamese forces, according to CNN. He even experienced a brief encounter with a tiger when it cornered both American and North Vietnamese troops, but was able to escape.
Eventually, Adkins and his surviving peers were rescued by a helicopter, according to Army Times. He went on to have a very successful life after service, receiving a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees. He taught college classes and owned his own accounting service. He is 80 years old and lives with his wife in Opelika, Alabama.
According to Army Times, four of the soldiers Adkins served with in Vietnam will be in attendance at the ceremony, which will take place at the White House.
Adkins told Army Times that he is honored to receive the award.
"Basically, it's a very humbling experience to be recommended for the Medal of Honor. What I attribute this to is not my actions but the actions of the other 16 Americans with us in the battle at Camp A Shau and especially the five Americans that paid the ultimate price."
The previously all-male Ranger school training course is now open to women, reported Business Insider.
The course, which often leads to positions in Special Forces, Army Rangers and special operations units, is physically grueling and boasts an exclusive 50 percent graduation rate. According to Business Insider, 60 percent of dropouts occur within the first four days, although the complete course lasts 62 days.
Military Times reported that the program is looking for female volunteers both as course participants and advisors. In a statement issued by the Army, women who want to take part in the course will need to complete a challenging fitness prerequisite – if they can run 5 miles, do six chin-ups, 49 push-ups and 59 sit-ups in no longer than 40 minutes, they are welcome to apply.
The female course advisors are not official course instructors, and ultimately have no authority in student evaluations, noted Military Times. However, they too must complete physical, mental and leadership exams in order to be considered for the program.
The integrated Ranger program is expected to launch in the spring of 2015. Business Insider reported that its successful implementation depends on female servicemember interest and eligibility.