The Department of Defense recognizes April as the Month of the Military Child, and on Friday some of the Pentagon's top officials honored many of the brightest young members of the military community. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey was on hand at the Military Child of the Year Awards Gala to pay tribute to one child from each branch who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, reports American Forces Press Service.
Among those who was recognized this year was Mark Michael Newberry, an 18-year-old who lives at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington. Despite having moved 10 times, he still finds time to give back to the community. Among his many contributions are teaching Sunday school and volunteering at the VA thrift shop. Dempsey had nothing but praise for Newberry and the millions others like him.
"These are incredible young men and women who not only do their parents proud, but do their schools proud, their friends proud, their communities proud and ultimately the nation proud," Dempsey told the gathered audience.
Newberry was not the only child to be honored. Nicole Marie Daly, Abigail MaryRose Perdew, Alexander Ray Burch and Amanda Wimmersberg were all recognized for their selfless attitudes and dedication to the military community.
With suicide rates on the rise, improving soldiers' access to mental health care has been a serious issue in the military community over the last several years. While some positive steps have been taken, it's clear more needs to be done, and one Indiana lawmaker recently introduced a pair of bills to help address those concerns. The two pieces of legislation call for both better mental health assessments when soldiers separate from service and clearer guidelines on what services are available, Navy Times reports.
The proposal
The two bills were introduced by Rep. Andre Carson, who is no stranger to having similar legislation signed into law. In 2011, Congress passed two laws he spearheaded. This time, the first bill he is putting forth, known as The Military Suicide Reduction Act, is geared primarily toward improving how the mental health of soldiers is assessed. The thought process is that with better screening, those who are most at risk for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions can be more easily identified. The other bill, The Military Mental Health Empowerment Act, aims to encourage soldiers to seek counseling if they need it, which can often be a problem.
"We are quick to diagnose and treat service members who are injured in combat, with medics rushing to those who are struck by enemy IEDs or gunfire," said Carson. "But when it comes to the mental health challenges placed on our service members, we abandon them through months of deployment to deal with post traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts."
Is there enough money?
Carson's proposals will likely have a lot of support from both Republicans and Democrats, but at a time when Pentagon officials are looking to cut costs, there may not be enough funding for new mental health programs. In fact, already-existing programs may face some budget cuts. Specifically, research on mental health issues could be stalled in the coming years, according to Rep. Joe Wilson, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's military personnel panel.
A significant concern
Despite the budget crunch, mental health is among the most prevalent concerns in the military community. While there are no set figures, an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have symptoms of PTSD.
At a time when much of the Armed Forces are looking to scale operations back, the Navy may be going the opposite route. As revealed in the branch's budget, which was released Tuesday, the Navy is looking to add 8,600 sailors to its ranks over the next six years in an effort to grow its capabilities, Military Times reports.
The proposed addition of sailors means that other priorities may be delayed. For instance, the budget pushes back necessary repairs for two of the Navy's vessels. However, it's important for the branch to add crews to ships and strengthen their cyber security division. Officials expect to add about 1,000 sailors each year, while also focusing on building new ships and acquiring new planes.
"The Navy's going to grow slowly over time," Rear Adm. Joe Mulloy, the deputy assistant Navy secretary for budget, told reporters. "We've pretty much reached the point where, to be able to operate with the force we have and to be able to properly man and train, we need these forces."
Mulloy's announcement comes as the debate continues over the recently-released Pentagon budget, which was announced on Wednesday. The proposal includes several areas of contention including reduced active duty pay raises and increased TRICARE fees, according to The Associated Press.
President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for 2014 on Wednesday, and while it included spending cuts to many government agencies, military families are likely most concerned about what it has in store for the Department of Defense (DOD). While the reduction in spending is not as drastic, the budget does include several changes that members of the military community may not be happy about including capped pay raises and an increase of TRICARE fees, reports Military Times.
What's getting cut?
The proposal includes just under $527 billion for defense spending in the 2014 fiscal year and places a significant emphasis on the growing American interest in Asia and the South Pacific. While the figure stands at only about 1 percent lower than last year's budget, it's what's being cut that has raised the ire of some servicemembers. Active duty soldiers would see just a 1 percent pay raise starting January 1, which is a bit lower than the traditional 1.8 percent raise they usually receive. Furthermore, TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for working-age retirees under 65 are expected to increase in the coming years. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that while the cuts may be unpopular, they are necessary.
"The longer we put this off, the harder it is going to be – particularly given the uncertainty that still exists about future levels of military spending," he said in a prepared statement after the announcement of the budget.
Some funding stays
In contrast to the belt-tightening aspects of some of the other parts of the proposal, the budget maintains funding for some important projects. Specifically, it still sets aside billions of dollars for the manufacturing of next-generation warships and planes, such as the F-35 fighter, Forbes reports.
Facing an uphill battle
Although Obama officially announced the budget on Wednesday, it will likely face a number of challenges when it goes up for a vote in Congress. According to Military Times, certain aspects of the bill in particular have been met with criticism by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. For instance, the issue of base closings is particularly unpopular among legislators, especially those who represent areas with high numbers of military families. Members of Congress have also bristled about the lower pay raise, which will not keep pace with civilian pay.
Baseball season is in full swing, and for one charity that means it's time to support military families. Hitting for Heroes, an event launched by the Missouri-based Little Patriots Embraced and Wounded Warriors, recently welcomed children and families to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where they got to have batting practice on the same field where the St. Louis Cardinals play every home game, NBC affiliate KSDK reports.
Along with providing military families with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the event served as a fundraiser for Little Patriots Embraced, which works to provide financial assistance to families who may be struggling. Above all else, however, organizers hope it reminds the civilian community about the sacrifices military families make on a daily basis.
"We're here just to let everyone know across the nation how important these children are, and how important these families are to everyone. Carol Watanabe, founder of Little Patriots Embraced, told the news station. "I mean, we need to recognize them for their sacrifice."
Hitting for Heroes is just one of many evens held throughout the country to pay tribute to the military community. Operation Homefront is another such charity, and it has been one of the leading organizations to do so by providing everything from food assistance program to help with home repairs.
A legendary chaplain who helped hundreds of troops get through life in a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during the Korean War is set to receive the Medal of Honor 62 years after his death. Rev. Emil Kapaun, who passed away inside one of the camps due to pneumonia, has been hailed a national hero over the last half-century for his work helping troops survive under the harshest conditions, and now he'll be given the military's top honor, The Associated Press reports.
President Barak Obama will present the medal to Kapaun's family, along with several of the soldiers he served with, on April 11, marking an end to a decades-long fight on his behalf. Much of the effort was led by Lt. Robert Wood and Lt. Mike Dowe, who were in the POW camp with Kapaun. Despite Kapuan having a high school named after him, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, and many other accolades, Dowe, Wood and others felt the Medal of Honor was the only appropriate way to commemorate the chaplain's service.
"He's in my prayers every night," Dowe told the AP. "I ask him to help me rather than asking God to help him."
Kapaun is not the first chaplain to be given the Medal of Honor. One of the most recent to receive honor was Charles J. Watters, who was awarded the distinction posthumously, after he died trying to rescue wounded troops in Vietnam.
Eric Shinseki, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, has come under a great deal of scrutiny lately. Many veterans' advocates have called for his resignation as they become increasingly frustrated over the growing backlog for disability claims. Despite the criticism, President Barack Obama recently announced that he stands behind Shinseki and his plans to streamline the claims process and improve treatment for America's servicemembers, Military.com reports.
Ballooning backlog
Some of the most significant criticism came recently from a column published in Time magazine. The article's author said that care for veterans has become worse since Shinseki took over the post of VA secretary four years ago, and as tens of thousands of troops separate from service it may get worse. In fact, the claims backlog has surpassed 900,000 and grown more than 48 percent since 2008.
Despite the discouraging figures, Shinseki has steadfastly remained committed to his original plans, according to the website. Specifically, he wants to provide more VA access for vets, reduce the backlog and eliminate homelessness among veterans. Critics say he's not moving fast enough.
Progress on the horizon
While there are undoubtedly legitimate criticisms, the VA may soon be able to put a dent in the sizeable claims backlog thanks to certain provisions in Obama's 2014 budget. While many other areas of the government have seen a cut in funding, the VA will receive an increase. Specifically, the Veterans Benefits Administration will be given a 13.6 percent increase in funding to $2.5 billion, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to transitioning to a paperless claims system. The budget also includes $7 billion for veterans' mental health care.
"The president has made clear to us this is a national priority," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said during a recent press briefing, according to The Washington Post.
Communication breakdown
One of the biggest problems facing the VA is the fact that it and the Department of Defense (DOD) don't use the same electronic health records, so when a soldier moves from one department to the other, the transition can be difficult. The two departments had started to work on creating an entirely new system, but earlier this year made changes to the plans. Instead, they hope to integrate the two systems by the end of July.
The victims and first responders of the September 11 terrorist attacks have been memorialized in a variety of ways over the last 12 years, and a unique tribute by the Navy recently became the latest. The USS Arlington was officially commissioned in front of thousands at Naval Station Norfolk and was dedicated to the 184 people who died when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, reports The Associated Press.
The state-of-the-art warship is the third such vessel to be launched as a tribute to those who perished that day, but this one features a unique memorial. Artists forged around 200 pounds of steel that were salvaged from the wreckage into a pentagon that will always be located on the ship as a solemn reminder of the tragedy. Cmdr. Darren Nelson, the ship's operating commander, knows he has a mission, but he also understands the Arlington's importance.
"We are not a memorial, we are a warship. But we carry the spirit of those 184 people that died that day. We know why we got our name," he told the AP. "We teach that to the crew. Every crew member that shows up on board this ship learns and understands that 184 people gave their life for us."
In 2009, the USS New York was officially commissioned. As a tribute to those who died at the World Trade Center, the ship was constructed in part by using steel collected from Ground Zero.
There are approximately 1.8 million children who have a loved one in the Armed Forces, and they often face challenges other youngsters do not encounter. In an effort to recognize their sacrifice, April is being recognized as the Month of the Military Child, and a traveling exhibit of artwork created by the kids of service members is making its way through some of the most important buildings in Washington, D.C., the American Forces Press Service reports.
The exhibit, which contains almost 50 paintings, drawings and writings, started off at the Department of Education. Aside from offering a glimpse into the creative minds of military children, each piece contains an explanation on the back as to why each child created what they did. Cindy Simerly, the marketing chief for the Military Child Education Coalition, says that the program is a unique representation of the challenges the military community's members have faced over the last decade.
"The exhibit is a powerful medium for military children to express their experiences over a decade of war, and to show their sacrifices," Simerly told the news source. "It's a way for the children to express themselves in a way that they might not be able to do in words."
After stopping at the Department of Education, the roving exhibit will make its way to the headquarters of the Department of Defense Education Activity as well as the house of Vice President Joe Biden.
The March employment report came out on Friday, and while the economy added fewer jobs than expected, the news was much better for post-9/11 veterans. Statistics from the Department of Labor revealed that the unemployment rate for soldiers who have joined the military after September 11 dropped to 9.2 percent, down slightly from 9.4 percent.
The improvement marks a continuing trend of slight improvement that indicates the many initiatives aimed at veterans' employment are paying dividends. Many of the programs have been aimed at helping soldiers transfer skills they learned in the Armed Forces to jobs in the civilian world. Many of these are common sense moves, such as making it easier for troops to earn certification for jobs they are well qualified to do.
"It's hard for me to believe that a guy can drive a truck in combat but he can't drive one on the highways. I mean, what the hell is that all about?" John E. Hamilton, commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told NBC News recently. "You've got a [medical] corpsman out there in field with Marines doing everything short of open-heart surgery but he can't be an EMT when he gets home."
While the unemployment rate is improving, lawmakers recognize their work is not done. In fact, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee plans on reviewing all the proposed legislation next week, Military Times reports.