Early last year, President Barack Obama unveiled a new defense strategy that would shift focus from the Middle East to strengthening security ties in Asia. Now, with U.S. forces set to leave Afghanistan and the looming threat of budget constraints, newly-sworn in Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a review of this new strategy to see if there are any areas for improvement, according to The Associated Press.
Pentagon officials did not say whether the review will mark a change in strategy, but they did suggest that Hagel was interested in better understanding the decision-making process that led to the shift in policy. Army leaders also said it's important to re-examine the policy due to the recently implemented cuts that will slash about $43 billion from the budget over the next several months, along with hundreds of billions more over the next 10 years.
"As I stand here, I don't yet know how much our defense strategy will change, but I predict it will," Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said recently, according to the AP. "We'll need to relook [at] our assumptions. We'll need to adjust our ambitions to match our abilities."
In his less than one month as Defense Secretary Hagel has already laid out some ambitious plans. Most recently, he unveiled $1 billion in missile defense plans, according to FoxNews.com.
The War in Afghanistan has been ongoing for more than 11 years, and during that time around 2,200 servicemembers have lost their lives in combat. In an effort to pay tribute to the fallen troops, a former sailor who was deployed in Afghanistan recently completed an impressive undertaking. Earlier this year, Ron White constructed a temporary wall and wrote the name of every servicemember killed in action on it – all from memory, Military Times reports.
White started the process in May 2012 when he began to commit the names of every soldier to memory. In February, he began the painstaking process of constructing the wall and writing all the names, a task which took him an estimated 11 hours. The unique tribute garnered attention from families of servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan and many people stopped by to witness the progress. It certainly was not an easy task.
"It was emotionally draining, physically and mentally," White told Military Times.
White expects to repeat the tribute several times in the future at other places throughout the country. While he is working on that, however, there are numerous other tributes going on dedicated to soldiers. For instance, the Big Ten Conference recently honored wounded warriors during each day of the Big Ten Conference Championship.
The announcement that the tuition assistance program has been suspended has caused concern among many members of the military community. The vital resource helped many servicemembers earn their degrees, licenses and other credentials, but while the decision may be a setback, it doesn't mean soldiers can't pay for school. There are other resources available that can help troops cover the costs without tuition assistance.
Post-9/11 GI Bill
While tuition assistance has been suspended until October, lawmakers have not touched the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This vital benefit has helped many servicemembers return to school after separating from service, but it can also be used while they're still in the Armed Forces, Military.com reports. The biggest difference about using the GI Bill before leaving the military is that troops lose the housing allowance portion of the benefit. However, if housing isn't an issue, taking early advantage of the GI Bill can be one of the best ways to replace the tuition assistance program.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill may see some changes in the near future that could add some benefits. One proposed piece of legislation, Expanding Education Opportunities for Post-9/11 Vets' Families, would allow troops who retired due to injury to transfer their benefits to their family members.
Turn to the school
The tuition assistance program may not be able to provide servicemembers with funds, but that doesn't mean they can't find assistance from other sources. For instance, looking to see what kind of financial aid each individual school offers can pay big dividends, notes Military.com. Of course, these programs can vary considerably from school to school, and servicemembers can find help in a wide variety of ways – from work study to scholarships.
Some schools may also have programs designed specifically for soldiers. In fact, a 2012 study found that more institutions have such offerings now than in 2009.
Research tax credits
Knowing the tax breaks one is entitled to can go a long way to providing supplemental income. The money can be used for anything, but in the case of soldiers looking to head back to the classroom without the help of the tuition assistance program, education may be a good use for it. However, it's important to keep in mind that tax regulations frequently change so it's crucial for servicemembers keep abreast of the latest revisions.
Frequent moves are one of the biggest challenges facing military families. Aside from having to adapt to a new location, moving can also cost hundreds of dollars extra if they have a family pet. In some cases, they cannot take their four-legged family member with them. In an effort to help and prevent more pet admission to shelters, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to All Animals (SPCA) launched Operation Military Pets to make sure families do not have to be separated from their animals.
Moving pets can cause a significant financial burden, and the costs are not covered by the Department of Defense. Operation Military Pets helps fill this void by offering financial assistance to members in all five branches whether they are moving within the United States or to an international destination, Military.com reports.
The program has already been a significant success, according to the SPCA. Among those the program has helped is Shawn Flint, an Iraq War veteran who required assistance for moving his dog Heidi. He rescued her while serving in Iraq, and the program helped bring her back to the United States. Now, the two have been together for more than three years.
Operation Military Pets is certainly not the only program dedicated to helping servicemembers balance the care of their cats and dogs with the stress of military service. Another program, known as Dogs on Deployment, matches soldiers up with volunteers who will take care of their pets while they're deployed.
Helping soldiers find civilian jobs once they separate from service is not only a priority for the Pentagon, private organizations have also been helping out. One of the most substantial efforts, known as Get Skills to Work, is led by big-name companies such as General Electric, Alcoa, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and is aimed at providing servicemembers with the tools necessary to find employment after leaving the Armed Forces, reports The Cincinnati Enquirer.
A search for meaning
One of the biggest challenges troops face when they search for jobs upon returning home from the battlefield is the stark contrast in lifestyles. While active duty soldiers have a structured life in the service and often have tasks that give their job meaning, it can be difficult to find that on the home front. Such was the case for James Giuffre, who felt that any job he could land once he returned stateside did not provide the same level of satisfaction as his time in the military. However, after graduating from a program offered by Get Skills to Work at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, he may have the opportunity to find more fulfilling work.
"The problem we have today is many of our vets were overseeing millions of dollars in equipment and supervising hundreds of people, and now they can't find jobs," said Darrell Smith, manager of veteran student affairs at the school, told the newspaper.
How does the program help?
Get Skills to Work does more than provide its veteran students with ability to succeed in advanced manufacturing positions, it also helps them work toward finding a job. Students who graduate from the program are given job counseling meant to help their professional careers in the industry. Manufacturing is certainly a good place to look – the organization says there are an estimated 600,000 positions available. The organization hopes to help 100,000 veterans find jobs by 2015.
Just one of many resources
The organization is one of many tools post-9/11 veterans can use if they're looking for employment. For instance, the Department of Labor operates its Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), which offers everything from information on available to programs to expert advice on finding jobs. Separating servicemembers may also want to head to AFBA's Career Center, which pairs them up with employers looking to hire vets.
Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have found many different ways to cope with the emotional and physical wounds sustained during deployment, but few have taken it to the lengths that one Indiana veteran did. Efrain Fuentes recently participated in an impressive 384-mile bike ride from New Orleans to Tennessee, a decision he credits with helping him navigate the transition to civilian life, The Herald-Times reports.
The experience was organized by Ride2Recovery, a non-profit that is dedicated to helping ease veterans' pain once they return from war. This was certainly a steep challenge for Fuentes, who was suffering from a back injury as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Still, he managed to make it through the grueling training and difficult ride thanks to the support of his fellow veterans and spectators along the route.
"It was beautiful," he told the newspaper. "It really lifted our spirits and touched us, especially seeing the schoolchildren out there."
Ride2Recovery was established by the Fitness Challenge Foundation and regularly hosts events around the country dedicated to helping wounded warriors. Most rides cover anywhere from 350 to 450 miles and welcome hundreds of veterans to participate. In 2011, the organization hosted 32 rides.
The decision to suspend the tuition assistance program for members of four of the five service branches has caused a significant amount of controversy. Members of the military community believe they are not in the clear just yet, with some analysts expecting the Department of Defense (DOD) to suspend Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) programs in the coming weeks, SpouseBuzz.com reports.
MyCAA first launched in 2009 as a way to help spouses of active duty servicemembers further their careers. Originally it provided up to $6,000 in tuition assistance, but its popularity proved too much for the funding to handle and the benefits had to be cut. Still, it has offered vital assistance at a time when unemployment among military spouses is much higher than the civilian population. Although there's no confirmation, experts foresee the DOD taking some action regarding MyCAA in the near future.
"I would expect DOD to suspend MyCAA very soon," Terry Howell, the education benefits expert for Military.com, told the website. "Like [tuition assistance] the DOD is being very quiet about their next moves."
The MyCAA program was a big help to military spouses who were earning certifications and licensures. Transferring these across state lines is often a problem for families who have to frequently move. Dr. Jill Biden recently called on governors to make it easier for spouses to transfer such credentials from state to state.
Whether during deployment, on the home front or after they've separated from the Armed Forces, servicemembers face a number of challenges that are unfamiliar to the civilian population. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs both offer a number of resources to help the military community overcome these obstacles, and the Army recently consolidated these efforts through the March 12 launch of the website for its Ready and Resilient Campaign.
What is it?
The initiative began with the goal of making it easier for soldiers and their families to reach out for help when they need it. Specifically, organizers hope to help servicemembers improve their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. The program hopes to highlight the importance of integrating resilience training into Army's military education so that troops are better equipped to overcome the myriad obstacles they may encounter during their time in the service.
The recently launched website includes a number of resources that will help the Army reach this goal. On the front page, for instance, users are presented with a list of helpful hotlines that address everything from suicide prevention to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The website also offers transition assistance by providing resources to help soldiers find employment in the civilian realm once they leave the service.
"You can find this information in 500 other different places. But this is supposed to be the one-stop shop for soldiers," said Col. John Sims. "We wanted to make a place where leaders, soldiers and family members could go and find information and quick resources, emergency hotlines, and learn to improve their resiliency."
Why is it necessary?
The website's launch comes after the release of a report detailing the serious issue of mental health in soldiers, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The report found that the diagnostic criteria for PTSD are often hard to pin down, and some troops who should be diagnosed are not. As it stands now, an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD.
The Ready and Resilient Campaign may also help lower the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans. While it dropped by more than 2 percentage points in February to 9.4 percent, it still stands above the civilian rate.
Drone pilots have played a vital role in the United States' military operations over the last several years, but the recent creation of a new medal for this specific subset of soldiers has irked a significant portion of the military community. The Distinguished Warfare Medal was created to honor achievement in acts outside of combat, but some advocates for veterans and active duty soldiers say the fact that it outranks other decorations earned in the line of fire is a disservice to other troops' sacrifice and bravery.
What is it?
The Distinguished Warfare Medal was created to honor servicemembers who have made an impact since September 11, 2001, outside of the battlefield. While the Department of Defense (DOD) does not specifically single out drone pilots, it does say that geographic location does not play a factor in deciding whether a soldier receives the medal. The DOD also touts recent technological advancements having an impact on the battlefield.
Senators, veterans advocates disagree
Soon after it was approved, cries of disagreement sprung among members of Congress and veterans advocates. Many took issue with the fact that the Distinguished Warfare Medal outranked the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, both of which require soldiers to put their life on the line. To express their displeasure, a group of 22 Senators wrote to newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
"Placing the Distinguished Warfare Medal above the Bronze Star and Purple Heart diminishes the significance of awards earned by risking one's life in direct combat or through acts of heroism. Moreover, the Distinguished Warfare Medal's placement directly above the Soldier's Medal – an award for bravery and voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy – diminishes the precedence given to acts of individual gallantry in circumstances other than combat."
Hagel responds
The calls for a change in policy have not gone unheard. In fact, on Tuesday the military stopped producing the medals after Hagel ordered a review of the process, according to The Associated Press. The action comes as some lawmakers were working toward crafting legislation that would block the further creation of the Distinguished Warfare Medal. A Pentagon official told the AP that the review will tackle the order of precedence, and a decision on the medal could come by the end of the day Tuesday.
Nearly seven years after he was killed, a Marine is being honored by his mother in a unique way. Amy Wolfe is preparing to debut a touching ballet tribute to her son Colin who was killed just several weeks into his first deployment in Iraq, reports Prince William Today.
Wolfe is the artistic director for the Manassas Ballet Theatre in Manassas, Virginia, and she was recently approached by a local composer about creating some new music for an upcoming performance. Eventually, the idea of an act dedicated to Colin's life came to the forefront and Wolfe got to work on the emotional undertaking. Not only was it a way for Wolfe to remember her son, but it's a fitting tribute given that he studied ballet since he was young.
"Actually, for me, it really brings Colin back to life," she told the newspaper. "Now I have something I can listen to that is Colin. Now there is something that I can watch that is Colin," she told the newspaper. "It makes it as if he is right here with me."
The ballet is set to open on March 16 and will incorporate many pieces of music familiar to soldiers, reports Military Times. In fact, the score includes both a 21-gun salute and the Marine Corps Hymn.