States are finding increasingly inventive ways of helping local veterans. The Athens Banner-Herald reported on Nov. 20 that a variety of veterans service agencies and support groups – including representatives of the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the University of Georgia and the Social Security Administration – would meet at what would be called a "supermarket of veterans benefits."
On Tuesday, at The Classic Center in downtown Athens, they pulled it off. In the center's huge ballroom, veterans found dozens of service groups, organizations and government agencies all dedicated to assisting men and women in their life after military service.
Coy Gibson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars told WSB-TV that "If you haven't started into it (the process of claiming benefits), this is tremendous." Veterans walking into the benefits supermarket weren't guaranteed to leave with a job or any other kind of immediate help, but they did find valuable information and resources were made available to them.
"Athens is excited to have an event like this taking place for our community," said Athens Mayor Nancy Denson in a statement. "We need to take care of our veterans now more than ever and Athens is ready to show our appreciation for the men and women who have given us so much already."
The Department of Veterans Services expected veterans and their family members to be drawn to the supermarket from far beyond Athens' border. They were right. Veterans from all over the state showed up on Wednesday, eager to utilize the event's one-stop-shop format. Many learned that they weren't using military benefits they were entitled to, while others just enjoyed being around other veterans again and the sense of community that creates.
Previously, women in the military were limited in the jobs they could do. Female servicemembers were not allowed to serve in armor, infantry, reconnaissance and a few special operations units. That left about 220,000 combat positions that were exclusively for men, according to CNN. However, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford recently announced that women would be allowed to take on these roles in service.
"Moving forward, my focus is to lead the full integration of women in a manner that maintains our joint war fighting capability, ensures the health and welfare of our people, and optimizes how we leverage talent across the Joint Force," Marine Gen. Dunford, said in his speech.
Though there has been some resistance since the chairman's announcement on Dec. 3, most are in favor of the military's new inclusion policy. USA Today reported that the Department of Defense gave all branches until Dec. 31 to incorporate the new policy.
Many of the policymakers acknowledge that full acceptance of this change will be an on-going process over the coming years, but they agree that it was the right move to bring the military into the 21st century.
For hundreds of years, doctors have used what is called the "stump and socket" method to handle amputation. Most doctors agree that this is not the ideal way of doing things, since it goes against the body's natural weight bearing capacity. However, doctors at the Salt Lake Veterans Affairs Hospital are expected to conduct a new type of surgery for amputees in early December 2015.
According to Deseret News, the new method will involve implanting a percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis in place of amputated limbs on veterans from operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
"What we're planning, and we hope this works, is to design a prosthetic leg that will clip on much like a ski boot would clip into a binding," Dr. Laurence Meyer, director of research for the Salt Lake City Veteran's Administration, told KUTV-2 News.
Many factors make the traditional prosthetics difficult to use and uncomfortable to wear, but doctors hope that the new prosthetics will eliminate some of these issues. The veterans undergoing the procedure have had a titanium stud placed in their femurs, as reported by Deseret News. The stud will soon be attached to a "docking mechanism for the prosthesis."
The news source wrote that the new prosthetics are expected to reduce wear on the sockets and make a longer lasting limb replacement.
Because of his contact with Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, Army veteran Jan Heinz lost feeling in both his legs from the thigh down. The 66-year-old told KPVI-6 News that it made mobility difficult for him. When a local organization called the Independence Foundation heard Heinz's story, it donated a new technologically advanced wheelchair to him.
The Independence Foundation, known in Eastern Idaho as a philanthropic group dedicated to helping disabled veterans, purchased Heinz a Trac-Fab. These wheelchairs were designed for veterans with disabilities and are equipped with traction wheels, making it an all-terrain mobility aide.
KPVI-6 News reported that the Trac-Fab wheelchairs typically cost between $12,000 to $15,000, but Heinz did not have to pay anything.
"It makes you feel very, very humble and it is really nice to know there are organizations out there that help Veterans like myself," Heinz told KPVI-6 News.
Before the Trac-Fab, Heinz would have to perform his duties on the Pocatello Veteran's Honor Guard using his walking cane, according to the news source. It was not easy for him to move around, but since the Independence Foundation's donation, his quality of life has greatly improved.
In the military, you and your family may be asked to relocate to a base in a different country. When this happens, it is both exciting and nerve-wrecking. You and your loved ones will get to live in a foreign country for an extended period of time, an opportunity that not many other people have. However, you are also leaving behind what is most familiar. AFBA has outlined some tips on how to make the move overseas a little easier.
Communicate clearly with your children
If you and your spouse have children that will be accompanying you on the relocation, it is important to explain clearly and fully what the process will entail. Expect them to be a little hesitant and ask a lot of questions. The more patient and calm you are, the less upset they will be about the big change in their lives.
Get rid of stuff you don't need
You can save yourself a lot of stress by de-cluttering before your move. Have each family member go through his or her closet and select clothing they no longer wear or that no longer fits. You can donate the clothes that are still in good condition and throw away the rest. As for appliances, many other countries have different outlets and voltage systems than America, so you're better off to sell electrical items and start fresh upon arrival. It is probably best to sell furniture, as well.
Connect with relocation resources
The Transportation Management Office at your military installation is a great resource for helping you through your move. They can guide you through the process and direct you to additional resources, such as websites for language training and moving assistance. Relocation counseling services will also provide you with useful information about your new home and offer advice for the transition.
Find an in-country sponsor
Militaryspot.com recommended asking your superiors about sponsor programs. These will connect you and your family to another military family already in the country where you will be moving. The in-country sponsors can help answer any questions you may have about the move and will give you a social contact before you even leave the United States.
Relocating to a foreign country is a big opportunity in the military. Though it can seem like an intimidating prospect, your military branch likely has many programs and resources available to help make the transition a little less complicated.
A determined national effort to hire men and women entering their life after service has paid off. According to the Department of Defense, corporate America's desire to employ veterans with specialized skills training has dropped the veteran unemployment rate to its lowest level since April 2008.
Once a rampant problem among servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, DoD News reported this week that veteran unemployment has been consistently lower than that of the nonveteran population – going on 23 straight weeks in a row – at just 3.9 percent. The improved job numbers are due to both the overall strength of the economy and the active pursuit of veterans by businesses nationwide.
Susan S. Kelly, who heads DoD's Transition to Veterans program, told DoD News that "The heads of corporations say they spend millions of dollars every year teaching their managers leadership skills." But veterans arrive on day one with those skills already ingrained. Teamwork, critical thinking, and persistence all come naturally to them and don't need to be taught.
Companies across the country are taking advantage of that. Walmart easily met its commitment to hiring 100,000 veterans, so it decided to do better and hire 250,000. Hire 500,000 Heroes, a campaign launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has already collected hiring promises from thousands of businesses that will far surpass its stated goal.
"Until every veteran who wants a job is hired, our work is not done," said Ross Brown, J.P. Morgan Chase's head of military and veteran affairs, in an email to the Los Angeles Times.
"The real value has been promoting a positive brand for veterans," Phillip Carter, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told the Times. "The message has been: Hiring veterans is good for business."
According to ABC News, the Nazis in charge of Prisoner of War camps during World War II had orders to separate the Jewish-American prisoners from the other soldiers. When the Nazis tried to follow through with this order, Roddie Edmonds took a stand.
The news source reported that Edmonds was the highest ranking non-commissioned officer in the camp at the time. He used his authority to bring 1,000 other captives forward when the Nazis called for the Jewish soldiers. Edmonds told the captors, "We are all Jews here." His actions may have saved the lives of hundreds of his fellow soldiers, and 70 years later, Israel awarded him with the title "Righteous among the Nations," the country's highest honor.
"Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds seemed like an ordinary American soldier, but he had an extraordinary sense of responsibility and dedication to his fellow human beings," Avner Shalev, chairman of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Memorial, told ABC News. "The choices and actions of Master Sgt. Edmonds set an example for his fellow American soldiers as they stood united against the barbaric evil of the Nazis."
Edmonds is one of only four other Americans to receive the title, and though it was awarded posthumously, his family told ABC News that they were very proud of his actions.
The Maine Veterans Project was founded to help veterans in the state by hosting events and performing charitable actions. Most recently, this organization will soon help a local veteran by making huge improvements to his home.
According to WABI News, Harry Johnson was born and raised in Machias, Maine. He served in the military before returning to his hometown. The news source stated that Johnson had lived in the same house for many years, but as he began to age, he was unable to keep up with the repairs.
The community that Johnson had always been a part of contacted the Maine Veterans Project to seek help for the former servicemember. The organization partnered with EBS Building Supplies to organize a home makeover for the beloved veteran.
Volunteers from Machias and other parts of the state will assist the Veterans Project on Dec. 5 in making the repairs to Johnson's home. Those who heard about the story but could not come to join in on labor made donations that helped pay for the supplies.
When asked if he was overwhelmed by the show of support from his state, Johnson told the news source that overwhelmed was an understatement.
One of the great ways this country has of celebrating veterans are honor flights. Conducted by nonprofits, which transport veterans from all around the country to Washington D.C. war memorials, the flights come at zero cost to men and women in their life after military service. They are done solely out of a desire to show appreciation and pay respect to those who served.
In Kansas City this week, veterans who participated in the Heartland Honor Flights to visit the World War II memorial, among other monuments, got together for a reunion. More than 100 veterans arrived to discuss their service in various conflicts, including WWII and Vietnam.
Jimmy Halley, a U.S. Navy veteran, told KMBC News how "We set up on the poop deck and with field glasses, we watched General MacArthur and the Japanese all sign the treaty." Halley's stories are so interesting that even young children, usually apathetic, can't help but listen. "My grandkids are (interested)," he said. "They all get around the table and want to listen and they usually don't listen."
Veterans nationwide participated in the honor flights. Ed Parks of Gainesville, Ohio told the Gainesville Times that "It was the most impressive thing I ever saw, and it was very emotional. I mean it was tough on us. Everywhere we went, people would shake our hands and tell us how much they appreciated our time and service."
By Veterans Affairs' numbers, there are more than 400,000 veterans in South Carolina. In fact, veterans and their families account for a third of the state's population. There are already hundreds of organizations in place to assist men and women in their life after service, but part of The State and Local Veterans Issues Study Committee's concern is that there is no central body in place designed to help vets navigate the maze of services.
The committee aims to change that. Though it has existed for about five years, The State reported that it was only just recently that six new members were added, including appointees by Gov. Nikki Haley and the state's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Robert Livingston.
"We need to have a longstanding and continued focus on the needs of our veterans," said State Representative James Smith to The State.
At a meeting on Tuesday the members agreed that their biggest issue was consolidating resources for veterans – including housing and suicide prevention measures – and, just as importantly, keeping everyone involved committed and accountable.
Col. Ronald Taylor, a member of the National Guard and newly appointed to the committee, told South Carolina's local WLTX News that "A lot of great folks want to do a lot of great things but sometimes having so many different programs kind of creates some confusion out there." To The State he continued "But we need to create that one entity where a persona can walk in and get assistance."
The process is complicated, however, by the fact that every county has its own veterans' affairs office funded and run by county residents – meaning that statewide oversight doesn't exist. Some committee members have suggested that VA centers be determined by congressional districts, but as for the moment, all major decisions remain on the horizon.