Senators in Connecticut recently announced a bill that aims to give women veterans more benefits and provide services that they can use as they transition to civilian life. The legislation, Senate Bill 904, is reportedly a top priority in the Senate session on April 8, 2015.
Female veterans in need of enhanced outreach
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a total of 20 percent of veterans in the U.S. are women. Connecticut is currently home to approximately 16,545 retired female servicemembers. Many of these veterans feel that it is still incredibly difficult to get jobs after returning from deployment.
Shannon Lyons of Bridgeport was a U.S. Army veteran who fought in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. She told the Connecticut Post in an interview that she and her friends are still in need of help finding jobs and houses. Lyons currently lives at The PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home, which is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Home for the Brave to house homeless female veterans.
"If people go out and get a job, they're just getting by, but they're spending all their money on rent and cannot hope to save to buy a home," said Lyons.
Senate President Martin M. Looney pointed out that there are more women home from war than there have ever been in the past. The resources that have been provided for them are no longer sufficient due to the large increase in people who need them.
A bill long overdue
Democratic members of the Senate noted that the women who have been returning from war are usually younger than their fellow male veterans, but close to 84 percent of retired women servicemembers are old enough to work, according to RepublicAmerican.com.
The vast majority of these women do not know what their benefits are or which services are at their disposal. Improved outreach would make them more aware of what is available to them, explained Jackie Evonsion, the women's outreach coordinator for the American Legion Department of Connecticut. Evonsion is also a veteran herself, having served as a member of the U.S. Air Force. She explained that when she returned from war in her 20s, she too was unaware of the benefits she could have taken advantage of.
The Senate Bill 904 requires that the Department of Veterans' Services develop a program that increases the number of females aware of their eligibility for state and federal aid. If it is passed, it will also become mandatory for the department to reexamine the needs of women vets, determining which benefits and services are needed but remain unavailable to them. Existing programs will also be assessed to ensure that they have been helpful.
Program members will also have to make recommendations for the commissioner of veteran's affairs each year on how to improve benefits and services. An additional change would include how the state defines a veteran. The bill would consider anyone discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active service an eligible veteran.
Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Medal of Chevalier of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor is France's highest decoration. Over the past several years, the French government has been searching for veterans who fought in France in World War II to award them with the honorable medal. Recently, the government was successful in finding multiple veterans who deserve the honor.
Oklahoma veterans receive Legion of Honor
According to NewsOK, the French government recently gave this honor to two soldiers from Oklahoma who helped defeat the Germans in WWII nearly 70 years ago. One of those veterans was 89-year-old Preston Johnson, an infantryman who stepped on a land mine during his deployment and lost part of his right leg.
Earl J. Gonzales, 92, was a member of New Orleans' Washington Artillery Regiment that fought in France and Italy during the battles of Salerno and Monte Cassino.
"Few generations can say that they changed the world. But your generation, Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Johnson, literally changed the world. All of us who have come after owe you an eternal debt of gratitude," said Grant Moak, the honorary French consul who presented the Legion of Honor to the two veterans, according to the news source.
Johnson and Gonzales sat in the front row in a room in the 45th Division Museum where they were awarded the Legion in the company of fellow veterans and supporters.
A humble hero
Another veteran, George Johnson of South Dakota, did not know he would be given such an honor until he received a letter in the mail asking for evidence that he was still alive. Once he sent proof, he was invited to receive the prestigious Legion of Honor medal in April for his sacrifice during battle.
"Rumors were, the Germans were going to surrender. And then all of a sudden early one morning, we were going across the Moselle River just at sunup and we get down there and we didn't even get our little boats in the water. They were in the mountains, the hills on the east side, and – boom boom – they're with their artillery, just got us all. And that's where I got wounded," said Johnson, according to KSYF.com.
Although Johnson severely injured his left leg, he said he never let that get him down and still enjoys his hobbies. At 90 years old, he gives credit for his positive outlook to the people around him that have made his life worth living.
A major step has been taken toward properly honoring military servicemembers who went missing in action or became prisoners of war. U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Marco Rubio have introduced a bill to the Senate and House that focuses on admiring the incredible sacrifice that these soldiers have made for their country.
Commemorative chair set to honor POW/MIA
The National POW/MIA Remembrance Act will establish a permanent chair on the grounds of the United States Capitol. There are currently 91,662 servicemembers that the commemorative chair will honor. According to eNews Park Forest, the legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by senators Robert Menendez, Sherrod Brown, Pat Toomey, Jeanne Shaheen, Edward J. Markey and Kelly Ayotte.
Warren has three brothers who served in the military, noting that she knows firsthand how much the loved ones of military servicemembers have to sacrifice. Just as important as it is to honor those who fought and returned home safely to their families, it is crucial that the country remembers those who were never able to return home. The National POW/MIA Remembrance Act will serve as a reminder of the lives of these men and women.
More than honor
Lynch noted that the U.S Capitol is one of the most powerful symbols of the country's history and accomplishments. The prisoners of war and those missing in action have served the nation with bravery and honor, leaving no better location to remember them. The chair will serve as a long-lasting reminder to their loved ones and the nation as a whole that we will never take their service for granted.
"I am proud to support this commemorative act to honor the thousands of POW/MIA servicemembers and their families, all of who have made great sacrifices for the protection and freedom of our nation," Sen. Rubio noted in a written statement, according to eNews Park Forest. "While this can't fully express our gratitude to these brave men and women, this small act will serve as a reminder to everyone who visits the U.S. Capitol to never forget the service and sacrifices of our armed forces and their families."
It is more than just honor and remembrance that we owe MIA and POW servicemembers, but a tremendous debt that we must work to repay every day.
One of the struggles that military veterans face during life after service is mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder. It is difficult for spouses and children to understand the side effects of such mental disorders.
This is the very problem that Army veteran Seth Kastle faced upon returning home after 16 years of active duty in Qatar, Afghanistan and Iraq. To help his wife and 6-year-old daughter, Raegan, understand what he is going through, he wrote a children's book called "Why is Dad So Mad?"
No matter what, there is love
Kastle's story explains the anger and memory issues that he experiences due to his PTSD. He told NBC News that he decided to write the book after he searched for resources to assist him in communicating his illness to his family and found very few options available.
After writing the story, he started a Kickstarter fundraiser to get the book illustrated and published. In just eight hours, the campaign achieved its goal of $3,000, eventually reaching $6,000. He was able to hire illustrator Karissa Gonzalez-Othon and designer Lyndsey Dugan to help him get the book ready for publishing.
The plot includes a family of lions, whose father is experiencing PTSD. Kastle uses a powerful metaphor to describe how his symptoms feel, in which the father lion has a fire that he cannot control burning in his chest. This made it possible for Raegan to understand that although it may be challenging for her father to show it at times, he always loves her and is happy to be home.
"No matter what, when they're mad or sad at you, they still love you," Raegan told NBC News as she read the book in her playroom. "There's always a fire in his heart, but no matter what, I know there's love."
A powerful resource for military families
PTSD is one of the most common conditions experienced by veterans and can have a major impact on the general well-being of those affected and their families. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, up to 20 percent of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD within the first year of returning from deployment in Iraq. Past wars have seen even higher numbers, including the Vietnam War, where 30 percent of active duty members experienced the condition.
The Huffington Post noted that Kastle wrote the book for his family, but hopes that it will eventually gain enough popularity to help retired military servicemembers across the nation with PTSD explain the condition to their loved ones.
"I hope that other military families have a chance to sit down and explain to their kids that it's not always going to be easy, but they'll get through it," Kastle explained to NBC News.
Kastle is currently using the extra funds donated to his first story for a new book that focuses on helping veteran mothers with PTSD.
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.
Body Labs, a 3-D body modeling company, is using its state-of-the-art software to see how armor for female soldiers can be redesigned for a better fit. In addition to being uncomfortable, ill-fitting military garb can leave body parts exposed and vulnerable, making well-tailored armor absolutely crucial to the lives of female troops.
CNN reported that Body Labs, a company based out of New York City, recently signed a two-year, $825,000 deal with U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center to design better protective combat clothing for women. Current items worn by women in the military were designed with the goal of being unisex, but fit the torsos of male soldiers far better than female soldiers.
According to Forbes magazine, the company is using data gathered by Brown University. Researchers took scans of a variety of women, all of different shapes and sizes, striking a plethora of active poses. The 12-person Body Labs team assigned to this project uses algorithms to create 3-D models of female soldiers, allowing them to customize their designs more closely. While each woman soldier will not receive a completely custom-fitted uniform, Body Labs specialists will be able to create a better shape based on average measurements and body part ratios.
CNN noted that this initiative is the latest in a series of pushes toward fully integrating women into the armed forces, something officials are hoping to achieve by 2016. Currently, there are 71,000 active female soldiers – far too many troops to justify them heading to the front lines in ill-fitting armor. Beyond military apparel, Body Labs hopes to improve the fit of civilian clothing and athletic apparel using its unique 3-D model approach.
Capt. Derek Herrera will receive a Bronze Star with a "V" for heroic actions on Friday, Nov. 21.
The awards ceremony will be even more meaningful to the soldier because he will walk across the stage in front of his colleagues and loved ones – an act that was impossible for him just a few short years ago, reported Military Times.
In June 2012, Herrera was serving in Afghanistan, leading members of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. He was bringing a group of U.S. and Afghan soldiers toward the Helmand River in an effort to cut off insurgents known to be heading to the area. His team was attacked with grenades and machine guns, according to Military Times. Herrera sprang into action, finding a rooftop where he could command his colleagues and give emergency medical care to one of his troops who was struck in the neck with a bullet. Even though Herrera was gravely injured from the gunfire himself, he set aside his pain and continued to delegate orders and fire back at enemy forces.
Herrera is now paralyzed from the waist down, but has not let that slow him down in his life after service. The source noted that he regularly participates in triathlons and races and went back to school for a business degree. He uses an innovative exoskeleton prosthetic device, known as ReWalk, which allows him to walk, sit and stand.
The Bronze Star is given to soldiers in any branch of the service who distinguish themselves while serving on the ground against an opposing force. The "V" annotation accompanying Herrera's award stands for valor, since he displayed outstanding courage, heroism and sacrifice for his nation.
Soldiers stationed in Senegal, Liberia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan will be receiving traditional Thanksgiving dinners this year, reported Military Times. Because some of these missions were not planned to keep troops overseas through the holidays or are fairly new, it was unclear for a while whether turkey dinners would make it to the hardworking servicemembers. The source noted that holiday meals are usually ordered in the spring, but officials were able to secure extra food.
Iraq will be receiving significantly less food this year, since the military presence in the nation has been greatly reduced. Military Times reported that in 2009, nearly 500,000 pounds of turkey were shipped to troops stationed in this country, while this year 78,000 pounds is enough to feed the remaining soldiers. The Thanksgiving package for Iraq, in addition to Kuwait and Jordan, will also include pies, beef, shrimp, eggnog and ham.
This taste of home will be especially welcome by troops working to eradicate Ebola in West Africa. Military Times reported that dining facilities have yet to be constructed for these servicemembers, and they have been mostly eating rations occasionally paired with fresh produce. Liberia alone will receive 2,000 pounds of turkey, 300 pounds of cranberry sauce and 500 pies, some flavors including sweet potato, cherry, pumpkin, pecan and apple.
Soldiers who have recently returned from these infected regions, while they will be in the U.S. for the holiday, will not be able to spend it with loved ones. Military policy currently requires servicemembers to undergo a 21-day quarantine when they come back from West Africa. According to CBS, officials are trying to do everything they can for these soldiers who will spend Thanksgiving in isolation. Turkey dinners will be served, and troops will be assigned "personal shoppers" to bring them food or items they missed when they were overseas.
"We want it to be as positive of an experience as it can be," Col. John Allen told WTKR-TV.
The Army's athletic mascot could be changing as soon as the spring, reported Military Times.
The teams are currently called the "Black Knights," a name that became official in 1999 but has a legacy that extends back to the 1920s. Army athletics were technically called the "Cadets" until the turn of the millennium, but sports journalists had been referring to the organization as the "Black Knight of the Hudson" for about 80 years, referring to the Army academy's location near the Hudson River in West Point, New York.
There had been rumors that the program would return to being called "Cadets," but officials say they would rather start fresh with a new, all-encompassing representative. While many people like the Knights moniker because it implies strength and leadership, others gravitate toward the cadet mascot for its military connotation. The goal in selecting a new athletics symbol will be to bring these elements together.
"We really want to make sure we have something that identifies regionally, nationally and internationally," West Point's athletic director, Boo Corrigan, told the Times-Herald Record.
Military Times reported that the institution hopes to finalize a change in March or April of next year.