Finding affordable housing can sometimes be a struggle for military families. Factors such as unemployment, financial stress and injuries can make it especially difficult, but five families in Georgia recently got the surprise of a lifetime when Operation Homefront and Wells Fargo teamed up to provide them with mortgage free homes as part of an ongoing effort to support the military community, reports The Associated Press.
A joint effort
The five homes were donated from Wells Fargo, which had foreclosed upon them in recent years. Instead of putting the houses up for auction, which is the usual course of action, the bank decided to put them toward a better cause. So far this year, the organization has provided more than 100 families with donated homes, all of which come without a mortgage. However, the new owners do have to pay property taxes and other common expenses. Most of the homes are given to servicemembers who have had to leave active duty due to injuries, and may have struggled transitioning to civilian life.
"They've got to live on an amount they're not used to living on," Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront's chief development officer, told the AP. "Some are employable and some aren't, so it really is an adjustment. It's harder to buy homes now. Most of these families would never have qualified for a home loan."
Highlights issues surrounding housing
Although more than 100 families have received homes from Operation Homefront this year, there are still many who are not quite as lucky. In fact, homelessness among veterans has been under the microscope recently, as the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs have both been updating the public on their plans to end homelessness by 2015. Recent estimates place the number of vets on the street at about 60,000, according to Stars and Stripes.
The biggest push to address the issue has come from a recent partnership between the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Specifically, the two departments have pledged approximately $60 million to public housing agencies across the country in an effort to provide support to veterans. Many of these services including housing and rental vouchers that can help government officials reach their ambitious goals.
Assistance with tuition costs is one of the most important benefits afforded to veterans. Aside from helping them transition to civilian life, heading back to school after separating from service can lend a hand in their finding employment. However, there's a time restraint placed on the benefits. Troops have to pay $1,200 before leaving the military, and if they don't use the GI Bill benefits after 10 years, they lose their chance. .Now, one Connecticut Senator is looking to change all that, according to The Associated Press.
Millions could benefit
The driving force behind the legislation, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, says, is that thousands of troops may not have been able to take full advantage of their GI Bill benefits, even if they paid the requisite $1,200 upon separating from service. Specifically, he says that imposing the arbitrary time limit of 10 years is doing troops who have put their lives on the line a disservice. His proposal could restore benefits to everyone from more recent vets to those who served in the Vietnam War.
"I am very hopeful that there will be strong bipartisan support," Blumenthal told WCBS recently. "The financial cost is minimal, the benefits are huge and we owe it to our veterans."
Measuring the benefits
The GI Bill has been a part of veteran life for decades, but the most recent incarnation – the Post-9/11 GI Bill – was one of the most beneficial in recent memory, and now a former servicemember is looking to analyze exactly what impact it has on the lives of troops. The researcher, Frank Bergmeister, used the bill to obtain two master's degrees, and he wants to uncover how the ability to transfer benefits to children and spouses has impacted the military community, according to the Free Lance-Star. Bermeister said he's interested in answering questions few people have asked.
"No one has ever examined what happens," he told the newspaper. "How does it change lives. What does the family think? Does the spouse get involved?"
Tips for veterans
While the benefits offered to veterans are there for the taking, it's important they educate themselves on all information that's available to them. Perhaps most significantly, they should identify the schools that offer the best options. For instance, the post-9/11 Gi Bill covers full tuition and fees to in-state public universities.
Many preventable deaths occur during the summer months, and that doesn't change when it comes to servicemembers and their families. With June recognized as National Safety Month, the Army is encouraging its soldiers and their loved ones to pay particular attention to risky behaviors and be mindful of the inherent dangers that come with spending more time outside during the warmer months of the year, according to the Army's official website.
A personal responsibility
The month-long observance is organized by the National Safety Council, and this year's theme, "Safety Starts With Me" emphasizes that both civilians and soldiers can be proactive at preventing potentially deadly accidents. Specifically, National Safety Month focuses primarily on topics like preventing falls, emergency preparedness and ergonomics. The Army also urged soldiers and their families to be mindful in the car, on their motorcycle or similar devices, as they are the leading cause of death among off-duty soldiers during the summer.
"Private motor vehicles, either two wheeled or four, remain the number one accidental killer of our Soldiers," Command Sgt. Major Richard D. Stidley told the website. "Indiscipline leads to reckless behavior, and reckless behavior in any form when you're driving or riding can be deadly."
Other initiatives abound
National Safety Month is not the only initiative encouraging servicemembers to take care of themselves this summer. The Department of Defense also launched a similar program in May known as the Army Safe Summer campaign. This initiative provides servicemembers with certain materials highlighting the dangers associated with the season. Among its most significant focuses is making sure soldiers know the regulations, guidelines, laws and standards in place to ensure there's no accidents.
"Our campaign products, by design, are meant to help leaders and safety professionals engage their Soldiers, civilians and family members on risk and risk management," said Brig. Gen. Timothy J. Edens.
Biggest summer safety hazards
Aside from motor vehicle accidents, there are several other dangers that servicemembers should be on the lookout for during the summer. According to WebMD, fireworks accidents are among the leading causes of injury. In fact, in 2009 an estimated 9,000 people were hurt by fireworks, with two deaths coming as a result. Aside from abiding to local rules and regulations, experts stress the importance of having a hose or fire extinguisher nearby as well as keeping children far away.
Several years ago government officials committed to eliminating veteran homelessness by 2015. Since then, thanks to work by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and Department of Housing and Urban Development, the rate of homelessness has fallen considerably, but there is still considerable work to be done. An estimated 60,000 veterans are currently homeless and as the deadline draws near, officials are feeling the pressure, reports Stars and Stripes.
Recent progress
In 2008, the White House and VA announced their plans to tackle veteran homelessness, and since then they have been largely successful. In fact, the rate has fallen by about one-fifth since the program was launched. That being said, VA secretary Eric Shinseki still feels like there needs to be more ambitious steps taken. There are plans in the works to provide housing vouchers to thousands more veterans as well as a growing effort to improve health screening and other services to identify vets who may be at risk of losing their homes.
"We have made a difference … we know we can do this," Shinseki told the audience at the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans conference recently, according to the publication. "In a couple of years, we'll be able to look back and say we took every homeless veteran off the street."
A local approach
The partnership between the VA and HUD has been the centerpiece of the nationwide effort to cut veteran homelessness, but there are also more local, targeted efforts. One such event recently took place in communities across the country. Known as Walk and Roll, the VA-hosted event welcomes thousands of participants across the country to walk in an effort to raise money to eradicate homelessness. Last year's event brought in an estimated $240,000.
More needs to be done
There has undoubtedly been considerable strides made in accomplishing the eventual goal. According to The Washington Post, some cities have been unable to accept the veteran housing voucheres due to financial restraints caused by significant budget cuts. Furthermore, as thousands of troops separate from service as the war in Afghanistan draws down and the Armed Forces reduces its ranks, there may be an increasing number of servicemembers at risk of losing their homes .
Major League Baseball teams across the country paid tribute to fallen soldiers on Memorial Day by wearing military-inspired uniforms, but the Milwaukee Brewers took things one step further. Just before they took on the Minnesota Twins at Miller Park, the Brewers welcomed 40 servicemembers, veterans and military families to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and for many of them the act took on added meaning, according to NBC affiliate WTMJ.
Sign of remembrance
Brothers Cole and Carter Naseman were among those who took part in the opening ceremony were brothers. Their father, Sgt. First Class Brian Naseman, was killed in Iraq in 2009, one of the more than 4,800 U.S. and coalition troops who lost their lives there. To them, throwing out the first pitch served as a way to help honor their father's legacy in a unique way. Not only that, but given the timing of the game, it held an especially important meaning.
"It's only a couple days away from when our dad died, so it's special to us," Cole, a 7th grader, told the news channel.
More than Milwaukee
While the Brewers efforts on Memorial Day, which included setting aside thousands of tickets for military families, was impressive, the organization was not the only one getting in on the action. For instance, a number of breweries across the country recently teamed up to create a unique beer, known as the Homefront IPA, which was released on Monday. Aside from being an original tribute to the military, all the proceeds from sales of the beer will go toward Operation Homefront, an organization that lends financial assistance to military families who are most in need, reports the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
"They're putting their lives on the line for us every day," Chris Ray, one of the initiative's founders, told the newspaper. "The least we can do is help them keep their car on the road or help them keep their house."
Support all summer long
Support for the military extends well beyond Memorial Day. From now until after Labor Day around 1,200 museums will waive admittance fees for military families as part of the ever-growing Blue Star Museums Initiative, which was launched in 2010 as a joint venture between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense.
Children who have parents serving in the military encounter problems that civilian youngsters do not, and a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that their health can suffer as a result. Researchers hope the new findings will highlight the challenges military children face on a daily basis and spur new understanding among the healthcare community, according to the report published in the journal Pediatrics.
Psychological and physical toll
More than 2 million children have had a loved one deployed during the last decade, and numerous studies have shown the significant impact it can have on their well-being. Specifically, researchers have found that approximately one in four military children experience symptoms of depression, an estimated one-third of youngsters report excessive worry while one out of every two had problems sleeping. The AAP says that it is up to children's doctors to be particularly attuned to the challenges military kids face.
"Pediatricians play a critical role in identifying how well or poorly a child or family responds to a major stressor such as an extended deployment, and can provide the necessary education and support, including referral to a mental health professional when needed," said Dr. Benjamin S. Siegel, the report's co-author.
Obstacles continue past deployment
Although a great deal of attention is paid to what impact a parent's deployment has on a youngster's well-being, when it is over there are still significant challenges, especially as their parent works to transition back to civilian life. For instance, approximately 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which could place undue strain on children. Additionally, frequent moves can make it difficult for them to assimilate into new schools and towns.
Sacrifices recognized
It may be not be easy being part of a military family, but the sacrifices made my children have not gone overlooked. In April, which is designated as the Month of the Military Child, there were a number of events dedicated to honoring the youngest members of the community. For instance, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, paid tribute to five teenagers in particular who not only navigate the oft-challenging military life, but also gave back to the community.
As the Department of Defense looks to cut costs in the wake of sequestration, there has been substantial controversy surrounding what impact it could have on military families. Specifically, the community was concerned about purpose plans to reduce service members' annual raises and increase TRICARE fees. Those criticisms did not go unnoticed, and the House Armed Services subcommittee on personnel is set to introduce legislation officially opposing the move, reports Military Times.
Debate intensifies
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson, brings the conversation over pay reductions and fee increases to a new level. Pentagon officials say that the changes are modest – troops would still see a 1 percent bump in pay – and are necessary as it looks to cut costs. Additionally, the TRICARE fee hikes would only apply to working-age retirees. However, Wilson and other military advocates do not see it that way. This new piece of legislation would keep the pay raise at 1.8 percent, which is keeping pace with private sector wages, while removing any fees associated with the military's healthcare program.
The need for savings
Although it's important for military families to receive the support and benefits they've earned, DOD officials maintain that they need to find ways to reduce military spending, and dropping pay raises is a good start. By reducing the raise to 1 percent, the DOD could save about $536 million in the 2014 budget and $3.5 billion over the course of five years.
"We are at a strategic turning point and the defense budget is a reflection of the changes in defense strategy announced by the president," defense officials said in a recent letter to Congress. "There were hard choices that had to be made in every budget category, including military compensation."
Military community already feels the pinch
While it has only been two months since it was enacted, the sequester has already made its presence known in the military community. This has been especially evident in recent days as the number of Memorial Day celebrations across the country have been cut, according to Military.com. Experts estimate that sequestration could result in $1 trillion in cuts – more than $500 billion coming from the military – over the course of the next 10 years.
A wide variety of injuries affect veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everything from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to amputations have gained a considerable amount of attention, but experts say that chronic pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions may be one of the most prevalent issues. A recent analysis from Minnesota Public Radio found that the number of doctors seeing troops with joint disorders has steadily increased over the last decade, The Associated Press reports.
Wide variety of causes
The analysis relied on data from VA hospitals in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and found that doctors saw a 133 percent spike in the number of troops with joint damage between 2003 and 2012. While the statistics were drawn from those three states, experts say it's a nationwide trend, and not all joint issues are caused by wounds suffered during battle. Instead, some of these injuries are caused by heavy gear, body armor and long treks.
"With those big heavy packs on it's hard to even stand," Dr. Paul Huddleston, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic and veteran himself, told the AP. "People hurt their knees and backs acutely just from walking around with all that. Shoulder injuries are not uncommon."
Not being ignored
With the growing prevalence of joint injuries, the Department of Defense has recognized that it needs to make an effort to create armor and gear lighter and less burdensome for troops. Most recently, the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act mandated that the DOD conduct studies to find the best methods to reduce the weight of such equipment. Those findings are due to the Congress by June 22 of this year, according to Army Times. However, making armor lighter is often not that easy.
"We've taken your grandmother's china, wrapped it in Kevlar and given you the capability," Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller told Defense News. "You want more protection? More china, more Kevlar, that's weight."
The need is increasingly great
Whether it's TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder or joint damage, addressing the medical needs of veterans will become particularly important over the coming months and years as thousands of servicemembers head home from Afghanistan and separate from service alone. In the Army alone, officials are looking to cut the size of forces by about 70,000, meaning more troops will be looking for work in the civilian world and if they're hampered by lingering joint damage that could be a serious issue.
Even if they are not diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), servicemembers and first responders undoubtedly face a great deal of mental strain on a day-to-day basis. People in such high-stress jobs have turned to a wide variety of methods to cope with the effects of this mental condition, and one woman who has seen the impact war can have up close is reaching out to many of them with a new technique – yoga, according to Military Times.
Accessible to everyone
The program, known as YogaFit for Warriors, was started by Lt. Col. Shaye Molendyke, who has seen the effects of war up close during her time in the military working in the psychiatric ward at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. She has been regularly practicing yoga since a serious injury left her unable to run 15 years ago, and her new program focuses less on acrobatic poses and esoteric language and more on accessing the mental health benefits of the exercise. Molendyke hopes this unconventional approach to PTSD will help ensure anybody with the condition – whether it be a firefighter or soldier – is not afraid to seek help.
"The stigma attached to being seen for PTSD in the military – you're certainly not going to say, 'I'm having trouble managing my emotions,' " she told the news source. "What I hope happens is that people hear how yoga can help, then they go to a yoga class in their military community where someone has been trained and teaches a trauma-sensitive class"
Greater understanding
YogaFit for Warriors comes at a time when the way the medical community understands PTSD is rapidly changing. Earlier this year, researchers from New York University's School of Medicine pinpointed the specific area of the brain that is affected by the condition. Specifically, they found that servicemembers with PTSD had much higher activity in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that's responsible for managing fear and other anxious feelings.
As the evolution of of PTSD treatment continues, it could come at precisely the right time. Thousands of troops are slated to separate from service in the coming years as the U.S. winds down operation in Afghanistan, and an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan experience symptoms of PTSD.
Transitioning to a life away from the military is often challenging for servicemembers. Making the jump from the structured life of the Armed Forces to a new environment can certainly be difficult, but one of the biggest obstacles troops encounter is what's known as the civilian-military gap. With less than 1 percent of the American population in the military, it's easy to see why there might be a disconnect between servicemembers and ordinary citizens, but advocates are coming forward to help bridge the distance between the two groups.
Talking it out
One of the latest efforts to foster good relationships between soldiers and civilians comes out of New York City, where a program known as Veteran Civilian Dialogues has been operating for three years, according to Star and Stripes. The regularly scheduled dialogues bring an estimated 50 people whenever they're held, and the participants often run the gamut from veterans in their 20s to senior citizens. The conversations can cover any topics, from PTSD to school, and often include discussing how subjects unrelated to the military have helped improve relationships. This was the case for Spc. Patrick Murphy, who talked about his desire to transition to a new career.
"It was great to get that kind of feedback, not just because [of] the encouragement," he told the publication. "I wasn't just a veteran to them. I could be something else, like a photojournalist."
Lack of familiarity
There could be a reason for this civilian-military gap, but experts say it's largely due to the fact that knowing someone who serves in the Armed Forces is not as common as it once was, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune. Approximately 20 percent of members of Congress have spent time in the military. In 1969, that figure was at around 60 percent. Additionally, in 2010 about 18 percent of people had parents who had served in the military, but just 22 years earlier an estimated 40 percent of people said the same. Even top officials have noticed this shift.
"I fear they do not comprehend the full weight of the burden we carry or the price we pay when we return from battle," Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, told West Point graduates in 2011.
A growing need
Bridging the gap will be increasingly important in the coming years and months. Thousands of troops are slated to separate from service and the remaining servicemembers in Afghanistan are expected to be home by the end of 2014.