For years the Department of Veterans Affairs has been under scrutiny for its understaffed team of medical professionals, an issue made worse by the fact that veterans' access to private doctors outside the VA has been notoriously restricted. But on Tuesday the VA announced new rules to change that.
According to The Washington Post, the number of veterans eligible for the Veterans Choice Program will expand with the new rules – effective immediately – as the criteria for determining whether or not a veteran can be referred to a doctor's office or private clinic have become more flexible. Changes include consideration of geographic barriers, including the distance to the nearest VA center accepting military benefits, debilitating medical conditions, environmental factors and the need for frequent care.
If a VA hospital has no primary-care doctor available, or a veteran lives more than 40 miles away, they may obtain a referral for private care. This change will apply to around 160,000 veterans alone. New guidelines also stipulate that private care is now open if air or boat travel is required to reach a VA facility.
"As we implement the Veterans Choice Program, we are learning from our stakeholders what works and what needs to be refined," said VA Secretary Bob McDonald, the Military Times reported. "It is our goal to do all that we can to remove barriers that separate veterans from the care they deserve."
Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, stated that the changes come from conversations with McDonald about what veterans needed most. "We locked arms, we sat down and decided to agree rather than disagree, and we found a solution to the problem. And today, the VA Choice program is working better, and our veterans have better access because of that day and that meeting."
Shopping at a business that employs veterans is great. Shopping at one owned by veterans, and that makes products with fellow veterans in mind, is even better. The holidays are approaching quickly, and if you're stuck debating what to get the veteran or military servicemember in your life, here are some great gift ideas that are sure to impress.
Clothing
Grunt Style. Founded by a former Army drill sergeant in 2009, but now employing more than 90 veterans and patriots, Grunt Style lives by a code – PT, Freedom & Bacon. The company's Beer Guarantee – which ensures that any tears or beer stains are enough to earn a new shirt – means that shirts like "I Find Your Lack of Ammo Disturbing" won't ever lose their place in your vet's wardrobe.
Lady Brigade. Nadine Noky, a veteran of the Iraq War, told Buzzfeed earlier this year that she was fed up with walking into stores and finding no clothes for women veterans, despite the fact that women make up nearly 16 percent of the military. Noky decided to fix that. Lady Brigade is one of the only clothing lines for female veterans, and with shirts that say things like "This is What a Veteran Looks Like" and "Daughter, Sister, Sailor," women are finally able to celebrate their service with as much pride as men.
Nine Line Apparel. Servicemembers both past and present will recognize the military's term for an emergency medevac request. Daniel and Tyler Merritt, two brothers who served together in the Army, started the company in their garage. Now, with more than 70 veterans and military spouses contributing to a brand built on initiative and high-quality clothing, Nine Line is a great place to find both men and women's apparel and outdoor gear.
Accessories
Combat Flip Flops. If the name seems odd – not many veterans would likely advocate going into battle with flip flops – it's only because the two Army Rangers behind this innovative company decided that, after several combat tours in Afghanistan, a peaceful and easy-going approach to business was in order. All of the company's flip flops are made in Bogota, Colombia, where jobs are turning people away from violence toward making a good life for themselves. In addition to awesome footwear, the Claymore Bag puts a cool spin on men's messenger bags.
Sword & Plough. You might say that the idea for making fashionable recycled and repurposed military gear has been with Emily and her sister Betsy from the very beginning. They both grew up at West Point, their uncle was a Marine NASA astronaut, and Emily now serves as an officer in the Army. Their totes and handbags made out of parachutes and tent canvas come with a great military discount.
Beverages
Leadslingers' Whiskey. Members of the popular Article 15 clothing company decided to branch out in 2013 by founding Leadslingers' Whiskey. This small group of Army Ranger, Air Force TACP and Special Forces veterans have crafted a small-batch, single-barrel aged and double distilled bourbon so smooth that it must be tasted to be believed.
Black Rifle Coffee. If your veteran prefers beverages of the caffeinated sort, this is the coffee for them. Owned by former Special Forces operators, Black Rifle Coffee imports only the highest quality beans from Colombia and Brazil, then blends and roasts them with a top secret methodology. Blends include "Sniper's Hide" and "Girls for Gunslingers," along with related apparel.
Shopping for servicemembers or veterans in their life after service can be tough, but with gifts like these, it's hard to go wrong this holiday season.
A Commander and Chief's duty to those who served him doesn't end after leaving office. Former President George W. Bush was on deck aboard a retired aircraft carrier on Thursday to cheer on a one-of-a-kind volleyball match between players without the use of two legs.
Bush is honorary chairman of the 2016 Invictus Games, which will be hosted in May in Orlando, Florida. According to the Military Times, more than 500 veterans and military servicemembers from 15 countries will attend the games, where they'll compete in 10 sports adapted to their condition.
"Those who wear their Nation's uniform, some of whom have overcome both visible and invisible injuries, deserve our support," said Bush in a statement. "I'm proud to serve as honorary chairman of the Invictus Games 2016, and to shine a spotlight on the unconquered spirit of these men and women, not just from the American team but from 15 Coalition nations."
Speaking aboard New York's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, formerly the USS Intrepid – which survived torpedo and kamikaze attacks in World War II – Bush then sat to watch the wheelchair bound teams glide seamlessly across the court, refusing to be inhibited by their disabilities.
Prince Harry of Britain founded the Invictus Games last year. Ken Fisher, the chair and CEO of the Orlando games, is respected among veterans for his custom of building no-cost homes for men and women in their life after service as they seek treatment.
"We are thrilled to co-host the first policy symposium on the invisible wounds of war and the role sports and physical activity have in a warrior's recovery," said Fisher. "We must continue the dialogue that will inspire these men and women to re-engage, to embody what they can do and shine a light in the often dark and isolated area of invisible injuries."
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.