According to the California Department of Veteran Affairs, 1 in 4 homeless veterans in the United States reside in the state. That means that there are nearly 16,000 homeless former servicemembers in California. Though the state is one of the most active in trying to lower the number of homeless veterans, there are still many left without permanent homes.
Max Zahir, a Redlands, California native, passed many of these veterans on his way home from work everyday. Zahir finally decided to make a difference for one of the veterans.
According to Inside Edition, Zahir approached a homeless veteran outside a local gas station and asked if he could buy him lunch. The two shared a fast food meal, but Zahir's kind deed was not complete.
"I go to work every day around 4:00 p.m., and if you meet me at that gas station I'm going to buy you lunch," Max said to the veteran in the video.
In the video taken by Zahir, the homeless veteran breaks down in tears at the offer. The former servicemember goes on to thank Zahir and tell him that he has not been treated so kindly in a long time.
Inside Edition reported that the meal the two shared was the veteran's first in over a day.
Newman's Own Foundation announced on Thursday that it would award $1.5 million in grants to organizations that support military servicemembers, veterans and their families. In a press release, the philanthropic nonprofit, formed in 2005 by the late actor Paul Newman – who was himself a World War II veteran – described the donation as a celebration of its 10th anniversary.
Twenty-nine organizations will receive money to fund the work they do in assisting veterans with physical and mental rehabilitation, housing, education and career development. "Our men and women in uniform make great sacrifices in their own lives to protect the unique freedom, privileges, and opportunities we enjoy as Americans. It is not so much a responsibility to support them, but more a privilege to express our gratitude for their service," said Robert Forrester, the president and CEO of the foundation, in a statement.
Cathy Cook of Work Vessels for Veterans, one of the organizations receiving grant money, told the Military Times that the $30,000 they were awarded would go a long way toward providing veterans with the type of vehicle or equipment they needed to pursue civilian careers or higher-level educations. Cook said that the group's 20 pending requests for pickup trucks could now begin to be filled.
In an unprecedented move, the Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a new plan to improve veterans care services. The program, which will be called the New Veterans Choice Program, will combine all private sectors of the current health network and merge it into one large program, according to RT America.
"We want an integrated network," VA Secretary Robert McDonald told The Washington Post. "We want the very best providers connected with us. This is a big deal, and it will be a big improvement over what we have now."
The department hopes that by combing the sectors, they can eliminate the gaps in the veterans' health systems. It also plans to expand its services to be able to accommodate the growing number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, as reported by The Washington Post.
The new plan will allow veterans who do not live close to VA hospitals or who have been waiting more than 30 days for an appointment to visit private doctors in their area.
The Department of Veterans Affairs proposed the new plan on Nov. 18, and it is expected to go into discussions toward the end of the month or in December.
Milton Pitts Crenchaw, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen flight instructors, died Tuesday in Georgia. Crenchaw had been fighting cardiovascular disease and pneumonia, the Associated Press reported. He was 96, and one of the very last of the surviving instructors for that proud and distinguished group of veterans.
Crenchaw was among the first African Americans recruited for the Tuskegee Airmen program. President Franklin Roosevelt established the initiative as a way to train black pilots to fight in World War II when it became evident that the U.S. just didn't have enough pilots or support crew for the war effort.
"He began that whole flying experiment – I really think that's what it was because they didn't think it was going to work," Dolores Singleton, Crenchaw's daughter, told the AP. "For a black man to be able to fly, that's just like an astronaut now."
The Tuskegee Airmen were one of the very few black units integrated into the front lines. The Airmen proved so valuable in the American air campaign – earning military honors and respect as aces in the sky – that they broke the mold. Crenchaw studied at the Tuskegee Institute and went on to train hundreds of pilots between 1941 and 1946. He was the primary civilian flight instructor for a time, and eventually became a supervising squadron commander.
More than 16,000 airmen contributed to the Tuskegee legacy, but today only about 250 are still with us. Following Crenchaw's death, that number is a little smaller. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported earlier this month that Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a program founded in 1971, hopes to keep their legend alive. In their life after service, many Tuskegee veterans dedicated their time and effort to talking about their experiences. What this incredible group of men accomplished is something that should continue to be celebrated.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald anticipates that dramatic changes within his agency will soon improve an organization buffeted by controversy in the last few years. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that on a trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, McDonald pointed to improvements in patient care, new leadership training and fresh talent as the first steps toward a "huge culture change."
McDonald was confirmed for the secretary position by a unanimous Senate vote in July 2014. In the 15 months since, he has faced criticism for not responding effectively to the scandal surrounding long wait times at some veterans facilities and bloated patient backlogs. His Pittsburgh visit included a stop at a federal courthouse, where he met with a roundtable of veterans to discuss those very issues, as well as easier access to veterans benefits for medical and mental health care.
"We're hiring more doctors, more nurses, creating more space – all the things you would do to create access," said McDonald. The Washington Examiner supports the secretary's assertion. Since the scandal over wait times erupted more than a year ago, the newspaper reported, the VA has hired 3,800 nurses, 1,400 physicians, 422 psychologists and 116 psychiatrists, among other professions. Disability claims more than 125 days old have dropped significantly, from 611,000 to 70,000.
The secretary's improvements don't have everyone satisfied, however. "As the boss, I think he could do a lot more a lot quicker," Mike Stelacio, commander of the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Referencing the USA Today report that the VA paid out extensive bonuses in 2014, Stelacio echoed the sentiments of many other veterans when he wondered "Why should they receive a bonus when we have vets that can't get appointments?"
Some of the most significant personnel changes in the U.S. military's history appear to be on the horizon. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, looking to enlist a generation of servicemembers for the 21st century, while also forcing the Pentagon's entrenched bureaucracy to modernize, is the driving force behind the reforms. According to the Associated Press, Carter's plans to recruit – and, just as importantly, to keep – troops in the armed services were the subject of a major speech given earlier this month in Hawaii.
Proposed changes to military benefits and retirement plans, such as the one that will automatically invest a small percentage of troops' pay beginning in 2018, are part of the effort. Other improvements include expanded sabbatical programs, which encourage service members to pursue advanced education and internships for knowledge and experience that they can then put to use at the Pentagon, as well as facilitated mobility between active duty and the reserves.
The Military Times reported back in August that major personnel reforms were under discussion, spurred on by increasing concerns within the military command structure that its personnel system was lagging far behind the ever-evolving private sector. In a memo obtained by the Military Times, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness Brad Carson wrote that "This is a moment that calls for revolutionary change in the human resources practice of DoD."
Many of Carter's modernization goals are designed to make the Pentagon more closely reflect the corporate world. To draw young people into the services, he plans to have the Pentagon embody the same kind of innovative, high-tech leadership displayed by successful companies in Silicon Valley.
More changes are expected to be announced in the next few weeks. Though some of the programs could be easily implemented, more extensive expansions require congressional approval.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday to broaden the definition of what qualifies servicemembers for veteran status. The Mankato Free Press reported that the bill, sponsored by Congressman Tim Walz, seeks to change how the federal government determines who qualifies as a veteran. Under the current law, a National Guard member who served for 20 or more years – but who was never deployed – would not officially be considered a veteran.
Congressman Walz's bill, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, would ensure that any service member who served in the Reserves or National Guard for at least 20 years would receive the veteran designation. Walz was in the National Guard for 24 years, though the bill would have no effect on his federal status, as he deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sara Severs, the congressman's deputy chief of staff, told the Mankato Free Press that "It is purely for the title and honor. In the way the congressman described it, those servicemembers could have served for 20 years, but just by the nature of the time they served or the unit in which they served, they didn't deploy."
The newspaper found that Walz had introduced legislation calling for similar measures in each of his two-year terms. In both 2010 and 2011 the bills passed the House, but went on to run afoul of Senate concerns over the how the broader veteran status might add to federal spending. Walz has argued that his bill is strictly about honor, not extending benefits.
"I firmly believe that all those who serve our country deserve the honor and respect of being recognized as veterans," he wrote on his government site. "Guard and Reserve members make many of the same sacrifices as those in regular service, and their commitment should be commended."
Fort Walton Beach, a small beach-side city in western Florida, was recently recognized as one of the greatest in the country for veteran businesses. Over the last few years the city hosted an entrepreneurial program focused on veterans that proved to be a big success, according to Stars and Stripes. The result is Fort Walton Beach's ranking as the 10th best city for veteran-developed businesses or first careers in their life after service.
A half-million dollars was set aside for the program by the city council, in addition to seven $25,000 grants offered in conjunction with Venture Hive, an entrepreneurship education company based out of Miami. No restrictions were put on the veterans when it came to developing a business which qualified for a grant.
The city is close to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, where more than 17,000 servicemembers are currently stationed. Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, told NWF Daily News that "We have a great availability of military folks who love being stationed here, and want to stay. If they retire here, they often make the transition to a second career by starting a business."
Mike Anderson, the city's mayor, echoed that sentiment. "Our veterans have such talent and such a great work ethic," he told the news site, "and we really pride ourselves on being a military- and veteran-friendly community."
The survey to recognize the best American cities for veteran businesses, commissioned in part by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, found that Asheville, North Carolina provided the most support and achieved the most success. Other Florida cities that made the top 10 include Sarasota at No. 2, West Palm Beach at No. 3, and Fort Lauderdale at No. 8.
When 80-year-old Billy Aldridge, a Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam War, passed away, the caretakers at his senior community could not find any records of his family. According to CNN, the funeral home in charge of organizing the burial ceremony for Aldridge wanted to make sure that the veteran received a proper sendoff. The funeral home partnered with local veterans organizations in Indianapolis, Indiana, to find out more about the veteran.
Fox 59 News reported that Aldridge was awarded the good conduct medal during his service, but no one was able to find any relatives. The veterans organizations reached out to the community via news reports and social media to encourage people to attend the former servicemember's funeral.
"This was just unbelievably wonderful," Tim Elson, a Vietnam Veteran who attended the funeral, told Fox 59 News. "That the community would come together and remember a fellow veteran, not knowing him, not knowing anything about him."
Over 1,000 people attended Aldridge's funeral, including military members from across the country and local first responders. The funeral home even had to change venues for the service due to the overwhelming turnout.
Relationships are hard. They take work and sacrifice, but most importantly, they require communication. This can be difficult for typical couples, but it can be even more challenging for military couples. Things like deployments, reassignments and training can make it difficult to talk out your problems. Check out the advice below for maintaining healthy communication in your military relationship.
Choose your battles wisely
Is it really necessary to pick a fight over the small things? Most psychologists recommend waiting for at least 48 hours before addressing an issue. This allows a person enough time to process his or her emotions and decide if the topic is really worth hashing out. This will prevent anger or sadness from controlling the conversation. If you wait, you may even decide that a problem wasn't really that big of a deal after all and skip an argument altogether.
Have important discussions face to face
Long distances can sometimes mean having to get creative with communication methods. However, if there is an issue in your relationship that you want to work out, try to avoid doing so over video chat, text message or other digital communication methods. Wait until you can be in the same room with the person. This can eliminate the risk of being misunderstood through technology, and the in-person talk will allow you to see how the conversation is affecting the other person.
Be clear and concise
Always remember that your spouse is not a mind reader. He or she will not know there is a problem unless you tell them. When you choose to have this discussion, make your point well and avoid tip-toeing around the issue. Passivity may confuse your spouse and lead to further complications. A clearly laid out problem will likely lead to a more satisfactory resolution.
Actively listen
Any time you and your partner discuss something, be committed to the conversation. Nothing ignites anger and hurt feelings quicker than being ignored. If you setup to have a conversation, make sure you are mentally present and actively engaged in hearing your loved one out.
Communication is a big part of maintaining a healthy relationship. Military couples are put through more challenges than most other couples, but they have equal opportunities to work toward strong communication skills. The advice above is a good place to start when trying to improve your spousal communication.