According to the Washington Post, a new initiative is being launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to attract veterans to farm work in their life after service.
The program, named the Returning Veterans to Agriculture project, comes as the average age of America's farmers rests at 58. Officials are hoping to encourage younger people to get involved with this important – and rapidly declining – career. Newsweek reported that, ideally, this push could attract at least 100,000 new farmers over the next few years.
Online resources encourage veterans to choose agriculture
The program's website launched 12 months ago, and serves as a resource for former servicemembers looking to get into agriculture. The Washington Post reported that it is filled with information about USDA loans, public and private sector job announcements, as well as posts from Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The page has been used by 6,000 veterans and receives 750 unique hits per month.
The website also includes information about the 2014 Farm Bill, noted Newsweek. The legislation allows veteran ranchers and farmers with facilities under 10 years old to receive financial aid from the government to get their operations off the ground. Officials hope that certain elements of the bill, like lowered interest rates on repairs, fuel and livestock, will encourage veterans to get into the industry.
If veterans support agriculture, agriculture can support veterans
The initiative was spearheaded by Al Muñoz, a project manager in USDA's Office of the Chief Information Officer. According to the Washington Post, Muñoz created the site mostly on his own time, using a preexisting Web platform and at no cost to the USDA. His passion for the cause motivated him to seek out the resources necessary to make the site happen.
While Muñoz had served in the military himself, his veteran daughter's experience as she attempted to reassimilate to civilian life was the driving force behind the site development. The Washington Post reported that her struggles to find herself on a successful career path inspired the project manager to help other soldiers facing similar challenges.
Newsweek reported that, just like Muñoz, government officials are hopeful that agriculture will help with the high unemployment rates among young veterans. Many of these servicemembers also experience mental and emotional challenges, like post-traumatic stress disorder, that make it difficult for them to adapt to professional life. While there is no scientific evidence that farming helps these disorders, a plethora of personal testimonies and groups like the Farmer Veteran Coalition claim that the trade has helped ease the difficult transition back to civilian life while providing a steady income to former servicemembers.
The U.S. jobs report for November, recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed a large increase in the country's payroll. This growth positively impacted the employment situation for post-9/11 veterans, a demographic whose jobless rates have been high in recent years.
According to Military Times, the unemployment rate for veterans of recent wars fell to 5.7 percent for November, which is .1 percent below the national average. This number fell significantly since October, when it was at 7.2 percent. While this leap is a dramatically positive expansion, an upward trend has been going on in this demographic for the past 12 months. At the beginning of 2014, the post-9/11 veteran unemployment rate exceeded 9 percent. By May, it hit a historic low of 5.3 percent. Though it went up slightly during the summer, its recent improvement shows signs of future hiring increases.
The unemployment rate for this group of former servicemembers is higher than the overall average of veteran joblessness. Currently, 4.5 percent of all veterans are looking for work in their life after service. A variety of social and economical factors affect these young veterans' ability to find a job, noted U.S. News & World Report.
"While more must still be done to help these veterans find work, progress has been made. The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans has been cut by more than 4 percentage points from its peak," wrote Jason Furman for the White House Blog.
Veterans in Texas looking to join the civilian workforce in their life after service will soon have a helpful new online resource.
According to the Killeen Daily Herald, the Texas Workforce Commission will soon unveil its new page, dubbed Texas Wide Open For Veterans. It is intended to help connect unemployed veterans with employers looking to hire a retired servicemember. The TWC partnered with the Texas Veterans Commission for this initiative, which hopes to significantly boost employment among the Lone Star state's sizeable military population.
Currently, there are 300,000 veterans in Texas under the age of 40, reported the Killeen Daily Herald. Overall, the state is home to 1.7 million retired soldiers, making it second in the nation behind California. The source noted that this is set to change very soon – Texas has 15 active duty and reserve bases, and many soldiers remain in state even after their service is over.
A press release noted that the site will not only be a useful job search tool for veterans and a helpful resource for employers. It will also feature instructions and advice for servicemembers on how to get job training, further their education and even helpful tips on where to look for housing and fun activities to participate in while living in the Lone Star state.
"After serving our country, service members deserve the best prospects in employment and education as they transition into civilian life, and they will find that in Texas. The commitment the state of Texas has made to our veterans is proven time and again through career, educational and entrepreneur opportunities as well as the programs and services available," Texas Veterans Commission Chair Eliseo Cantu Jr. said in the release.
Four of the living survivors who were on board the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attacks reunited in Hawaii on Dec. 2. According to KITV 4, this gathering was the last official Pearl Harbor Visitor Center reunion for the men, all of whom are in their 90s.
John Anderson, Louis Conter, Lauren Bruner and Donald Stratton were the only living survivors able to travel to Hawaii during this time in their life after service. While 335 soldiers survived the attacks, only nine remain, and five were not able to make the trip.
The men arrived to a plethora of salutes and tourists looking to pay respects, in addition to music courtesy of the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Band. After viewing a live video of divers exploring the sunken ship the veterans once called home, they assembled for a news conference.
"It's always like yesterday when we're out here," stated former servicemember Louis Conter, 93, of Grass Valley, California, during the conference.
Sunday, Dec. 7, marks the 73rd anniversary of the attacks, which killed 2,400 servicemembers in 1941. The four veterans will spend the week leading up to Pearl Harbor Day in Hawaii, catching up with each other and remembering their fallen comrades. According to Military Times, they will be honored during a private ceremony on Sunday, where they will drink a bottle of wine given to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association by President Gerald Ford in 1975. The wine will be served in glasses that are exact replicas of those that were on board the USS Arizona.
Some of the men, including Lauren Bruner and Louis Conter, plan to be interred at the sunken ship, reported Military Times. Currently, there are ashes of 38 survivors resting there.
While this is the last official gathering of the survivors, the men plan to continue casual meetings, since they have forged a strong friendship throughout the years.
On Monday, Nov. 24, the Department of Veterans Affairs fired Sharon Helman, director of the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Waiting lists affected the health of many veterans
Inspectors discovered in May that some VA health care facilities were placing patients – even extremely ill ones – on lengthy wait lists. With no other medical options, many of these people experienced worsening conditions. The New York Times reported that while this number has not been confirmed, as many as 40 veterans in Phoenix alone could have perished as a result of these seemingly endless wait lists.
The Phoenix facility immediately came under fire when inspectors discovered that about 1,700 patients had been placed on the wrong wait lists – a factor that contributed to an even longer wait before treatment was available. TheTimes noted that once investigators began looking at the institution, it was clear that the hospital was understaffed for the amount of area veterans looking for care in their life after service.
Not only were wait times outrageous and often incorrect, but they were being kept secret from officials. As evidence came to light, it was obvious that hospital administration was playing a large role in neglecting to address the situation, reported The Times.
Moving forward
After allegations against the Arizona facility proved true, Helman was placed on six months leave. The public pushed for more severe action once the scandal became clearer, however. The Times reported that after months of public outrage, she has finally been "formally removed." Currently, the former head of Milwaukee's VA hospital, Glen Grippen, is leaving retirement to run the medical facility, reported AZ Central. Officials have yet to appoint a new permanent director, and Grippen could remain in the position for up to a year as VA administrators look for a qualified replacement.
Hiring increases have also begun for the institution, which was previously operating with a shortage of physicians. AZ Central noted that almost 500 positions have been filled with the organization, including 115 slots for nurses and 22 openings for doctors.
In addition to Helman, the VA secretary during the scandal, Eric K. Shinseki was also removed. He was replaced with current leader Robert A. McDonald, who has stated that the faulty practices are not in line with how veterans should be treated, and he hopes to improve medical care for former servicemembers, reported The Times.
Terminally ill with lung cancer, former Marine Corps Sgt. Jeffrey Raymond Wheeler received his dying wish: to watch his son, Jeff, a mathematics lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh, teach a class.
One last wish
According to Military Times, the 68-year-old veteran from Wheeling, West Virginia, served as a Marine in Vietnam in the 1960s. When he returned home, he experienced what many servicemembers of the time went through – a nation not supporting the war he had just fought in. He always spoke about how difficult the transition to civilian life was while his children were growing up. During his life after service, Wheeler worked as a coal miner.
When his son accompanied him to cancer treatment at a VA facility, they learned that Wheeler would not have long to live. Doctors deemed his condition too frail for chemotherapy, and told Jeff it would not be long before his father's health deteriorated. He decided to ask his hard-working father what his last few wishes were. In addition to going home to see his wife that afternoon, the elder Wheeler said he simply wanted to see his son teach. Jeff knew he wanted to do something special to honor his father and grant him this touching request.
An afternoon to remember
Wheeler's son, a 46-year-old father of three who earned his doctorate at the University of Memphis, has been a part of the Pitt staff for six years. When he decided to have his father sit it on a class, he reached out to his family, students and colleagues, all of whom were extremely supportive, reported Stars and Stripes. Jeff's younger brother agreed to drive his parents up for the day, while the school's Veterans Service Center decided to throw Wheeler a reception after class was over. Jeff's co-workers provided refreshments for the event.
During the class, the proud father watched as his son lectured on mathematics in multiple dimensions during a class geared toward science and engineering majors. Military Times noted that while the subject matter was advanced and often confusing for those not well-versed in high-level mathematics, the former servicemember remained engaged throughout the entire thing as he watched his eldest son prepare students for exams. Stars and Stripes reported that Wheeler often whispered "he's a professor" to himself as he watched his son excel in his element.
Montana's Democratic senator John Walsh is urging the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to extend the period of time post-9/11 veterans can receive automatic medical benefits. Having served in Iraq himself, Walsh feels strongly about getting military members the care they need in their life after service.
Currently, veterans are automatically eligible for health care at Veterans Affairs facilities for five years post-service. Walsh wants to extend this to 10 years, reported Military Times. Walsh argues that while five years of medical care is certainly helpful when it comes to soldier transitions, many issues these former servicemembers deal with as a result of combat, including mental health conditions, need more time to heal.
According to Military.com, Walsh has been working toward this goal since he returned from Iraq in 2005, where he commanded an infantry battalion. He watched one of his sergeants take his own life from post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, he has been invested in improving the lives of veterans in Montana and across the nation.
Walsh presented his plan to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Nov. 20. As government officials look to reorganize and improve VA care following this year's scandal, Walsh hopes his legislation can be part of the change.
"As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq wind down, many American families are welcoming back sons, daughters, husbands and wives who are changed people. … We owe them the opportunity to heal, whether their wounds are seen or unseen," Walsh stated at the meeting.
Military Times reported that the chairman of the committee, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, hopes to pass this new policy by the end of the year. Congress reconvenes on Dec. 1 and is expected to make decisions regarding veteran care.
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.
Former Marine Capt. Phil Klay received a National Book Award for his fictional war book, "Redeployment," on Nov. 19.
The piece, which is a collection of short essays, shows the life of a soldier from a number of points of view. While it is fictional, it was inspired by Klay's 13-month tour in Iraq and his subsequent adjustment to life after service. The Associated Press reported that Klay, at age 31, is one of the youngest winners in the prestigious award's history. It is the first win for an Iraq veteran and the first time a book of essays has received the honor in almost 20 years.
The author and soldier, who finished his service in 2009, has degrees from Dartmouth College and Hunter College. This is his first piece of literature, and it already earned him a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Award.
According to Military Times, Klay hopes his stories will help civilians better understand military life. The book is also for soldiers struggling to cope with the difficulties of combat and transition, to let them know they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
"What do you do when you're struggling to find the words to explain to the father of a fallen Marine exactly what that Marine meant to you? What do you do when one of your best Marines calls you to tell you that he's been drinking too much, that he feels isolated at college, surrounded by 18-year-olds he can't make sense of and who can't make sense of him? I don't actually have the answers to those questions, but the book was the only way I knew how to start really thinking them through," he stated in his National Book Award acceptance speech.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, former U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus spoke at a job fair in Nashville, encouraging Tennessee businesses to focus on hiring military veterans.
According to The Tennessean, Petraeus commanded the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell from July 2002 to May 2004, in addition to being the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He also oversaw military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11.
In a speech to over 70 employers in the Southern state, he urged them to hire former servicemembers as positive additions to their companies. He touched upon the fact that all soldiers have exceptional leadership experience, understand the importance of working in teams and know the significance of loyalty and hard work. Petraeus also noted that while many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder in their life after service, having a steady, rewarding career can be a crucial part of the healing process and employers should not be afraid to work with soldiers for this reason.
"We need to give them that opportunity. That's all they want. The businesses will … capitalize on and take advantage of all their capabilities if they truly invest in them," said Petraeus, according to the Nashville Business Journal.