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Veterans
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The report also contains the results from the “2011 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Groups.”
“One sexual assault is one too many,” said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
“Whether it’s in our academies or our ranks, at sea or ashore, there’s no place for this unacceptable behavior,” Panetta said. “We treat each other with dignity in this institution. I expect everyone in this department to live up to that high standard. This is a leadership issue, first and foremost, so I also expect us to lead with integrity and with energy to eliminate sexual assault and harassment from our culture. I’m confident the steps we are taking are the right ones, but we must continue to improve.”
One of the department’s strategic priorities is to address the increase in the number of reports made to authorities to ensure victims obtain needed support and services.
Supporting victims is also the focus of two new DoD policies. Under a new policy on expedited transfers, service members who have been the victim of sexual assault and have filed an unrestricted report now have the option to request an expedited transfer from their unit and/or installation.
The service member must receive a response to the transfer request from the unit commander within 72 hours, and can request a review of any denied request by a general/flag officer (or SES equivalent) in the chain of command and receive that response within the next 72 hours.
The second new policy standardizes the retention periods for sexual assault records across the military services. In unrestricted cases, specified documents will be retained for 50 years and in restricted cases, for five years, to ensure victims have extended access to documents related to the sexual assault.
The academies saw an overall increase in the number of sexual assault reports made to authorities in APY 2010-2011. During the evaluation period, a total of 65 reports of sexual assault involved cadets and midshipmen compared to a total of 41 reports in the prior APY.
“We know that the military academies are similar to college campuses around the country in that sexual harassment and assault are challenges that all faculty, staff and students need to work to prevent,” said Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. “However, when it does occur, we owe it to those who have been victimized, and to every cadet and midshipman, to do everything possible to provide needed support and to hold those who commit sexual assault appropriately accountable.”
As part of the comprehensive review, DoD officials conducted site visits at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, reviewed academy policies, trainings, and procedures, and held focus groups with cadets and midshipmen.
Based on information obtained during these site visits, DoD officials found that most academy programs fulfilled, and in some cases, surpassed the requirements of existing DoD policies and directives. For example, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point established the superintendent as the chair of the Sexual Assault Review Board to ensure the highest-level awareness of the academy’s cases.
The U.S. Naval Academy created a model therapist-led support group. The U.S. Air Force Academy developed an eSARC program to increase reports and improve its 24/7 response capability.
“We also identified areas for improvement to enhance programs and ensure compliance with the department’s policies,” said Hertog. “In our oversight role, my office will follow up with the academies every six months to ensure the necessary improvements are implemented in a timely manner.”
One of the required improvements is for each academy to establish evaluative processes and metrics to assess their sexual harassment and assault prevention program initiatives. Additionally, the academies should continue to collaborate and share best practices to improve their programs.
The complete report is available at http://www.sapr.mil .
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Among active-duty soldiers, there were seven potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicide and seven remain under investigation.
For October 2011, the Army reported 17 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, four cases have been confirmed as suicide and 13 cases remain under investigation.
During November 2011, among Reserve Component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides (eight Army National Guard and no Army Reserve): two have been confirmed as suicide and six remain under investigation.
For October 2011, the Army reported 12 potential suicides among not-on-active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of 13 cases (five Army National Guard and eight Army Reserve). Four cases have been confirmed as suicide and nine cases remain under investigation.
As of Nov. 30, 2011, the Army has identified 260 potential soldier suicides for CY 2011. Of that total, 154 were active duty suicides: 100 have been confirmed as suicide and 54 remain under investigation; 106 were Reserve Component not on active duty suicides (73 Army National Guard and 33 Army Reserve): 84 have been confirmed as suicide and 22 remain under investigation.
Compared to previous years, the Army had 305 in CY 2010 (159 active-duty and 146 not-on-active-duty) and 242 in CY 2009 (162 active-duty and 80 not-on-active-duty).
“Suicide continues to be a challenge for our Army Family,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. “It is a devastating loss when one of our own, whether soldier, civilian or family member, dies by suicide.”
Chandler also said that overcoming this challenge will take the Army’s collective efforts, dedication, support and understanding.
“To that end, I am calling on all of our leaders, but especially the noncommissioned officers, the backbone of our great Army, to make a difference. We must cultivate a climate that encourages help-seeking behaviors and supports those who ask for help,” said Chandler. “By standing shoulder to shoulder, we can ensure that no one stands alone.”
Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their Web site at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in newly revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) at: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r600_63.pdf and Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention) at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_24.pdf.
The Army’s comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Program information is located at http://www.preventsuicide.army.mil.
Suicide prevention training resources for Army families can be accessed at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/training_sub.asp?sub_cat=20 (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials).
Information about Military OneSource is located at http://www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental United States. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource website for dialing instructions for their specific location.
Information about the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program is located at http://www.army.mil/csf.
The Defense Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at
The Web site for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is http://www.afsp.org, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at http://www.sprc.org/index.asp.
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Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Kelseyville Lions Club, 4335 Sylar Lane.
The suggested donation is $7 per person.
The breakfast's proceeds will benefit the group, which sends support packages to troops overseas.
The group also is looking for volunteers to serve at the breakfast.
For more information email
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CalVet’s growing list of employer partners includes Aerojet, Bechtel Corp., Cintas Corp., Comcast, Health Net Federal Services, HP, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Merck, Oracle, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Republic Services, Southwest Airlines, State Farm, TASC Inc., United Airlines, United Rentals, Verizon, Warner Bros. Entertainment and many others in the defense, energy, technology, telecommunications, transportation, finance, health care, pharmaceutical, media, entertainment and retail industries.
With CalVet’s help, employers’ staffs are educating employees about CalVet and about other programs and services available to veterans and their families.
CalVet then contacts veterans who request assistance, assesses their needs, and helps get them connected to their benefits.
Those benefits may include compensation and pension payments for a service-connected disability, education benefits (including free college tuition for dependents), health benefits (including free assistive devices, like eye glasses and hearing aids), housing, farm and home loans, survivor benefits and many others.
Besides providing information and resources, CalVet can help veterans navigate the often complicated and frustrating benefit application processes.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said CalVet Secretary Peter Gravett. “Veterans’ benefits help men and women successfully move forward after military life. At the same time, they improve the business climate in California. Veterans’ benefits bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the state every year and offset millions of dollars annually in the cost of veteran care that would otherwise be borne by local communities. Veteran benefits help reduce veteran jobless and homeless numbers and increase enrollment in California colleges and universities.”
Even still, less than 15 percent of eligible California veterans are taking advantage of their compensation and pension benefits and only 36 percent are using their health benefits.
Without a marketing or media budget, getting the word out is one of CalVet’s biggest challenges. That’s why employer partnerships are so helpful.
Placing a CalVet article in an employee newsletter or sending CalVet information to Twitter and Facebook followers and friends costs an employer nothing but can expand CalVet’s outreach efforts exponentially as the information shared is then passed on to others.
Employers are increasingly interested is hiring veterans because they make such great employees. Veterans are trained to be mission focused, team oriented, responsible, accountable and punctual.
They understand and respect chain of command and follow direction well. CalVet is helping employer partners connect with veteran job seekers by placing their careers/jobs page links on the Employment page of the CalVet web site. If pending state and federal legislation passes, employers who hire veterans may be entitled to special tax breaks or other incentives.
To find out how your organization can become an employer partner and support CalVet’s efforts to reach and assist California veterans, contact Carolyn Ballou at 916-653-1355 or
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Among the centers represented on Facebook is the San Francisco VA Medical Center, https://www.facebook.com/sfvamc, which operates the Clearlake VA Clinic.
“This event marks an important milestone in the overall effort to transform how VA communicates with Veterans and provide them the health care and benefits they have earned,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Veterans and their families told us from the beginning that they want to engage and they want relevant information delivered at the local level. By leveraging Facebook, the department continues to expand access to VA, and embrace transparency and two-way conversation.”
The process that began with a single Veterans Health Administration Facebook page in 2008 has now produced over 150 Facebook pages, 64 Twitter feeds, a YouTube channel, a Flickr page and the VAntage Point blog.
Additionally, in June 2011, VA produced a Department-wide social media policy that provides guidelines for communicating with veterans online.
The overarching strategy is designed to help break down long-perceived barriers between the department and its stakeholders.
“Veterans of all eras are depending on us to get the right information to the right person at the right time,” said Brandon Friedman, VA’s director of online communications, and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. “With more troops returning home, we also have a responsibility to connect with the thousands of servicemembers who have been – and will be – entering our system. They’re using social media, so that’s where we need to be. Facebook helps us do that.”
“We are very pleased to have pioneered social media in VA, and now our VA medical centers across the nation are all engaged,” said Dr. Robert Petzel, under secretary for health. “We are committed to helping veterans understand their benefits and receive the health care their service has earned them.”
VA clinicians can’t discuss the specific health concerns of individual veterans on Facebook, but that doesn’t prevent staff from monitoring VA’s sites closely each day – and providing helpful information to veterans when they can.
In the last year, for instance, VA’s Crisis Line counselors have successfully intervened on Facebook in cases where veterans have suggested suicidal thoughts or presented with other emotional crises.
“Facebook’s mission is to make the world more open and connected and we are excited to see government agencies using our service to better to connect with citizens, provide information, and deliver services,” said Don Faul, Facebook’s vice president of online operations, a former U.S. Marine and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. “We want to do all we can to support veterans, so we’re pleased to see the Department of Veterans Affairs using Facebook connect with veterans in an authentic and engaging way.”
VA currently has over 345,000 combined Facebook subscribers (or “fans”). The department’s main Facebook page has over 154,000 fans and its medical centers have a combined subscribership of over 69,000. The department plans to continue expanding its Facebook presence while also focusing on bringing Twitter to every VA medical center as well.
For more information, visit www.va.gov/opa/SocialMedia.asp or www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs?sk=app_7146470109.
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“On Christmas night, 1776, Gen. George Washington led a poorly-clothed, poorly-equipped and poorly-fed American Army across the icy Delaware River to attack well-equipped Hessian troops at the garrison in Trenton, New Jersey. The determination of the beleaguered Americans carried the day. They achieved total surprise, capturing 900 prisoners and their cannon.
“On another brutally cold Christmas day in 1944, American troops of the 101st Airborne Division, outnumbered, cutoff, surrounded by two Panzer divisions at Bastogne, and lacking cold weather gear, ammunition, food and medical supplies fought with undaunted courage until relieved by Gen. George Patton’s Third Army on Dec. 26 and 27.
“Six years later, in December 1950, Marines and Soldiers of X Corps surmounted overwhelming odds by breaking out of the Chinese encirclement at Chosin Reservoir. On Christmas Eve, their evacuation from the port of Hungnam completed a masterful retrograde operation that would help turn the tide against North Korean and Chinese advances early in 1951.
“For more than two centuries since the fateful Trenton crossing, American men and women have stood watch, safeguarding some of our most cherished traditions, while they and their families sacrificed theirs.
“On Christmas 2011, thousands of Americans will be home for the holidays because of the President’s commitment to begin bringing our combat troops home. Yet, tens of thousands of others will continue their difficult and lonely missions of protecting us.
“VA honors, remembers and thanks the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families, who are serving us this holiday season around the world.
“I thank each VA employee for your commitment and compassion for these servants of the nation when they come to us as veterans. You make VA the great organization that it is by advocating for them.
“To our men and women in uniform, to our 22 million veterans, and to our 315,000 VA employees and all your families, best wishes for a joyous holiday season, and heartfelt thanks for the great gifts you provide to this country – the freedom to choose how we live our lives in this great nation. God Bless America.”
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The bipartisan legislation cosponsored by 11 other members of Congress allows active duty soldiers and veterans who serve honorably to expedite the citizenship of their family members.
“This legislation will help fix our broken immigration system that unnecessarily burdens active-duty service members and veterans who honorably serve our nation, and their families,” said Thompson. “The brave men and women who serve in our armed forces are willing to fight and die for our nation – the last thing they should have to worry about is their family’s immigration status while they are on the battlefield.”
“I am proud to cosponsor this piece of legislation. This bill will help veterans, who have served honorably, attain U.S. citizenship,” said Ros-Lehtinen. “It will also help reunite active-duty servicemen and women with their families. Our veterans and active-duty personnel are selfless patriots who have put their lives on the line so that we can enjoy the freedoms this country has to offer. This bill honors our brave men and women while helping promote family unity.”
The Congressional Research Service reports that more than 45,000 noncitizens are serving in the United States Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard, Reserves).
In addition, many U.S. citizens serving in the military have close non-citizen family members. Such individuals represent a significant portion of U.S. Armed Forces, and they often face daunting and complex immigration law and procedure.
The Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and their Families Act addresses these immigration concerns of America’s military personnel, our veterans, and their family members back home by:
Helping veterans who have served honorably become U.S. citizens: The legislation allows soldiers who serve honorably during times of war to become U.S. citizens expeditiously.
Reuniting lawful permanent residents serving in active-duty with family members: The bill exempts immigrant petitions filed for the spouses and children of military personnel from numerical caps that limit the number of immigration petitions that can be granted each year.
Preserving family unity of military personnel: The bill permits immediate family members of military personnel to apply for lawful immigration status, subject to all necessary criminal and security background checks; and codifies existing guidelines for placing active-duty soldiers or veterans into removal proceedings.
H.R. 3761 has since been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Armed Services where it awaits further action.
Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
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“Coming home is easy, the next step isn't because the checklists are gone,” said Richard L. DeNoyer, the national commander of the two million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.
“Whether you return to college – thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill that the VFW was instrumental in getting passed – or use your benefits to learn trades, obtain professional licenses or just jump right into employment, I want everyone to know that the VFW has your back,” DeNoyer said.
DeNoyer, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran from Middleton, Mass., said the greatest guidance VFW members can provide is perspective, since every VFW member once returned home from their wars and has successfully moved on with their lives.
He also said VFW families are also a rich source of "how to" advice, since they all experienced the anxiety that came from sending a loved one to war.
Another key VFW resource is its nationwide network of service officers, who last year helped 96,000 disabled veterans to recoup $1.4 billion in earned compensation and pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This free service also extends to more than a dozen active-duty military installations through a Defense Department Benefits Delivery at Discharge program that allows VFW service officers to help transitioning service members with their VA claims paperwork prior to separating or retirement.
These service officers, as well as VFW legislative efforts on Capitol Hill, are also there for the families of the fallen and almost 32,230 wounded, to help ensure survivor benefits, as well as VA health care programs and services, are fully funded, accessible and available.
The end of the Iraq war fulfills a campaign promise by President Obama, but with almost 100,000 troops still stationed in Afghanistan, the war on terrorism is far from finished, which means the VFW's veterans' service, legislative and grassroots troop support programs are even more important
DeNoyer is now asking all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to join the ranks of the VFW to help “pay it forward” for future generations of warriors.
“The VFW has survived over the past 112 years because of our relevance to each ensuing generation of warrior,” he said. “This is due to the common thread of war that easily unites 85-year-old Iwo Jima veterans with 25-year-old Fallujah veterans, and which amplifies our obligation to make things even better for the next generation to follow in our footsteps.”
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Now is that bustling time of the year when we all get busy. We have plans for holiday parties, connecting with friends and spending time with family.
For our troops deployed to combat zones in faraway places, those things exist only in their dreams. But, we can make our best effort to bring them some cheer in the form of a care package from home.
Operation Tango Mike continues to hold monthly packing parties and prepare dozens of care packages for Lake and Mendocino County troops.
Often, those recipients respond via letters or e-mail messages. Along with expressing their gratitude, they mention how good it makes them feel to know someone is thinking of them and that they are appreciated.
Crystal Harris, a Navy Medic, wrote:
“I am writing to thank you for the thoughtful packages Operation Tango Mike has sent.
“The candy, game/puzzle books and hats are very much appreciated.
“The US Role 2 is a multi-national trauma center. We are kept pretty busy and whatever small comforts we can get help greatly with morale.
“Again, thank you very much for your support.”
Being away from home and loved ones, in a combat zone, is difficult under the best of circumstances. However, it seems it must be compounded when the holidays come and soldiers can only reminisce about the past and yearn for the future.
Thoughts of our troops far from home brings to mind the saying, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, and that’s why it is called the present.”
So, in Lake County, we make the best of the gift of today and prepare care packages to serve as support and reminders of our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families.
Recently, a young Marine’s wife asked if her husband and his buddies could be added to the list for care packages, sending along four names.
She added that one Marine buddy was married and his wife was enduring a complicated pregnancy, with hospitalizations keeping her from being able to buy and ship care package items.
She closed her message saying that if only one of the names could be accepted, please ship to the Marine with a pregnant wife as he needed the support the most and the others would understand.
It was another humbling example of the sacrifice our troops and their families are willing to make.
Sometimes, we learn of the impact of support long after the care package recipient has returned home.
Andrew Hurd is a 2005 Middletown High School graduate, a member of the US Air Force, and 2010 care package recipient. Hurd recently requested care packages for a deployed friend.
Hurd sent a message to one of his former teachers, Susan Parker. Parker and the Middletown Interact Club are active supporters of Operation Tango Mike.
Hurd wrote, “Hey Ms. Parker, I just wanted to let ya know how much I appreciate you and Operation Tango Mike for sending my roommate that care package. She had just gotten done flying a record 24-hour long mission (which I didn’t think was possible for our aircraft) and landed to find that Christmas package waiting for her. The cards just like they did to me a year ago brought tears to her eyes and she was grateful to know that there are people back home in the states that keep her in their thoughts even though she has never met them. She asked why I requested to get her name sent to OTM, and I had to explain my story that one of those cards changed my attitude towards the deployment and my service as a whole. Heck, to be honest, it may well changed my life because I had no intentions on staying in the full 20 yrs until I received that card.”
Anyone wishing to help in the effort to support the troops is welcome. Packing parties are held the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport.
Donated items are always welcome and may be deposited in any drop zone barrel at locations throughout Lake County, including Umpqua Bank.
Donations to assist with monthly shipping fees may be sent to Operation Tango Mike, 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville, CA 95451 or to Umpqua Bank.
Please call 707-349-2838 or e-mail
