1

Veterans Affairs November 2016

Complied by Mercer County Veterans Affairs Office Minority Veterans Program – VA Butler Healthcare How does the VA support minority Veterans? The VA Butler Healthcare Minority Veterans Program Coordinator (MVPC) educates minority Veterans about their rights and helps them to take advantage of and participate in VA benefits programs. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans offers support services to minority Veterans from professionals who are educated about minority-related issues and have specialized training. The Veteran Business and Economic Development Outreach Program helps minority Veteran business owners. It provides education on establishing a business, financing, and acquiring government contracts. It also provides Veterans with a working knowledge of contracting, marketing techniques, networking, relationship building, and more. How the Minority Veterans Program Coordinator (MVPC) assists you:

Promotes the use of VA programs, benefits, and services

Makes benefits and services more accessible to minority Veterans

Educates Veterans and their family members about VA benefits and services in their area

Targets outreach efforts to minority Veterans through community organizations

Supports and initiates activities to educate VA staff about the unique needs of minority Veterans

Takes action on behalf of minority Veterans by identifying gaps in services and improving those services

The Minority Veterans Program Coordinator is available to meet one-on-one with Veterans and their families. Confidentiality of all conversations is ensured. The Minority Veterans Program acknowledges the diversity and unique character of our Nation’s Veterans and helps address the special needs of the following five groups:

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanic Americans

Native Americans (includes Alaskan Natives, American Indians and Native Hawaiians)

Pacific/Caribbean Islanders The Minority Veterans Program promises that Veterans will…

Receive equal service regardless of race, origin, religion, or gender

Eliminate barriers in attempts to receive VA services

Be treated with respect and dignity by all VA service providers To learn more about Minority Veterans care, services and specialty needs, contact the VA Butler Minority Veterans Program Coordinator at 800-362-8262, ext. 4318 or the Center for Minority Veterans at 202-461-6191 or online at www.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/index.asp. The Key to Getting Effective PTSD Treatments to Veterans – Bret A. Moore (Military Times) Finding effective treatments for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder has been a challenge for the mental health community. Outside of a handful of medications and a few talk therapies, treatment choices for veterans are limited. And that’s if they can tolerate them. Many veterans who are prescribed medication quit because of the side effects. As you might expect, reduced

2

sex drive and the inability to achieve an orgasm – common side effects of approved PTSD medications – can be quite troubling for a service member in the prime of life. And we’re gaining more insight about the inability of many troops to tolerate the intensity of trauma-focused talk therapies such as exposure therapy. The availability and tolerability issues associated with traditional PTSD treatments have spawned considerable interest in alternative therapies. In past [articles] I’ve written about the popularity of techniques such as yoga, transcendental meditation, and equine therapy. I’ve even covered entire organizations such as Bolder Crest Retreat, a civilian, nonprofit group dedicated to these types of therapies. So why are these alternative and nontraditional treatments still considered alternative and nontraditional? It’s simple – lack of evidence. New therapies, regardless of how innovative and cutting-edge they are, must be backed by hard data before they’re accepted into mainstream health care. This is for good reason. Before introducing a new treatment to the public, we need to be sure that it’s safe and effective. Although the need for therapies and programs to be backed by science is important, it prevents effective treatments from reaching those most in need in a timely manner. Scientifically assessing the merits of a new therapy or program can take many years and a substantial financial investment. For example, a randomized clinical trial is considered the “gold standard” when it comes to clinical research. However, this type of study can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to complete. The reality is that few organizations outside of universities or government have the finances to fund such an endeavor. There is a solution. Private and public sector collaboration is the key to bringing safe and effective therapies and programs to the market in a timely manner. We need a marriage between the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit or our private citizens and the funding and accountability or our government. This is our best chance at solving the current mental health crisis our veterans and country faces. Bret A. Moore, Psy.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. Email questions to him at kevlarforthemind@militarytimes.com. This [article] is for informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance. 6 Tricks for Veterans Transitioning From College to the Workplace – Adam Stone (Military Times) You’ve already made one major transition, learning to undo your military mindset and getting into the collegiate brain space. It can be a tough transition, finding a way to engage in the informal culture that drives academia. Now you’ve got to switch gears again, putting aside your student self as you brace to enter the world of work. It can be a long and challenging road from campus to corporate life. “I came walking into work on the first day in shorts and a T-shirt, and I realized pretty quickly that it needed to be khakis and a polo,” said Peter Chong, a former Army sergeant first class who graduated from Penn State Abington and took a job in the philanthropic community. The dress code is just the beginning. The world of work is a long way from the hallowed halls. Want to get through the transition intact? Here are six rookie mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t isolate yourself – These days it’s easy to turn campus into a kind of veterans-only club. Do that, and it’s that much harder to make the leap to the working world. “There has been an effort in the higher education community to build in veteran-specific spaces. We want to have vet centers on campus, we want veterans to have a space where they can be in a cohort of other veterans,” said Marc Barker, current manager of military and veteran programs and director of the Adult Learner and Veteran Services office at Colorado State University. That’s a good thing, but overdo it and you run the

3

risk of losing touch with the rhythms that govern interactions in the wider world. “You want to be in student vet clubs that are engaged with other clubs, where their programming is integrated into all student affairs programs. Veterans on campus can be embedded in career clubs, they can have a space in the campus newspaper,” Barker said. To prepare for a transition to a diverse workplace, “you want to be integrated across the total campus culture.”

2. Keep steady hours – Campus is anything but a 9-5 operation: Students work when they can, and when they feel like. Take that mindset to the workplace, and you’ll run into trouble. “While you may be able to take work home, employers like to see employees in the office whenever possible, working together collaboratively,” said Carolyn Thompson, a recruiter and coach with The Merito Group. “While you may have the flexibility to set your schedule, if you work too far outside of your company’s core business hours, you may isolate yourself rather than set yourself up for promotion.”

3. Keep an eye on money – Heck, you may never have worried about money before. First you had your parents, then you lived on base, and in school the GI Bill pick up a lot of the tab. Well, that changes when you enter the workforce. “When you get into the corporate world, you [have to] budget your money, concern yourself with bills such as rent and utilities, and you have to learn this while performing well in your professional life,” said James O’Flaherty, vice president of operations for JDog Junk Removal & Hauling and a former Marine captain. “One tip to help this transition is that veterans should live off campus during their time in school, get a part-time job, and practice budgeting, planning, and saving.” It will make the transition from school to work that much easier.

4. Research employers – You can learn a lot about a company before signing on. Skip this step at your own peril. “Each company is different, just like there is a difference in the culture of each branch of service or the style of the commanding officer,” said Northwood University’s Mike Anguiano. “The main difference is that you get to choose who to dedicate your talent and value to, so do some research on what it’s like to work for a particular company.”

5. Be seen as a problem solver – In college, success was personal. You stood or fell on your own best efforts. Take that attitude to work, and you may end up out on a limb. “The highest performing corporations are those were there is a shared workspace, a sense of collaboration: That is where the value is. It is no longer just me as the individual. It’s me as part of a group – it’s my ability to help move this group forward,” Barker said. “You want to be seen as a problem solver, not just as a task manager.”

6. Hit your deadlines – In school, deadlines tend to be approximate. Not so at work. That has made a difference for Peter Chong. “After four tours, I have issues sleeping, and when I was in school, there was some flexibility. Classes might be in the afternoon or the evening. There could always be exceptions to deadlines,” he said. “At work, the deadlines are real. You need to get it done when it’s due. There are real consequences.” Chong has made big adjustments in order to cross that chasm. Because of his post-deployment sleeping problems, he pays an extra $800 a month to live in a downtown Washington, D.C., apartment virtually across the street from work. He can be up and dressed and at his desk in 10 minutes, if he has to be. On the positive side, leaving campus for life in the workplace has placed him squarely back among the grownups. “In school, I saw students who seemed to think they were more important than the teacher. There would be side conversations going on I class. Students weren’t pushing themselves to be better. They would hand in work late and make excuses,” he said. As a

4

32-year-old father and a veteran of the military experience, it rankled. So while it isn’t easy to cross from college to work, you might like it better in the end. “In the workplace there is a much higher level of professionalism,” Chong said. “There is courtesy and respect that I didn’t see in school.”

VA Streamlining Process for Medical/Surgical Purchases – Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking a major step toward system improvement in the processes used to purchase medical and surgical supplies. VA is significantly enhancing the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) program by replacing it with the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor – Next Generation (MSPV-NG) program. MSPV-NG purchasing capability greatly improves VA’s supply chain and aligns directly with VA Secretary Robert McDonald’s 12 Breakthrough Priorities designed to transform VA into a Veteran-centric organization of excellence. “Similar to VA’s successful pharmaceutical purchasing and distribution program, MSPV-NG aims to improve acquisition planning, sourcing, and delivery, which will allow the organization to benefit from the best pricing, timely access to supplies, and waste reduction,” said McDonald. By standardizing processes, VA’s MSPV-NG program reduces excess inventories and leverages VA’s purchasing power. The program increases the involvement of clinicians in sourcing products, giving them direct input in selecting supplies that can be used across VA medical centers and clinics. Medical, surgical, dental, and select prosthetic and laboratory supplies will now be available at nationally negotiated rates. This benefit, along with flexible delivery options, positions VA to address critical medical and surgical supply needs, ultimately improving the quality of care for the Veterans we serve. The MSPV-NG program launches across all VA facilities December 1, 2016. MSPV-NG will streamline VA’s purchases by working through four Prime Vendors. Contracts have been awarded to: American Medical Depot, Cardinal Health, Kreisers, and Medline. These vendors will align across VA’s five regions for more flexible delivery options and will have the ability to make multiple deliveries per delivery location. The new program streamlines ordering, tracking, and procurement methods of medical and surgical supplies by providing an efficient, cost-effective, just-in-time distribution process. In 2016 to date, VA’s supply chain transformation initiatives have saved $91.8 million. This figure is projected to increase significantly by the end of the calendar year. Pentagon Issues Transgender ID Guidelines – Tim Devaney (The Hill) Transgender people who served in the military are facing new identification requirements. The Pentagon said…that transgender veterans who have transitioned since leaving the military will be allowed to voluntarily update their genders on identification cards they use to receive government benefits. This also applies to defense contractors and military dependents. To make changes to their military identification cards, the transgender veterans must show proof of a reissued birth certificate, passport, court order or a doctor’s letter verifying their transition, the Pentagon said. In June, Defense Secretary Ash Carter lifted a ban that prevented transgender people from openly serving in the military. The Pentagon said…the changes “fill a void” in the military’s policy. The policy goes into effect immediately.

5

VA and Social Security Partner to Speed Up Disability Decision for Veterans – Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched a new Health IT initiative that enables VA to share medical records electronically with social security disability processors. This secure process will save time and money resulting in better service for Veterans and dependents who apply for social security disability benefits. The SSA requests nearly 15 million medical records from health care organizations yearly to make medical decision on about three million disability claims. For decades, SSA obtained medical records through a manual process. This new national initiative puts in place an automated process to obtain Veterans’ medical records entirely electronically. “VA’s partnership with Social Security will ultimately improve the quality of life for Veterans and their dependents by enabling Veterans to share their health information within a safe and secure health-related consumer application,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA’s Under Secretary for Health. The joint venture is expected to significantly speed up social security disability decisions, utilizing VA’s VLER Health Exchange under the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Program. The VLER Health Exchange gives VA and participating community providers the ability to retrieve Veterans’ health information from each other for the purpose of treatment. Currently, VLER Health Exchange shares health data with over 79 community health care partners, representing 775 Hospitals, 427 Federally Qualified Health Centers, 142 Nursing Homes, 8441 Pharmacies and over 11,969 Clinics. The SSA now has access for the purpose of processing benefits for Veterans and their dependents. “This SSA-VA partnership is another example of VA’s leadership in interoperability efforts among federal partners,” said VA Secretary, Robert McDonald. “Increasing federal partnerships to improve operation and resource coordination across agencies is among VA’s 12 Breakthrough Priorities for 2016.” VA has partnership agreements with Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Treasury (DOT) among many others. To learn more about VA health care visit: www.va.gov/health. Veterans Museum under Construction in Columbus, Ohio – Nikki Wentling (Stars and Stripes) A soldier’s lucky number 7 playing card that he carried through Desert Storm until returning home is one of the items considered for a new museum dedicated to veterans. The museum is under construction in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and will focus on the military service of veterans, as well as their struggles and achievements after they returned home, said Amy Taylor, chief operating officer of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, the project developer. With congressional approval, the facility would be designated as a national site – the first dedicated to the veteran experience. “This is all about people,” Taylor said. “There are no big tanks or fighter planes. This is a story of people and experiences through service and after service.” The museum, dubbed the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, was planned in 2013 as a place to honor the 900,000 veterans living in Ohio. The scope shifted when the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, with the project’s 16-member military advisory committee, started gathering stories from hundreds of veterans in the state through a half-dozen focus groups. Many of them didn’t consider themselves Ohioans, said retired Army Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich, who chairs the military advisory committee. “Many people were telling us they weren’t really from Ohio, and we realized there was a much bigger story to tell,” Laich said. “We realized we could have a much richer fabric if we broaden the scope of the stories.”

6

In September, Ohio’s congressional delegation introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate and House to designate the museum as a national facility. There’s precedent that sites such as this one are designated by Congress. A provision designating the National World War II Museum in New Orleans was included in the National Defense Authorization Act in 2003. In 2014, Congress designated Liberty Park in Kansas City, Missouri as the National World War I Museum and Memorial. “We had a great project, it was just bigger than what we thought,” Taylor said. “We realized there was no national veterans memorial. We had all assumed there was one. And rather than limit ourselves and narrow this really important topic, we decided to expand it.” Now that organizers in Columbus are taking a nationwide approach to the museum, they’re reaching out to some of the 22 million veterans across the country to gather more stories. They’re also looking to the federal government for funding. The project, estimated at approximately $75 million, has garnered about $60 million in private donations and contributions from the state of Ohio and Franklin County, Ohio. Taylor said the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is “exploring potential federal funding sources,” attempting to find federal grants that fit the project. The pilot along the Scioto River planned for the museum has gone through a redevelopment, Taylor said. A 60-year-old memorial dedicated to veterans in Franklin County, Ohio stood at the site before it was demolished in early 2015. Filling the new museum, which is expected to open in the summer of 2018, will be letters from servicemembers to their families, a timeline of major military events and films showing stories of veterans. Plans for the museum and memorial were initiated, in part, by former U.S. senator from Ohio and astronaut John Glenn, who is a World War II veteran. “When we ponder the accomplishments veterans have done throughout the country, some of them are huge – John Glenn was a veteran, that’s a great story,” retired Air Force Col. Tom Moe said. “But we also have those veterans who day to day go out and serve in their communities.” So far, organizers have been mostly focused on Ohio veterans. Moe, the former director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services under Gov. John Kasich, is leading the effort to extend past the state’s borders. He has contacted major veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion, collecting ideas for exhibits. “Nothing like this has been done. Everyone is saying. “Wow, it’s about time,” Moe said. “We want to focus the story here about the service of veterans, whether they be from Tallahassee to Anchorage, and also be a place where vets can call a home.” One thing may veterans have agreed on, Moe said, is the museum incorporate space to honor people who were killed in action in conflicts over time. Current plans for the museum include a “remembrance room” and an outdoor memorial. Moe, who spent five years in a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam, said he was able to return home and raise his family, an opportunity many servicemembers alongside him didn’t have. “I have two boys, and they each have three kids, so I have six grandkids,” he said. “I think of my buddies who didn’t come home and couldn’t come home and do that. I always reflect back on them.” VA Chiropractic Residency Sites First in Nation to Receive Accreditation – Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) chiropractic residency programs have reached a historic first by receiving accreditation from the Council of Chiropractic Education. These are the first

7

residency programs in the nation ever to be awarded this distinction, a significant advancement in the evolution of chiropractic education. In 2014, VA launched its chiropractic residency program as a three-year pilot project at five VA facilities located in West Haven, Conn.; Buffalo NY; Canandaigua, NY; St. Louis, Mo. and Los Angeles, Calif. The programs provide postgraduate clinical training in integrated chiropractic practice, focused on team-based care and inter-professional education. “Along with serving our Nation’s Veterans, providing innovative training opportunities for health care professionals is a key component of VA’s Mission,” said Dr. Karen Sanders, Deputy Chief Officer, VA Office of Academic Affiliations. “The accreditation of our chiropractic residency programs demonstrates VA’s commitment to preparing providers who will serve Veterans and the Nation.” As part of the program, residents provide clinical care mentored by senior VA chiropractors, participate in clinical rotations in relevant specialties such as rehabilitation, primary care, and pain medicine, and participate in inter-professional scholarly activities. This advanced training gives chiropractic residents vital experience and the competencies needed to serve patients in VA facilities, other integrated healthcare settings, and/or academia. For more information about the VA chiropractic residency program, visit http://www.rehab.va.gov/chiro/Residency_Programs.asp. The Number of Veterans in Congress Will Likely Drop Again Next Year – Leo Shane III (Military Times) The overall number of veterans serving in Congress will likely drop again next session, even as the number of lawmakers who fought in the recent wars continues to rise. An analysis from the nonpartisan Veterans Campaign shows that for the first time in 70 years, Congress could boast fewer than 100 veterans in the House and Senate in 2017. That is due in large part to retirements of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, and the aging of America’s veterans population as a whole. “So it’s natural to see the numbers drop,” said Seth Lynn, executive director of the campaign. “I feel like this is getting to the lower level we’re going to see for quite a while.” But the House looks certain to reduce its number of lawmakers with direct military experience. Today, 79 representatives are veterans, and Lynn said that number is likely to drop by about 10 percent in the November contests. In the mid-1970s, nearly three-fourths of the House and Senate had served in the military, but it has declined steadily in the decades since. If the Veterans Campaign predictions hold true, that number will be just over 20 percent. Still, that’s a larger percentage than veterans make up across the country. Only about 7 percent of Americans have served in the military. “So veterans are still over-represented in Congress,” said Phil Carter, an Iraq War veteran and director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. “We live in a dangerous world. I still think it matters to have lawmakers who served. But the population trends show a long-term reduction in the size of the veterans population for years to come.” Carter and Lynn each said they’re encouraged by the continued rise in the number of candidates who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year at least 54 candidates from those wars are vying for spots on Capitol Hill, almost a third of 172 veterans running in all the open congressional races. The number of recent war veterans in Congress has risen every two years since 2006, when current Army Deputy Secretary Patrick Murphy became the first veteran who fought in Iraq to win election to the House. Two years ago, Iowa Republican Joni Ernst became the first female Iraq War veteran and first female combat veteran to win a Senate seat, part of a class of 24 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to win congressional elections in 2014.

8

Lynn noted that 10 female veterans are among the candidates this year, about the same as in 2014. He also noted that veterans are hardly the only group over-represented in Congress. More lawmakers previously worked as lawyers and peace corps members than in the general population, and usually candidates’ unusual backgrounds help them stand out as trustworthy or uniquely qualified. Carter agreed. “It shouldn’t matter whether you’re a veteran for Congress to do it’s job on military issues,” he said. “But the reality is that personal experience does help in dealing with those issues.” VA Releases Major Report on Progress of “MyVA” Transformation Process – Department of Veterans Affairs Multi-year Effort Showing Measurable Improvements in Homelessness, Health Care, Claims …the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released a major update on the MyVA transformation, Secretary McDonald’s effort to transform VA into the top customer service agency in the federal government. This third edition of the program’s semi-annual report shows progress serving veterans with more services, in better time. “Guided by Veterans’ needs, we’ve left old, unresponsive ways of doing business behind,” writes Secretary Robert McDonald. “We’ve changed leadership. We’ve added staff. We’ve adjusted policies. We’re eliminating bureaucracy and unproductive work. We’re encouraging innovative approaches to serving Veterans, and we’re sharing best practices across the Department. In short, we’re making VA the high-performing organization that it can be, and that my fellow Veterans, expect and deserve.” Key results in the report include:

Veteran trust of VA is on the rise. In June 2016, nearly 60% of Veterans said they trust VA to fulfill our country’s commitment to Veterans – from 47% in December 2015.

We are completing more appointments, faster. In FY 2016, VA completed nearly 58 million appointments – 1.2 million more than in FY 2015 and 3.2 million more than FY 2014. More of them are provided by a network of more than 350,000 community providers – a 45% increase in the number of providers since last year.

Processing of disability claims is faster and more accurate, too. The average wait time to complete a claim has dropped by 65%, to 123 days. We completed nearly 1.3 million claims in FY 2016, and reduced pending claims by almost 90%.

Urgent care is available when a Veterans needs it, and for non-urgent appointments, wait times are down. By September 2016, the average wait time for a completed appointment was down to less than 5 days for primary care, less than 7 days for specialty care, and less than 3 days for mental health care.

Veteran homelessness has been cut in half; it’s down 47% since 2010 nationwide, thanks in part to VA’s work with nearly 4,000 public and private agencies.

In the last 18 months, VA has facilitated dozens more collaborations, bringing in more than $300 million in investments and in-kind services to support America’s Veterans.

Quality is improving. 82% of VA facilities improved quality overall since the fourth quarter of FY 2015.

The report details the changes and innovations, large and small, which produced these results. It also lays out a path forward for the agency – including an important role for Congress before the end of 2016. Expert: Most Physicians Untrained to Handle Vets’ Issues – Jon O’Connell (Times Shamrock) Most veterans get some health care from private doctors.

9

But most doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system aren’t trained to identify service-related illness, according to a physician working to educate clinicians on the issues. “While everybody seems to be mostly focused on the health care that veterans are getting at the VA, it sort of went unnoticed that 80 percent of veterans get most of their health care from civilian providers,” said Jeffrey L. Brown, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College who also teaches at Weill Cornell Medicine. While about 40 percent of veterans get some health care from the VA, only about 20 percent of all veterans rely totally on the VA, according to a 2015 government survey of health and health care use. Dr. Brown, a pediatrician and retired U.S. Army medic, carried a .45 pistol and treated wounded and sick soldiers, and, at times, local children in Vietnam. Late in his post-military private practice career, a New York Times article alerted him that anyone who served in Vietnam should consider themselves exposed to Agent Orange, a carcinogenic defoliant used to kill thick plant growth and expose hiding Vietnamese fighters. Those veterans risked serious illness like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. He learned of the risk from a newspaper, not his doctor, which he thinks is a big problem. The revelation prompted a new quest to educate physicians about service-specific ailments. “The biggest deficiency: Most health care providers don’t ask patients as they come through the door if they’ve ever served in the military,” he said. Service-related issues also could affect women’s health, especially when it comes to bearing and delivering children, Dr. Brown said. Pediatricians also seldom are trained to identify psychological and learning problems among veterans’ children related to their parents’ service or the effects after returning from deployment, he said. About 800,000 veterans live in Pennsylvania, according to 2015 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. And on average, they get only 29 percent of their care through the VA, according to the administration’s survey. The rest comes from outside providers. More often, veterans get private insurance either through work or a spouse’s job, or they’re on Medicare or Medicaid. Traveling to a non-military practitioner often is easier than to a VA facility. “Unless you speak up and say you are a veteran or your spouse is a veteran, the issue might not even come to light,” said Richard R. Silbert, M.D., a psychiatrist and senior medical director for the Community Care Behavioral Health Organization. “There’s just so many other things that they’re (asking) in a doctor’s office. ‘Do you drink? Do you smoke? How’s your diet?” he said. “Everything’s kind of competing.” VA Introduces This Week at VA – Department of Veterans Affairs Weekly Podcast features interviews with Veterans As part of its ongoing effort to engage and reach out to Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a podcast titled “This Week at VA.” The podcast will be produced weekly. Each episode will include information on benefits or products, interviews with Veterans, a highlighted Veteran of the Day and other helpful content. “This Week at VA highlights the department’s commitment to delivering valuable information to the Veteran community through real stories of the Veteran experience,” said McDonald. The “This Week at VA” podcast will act as another platform to communicate with Veterans, their families and stakeholders. The podcast is available on VA’s VAntage Point blog under the This Week at VA Podcast category and on iTunes. Be sure to subscribe in iTunes for updates each week when new episodes are released. The podcast adds to the number of innovative ways VA communicates directly with Veterans and their families. VA has a robust presence on social media, with more than 150 Facebook pages, most of which belong to individual VA medical centers. VA’s digital presence also includes the VAntage Point

10

blog, nearly 100 Twitter feeds, Instagram, a Flickr page containing more than 32,000 photos, and a YouTube channel with nearly 1,000 videos, which has amassed over 5.6 million views. To access and connect to VA’s social media sites, visit VA’s social media directory at http://www.va.gov/opa/socialmedia.asp. ‘Finish the Wall’: How You Can Help Honor Vietnam War’s Fallen – Kevin Lilley (Military Times) First came the names. In 1982, a black granite memorial with more than 58,000 of them stretched over 70 panels took its place among the landmarks of Washington, D.C., reminding all who visit that, as the inscription puts it, “Our nation honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of its Vietnam veterans.” The message, and the design borne from criteria that specifically forbade political statements, was simple: These are the service members, the sons and daughters, the old and (mostly) young, who have given everything for the nation’s greater good. But every name, the saying goes, has a story. And while visitors to the wall may take away etchings or leave mementos, those stories won’t fit on blocks of stone. In 2009, more than a quarter-century after the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and more than 35 years after the U.S. signed the Paris Peace Accords, the group behind the private donations that funded “The Wall” began a new project – one that would preserve the memories of the fallen in the digital realm, with room to tell their tales through images and the memories of those they left behind. What began as “Faces Never Forgotten” has become the “Wall of Faces,” where the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation hopes to someday host an image and online landing page to correspond with every name on that granite wall. As of late October, the VVMF had posted nearly 49,000 images, with less than 10,000 to go before the collection reaches its goal. As part of Military Times’ monthlong celebration of veterans, we’re partnering with the VVMF in its quest to finish The Wall of Faces (#FinishtheWall). Think you might be able to help, or want to know more? Some answers to common questions, with information provided by VVMF Communications Director Heidi Zimmerman: I have a photo to submit. How do I do it? The easiest way is through The Wall of Faces itself – go to www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces and find the name of the service member in question. Click on the “submit photo” button on the profile page and follow the directions. The online database is searchable by home of record, state, service branch and other criteria, so if you’re checking on gaps that need filled from your hometown or county, for example, you should be able to narrow the field in a few clicks. The service member already has a photo. Should I submit a new one anyway? Yes. Many service members have multiple images associated with their profile pages that can help tell their stories. And it’s not just official military pictures, either – some have wedding or family photos and many, in a nod to the average age of the fallen, are represented by shots from high school yearbooks. I have a non-digital photo to submit. Now what? The foundation will accept old snapshots, etc., but will not return them. Organizers suggest sending the highest-resolution copy you can procure – a glossy 8-by-10, if at all possible. Print and fill out a photo submission form (available at www.vvmf.org/how-to-submit) and mail the package to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Attn: The Wall of Faces, 1235 South Clark Street, Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22202. How else are photos sourced? The VVMF’s mobile Vietnam Wall replica, known as The Wall That Heals, travels the country; workers can scan in photos on site. The group also staffs Vietnam reunions where they can collect images, and some individuals have volunteered their time to pursue them either in person or via social media. How are photos vetted? Volunteers staff the vetting process, and Zimmerman says it’s not always perfect. “Sometimes there is no family left to confirm we’ve got the right person,” she said in an

11

email. “We’ve had instances where a family member comes forward and says, ‘Hey, that’s not my brother!” We immediately go back and trace the steps to figure out what went wrong where.” Common names, ages and hometowns can create problems, she said, as can group or unit photos from in theater, where troops may have been misidentified decades earlier. Where has response been the strongest? At least one image of each service member in The Wall of Faces with a home of record in these 17 states has been collected: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Does The Wall of Faces exist offline? Not yet. Plans for the Education Center at the Wall include The Wall of Faces as part of about 35,000 square feet of exhibitions. Other planned features will walk visitors through the history of the war, show how The Wall’s design came to fruition, and display some of the hundreds of thousands of objects left at the memorial by family members, battle buddies and others. The VVMF continues to seek donations for the center, with an expected price tag surpassing $100 million – none of that coming from public funding. The project held its ceremonial groundbreaking in 2012, though actual construction on a patch of land between The Wall and the Lincoln Memorial has yet to begin. Where can I learn more? To see the Wall of Faces or to learn more about related programs or donation opportunities, visit www.vvmf.org. Report: Civilian Hiring Managers Love Veterans, But Don’t Always Understand Them – Leo Shane III (Military Times) Hiring managers see veterans as valuable recruits for civilian companies but still struggle with how to handle their concerns and professional development, according to a new survey released by the Hiring Our Heroes Initiative… The study, which included interviews with 400 hiring professionals and 1,000 veterans, found that business leaders have helped make their corporate culture more welcoming to transitioning troops in recent years. They’re actively looking to hire veterans, and see them as ideal employees. Managers interviewed listed military experience as a top three recruiting priority for their firms, with 77 percent calling their skills an important addition to the work force. Eighty percent ranked finding employees with higher education degrees that same level of importance. The survey found human resource managers overwhelmingly see veterans as more disciplined (86 percent), collaborative (67 percent) and hard working (61 percent) than their civilian peers. “They also express few concerns about hiring veterans,” the report states. But more than half of the hiring managers surveyed said they had little to no understanding of military rank and structure, making it difficult to match veterans’ experience with appropriate jobs. “There is still a civilian/military divide,” said Eric Eversole, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program. “There is still a cultural divide…and veterans still don’t know what they don’t know about civilian jobs.” Fewer than one in four managers think their workplaces have negative biases against veterans. But nearly half of the veterans surveyed for the report said they have faced negative attitudes and treatment in civilian jobs. Of the 44 percent of veterans who left a job within a year of being hired, 16 percent said they had difficulty relating to colleagues, and 14 percent said they had trouble relating to their company’s operations and culture. “To retain these veterans, employers must do more to help their non-veteran employees – especially human resources professionals and hiring managers – understand military service and structure,” the report notes.

12

The study also found that female veterans tend to struggle more with finding a post-military job than men. Roughly 56 percent of male veterans said they found employment within four months of separation. Only 45 percent of female veterans said they did. Program officials said they hope the finding can redirect veterans employment efforts to more focused results, given the success of broader initiatives in recent years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated roughly 7 percent of veterans were unemployed in 2014, but recent months’ estimates have fallen below 5 percent. Justice Department Beefs up SCRA Enforcement – Karen Jowers (Military Times) A new Justice Department pilot program is designed to shore up enforcement of laws that protect troops, veterans and their families against financial predators. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Enforcement Support Program will pay for assistant U.S. attorney and trial attorney positions to help litigate complaints related to financial and housing issues, as well as other concerns. The assistant U.S. district positions will be funded in districts with major military installations, and extra trial attorneys will staff DoJ’s Civil Rights Division. The assistant U.S. attorneys will coordinate with military attorneys and will bring claims, along with the Civil Rights Division, against those who target service members. The pilot program will provide this full-time support for SCRA enforcement through fiscal 2018. The program also designates military judge advocates now serving as legal assistance attorneys to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys to help with litigation related to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act… The Western District of Washington and the Eastern District of North Carolina are the first districts to add these resources. The SCRA provides a number of financial and housing protections and benefits for military members. For example, under the SCRA, service members can request that their financial institution reduce the interest rate to 6 percent on loans they took out before entering active duty. Justice officials have noted a number of recent cases where legal action stemmed from matters brought to their attention by a military attorney seeking help for a service member. U.S. attorneys throughout the country will also be appointing “initiative liaisons” to work with local military and veteran communities. “The pilot program we are announcing…will enhance our ability to safeguard the economic and legal rights of our service members, our veterans and their families,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in the release. “In the days ahead, the Department of Justice will continue working tirelessly to ensure that our laws protect those who protect us.” The pilot program adds “significant legal resources” designed to stop “unscrupulous financial predators,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Bill Baer said in the release. “Whether a service member has a financial or housing related issue, the Department of Justice will investigate complaints promptly and vigorously take enforcement action against wrongdoers.” Justice officials also announced that their Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, which began in December 2014, is now a permanent part of the Office of the Associate Attorney General. DoJ representatives involved in that initiative have been visiting installations and talking with military attorneys and service members to make sure troops are aware of their rights, and that the DoD legal community is aware of proper procedures. One common complaint, Baer said in an earlier interview, involves lenders repossessing goods from troops during overseas deployments without following regulations.

13

Three Veterans about Whom Little Is Known Receive ‘Honorable and Dignified’ Burials – Torsten Ove (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Three nearly forgotten veterans with sparsely known service histories were buried in the rain…after forlorn military ceremonies at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. No relatives were on hand for Bernard F. Mullan, Robert A. Harris and Robert M. Collins. But an honor guard fired three-volley salutes for each. And a recording of taps played out for each on speakers in a shelter where a few friends and VFW members had gathered to pay their respects. Soldiers and airmen in dress uniforms then presented neatly folded U.S. flags to representatives for each man. “The bottom line is that you’re providing an honorable and dignified burial,” said Ron Hestdalen, director of the sprawling cemetery in Cecil, which conducts these ceremonies throughout the year. Karen Koch of Connellsville received the flag for her boyfriend, Robert Harris. He was an Air Force mechanic from Uniontown who fixed jets in Vietnam. He died six years ago at a veterans’ hospital in Pittsburgh at age 63 and was cremated, but had never received a proper burial. She wanted to fix that. A man she knew in the Rolling Thunder veterans’ motorcycle organization suggested she seek a military funeral. She contacted the Missing in America Project, a nonprofit that locates and buries unclaimed remains of veterans. John Fabry, who runs funeral homes in Fairchance and Perryopolis and serves as the Pennsylvania coordinator for the Missing in America Project, found that “after six years of sitting on a shelf” Mr. Harris’s remains were eligible for burial in a vault at the national graveyard. “He’s been gone six years. I miss him every day,” Ms. Koch said as she clutched her flag. “He asked me to marry him just before he died.” He didn’t talk much about his military service. He had numerous health problems and had been exposed to Agent Orange, she said. She felt the ceremony was a fitting honor. “I’m very impressed,” she said. “I really didn’t know what to expect. It was very appropriate.” She said she planned to donate his flag to Rolling Thunder. Robert Collins, a Connellsville native who had lived in Mount Braddock near Uniontown, was an Army veteran who repaired equipment in Vietnam. He was cremated after he died at a Fayette County nursing home in October at age 66. He left behind no next of kin. But he did have Rich Sherwood, a fellow Vietnam veteran from Dunbar who had known him for 20 years. “I was the only one,” he said. “He was my friend. Wouldn’t you do that for your friend?” A soldier presented Mr. Sherwood with Mr. Collins’ flag. He said he plans to contact Connellsville officials to see whether they will fly it at the town’s war memorial. The third man, Bernard Mullan, died in September in an apartment in Brookline at age 89. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner had almost no information about Mr. Mullan and contacted Mr. Fabry in October to see whether he was a veteran. Mr. Fabry said he was able to confirm that Mr. Mullan was eligible for burial, but details about his life or service are scarce. “We don’t know anything about him,” he said. “They [the ME] didn’t even have his proper name.” But Mr. Fabry said through his contacts he was able to determine that Mr. Mullan was born in Ireland in 1927 and served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. Mr. Fabry provided the casket in which he was buried. Under the Dignified Burial Act, he will be reimbursed for its cost by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Mullan had no one to receive his flag. A member of the VFW accepted it for him.

14

Scam Alert: Top Six Veteran Swindles – John Wasik, Contributor (Forbes) Aside from elderly fraud, scams targeting veterans really burns my bacon. Men and women who have proudly served our country are constant targets for scam artists. Swindlers target vets because they know they are drawing guaranteed benefits. While veteran payments are paid over a lifetime, they often aren’t enough to pay all of the bills. Financial predators know this. According to the AARP Fraud Watch Network, there are a host of scams aimed at vets. Many of these operations masquerade as charities that claim to benefit vets. Here are the major scams:

Bogus Sales – “A scammer claiming to be a deploying service member posts a large ticket item on a classified website that he needs to sell right away and at a steep discount. The scammer asks for upfront payment with a wire transfer or gift cards.

Real Estate Rip-Off – A scammer posts a fake rental property on a classified ad website offering military discounts. You just need to wire transfer a security deposit to the landlord.

VA Phishing – A caller claiming to be from the Department of Veterans Affairs calls to “update” you information.

Fake Charities – Fake charities use names that are close to the names of legitimate charities, often referencing Armed Forces, veterans, or military families.

Benefits “Buyout” – Scammers will target veterans in need of money by offering cash in exchange for their future disability or pension payments. These buyouts are typically a fraction of the value of the benefit.

Dubious Investment Advice – An “advisor” will tell the veteran she is missing out on benefits, and wants to review her investment portfolio. He’ll then want to put the veteran’s investments in a trust, to appear to have fewer assets and to therefore be eligible for an additional pension.”

Note: The “benefits buyout” scam also goes by the name of “pension advances.” A company will offer to “buy” monthly pension payments in exchange for a lump-sum payment. It’s actually an unregulated, high-interest loan. I’ve written about pension advances several times. Don’t even go near them. The best way to protect yourself against vet scams? Avoid all mail, email and phone solicitations. If the solicitor claims to be from a charity, check them out on give.org. The Fraud Watch network also gives the following advice: “Be suspicious anytime you are asked to pay by wire transfer or gift cards. Know that the VA will never call, text or email you to update your information. Make donations directly to the veterans’ organization you know. And only work with VA-accredited representatives when dealing with VA benefits; you can search for them online at the VA Office of General Counsel website.” New Rules at Arlington Cemetery – Army Times No more pets. Pets are no longer allowed at Arlington National Cemetery. The policy went into effect Oct. 26. “The primary mission of Arlington National Cemetery is to lay to rest those who have served our nation with dignity and honor,” officials said in a statement. “And while we know that pet owners intend no disrespect to our veterans and military families, non-service related animals on cemetery grounds can and have impacted the decorum of both funeral services and ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” No bicycles, either. Also on Oct. 26, officials barred bicyclists without family passes. The move was made amid “legitimate safety concerns” as cyclists and pedestrians mix on cemetery grounds, according to officials. The decision also was made to address unintentional infringement on grieving

15

family members. “While we know that riders intend no disrespect, bicyclists traversing the cemetery grounds do impact funeral services and the experience that families expect and deserve as they visit their loved one’s grave,” officials said. Exemptions. Approved service animals and military working dogs are exempt from the pet ban at the cemetery, officials said. Some bicyclists also can get a reprieve. Guests visiting graves can obtain a pass at the cemetery’s welcome center and ride a bike to and from the gravesite. Extra security. The cemetery also is beefing up its security procedures, just in time for the flood of visitors during Veterans Day. Beginning in November, all pedestrian traffic will be limited to four set access points, and visitors will be screened before they can enter cemetery grounds. Visitors who do not have bags or those with disabilities will have an express screening line. Officials encourage visitors to allow extra time for the security screening, especially if you’re in a large group. “This is our nation’s premier national cemetery, and we want to be sure that when people visit this site they can feel safe and secure,” said Patrick Hallinan, the cemetery’s executive director, in a statement. Millions of visitors. Arlington cemetery, which is run by the Army, is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans and their families. The cemetery hosts up to 4 million visitors a year, and it can hold up to 30 funerals a day. More than 3,000 ceremonies and memorial services also take place at the cemetery every year, including national observances for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Report: Vets Face Serious Health Issues, But Are Less Likely To Complain About Them – Leo Shane III (Military Times) Veterans are more likely to contract cancer, battle heart disease and face substance abuse problems than their civilian peers, but are also less likely to see problems with their overall health, according to a new study… The report, from UnitedHealth Group and the Military Officers Association of America, presents a warning for civilian doctors that they may need to dig deeper into veterans’ medical files to make sure health problems aren’t being overlooked. “The study shows us that the general population is going to be more forthcoming with symptoms and problems than those who have served,” said Dr. Richard Migliori, chief medical officer for UnitedHealth Group. “So they have to be more persistent with those patients.” The survey, based on phone interviews with 400,000 veterans and civilians, found that 57 percent of male veterans and 56 percent of female veterans described their overall health as very good or excellent. Only 51 percent of civilians in both groups reported the same. Researchers also found that veterans were more likely to be physically active than their civilian peers and more likely to have some type of health insurance. But they also saw that those positives may be obscuring more serious health threats. Veterans under 40 were more often than their peers to get insufficient sleep (50 percent to 36 percent) of pick up smoking (26 to 21). And more veterans suffer from heart disease (5.5 percent to 3.4 percent) and cancer (11 to 10) than their civilian peers. “This is an important study, because it gives another tool in the tool kit to understand the veterans population,” said Rene Campos, head of MOAA’s Veterans-Wounded Warrior Health Care programs. “Military and veterans health systems aren’t going to see all of these individuals. This helps start dialogue.” The report comes as Republican lawmakers push for expanded medical appointment options outside Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, a solution that could ease wait times for veterans but also introduce them to physicians with little experience treating their population.

16

Migliori said he sees the report as an important effort to bridge the civilian-military divide, giving those physicians a better roadmap to follow as they see new veteran patients. “I’ve been impressed by the resilience of this population, and their effort not been seen as complaining about their problems,” he said. “But doctors need to be on their toes.” Lapel Pin, National Initiative Seek To Correct Injustice for Vietnam Vets – Charlsy Panzino (Military Times) On the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, a national initiative aims to make sure veterans from that era are never forgotten. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, which was authorized by Congress in 2008, is conducting events and activities across the country this year to honor those who served in a deeply divisive war that left a generation of warfighters without the proper recognition they deserved. One part of the initiative is to honor vets who served between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, with a commemorative Vietnam Veteran lapel pin. …retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey received one of those pins during a brief ceremony in the Military Times office outside Washington, D.C. McCaffrey, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, said the pin honoring his fellow veterans reinforces the importance of supporting America’s men and women in uniform, regardless of politics. “You may have different political views, but you can honor the soldier who fought without necessarily endorsing the outcome of the conflict,” the four-star general told Army Times… “That’s happened over time, he said, and Vietnam was a turning point that led to almost overwhelming support for today’s generation of service members. It’s also why the pin has tremendous significance. McCaffrey said Arlington National Cemetery is the traditional place to visit on Veterans Day, but there will be thousands convening at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C… “[The Vietnam War] changed the way people grieve over tragedies,” he said, adding that people leaving flowers and mementos at memorials started with the Vietnam wall. McCaffrey, who retired in 1996 after 32 years of service, was the most highly decorated Army general serving at the time of his retirement. He earned two Distinguished Service Crosses, which are second only to the Medal of Honor, and two Silver Stars, the nation’s third-highest award for valor. He also is a two time Purple Heart recipient. McCaffrey served four combat tours with the 82nd Airborne Division, the Vietnamese Airborne Division, the 1st Cavalry Division and the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division. McCaffrey also served as the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bill Clinton from 1996 to 2001. Researchers Find Vets Leave Civilian Jobs Quickly, But For Good Reasons – Leo Shane III (Military Times) Nearly half of veterans leave their first civilian job within a year, but that may not be bad news, according to a new analysis by the Center for a New American Security. Researchers from the think tank’s Military, Veterans, and Society program found that turnover rate is comparable to civilians getting their first full-time job, and is usually the veterans’ choice. “Most of these veterans leave their jobs for positive reasons, such as a move for more money, more responsibility or a better location,” the report states. A minority of veterans leave jobs for negative reasons, such as clashes with management or performance issues. However, there are no indications that veterans leave for negative reasons relating to their veteran status.”

17

The study refutes assumptions that the high turnover rate – almost half, according to previous surveys – is a result of veterans inability to integrate into civilian posts or pervasive discrimination against them. But researchers did find that underemployment remains a problem for servicemembers entering the civilian workforce, with 60 percent of veterans surveyed saying their experience and skills significantly outpace their job responsibilities. “Among all veterans, former enlisted personnel felt more undervalued and underutilized than former officers the report states. “(They) were more likely than officers to claim that their manager did not value their experience as a veteran…and (more) cited a “skill or experience mismatch” as a reason for leaving a job.” The report is based on three separate CNAS surveys of neatly 1,800 veterans, managers and recruiting professionals, and analysis of existing corporate data and related employment reports. In a separate study, researchers with the business management firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) surveyed 1,000 veterans working in civilian jobs and found 82 percent think that their military experience gives them an advantage in the workplace, in areas like teamwork and work ethic. But that military experience also comes with disadvantages. Researchers said almost half said their service left them ill-prepared to negotiate pay increases or promotions. CNAS researchers said while their findings refute the idea of widespread problems of veterans entering the civilian workforce, they also show a small subset who do struggle with the transition pointing to the need for continued education among managers and supervisors in military culture. The full CNAS report is available online at the group’s website. The EY findings are also available at the firm’s web page. Soldier Returns Lost Medals to War Hero’s Family on Veterans Day – Charlsy Panzino (Military Times) Lt. Cmdr. Wallace Graham Murphy didn’t say much about his military experience before he died in 1994. His daughters knew he had served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, but they didn’t realize just how much of a hero he was – until they were reunited with almost 20 of Murphy’s medals during a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Veterans Day. Through Purple Hearts Reunited, a non-profit organization that finds lost military medals and keepsakes and returns them to the veterans or family members. Murphy’s medals were rediscovered more than 20 years after his death. Army Maj. Zachariah Fike, founder of Purple Hearts Reunited and the 2016 Army Times Soldier of the Year, said one of his team members found Murphy’s medals online and bought them from the collector. The organization then researched to locate the family, who lives in Pennsylvania. The medals were presented in a frame to Murphy’s daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The frame included photos and pieces of his uniform. Beverly Smith, one of Murphy’s daughters who came down from Pennsylvania for the ceremony, said the family is grateful for getting to know Murphy better through Fike’s research. “[Fike] explained to me more than I even knew about what a true war hero he was,” Smith said. “Our only regret is we can’t thank him for it in person.” The three daughters who attended the ceremony are all teachers, and Smith said they want to use the framed medals and history to educate others. “I would give anything for my father to be here today,” Smith said at the ceremony. “I would just tell him how proud we are of him and thank him for what he has done four our country.” Not only did Purple Hearts Reunited find Murphy’s Purple Heart, but there was also a Bronze Star for valor and an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 13 campaign stars from the time he served on the USS Louisville, which means he was in every single campaign the ship was in.

18

“His family said they remember him telling a few stories of him literally pulling his friends who had died out of their gun positions and stepping in and protecting the ship,” Fike said. “It’s one of the biggest groupings we’ve ever had,” said Fike, who explained that medals are usually bundled together and sold for a higher value through collectors. Murphy rose through the ranks and went on to serve in Korea. Not much is known of his service during that time, Fike said, but he received a Korean Service Medal with four campaign stars. In Vietnam, Murphy was a senior officer and commanded Task Force 115, which was a riverine special operations group. Fike said Murphy was part of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group which had a small component of Navy men assigned to it. “It’s basically the Green Berets in Vietnam,” he said. “In some of the photos, he’s actually wearing a green beret with a 5th Group flash. It’s very rare to see a Navy man wearing a green beret.” Murphy had a long and honorable military career, and when he returned home from Vietnam, he needed to decompress. So he bought a motorcycle and toured the United States before eventually moving to Canada, where he died in 1994. “Perhaps the medals were lost once he passed away in Canada,” Fike said. “They were found together and sold as a group.” Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Salinsky, Murphy’s grandson, said his grandfather inspired him to join the Navy. “As a young kid, we kind of go little pieces of information from his experience in the Navy,” said Salinsky, a master-at-arms. To be able to piece together Murphy’s history and to actually have that story come together and talk to the people who did the research was amazing, he said. “It made me even more proud that I thought I could be, Salinsky added. “I hope he’s looking down and seeking that we are all proud of him and still speaking his name and honoring him because he deserves it.” Fike said that, on average, a single Purple Heart medal goes for $300. Purple Hearts Reunited received a grant from the Military Order of the Purple Heart to be able to bring these medals home, but donations also help Fike’s organization. Purple Hearts Reunited began with Fike dedicating his own money and time, on top of his full-time job with the Vermont National Guard. Since its start about four years ago, Fike said around 300 medals have been returned across the country. “It never gets old,” he said at the ceremony. “To be with the families and hear how appreciative they are, and to preserve that history, it keeps us going.” Fike encourages veterans to have their medals engraved in case they’re lost or stolen so that an organization like Purple Hearts Reunited can return them. Veterans Make Up Nearly One-Third of Federal Workers – Leo Shane III (Military Times) Veterans make up almost one-third of the federal workforce, up 5 percentage points since President Obama took office, according to new data released by the Office of Personnel Management… That translates into more than 623,000 veterans working in civilian federal posts, 31 percent of the 2 million individuals working in civilian government jobs. In a statement, OPM Acting Director Beth Cobert said the hirings are not a matter of obligation but instead about getting highly qualified workers into those positions. “Veterans bring distinctive training, skills, leadership, and experiences that we need at every agency in the federal government,” she said. In 2009, Obama signed an executive order mandating increased hiring preferences and efforts for the country and an important model for private sector businesses.

19

Veteran employees make up 33 percent of the Department of Veterans Affairs nearly 366,000-person workforce, and 47 percent of the Department of Defense’s 320,000 civilian employees. But the hirings go beyond just departments directly related to their military experience. More than 25 percent of the Department of Justice’s workforce are veterans, and nearly 28 percent of the Department of Homeland Security workers have served in the military. Another 37 percent of Department of Transportation employees are veterans. About 12 percent of the federal workforce – about 241,000 individuals – are disabled veterans. Of those, about 146,000 have a disability rating of more than 30 percent. The average veteran working in federal government is 49 years old, making a salary of about $74,000 a year. More than 90 percent of them hold jobs outside the Washington, D.C. metro area. About 4.3 percent of veterans in America are currently unemployed, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released earlier this month. Of the nearly 21 million veterans nationwide, about 10.2 million are working, and another 10.1 million are retired, in school, or unable to work due to disabilities. Advocates Want More Veterans on Congress’ Policy Staff – Leo Shane III (Military Times) The number of veterans in Congress will increase slightly next year, but the number of veterans working as congressional staff has remained alarmingly low in recent years, according to new findings from one advocacy group. Officials from HillVets – a bipartisan networking group of Capitol Hill staffers with military experience – are pushing every lawmaker to add at least one veteran to their policy staff in coming months, noting that less than 1 percent of those key posts are held by veterans today. Past surveys by the group have found that less than 3 percent of the more than 3,000 employees working in congressional offices have served in the military. “Sixty percent of our nation’s annual government spending is related to the military and veteran experience, yet we have no institutional knowledge within our legislative branch,” said Saki Ververis, board member for HillVets. Officials from the Veterans Campaign said the overall number of veterans in Congress will increase next year by two or three individuals, pending the results of several recounts. At least 102 veterans are poised to serve in elected federal office next year, up from 100 in the current session. Of those, 27 will be veterans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. But Ververis, an Air Force veteran, said having elected officials with personal knowledge of defense and veterans issues isn’t enough. Veterans need better representation among policy staff, who have tremendous influence on lawmakers’ priorities. He also believes more former service members can also be a force for bipartisanship in an increasingly politically divided government. “Military veterans continue the conversation, even if there is a difference of opinion, because we have been trained to complete the mission” he said. “Veterans share a common bond. We are a fraternity, a band of brothers and sisters, set on moving forward, which is something our country is in dire need of.” HillVets officials said Congress’ reluctance to hire more veterans runs counter to corporate trends, where many business and community leaders have spent recent years extolling the virtues of bringing employees with military experience to their workforces.

20

Adaptive Sports Help Active Duty, Veterans and Families Though Recovery – Ken Fisher, CEO and Chairman of the Fisher House Foundation (for Military Times) When it comes to our nation’s heroes, wounds of war – invisible or visible – are felt by the entire family. Active duty service members, veterans, and their families struggle together, rejoice together, and heal together. At Fisher House Foundation, we know having family at one’s side plays a vital role in the journey to recovery. We believe a family’s love is the best medicine. For over 25 years, Fisher House has made healing together possible. We provide a “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care near military and Veteran’s Affairs medical centers. Our 72 homes provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during a medical crisis. In addition to our Hero Miles and Hotels for Heroes programs, we’ve added adaptive sports to our list of programs that serve wounded and injured service members and veterans through support of programs like the Invictus Games and the Warrior Games. The events raise awareness for veteran’s issues and bring together wounded veterans from around the world to celebrate all that they have accomplished post-recovery. Adaptive sports modify the rules of existing sports to meet the needs of disabled players. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, disabled veterans who participate in adaptive sports report benefits such as less stress, reduced dependency on pain and depression medication, fewer secondary medical conditions, higher achievement in education and employment, and more independence. Look at Will Reynolds, a retired Army captain, who was injured in an improvised explosive device explosion during his deployment 12 years ago. Reynolds underwent 26 surgeries and the amputation of his left leg. Fisher House was proud to be there for him and his family throughout his recovery. “Having family by my bedside was the biggest benefit in my healing process,” said Will. “Hero Miles relieved the financial burden of travel for my family going back and forth from their home to be at my bedside.” Having family by his side lessened Will’s stress and enabled him to devote his attention to rehabilitation and the comfort and confidence he found in sports. A former collegiate athlete, adaptive sports allowed Will to compete once again. His passion for athletics led him to excel post-recovery and earn a spot on the Invictus Games teams. Will won three bronze medals in 2014 and served as co-captain of the 2016 U.S. Team. Protecting this great nation is not a sacrifice made just by a service member, it is a sacrifice their entire family makes. As such, it is our duty to honor that sacrifice when they come home. Fisher House will always be there for our greatest national treasures – our service men and women, and their loved ones. VA Lauded by National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable for Screening Rates – Department of Veterans Affairs Approximately 4,000 Veterans are diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer each year The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has received Hall of Fame recognition by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCR) for achieving an 82 percent colorectal cancer screening rate, which exceeds the NCCR goal of 80 percent and the national average, which is in the 60 percent range. NCCR was established in 1997 by the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a national coalition of public, private and voluntary organizations along with invited individuals. “We know that colon cancer is both common and lethal,” said David J. Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health. “Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United

21

States; we know that it can be prevented through screening. Recognition by this prestigious organization shows that our prevention measures are saving our Veterans’ lives.” VA has been an early leader in fully embracing the value of colorectal cancer screening and in employing a comprehensive approach to its screening program by developing policies and guidance about screening. VA also monitors and reports system-wide screening rates, increased access to screening, developed systems of care to facilitate screening using clinical reminders, clinician toolkits, patient, and staff education. Information about VA’s efforts to prevent and treat colorectal cancer may be found at http://www.va.gov/QUALITYOFCARE/initiatives/compare/Prevention_Colorectal_Cancer_Screening.asp. Information about VA’s cancer research and achievements may be found at http://www.research.va.gov/topics/cancer.cfm.

22