News
New affordable Tempe housing complex approved for veterans and families
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - Arizona
The Tempe city council approved the "Valor on Eighth" affordable housing community designed for veterans and their families with a specific focus on serving women veterans. There will be 50 rental units above a 44-space parking area. Much of the project's funding is from $10.6 million in federal low income housing tax credits.
Investigators Say a Suicide Hotline Operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Allowed Crisis Calls to Go into Voicemail and That Callers Did Not Always Receive Immediate Assistance
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
In 2014, the VA suicide crisis hotline received more than 450,000 calls, 40 percent more than 2013. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General report stated that when the Canandaigua, New York, call center is overloaded, calls are redirected to backup centers. About 1 in 6 calls were rerouted and in some cases, the calls went to voicemail. One of the backup center's staff was "apparently were unaware there was a voicemail system." What may have been perceived as anecdotal veteran complaints, were later validated. The Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson stated the VA "agrees with the report's recommendations and is working to modernize the crisis hotline."
Female Veterans Wanted for Southern Illinois University Project
Friday, February 12, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - Illinois
Southern Illinois University Carbondale students wish to interview female military veterans to take part in a new service-learning history project. All recorded interview and transcripts will be added to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation archives. They would like to conduct face-to-face interviews, but will do phone interviews. To learn more about the project or to sign up, contact Bobbi Knapp at bknapp@siu.edu or call 618-453-3324.
Senators Let Female WWII Pilots into Arlington Cemetery
Thursday, February 11, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
About half of U.S. senators called upon Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy to reverse a policy change barring the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), World War II pilots, from having their ashes inurned at Arlington National Cemetery.
Study of Female Veterans Suicide Would Be Required, Under New Legislation
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
A May 2015 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)report found that women veterans who successfully commit suicide do so at a rate six times greater than nonveteran women. For women veterans between 18-29 years old, the rate is 12 times that of nonveteran women. HR 2915, "The Female Veterans Suicide Prevention" bill, would require VA to identify the most effective mental health and suicide prevention programs for at-risk women veterans.
Fort Carson's Female Ranger, Male Classmate Share Spotlight on Post
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 | Category: Combat - Colorado
It wasn't easy for Lt. Shaye Haver and Staff Sgt. Michael Calderon to make it through the Army's elite Ranger School in summer 2015. They both share their perspectives of Ranger School, experiences since graduating, and whether or not gender is a factor in who is the right person for the job.
Questions, Frustration as Women Prepare to Join Combat Units
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
Advocates and critics of women serving in U.S. military combat positions have many unanswered questions regarding the integration timeline, job standards, military leadership buy-in, and draft registration.
Ernst Joins Boxer, Colleagues in Introducing Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act
Friday, February 5, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
The "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act," was introduced on February 5, 2016 by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The Act was a response to the Department of Veterans Affairs study of "alarming increases" in suicide among female veterans.
Ernst, Colleagues, Introduce Bill to Prevent Female Veteran Suicides
Thursday, February 4, 2016 | Category: Suicide - Maine
On February 3, 2016, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced "The Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act." From 2000 to 2010, according to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs study, rates of suicide among female veterans increased by 40 percent. The study also found that female veterans' suicide rate is approximately six times greater than that of civilian women and that risk doubles for female veterans between the ages of 18-29. More than 174,000 veteran and non-veteran suicides were tracked during the research. Representative Julia Brownley's (D-CA) similar House legislation, H.R. 2915, passed out of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in September 2015.
VA Offering Specialized Programs for Women Veterans
Thursday, February 4, 2016 | Category: Health Care - Michigan
The number of women veterans is increasing and although the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is developing specialized programs for them, not many women veterans know about the initiatives or think that they are qualifying veterans. The Iron Mountain Medical Center in Michigan served over 1,100 women veterans in 2015. Barbara Robinson, woman veteran program manager, stated that the Center has trained women's health providers. For more information, search for the "VA locator directory," click on "Michigan," then the "Iron Mountain Medical Center," "Health Care Services," and then "Women Veterans."