News
Judiciary Committee Approves Bills to Reform the Criminal Justice System
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | Category: Legal/Justice - National
The House Judiciary Committee approved two bills, the ‘Second Chance Reauthorization Act’ and the ‘Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015' in an effort to reform the criminal justice system. The latter bill authorizes Veterans Treatment Courts monies, which serve arrested veterans who suffer from PTSD, substance addiction, and other mental health conditions.
Project Helps Women Veterans in Rural Areas with Postpartum Depression
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | Category: Health Care - National
At least 300,000 new U.S. mothers suffer from postpartum depression experiencing low moods, loss of interest in activities, insomnia, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. "MomMoodBooster" is an online intervention tool a University of Iowa researcher with the Veterans Administration is developing to help rural female veterans cope with their postpartum depression. Women in rural areas may not seek or have access to mental health care.
Project Diane: Integrating Military Women in Combat Roles
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
The Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City, with funding from The Army Research Institute, researched the potential benefits and barriers of gender integration of Special Forces (Green Berets). They found a "great deal of resistance to gender integration in the military" linked to what they referred to as "gender oblivion."
'Comfort Women' Deal Is a Win-Win But Japan and Korea Must Do More
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
Euphemism, bad history, and decades of missed opportunities have distorted Japan's wartime sexual abuse history. In April 2015, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo, in a joint U.S. Congressional session, acknowledged that "armed conflicts have always made women suffer the most." A former "Comfort Woman" Yong Soo Lee, attended as Rep. Mike Honda's (D-Calif.) guest. But as article author and former Congresswoman Jane Harman has written about, "our own country has a sordid history of sexual assault in its ranks." She notes that all countries have much more to do to "counter false histories." She quotes Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a leader on this issue: "It's much harder to get tomorrow right if we get yesterday wrong."
Decision to Keep WIC on Base is a Win for Many Navy Families
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | Category: Finances - Washington
In 2015, military leadership not located on Whidbey Island, stopped allowing “non-federal entities” to use buildings on bases rent-free, which would have included the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program office. On Whidbey Island, a Seaplane Base, about 700 Navy families receive assistance each year from WIC. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen wrote letters to higher-ups, including Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, resulting in the Department of the Navy offering the WIC office a five-year lease to stay onsite with few costs.
Time to Abolish the Selective Service
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
Benjamin Powell, PhD, is the director of the Free Market Institute and professor of economics in the Rawls College of Business Administration at Texas Tech University believes "The time is ripe to abolish Selective Service. An all-volunteer force is more efficient, cheaper, and more consistent with the principles of a free society."
ULM Recognized as Military and Veteran Friendly Campus
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | Category: Education - Louisiana
The State of Louisiana recognized the University of Louisiana Monroe as a military and veteran friendly campus. To qualify, an institution must meet the following criteria: adopt and fully implement the military and transfer process, offer application fee waivers and specialized orientation programs, adopt deployment and readmission policies, and offer priority class scheduling.
Army Vet Receives Keys to New Car
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 | Category: Finances - Texas
Kimberly Baird, a 45-year-old Army veteran, kicked off the new year with a set of new wheels courtesy of Caliber Collision in Killeen. Each year the company, in partnership with the nonprofit organization "Operation of Love," gives a recycled car to a veteran in need.
Family Fighting to Allow Female World War II Pilots to Be Laid to Rest in Arlington National Cemetery
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
World War II pilot veteran Elaine Harmon's family is fighting to preserve the rights for her and other female WWII pilots to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). Harmon, at 25 years old, joined 1,000 other volunteer female pilots in 1944 as part of the Army's World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) program. When she died in 2015, her family applied to have her ashes inurned at ANC. They were denied. On March 23, 2015, the Secretary of the Army rescinded the ANC Superintendent's 2002 decision.
US West Point Academy Swears in First Woman Commandant of Cadets
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Brigadier General Diana Holland, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, was sworn in as the Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was sworn in on January 5, 2016. General Holland is the first female to serve in this position, the latest milestone for American women who now are allowed to serve all military combat roles. West Point, founded in 1802, accepted its first female cadets in 1976.