News
LA County Approves $7 Million to Help Homeless—Especially Women, Veterans
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - California
The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved $7 million to help get homeless individuals, particularly women and veterans, off the street and into housing quickly. About $1.2 million of the $5 million was designated to launch the "Home for Heroes" program.
Worcester Wreath Reports on the 2016 Wreaths Across America Program
Tuesday, January 5, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
On December 12, 2015, the Worcester Wreath Company and Wreaths Across America announced that 901,000 Christmas wreaths were placed on graves across America to remember those who served in the military. The wreaths help to keep their memory alive and is a time when individuals come together without denominational divide or political agenda to lift up the men and women who protected America’s freedom. The "Wreaths Across America" mission which is to "Remember, Honor, Teach."
Lewis Diuguid: Endless War Keeps Grip On the U.S.
Monday, January 4, 2016 | Category: Combat - National
Mr. Diuguid calls for a future characterized by lasting peace. He notes that 25 of his 60 years the U.S. has been engaged in costly wars consuming too many lives and resources. The U.S. has been in Afghanistan for 15 years and has a defense budget of $610 billion, $9 billion more than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Kingdom, India and Germany combined. The U.S. is war weary and its servicemembers come home with lingering health challenges that the Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't always meet.
Prosecutors Dispute Former N.H. Guard Commander’s Sex-Trafficking Appeal
Thursday, December 31, 2015 | Category: Human Trafficking/Sexual Exploitation - New Hampshire
Army Lt. Col. Ray Valas, former New Hampshire National Guard Commander, filed an appeal for his guilty verdict of soliciting sex from an underage prostitute. Federal prosecutors dismissed his central appeal claim as a legal misinterpretation.
Veteran Suicide Estimate of 22 Per Day Sparks Debate, Spurs Lawmakers Into Action
Thursday, December 31, 2015 | Category: Suicide - National
Congress passed the 2015 "Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act" to address what lawmakers saw as an epidemic of suicides among Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans. The rate of 18-22 veteran suicides a day was taken from a 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs study. The 2014 update reflected similar rates. The Act requires "a labor-intensive study between the VA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to put together a national death index to get a real head count of all veteran deaths since 1979, including suicides."
The number itself, taken from a 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs study, is debated by researchers,
Department of Defense Forwards to Congress Proposed Changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Monday, December 28, 2015 | Category: Military Justice - National
In October 2013, former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel directed the review of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and its implementation in the Manual for Courts-Martial. The proposal includes recommendations of the Military Justice Review Group. The Group conducted a detailed analysis of each article of the UCMJ, including the historical background of the UCMJ, current practice, and comparison to federal civilian law. The Department of Defense (DOD) forwarded their proposed legislation to Congress, including 37 statutory additions and substantive amendments to 68 current provisions of the UCMJ. The DOD’s proposal is the first comprehensive military justice reform package submitted to Congress in more than 30 years.
Less Consideration for Female Veterans
Sunday, December 27, 2015 | Category: Combat - Texas
An Operation Iraqi Freedom female Marine veteran shares her interview experience, concluding that her military service was less valued than her male peers. She believes that discrimination contributes to why women veterans do not attend veteran events.
Stefanik Can Do Better
Sunday, December 27, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - New York
This opinion piece challenges the depth of New York representative Stefanik's understanding of the issues the House Armed Services Committee addresses. The author specifically notes her position f supporting the current military strategy in Afghanistan and continuing involvement of the military chain of command in sexual assault cases.
Military Injustice: Politics, Machismo, Structural Defects
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 | Category: Military Justice - National
This opinion article highlights the vulnerability of the military justice system to inappropriate Congressional pressure. USAF Lt. Col. Rachel Van Landingham (ret.) notes that the "generals and admirals in whom the greatest prosecutorial and quasi-judicial authority is vested not only must be confirmed by the Senate for their next promotion, but three and four-star generals must receive Senate approval for their next assignment as well. This approval process starts, and can easily end, in the Senate Armed Services Committee." She suggests that Congress enact reform that instills transparency and accountability into prosecutorial discretion in the military vice unlawfully influencing individual cases.
Women and The Military Prepare for Combat
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
All the military Services must submit plans to integrate women into combat positions by January 1, 2016 with over 220,000 positions opened by April 2016. Lieutenant General Barno commanded a brigade including hundreds of women. He tells The Takeaway that the armed forces will only improve by including women as long as the services maintain their high standards for combat roles.