News
I Served in the Active Military. Yes, I'm One!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 | Category: Health Care - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Women’s Health Services (WHS) “I’m One” campaign intends to raise awareness of VA benefits, health care, and other services and programs available to women veterans. The VA encourages women veterans to apply for VA health care and other benefits and use those they are eligible for to improve their day-to-day quality of life and promote enduring self-sufficiency. When family members, caregivers, friends, and involved citizens connect women with military service to beneficial resources within their communities, that's success!
Two Women Make Army Ranger History
Friday, August 21, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, both Westpoint graduates, made history on August 21, 2015 when they became the first two women to graduate from the U.S. Army's elite Ranger School. Of 400 who began in Ranger Class 08-15, they were 2 of 96 to earn the Army Ranger tab.
The two received their tabs as part of Ranger Class 08-15 at Fort Benning, Georgia, marking a historic moment in the integration of women in the U.S. military,
Women Army Ranger Graduates Represent Shift In Army Attitudes, But Military Discrimination Still Rampant
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver passed the toughest training the Army has, Army Ranger school, but women serving in the military still have no place in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment or in any other official combat role. The Pentagon must announce which military jobs of those not previously accessible will open to servicewomen in January 2016. Some elite Special Forces units may remain exempt from that change if it can be proven that women are scientifically incapable of being able to carry out the job by meeting relevant mission standards.
Retire the Myths; Women Are Ready for Combat
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
Anu Bhagwati, a former Marine Corps Captain, is the founder of Service Women’s Action Network, sees the graduation of the first two female Army Rangers as an opportunity for the Secretary of Defense to end legalized sex discrimination in the military. She proposes that all military occupational schools open to women, gender-neutral Service physical standards be implemented, and that the Marine Corps fully integrate its basic training course.
70 Years of Military Mediocrity: The Shared Failings of America’s Military Academies and Senior Officers
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Category: Department of Defense - National
William Astore, retired military officer and service academy instructor, examines institutional flaws within the U.S. military service academies. Mr. Astore states: "We need a new generation of cadets--and a few renegade generals of my generation as well--who want to serve us by not going to war, who know that a military is a burden to democracy even when victorious, and especially when it’s not. Otherwise, we’re in trouble in ways we haven’t yet begun to imagine."
UN Envoy Urges Leaders to Ban Sex Attacks by Security Forces
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
The U.N. envoy urged government leaders to prohibit sexual attacks by security forces and reinforce justice amidst other security sector reforms. These reforms come when the United Nations again tries to deal with multiple reports of rape and sexual abuse of adults and children by U.N. peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. These attacks tarnish the world body's reputation.
History in the Making: 2 Women Will Graduate from Army Ranger Course
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 | Category: Combat - National
Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, both Westpoint graduates, are two of ninety-six Army soldiers who will graduate from Army Ranger school on August 21, 2015. They are also the first female soldiers to graduate from this special operations unit school. Four hundred soldiers,19 women and 381 men, started the course together and all were required to meet the same standards.
Thousands of .mil Addresses Potentially Leaked in Ashley Madison Hack
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 | Category: Department of Defense - National
Numerous military and government e-mail addresses were used to sign up for the Ashley Madison affair-seeking web service. According to a report first published in Wired, substantial personal information, including sexual fantasies, was leaked online after the extramarital affair web site Ashley Madison was hacked in July. An initial analysis revealed 6,788 army.mil, 1,665 navy.mil and 809 usmc.mil, including addresses linked to every destroyer and amphibious assault ship in the U.S. Navy.
Stratasys’ 3D Printing of Prosthetic Devices Spurs Innovation for Veterans at VA Make-a-thon
Friday, August 7, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
125 designers, engineers, students, teachers and veterans attended "The VA Innovation Creation Series: Prosthetic and Assistive Technologies Challenge" make-a-thon event held in Richmond, Virginia during summer 2015. Fourteen Stratasys FDM-based 3D printers, ranging from MakerBots to the Fortus 450mc produced contestants’ designs over the course of two days. The focus of the challenge was to develop a device or solution to improve prosthetics to meet the differing needs of male and female veterans.
Togus Gives Progress on Caring for Maine Veterans
Monday, August 3, 2015 | Category: Health Care - Maine
Maine Department of Veterans Affairs (Maine VA) administrators stated that the needs of Maine veterans continue to be met nearly a year after the national scandal rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide. Maine VA currently has 50,000 veterans enrolled of which 85% will receive care in 2014. More staff and updated technology are critical to meet patient demand. Medical Center Director Ryan Lilly stated: "Our access is very good here in the state of Maine. It is not perfect."