News
President’s 2018 “National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month” Proclamation
Sunday, April 1, 2018 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
President Trump released his 2018 “National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month” proclamation.
Hundreds of Lewd Photos of Female Servicemembers Discovered in Dropbox Folder
Monday, March 19, 2018 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
On March 9, 2018, Alexa Liautaud of Vice News reported:
“The (Dropbox) folder is the latest example of an ongoing problem with revenge porn and online harassment in the U.S. military, one that persists even a year after the revelation of thousands of nude photos of service members shared in a Facebook group called Marines United caused a major scandal. VICE News reported in February on the existence of dozens of informal military social media groups where members continue to share nude photos and make derogatory comments about women, often alongside more banal posts about military life.”
The Department of Defense is again investigating a social media site for posting hundreds of lewd photographs of female servicemembers. The Pentagon confirmed activity on that the site, “Hoes Hoin” likely crosses all military services. The December 2018 National Defense Authorization Act made this activity illegal, approving “court-martial punishment for servicemembers who engaged in the “wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images,” typically nude photographs shared without the subject’s permission, often called revenge porn.”
Is the VA Motto Outdated and Sexist? The Head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Group Thinks So.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 | Category: Department of Veterans Affairs - National
Across the nation, plaques on veteran institutions display Abraham Lincoln’s 1865 Second Inaugural Address quote, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” His quote became the motto for VA 59 years ago. Some believe it is not representative of today’s military veterans which includes women, the fastest growing veteran population.
Former Head of Marines Sexual Assault and Prevention Unit Joins Protect Our Defenders as CEO In Response to Marines United Scandal
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Scott Jensen, retired Marine Corps colonel and Marine Corps sexual assault and prevention unit, recently became the Chief Executive Officer for Protect Our Defenders, a nonprofit human rights organization advocating for servicewomen and men. They are focused on military justice reform to ensure an unbiased, more transparent federal agency legal system that operates independently from the civil legal system. They continue to challenge the Department of Defense’s (the largest employer in the world) efforts to recognize, deter, and litigate sexual assault and harassment within their ranks and to protect victims/survivors of sexual assault and harassment from retaliation and retribution. Protect Our Defenders offers pro bono legal services
White House VA Hotline Now Fully Staffed and Operational Around the Clock to Serve Nation’s Veterans (1-855-948-2311)
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Hotline Phone Number: 1-855-948-2311
The White House hotline “is VA’s first non-clinical, non-emergency around-the-clock call center. It provides Veterans a supplemental option to report issues if they are not being addressed through VA’s normal customer service channel.” It is staffed by veterans and veteran family members 365 days a year, 24 hours a Day.
5 Things Women Veterans Want Everyone to Know
Friday, November 10, 2017 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Andrea Goldstein interviewed several women veterans who all shared their pride in choosing to serve in the military. She shares five of their reflections.
IAVA Launches First Veterans Month Effort
Saturday, November 4, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
IAVA is launching their first "Veterans Month," an organized schedule of events offered in four phases: Educate, Activate, Advocate, and Facilitate. Their actual and recommended activities calendar is posted on this site.
I Am a Veteran: VA Health and Other Benefits
Saturday, November 4, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers eligible veterans health, education, employment, and a host of other services and programs. This link is a good starting point to gain insight to what is available and application processes.
Be your own best advocate! Always apply for health care services by submitting the VA Form 10-10EZ and other compensation benefits by completing the VA Form 21-526EZ...allow the VA the opportunity to assess your eligibility. Steer clear of "barracks counseling." Every single veteran's service experience is different, requiring an individualized review.
2017 National Women Veterans Summit: Links to All Presentations & Events
Friday, August 25, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Visit this page for all links to the 2017 National Women Veterans Summit webinars, presentations, plenary and breakout sessions, documents and other summit events. The summit was held in Houston, Texas and unfortunately, was curtailed due to Hurricane Harvey.
2017 National Women Veterans Summit in Houston, TX August 25, 2017 Only (August 26th Cancelled Due to Hurricane)
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hosting a national women veterans summit in Houston, Texas on August 25, 2017. The summit intends to provide a venue for women veterans, caregivers, private industry, nonprofit organizations, government, innovators, and researchers to identify challenges, opportunities, and best practices to inform future health and benefits for women with military service. Training, information, and guidance about navigating VA and community resources will also be offered.
Women veterans share many of the same challenges as male veterans along with some differing experiences. Today 10% of veterans are women and expected to increase to 15% by 2030. They are younger and more ethnically diverse than their male peers.
The VA's most recent women veterans summit was hosted in Washington D.C. in 2011.