February 2024 Edition of the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter

Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs sent this bulletin at 02/28/2024 10:36 AM EST

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www.FloridaVets.org

February 2024

Welcome to the February 2024 edition of the Forward March Veterans’ Newsletter. ‎‎We ‎‎appreciate the 55,000 subscribers who look to us each month for the latest news ‎impacting Florida’s more than 1.4 million Veterans, their families and survivors.‎

Operating as the premier point of entry for Florida Veterans, the ‎Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs ‎‎operates a ‎‎network of nine State Veterans’ ‎Homes and provides statewide outreach to connect our ‎‎Veterans ‎‎with their earned ‎services, benefits and support. We appreciate the selfless support and advocacy of Governor Ron DeSantis, our Cabinet, and the Florida Legislature regarding our Veterans.

It’s been a very busy and exciting month both in Florida and elsewhere.

Earlier this month in Washington, D.C., I handed the reins of the presidency of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) to my good friend Dennis Wimer of Indiana. NASDVA was founded more than 75 years ago to bring together the State Directors, Commissioners and Secretaries from all 50 States, U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia to encourage communication, facilitate discussion, and promote best practices to successfully advocate for our Nation’s more than 18 million Veterans. I look forward to joining the group of past NASDVA presidents and continue my personal service and commitment to the association.

Here at home, the 2024 Florida Legislative Session is in its final two weeks, and negotiations are underway that will impact our agency’s budget and Veteran-related legislation. Senate Bill 174 and House Bill 725, which seek to allow admission of eligible spouses to our network of State Veterans’ Homes, have had successful floor votes and will be transmitted to the governor’s office for action. Other bills are awaiting floor votes between now and March 8, while several have never left committee stops and will not progress during this session. I greatly appreciate my staff for strongly advocating behind the scenes for our Veterans during this session. You can follow the progress of all Veteran-related legislation and our agency’s budget during these final days by visiting our website at www.FloridaVets.org and clicking on ‎‎“Veteran Legislation.”‎

The week of Feb. 19-23 was Military and Veterans Week at the Florida Capitol. The second floor of the Capitol featured many booths and tables dedicated to our state’s active duty military and Veterans. I appreciate all who participated. We also honored our state legislators who are military Veterans and thanked them for their continued service. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez hosted wartime veterans from several conflicts at the Capitol on February 22 and surprised State Senator Jay Collins with a veterans’ medal for his distinguished combat service.

We also had a great turnout for the inaugural “LG on Mission” Race for Our Heroes 5K in Tallahassee last Saturday. More than 200 runners, walkers, ruckers and four-legged friends joined Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and other state leaders for a cool morning run, with proceeds benefiting our Florida Veterans Foundation. See our story in this issue and the many social media posts we launched regarding the outing. Thanks to all who attended. It might interest you to know we are already in discussions for next year’s event.

‎You can learn more about statewide Veterans’ issues by following us on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn. We’re about to hit the 2,000-subscriber threshold on our X page and look forward to connecting with more Veteran supporters in the future. A free Mobile App is also available by visiting https://floridavets.org/download-the-fdva-app/.

A reminder that if you seek no-cost advice or counseling regarding Veterans issues, please contact one of our State Veterans’ Service Officers ‎at (727) ‎‎‎319-‎‎7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV. Our team of Hope Navigators is also hard at work connecting Veterans and their families with information and resources to improve their quality of life. Call them at (850) 300-HOPE or via email at HopeNavigators@fdva.fl.gov.

Please share this newsletter with others and thanks for your support.

Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s Race For Our Heroes 5K Raises Over $10,000

TALLAHASSEE – In advancing the DeSantis administration’s efforts for Florida’s veterans, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the inaugural Race For Our Heroes 5K on Feb. 24 at Tom Brown Park as part of her LG on Mission initiative.

Read more

All Veterans Exposed to Toxins and Other Hazards During Military Service will be Eligible for VA Health Care Beginning March 5

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Feb. 26 that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024. This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.

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Governor and First Lady Award $20 Million to Support Innovative Cancer Research

TALLAHASSEE — Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced $20 million was awarded to researchers around the state as part of the Cancer Innovation Fund. These projects further promote cancer innovation, research, and lifesaving care for Florida’s patients. To watch the full press conference, click here.

G.I. Bill students: Receiving More than One Monetary Benefit? Check your Direct Deposit on va.gov

If you’re a G.I. Bill beneficiary who also receives other benefits, you need to ensure you have a single bank account selected for direct deposit by April 20. If you received a notification via text message or email, please take action by April 20. If you do not receive a notification, you are not impacted.

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FDVA Executive Director James S. “Hammer” Hartsell accepts the Iron Mike Award from Tom Palladino of Texas on Feb. 19 during the midwinter conference of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. Hartsell, a retired Marine Corps Major General, completed his elected tour of office as NASDVA President.

Integrity Critical for Medal of Honor Recipient, Bay Pines VA Veteran

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell knows all about a legacy of service. The twice deployed Vietnam Veteran served 24 years on active duty; he’s a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame, and one of the 3,517 Americans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Littrell, who recently participated in a public service announcement for the Florida Governor’s Challenge, spends many days reflecting on lessons learned, as he speaks to students about the lineage of the nation’s highest award for valor, and his story about the four days in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam.

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State Senator Jay Collins, left, provides a Senate Proclamation recognizing Feb. 19-23 as Military and Veterans Week at the Capitol to Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and FDVA Executive Director James S. "Hammer" Hartsell during ceremonies in Tallahassee, Feb. 22.

FDVA Executive Director James S. "Hammer" Hartsell joins Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez at a ceremony in Tallahassee, Feb. 22 to honor wartime Veterans as part of Military and Veterans Week at the Capitol.

VA Sunshine Healthcare Network Announces New Healthcare System Executive

TAMPA, Fla. - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announces the appointment of Mr. Chad Adams as the new deputy executive director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, which serves more than 138,000 Veterans and has an operating budget of more than $1.8 billion at the nation’s largest VA health care system. More than 5,800 employees provide services at 26 locations serving a 50-county region in northern Florida and southern Georgia. He will have oversight of finance, quality management, compliance and business integrity, patient safety, systems redesign, human resources, and employee whole health.

The fourth annual Florida Run for the Fallen launched from the Florida Capitol during the early morning hours of Feb. 9 as part of the three-day, 170-mile run to Jacksonville to honor Gold Star Family members and salute our fallen.

The countdown is on to get your nominations in for the Class of 2024 Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. For more information on guidelines and nomination forms, click here.

State Veterans’ Service Officers from FDVA stand ready to support Florida Veterans and their families. Connect with us today by calling 727-319-7440 or via email at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV.

Weekend and night shift health care job opportunities are available at our State Veterans' Homes. If you’re looking for a fulfilling new role or extra hours, visit our jobs page to view the open positions. https://bit.ly/FDVAJobs.

Did you know? Since November 2023, FDVA Hope Navigators have assisted more than 200 Veterans through the Hope Florida initiative.