U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV - News Update

CWV Banner
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Bookmark and Share

In Case You Missed It:  The Center for Women Veterans is sharing recent news stories that may be of interest to women Veterans, military women, and their supporters on a weekly basis.  Share your thoughts about them on social media with the hashtag #womenVets.

 

11/21/2017 07:05 AM EST

This week from the CWV presents the Whole Health webinar.  Join us on November 22nd at 11:00am for this one hour webinar.

11/21/2017 07:00 AM EST

This week from the CWV presents the Military Sexual Trauma webinar.  Join us on November 21st at 1:00pm for this one hour webinar.

11/20/2017 06:01 PM EST

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Deidre Jean Wright.  Deidre served during the Persian Gulf War and was in the Air Force from 1978 to 1998. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Deidre!

11/20/2017 09:55 AM EST

The Campaign
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is partnering with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) on a new campaign, “No Veteran Left Behind,” to address Veteran suicide and mobilize the nation behind this issue.  VA and J&J launched a public service announcement (PSA), narrated by Tom Hanks, urgently calling on each and every American to take notice and take action by reaching out to someone who may be in crisis.

Why Are We Doing This?
Suicide is a public health issue facing our Veterans, Service members, their families, and our nation.  Together, we can rally behind our nation’s Veterans and Service members to make a difference whether that person is going through a crisis or needs someone to talk to.

What Can Your Organization Do?
As one of our most trusted partners, we ask that you help us share this message with your network.   One way you can support this initiative is to share the PSA with your stakeholders, and directing them to suicide prevention resources.  Provided below are some sample posts:

A simple gesture can make a difference for a #Veteran or #Servicemember.  Learn how you can #BeThere for our Veterans, Service members and their loved ones.

We support @JNJCares and @DeptVetAffairs in their mission to #BeThere for #Veterans and #Servicemembers.

View and share the full PSA (70 second version), and/or 30 second version.

11/20/2017 08:41 AM EST

Best friends since sixth grade, Amber Nielsen and Holly Breeden decided to enlist together in the Wisconsin Army National Guard following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.  They were scared as they left for basic training at age 17, but also gung-ho and ready to go. [From The Globe]

11/20/2017 08:41 AM EST

The Veterans Administration is doing more to help women Veterans.  “I feel like the Veteran’s Administration as a whole is undergoing a cultural shift,“ said Amy Southern, Women’s Veteran Program Manager at the VA Clinic. [From WBRC FOX 6 News]

11/20/2017 08:41 AM EST

Reform is needed to change how the military handles sexual assault and harassment cases. [From Salon]

11/20/2017 08:14 AM EST

Approximately 20 million Veterans currently live in the United States.  While the overall veteran population is expected to decrease, the diversity of the remaining group is expected to increase in the coming years.  The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State has released “Supporting United States Veterans:  A review of veteran-focused needs assessments from 2008-2017.”

11/17/2017 06:00 PM EST

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran and former Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting volunteer, Melanie Silva.  Melanie served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2005 to March 2006. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Melanie!

11/17/2017 11:05 AM EST

Jerri Bell and Tracy Crow knew their own stories as women who had served in the military.  Bell, a retired naval officer, and Crow, a former Marine Corps officer, had 30 years of military experience between them. [From TBO]

11/17/2017 10:19 AM EST

A 23-year veteran of the U.S. military now serving as the top enlisted leader of the New York Army and Air National Guard is the first woman to hold the position.  State officials say Air National Command Chief Master Sgt. Amy Giaquinto took over the new post last month. [From Air Force Times]

11/17/2017 08:24 AM EST

The U.S. military’s restrictions on covering abortions can create logistical, emotional, career and health challenges for service members who become pregnant, according to a newly released study.  Previous research shows that women serving in the military have a higher rate of unintended pregnancy than civilian women do. [From The Two-Way]

11/17/2017 08:24 AM EST

When it comes to the “war on women,” many politicians are hypocrites.  They allege gender bias in the private-sector workplace to score political points while simultaneously leading government payrolls with massive gender gaps among top-paid positions. [From Fox News]

11/17/2017 08:24 AM EST

Congress should act swiftly to approve long overdue legislation introduced Thursday to strengthen the prosecution of sexual assault in the military.  The Defense Department estimates that about 8,600 women and 6,300 men were sexually assaulted in our armed forces last year. [From Fox News]

11/16/2017 02:25 PM EST

Women comprise about 10 percent of the veteran population today, and are projected to make up about 16.3 percent by 2043.  And while this population continues to grow rapidly, so does the need for proper health care and housing services. [From Comcast Newsmakers]

11/16/2017 02:25 PM EST

Kayla Williams, Director of the VA Center for Women Veterans discusses some of the challenges women veterans face today and how her organization is working to resolve them. [From Comcast Newsmakers]

11/16/2017 10:33 AM EST

There are more than 21 million military Veterans in the country, according to a 2016 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  About 2 million of those are women. [From WHYY]

11/16/2017 10:33 AM EST

Invariably, when Robbin Alex is out in public wearing something that identifies her as a military Veteran, strangers will stop and thank her.  Which seems nice. [From Omaha World-Herald]

11/16/2017 08:51 AM EST

VA, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, released a new public service announcement, “No Veteran Left Behind,” to address the tragic rate of Veteran suicides.  Narrated by actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks, the announcement calls on the public to take notice and action by reaching out to a Veteran who may be in crisis. [From VAntage Point]

11/15/2017 09:28 AM EST

The Center for Women Veterans Director Kayla Williams joins representatives of each branch of service in making remarks at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial on Veteran’s Day, 2017. [From Facebook]

11/15/2017 08:21 AM EST

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, it’s expected that about a half-million will be alive at the end of 2017.  Many Veterans of this and other conflicts will take with them stories of service that can’t be replaced. [From Military Times]

11/14/2017 01:48 PM EST

A leading organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war Veterans wants the Department of Veterans Affairs to change its motto because, the group’s leaders say, the words first issued by Abraham Lincoln – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan” – are outdated and, more important, they exclude the many contributions made by military women. [From The Washington Post]