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

The organization, With Honor, believes Veterans are the key to making Congress work across partisan lines. [From The Atlantic]

The Central Texas Food Bank has partnered with the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and Feeding America to distribute food to Veterans once a month in Temple. [From Central Texas News Now]

There are over 2.2 million women Veterans in the U.S., and about 37,000 in San Antonio alone.  Many seek care through the VA Health System. [From Texas Public Radio]

A new survey of post 9-11 Vets found that those who are married or in a live-in relationship are, as a group, at greater risk for suicide than those who’ve never been married.  Older female Vets who are married are at the greatest risk, according to the survey from the University of Connecticut and Department of Veterans Affairs. [From The Day]

Women Veterans make up the fastest growing segment of the Veteran population, and VA is committed to providing them with the best health care.  This week’s Benefits Breakdown features Kayla Williams, the Director of the Center for Women Veterans. [From VAntage Point]

Even with federal government policy seemingly fluctuating with the whims of the White House, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) remains committed to administering the healthcare needs of LGBT patients, according to a VA staff member who spoke Jan. 18 at Center on Halsted about the intricacies of that work. [From Windy City Times]

A Navy nurse has been awarded for saving the life of a civilian on board a Washington state ferry in December.  Lt. Cmdr. Erika Schilling, a nurse midwife at Naval Hospital Bremerton, was presented the Life Ring Award on Jan. 18 from Washington State Ferries, an honor usually reserved for ferry employees who respond to life and death emergencies, the Navy release said. [From Navy Times]

The key to achieving leadership positions as a woman in the federal IT workforce is a willingness to move often to the best opportunity, according to current and former senior-level IT officials. [From Federal Times]

It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to be homeless and on the street In January.  Regardless of the circumstances that bring Veterans and their families to living in cars and over the heating vents of the subway, it’s a fate that none of us would wish on anyone. [From VAntage Point]

As more female soldiers move into frontline combat jobs, the Army’s top leaders have decided to integrate female officers into infantry and armor brigades at three more military bases around the country.  The decision comes a year after the first women began enlisting in the ground combat units, and it will send female officers to Fort Carson in Colorado, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, and Fort Bliss in Texas. [From Army Times]

Female military Veterans are being encouraged to donate their brains for research, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday in a collaborative effort.  The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and nonprofit PINK Concussions are partnering to research the effects of traumatic brain injury and PTSD on female brains. [From Trib Live]

The first enlisted woman to retire from the Marine Corps, who was also the first woman to join the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery Tuesday.  Master Sgt. Catherine G. Murray, who turned 100 years old in April, enlisted in the Reserves in 1943 as a truck driver. [From Marine Corps Times]

Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, the Navy’s director of intelligence, has submitted her retirement paperwork, a spokesman for the service told C4ISRNET. [From C4ISR Net]

Veterans who are married or in a live-in relationship have a higher risk of suicide than their single counterparts, according to a new study from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Connecticut. [From Stars and Stripes]

Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, opened her courtroom to a parade of survivors, parents and coaches affected by Nassar’s abuse – letting each say their piece, while encouraging them and placing blame firmly on their abuser.  Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, accused of sexually abusing more than 100 girls and women, then received a sentence of up to 175 years in prison. [From USA Today]

A 14-year Navy Veteran is set to take over as head of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs.  Once confirmed, Sheronne Blasi will become the first woman Veteran to head the agency. [From KOBI5]

Today, VA announced a collaboration between its National Center for PTSD and the nonprofit organization PINK Concussions, encouraging women to donate their brains for the purpose of research of the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [From VAntage Point]

The Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Connected Care will participate in a Facebook Live event on Feb. 1 with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  The discussion will focus on promoting VA’s connected health care tools for Veterans. [From VAntage Point]

Retired Colonel Scott Jensen fought in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan during his 27 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He also fought misogyny. [From 1A]

Women quietly broke through barriers last fall when they became the first in the Army to earn the prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge at Fort Bragg.  The badge, which was created in the 1940s, only recently opened to women when the Department of Defense struck down regulations that prevented them from serving in infantry jobs. [From The Fayetteville Observer]

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is pregnant with her second child.  The 49-year-old Democrat, a Veteran who lost her legs in the Iraq War, announced her pregnancy in a news release Tuesday. [From Military Times]

The Marine Corps has an official new partnership with the 115,000 athlete-strong USA Rugby.  As official partners, Marines will be able to attend rugby training, seminars and championship games as part of the U.S. rugby governing body’s network, and possibly influence some athletes to join the Corps’ ranks. [From Marine Corps Times]

A woman identified by a scholar as the inspiration for Rosie the Riveter, the iconic female World War II factory worker, has died in Washington state.  The New York Times reports that Naomi Parker Fraley died Saturday in Longview. [From Military Times]

At a time when the Department of Veterans Affairs has its hands full combating the opiate epidemic among Veterans; walking a tightrope on medical cannabis research; chipping away at its claims backlog; and ending Veterans suicide, it’s struggling to find time and resources to end Veteran homelessness. [From Task & Purpose]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Veteran Dana Roberts.  Dana served in a tour in Kuwait and Bahrain from 2012 to 2013. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Dana!

The Department of Veterans Affairs is revolutionizing the use of new health care technology to deliver convenient, accessible health care to Veterans.  VA’s TeleHealth service is mission critical to the future direction of VA, and utilizes health informatics, disease management and telehealth technologies to care for and provide case management. [From VAntage Point]