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

Nell Meinhardt of Mankato, unlike many women who served in the military, knows what it’s like to be recognized as a Veteran and to have respect from men in the military.  Meinhardt joined a branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve 75 years ago during World War II. [From Star Tribune]

It’s all about the Vets.  That’s how veteran Kip Kuiper felt all day and night Wednesday during Villages Honor Flight’s 38th mission. [From The Villages Daily Sun]

There are an estimated 200,000 women currently serving in active duty in the armed forces and this number is expected to grow. [From Andvance Healthcare Network - Nursing]

Nearly a quarter century of military life gave Judy Quintana a chance to travel the world, earn multiple degrees and find job opportunities that gave her a chance to excel.  Quintana loved the 23 years she spent in the U.S. Air Force and was disappointed that military memorial sites rarely honor the tens of thousands of women who have served their country. [From Albuquerque Journal]

The 6th annual Honoring Women Veterans event took place on March 14 at Las Positas College (LPC) in Livermore.  It was hosted by the college’s Veterans First Program. [From The Independent]

The U.S. Army’s vice chief of staff praised the achievements of female soldiers Monday, describing how small numbers of women continue to join infantry and armored combat units and graduate from the service’s most grueling training course. [From Military.com]

Sen. Tammy Duckworth has given birth to a baby girl, making her the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office.  The Illinois Democrat announced she delivered her second daughter, Maile (MY-lee) Pearl Bowlsbey, on Monday. [From Military Times]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Coast Guard Veteran Holly Shaffner.  Holly served from 1987 to 2011. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Holly!

To honor and support Veterans welcoming new children into their families in 2018, 60 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers (VAMC) around the country will host baby showers between May 5-16, the weeks surrounding Mother’s Day, in partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.  “The Nationwide Baby Shower will ensure Veterans have what they need to focus on the joy of growing their families in those stressful first weeks,” said acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.  Read more »

In 2016, more than 46 people died every day from overdoses involving prescription opioids.  Today, 40 percent of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. [From VAntage Point]

A dance routine brainstormed by Army Veteran John Koelsch of Salem is a hopeful entry in a national arts competition for military Veterans. [From The Roanoke Times]

A retired Marine lieutenant colonel who was fired from her job commanding the Corps’ only female recruit training battalion has released a 304-page book outlining deep problems she saw in how the service handles recruiting and training women.  Nearly three years later some of the methods she used to remarkable success in both challenging and improving female recruit training have been formally implemented. [From Marine Corps Times]

U.S. Army Veteran Holly Lawrence will attest that alternative medicine has made a big difference in her life.  Lawrence has been taking part in the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Mindful Yoga program for over a year and has adopted yoga into everything she does. [From The Journal]

Veterans with a service-connected disability that results in infertility will now be able to receive reimbursement for adoption expenses as a result of a new rule recently approved by VA.  The final interim rule was published in the Federal Register on March 5, 2018, and became effective upon publication. [From VAntage Point]

In early March, 39 women checked in to the School of Infantry-West to start a 29-day course in combat training reserved for Marines in non-infantry roles.  It’s the first time in the Corps’ history that male and female Marines trained together at the Marine Combat Training Battalion course, or MCT, on the West Coast. [From Marine Corps Times]

Bridge II Sports runs year-round adapted sports programs that serves women, men, and our Veterans.  The sports include cycling, golf, air rifle, archery, wheelchair basketball, goal ball (blind and low vision), boccia, fishing, track and field, and sitting volleyball.  Valor Games SE is their largest military affiliated event of the year. [From Bridge II Sports]

Waco’s congressman delivered commendations to three Central Texas Veterans Wednesday for their service and continued dedication to the area as civilians.  In a ceremony at the Veterans One Stop in Waco U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, presented the 2017 TX-17 Congressional Veteran Commendation to retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Everlyn White Humphrey, of Bruceville, retired Army Sgt. Maurice Reyes Ramon, of Waco, and retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Lee Russell, of Woodway. [From Waco Tribue-Herald]

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice that the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans will meet on May 8-10, 2018, at VA Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Conference Room 930, Washington, DC 20420  The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9.  On Thursday, May 10, the meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The meeting is open to the public. [From The Federal Register]

Two years after a helicopter carrying Marines crashed in the Nepali mountains, Marine Veteran Teresa Fazio encountered the wilderness that had claimed them. [From The War Horse]

Deanna Callender has learned to focus without sight.  In 2007, the Army and Army National Guard Veteran was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease that would eventually take her eyesight.  The news was anything but tragic for her. [From VAntage Point]

A year ago, hundreds of current and former Marines were exposed as having posted explicit photos of women, including female Marines, along with degrading or abusive comments, on a private Facebook group.  Senior leaders in the Corps vowed to punish those involved and to root out a culture of misogyny revealed by the scandal. [From PBS News Hour]

Leaders like me need to acknowledge problems like sexism and harassment and help women handle them, whether in Hollywood, Silicon Valley or the Marines. [From USA Today]

If you drive past the Reno VA hospital this week, you might notice hundreds of little teal flags outside.  The flags are meant to represent the number of Veterans who have reported a sexual trauma at the Reno VA since 2005 [From 2 News]