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

Get the Recruitment & Retention, Employment & Integration, Well Being & Treatment, Servicwomen in the News, Women Veterans, and Upcoming Events DACOWITS news from June 30, 2018. [From DACOWITS]

A Northland Pines High School graduate will be in the Northwoods for the next 10 days talking about his project helping women veterans of war heal through song.  Jason Moon will be promoting the album Women At War:  Warrior Songs Vol. 2, which is to be released in November. [From WXPR]

Former helicopter pilot Amber Smith says women in combat should be treated just like their male counterparts.  “My take on women in combat is women should be able to try.” [From The Hill]

Patriotic Productions out of Omaha is organizing the Nebraska Female Veterans Flight on Sept. 24 to Washington, D.C.  Female Veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan are all invited on the flight. [From The Grand Island Independent]

When people think of veterans, the image in their mind is usually that of a man.  And indeed, males make up the largest portion of the veteran community. [From Connecting Vets]

When recent San Francisco State University graduate Iana Lim started high school, she had no interest in joining the military.  It was her brother who wanted to follow that path. [From San Francisco State University]

Sue McConnell and Kristyn Weed both entered the military in the 1970s.  But they also share another kind of sisterhood. [From WAMC]

If there is anyone who could get away with having the Rocky theme playing wherever she goes, it would be Allison Jaslow–a passionate fighter for the rights, protections and well-being of women in uniform.  A former Army Captain, Jaslow served two tours in Iraq before returning to America where she has continued to tirelessly advocate for all military personnel—especially women. [From Forbes]

“Why be behind when you could be in front?” an unnamed woman, newly promoted to Army private, asked the Army Times’ Meghann Myers in 2017.  She was one of the first women to join the U.S. Army’s infantry, undergoing grueling training along with male recruits and preparing for the realities of combat. [From History]

The largest gathering of military women in the nation, the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, was held June 20-22 at the San Diego Convention Center here and included attendees from 20 different countries and all branches of the U.S. armed forces.  This year marked the 31st year of the event, which is hosted by the Sea Service Leadership Association. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

I got married at 19, a decision made in haste as my boyfriend at that time was getting ready to ship off to Fort Benning, Ga., and I was getting ready to leave for basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.  It only took a few months of us being at our first duty station before I became pregnant. [From Task & Purpose]

Sharona Young, a medically retired Navy chief petty officer, is a multi-medalist in two National Veterans Wheelchair Games.  But the chance to win more medals is not the main draw for this summer’s event in Orlando. [From AARP]

Seventy years ago, in 1948, women Veterans were given a landmark step up with the passing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act – for the first time, we were able to serve permanently during peacetime.  This legislation, while imperfect, set the stage for the expansions that followed. [From VAntage Point]

Twenty service members and Veterans die by suicide every day.  Two federal agencies have launched a public health campaign to make it easier for them to understand how to get help. [From The Christian Science Monitor]

Sexual assault is a mortifying secret for far too many Veterans.  Although it is not often talked about, Military Sexual Trauma, or “MST” as it is often called, is a significant problem in the military. [From We Are The Mighty]

Eileen Haydock Merullo has lived a life of service:  in the military, in the schools, and in the community.  When asked why she had entered the Army immediately after graduation from Boston University, Eileen said that she was very anxious to serve her country [From Revere Journal]

Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter O’Rourke this month approved of 29 recommendations brought up by the VA New Hampshire Vision 2025 Task Force, which has analyzed data and solicited input from Veterans and other key stakeholders to learn how to best address the needs of Veterans in the state. [From New Hampshire Union Leader]

Each day, about 50 kilometers above the Earth, more than half a million pieces of orbiting space junk whiz at speeds of up to 17,500 miles per hour.  And if any one of them follows the wrong path, it could cause serious – or even catastrophic – damage to a satellite or spacecraft in orbit. [From Air Force Times]

Female enlisted Marines are promoting at faster rates than men – on average picking up E-6 almost a half year more quickly than male Marines, Defense Department data shows.  The unexpected trend is unique to the Marine Corps; a Military Times analysis of forcewide promotion data from 2016 and 2017 shows no similar gap among soldiers, sailors or airmen. [From Marine Corps Times]

The Governor’s Advisory Council for Veterans Services (GAC-VS) is inviting women veterans and women service members to a town hall and expo on Saturday, June 30, from 9 a.m.-Noon at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, 950 Soldiers Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013.  Family members are invited to visit the Education Center while the expo is being conducted. [From PR Newswire]

What does doing it your way for #HIV testing mean to you?  VA and the CDC recommend that everyone get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime.  Veterans who haven’t been tested yet or aren’t sure if they have been tested may talk to their provider at their next appointment. [From VAntage Point]

Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton and Lorde.  What do these three mega-artists have in common?  Their shows are helping Veterans and service members who struggle with post-traumatic stress (PTS) find new hope. [From VAntage Point]

Today, people know me as Peter, but that hasn’t always been my name.  I am a transgender man. [From Task & Purpose]

The Bee Line Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) feels a special passion for honoring the service of women veterans in our community.  With this in mind, the chapter provides support for annual baby showers hosted by the Women Veterans Program at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Martinsburg. [From The Journal]

A Democratic Air Force Veteran running for Congress in Texas said she thinks “women are sick of” men in office saying they will protect and fight for women’s rights.  In an interview with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin on “CNN Newsroom” on Tuesday, MJ Hegar discussed her new political ad and the unprecedented number of women running for elected office this year. [From CNN]

Starting July 1st, a new specialty licence plate will be available from the South Dakota Department of Revenue.  A woman Veteran plate will be available to any female Veteran owner of a motor vehicle or motorcycle who has a valid South Dakota driver’s license. [From HOT 104.7]

On June 23 another female Marine graduated from the Corps’ 13-week Infantry Officer Course, or IOC.  She is the second woman in Marine Corps history to successfully navigate the physically challenging infantry school for officers. [From Marine Corps Times]

On Aug. 5, 2014, Navy Senior Chief Raina Hockenberry was visiting a military academy in Kabul, Afghanistan, when an Afghan soldier turned and opened fire on the group.  In the “green-on-blue” attack, Hockenberry was shot five times. [From Navy Times]

“I want to be a good person, I want to be a good chief and I do believe in leaving a legacy, not for me but for the next generation.”  Chief Master Sgt. Yasmeen Wilson, 33rd Fighter Wing command chief, realized early on in her career that she had a responsibility to use her voice and make a difference for future Airmen. [From Eglin Air Force Base]

Kena Dillon is an artist and Navy Veteran from Colorado, with her BFA from the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program.  Her work consists of paintings done in oil or acrylic, as well as woodworking and welding to create her abstract sculptures. [From Veteran Artist Program]

To increase access to health care for all Veterans, VA has created VEText, an interactive mobile solution to remind Veterans of upcoming appointments via text messaging.  More than 9 million VA health care appointments are missed each year. [From VAntage Point]

Veterans sometimes face challenges when returning home after military service.  At Goodwill Industries International, we believe finding a good job to support one’s self and one’s families should not be one of them.  As a woman Veteran, I know how difficult transitioning back into civilian life can be. [From VAntage Point]