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

Female Marines have begun wearing a new dress blue uniform coat designed to look like the male version. Marines with November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, were the first to don the new uniform, which features a white belt and form-fitting coat with standing collar, during their Nov. 16 graduation ceremony. [From Military Times]

Kimberly Barnard-Bracey turned to a small group of women inside a room at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center on a recent weekday afternoon.  “So what’s the topic this week?“ said Barnard-Bracey, a licensed clinical social worker.  “What’ve you guys got going on?” [From Navy Times]

Georgetown native Artishia Mae Conaway Stephens finally has her Tuskegee Airman wings.  And they are golden. [From Air Force Times]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Audrie Marie Chandler.  Marie served from 2000 to 2004. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Marie!

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Lucille M. Espey-Francis.  Lucille served from 1982-1985 on active duty and 1985-1991 in the reserves. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Lucille!

The Army on Wednesday released the names of the soldiers selected for promotion to sergeant and staff sergeant in December. The promotions are effective Dec. 1. [From Army Times]

Thanksgiving turkey will taste a little bit better for the 22,221 active-duty, reserve full-time support and drilling reserve sailors who got the word on Tuesday that they’ve advanced into or up in the petty officer ratings. [From Navy Times]

VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCB) recently hosted a Women Veterans Town Hall on November 14, 2018 at the VA Health Care Center (HCC) at Harlingen, Texas.  Although specifically tailored for Women Veterans, the town hall was also one of several events VCB held in observance of National Veterans and Military Families Month. [From VAntage Point]

Liz O’Herrin Lee finds peace in an unknown future in the presence of Australia’s living memorial built by and for the country’s World War I Veterans. [From The War Horse]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Pat McClurkin.  After enlisting in the Army, Pat was commissioned as an officer in the Medical Corps. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Pat!

The hallway leading to the commander’s office is adorned with 40 framed pictures, arranged like a long arrow pointing forward, of the men in uniform who have led this sprawling post in the Ozarks.  Bucking the trend, the latest photo added to the wall is of Army Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, the first woman to lead Fort Leonard Wood since it opened in 1941.  She’s also one of few African-Americans to do so. [From Army Times]

It was one thing to hear members of her veterans organization use offensive language during casual conversations at the local post.  But after former American Legion post commander Lindsay Church hosted a leadership meeting at her home in Seattle and heard racial slurs used offhand and in official meeting notes, she decided enough was enough. [From Reboot Camp]

The female Marines of November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, became the first company to graduate sporting the new female dress blue uniform that features the mandarin collar.  Roughly 129 female Marines made history as they marched across the parade deck Friday aboard the recruit depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, wearing the new dress coat, which resembles the male dress blues. [From Marine Corps Times]